Kirito and Shino walked through the bustling marketplace on the 48th floor, their footsteps echoing on the cobblestone streets. The morning sun bathed Aincrad in a warm glow, but Kirito couldn't shake the tension that lingered in the air. He glanced at Shino, who seemed preoccupied, her usually sharp eyes dull with something he couldn't quite place.
"I'm glad Lisbeth could upgrade your weapon," Kirito said, trying to break the silence. "She really knows her craft."
Shino nodded, her fingers brushing the newly enhanced bow slung across her back. "Yeah, she's amazing. I'll feel a lot safer with this."
They turned down a narrow alley, heading toward a small shop that specialized in rare items. Kirito's mind was on the types of potions and crystals they might need for their next adventure, but Shino's attention seemed elsewhere.
As they approached the shop, a familiar voice called out to them. "Kirito? Shino?"
Kirito turned to see Asuna, the sub-leader of the Knights of the Blood, approaching with her ever-present bodyguard, Kuradeel, a tall man with a stern expression. The sight of them made Kirito stop in his tracks.
Shino's reaction was immediate. Without a word, she grabbed Kirito's hand and started pulling him in the opposite direction.
"Shino, what—" Kirito began, but she cut him off with a desperate look.
"Just run!" she hissed, her grip tightening as they dashed through the alleyways.
Kirito's heart pounded, not just from the sudden sprint but from the confusion that gnawed at him. Why was Shino running? What was she hiding?
Despite their efforts, Asuna and Kuradeel caught up to them, blocking their path. Asuna's usually gentle expression was stern, her hazel eyes fixed on Shino.
"Shino," Asuna said, her voice carrying both concern and authority, "why did you leave the guild?"
Shino's face was pale, her lips pressed into a tight line. She avoided Asuna's gaze, instead turning to Kirito. "Kirito, please… stay here. I need to talk to Asuna alone."
Kirito hesitated but nodded. "Alright. But… you owe me an explanation later."
Asuna and Shino moved to a secluded alley, leaving Kirito with Kuradeel. The tall bodyguard offered a polite bow, surprising Kirito with his sudden change in demeanor.
"Kirito, right?" Kuradeel said, his voice smooth and measured. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Kirito nodded, still wary. "Likewise. What's going on here, Kuradeel?"
Kuradeel sighed, glancing toward the alley where Asuna and Shino were speaking. "Shino… she was once a member of the Knights of the Blood. A commander, actually. But she left the guild without a word after she lost someone very close to her. She blames herself for his death."
Kirito felt his chest tighten. Shino had never mentioned anything about this. "She… lied to me?"
Kuradeel shook his head. "I wouldn't say she lied. More like… she hid the truth. It's not an easy thing to talk about, losing someone you care about."
Kirito's mind raced as he processed this new information. Shino, the calm and composed archer he had come to rely on, had been carrying this weight all along. He felt a pang of guilt for not seeing through her facade.
"So, what's your relationship with Shino?" Kuradeel asked, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.
Kirito looked up, meeting Kuradeel's gaze. "We're friends. We're in the same guild, the Moonlight Black Cats."
Kuradeel nodded thoughtfully. "I see. I've heard about your guild. Small but capable."
Kirito forced a small smile. "We do our best."
There was a brief silence before Kuradeel extended a friend request. "Let's stay in touch, Kirito. I might need your help in the future."
Kirito hesitated for a moment before accepting the request. "Sure. It's always good to have strong allies."
As they finished their exchange, Asuna and Shino reappeared from the alley. Shino's face was expressionless, but Kirito could see the turmoil behind her eyes. Asuna's expression was softer now, though still tinged with sadness.
"We're leaving," Asuna said quietly, her gaze shifting from Shino to Kirito.
Kuradeel fell in step beside Asuna as they turned to leave. Kirito watched them go, his heart heavy with unanswered questions.
Once they were out of sight, Kirito turned to Shino. "You need to tell me what's going on, Shino. Why were you running from them? Why didn't you tell me about your past?"
Shino looked away, her shoulders slumping. "I'm sorry, Kirito. I didn't want to burden you with my past. It's… something I've been trying to forget."
Kirito's voice softened. "What happened?"
Shino took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly. "When I was in the Knights of the Blood, I… I had someone close to me. His name was William. We grew strong together, fought side by side. We were even promoted to commanders. But one day… one day he went on a mission alone, and I… I didn't go with him."
Her voice cracked, and she paused to steady herself. "He was killed, Kirito. And I wasn't there to help him. I… I couldn't save him."
Kirito felt a lump in his throat as he listened to Shino's confession. He reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Shino… I'm so sorry. I didn't know."
She shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "I couldn't stay in the guild after that. Every time I saw his name on the list of fallen players, it felt like a knife in my heart. So, I left. I thought that maybe… if I started over, I could move on."
Kirito squeezed her shoulder gently. "You don't have to carry that burden alone, Shino. We're a team. We're friends."
Shino wiped her eyes, giving him a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Kirito. And… I'm sorry for lying to you."
Kirito shook his head. "You don't need to apologize. Just… promise me you'll trust me from now on, okay?"
She nodded. "I promise."
As the sun began to set, they returned to their inn, the weight of the day's events pressing down on them. That night, Kirito found himself restless, unable to sleep. He knew Shino was likely feeling the same way.
After some time, he got up and knocked on her door. "Shino? Are you awake?"
There was a pause before she answered, her voice muffled. "Yeah. What is it, Kirito?"
"Do you want to grab something to eat? I was thinking of getting dinner from the shop nearby."
There was a long silence before Shino responded. "I… I don't really feel like eating tonight. I'm sorry."
Kirito hesitated, then nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "Alright. I'll be back soon."
As he left the inn and walked down the dimly lit streets, Kirito couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that had settled in his chest. Shino's past was more painful than he'd imagined, and he regretted pushing her to reveal it.
His thoughts were interrupted when a shadowy figure stepped out of an alley, blocking his path. The figure was completely covered in a black robe, the hood obscuring their face.
"Who are you?" Kirito asked, his hand instinctively moving to the hilt of his sword.
The stranger didn't reply. Instead, they drew a sword and lunged at Kirito with surprising speed. Kirito barely had time to draw his own blade and block the attack.
The alley echoed with the clash of metal as they exchanged blows. The stranger's movements were skilled, precise, but Kirito was no novice. He parried a series of strikes, his mind racing as he tried to figure out his opponent's identity.
"Why are you attacking me?" Kirito demanded, but the stranger remained silent, their face hidden in the shadows.
The fight intensified, the narrow alley limiting Kirito's movements. He was forced on the defensive, but his opponent wasn't giving him any openings. The stranger's swordsmanship was impressive, almost on par with his own.
But Kirito had faced countless battles, and he wasn't about to back down. He focused, his movements becoming a blur as he unleashed a flurry of attacks. His black sword clashed with the stranger's blade, sparks flying with each impact.
Finally, Kirito managed to break through the stranger's defense, delivering a powerful blow that sent them staggering back. The stranger faltered, and Kirito saw his chance. He moved in for the final strike, but the stranger quickly pulled out a teleport crystal, activating it just in time.
"Damn it!" Kirito cursed as the stranger disappeared in a flash of light, leaving him alone in the alley.
He stood there for a moment, catching his breath and trying to make sense of the encounter. Who was that? And why had they attacked him?
Shaking his head, Kirito decided to put the questions aside for now. He needed to get dinner and return to the inn. Shino was likely worried about him.
When he returned to his room, Shino's door was still closed. He didn't want to disturb her, so he quietly ate his meal, his mind replaying the events of the night. The mysterious attacker, Shino's painful past… there were too many questions and not enough answers.
Eventually, exhaustion overtook him, and Kirito fell into a fitful sleep.
The next day, Kirito was awakened by a knock on his door. He groggily opened it to find Asuna and Kuradeel standing there, their expressions serious.
"Good morning, Kirito," Asuna said, her tone unusually formal.
"Morning," Kirito replied, rubbing his eyes. "What's going on?"
"We're here to see Shino," Asuna explained. "We need to talk to her."
Kirito nodded slowly. "She's in her room. I'll let her know you're here."
Asuna and Kuradeel waited in the hallway as Kirito knocked on Shino's door. When she opened it, she looked tired, her eyes slightly red.
"Asuna and Kuradeel are here to see you," Kirito said gently.
Shino's expression hardened, but she nodded. "Alright. Let's get this over with."
Asuna and Shino moved to Shino's room, while Kuradeel and Kirito remained in Kirito's room. Kuradeel seemed restless, glancing at the door as if expecting it to burst open at any moment.
"They've been talking for a while," Kuradeel remarked after some time. "Would you be interested in joining me on a quest while we wait?"
Kirito considered the offer, noting the tension in Kuradeel's posture. "Sure. A quest might be a good way to clear my head."
Before they left, Kirito discreetly activated his record crystal, slipping it into his inventory without Kuradeel noticing. It never hurt to have a backup.
They headed to the 74th floor, where rumors of dangerous monsters had been circulating. As they navigated the treacherous terrain, they encountered several Lizardmen, dispatching them with ease.
However, as they ventured deeper into the dungeon, they came face to face with a formidable opponent: Gleameyes, a towering minotaur-like creature with terrifying strength.
Kirito's instincts screamed at him to retreat, but Kuradeel, driven by some inner compulsion, charged at the beast. "Kuradeel, no!" Kirito shouted, but it was too late.
Gleameyes swung its massive sword, and Kuradeel was sent flying, his HP plummeting dangerously low.
Kirito had no choice. He gripped his sword and stepped between Kuradeel and Gleameyes. "Stay back! I'll handle this!"
What followed was one of the most intense battles Kirito had ever fought. Gleameyes was relentless, its attacks leaving little room for error. Kirito dodged, parried, and counterattacked, his sword a blur of motion.
But Gleameyes was no ordinary monster. Its strength was overwhelming, and Kirito's HP was steadily dropping. He pushed himself to his limits, his vision narrowing as he focused on the fight.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Kirito found an opening. With a final, powerful strike, he drove his sword into Gleameyes' chest. The monster roared in pain before collapsing to the ground, its body disintegrating into pixels.
Kirito stood over the remains, panting heavily. His HP was dangerously low, and the world around him started to blur. He felt his knees give out, and the last thing he saw before darkness overtook him was the faint outline of someone approaching.
When Kirito opened his eyes, he found himself surrounded by familiar faces. Klein and his guild members were there, along with Kuradeel.
"You're awake!" Klein exclaimed, relief evident in his voice. "We thought we'd lost you, man."
Kuradeel nodded solemnly. "Klein and his guild found us just in time. If they hadn't been passing by… well, I don't want to think about what would've happened."
Kirito managed a weak smile. "Thanks… to all of you."
Klein grinned. "What are friends for? Come on, let's get you out of here."
With their help, Kirito made it back to the safe zone. His body ached, but he was grateful to be alive. As they returned to the inn, he was surprised to see Shino waiting for them in the lobby, dressed in the uniform of the Knights of the Blood.
"Shino…?" Kirito's voice was filled with confusion and disbelief.
She met his gaze, her expression unreadable. "Kirito, I've decided to rejoin the Knights of the Blood. I think it's where I belong."
Kirito's heart sank. "But… what about us? What about the Moonlight Black Cats?"
Shino looked away, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've already said my goodbyes to them. I'm sorry, Kirito. But this is something I need to do."
When she turned to leave, Kirito reached out and grabbed her hand, desperation in his eyes. "Don't go, Shino. Please."
Shino froze, her hand still in his. For a moment, it seemed like she might reconsider, but then her expression hardened. She pulled her hand free, her voice cold. "Don't act like you're my boyfriend, Kirito. This isn't your decision to make."
Kirito recoiled as if struck, his hand falling to his side. He watched helplessly as Shino walked away, Asuna and Kuradeel following her out of the inn.
Asuna glanced back at Kirito, her eyes filled with sympathy. "I'm sorry, Kirito," she said softly. "We didn't mean to hurt you."
Kirito didn't respond, his mind numb. He stood there long after they had left, the weight of Shino's words crushing him.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Kirito couldn't focus on anything, his thoughts consumed by the harsh reality of what had just happened. He had tried to hold on to Shino, to keep their bond intact, but now she was gone, leaving him with nothing but the sting of rejection.
That night, as he lay in bed, Kirito replayed the events in his mind, trying to make sense of it all. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal, the sense that he had lost something irreplaceable.
The only comfort he had was the memory of the battle against Gleameyes, the reminder that even in the darkest of times, he could still fight, still survive.
But as sleep finally claimed him, Kirito couldn't help but wonder if surviving was enough. Without Shino by his side, the world of Aincrad felt a little colder, a little more empty.