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It was something that he hadn't necessarily realized before, never having thought about it until that night. He recalled moments - memories - from when they were still in Aincrad, still in SAO. Meeting Ume, Mue, had been a fresh a breath air when all he was surrounded with was tension, hate, and little to no allies. 

The times where her face would contort at the mention or appearance of Asuna. He learned that they did not get along, and he wasn't sure whose fault that was. They had history before him, and Asuna shared that their families were friends, but the two girls were definitely not. 

'Ume is a reasonable person,' he had thought, 'there has to be some reason, right?'

Asuna herself had no clue what it was, either. She had told him, for as long as she could remember, Ume had hated her. 

"Not at the beginning," she said, "but somewhere along the way, it was a complete one-eighty and for some reason, she came to hate me. I was surprised that you got along with her at all."

But he didn't understand that. 

Ume had been kind to him despite everything had done or said to make himself a villain in other people's eyes. She had been there for him through thick and thin, to comfort him on that Christmas day - no one else knew about that but her. He still carried those deaths with him, but never alone.

Ume was-

Ume is-

"Kirigaya Kazuto. I am ridiculously, stupidly, and unfathomably in love with you."

Her kiss had been hot, burning his mouth with a heat he hadn't felt before. Yet, it was soft, and tender, and so full of love that he had simply sat there with wide eyes. When she pulled away, all she did was give him a smile so full of sadness and longing, squeezed his hand one more time before letting him go. He had backed away, brought a hand to his lips and tried to...tried to say anything to get more out of her. 

But he didn't.

He couldn't.

He still remembered it, and each time it had brought a scorching heat to his cheeks and his eyes couldn't help but look for her. Normally he would catch himself in the act and berate himself, but then came that day when they were at school.

He had been talking to Asuna in the hall before class when the hall erupted in gasps and chatters about the same thing. He paused, both him and Asuna turning to look what all the fuss was about. 

The moment he had spotted her, he felt his cheeks burn and this time he could not tear his eyes away. She had said her thanks to someone for complimenting her, her fingers idly touching the short strands at her nape. Her walk was confident, and not once did she turn to look at him or Asuna as she strode past them. His gaze had followed her until she walked into the classroom and out of his sight.

There was  a dawning realization that he definitely had these feelings before. It was not the first time he had wanted to run his fingers through the white strands what always seem to glow in the moonlight in SAO. How the first time he had met Yuu had been incredibly agitated to find out Ume had been hanging out with another guy. Of course he had felt-

Felt-

Was it jealously that he had-

He...he needed to talk to Ume. There were questions he needed answers to, and who better to go to than the source of the both. 

But he would have to talk to Asuna first...

Right?

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"Gun Gale Online?" Yuu gasped for air, having laughed for the last few minutes and definitely turning a few annoyed eyes towards them, "That's so out of the norm for people who play fantasy games! How was it? Did you shoot a gun?"

She scoffed, rolling her eyes at him but she wore a small grin, "Of course I shot a gun! They have a gun range in the shop so you can try out the guns. I haven't bought anything too expensive, I plan on doing some research getting a layout first before I spend all my credits on something I may not even like."

"Fair enough. I'll see what I can dig up in my free time, too," he offered offhandedly before taking a sip of is boba tea. "Also I think I've heard of a tournament that they're having? It's apparently really huge."

"Tournament, huh?" Ume hummed, resting her cheek on her palm as she leaned on the table. "Not sure if I'll be any good by the time that rolls around, there's so much I have to get used to."

"If it's you, you can definitely rank in the top ten," he had said it so casually, but blinked at him. He was so confident in her abilities, more than she was. 

Before SAO, she had been a genius for her age. After being trapped in the game for so long, she had technically fallen behind. Not by a whole lot, but more than she cared to admit. She was average now.

'Although,' she pondered, 'I am still smart. I applied my knowledge, not just learned it. I'm sure if I did my research, learn the trajectory and workings...'

"You know what, Yuu," she smiled at him, leaning forward to steal some of his drink, "you may be right. I probably could if I tried."

Yuu let her drink some of his tea with a fond smile. Ume was stubborn and a bit misunderstood; her cold demeanor was only shield to protect herself from people who sought to try and hurt her. After cutting her hair, she was much kinder to those around her. Not by a a lot, but it was progress. He only wishes she would be kinder to herself, too.

Because of Kirito, she didn't realize her own worth.

Ume had become Yuu's family during their time trapped in Aincrad. At first, perhaps it was that of a crush, yes. Could anyone blame him? But as they grew closer, he knew that she didn't feel the same way, but she did for another. He accepted that, he relinquished his feelings because he did not want to lose her.

They had been each other's found family in a desolate and hostile world where people had to rely on only those they truly trusted. 

His eyes glinted as she turned to look at something outside the window.

She would protect his found sister at all costs. Kirito, Kirigaya Kazuto, would have to go through great lengths if he wants to speak to Ume again.

He would make sure of that.

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