Chapter 18: Fading Footsteps into Darkness

Deku's footsteps echoed through the familiar halls of the Knights of the Blood Oath headquarters, but to him, the sound was distant, almost muted. Every step felt heavier, as if the weight of the battle with Laughing Coffin was pulling him down into the earth beneath his feet. The air felt thicker, suffocating in a way it hadn't before. He could hear the faint murmur of conversations around him, the clink of armor, and the shuffling of footsteps, but it all blurred together like the hum of a forgotten dream.

Days had passed since the battle, and yet the images were as vivid as ever in his mind. The laughter of the Laughing Coffin members echoed in his ears, their twisted smiles burned into his memory. And then, there were the faces—their faces—just before he had taken their lives. He saw them every time he closed his eyes, a constant reminder of what he had done, what he had become.

"A hero?" He could hardly even think the word without feeling sick. "I'm not a hero. I'm no different from them."

For as long as he could remember, Deku had wanted to be a hero. It was a dream he had clung to, even in the darkest moments of his life. But now? Now, it felt like that dream had slipped through his fingers, lost in the blood he had spilled.

He wasn't a hero. He was a killer.

Klein had tried to talk to him the other day, his tone light, as if he could cheer Deku up with a joke or two. "Hey, Black Swordsman, wanna grab a drink? You could use a break after all that intensity."

Deku had looked at him, his face expressionless, his voice flat as he muttered, "Maybe next time," before walking away without a second glance.

Klein had watched him go, a frown creasing his forehead. He'd seen Deku like this before—cold, distant, shutting everyone out. But there was something different about it this time. The weight on Deku's shoulders seemed heavier, almost crushing.

Agil had offered him some advice too, a few quiet words of wisdom, but Deku had barely registered them. Every interaction felt hollow, like he was walking through a fog, unable to truly connect with anyone. He had always thought that fighting alone was the safest way. Now, more than ever, he was convinced it was the only way.

As Deku brushed past other players in the hall, he overheard bits of their conversations, snippets of laughter, of plans being made for the next floor. It felt so distant, so foreign to him now. He wasn't part of that world anymore.

"Maybe next time." That's what he told everyone, wasn't it? He could see the confusion and worry in their eyes, but none of it mattered. They didn't understand. How could they? They hadn't killed like he had. They hadn't stood over the bodies of their enemies and watched the light fade from their eyes.

Deku clenched his fists at his sides, his knuckles turning white. No one else needed to carry this burden. It was his to bear alone. It had always been.

The battle with Laughing Coffin hadn't just been another fight. It had been a turning point, one that had ripped something out of Deku and left him hollow.

"Save the people of SAO… become the hero of Aincrad."

Melissa's voice echoed in his head, her final words to him before she died. He had sworn to fulfill her wish, to be the hero she believed in. But how could he do that now? How could he ever be a hero after what he had done?

The memory of her voice was both a comfort and a curse. She had believed in him, but he had failed her. The blood of those three men stained his hands, and no matter how much he tried to justify it, no matter how many times he told himself it was necessary, the guilt gnawed at him, consuming him from the inside.

Asuna had noticed the change in him almost immediately. She had watched as he withdrew into himself, becoming colder, more distant with each passing day. She had seen it before, back when they first met, but this time it was worse. This time, it felt like she was losing him all over again.

She tried to talk to him, but every time she approached, Deku would pull away, offering her the same empty words he had given to everyone else. "Maybe next time." "I'm fine." "Don't worry about it."

But Asuna wasn't convinced. She could see the torment in his eyes, the way he carried himself as if the weight of the world was crushing him. And she was afraid. She was afraid that if she didn't do something, if she didn't break through the walls he was building around himself, she would lose him for good.

Asuna stood outside his door now, her heart pounding in her chest. She had been here before, pacing back and forth, trying to gather the courage to knock. It shouldn't be this hard, but it was. She had been fighting alongside Deku for so long now, they had been through so much together. They were supposed to be a team. So why did it feel like she was standing on the other side of a chasm that was growing wider by the day?

Taking a deep breath, she raised her hand and knocked softly. "Deku… can we talk?"

For a long moment, there was nothing. Asuna's heart sank. Maybe he wasn't even there. Maybe he had gone out to train, or worse, maybe he was ignoring her. But then, the door creaked open, and there he was, standing in the doorway, his face blank, his eyes dull and lifeless.

"I'm fine, Asuna," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "There's nothing to talk about."

Asuna's chest tightened. She could feel the walls he was putting up, the distance he was creating between them. But she wasn't going to let him push her away. Not this time.

Stepping forward, she closed the door behind her. "Deku, this isn't fine. You're shutting everyone out again. You're shutting me out."

Deku turned away, walking toward the window, his back to her. "It's better this way," he muttered.

"Better?" Asuna repeated, her voice rising slightly. "How is this better? You're pushing everyone away! This isn't how we deal with things."

Deku clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the horizon outside. "It's safer. For everyone. Especially you."

There was a long pause as the tension in the room grew. Asuna felt her heart beating faster as her frustration started to rise. She had seen Deku like this before, but something about it was different now—he seemed even darker, more distant. He was closing himself off from her in a way that felt so final, and it scared her.

"Deku…" Her voice was softer now, almost pleading. "We've always been in this together. You don't have to face this alone. I don't need you to protect me from everything. We're a team. You said that yourself."

Deku didn't turn around. He kept his back to her, his fists still clenched tightly at his sides. "I'm not the hero, Asuna," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I never was."

Asuna's heart broke at the sound of his voice, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say. This was more than just guilt. This was something deeper, something that had been festering inside him for a long time.

"You are a hero, Deku," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "You've saved so many people... You've saved me. Don't you see that?"

But Deku shook his head slowly. "I've killed people, Asuna. I'm no different from them."

Asuna froze, her heart dropping at Deku's words. The weight of what he had just said hung heavily in the air between them. She wanted to reach out to him, to tell him that he was wrong, that he wasn't like them, but the look on his face stopped her. The blank, emotionless mask he wore only amplified the pain in his eyes, the pain he was trying so hard to hide.

"I killed them, Asuna," he repeated, his voice low and strained. "Three people. They're dead because of me."

Asuna swallowed hard, her hands trembling slightly. She had known this would come up, but hearing him say it so bluntly, with such guilt weighing on every word, made it feel so much more real. She had been there, too. She had seen it happen, but Deku had made the decision. The decision to save her. And now, she could see how it was tearing him apart.

"You didn't have a choice," Asuna said, her voice shaking as she fought back her own emotions. "They were killing us left and right… they were going to kill me."

Deku's fists tightened, his knuckles turning white as he spoke through gritted teeth.

"Does that really make it any better? Does that make me any less of a murderer?"

Asuna's breath hitched in her throat, tears already starting to well in her eyes. She wasn't sure how to answer that. She understood the pain he was feeling. She had felt it herself, though not as intensely. Laughing Coffin was dangerous—monsters disguised as players, preying on others for their twisted sense of power. But even knowing that, the act of taking someone's life weighed heavily on them both.

"I don't know if it makes it better," she admitted softly, her voice shaking. "But it doesn't make you like them. They enjoy killing. You didn't. You didn't want to do it."

Deku's fists clenched even tighter, his jaw locking as he struggled to contain the storm of emotions inside him. "But I didit. That's the problem. It doesn't matter why. It only matters that I did."

He finally turned around to face her, his green eyes clouded with grief and torment. Asuna gasped softly when she saw just how broken he looked.

"I used to think that maybe… just maybe, I could still be a hero in here. That maybe I could save people like Melissa wanted me to. But how can I ever be a hero after what I've done?"

Asuna's chest tightened at the mention of Melissa. She knew how much that promise had meant to Deku. It had been his driving force for so long, the reason he kept fighting, the reason he pushed himself beyond his limits time and time again. But now, that dream seemed to be crumbling before her eyes, and Deku was letting it slip through his fingers.

"Melissa wouldn't want this," Asuna said firmly, stepping closer. "She believed in you. She believed you could save people. That hasn't changed. You're still the person she believed in, Deku."

Deku shook his head, his gaze falling to the floor. "I'm not. Not anymore."

Asuna's frustration grew as she saw him retreat further into himself. She didn't want to lose him like this. She couldn't. They had been through so much together, fought side by side, and she thought that they were building something that would be unbreakable. But now, it was like he was slipping away from her, and she didn't know how to pull him back. Everything she had feared, was coming true right before her eyes.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked, her voice rising. "Why are you pushing me away? We're supposed to be in this together!"

Deku's eyes flickered with pain as he met her gaze, but his expression remained stoic. "Because, Asuna, it's only a matter of time before you die if you stay near me. Everyone around me ends up dead."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut. Asuna's breath caught in her throat as she stared at him, her heart pounding in her chest. She had known he was carrying guilt, but she hadn't realized just how deeply it had affected him. To hear him say that he believed she was better off without him…

"No, Deku," Asuna said, shaking her head. "That's not true."

"It is," he insisted, his voice firm but hollow. "First Melissa, then the UA students... and now this. If you keep fighting alongside me, it's only a matter of time before you get hurt. Or worse."

Asuna took another step forward, her emotions beginning to boil over. "Don't you dare say that. Don't you dare decide that for me. I chose to fight with you. I chose to be by your side because I trust you. I'm not going to leave just because you're scared something might happen to me!"

Deku's gaze hardened, and for the first time since their conversation started, there was a flicker of anger in his eyes. "This isn't just about being scared, Asuna. It's about keeping you safe!"

"Safe?" Asuna scoffed, her frustration spilling over. "You think pushing me away is going to keep me safe? You think going off on your own is going to solve anything? You're just running away from what you don't want to deal with!"

Deku clenched his jaw, his hands trembling at his sides. "I'm trying to protect you."

"No," Asuna said, her voice barely a whisper, but her words were like knives. "You're trying to punish yourself."

Deku flinched, as if the truth of her words had cut straight through him. He turned away, unable to face her. "It doesn't matter," he said quietly. "I'll still fight for your freedom in the duel, but after that… I'm going back to fighting alone."

Asuna's heart ached at the finality in his tone. The divide between them had been growing, but now it felt like an impassable chasm. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. After everything they had been through, he was just going to… leave?

She took a shaky breath, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill over. "Deku… you can't mean that. You can't seriously think this is the answer."

"I do," he said, his voice cold and distant. "It's better this way."

Asuna's shoulders slumped, the weight of his words crushing her. She wanted to scream, to yell at him, to shake him out of this dark place he had retreated into. But she knew, deep down, that he had already made up his mind.

The silence between them stretched on, heavy and suffocating, until Asuna couldn't take it anymore. She turned away, her heart breaking with every step she took toward the door. She paused briefly, her hand resting on the door handle, before speaking again, her voice barely audible.

"Do you really think I'm safer without you?" she asked, her voice trembling. "Or are you just too afraid to let anyone in?"

Deku didn't answer.

With a heavy heart, Asuna walked out of the room, the door closing softly behind her. The divide between them had never felt so wide.

The silence that followed her departure was suffocating. Deku stood there, staring at the empty space where Asuna had just been, his chest tightening with a mixture of guilt and regret. He knew he had hurt her. He could see it in her eyes, the way her shoulders had slumped when she realized there was no reaching him. But it was for the best. Wasn't it? She would eventually just forget about him. Just like in his old life.

"Maybe next time," he whispered to himself, the familiar phrase tasting bitter on his tongue.

Asuna left the room where Deku had turned away from her, her chest feeling heavy, as though she had failed to reach him once again. Her thoughts raced as she hurried through the familiar streets of Aincrad. Despite the bustling crowds of players moving about, preparing for their next quests or shopping in the marketplace, Asuna felt as if the world had quieted around her. She needed help—someone who understood Deku, even if only on a surface level. She needed Klein.

Klein's guild was stationed a few floors down in a more laid-back district, one that had fewer high-level players and was more suited for gathering supplies. She found the building where Klein's guild often met, the banner hanging lazily over the door with the symbol of Fuurinkazan on it. Taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door, bracing herself for the conversation she knew she had to have.

Inside, Klein was sitting with a couple of his guild members, laughing over something that had happened during their last raid. His boisterous nature was infectious, and normally it would've been a comfort to Asuna. But today, her heart wasn't in it. Klein spotted her the moment she walked in, his expression shifting from his usual carefree attitude to one of concern.

"Asuna? You look like you've seen a ghost," Klein said, rising from his chair and motioning for the other members of his guild to give them some privacy. "What's going on?"

Asuna took a breath, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "It's Deku… I don't know what to do anymore, Klein. He's shutting everyone out again. Worse than before."

Klein's brows furrowed in concern as he crossed his arms, listening intently. "I figured something was off with him. He's barely said a word to anyone since we got back from the Laughing Coffin raid. But what happened?"

Asuna hesitated, feeling the weight of her words. "I tried talking to him… He won't open up. He's been distant ever since the raid, and I'm worried. Klein, I think he's starting to fall back into that mindset, you know, when he was always fighting alone, closing himself off."

Klein's jaw clenched. He knew what that looked like—how Deku had been so cold and distant in the early floors of the game. "That's not good," he muttered. "The last thing we need is Deku going solo again. He's too strong for his own good, and if he gets reckless…"

"I know," Asuna interjected, her voice rising slightly. "That's why I came to you. I don't know how to reach him. Maybe if you talked to him, it might help."

Klein blinked in surprise. "Me? I don't know if I'm the best person for this kind of thing. He barely talks to me, Asuna."

Asuna shook her head, her frustration evident. "You don't have to get him to pour his heart out. Just… be there. He listens to you, even if he doesn't show it."

Klein rubbed the back of his neck, looking thoughtful. "Alright, alright. I'll give it a shot. But I can't promise it'll work."

"Thank you, Klein," Asuna said softly, her shoulders relaxing a little. "I don't know what else to do, and I'm scared of losing him to this."

Klein gave her a reassuring smile. "Hey, don't worry. I've got this. We'll figure it out."

The morning sun bathed the streets of Aincrad in a soft, golden light as Klein moved through the town, searching for Deku. His eyes darted over the crowds of players going about their business, but his focus was entirely on finding his friend. After his conversation with Asuna the night before, Klein was more determined than ever to reach Deku, to somehow get through to him before the duel with Heathcliff.

As he turned the corner onto a quieter street, Klein spotted Deku just as he was exiting a blacksmith shop. He was surprised—Deku hadn't gone to Lizbeth's shop, where he and the others typically went for gear upgrades. Instead, he had chosen a more anonymous place, perhaps to avoid interacting with people he knew. That detail alone unsettled Klein, showing how much deeper Deku had withdrawn.

"Deku!" Klein called out, jogging over to him.

Deku stopped, glancing over his shoulder at Klein. His expression was as blank as ever, though there was something different in his eyes—something colder, more distant than Klein had seen in a long time.

"Morning," Deku muttered, his voice devoid of energy or warmth. He turned to continue walking, but Klein stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

"Deku, we need to talk," Klein said, his voice firm but not aggressive. "I know you've got that duel with Heathcliff today, and I know you're not exactly in the best headspace right now. But before you go swinging swords with him, how about a spar? Just to warm up."

Deku blinked, his eyes narrowing slightly in confusion. "I don't need a warm-up."

Klein shook his head, standing his ground. "I think you do, and not just for the duel. Come on, man. A little sparring could help clear your mind, get your body moving. You've got a big fight coming up. Don't you want to be in top form?"

Deku remained silent, his gaze dropping to the ground. For a moment, Klein thought he might refuse outright. But then, after a long pause, Deku sighed, his hand reaching for the hilt of his sword. As his fingers brushed the cool metal, they trembled—just for a moment, but enough for Klein to notice. Deku's face remained impassive, but in his mind, flashes of the Laughing Coffin members' faces flickered, their final moments replaying in his head.

He shook his head slightly, trying to push the images away. "Fine," Deku finally muttered, his tone flat and resigned.

Klein smiled, though the tension between them was palpable. "Alright, let's head over to an open spot."

The two of them moved to a nearby training area, which was mostly empty at this hour. Klein unsheathed his sword, giving it a few practice swings as he watched Deku out of the corner of his eye. Deku stood still for a moment, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. The hesitation was brief, but Klein saw it.

Deku finally drew his blade, the familiar weight of it in his hand both comforting and burdensome.

"Ready?" Klein asked, his usual enthusiasm slightly muted by the seriousness of the moment.

Deku simply nodded, his stance shifting into a defensive position. Klein came at him first, his movements quick but not aggressive, more like a test of Deku's reflexes. Deku blocked each strike effortlessly, his eyes focused but his mind clearly elsewhere.

The sparring continued like this for several minutes, with Klein gradually increasing the intensity, but Deku remained emotionally distant. He moved mechanically, his strikes precise and his defenses solid, but there was no fire behind his actions. No passion, no real drive.

Klein gritted his teeth, trying to think of something—anything—that might reach his friend. "Look, I don't know what's going through your head, but you've got people who care about you. You can't just keep pushing everyone away."

Still, Deku didn't respond. His grip on his sword tightened slightly, but his eyes remained dull, his posture rigid.

Klein's sword slammed against Deku's with a resonating clang, the sound ringing out sharply in the open space between them. The strike was heavy, pushing Deku back a few steps, but his response was slow, almost mechanical. His sword came up to block, but Klein could already tell—Deku wasn't really in the fight. Not yet.

The fight had barely begun, but Klein was already gritting his teeth, frustration building inside him as he watched Deku move through the motions without any real purpose. This wasn't the Deku he knew. This wasn't the swordsman who could outmatch anyone in Aincrad with sheer skill and determination. This was someone weighed down by something far heavier than the sword he carried.

"Come on, Deku," Klein muttered under his breath, tightening his grip on his sword as he went in for another strike. "Snap out of it, man."

But Deku barely reacted. He moved to block, but his defense was sluggish, his footwork clumsy. Klein ducked low and swept his blade upward, forcing Deku to take another step back. The green-haired swordsman managed to parry the blow, but his eyes were still distant, as if his mind were miles away from the battlefield in front of him.

Klein pressed the attack, striking faster and harder. He wasn't giving Deku any room to breathe, hoping the intensity would force him to engage. But it was like Deku was sleepwalking through the fight, his movements too stiff, too slow.

"You're fighting like a zombie!" Klein growled, his frustration slipping through his voice. "You think you're gonna beat Heathcliff like this? Wake up!"

Deku didn't respond, his face blank as he blocked another strike. His hands gripped his sword tightly, but there was a tremble in his fingers—one Klein noticed immediately. And then it hit him. This wasn't about skill. This wasn't about Deku forgetting how to fight.

This was guilt. The same guilt that had been eating away at Deku ever since Laughing Coffin.

The sparring continued, but to Klein, it felt like he was fighting a ghost. Klein's mind raced, but he knew that trying to talk Deku out of it wouldn't work. Not now. Words wouldn't reach him in this state. There was too much going on inside Deku's head—too much that Klein couldn't understand. So instead of trying to coax Deku into opening up, Klein did the only thing he could.

He kept fighting.

Their swords clashed again, ringing through the air like a battle cry. Klein struck fast, his blade moving in tight arcs, forcing Deku to react. With each strike, he pushed harder, putting more pressure on Deku to keep up. It was an unspoken challenge, a demand for Deku to wake up, to stop fighting like a hollow shell.

And slowly—painfully slowly—something began to change.

Deku's blocks became sharper, more deliberate. His footwork, still a bit sloppy, started to regain some of the fluidity Klein knew so well. Klein pressed the advantage, driving Deku back again and again, but each time, Deku's counters came with more force, more precision. It was like watching someone shake off the cobwebs, coming back into focus little by little.

Klein didn't let up. He couldn't. Deku needed this—needed to be pushed to his limit if he was going to snap out of whatever dark place he was in. So Klein kept attacking, his sword clashing against Deku's in rapid succession, the sound of metal on metal filling the air.

"You're not done yet," Klein muttered through gritted teeth as he swung his sword in a wide arc, aiming for Deku's side. "I know you're still in there."

Deku blocked the strike, his eyes narrowing for just a second. It was subtle, but Klein noticed it—the brief flicker of something in Deku's gaze. And then it was gone, replaced by that same distant look. But Klein didn't stop. He couldn't. He was getting through, even if just a little.

And then, after what felt like hours of relentless sparring, something changed.

Deku's grip on his sword tightened, and his eyes sharpened. He parried Klein's next strike with more force than before, spinning out of the way and countering with a swift upward slash. Klein blocked it, but he could feel the shift in Deku's movements. It wasn't perfect—he was still shaky, still not fully there—but the fire was starting to return.

Klein smirked, feeling a surge of hope. "That's more like it."

But he didn't let up. He couldn't afford to. If Deku was going to make it through his duel with Heathcliff, he needed to be sharper than ever. So Klein kept pushing, their swords clashing in a rapid, chaotic dance of steel.

With each clash, Deku's movements became more fluid, more deliberate. He wasn't just defending anymore—he was fighting back. His strikes came faster, more precise, and for the first time during the spar, Klein felt himself being pushed on the defensive.

Klein grinned, sweat dripping down his forehead. "There you are."

But even as Deku's fighting improved, Klein could tell something was still off. He wasn't fighting for himself. He wasn't fighting for his own survival or victory. He was fighting for something else—something that had nothing to do with his own desires.

Klein knew exactly what it was.

Deku's blade moved faster now, cutting through the air with precision. And then, in one final, powerful strike, he knocked Klein's sword from his hand, sending it clattering to the ground. Before Klein could react, Deku had his own sword pointed directly at Klein's face, the blade gleaming in the sunlight.

For a moment, the two stood there, panting from the exertion of the fight. Klein was grinning, thinking he'd finally managed to pull Deku out of whatever dark hole he'd been sinking into.

But then Deku spoke.

"I've made my decision, Klein."

Klein's grin faded, his eyes narrowing as he searched Deku's face. The emotionless expression had returned, and Klein realized, with a sinking feeling, that he hadn't pulled Deku out of the darkness at all.

"I know Asuna probably sent you here to change my mind," Deku continued, his voice flat, devoid of the fire that had briefly returned during the fight. "But I'm not coming back after this."

Klein's heart dropped. "What? Deku, what the hell are you talking about?"

Deku sheathed his sword, turning around and walking a few steps away. His movements were mechanical, deliberate, as if he had already made up his mind.

"After I win…" Deku paused, his back still turned to Klein. "Look out for her."

Klein felt a wave of panic rising in his chest. "Wait, hold on—what do you mean you're not coming back? What the hell are you planning, Deku?"

But Deku didn't answer. He started walking away, his footsteps echoing through the empty street. There was no emotion in his steps, no hesitation. He was like a man marching toward his own fate, resigned to whatever end awaited him.

"Deku!" Klein called after him, his voice thick with frustration and worry. "Don't you dare walk away! You can't just… just leave like this!"

Deku didn't turn back. He just kept walking, his figure disappearing into the nearby crowd, leaving Klein standing there, swordless and helpless.

Klein clenched his fists, feeling anger bubble up inside him. "Damn it, Deku…" He slammed his fist against the hilt of his sword, which still lay on the ground where it had fallen. "Why the hell do you always have to do things the hard way?"

But as the anger faded, all Klein was left with was the sinking realization that he hadn't gotten through to Deku at all. If anything, he'd just pushed him further away.

And now, with the duel looming on the horizon, Klein couldn't shake the feeling that something terrible was about to happen.

Later that afternoon, the tension between Deku and Asuna remained. The guilt still weighed heavily on Deku's heart, and the more he withdrew from everyone, the more concerned she became.

Deku stood in the arena, his swords strapped to his back, as Heathcliff watched him from across the field. The duel was set, and the stakes couldn't be higher. If Deku won, Asuna would be free to leave the Knights of the Blood Oath. But if he lost… he would be forced to join the guild.

Deku knew he wasn't fighting for himself. He was fighting for Asuna's freedom.

Asuna stood near the entrance to the arena, her heart racing and her stomach twisting into tight knots. The reality of what was about to happen weighed heavily on her, and the more she thought about the duel, the more her mind spiraled. What if this was the last time she could try to reach Deku? What if he won and left her behind, retreating into the isolation he had once embraced so willingly?

She barely noticed Mito approaching until she spoke.

"You doing okay?" Mito asked, her tone less playful than usual, almost hesitant.

Asuna blinked, forcing herself to nod even though she wasn't sure of the answer. "I don't know... I don't know what's going to happen after this." Her voice was strained, and her throat tightened with the effort of keeping herself together.

Mito crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Asuna's expression. "You're not just worried about the duel," Mito said, her words careful but not entirely confident. "You're worried about Deku."

Asuna let out a shaky breath, her thoughts a whirlwind of concern and helplessness. "Of course I am... He's slipping away, Mito. I've tried talking to him, but he just... shuts down. It's like he's already decided to give up, to go back to how he was before."

Mito leaned against the stone wall of the arena entrance, her gaze drifting away. She was silent for a moment, as if choosing her words carefully. "He's been through a lot... more than most people here, I'd bet," Mito finally said, but her voice wavered ever so slightly. "But... he's strong. Right? He's gotta be. He'll get through this."

Asuna noticed the uncertainty in Mito's tone, the way she didn't meet her eyes when she spoke. It was like Mito was trying to convince herself more than anyone else. "You don't sound sure," Asuna said quietly, a tremble in her voice as the weight of everything pressed down on her.

Mito sighed, pushing off the wall and turning to face her more directly. "I'm trying to be. But... look, I've known Deku for a while now, and I've seen him at his worst. I just—" She paused, struggling to find the right words. "I just don't know how long he can keep going like this, Asuna. It's like... he's not giving himself a way out."

Asuna felt the sting of tears in her eyes as Mito's words hit too close to home. "I don't want to lose him... not like this," she whispered, her voice breaking as she spoke.

Mito clenched her fists, her expression a mixture of frustration and helplessness. "I don't either. But we can't force him to open up. He has to choose that for himself... and right now, I don't think he's ready."

Asuna wiped her eyes quickly, trying to hold herself together. "So, what am I supposed to do? Just stand by and watch him fall apart?"

Mito's gaze softened, but there was no real answer in her eyes. "I don't know, Asuna. I wish I did. I want to believe he'll come back, that he'll find a way through this, but... I can't promise you that. I don't think anyone can."

Mito hesitated, her eyes clouded with a mix of frustration and sorrow. "This game..." she began, her voice softer now. "You've seen what it's done to some people. It changes them, breaks them. Even the strongest person can only take so much before..." She trailed off, shaking her head as if trying to ward off the dark thoughts. "It's a lot, Asuna. More than anyone should ever have to handle. And... I'm scared that maybe, even for Deku, this might be too much."

She looked away for a moment, her expression hardening as if she was forcing herself to accept the reality neither of them wanted to face. "We've lost so many already, and I don't want him to be another casualty, but... this game gets to you. It can twist you in ways you never expected."

The uncertainty in Mito's voice made Asuna's heart sink further. For the first time, Mito wasn't the pillar of strength she usually was. She wasn't sure either. None of them were.

After a moment of silence, Mito let out a deep breath, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I just hope that, whatever happens in there... it doesn't push him further away."

Asuna nodded, though her heart still ached with worry. "Me too."

Heathcliff stepped forward, his shield and sword at the ready. "Are you prepared, Black Swordsman?"

Deku nodded, his face emotionless, his eyes cold. He wasn't fighting for glory. He wasn't fighting for pride. He was fighting to protect the one person he cared about—even if it meant letting her go.

The duel began, and for the first time in a long while, Deku fought without hesitation. He moved with precision, his strikes calculated, his footwork flawless. Heathcliff was formidable, but Deku had the advantage of unpredictability. He wasn't relying solely on the dual-wielding sword skills that had made him famous. He was using other techniques, blending his knowledge of martial arts and strategy from the real world with the mechanics of the game.

Heathcliff's shield blocked several strikes, but Deku was relentless. He pushed forward, his swords glowing with energy as he parried Heathcliff's blows and landed a series of strikes that forced his opponent back.

Asuna watched from the sidelines, her heart pounding in her chest. She had never seen Deku fight like this before. There was a fire in his eyes, a determination that she hadn't seen in days. But there was also something else—something cold, something distant. He wasn't fighting for himself. He was fighting for her, but at what cost?

Deku saw an opening and moved in for the final blow, his swords poised to strike. But just as he was about to land the hit, Heathcliff's shield moved in an almost unnatural way, seamlessly blocking the attack. In the same motion, Heathcliff countered with a powerful strike that sent Deku's health bar plummeting into the yellow.

The match was over.

Deku fell to his knees, his swords slipping from his hands as the realization sank in. He had lost.

Heathcliff stood over him, his expression unreadable, and with a sharp tone he said. "It seems the duel is mine, Deku."

Deku didn't respond. He could only stare at the ground, his chest tight with defeat. He had failed Asuna. He had failed to protect her. And that name, Deku, rung in his ears, reminding him of it's meaning. Useless.

From the entrance of the arena, Asuna watched with a mixture of relief and sorrow. She was still bound to the Knights, but at least Deku wouldn't go back to being a solo player. She wasn't sure how to feel. All she knew was that she was losing him, and she didn't know how to stop it.

Deku stood slowly, his gaze distant as he turned to leave the arena. As he passed Asuna, he paused briefly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry I lost."

Before Asuna could respond, he walked away, disappearing into the dark hallway. His footsteps echoed off the stone walls, each step seeming heavier than the last. The dim torchlight flickered and danced along his retreating figure, casting long shadows that stretched and warped as he moved deeper into the corridor. Asuna's heart ached as she watched him go, her lips parting to speak, to call him back, but no words came. There was a weight in her chest, a heaviness that made it impossible to speak, to breathe.

The tension that had lingered between them, unspoken yet palpable, seemed to stretch even further as he faded into the darkness. It wasn't just the hallway that was dim—it felt like the warmth that had been growing between them, the connection they had forged over months of fighting side by side, was slipping away. His back remained turned, his shoulders squared but rigid, as if he was bracing himself against the storm of emotions raging inside him.

Asuna clenched her fists at her sides, torn between running after him and giving him the space he so clearly thought he needed. But what was worse was the look in his eyes just before he turned away—those green eyes that had once been so full of hope and determination now seemed clouded, distant, like he was sinking deeper into something she couldn't reach.

The hallway swallowed him, leaving only the flicker of the torches and the empty silence in his wake. Asuna's breath hitched, and for a moment, she fought the tears threatening to spill. She stood there, frozen, feeling a cold chill sweep through her despite the warmth of the flames nearby. She had fought beside him, trusted him with her life, and now, it felt like he was closing the door on everything they had built together.

The weight of his final words hung in the air, heavy and unforgiving. I'm sorry I lost.

It wasn't just about the duel or the fight. There was more to those words, more to the way he had said them, the guilt and sorrow laced between each syllable. And as he disappeared from sight, a deep sense of loss settled in her chest, a feeling that something vital had slipped through her fingers.

She stood there for what felt like an eternity, staring into the void where he had vanished, her mind racing. What had she missed? Could she have done more to reach him? To stop him from walking this path alone?

With a shaky breath, Asuna finally turned her gaze away, her own thoughts swirling in the growing darkness. Whatever came next, she couldn't shake the feeling that the distance between them was growing—like the shadowy hallway that had swallowed Deku whole.

AUTHOR NOTES: I hope I didn't miss anything while I was editing, I had multiple different drafts of this chapter and my computer is currently being worked on, so because I wanted to get this chapter out I tried looking it over on my phone. I'll have my computer back within a day or two so I'll make sure to go back and fine tune the chapter just in case. Anyways! So even though I'm really excited to get to the next part of the story, I decided I can't skip over this part which is why I'm going to be adding at least a couple more chapters then I originally intended. I feel like if I rushed through this now, later we wouldn't have the same understanding of decisions to come. So just something to look forward to. Put any theories y'all have about the direction of the story below! I'm curious how many, if any, can guess what's in store. As always, have a good one! :)