It's September 15, 2026. Kirito and Asuna have recovered quite well after all the Underworld stuff.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kffOACQSN
Kirito was in his room when there was a knock.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAy2SDZ5pKq
Suguha: Onii-chan, come on, Asuna's probably already waiting.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsceU7lYEm
Kirito got up and turned off his computer.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZmhGlt7t8
Kirito: Yeah, I'm coming, Sugu.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkaIqSgu2E
He grabbed his jacket and went outside with Suguha, where Asuna was already waiting.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlHEZheOm4
Asuna: Kirito, there you are! You know I hate it when you're late.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1N2AdI89H
She pulled him into a hug.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjkUZQci6a
And so the three souls went for a peaceful walk.
Meanwhile, all hell broke loose at Rath's place.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLx6ww30pg
Kikuoka: Higa, restart the server quickly, or the whole Underworld will blow up!!!!!!
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDAb2JXjna
As he said this, there was an explosion. Smoke was everywhere, and when they looked up, there were five people standing there:
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCiwlB1LVN
Four girls and one boy.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyOVQPb1og
Maple: Where have we landed? Is this some kind of special quest?
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbrEb1tlJG
Sally: If we keep ending up in places like this, it must be because of you. These things always happen with you.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YvrD66QPx
Kasumi: Watch out, there are two people here.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgqpaMlRVr
Iz: This doesn't look like a quest, guys.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2aW2dpAqA
Kuromu: Don't worry, I'll take care of the enemies.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7z5z6Dt08
He charged at Kikuoka, but when he reached for a weapon, he realized there wasn't one.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71kt0ruPJE
Kuromu: What's going on???
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV8IdfqftU
Kikuoka: Higa... I think we've done something we shouldn't have.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BtpmcLF6F
Kirito Suguha and Asuna finally arrived at the park.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqo3u09PJNb
Where Liz, Sinon, Rain, and Phillia were already waiting.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFq2nPlX4pg
Liz: There you are at last! I thought you weren't coming at all.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKMr65J7aD
Asuna: Oh no, just someone here was on the computer again for too long.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZBFSc6ySH
Her gaze fell on Kirito.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoJrJZHrEj
Kirito: That's not true at all... Okay, yes it is.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EItyG2a5x
Everyone laughed.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwGND3PcOt
Phillia: Typical Kirito, that's just how he is.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYZv8RKiNm
Rain: You Asuna, Didn't Yuu......
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwgmh7KOB9
Voice: ASUUUNA
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUMRStQABc
At that moment, Yuuki rushed up and hugged Asuna.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfp7o9vpke
Asuna: Wow, Yuuki, are you okay? 😂
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTzhM1rAdu
Yuuki: Of course, I'm just glad to see you. :)
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXilcY86bQ
Sinon: Oh man, Yuuki, you just saw her a few hours ago at school.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPuj0uybzo
?: Hello, there you are! Yessss!
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7uWlBGL43
At that moment... Klein is also too late.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTeFyWUUBj
Klein: Sorry, my dog ate my pillow.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaeLknE6qv
Sinon: You don't have a dog.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04GbmdQFvX
Klein was about to reply when Kirito's phone rang.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADK0M3vVCN
Kikuoka: Kirito, come to Rath quickly, something's happened.
Approximately 30 minutes later
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHOGGdA1pE
Kirito: You're seriously telling me that your server overload somehow opened a gateway to another dimension and that the five of them are now here?
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dvjZkWPQs
Kikuoka: Yes, that's exactly what happened.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcTGEFrbAL
There was silence until Maple broke it.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvi7yXokRh
Maple: Are we stuck here forever?
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPuXWZy57y
Higa: No, we'll definitely find a way to bring you back soon.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡez4rAKyft6
Kirito looked at Maple.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfq5lQ30czM
Kirito: My name is Kirito, nice to meet you.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBu2on0qCGN
Maple: My name is Maple, nice to meet you too.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3rDFW15PO
So everyone got to know each other and talked until a loud shout rang out.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnq7vHMoDj
Klein: AH, WHY DOES HE LOOK LIKE ME????
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduiDJXmVCF
Kuromi: Better question, why do you look like me???
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2m7322D9B3
Suguha looked at the two of them.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd02OmvpqK6
Suguha: Mmm, I do see a certain resemblance.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPbFWVf0EQ
It wasn't even five minutes before Klein and Kuromu were talking like two best friends, as if they'd known each other for years.
Kikuoka: What do we do now? We have to find somewhere to put the five of them up.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPl3FfKQiFu
Iz & Kasumi: We'll both go to a hotel.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrhDD0Bvgs
Klein: Well, I'm all for Kuromu coming with me.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ktooyVgN9
Everyone seems to agree.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSZ1mWw1hz
Kikuoka: Okay, then we just have to figure out what to do with the two of you.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3gg7CremK
(Looks at Maple and Sally)
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHCqqVZQDc
Suguha: So, Maple, you can come with us. I have a spare bed in my room. That's no problem, is it, Kirito?
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xlzXs7wBX
Kirito: No, basically. I just don't know what Mom and Dad will say, but it'll work out.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvvJbDVhGy
Sally: Then I'm the only one left.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74QQ5lRkfq
Asuna: I'd really love to, but my parents wouldn't allow it. They're very strict.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfCEPfzgBV
Rain, Liz, and Philia were in the same boat.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYjr5OXFAA
So everyone looked at Sinon.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgN4FsrUrc6
Sinon: Why are you all looking at me like that?
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5QCihxT7b
Philia: Well, you live alone, so it wouldn't really be a problem.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiRLrHjFQK
Sinon thought for a moment.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihfnd0SeIl
Okay, fine, I'll take Sally with me.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOOMRmwlmb
So everyone said their goodbyes and headed home.
Finally, Suguha, Kirito, and Maple arrived at the couple's house, where they were greeted by their mother in the hallway.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7sKOm6Ayb
Suguha's mom: Hi you two, there you are again! But who is that girl?
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwN1JZvUDSH
Her gaze fell on Maple.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48NHIHyv8r
Suguha and Kirito knew they couldn't possibly tell the truth. After all, no one would probably believe them.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFbkUW5ClUO
Suguha: Um, this is Maple, a good friend of mine. Would it be okay if she stayed here temporarily?
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXpudZ0pTx
Suguha's mom: Suguha, you know I don't really like this during the school year, but... It's okay, but it's bedtime at 10 p.m. Tomorrow is...
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4PuVUfLoM
Kirito and Suguha seemed relieved, and Kirito went to his room.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFblQfLpb9J
And Suguha and Maple went to theirs.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphfCc0Jkxn
Meanwhile, at Sinon's:
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFQ5EKmpvk
Sally: You have a nice apartment.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBcmDvpZ7E
Sinon: Thanks. Feel free to sit down. Are you hungry?
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj72Ksqe2eW
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuW25SILkn9
Sinon Sally: No, but thank you.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvYbzg5txt
The two talked until Sinon suggested she log into Alo so she could show Sally.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAcyBwX10J
Sally: Wow, this is nice too... And wait a minute... I'm wearing my clothes from New World Online?
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2UDVEv3Dl
Voice: Oh, you're here too!!!
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukCqPM0Ijl
It was Leafa and Maple.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlWPTMuDEf
Maple: Sally, there you are! Did you notice our clothes too?
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCzlnSO2Pn
Sally: Yes, and I have the skills and everything else too. Weird.
Then Syrup and Oboro appeared and jumped into Sally and Maple's arms.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOkenK3pvR
Before anyone could say anything, a scream rang out.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyjpgAaJuk
PINAAAA, stop! Where are you going?
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eqmQF4w7K
Silica came around the corner with Pina: Oh, hey Sinon, hey Leafa, who are these two?
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoXkphDSBY
Sinon: Oh, hi, just two friends.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDpIzJO5Fq
Maple: Hello, I'm Maple, and this is Sally.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJrsjnyQsF
At that moment, Pina went over to Syrup and Oboro, and the three of them started playing.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfd6fONP5j
Sally: That's so cute! :)
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJpCEdKfCQ
Voice: Suguha didn't tell Mom you to be in bed by 10 PM. It's already 11 PM!
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAO4Bat1J9
Leafa: Oh, Onii-chan, I'm sorry. Please don't tell her anything. We'll log off right away.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpMW5TV3fj
Kirito came downstairs.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡam5SUsqEhQ
Kirito: How cute are they? What are their names?
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7q6mb85gw
Maple: This is Syrup, and this is Oboro.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rs9OhQcay
Kirito looked at them...
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9NpRLgwjp
Kirito: What's the fox's name?!
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNc4IglYnZI
Sally replied: Oboro, any problems?
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMiq7rfpSx
Kirito: Ah, Oboro, sorry, I was thinking about something from the past, sorry.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi948njJnuT
(He was obviously thinking of Oberon.)
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLn7v5z8wrV
After that, everyone logged out and went to sleep.
Meanwhile, at Rath's
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccVIFTPTkV
Kikuoka: Good, Higa, everything seems to be fine in the Underworld. Nothing's broken.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbbhVjxDHu
Higa: Okay, then we should go to sleep. It's late.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZfiLoCN8p
They left the room.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KwwLSlzCa
When the screen came back on:
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2G0cjzF2Tp
Voice: Oh yeah, I can smell it and almost taste it—so many sweet little souls! Hahaha.
203Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6baA8u5ov
End of Chapter 1
ns216.73.216.117da2
and then Add to home screen.