I finished collecting my supply of curatives from the store as I walked out and made my way to my home in Glocken. I continued walking until I was stopped by a tall burly man. He wore standard green military fatigues and had a scowl on his face.

Man: Azure,right?

Azure: That is me, need something?

M:My name is M. Could you come with me to the saloon?

Azure: What for?

M:I have someone who is eager to meet you.

Azure:Really now?Might I be so bold to ask what they want with me?

M:Well.......*sigh* I couldn't tell you myself. If it makes you feel any more familiar,I was the one who teamed up with LLENN for the SJ.

Azure:Wait......huh,I kinda remember...

M:Yeah,anyways,could you come with me?

Azure:Eh,sure.

M nodded as I followed him to the saloon.I was quite interested in who wanted to meet me that they'd send someone.When we reached the saloon,we headed up the stairs passing the patrons and the very potent scent of alcohol-like drinks.M knocked on one of the private doors.

???:It's open!

M opened the door as I followed him in.

M:Please excuse us. I brought him.

I walked in the small room and there I was met with a female sitting at the table with a drink in her hand. She was wearing a black skin-tight, full-body suit that complemented her avatar's body. She had a strange tattoo on her cheek with sea blue eyes that gazed at me like a predator.Her long black hair was tied in a ponytail as it slightly swayed when she moved her head as she glanced at me and smirked.

Pitohui:Ah!Thank you very much,M!You can leave now!

M:U-uh,are you sure?

Pitohui:Yes,yes!Now go!I wanna have a private chat!

M slowly walked out the door and closed it leaving me and this girl alone.

Pitohui:How ya doing?Come,have a seat!

I nodded and sat down across from Pitohui as she slid me a drink.

Pitohui:Nice to finally meet ya,Azure!

Azure:We've already met, Pitohui.

Pitohui:Hahaha!Right,right. So,how goes ya? I don't believe we've really hung out before.

Azure:I'm alright.How bout you?

Pitohui:Doing my thing as always!

Azuee:Okay, so uh...why did you want to see me?

Pitohui:Well I added you for a reason now did I?

Azure:So you want to...

Pitohui:Yes! Be my hunting partner!

......

Pitohui:AHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

Pitohui was currently unloading on some players as red lines lined up on her forehead only for Azure to tackle her into cover as the bullets sprayed the sand next to them.

Pitohui:Oh my! Aren't you forward!

Azure: Now is not the time.....

Azure popped up and fired his Scar killing a couple of players as he picked Pitohui up.They watched the players begin to enclose them as Azure cocked his weapon back followed by Pitohui.

Pitohui:It's never a dull moment with you isn't there?!

Azure:Guess so.Let's wrap this up!

Pitohui:Hahaha!Do you even need to ask?!

We smoked our adversaries and decided to head back into town as Pitohui let out a amused sigh.

Pitohui: Ah man, now I know why LLENN likes you so much. You're a blast to play with! You can gun down enemies so efficiently and precisely! Thanks for taking the time to play with me. Let's do it again sometime okay?!

Azure: Sure. Just shoot me a message.

Pitohui: Absolutely! Bye-bye!

I watched as Pitohui walked off happily. She's an odd one. That's for certain.

.......

From:Zaskar
Title:Second Squad Jam

Karen:A second squad jam?It'll be held on Saturday, April 4th, starting at 13:00.....This is also sponsored by an individual,but the sponsor is different from last time.The rules have been fine-tuned.Refer to the rule book for details.Registration deadline is noon,April 1st.If there are 30 or more teams participating,a qualifier will be held the day before at 20:00. However,teams with a team leader from the top four teams of the previous SJ would be seeded and therefore exempt from the qualifier.

.......

Y/N:Hm?

I pulled up an email from Saki explaining her enthusiasm and how her squad will be participating.Plus a side note that she wanted to come over to eat sweets again with Karen. Speaking of Karen,Karen pulled up from the taxi as I greeted her.

Y/N:Hey! Welcome back Karen!

Karen:H-hey, it's good to see you,Y/N.

Y/N:You okay? You seem nervous about something.

Karen: I'm fine Thanks for asking.

I grabbed Karen's suitcase as we made our way back to our complex. Karen began to tell me about her trip.

???:You're Karen Kohiruimaki, right?

Karen and I both turned to see a man about my age or older standing there.

Karen:Yes. That's me.

The man stepped closer to Karen as she took a few seconds to process the situation as she yelped startling me and the man.

M:Please don't scream, LLENN! It's me! M!

Karen:I don't believe it,is that really you, M?!

Y/N:That's you, M?

M:Huh? Who're you?

Y/N:Azure.

M:Azure?..Hm, I see....

Karen:U-um,even assuming you are M, how did you know I'm LLENN?

M:I'll explain later. I came to see you because of something important.

M took a quick glance around.

M:This isn't a good place,so we should go somewhere we can just relax and talk. Azuee can come too.

Karen:And if we refuse?

M:On the night of the second Squad Jam, someone will die.

.......

Karen and I sat across from Goushi in the lounging area of our complex.

Karen:You're really M?

Goushi:Yes.

Karen:Do you have any proof?

Goushi:No.

Karen tilted her head and sighed in annoyance.

Karen:So how am I supposed to believe you?

Goushi:I just don't have proof.I can't lie to you.

Karen:At least tell me something that M and I said to each other.

Goushi:Even if I told you,you might think I only heard it from the true M player. Karen, you'll just have to trust what I say.

Karen:That's not fair!

Goushi:You're right.

My phone began to ring as I looked at Goushi and Karen.

Y/N:I gotta take this. I'll be back.

I left the area to take my call from my friend. It was mostly about the game his devs are developing. After having some small talk for a little more I hung up and was about to return until my phone rang again.

Y/N:Hello?

.........

To be honest,I don't really know what to make of what M or Goushi says.With Pito being an SAO loser.What it did to her, made me understand what she said to me back in the day about how she logs onto GGO to let loose and forget about the real world things she resents. But I don't understand why she yearned to join SAO. Or why she became furious when she learned about that PK guild and all the experiences. I don't how I should feel. After Goushi did the "wall-slamming" move and confessed his love for Pito to me. Apparently there is a way to save Pito.That's if I kill her. According to M,she won't commit suicide and Goushi won't die either. So here I find myself joining in SJ 2. But who would my team be?

Y/N:Karen.

Karen:Huh?!O-oh Y/N,where'd you go after your call?

Y/N:Stayed over here to listen to the convo.I'm pretty sure I got the gist of it.

Karen:Yeah....I'm trying to rack my head on who I need for a team.

Y/N:Well,yours truly will help.

Karen:Really?!

Y/N:Of course. I got your back, partner.

Karen:Thanks! I'm so glad I could count on you.

Y/N:Still,I don't like our odds. I'll contact my friend and i'll see if I can bring someone else as well.

Karen:Right! Y/N...

Y/N:?

I held out my fist.

Karen:Let's win this.

Y/N smiled and fist bumped me.

Y/N:Yeah!

........

Kise stood in front of the teleporter awaiting his friend as a blue light flashed in the space and a male spawned in.He cracked his neck and checked his inventory noticing everything was gone.

???:Aw man! Why did they have to patch the seed after I transferred over to ALO?!*sigh* just my crappy luck.....

Kise:Thanks for helping man.

The boy stepped towards Kise showing his features. He was man in his late teens to early twenties he had smooth long white hair down to shoulder length and dark brown eyes with tan skin.He smirked as he patted Kise on the shoulder.

Maverick:Place seems different than the last time i've been here. Well let me get some weapons and let's go kill some shit!