SWORD ART ONLINE (SAO)

Chapter 15: Paths Diverged

The next day, the atmosphere in the Moonlight Black Cats' meeting room was somber. Keita stood at the head of the table, looking at each guild member with a serious expression. "We need to talk about Shino," he began, his voice steady but tinged with sadness.

Kirito, sitting quietly at the far end of the table, sighed deeply. He knew this moment was coming. He rose from his seat, gathering the attention of everyone in the room. "Shino has left the guild. She made that decision herself," Kirito said, his tone firm. "She has her reasons, and we should respect that."

The room fell into a heavy silence as the others processed the news. Sachi, her eyes filled with concern, asked, "But...shouldn't we try to talk to her? Maybe convince her to come back?"

Keita shook his head. "No. If this is what she wants, we shouldn't stand in her way. We need to focus on our guild and the future."

There was a deep silence in the group. It was clear that they all cared deeply for Shino, but they understood that sometimes, people had to walk their own paths.

Keita then cleared his throat, bringing attention back to the table. "We have another matter to discuss," he said, his tone becoming more strategic. "The Moonlight Black Cats have decided to join forces with Fuurinkazan, Klein's guild. This alliance will help us move forward and grow stronger."

The decision was met with a mix of relief and optimism. Kirito, however, felt a pang of isolation. He knew this was the right move for the guild, but it also solidified his growing sense of distance from everyone—especially from Shino.

As the meeting wrapped up, Kirito silently opened his menu and navigated to his friend list. His cursor hovered over Shino's name for a long moment before he steeled himself and selected "Unfriend." A message popped up, asking if he was sure. Without hesitation, Kirito confirmed.

"She made her choice, and now I have to make mine," Kirito muttered to himself. "No more distractions. I have to focus on getting stronger...and getting out of here."

Shino stared at her empty friend list, her heart sinking. She had been feeling uneasy ever since the confrontation with Kirito. "Why did I say those things to him?" she wondered, guilt gnawing at her. She had planned to send him an apology, but when she opened her friend list, she found that Kirito's name was gone.

Her heart clenched with regret. "I...I messed up," she whispered to herself, feeling the sting of isolation. She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts aside. "I have to focus on my duties," she told herself firmly.

As the newly appointed third in command of the Knights of the Blood Guild, Shino found herself quickly consumed by her responsibilities. Kuradeel, her assigned bodyguard, shadowed her every move, his presence both reassuring and unsettling. Asuna, always the voice of reason, encouraged her to leave the past behind and move forward.

But Shino couldn't shake the sense of loss that had settled deep within her.

A week later, Kirito was exhausted after a long day of soloing monsters on the 75th floor. He returned to his inn, his body aching and his mind weary. He prepared a simple lunch, ate quickly, and then decided to take a break.

As he lay on his bed, boredom set in. He opened his menu, scrolling through various options until he stumbled upon the record crystals he had collected. "Might as well," he thought, selecting the crystal that recorded his battle with Gleameyes.

He watched the footage with a critical eye, noting his mistakes—reckless swings, indecisive movements. He winced as he saw himself get knocked unconscious, the screen darkening for a moment. But as the video continued, his eyes widened.