Sword Art Online: Faithful Hymn

Chapter 41: Faithful Fighter

"I'll have to go. If I don't we are all in grave danger." I tell both Kazuto and Asuna, who don't agree with my proposal. When I attempt to walk out of the room, Kazuto blocks the door, not allowing me to go out all alone. I look back at Asuna, who shakes her head as well.

"It's not safe for us outside, especially not when you are all alone." says Kazuto, while simultaneously looking at me and Asuna. I honestly don't really know why Kazuto is making such a big deal out of this. After all, if we just obey Tetsuhiro's command, we should all be fine, right?

"Kirito, why are you making this such a big thing? If we obey the man, we should be fine, right?" asks Asuna, exactly what I was thinking. At the moment I try to realize what Kazuto is thinking, the thing that should endanger us all, I remember what Tetsuhiro said on the phone.

"Asuna, Shoji, I might have imitated Shoji's voice, but how would he know you are in the room, Asuna?" yells Kazuto around him, giving me the answer to what I was thinking at that moment. Asuna puts her hands in front of her mouth, while I look outside of the windows, seeing if anyone is watching us by any chance. I don't see anyone suspicious, but there's no other way for Tetsuhiro to know that Asuna is with us in the room.

"We're being watched, aren't we?" As response to my question, Kazuto nods. As far as I can tell, no one is listening to our conversation while we discuss things. No one is listening from behind the door Kazuto is standing at, and after a second check, I can definitely tell that no one is watching is from outside. Then how does Tetsuhiro knows us three are together?

"I'll go with you, Shoji. It's not safe out there alone, and a comrade by your side will help you get to that man's office safely." says Kazuto to me, which really makes me feel glad. I can tell that Asuna does not really like the idea of his beloved one going into the danger-zone like this, although knowing him, she understands why he is so desperate to help me.

"But... won't Nautilus go after you?" asks Asuna, worrying about her boyfriend's safety, as well as mine. I easily understand why she's so cautious about all of this, but knowing Kirito, the hero of Aincrad, he can definitely cut him off. I should not compare Kazuto with The Black Swordsman outside of Virtual Reality, although I can't help it but to feel safer around him.

After all, he has saved my life before in SAO. So why wouldn't he be able to help me in real life as well?

"I don't think Eiji, I mean Nautilus will try to hurt is in public. He'll surely be apprehended if he tries to." I tell Asuna, ensuring the orange-haired girl that we both will be fine. Kazuto nods in agreement, while he also tells Asuna something that she has experience with as well. "And besides, if we go on my motorcycle, he won't be able to keep up with our speed. That is, if he is out there watching is right now.." Kazuto says, not really sure whether his prediction is right or not.

With that being said and done, I open the door to the classroom, allowing both Kazuto and I to leave the room. The Lightning Flash then wishes the both of us good luck, giving Kazuto a goodbye kiss. It also appears that there are no boys and girls awaiting me, asking about Yuna. Just like that, Kirito and I manage to get outside without being detected. It feels weird, leaving school without permission, but we both know where the priorities lie right now.
Also, maybe Asuna will come up with excuse to pardon our sudden disappearances.

Once we get outside, Kazuto is about to hand me one of his helmets, before asking me something I indeed forgot to mention to him.

"Where is this man's office?" It was pretty stupid of me not to mention it before, especially because he likely wouldn't know who to get there in the first place. "It's at Kamura HQ. I can give you directions if you don't know the place." I tell the black-haired boy, with his eyes growing big the moment I told him the name of the HQ.