March 17,2026

Azure logged into GGO and met up with Kise. After a short greeting the two made their way to the new player spawning area.

Azure:Thanks again for agreeing to help out.

Kise:No problem buddy. Still,this whole situation doesn't even sound real.

Azure:I know...personally,it annoys me.

Kise:I can only imagine. You braved SAO alone. You make any friends in there by any chance?

Azure:Nope. There was this one guy though. A little younger than me, big ego but good skills to back it up. We met before a mission to infiltrate and eliminate a Laughing Coffin stronghold. Don't remember his name though.....Say,where's that guy you talked about?

Kise:Oh he said he'll be on in a sec. Something about fighting his dad in Soulcalibur.

A message popped up on Azure's heads-up display as he opened it.

Kise:?

Azure:It's from Rabbit, she said that we're gonna meet up with her at the Saloon instead.

.......

LLENN:You status is so high!I knew I could count on you!

Fukaziroh: My money is, let's see....1,000 credits,huh?

LLENN: That's the starting amount. It's okay i'll transfer funds from my account.

Fukaziroh:I don't want you to do that! That's money for when I come to Tokyo to see Elsa's concert and you take me out to an expensive sushi restaurant.

LLENN:I never promised you that!

Fukaziroh:Hehe!

The two friends went a little off track before getting back to the matter at hand.

LLENN:Um....So what should we do about money?

Simultaneously,a knock was heard on the door.

Azure:Yo, Rabbit! It's me,Azure!

LLENN:Oh!

LLENN unlocked the door as Azure and Kise walked in.

Fukaziroh:Oo,who are these studs?You have bodyguards LLENN?

LLENN:No! It's not like that!

LLENN got up from her chair and held her hand out in a presenting fashion towards Azure.

LLENN:This is Azure.He's the first friend I made in GGO.

Azure waved and smiled.

Azure:Hello. It's nice to meet you. This is my friend Kise.

Kise walked over to Fuka and held out his hand.

Kise:Hi,i'm Kise. A pleasure to meet you.

Fukaziroh slammed her hand into Kise's giving him a surprise but firm handshake.

Fukaziroh:You can call me Fukaziroh! It's nice to meet ya both!

LLENN spawned two more chairs as Azure and Kise took a seat at the round table.

Azure: So,now that we got most of the team,what the first course of action?

LLENN:Well,Fuka needs supplies and I don't think I have the right amount of credits to support all the equipment she'd need.

Kise:Oh,I can give her some money.Here....

Kise pulled up his interface as Fuka's appeared as well. Azure and LLENN watched as Fuka's eyes lit up with surprise and happiness.

Fukaziroh:A FIFTY MILLION CREDITS?!FOR REAL?!

LLENN:?!

Kise:Mm-hm.

Fukaziroh:This isn't a mistake,is it?

Kise:No.

Fukaziroh:You're not going to demand I sell you my organs,or work on a tuna fishing boat later in,are you?

Kise:Uh,no?

Fuka's face turned into a smile as she placed her hand on Kise's shoulder.

Fukaziroh:I'm ready to marry you,Kise!

Kise:Huh?

Fukaziroh:Tell me your contact info!

Kise:U-uh,um....

Kise stared wide-eyed his cheeks red until a bang on the door startled everyone.

???:Hey!Is this where Kise is?

Kise:Oh,LLENN,could you unlock the door?

LLENN nodded as the door unlocked.The door swung opened revealing a male in white-and-black military gear carrying a decked out M416 and Kriss Vector.In his holster,was an M1911.The male grinned and fist bumped Kise before looking at everyone else in the room.

Maverick:Yo,what's up?! Names Maverick. Got it memorized? How're y'all doing this fine day?

The room was silent at the presence of Maverick.

LLENN:......Fine?

........

The team made their way to the gun store as Maverick took in the familiar sights.

Maverick:Haha, oh man this brings me back....

Player:Excuse me sir?

Maverick turned to a player who tapped him on the shoulder.The player was wearing white jacket with a sky blue undershirt and grey pants.He was wearing standard armor and kneepads as he adjusted the M4 slung around his shoulder.

Player:My friends are arguing about what boss would be the safer and I decided to ask someone their opinion.

Maverick:What are the bosses?

Player:Um...the Concealed Genbu and the....Frost Princess or something like that.

Maverick:Concealed Genbu is way more safer.

Girl:There you are!

Player:Ah,Kureha,this guy said Concealed Genbu is safer.

Kureha:What?! You can't be serious!

Older Girl:Oh my, no need to be so down Kureha.

An older girl grabbed the boy from behind and pulled him close to her making the boy blush.

Player:Z-Zeliska?!

Zeliska: I heard the convo. Looks like we're going to fight the Concealed Genbu. Sorry, Kureha.

Kureha:Aw man....

Player:Concealed Genbu will still be kinda tough for my level.

Zeliska:Don't worry, I'll keep you safe~

Player:Th-thanks....I'll be counting on you!

Kureha:Geez! Let's just go already!

Kureha took the boy's hand and ripped him away from Zeliska as she began to drag him out the store.

Player:Ah, Kureha?!

Zeliska quickly caught up and pulled the boy back.

Zeliska:Oh my,someone's hasty now.

The three disappeared from view as Maverick smiled.

Maverick:Hehe,now i'm starting to feel old.

???:Pardon me.

Maverick turned around and was met with another guy.

Maverick:What can I do ya for mister uh......

Itsuki:Itsuki.

Maverick:Itsuki.

Itsuki:Did you happen to see a boy pass by here?Possibly with with two girls?

Maverick:Yeah,they just left.

Itsuki:*sigh*Figures....thanks for the help.

Itsuki quickly left the store as Maverick scratched his head and joined the others.

Fukaziroh:Aw man,these guns aren't beautiful at all....

Kise:Well,you said that you specialized in heavy two-handed weapons right?

Fukaziroh:Right you are,sugar daddy!

Kise:Ok.......oh,I know. LLENN,let's head to that Predatory Goods Store.

LLENN:Right!

......

LLENN's team arrived at the store as Kise lead Fuka to the display glass showing a grenade launcher.

Fukaziroh:What is this?!

Kise:An M32 rotary grenade launcher. Capable of doing massive damage at a distance.

Fukaziroh:Grenade?

Kise:Think of a large explosive bullet. And it comes with a revolver style reloading mechanism so you can rain hellfire on your enemies in rapid succession.

Fukaziroh:I'll take it! You're a god,Kise!

LLENN:Th-three million credits.......

Fukaziroh:Actually, i'll take two!

Azure:.........

Maverick:Dual-Wielding grenade launchers?I like it.

.......

April 3, 2026

I looked out the window of the cafe I was sitting in watching people pass by until setting my sights on a small group of teens.It was weird because of the two guys in that group was wearing an eyepatch that partially concealed a nasty mark. One of the girls was excitedly talking about some kind of bread.

Karen:Y/N!

Y/N:?!

Karen:I was saying your name and you weren't responding.

Y/N:Oh,sorry.

Karen sat down across from me and smiled.

Karen: Tomorrow's the big day.

Y/N:Yep.How's Fuka?

Karen:She's good. I've been helping her with her aim on the grenade launcher. How's Kise?

Y/N:His aim is true.

Karen:Hehe,I bet. He beat M after all.

Y/N:He told me that he fined tuned his aiming by adjusting his settings. Suggestions from a sniper he knows. Apparently she's friends with Maverick as well.

Karen:That guy, Maverick. What's your opinion on him?

Y/N:I mean,he's quite loud. But, overall he's a pretty cool guy. Funny too.

Karen:I was thinking the same thing.

Y/N:Anyways,what did you want to talk about? It's not like you to invite me out for a coffee talk.

Karen:Oh yeah. I just wanted to thank you.

Y/N:For what?

Karen:For helping me with this. I know you have no obligation to help Pito or even me so thank you. For doing so much.

Y/N:Haha! Are you kidding? You're a good friend, Karen. Who knows? Maybe after all this is over i'll tell you about my time in SAO.

Karen:Thanks i'm glad-wait.... did you say SAO?

Y/N:Yep,i'm one of those so called "SAO Survivors."

Karen gave me a look of shock before regaining her composure.

Karen:Okay, that's a promise.

Y/N:Oh sure. It's a promise.

Karen placed her hand on mine as I turned it and held hers. Tomorrow, we fight.