It has been three months since Akiri have saved Asuna from the orange guild, "Hands of Devil" and currently, Akiri is in the meeting room of the KOB headquaters and is standing in front of Heathcliff.

Akiri: So let me get this straight. You assigned Kuradeel as Asuna's bodyguard?

Heathcliff: Correct

Akiri: You should've chosen me instead

The door to the meeting room then opens and a man with grey hair then enters the room.

Heathcliff: You're here early

Kuradeel: I am here to give my report for today

Heathcliff: Go ahead

Kuradeel: The day went on as usual, but halfway through the day, she dismisses me

Heathcliff: She must had a good reason for it

Kuradeel: She invited someone to her home

Akiri: Who?

Kuradeel: A beater. The one who dresses in all black

Akiri: (thoughts) Kirito? She invited Kirito? She never even invited me to her house

Heathcliff: Is that all?

Kuradeel: Yes, commander

Heathcliff: Then you are dismissed

Kuradeel then walked out of the door and Akiri just looked at him with a suspecting look.

Akiri: ...

(Next day)

Akiri is currently walking around floor 74. He then saw a huge crowd gathered near the teleport gate. He went over to the crowd to see Kirito and Kuradeel standing in the middle.

The countdown went down to zero and the both of them rushed each other with their sword skills. Kirito's then hits Kuradeel's sword from the side and breaks it in half, making Kuradeel completely shocked.

Kuradeel: I-Impossible

Kirito sheathed his sword and looked back towards Kuradeel.

Kirito: If you want to try with another weapon, I'm okay with it. But don't you think this is enough?

Kuradeel then looked at him furiously and pulled out a dagger. He runs over towards Kirito, but someone came out of nowhere and knocked the dagger out of his hand.

???: That's enough

They look over to see that it was Akiri, holding his sword.

Akiri: I'll look after her from now on. You are to head back to headquarters and await further orders. You are dismissed

Kuradeel just looked towards Kirito with an annoyed look and walked away. Akiri sheathes his sword and walked over to Kirito and Asuna.

Akiri: Hey, guys

Kirito: Hey

Asuna: Thank you, Akiri

Akiri smiles at her.

Akiri: Of course. What are you guys up to?

Kirito: We were just going to go to the dungeon

Akiri: Can I tag along?

Asuna looks towards Akiri with an annoyed look.

Kirito: Sure. I guess we can-

Asuna: No, you can't go with us. I can take care of myself

Akiri: I know. I'm just going to-

Asuna: I said, I can take care of my self!

He looks towards Asuna in shock as she raises her voice towards him.

Asuna: I don't need you to take care of me! As your vice commander, I order you to return to headquarters!

Akiri lets out a gasp and his eyes widened as his childhood friend told him to leave. He then turns around and walked away. unknown to him, a hooded figure was watching them from the crowd.

After Akiri was out of sight, Asuna then puts on a smile as she looks towards Kirito.

Asuna: Well then, let's get going

Kirito was then dragged away by Asuna and he looked back towards Akiri.

Kirito: Asuna, you shouldn't be so harsh on Akiri. He's just trying to look after you

Asuna: Don't worry about it. He'll get over it. He always does

Kirito didn't try to say anything more and just kept silent.

(Timeskip)

Akiri is currently killing a bunch of enemies in the middle of the forest. He slashes a monster in half and it bursts into pixels.

Akiri: (thoughts) She never got mad at me before...

He runs over to another monster and used the sword skill, <<Vertical Square>> and kills it.

Akiri: (thoughts) Now that I think about it, she spends more time with Kirito than she does with with me... Does that mean she...

He jumped up to avoid an attack by a monster from behind. He then landed behind it and stabs it from behind.

Akiri: (thoughts) No, that can't be... We've known each other since we were kids.

He ran over to another one and slices it in half.

Akiri: What makes him so special? I know more about her than him

Akiri started to tear up as he tightens his grip on his sword. He then rushes a group of monsters and used the sword skill, <<Rage Spike>> and killed all three of them at the same time.

Akiri: (thoughts) I know her favourite movie, her favourite food

He turns around to see another group of monsters and he furiously runs over to them and kills them one by one.

Akiri: (thoughts) I know what made her laugh, what made her cry... I've been by her side longer than anyone else

He rushes over to the last one and slices it's head off. The monster bursts into pixels as he sheathes his sword.

Akiri: (thoughts) So why? Why can't she see me as more than just a friend

He wipes the tears off his face and took some breaths. He then let out a sigh and started to walk away until he suddenly stopped on his tracks and quickly turned around towards the shadow of the trees.

Akiri: I know you're there! Come out!

A hooded figure then emerges from the shadows and he narrows his eyes towards them.

Akiri: PoH...

PoH: We meet again, Crimson Swordsman

Akiri draws his sword. He then saw someone else walking up towards him and it was Kuradeel.

Akiri: Kuradeel. I knew you were up to something. You both are coming with me, dead or alive

PoH: Don't be like that. We're just here to make a deal with you

Akiri: There is nothing you can offer me PoH

PoH: Oh really? What if I can give you... Her...

Akiri: I don't know who you're talking about

PoH: You know exactly who I'm taking about. The vice president of the KOB, The Lightning Flash, Asuna

Akiri's eyes widened in shock and PoH continued speaking.

PoH: So you are interested

Akiri: How? How are you going to give her to me?

PoH: That's easy. We get rid of the one she most distracted with

Akiri: (thoughts) Distracted? Who's-

His eyes widened in realization.

Akiri: Kirito...

PoH: Correct. Here's the deal. You let us kill Kirito, and Asuna will have no one to go to but you. How about it? It's a win-win. You just have to let Kuradeel here do the dirty work.

Akiri just stayed silent and PoH continued speaking.

PoH: Think about it. With him gone, she would be devastated. And you will be the one, to be there for her. Be her one and only. Just like you wanted. What do you say? Do we have a deal?

He held his hand towards Akiri and he just looked towards it.

Akiri: ...

(2 days later)

Kirito was making his way to the arena in floor 75 when he saw Akiri looking troubled. He decided to approach him.

Kirito: Hey, Akiri

Akiri then jumped in surprise and looked behind him to see Kirito.

Akiri: Ah! K-Kirito, hey

Kirito: You okay?

Akiri: I'm fine...

Kirito: You sure, you look like you're troubled by something-

They then heard the sound of a bell.

Kirito: Shoot, it's almost time for my duel

He then puts his fist up for a fist bump.

Kirito: Wish me luck

Akiri: Y-yeah, good luck...

Akiri reluctantly fist bumped him and Kirito walked towards the arena.

Akiri: ...

???: Akiri!

He turned around to see that it was Godfree.

Godfree: Are you coming? We saved a seat for you

Akiri: Yeah... Be right there...

Akiri then followed Godfree to the spectator seats. Once there, he saw that his guild mates are also there.

Muldar: Hey, Akiri! Over here!

He sat down on his seat and looks over to see Kirito and Heathcliff walking towards each other and meeting at the center.

Segro: You think the commander will win?

Sanza: The commander won't lose. Just like that Kirito guy, he also have a unique skill, "Holy Sword". It allows him to freely switch between offense and defense, allowing near impenetrable defense.

Fultz: I heard his dual wielding skill is in a level all on its own. But I think he'll still have a hard time breaking the commander's defence

Muldar: Either way, this is gonna be an interesting match. What do you think, Akiri?

He looks towards Akiri but he just stayed silent.

Akiri: ...

Akiri looks down to see Heathcliff and Kirito unsheathing their swords.

They stared at each other until the timer ticks zero. Kirito then rushed Heathcliff, but his attack was blocked by Heathcliff's shield. Kirito continues to rush with a barrage of attacks using his dual swords, but Heathcliff just blocked them all.

The battle goes on for a few minutes, until Kirito finally got a hit on Heathcliff by slashing his face and Heathcliff looks at him in shock. Kirito then quickly used the sword skill, <<Starburst Stream>> and started to rapidly slash at Heathcliff's shield and he managed to break his defence.

Muldar: No way!

Just as Kirito was about to land the final blow, Kirito saw that Heathcliff's shield moved way too quickly to block his attack and Akiri notices this as well.

Akiri: (thoughts) What the?

Heathcliff then slashes Kirito, dropping his HP into the yellow thus, ending the duel, leaving both Kirito and Akiri completely shocked.

Segro: That was close. If the commander had been any slower that could've had been it

Akiri: (thoughts) I have keeping track of his movements the whole duel. His speed and reaction time have been consistent. But that last move he made to block that attack... His speed suddenly increased in an instant...

He look over to see Heathcliff leaving the arena and he just narrows his eyes at him.

Akiri: ...