Chapter 10: Shadows in the Safe Zone

Months had passed since Deku had last seen Asuna, and a lot had changed in that time. The seasons in Aincrad shifted subtly, marking the passage of time, and with it, Deku had grown in his own way. The boy who once pushed everyone away had now become someone more open, albeit still wary of forming close bonds. But now, he didn't shut people out completely. He was more willing to help, more approachable, though he still preferred to work alone unless circumstances forced his hand.

As he wandered the streets of Selmburg, a town on the 56th floor known for its quiet, peaceful atmosphere, Deku found himself reflecting on how much he had changed. The cobblestone streets were lined with small shops, bakeries, and cafes, and the scent of fresh bread mixed with the aroma of blooming flowers in the air. The atmosphere was serene, and for once, he didn't feel like an outsider in the crowd. He wasn't searching for trouble, but he also wasn't running from it.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a familiar voice.

"Asuna?"

He turned toward the sound, his eyes widening as they landed on the familiar figure of the chestnut-haired girl. She was standing with a group of players, dressed in her Knights of the Blood Oath uniform, the crimson and white contrasting sharply with her auburn hair. Her face, usually calm and determined, was marked by an expression of concern as she spoke with the others.

The sound of his voice caught her off guard, and when she turned to face him, her eyes widened. "Deku?"

For a moment, neither of them moved. The last time they had seen each other, there had been tension—an awkward, unresolved silence that lingered between them even now. Asuna took in his appearance. He looked the same as before, and yet… there was something different. His eyes weren't as cold, his posture not as tense. He wasn't the brooding solo player she remembered. There was warmth there now—something she had only seen in glimpses of before.

"I didn't expect to see you here," Deku said, taking a step forward. His voice held a softness that surprised even him.

"I could say the same," Asuna replied, still processing the change she saw in him. She blinked, as if to make sure he was real.

"So… What've-", as she was cut off when a sudden scream cut through the peaceful atmosphere of the town. Both turned instinctively toward the source of the commotion, their senses heightened. A crowd had gathered in the plaza, people murmuring anxiously as they looked up toward a nearby rooftop.

From the roof, a player fell, his body limp and unresponsive. Gasps echoed through the crowd as he plummeted, only to shatter into thousands of digital polygons before hitting the ground, dissolving into nothing. Despite being in a designated safe zone, the player was dead.

"How is that possible?" Deku muttered, narrowing his eyes. "We're in a safe zone."

Asuna's expression grew grim, her earlier concern morphing into something much more serious. "This is the second one today," she said quietly. "Someone's committing murders… in a safe zone."

Deku turned to her, already understanding what she meant. "Let me help."

Asuna nodded, relief crossing her features. "I could use the help."

Asuna and Deku moved away from the crowd, finding a quiet corner to start piecing together what little they knew. Despite their best efforts, interviewing witnesses and scanning the area for clues, they found nothing definitive. No one had seen any direct attack, and no weapons had been used. There was no sign of how the player had been killed.

Frustration began to build as the investigation hit dead end after dead end. Asuna was used to relying on her instincts, but this mystery was different. There were too many unknowns, and with each moment that passed, the danger only grew.

Deku remained calm, methodical. Asuna noticed that this was something else that had changed about him. He was more centered, more in control of himself. She found herself growing more comfortable in his presence, the awkwardness slowly melting away.

Finally, she couldn't hold back her curiosity anymore.

"You know," she began, glancing at him, "I don't know what changed with you, but I kinda like this version of you… a lot more than the constantly brooding Deku."

Deku chuckled softly, his lips twitching into a smile. "I've had some help along the way," he admitted.

Asuna tilted her head, her expression softening. "I'm glad."

A brief silence settled between them, but this time it was comfortable. Deku glanced at the sun as it began to set in the distance.

"We've been running in circles," he said after a moment. "Maybe we should take a break."

Asuna frowned. "A break? Now?"

Deku nodded, a playful glint in his eyes. "But this is Aincrad's most optimal season of the year," he said, chuckling. "I have a few friends who've helped remind me that sometimes you just need to take it all in. The beauty in the world... all of it. Even if it's only for a little while." He paused briefly, then added, "I don't know. I guess it helps center me a little."

Asuna hesitated, but the look in Deku's eyes convinced her to follow him. They made their way to a small grassy hill just outside the town, the wind carrying the scent of flowers as they walked. Deku lay down first, folding his arms behind his head as he gazed up at the sky.

"This isn't going to help us solve anything," Asuna muttered, crossing her arms as she sat beside him.

"It might," he said simply.

With a sigh, Asuna reluctantly lay back beside him, still feeling a bit unsure. Before she knew it, the warmth of the sun and the gentle breeze lulled her into a peaceful sleep.

When Asuna stirred, her eyes slowly fluttering open, she was met with the sight of Deku sitting a respectful distance away, keeping watch over her as she slept. For a moment, she was flustered, realizing this wasn't the first time he had quietly looked out for her. She thought back to the first-floor boss battle, the way he had silently ensured she was safe without ever drawing attention to himself.

Maybe… maybe Deku had always been kind. He just kept it hidden beneath his cold exterior.

"Thanks for, well… watching over me," she said, feeling her cheeks warm slightly.

Deku shrugged, his tone light. "No problem. It looked like you needed it."

Asuna sat up, smoothing her hair as she recalled their earlier conversation. "Things are getting more dangerous. I've heard about more player killers abusing the dueling system, even in safe zones. It's hard to know who to trust these days."

Deku's expression darkened slightly, but he kept his voice steady. "I've been thinking about that too."

Before Asuna could respond, Deku's voice took on a slightly teasing tone. "And while you were asleep, I thought of a lead."

Her eyebrows shot up. "A lead?"

He nodded. "We've been looking for clues in the wrong places. There've been no witnesses, so we assumed the deaths were from duels being exploited. But what if it's something else? A loophole or an exploit allowing someone to inflict lethal status effects without engaging in combat. Maybe they're damaging players close to death and poisoning them... even in a safe zone."

Asuna blinked, processing his words. "That... actually makes sense."

Deku smiled. "Glad you think so. Let's head to the administration office. If we're right, we might be able to find something in the system logs."

As they made their way to the office, Asuna praised Deku for his sharp thinking. "You're pretty good at this," she said, half-teasing. "You should consider being a detective when we get out of here."

Deku chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't know about being a detective, but I've always admired heroes. Ever since I was little, I started writing analysis journals—looking at their quirks, fighting styles, strengths, weaknesses, and recently before SAO I may have even started sketching out their costumes and support gear, maybe adding some possible ways to improve or disable their gear. It was a hobby really, but I guess it stuck with me. That strategic mindset… it's something I've had for a while."

Asuna nodded slightly laughing again from his slight mutter spree, but still impressed. "Yeah, that makes sense. I've seen you take control of the battlefield twice now. Both times, you saved countless lives. I always wondered how you could counter almost every strike."

Deku smiled, though a bit sheepishly. "It's just observation, really."

They arrived at the administration office, and after reviewing the system logs, they uncovered a critical lead. A player named "Grimlock" had interacted with the victims shortly before their deaths. The system showed that Grimlock had traded modified Rings of Agility with them, exploiting a loophole that allowed lethal status effects to persist in safe zones.

With the evidence in hand, Deku and Asuna knew they had their suspect. Grimlock had found a way to bypass the safe zone's protections, using the rings to deliver slow but inevitable death to his victims.

As they tracked him down to a secluded spot on the outskirts of town, Deku's mind raced with strategies. The thought of someone exploiting such a loophole, taking lives under the guise of safety, filled him with disgust. He could feel the tension between himself and Asuna, their shared focus creating an unspoken bond. Neither of them could allow something like this to go unchecked.

They found Grimlock standing by a large tree, his back to them as he stared out over the rolling hills. He didn't seem surprised when they approached.

"You've been busy," Deku said, his voice steady but laced with anger.

Grimlock turned slowly, a bitter smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. His eyes held a haunted look, a mix of pain and twisted satisfaction. "I've just been setting things right."

Asuna stepped forward, her voice sharp. "You call murdering players 'setting things right'? You've broken every code of honor left in this game."

Grimlock laughed, though it was devoid of humor. "Honor? In a world like this? Tell me, do you really think there's such a thing as justice in this twisted reality?"

Deku's fists clenched at his sides. "Killing others won't bring her back," he said, his voice low but firm.

Grimlock faltered, his bitter facade cracking at the mention of his late wife. "She didn't deserve to die. They… they took everything from me. I was just giving them what they deserved."

Asuna's expression softened slightly, but her resolve didn't waver. "You've lost someone, but this isn't the way to honor her memory."

For a moment, it looked like Grimlock might lash out, his hands twitching at his sides, but then the weight of his actions seemed to settle on his shoulders. He looked down, his voice barely a whisper. "I just wanted them to pay."

Without another word, Deku signaled to a group of players who had been quietly waiting nearby, ready to step in if things escalated. They moved forward, taking Grimlock into custody, and with that, the player killer was turned over to the authorities.

Later that evening, Deku and Asuna found themselves sitting in a small tavern, the warm light of the candles flickering between them. The events of the day still lingered in the air, but there was a sense of relief too. They had stopped Grimlock, and no one else would fall victim to his twisted sense of justice.

Asuna sighed, leaning back in her seat. "I'm glad we figured it out, but… it's sad, you know? There's just so much pain in this world. People get lost in it."

Deku nodded, taking a sip of his tea. "Yeah. It's easy to lose yourself in here. But it doesn't have to be that way."

Asuna looked at him thoughtfully. "You've really changed, Deku. The last time we worked together, you were so… closed off. Now, it's like, I'm not exactly sure how to explain this but, more welcoming maybe?."

Deku smiled faintly, though there was still a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Hmm yeahh, well I guess you could say I'm trying. It's not always easy, but… I've had some good people reminding me to keep moving forward."

Asuna returned his smile. "Well, you've definitely made an impression. You were incredible today, figuring everything out like that."

He waved her praise away modestly. "It was a team effort."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the sounds of the bustling tavern filling the space around them. After a moment, Asuna seemed to gather her thoughts and spoke again, her tone lighter.

"You know, Deku," she said, stirring her drink absentmindedly, "would you consider adding me as a friend? In the system, I mean."

Deku blinked, his surprise evident. "Ahh, so… we weren't friends before?"

Asuna gave him a look, her eyes narrowing slightly with playful exasperation. "Nobody could really talk to you before," she pointed out, her tone teasing. "But that's not what I meant." She waved a hand dismissively. "I meant in the system."

The weight of the request seemed lighter than it would have been months ago. Back then, he would've hesitated, unsure of letting someone get too close. But now… things were different. He looked at Asuna, who was smiling softly at him, and he felt a strange warmth spread through his chest.

"Okay," he said quietly, opening his menu.

A moment later, they exchanged friend requests, the soft chime signaling the new connection between them. They both smiled at each other, the tension from earlier completely gone now.

As the evening drew to a close, the two of them stepped out into the cool night air. The streets of Selmburg were quiet now, the peacefulness of the safe zone settling back in after the chaos of the day.

"I'll walk you to your inn," Deku offered, his voice soft.

Asuna smiled at the gesture. "Thanks."

They walked side by side in comfortable silence, the glow of the street lamps casting long shadows on the cobblestone path. For the first time in a while, Asuna felt at ease. The day had been difficult, but she realized something important had come out of it too.

When they reached the entrance to her inn, they stopped, and Asuna turned to face him.

"Well," she said softly, "goodnight, Deku."

"Goodnight, Asuna," he replied.

For a moment, she hesitated, then turned around and opened the door walking through. But before the door was completely shut, Deku heard through the crack.

"Thanks again for today," she whispered.

He smiled, leaning slightly to the door, cupping a hand up to his mouth, and whispering back, "Always." Shocking himself with his response, his smile lingering though.

He stood there for a moment, reflecting on the events of the day. He hadn't expected to enjoy working with Asuna this much, but there was no denying the connection they had formed.

As he turned and began the walk back to find a cheaper inn, he felt something unfamiliar stir within him—a quiet joy, a sense of contentment he hadn't felt in a long time. It wasn't the rush of battle or the thrill of victory. It was something deeper, something quieter, but just as powerful.

He wasn't sure what it was, but for the first time in a while, Deku didn't feel so alone.

Back in his room, Deku opened his menu and saw the friend request notification from Asuna still glowing softly on the screen. He smiled, tapping the screen and seeing her name added to his friend's list.

A message notification popped up, and when he opened it, he saw a simple message from Asuna:

"Thanks again for today. I'm glad we're "friends" now. Hope to fight with you on the front lines soon!"

He chuckled, quickly typing out a reply:

"Sure anytime, IF you can keep up that is" He originally typed out. Then starting to overthink, he deleted the message. After a few minutes of typing out and deleting messages, he finally settled on, "Yup anytime".

While still slightly freaking out that he had messaged a girl, who wasn't his Mom. He closed the menu as he finally settled into bed. His thoughts drifting. For so long, he had isolated himself, convinced that he couldn't let anyone in. But now, things were different. He wasn't just surviving anymore. He was living... Maybe the idea of being a hero wasn't so crazy. Maybe... As his lantern's light slowly flickered, barely keeping a light in the corner of his room, as he drifted to sleep.