Unital Ring II: The Virtual Study Society

Matters of the Heart

We dismissed for a ten-minute break at eleven pm, just moments after Kirito and Lux revealed the truth. I was honestly expecting more verbal action, but as I promised, I deflected all blame away from Lux while Argo managed to keep me and Argo spared from the recurring lecture of us not trusting them with vital information. The conversation turned to how to dispel the curse, but that's when Kirito proposed a short break.

"We're so gonna get it," I mutter to myself. Otherwise, I'm thankful Kirito announced this; it gives me some time to think about what to do to defend our town. My experience defending the SBC Glocken last year, a massive invasion that took GGO's best against an onslaught from then-enemy Lievre's army, is the biggest pool of plans in my cranium, but none really translate to fighting Mutasina. For one, we defended the Glocken twice against her, and the first round was barely enough to repel Lievre.

I fear we won't get preparations done in time, not before I log off to get enough sleep to carry myself through school. As a third-year, I have a little more freedom than Kirito, so if need be, I can leave class, escape to the clubroom, and log in from there. Kirito and Asuna might do the same. At the very least, Kureha and Zeliska can join me, for Kureha will be at Rath, and Zeliska has taken her work from Zaskar home.

"Oh well, I better-Guaaah!" A sudden weight plants itself on my lower abdomen. I grimace like I'm suffering a horrible stomachache, and I wish that were the case. I figure it's a human being, so I immediately shout, "What the hell, Mo-"

Don't take this the wrong way, but I wish it was Momiji on top of me; that is an easier rage to manage. Much, much easier than the burning green fire that is Koharu Honda. Before I can correct my question, the black-haired demon pins me underneath her. I have no choice but to either look away to my left or right, look down and anger her even more for staring at the hanging contents of a loose-fitting white t-shirt, or meet her eye to eye.

"H-How did you get here so fast?"

"I logged off before you did and ran. Before I even got to the door, Momiji let me in, and I came here."

Ladies and gentlemen, Momiji Takemine is dead to me. Take note; this is why childhood friends worldwide consistently lose in romance. Meddling and betraying those who they've known longest. And it sucks it must be that way. Momiji served her role all too well.

"But furthermore...yesterday, today, tonight, you've avoided me! You didn't tell me how you met with Kikuoka or that you and the others went into the Underworld! You didn't say anything about Kirito and Lux to me! I don't understand why, but if you're trying to protect me or something, I don't need your protection anymore, Joshua."

"I'm not protecting you, or anyone, at all this time," I state that calmly, then gently push Koharu off so both of us can sit on the bed. She hurries to the long side, keeping her back to me. She's...really angry with me, but I do deserve it. I expected it, but not for her to storm my house in the middle of the night. Yet I've given her no choice because all she's said, besides me protecting her, is undeniable.

"Explain."

"...I can't talk to you about the Underworld. That's personal."

"Kazuto, Asuna, Alice, Argo, and Momiji aren't 'personal.'"

"Aside from Alice and Momiji, the only reason the other three know is because of Kikuoka. You know why Alice and Momiji know. And being mad about it is unjustified because of no one else... Oh, Kotone knows too, b-but that's...no excuse." Kotone knows everything because she was with us last night, and she confronted me before our fight with the Life Harvester.