Fatal Bullet (Various x Female Reader)

Practice Makes Perfect (Chapter Sixteen)

Over the next couple days, I'd been alternating playing on GGO, getting used to a fantasy VRMMORPG once again, and playing Ordinal Scale. Ordinal Scale ended up coming out the day after I had gotten my Augma. The game was a bit odd at first, as the mechanics felt nothing like VR. However, I've been determined to get used to it, as all of my friends have been playing Ordinal Scale and I refuse to fall behind them. Currently, my rank isn't that far behind Asuna's.

I tapped on another free item that I'd won from ranking up in Ordinal Scale. I heard clapping from next to me. I looked over to see Hikaru, who was bright-eyed as always.

"Master! Congratulations on ranking up again!" I smiled at him.

"Thank you, Hikaru. I'm going to take a break for a bit. Swinging a sword and using a bow in Ordinal Scale is much different to VR." Hikaru nodded in understanding. I put the wand away, turning the Augma off and glanced around my surroundings. Someone was staring in my direction. Upon closer investigation, he was staring at me specifically. I looked around just to make sure there wasn't anyone else near me, however there wasn't. Deciding to confront the stranger, I walked up to him.

"Uh, hey, is there a reason you were watching me?" I asked him as I got closer. He glanced down to the book in his hands and I nearly froze when I had a glimpse at the cover.

"The Complete SAO Incident Records"

"You don't seem to remember me, Seraphim Archer." I bit my lip as I tensed up at the use of the name people once called me back in Sword Art Online.

"I repressed a lot of memories from back then. So, sorry." I stated awkwardly. His light brown eyes skimmed over the pages of the book that recounted the death game. As I stared at him more, a name suddenly came to mind, along with a sudden realization.

"Wait... I do remember something..."

"Hey, (Y/N)." I turned to see Nautilus. He and ... have been keeping me company since I met them. We've become great friends in the small amount of time we've known each other. However, right now he seems to be in a saddened mood. I tilted my head in concern.

"What's wrong? You seem not like your usual self." I asked him. I was outside my house. Asuna's finally leaving me alone, knowing that I had people to look after me and make sure I wouldn't do anything stupid. He sighed, as he knew he couldn't get much past me.

"I've been banned from doing any more Bosses after I nearly risked the lives of my squad." My eyes widened and I gasped. He was supposed to be on Asuna's team, if I could recall. For a moment I worried about Asuna, but I knew she was fine, as her name was still in my friends list. I stood up and hugged the older male. He froze, but then hugged back, albeit it was an awkward one.

"I'm sorry, maybe I can talk to Asuna to change her mind." He let me go and shook his head.

"It's no use. I froze up on the battlefield. It's not her fault or anyone else's. It was all my fault and I need to take the repercussions for it." I frowned at the male. He was so excited to have joined the front lines. Now, all he seems to be is broken... I smiled at him, trying to get him back to his usual self.

"Well, I'm glad you're okay! Let's go find ... and listen to her singing! That will surely raise your spirits!" I exclaimed, dragging him away from my house. When I looked back at him, he was finally smiling a little.

I blinked a couple times to get my focus back. The guy in front of me looked at me expectantly, as if he was waiting for me to tell him I remembered.

"You were an SAO Survivor, a good friend of mine too. Nautilus, correct?" I asked. He snapped the book shut and gave his full attention to me.

"My name's Eiji. I no longer go by that name, (Y/N)." I smiled at him and held my hand out.