No one's POV

After Zora's encounter with Death Gun, Zora's mental state was suppress which could be clearly seen by Kirito, and currently after Kirito had won his 5th match, he along with Sinon were watching Zora's 4th match and how he was rushing straight to his opponent while deflecting their shots and shooting his own bullet, and once Zora got close enough, he jumped over his opponent and slashed him in the chest, destroying his weapon and killing him.

Kirito(mind): Oh no. Not that look again. He's suppressing his feeling, just like when he was in SAO.

Sinon:...

Spiegel: I can't believe he keeps winning fighting like that. His next match is in the semi-final. And you too, Sinon. So get out there and rock it. Good luck.

Sinon didn't say anything and continued to look at Zora on the screen.

(Timeskip)

It was the 5th match of the BoB Prelims and Sinon was currently above the roof with her sniper in her hands and she was on her sniping position.

Sinon(mind): Stingers my target. His weapon is a FN-SCAR carbine riffle. As a sniper, if I let him get to close, I'm done for. But on this map, if he wants to close in on me, he's gonna have to go through there, and that's when I'll take him out.

Sinon then looked at her hand and she thought back to where Zora grabbed her hand and the fear she saw in his eyes before he turns completely emotionless.

Sinon(mind): Damn him...

As Sinon was in thought, she saw a shadow appeared from the corner of the building and fired her shot, but misses and she saw a truck driving through the smoke.

Sinon(mind): He wanted me to waste my first shot so he can advance. To bad for him, cause I know the path my first bullet took, my second one will be right on target!

After Sinon saw her chance, she fired her shot killing her opponent and the truck he was driving crash and exploded.

Sinon: You should got out of the car buddy. If you did, you might seen the bullet line in time to dodge it.

(Timeskip)

After Sinon won her match, she was teleported to the starting area for her final match against Zora. Sinon was then teleported into a highway, and she got inside a bus and got into prone and waited for Zora to showed up.

Sinon(mind): He's gonna try and close in on me, using his shadows for cover. My only chance is nailing it with my first shot before he figures out my location. He won't even know what hit him.

As Sinon was preparing for Zora's attack, she couldn't stop thinking about him.

Sinon(mind): What's my problem? Why do I want to beat him so bad? Is it because he reminds me of me?

Sinon shook her thought away when she saw Zora walking through the highway, not even trying to defend himself and she looked completely shocked.

Sinon(mind): Does he think he can dodge my bullet, at this range? No, does he even want to?

Sinon: DON'T SCREW WITH ME!!!

Sinon the fired her shot at Zora and as Zora continued to walk down the highway and he stopped when he saw a shot flew past his head and hit the car and it blew up and Zora didn't even flinch.

Zora:...

Zora then looked up and saw Sinon inside the bus and he just stares at her and Sinon started breathing heavily and

Sinon looked annoyed and aimed her sniper at Zora and Zora saw the red bullet line pointed at him, but he still didn't move an inch and more bullets started to flew past by him and he continued to stand there.

Zora:...

After a few more shots, Sinon had enough and run out of the bus and run through him and looked at him annoyed.

Sinon: Fight me! Come on fight! Or maybe you don't think I'm worth the effort?!

Zora: I think you got it all wrong. All I want is to compete in the finals. There's no reason  to fight anymore...

Sinon: Then go on and shoot yourself and get it over with! Or will that be a waste of ammo?! Or maybe you wanted me to shoot you, cause you thought it would even the score between us?! To you it's just a game! Just one stupid match! That's all this is to you, is that it?! A game? Well just cause you feel that way doesn't mean I do!

Sinon started tearing up and Zora looked at her surprised and think back on what they said earlier about going all out against one another at the finals and he looked down saddened and looked at Sinon.

Zora: I'm sorry. What I did was wrong. Sure it's a game, it's only one match. But still, that's why we have to give it all we got. It's why we're here...it's how we live, how we keep surviving. If anyone should have known that, it's me. That's why Sinon, give me a chance to make it right with you. Let me give you the fight I promise...

Sinon: I swear if your messing with me...

Sinon saw that Zora pulled out his hand gun and she aimed her sniper at him and Zora just cocked the chamber back and took out one bullet and put his gun away.

Zora: Got any bullets left on you, or are you out?

Sinon: Yeah, I got one...

Zora: Okay, then let's have a duel. Here's the rules, will stand ten meters apart, you with your riffle and me with my sword. I'll toss this bullet up, and when it hits the ground we start. What do you say?

Sinon: Hang on, if we're 10 meters away from each other, it won't give you enough time to see the bullet line and react. And with my Hecate, I'll definitely hit you. At that range, I can't miss.

Zora: You won't know for sure till you try.

Zora smile at her and Sinon thought for a moment.

Sinon(mind): Why is he acting so confident? Does he has a plan or something? Whatever it is, I'm ready for it.

Sinon: Okay. If that's what you wanted, let's go.

Zora then walked away 10 meters away from Sinon and turned back and held his bullet up.

Zora: Okay, get set!

Zora then tossed the bullet in the air and took out his Photon Sword and got into stance and Sinon readied her sniper and aimed at Zora and the two of them stared off with one another.

Zora:...

Sinon:...

As the bullet hit the ground, Sinon fired her shot at Zora, but Zora with an inhuman level of speed and reaction time,

Zora cut Sinon's bullet in half and flew past him and Sinon looked completely and utterly shocked.

Sinon(mind): No way?! That's impossible!!

Sinon when to go grabbed her hand riffle , but Zora already rushed in on top of her and she almost tripped and fell on her back, but Zora caught her and put his blue Photon Sword at her neck and she looked at him shocked.

Sinon: You knew where I was aiming...but how? How you'd know I was going for your leg?

Zora: I knew cause I could see your eye, through the lens of your scope.

Sinon looked at Zora surprised.

Sinon(mind): That's how her predicted my bullets path?! That's amazing...That kind of powers is way beyond any VR game...!

Sinon: If your so strong, you could do that. Why you looked so afraid before?

Zora: Your wrong...it's not strength...it's only a skill...

Sinon: No...it's not. Technique isn't enough to cut a bullet from my Hecate in half. You and I both know that. It takes strength and all I wanted to know is how to get it? It's what I...it's what I'm here to figure out.

Zora: Then let me ask you this. Could you shoot a player in here, knowing that certain player will die in the real world? And what if you had to kill that player? Cause if you didn't...you or someone you love would die instead...if you had that power...could you still pull that trigger?

Sinon looked at Zora completely speechless.

Sinon(mind): Does he know? About what happen to me that day? Or maybe, something like that happened to him too...

Zora brought Sinon closer to him and deactivate his Photon Sword and shook his head.

Zora: I can't go through that again...so I'm not as strong as you think I am...

Zora then looked down saddened.

Zora: I don't even remember the names...of that 8 players that I killed in that other game...but I have to live with it. Every single day, and everyday I keep hoping I forget...

Sinon just looked at Zora completely shocked and dropped her riffle and put her hand on his face and Zora just looked at her and smile.

Zora: I'm fine. Anyway, I guess this mean I won the duel, doesn't it>

Sinon: Huh? Oh...yeah I guess...

Zora: Well would you mind surrendering then? Killing a girl isn't really my thing.

Sinon looked down and realized that Zora was still holding her and she looked how close his face was to her and she started to blush like crazy,

and Sinon pushed him away and looked at him annoyed while still blushing.

Sinon: Next time, I'm not gonna lose! See you in the finals, and make sure you survive until you see me again!

Sinon turned around and resigned from the match, and giving Zora the top spot for the F block.

(Timeskip)

It was the next day, and the day where the BoB main tournament will be heading. And currently, Sora was at the restaurant on his own thinking about Death Gun.

Sora(mind): If Death Gun is a surviving member of Laughing Coffin, then he and I must have met when they ambushed me and Rumia. He must be one of those 10 players...one of the three that managed to ran away. And that's not all, during the raid. I bet he and I tried to kill each other.

???: Sora?!

Sora was brought out of his thought when someone called him and he looked up and saw Asuna standing in front of him smiling.

Sora: Asuna?

Asuna: What a coincidence? Meeting you here...

Sora: What are you doing here?

Asuna: Doing some errand for my mom. Perfect timing, I wanted to talk to you about something.

Sora: What is it?

Asuna then sit across to him and pull out a tablet and showed it to him.

Asuna: Well, this morning, I just so happen to see an interesting article. And then I noticed that...

Sora then looked at the article and saw his avatar name at the BoB Prelims article, showing his winner list at block F and Sora laugh awkwardly.

Sora: What are the odds? Someone got a similar name.

Asuna: No...it's the same. Look, I already know everything...I know you converted Zora from ALO to GGO. So dropped the act okay, little bro.

Sora didn't say anything and just sighed.

Asuna: Come on, did you honestly think I wouldn't notice when you suddenly vanish from my friend list?

Sora: Those list...do people really look at them everyday?

Asuna: I can sense it without looking. Among all of our friends, I'm one of the people that knows you the most. And I know that Kirito decided to join you as well. When I saw that your name wasn't on the list, I wanted to go to your apartment and check things out.

Sora:...

Asuna: And I know that you wouldn't just quit ALO without telling us. I know that you must've got a good reason, so I call Kotone and see if she knew everything.

Sora: You did, huh?

Asuna: Did something happen at the game you converted over to? I can't help but worried. I could tell just by the looks on your face when I saw you, you had those emotionless face again like in SAO.

Sora: Oh...I'm fine don't worry.

Asuna then hold his hand and looked at him with a concern look.

Asuna: Your not doing anything dangerous right? If it's to much for you, I could converted too and help...?

Sora: Thanks for the offer. But is not dangerous at all. And I have Kirito with me. Besides, if you converted over, Yui get lonely without any of her parents by her side.

Asuna: Are you sure your alright? Because if something happen to you or Kirito, I...I...

Sora: Don't worry, I'm gonna be fine. I promise. Tonight is the last of GGO tourney. I'll converted back before you know it.

Asuna: If you need me, or any of us...call okay?

Sora: Will do...

Sora then stood up and looked at Asuna.

Sora: Is time for me to go. It's almost starting...but I'll be back. So please wait for me.

Asuna smile at him and stood up as well and the two of them walked out of the restaurant.

Asuna: Always...I'll be waiting for you and Kirito to come back...

Asuna the kiss Sora on the cheek and walked away and Sora smile at her before heading his way back to the hospital and he started thinking about everyone.

Sora(mind): I can't drag, Kotone, Asuna or anyone into this. That guy will show up in BoB main tournament. I have to end this...this is my problem...not them...

(Timeskip)

As Sora was on his way to the hospital, he started to think about the 8 players he killed and he gritted his teeth and shook his head. After Sora made his way to the hospital, he made his way to his private room and met with Aki and as she was setting everything up, she notice that Sora hadn't said anything and was in deep thought.

Aki: What's the matter, kiddo? You look like you've seen a Ghost.

Sora: Oh...N-No, it's nothing...

Aki: You got a super hot nurse sitting here, offering free counseling and your gonna pass it up? Come on, tell me what's bothering you?!

Sora: Well since you put it that way, I guess I don't really have a choice do I? Um...before you came to the rehab unit, you were in the Trauma Department, right?

Aki: That I was...

Sora: I've got a personal question. And if you don't want to answer, I understand. Of all the patients you cared for, can you remember the once you died?

Aki: Let's see..I guess if I think about it, I can recall their faces and names. Even patient I spent an hour or so with. Yeah, I remember.

Sora: Do you ever wish, that you just want to forget about those people?

Aki: Hmm, that's a tough one. Not sure if this is an answer, but it's the best I got. I guess if I think something is meant to be forgotten, I personally end up forgetting it. Without even thinking I want to. That said, the more a person wishes they could forget something, the stronger the memory becomes. Till they can't stop thinking about it. And if that's the case, then maybe subconsciously, whatever the memory is, it's something that shouldn't be forgotten.

Sora then looked down saddened.

Sora: Then if I forgotten, I must be a monster. When I was stuck in SAO, I took out...no I killed 8 people...they were all red players...so murder was their business...and I could overpower them instead of killing them, but...I went ahead and killed them anyway...I did it out of rage, hatred and revenge...and over the past year...I've totally forgotten about all those people, even as I sit here talking about it...I can't even remember what they look like or their names were. How is that possible? If I can forget people I killed...what's they say about me as a person.

Aki didn't say anything and hugged Sora tightly.

Aki: I'm sorry...Yatagami. I guess I'm not the awesome counselor I thought I was. I wish I could take away the burden your carrying. Or at least help shared the load of it...but what do I know? I've never even played Sword Art Online. When you said you killed someone, I don't even know what that means. But there's one thing I know, when all said and done. The reason you did what you did. Was to save someone else, wasn't it? In the medical field, sometimes we have to choose who to save. It doesn't make the decision to let someone die any easier. But still, in a life or death situation, everyone got the right to consider the lived they can saved. Over those they can't...even you. Just think about the lives of all the people you saved...and you'll make peace with your decision.

Sora: I don't know...I want to believe you, but...

Sora started tearing up.

Sora: But I can't...I killed people. I couldn't even protect and saved my own family. I killed people and I don't even remember the names of who they were! Don't you get it...is like I don't even care that they're dead...I DON'T DESERVE TO FIND ANY PEACE!!!

Aki then held Sora tightly and rubbed his head.

Aki: If you didn't care about what you did, you wouldn't be suffering like this.

Sora's eyes widened and he started crying and held Aki tightly.

Aki: Deep down, you remember. And when the times right, all of the people who were alive today was because you were there to protect them. You saved so many lives when you cleared Sword Art Online.

Sora started to think back about everyone, and how he saved their lives and tears continued to stream down his face and Aki wiped away his tears and pressed their forehead together and Sora close his eyes.

(Timeskip）

After Aki managed to comfort Sora, she had connected the electrode to Sora and he grabbed his AmuSphere.

Sora: Um...Thank you...for the pep talk.

Aki: Sure...I'm glad I could help!

Sora smiled at her and put his AmuSphere and laid on the bed.

Sora: I don't think anything will happen after 8 o'clock. I should be out at 10 at the latest. Well here I go...

Aki: Okey dokey! Bon Voyage, Zora the Hero!

Sora just looked at Aki and smiled and he closed his eyes.

Sora: Link Start!

Back in ALO, everyone was out at the field and both Philia and Asuna were spacing out, worried about Zora and Kirito.

Asuna: I'm sorry guys!

Philia: Yeah, we didn't mean to space out like that...

Klien: It's all good. No harm...no foul...

Liz: Yeah, today is both of your boys big day.

Silica: That's right, Zora and Kirito's tournament. It's gonna start soon!

Leafa: I don't know about you guys, but I say we quit early and get over to our room and watch it.

Klien: I say we use the cash we scored today to buy beer and snacks.

Liz: Did you honestly think we're gonna let you blow all of our money on food!

Rio then flew up to Philia and Yui to Asuna.

Rio: Don't you worry, Mama, Auntie!

Yui: Papa and Uncle are going to win today, you'll see.

Philia: Of course they will!

Asuna: No matter where they go, those two brothers know how to handle themselves!

Liz: Come on guys! We don't want to miss the first match! So let's start heading over to Yggdrasil city!

Philia: Okay!

Everyone then flew off and headed to Yggdrasil City and back with Zora and Kirito, both of them had just logged in and were at the Governor General office and during the way bumped into Sinon along the way and they stare off at one another.

Sinon: I won't lose today!

Zora: Right back at you!

Kirito: Because we won't either! We're going to win this tournament!