Leafa: That means... That means... That this person is...

Akiri: Leafa? What's wrong?

Leafa then covered her mouth in complete shock, looking at Kirito as she realized who he is.

Leafa: Kazuto... Is that you...?

Kirito: Sugu? Suguha?

Akiri: (thoughts) They know each other?

Leafa: This is cruel... it's just too much......

Kirito: S-Sugu?

Leafa didn't say anything and just quickly logged out.

Kirito: Sugu!

He tried to reach for her, but he was already too late as she disappeared right in front of him.

Akiri: Who was she?

Kirito: She's... She's my sister...

Akiri looked at Kirito surprised.

Akiri: You have a sister?

Kirito: She's technically my cousin. But we grew up together so she's basically my little sister. But I don't know why she overreacted...

Akiri: I see...

He said as he crosses his arms.

Akiri: Well, I might be wrong, but I think I may know why

Kirito: You do?

Akiri: Yeah. And it's something you need to hear from her

Kirito: Right...

Kirito then opened his menu and logged out, leaving Akiri alone at the entrance of Yggdrasil.

(Timeskip)

It's been about an hour since Kirito and Leafa had logged out.

Currently, Akiri is leaning against the base of one of the statues at the entrance of the World Tree, waiting for them to log back in.

He then saw someone logging in in front of him and he looked to see that it was Leafa and he approached her.

Akiri: Hey

Leafa: Hey...

She replied half-heartedly before sitting down on the stairs and Akiri sat beside her.

Akiri: How are you feeling?

Leafa: I'm... I'm okay...

There was a moment of silence before Akiri spoke out again.

Akiri: You loved Kazuto, more than a brother, didn't you?

Leafa looked at him shocked.

Leafa: How did you...?

Akiri: Earlier, when you said you're heartbroken. And your reaction when you found out that Kirito was your brother just made it clearer

Leafa just stayed silent and looked down on the ground, saddened.

Akiri: I understand what it's like... Getting your heart broken...

Leafa: You do?

He nodded in reply

Akiri: And recovering from it is far from easy

Leafa: Yeah...

She said while still keeping her gaze on the ground. She then turns her head slightly towards Akiri.

Leafa: Did you get over it? Your heartbreak?

Akiri: Well... To tell you the truth, no... Even I still haven't gotten over it

Leafa: I see...

Akiri: But I think that in some way, it's a good thing

Leafa: Huh?

Akiri: It shows how much you care about them. It shows how strong your love is for them, don't you think?

Leafa: Yeah... You're right...

A small smile grew on her face as she heard what Akiri had said.

Leafa: Who knew that you'd be so wise?

Akiri: Well, I guess when you got thrown into a death game, you'll learn a lot of things

Leafa: Wait, death game...? So you're an SAO survivor like my brother?

She asked as she fully turned her head towards him.

Akiri: Yeah. I am

Leafa: That's why you're so strong...

She looks at him with a feeling of admiration.

Akiri: Well anyway, I guess what I'm trying to say is, we're not so different, you and I. We both lost the one we loved. So, if you are ever in need of someone to talk to, I'll be there for you

He said with a smile and Leafa looked at him surprised and she then smiled back at him.

Leafa: Thank you, Akiri

Akiri: Now then, I believe you still have something to do

Leafa then looked down saddened.

Leafa: I... I don't know if I'm ready to face him just yet...

He then placed a hand on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring smile.

Akiri: No one's ever really ready. Sometimes, you just need to go for it

She looked down once more, thinking about what she should do before looking forwards with a determined face.

She then activated her wings and took off to face Kirito as Akiri looked at her with a smile.

(Timeskip)

After Kirito and Leafa's talk, the two of them headed back to the entrance of Yggdrasil.

As they landed, they saw that Akiri standing in front of the door and Recon was there as well.

Leafa: Recon?

Recon: Hey, Leafa-chan

Akiri: He got here shortly after you left

Leafa: What are you doing here? Weren't you captured by the Salamanders?

Recon: Yeah well, I sorta poisoned them all and escaped. And after that, I tracked you all here

Leafa: Poisoned them...?

Kirito: Well, anyway. You guys ready?

Akiri: Yup

Recon: Huh? W-What's going on? Ready for what?

Leafa: We're clearing Yggdrasil. The four of us. These two, you and me

Recon: I see... Wait, w-what?!

Kirito: Yui, you there?

Yui then appeared on Kirito's shoulder.

Yui: What is it, Papa?

Kirito: Did you learn anything from our fight with the Guardians?

Yui: In terms of stats, they're not particularly powerful, but their numbers are overwhelming

Akiri: Yeah. We can cut them down with only a couple of hits. Their overwhelming numbers are the problem here

Kirito: So together, they're practically a massive, invincible boss, huh?

Yui: However, with your and Uncle's skill proficiency, it may be possible to break through momentarily

Akiri: But something feels off... There was way too many of them. It's like they really don't want anyone reaching up there...

Yui: Uncle is right. I have to assume that completion of this quest was never meant to be possible in the first place

Akiri: Yeah. And even if we make it to the top, how could we know if there isn't another barrier?

Kirito: We just have to try

Kirito then looked at Leafa and Recon.

Kirito: You guys, I'm sorry, but could you help us with our problem one more time? For some reason, it feels like we're running out of time

Akiri: Yeah... Somehow, I have the same feeling as well...

Leafa: I'll do whatever I can. And that goes for him too

She gestured to Recon.

Recon: Well, Leafa and I are one body and soul, after all

Leafa smacked Recon in the back of the head and had an annoyed look.

Leafa: Don't get ahead of yourself!

Recon: I'm sorry...

Leafa then held her hand out.

Leafa: Let's do our best

Recon quickly puts his hand in and Akiri and Kirito did the same and Yui sat on their hands.

Kirito: Thank you, all of you

Akiri: Alright, here's the plan. Leave the Guardians to me and Kirito. You two just have to stay back and heal us. As long as you don't engage them, they shouldn't target you

Leafa and Recon just nodded.

Kirito: Right. Let's do this

Full of determination, the four of them then entered Yggdrasil, making a second attempt to get to the top of the tree.

Akiri and Kirito flew up and both drew their swords and Leafa and Recon stayed back and charged up their healing magic. As Akiri and Kirito got higher up, the Guardians then started to appear and they got ready to fight.

Kirito: Here we go!

Akiri: Round two, assholes!

Both of them engaged and started to rip through the Guardians.

Akiri went ahead and killed a group of Guardians with a series of fast slashes.

Kirito swings his sword in a wide arc, killing multiple enemies.

Recon: Amazing...

Leafa: But there are too many!

Even more of the Guardians started to appear and they started to swarm around them.

Akiri: Kirito! Back to back!

Kirito: Right!

The two of them put their backs against each other and started to kill off each Guardian that is attacking them.

Akiri: How many of them could there be!

He shouted as he swung his sword horizontally, killing two enemies at the same time.

Suddenly, multiple Guardians started to rush them at the same time. The two of them managed to kill them, but their HP dropped down as a result.

Leafa and Recon then used their healing magic to heal them back up.

They kept covering each other's backs when suddenly, a swarm of Guardians flew past them and they saw that the Guardians are heading towards Recon, who is charging up a spell.

Kirito: Recon?

Akiri: What's he doing?

As he said that, Recon's body started to glow and he then exploded soon after, taking multiple Guardians down with him, creating an opening for them.

Kirito: He blew himself up?!

Akiri: He sacrificed himself to give us an opening. Let's go, Kirito!

Kirito: Right!

The two of them started to speed up to the opening Recon had created, but they were then pushed back again by the Guardians.

Akiri: Damn it!

The two of them were then slashed by the Guardians, putting both of their HP's in the red.

As Leafa was trying to heal the both of them, multiple Guardians started swarming around her, but she doesn't move and kept healing them.

Akiri: Leafa! Get out of there!

The Guardians getting ready to attack, but suddenly the sound of other players yelling could be heard and everyone looked back to see both the Sylphs and Cat Siths all flying up to them with the Cat Siths riding on dragons and they all started to fight against the Guardians.

Sakuya and Alicia flew up to Leafa.

Sakura: Sorry we're late

Alicia: Sorry! It took some time to get our gear ready

Akiri: Looks like cavalry's arrived

Kirito: Yeah

Sakura and Alicia then joined their troops they started to take out a large number of Guardians.

Kirito: Looks like we're going to have a chance!

Akiri: Let's not waste it then!

Leafa then flew up to Akiri and Kirito and started to help them take out the Guardians.

Kirito: Sugu!

Akiri: Cover our backs!

Leafa: Leave it to me!

The three of them started to take out the Guardians along with the Sylphs and Cat Siths and another opening was made.

Akiri and Kirito saw this and the two of them started to head towards it full speed.

Leafa: Akiri!

Leafa called out to him as she threw her sword up to them and Akiri caught it.

Akiri: Kirito!

He then threw Leafa's sword at Kirito.

Akiri: The only way through them is by using magic. Think you can clear us a path?

Kirito looked at the wall of enemies before looking back at the swords in his hands.

Kirito: I can!

Akiri: Then I'm counting on you

He said as he gets behind Kirito.

Kirito then combined his and Leafa's swords together and with a combination of Sylph and Spriggan magic, created a barrier made out of pure energy which allowed them to push through the horde.

The two of them kept pushing through the oncoming Guardians and Leafa and the others looked at them in amazement.

Leafa: Go! Onii-chan! Akiri!

Kirito: HAAAAAA!!!

With a battle cry, Kirito uses all of his strength to push through the horde of Guardians.

After punching a hole straight through the wall of enemies, they had finally reached the top and they found themselves in front of a large door.

Kirito: We made it...

Kirito said as they were was catching their breath.

Akiri: Yeah... Good work

Akiri replied and the two of them fist-bumped.

They then went over and tried to open the door, but nothing happened.

Kirito: Damn it. What now?

Akiri: Why isn't it opening?

Kirito then jammed his sword into it and tried to open it, but it wouldn't open no matter how hard he tried.

Akiri: Could it be that we need to defeat all of the Guardians?

Kirito: That can't be. Yui!

At Kirito's call, Yui flew out of his pocket.

Yui: Yes, Papa?

Yui then looked at the door and she looked back towards Akiri and Kirito.

Yui: This door isn't locked by a quest flag. It's under the authority of system administrators

Akiri: What?! So that means...

Yui: Yes... This door was never intended to be accessible to players!

Akiri and Kirito both looked completely shocked.

They then see more Guardians started to spawn around them as they were approaching them.

Kirito: No way...

Kirito could only look at the door in shock and horror as there was no way for him to open the door.

Akiri stood there, thinking of a way and his eyes widened when he remembered about the card that fell from the sky.

Akiri: The card. Use the card!

Kirito: You're right!

Kirito then pulled out the card and showed it to Yui.

Kirito: Yui, try using this

Yui then touched the card and it started to glow.

Yui: Transcribing code...

Yui then went over and touched the door and it started to open in front of them.

Yui: We'll be teleported. Papa, Uncle, your hands!

The two of them then held onto Yui and they all started to glow blue. They then were teleported just in time to narrowly avoid a slash from one of the Guardians.