Archive of My Own

Chapter 4: Thanksgiving in SAO (Part 3)

Back inside the game, Kirsten opened her eyes. First think she noticed was she was on her rented bed. She guessed Kirito came back and saw her collapsed. Second thing she noticed was her door was cracked open a bit. She got up from her bed and slowly walked to the next room to see Kirito on the couch, asleep with tears.

Debating for a moment, she decided to wake him up. He was more likely crying because of her sudden collapsed, after all.

"Kirito..." the girl speaks in a calming and warm tone as she lightly shakes the boy. He slowly opens his eyes. "Kirito, are you alright?"

When he noticed Kirsten was waking him up, his eyes shot open and he hugged her tightly. "KIRSTEN! I WAS SO WORRIED YOU WOULDN'T WAKE UP AGAIN!"

Feeling his worry, she returned the hug. "I'm here and I'll always be..." She slowly split from the hug to give Kirito the surprising news. "Kirito, I woke up in the real world."

"What? How?"

"I don't know honestly... but I learned some things while I was on the outside that you may want to k-."

"WHY DID YOU RETURN? YOU COULD OF BEEN FREE FROM THIS PLACE!" Kirito began scolding her. His tears he couldn't hide ran for awhile.

"Because I couldn't live with myself if I didn't help everyone clear the game! Besides," The girl had her own tears falling now. "I'm no longer considered an American resident."

"No longer... what do you mean?"

"I met Suguha and your mom in my hospital room, Kirito." She put her head down, not wanting him to see all the insane amount of tears she couldn't hide. "I had to meet them, or I wouldn't have a chance of logging back in. Sometime during these past 3 weeks, my parents gave up custody of me so I could get free treatment in Japan. Your family ended up wanting to take me in. In order to come back, I agreed, but begged them to let me log back in. And... here we are."

Kirito realized the reality of their situation, and went to hug her again in comfort. "I'm sorry that you woke up to terrible news... and I'm happy you didn't abandoned us." He then stopped hugging again. "Tomorrow, let's have an amazing Thanksgiving, as brother and sister."

Kirsten's eyes lit up. She and Kirito were now, in a sense, related. It didn't truly hit her until Kirito said it. "Yeah, lets!"

_____

The next day came and Kirito went to grab Klein and his friends. Kirsten began cooking a feast of simple foods. It didn't take long for Kirito to come back with their 5 friends. Everyone sat down at the table with a spread of food.

"Dig in, boys!" Kirsten smiled.

"Thank you for the food!" The 6 said in unison as they began chowing down the food.

"Wow, this is so good, even for game food!" Klein spoke first. "Maybe I should get this skill up as well!"

Kirsten blushed. "Thank you."

"Kirsten, I'm really glad I met you." Kirito suddenly said.

"Kirito...?"

"Let's do our best to clear the game as fast as possible, alright?"

Kirsten's smile lit up bright. "Let's do it together!"

The 7 finished eating their meal, all thankful that they met each other in this death game.