The Sniper and Swordsman

1

It had been about a month after Asuna had moved to a different school. The 17 year old boy sat on his bed staring at her picture. This boy was named Kirigaya Kazuto. Most people would call him Kirito as he was a very strong and popular MMORPG player. Or maybe even, gamer. Asuna was his girlfriend. They had a cherished love. Then everything came crashing down on his side of the earth. She was leaving. She was leaving the school and their relationship. Both of them had cried hard during the conversation. But Kirito knew that it wasn't the end of the world, right?

On a different, but nearby, street a girl sat on her bed holding an envelope. It had been addressed to her all the way from the USA. "I wonder what it is. . ." she mumbled as she pushed up her glasses. This girl was Asada Shinon. Gamers would call her Sinon. Sinon tossed the envelope on the floor. "I'll open it later." She said. Sinon put on her jacket and grabbed her blue bag. She left and locked her apartment. "I need a stroll." She curtly said to herself as she wrapped the brown muffler, hiding the lower half of her face.

Sinon heard the exhaust of a motorcycle. A black blur zoomed past her. It happened in slow motion. It was Kirito-kun her friend and let's say, next street neighbor. With her sharp eyes, she could see that the black haired idiot waved at her. She rolled her eyes and continued walking down the sidewalk. Sinon shivered. It had been a month since the creep she called her best friend was arrested and put in mental reformary. It was November and the weather was getting colder. Sinon shivered because of both reasons. She buried the rest of her face in her muffler.

Halfway across town, a black blur was zooming all over. Kirito swerved his cycle to a stop. He arrived at Asuna's house. Well, it was Asuna's house. A moving truck was parked on the curb, waiting for someone to unload the heavy boxes within it. Kirito stood looking at the house. He just observed it. So this is where a rich girl would live. He thought to himself. Then he felt a tear escape his eye. Thoughts of Asuna began to flood his mind. Their digital daughter, their first sword fight, their first kiss and their first... Why Asuna? Why did you have to leave? More tears escaped his eyes because he knew the reasons why. Her mother didn't like him and had an arranged marriage for Asuna. Hopefully he won't be like that bastard of ALO. Kirito had a quick rush of anger. But he learned how to calm himself down. He took a few breaths and decided it was time to go home. Kirito took one last look at her house and drove away.

Sinon sat on a bench in a lonely park. It began to snow the second she arrived. She took out her phone. Ten new messages. Ten?! Sinon quickly unlocked her phone and went to her messages. Silica had messaged her 6 times in total. Sinon sighed. What an energetic girl.

Silica: Hey Sinon! We're gonna go to the 23rd floor! Please come if you want!

Silica: Dude you should've been with us!!!! There was this reaaaaaaalllly huge giant goblin thing that almost killed all of us. Thanks to Leafa-chan we survived. Wished you'd been there.

Silica: Kirito's been feeling down lately

SIlica: We should cheer him up

SIlica: Right?

Silica: Hello?

The other three messages were telemarketers, spams, and raffle stuff. Sinon deleted them. One message left. From Asuna.

Asuna: I'm really going to miss you guys. This will be my last bit of communication before I leave. My mother is going to sell my AmuSphere and blocking and deleting your contacts.

Sinon's thumb trembled over the keys. She wanted to respond but she couldn't. It was like when she tried to pull the trigger of Hecate. She felt paralyzed from emotions, not from a poisoned dart. Sinon's hand trembled and dropped her phone on the ground. "Shoot." As she bent to pick it up she heard the exhaust of the motorcycle. She stayed in her bent down position and muttered, "Oh no." She did and didn't want to turn her head. In the corner of her eye, she saw him slow and make a U-turn. "Hey Asada." Kirito said. Sinon cringed. She pulled up her muffler, picked up her phone, and stopped bending.

Sinon ignored him and looked the opposite direction. "Hello." Kirito said, waving his hand in front of her face. Sinon still ignored him, but glared. "Are you mad at me or something?" Kirito asked. "No." "Then why are you ignoring me?"

"Because."

"Because why?" "Why do always come to me whenever there's nothing to do?" Sinon huffed, her breath turning into vapor. "I don't know." Kirito sighed and sat next to her. She scooted away. Her face softened. "Do you miss Asuna?" Sinon asked, tilting her head up, facing the sky. "Yeah. Kinda." "Have you seen her latest text?" Sinon uncrossed her arms and showed him her phone. As Kirito read, his face quickly turned into agony. He started crying immediately. Sinon really wanted to make fun of him. But at the same time she felt bad. "U-um. . ." She said awkwardly, patting his back.

Kirito cried for about a couple of minutes while Sinon tried to calm him down. "Look. . . I, um need to go. My uncle might be calling me." She said as got up. When she turned away, she felt a tug on her coat sleeve. Sinon didn't bother to look back. She sighed. "Kirito, please." Kirito tugged harder. Sinon sat back down. He leaned on her shoulder. Then he clung on to her. Or maybe it was more of a hug?

Whatever it was, Sinon hugged him back. For what seemed like forever, Kirito stopped sobbing. Sinon awkwardly stroked his hair. "Um, are you done yet?" She checked her watch. 6:45 exactly. "Shit." She muttered. "Seriously Kirito. I need to go home. Quick." He looked up at her with his sad gray eyes. But they sparked when he heard her say 'quick'. Kirito immediately got up and dragged her along. Sinon stood facing his cycle. "Fine." She said, getting on.

Kirito revved up the engine. As he did, he wiped one last tear from his face.