I was sitting on a tree stump as I rubbed my neck, seeing Toru was pacing back and forth. I looked at her and sighed, getting up and saying to her “What’s on your mind?” as I was growing concerned. “Nothing Kirin-kun..” Toru said frantically as she started to walk off. “Toru wait up” I told her as I followed behind her.

“Toru c’mon, it’s just one dungeon”

I said as I caught up to her and grabbed her wrist, just as I grabbed it she quickly pulled her wrist out of my grip. I stopped as we both looked at each other as she hesitated to say something again. The confidence in her eyes slowly faded away, I saw that she was growing afraid of something. “Hey Toru-” I tried saying as we heard some snapping branches not too far, both of us looked over as we had our guard up. A whooshing sound was heard flying as I was hit in the shoulder by a throwing knife.

“Kirin!”

Toru shouted as she heard a bush shuffle, ducking under a throwing knife and parrying another. A woman jumped out as she wore a mask covering her mouth and nose. Toru and this orange player then began fighting as Toru threw jabs, with the orange female player dodging around these jabs. “Try dodging this!” Toru shouted as she threw another jab as the player quickly moved around it, Toru then swiftly turned her body and threw a right hook at the player. They jumped back as they landed on their feet, Toru turned her attention to Kirin as the orange player then said “Face your opponent Toru!”

Toru felt a shiver down her spine, as she turned her attention towards the player, Toru shouted “Who are you?!?” as she raised her fists up a bit. “My name is Neo, And you Toru, are my prey… or should I say…” as she took off her mask, Toru’s expression and confidence shot down the drain as she began lowering her guard. Neo smirked as she said “Don’t be so coy to me now!” as she ran towards Toru with a Kirin got up in time to tackle Toru out of the way.

“Don’t you know it's rude to interrupt something!”

Neo shouted as I raised his sword towards her saying “I don’t give a damn about it, Stay away from her!”. Neo tilted her head a bit before it hit her as she was very surprised at Toru, “You actually managed to get a boyfriend! Congratulations on your behalf Tonru!” Neo said as she threw a smoke bomb towards them, I instinctively sliced the bomb open as it expolded with powder and dust. My HUD gave me a blinding effect as I was rubbing my eyes.

“Toru! Toru!!”

I shouted in a panic, I then felt a hand grab my arm as a voice said “I’m okay..” as I sighed in relief, Toru then guided me out of the smoke bomb and opened up a small water potion. We sat down nearby as she rubbed water in my eyes to clear the debuff away. “Thanks Toru..” I said as she smiled before frowning again, I looked at her as I put my hand on her cheek, she looked as I told her “Don’t worry, we’re in this together”.

Toru smiled a bit more, holding my hand before she kissed me on the lips. I flustered a bit as she told me “I know you will.. But this is my fight..” as Toru handed him a teleportation crystal forcefully, pushing him back a bit and had him teleported to Frieven. I fell down landing on my back as people turned their attention to me, I sat there dumbfounded at her decision as I got up. “Kirin!!” a voice shouted as I turned to see sato running to me.

“Sato?”

I said confused as he ran over to me and stopped in-front of me to catch his breath. “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be with Kirito and Asuna today?” I asked him as he stood up straight before saying “Well! That’s the thing, Toru messaged me to keep an eye on you here”. I was just confused at his answer as I asked him “Why would Toru tell you to watch over me?” as he shrugged confusedly, “I don’t know, That’s what I’m wondering about too” Sato said as I sighed.

Meanwhile, Toru walked through the forest, looking at her gloves as she heard multiple notifications. Toru ignored the notifications as Toru thought to herself “I can’t let Kirin get in my personal troubles…” as she stopped to check a message from Neo.

“Come alone, Meet me at Nightfall Forest and we’ll settle this like professionals..”

The message said in Japanese, she closed the messages as she examined her map that Kirin had given her prior. Toru looked at the map as she thought “Why…I’m just in his shadow…not beside him…” as Toru began hurrying over towards Nightfall Forest. She looked at the time as it was noon, Toru entered into Nightfall Forest and readied up her guard. Hearing sounds from mobs nearby, Toru saw a Remnant Demon rushing towards her.

“Haah!!”

Toru shouted as she threw a punch, hitting the Demon and delivered a liver punch, stunning the mob. She then activated a martial arts skill, punching the demon in the face twice before roundhouse kicking it and slamming the back of its head straight down with a left hook. The demon shattered as Toru jumped back from a knife thrown at her connected with a chain. The knife budged a bit before flinging back into the fog as she held her guard up.

“Your reaction time has definitely increased Tonru”

The voice said in Japanese as Neo walked out of the fog, spinning the chained knife slowly and at a pace. “Stop calling me that… Naiko…” Toru replied in Japanese as Neo smirked, saying “Also..Meet my guys while you’re at it!” as three hooded figures came out from the fog.

“You said we would settle this like professionals!!”

Toru shouted as Neo started to laugh “You’re really gullible! No wonder I can get away with so much shit!” as Toru ran in. The three hooded players rushed towards Toru as Toru ducked and dodged around their attacks. Toru was too busy dodging their hits as she was unable to throw out a couple of hits herself. Neo got down from the tree as she swiped down and equipped a bow.

Meanwhile, Toru was slowly taking hits bit by bit but was able to dish out a couple of swings towards the three players. Toru was quick on her feet and found a spot in their attacks, dodging both overhead swings and catching a downward swing. “What!” The player said in shock as Toru moved the blade to the side and activated a martial arts skill, punching straight into the players gut and sending one of them flying back.

Toru rushed over to one and began boxing with them, ducking and parrying mace swings. “Just stop defending and let me hit you!!” the player shouted as Toru parried another Mace swing, causing the mace to bounce off her gloves as she began beating down the player. Toru punched the player’s throat as she then kneaded their lower abdomen and slammed both of her hands straight down onto the player.

Toru was hit from behind as she turned and saw it was a dagger user, Toru tightened her guard as she began blocking their swings left and right, She then broke through the players barrage of swings and headbutted them. Toru drop kicked the player back as she pulled out a paralysis knife and threw it at the player’s leg. They screamed out in pain as the paralysis effect kicked in immediately, dropping them to the floor and unable to move.

Toru turned to face Neo as Toru took an arrow shot to her left leg. “GAAHH FUCKK!!” She shouted out in pain as she was forced to kneel down from the pain, Toru’s indicator then applied a bleeding debuff for 8 minutes. “I have to admit, you’ve changed heavily, but it doesn’t make you stronger Tonru” Neo said as Toru stood up, leaning onto one leg as she replied “No..It doesn’t… but what it does is make me independent…” as Toru raised up her arms. Her arms were shaking slightly as Toru clenched her fists harder as Neo just chuckled and readied another shot.

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Toru slowly but surely inched closer and closer towards Neo as Toru said “Naiko…Where’s my friend…” as Neo shot another arrow into her right shoulder, applying a poisoning effect for 3 minutes. “Your friend’s gone Tonru.. It’s just us now..” Neo said as Toru began inching towards Neo again. Neo seemed more irritated as Toru said “I don’t…wa…want to hurt you…” as Toru dropped her remaining arm down, coughing out virtual blood.

Neo aimed her final shot at Toru’s head as Toru’s hp dropped down to upper red, Neo started to begin to hesitate as Neo said “They said if I can kill someone! I can be part of the guild!!” as Toru was confused by it. Toru stood in-front of her as Toru grabbed the arrow and took it out of the bow. Neo looked at the arrow before suddenly getting a hug from Toru.

“Naiko…I’m…sorry okay…really…sorry…” as Toru coughed more blood out and her health dropped more and more, slowly hitting 10 hp. “No more…running…” Toru said again as Neo was frozen in place, unable to move from hesitation and pure sadness. “You’re my friend Naiko… Always my friend…” as Toru’s health dropped to 1, Toru closed her eyes as she thought to herself “I don’t have regrets…not anymore…” as she then heard a healing sound.

Toru slowly opened her eyes as she saw a healing circle around them, Neo was holding an item called Aura Circle of Vitality. A healing circle was around them as she cleansed Toru of her bleed and her poison. “Naiko.. Why did you-” Toru said as Neo replied “I’ve…realized I made a huge mistake.. This doesn’t mean a truce..” as she still held a grudge on Toru before smoke bombing away, Toru’s health had gone back up to yellow as she looked for Neo.

Meanwhile, I was walking with Sato as Sato and I were awkwardly silent as we haven’t talked to each other since the fourth floor. “So… uh…” I said as I didn’t really know what to talk about as Sato and I kept walking around Frieven. We then passed by Lisbeth’s smithing shop as I looked and stopped for a second. “What is it Kirin?” Sato said as I looked back at him and replied “Oh, it’s nothing” as I quickly paced forward, Sato looked at the shop before following me shortly behind.

“Did something happen between you and Toru?”

Sato asked as I shrugged it off trying to play it off, “Whaat, noo” I said in a weird way as Sato gave me the Really look. I looked at him and sighed saying “sort of… we just… can’t decide on what we think is best… I want to take the loot for ourselves, but Toru suggests we share the loot…”. Sato took some thought into my situation as he told me “Why don’t you just talk it out with her? Maybe she has a reason for it” as I rubbed my eyes.

“I’ve already tried that Sato, maybe when you get a girlfriend, you’ll see how hard it is to make decisions..”

I said to him as I stopped and it suddenly hit me, Sato was both giving me some smug sassiness and a bit confused. “Thought up of another middle-school grade burn Kirin.?” he said with a bit of sarcasm as I shook my head, “I figured out why we’ve been arguing for so long!” I shouted as Sato looked at me.

“Wait wait wait”

Sato said to me as he added, “You’ve been arguing with Toru for almost a week?!!” as I nodded and he slapped his forehead. “What?” I said confused as Sato then pointed out “Don’t you see the problem?! The problem isn’t how you two want things, well partially, but it’s how you two agree to something!” as I took some thought into it. “We argue because we don’t agree?” I thought to myself as the cogs in my brain finally decided to spin and work, I then said “Alright! Thanks Sato!” as I tried to run off but was stopped by Sato.

“Sato! Let go of my shoulder!!”

I said as Sato replied “Oh come on, we still have about 900 words to talk down”, I just looked at him saying “Are…Are you breaking the fourth wall Sato?” as he replied “What fourth wall?”. “I- Nevermind Sato, stop trying to talk to the reader who’s reading this for about the next couple of words or so” I told him as he nodded saying “Good idea, I don’t wanna spoil anything about a cross-” as I smacked his mouth shut.

“Goddamn it Sato! Spoilers!!”

I whispered to him as he nodded, I uncovered his mouth as we saw Asuna and Kirito walk in from the front gate. I ran over towards them as I waved towards them saying “Kirito! Asuna!” as they both turned their attention towards me.

“Oh hey Kirin, what are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be in a dungeon?”

Kirito asked confusedly as he felt an elbow tap onto his arm from Asuna, “What?!? What did I do this time?!?” he said a bit irritated as Asuna replied “That’s not how you talk to your friends Kirito!”. “Oh great, what are you doing now! Trying to give me a crash course on friendship Asuna?!” Kirito shouted a bit as Asuna unsheathed her wind fleuret on Kirito’s neck. “Try that again hotshot, You beaters are the same with your egos as big as yourself. We only partied together because we needed that item” Asuna said in a serious tone.

“What Item?”

I said as Asuna sheathed her Wind Fleuret and replied “It’s called the Aura of Vitality, we saw a player earlier that got the item.” Kirito then said “Argo the rat has all the information, you’ve heard of Argo before” as I nodded. Kirito then handed me a scroll as it was their map scroll as he said “use ours for now, until we get more information, this floor isn’t going to be cleared for a good while” as they both began walking off. “Thanks for the map!” I shouted as I updated my map with theirs.

I sighed briefly as I walked out of the safezone and thought to myself “I need to go and apologize to Toru right now..” as I headed into the forest nearby. While walking, I sent a message to Toru saying “where are you, I need to talk to you right now” as I waited for a response. Ten minutes passed as I made it to a different part of the forest, I checked my notifications and messages to see if Toru had responded in which she hadn't responded in 10 minutes. “Where is she..” I thought as I grew anxious of her location, messaging her again before walking into the fog of the forest.

As I walked through the forest, I looked around as I couldn’t see at least 3-4 meters from me. “Toru…Where did you go..” I thought as I heard footsteps coming my way, I unsheath my sword as I took a stance and waited patiently. “If I can barely see in here, then the same must apply for the mobs here too then..” I thought as I waited for the mysterious figure to walk closer, I activated a sword skill that turned blue, I took a deep breath in and out as I waited more before seeing it was in range.

“Now!!”

I thought to myself as I swung my sword and hit a clean diagonal hit, I smiled a bit before realizing who I struck, seeing that it was Toru. “Oh shit!! Toru!!” I shouted as I dropped my sword and caught her from falling to the ground. “Oh god no nono!!” I stuttered in a panic as I pulled out a potion from my bag. “Toru, stay with me!!” I shouted as I heard a voice from behind saying “Kirin-kun..?” as I turned around to see that Toru was standing right behind me.

“T-Toru..?”

I stuttered confusedly, I looked over to the one I struck as it materialized into fog and faded from my arms, I looked around and looked at Toru. “B-but..” as I stuttered more as I was confused at what was going on. “What part of the map am I in..” as I rushed over to my sword and picked it up, I turned around to see that Toru was gone once again.

“Toru? Toru!!”

I said as I ran through the fog and began looking around shouting Toru’s name. “Where are you!!” I shouted as I bumped into a person, falling back and seeing a hand lend down as it was Neo. “Um..hi…” she said a bit awkwardly as I recognized her and got up, going back a bit and readied my sword at her.

“What did you do to her!!”

I shouted as Neo raised her hands up saying “I did nothing…” as I shouted “LIES! YOU LITERALLY TRIED KILLING HER EARLIER!!” as Neo said “I was blinded by something you wouldn’t understand.. She’s north from here..”. I looked at her and said “How can I trust you..” as I was unsure about her information, “Listen, she’s fine. How about I take her to you” She said as I waved my sword a bit indicating her. Neo began walking with her hands down as I followed behind with my sword on the back of her neck.

“What you say is a lie, I won’t hesitate to kill you..”

I said in a serious tone as she laughed saying “You?? Kill someone? Don’t make me laugh, you seem like the kind of person to be very gentle” as I pressed my sword up against the back of her neck saying “Just keep walking..”. We then arrived at the destination as Toru was gone, I looked at Neo and said “Last chance!” as I slightly moved my sword cutting a little bit into her neck as she said “calm down anger management! She must have walked off in this fog, it’s easy to get disoriented in this fog and start seeing the things you fear the most” as I realized what the fog was.

“Oh no…”

I said as she looked at me confused and said “What?”. Toru walked through the fog as she saw someone walking up to her, Toru readied her arms up as she saw that it was a PKer that Kirin had killed. “Toru was terrified at my actions on an earlier floor…” I said as the PKer’s head slid off and a replica of me came out of the mist all bloodied up and had a red indicator on the top of his head.