Sword Art Online: Faithful Hymn

Chapter 24: Klein and Agil, Teachers of Lust

"And here we are at Dicey Cafe! The favorite place to be for many of my friends, as well as some other SAO Survivors!" says Klein proudly, hoping that Yuna might know what he's talking about. "SAO Survivors? Sword Art Online... that is the place my best friend used to be. I'm so glad he survived.." says Yuna with a happy, yet also sad voice. Klein looks at the girl, slightly confused.

"Luckily he survived, but you sound pretty sad about it. What happened if I may ask?" Yuna wondered whether she should lie about it or not, but keeping lying to people who are only fair to her would not made her comfortable with anyone if she kept doing this.

"The truth is, I just ran from his home. He asked me how much I knew about love, and I just did not feel anything in my heart.." said Yuna in a soft, yet depressing tone. Klein can clearly see that something is wrong, and looks around him in order to check if anyone is watching the two of them. "That indeed doesn't sound right. Please, get in. My friend and I could always help you if you want to."

Right after that, Klein grabs the door handle and pulls it towards himself. The door opens, revealing a tavern filled with the color brown, walnut hardwood to be precise. It's not the biggest type of cafe one would encounter in their lives. The tavern consists of four round tables, a few bulletin boards on the walls, a beverage display behind the counter and of course, the counter itself. There also is an orange-yellow colored music jukebox that reveals fancy lights, making up for the bar's rather brown looks. In general, the tavern indeed is not suited for big crowds, but rather for a friend group or two instead.

"Hey Agil, I brought a new friend!" yells Klein throughout the tavern. No one can be seen however, so maybe he just is not present. Yuna is amazed by how the tavern looks, and can't help but to compliment Klein for it. "Klein, this place looks so beautiful!" says the white diva. Klein, who reveals a slight blush on his face, knows he is not the one to take that compliment, but rather the real owner of the bar himself, the so called Agil. "Thanks, but this place is not mine. It's property of that big and tough blac..."

"Klein, my son! What are you yelling through the bar for?" says Agil with a cool tone, not noticing Yuna yet. The man slams a door that leads to the storage room wide open, making Yuna gasp in response out of fright. It sure came unexpectedly, but Klein was prepared for Agil's sudden debut.

"Whoa Klein, you did not tell me you finally found a lover. Just kidding, that would be impossible for you!" laughs Agil out loud, annoying Klein with that 'fact'. Even though Klein does not really like when people joke regarding his 'permanently being single curse', he knows his friends mean it as a joke.

"Here I hear that word again, but with an -r attached to it instead. I just want to know what it means to love..." thinks Yuna in herself, not clearly letting the men around her know what's going on.

"Yeah yeah, very funny Agil. I've found her during a certain event around ten minutes ago. Not going to get into that." tells Klein to Agil, as well as to Yuna to ensure that he stays on her bright side, but not telling others about her attacker. "Ah, well, a friend of Klein's a friend of mine!" tells Agil with his rather calm voice to the girl. Yuna, who already sat down on one of Agil's chair stood up again, readying herself to tell her fake name to the man. She surely does not like doing this, but it is necessary in order to keep her identity a secret, so did Shoji and Tetsuhiro say.

"I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Ruby, good to meet you sir!" Agil raises an eyebrow in suspicion, noticing that something is 'off' regarding Yuna. "Ruby? That really isn't a Japanese name at all. Neither is your outfit really something fitting in this area. Are you cosplaying someone? Yuna has no words for what Agil just asked. Cosplaying? What's that supposed to mean, thinks Yuna in herself.

"Sorry, cosplaying? This is just what I always wear, no matter where I am. I know it is strange to wear this outfit in the middle of this part of Tokyo, but you see..." Klein, who assumed that what happened to Yuna around half an hour ago was something that he shouldn't talk about, now notices that Yuna is willing to tell the other man as well. Poor me, thinks Klein, having had the idea that it would be a secret only the two of them could share. Even though Klein knows it'd be strange to flirt with Yuna, he always seeks a chance. It appears that that chance now is in ruin.

"I ran away from a friend of mine, Shoji, because he asked me what I know about love. He explained it is something that you feel deep in your heart for someone you deeply care about. But... I don't feel anything at all! Even though I care a lot about him, I just don't feel anything.." explains Yuna to the two men standing around her. The two men sit around her, having a feeling that they know what Yuna is going through right now.

"It's okay Ruby. Love is a tough subject, and no one really is capable of explaining what it really is. Your friend gave a good explanation, but it's a guideline, so to speak. Everyone feels love differently, and everyone experiences it differently." explains Klein to the girl, knowing exactly what love could mean, although having no luck with the ladies himself. Agil nods regarding Klein's explanation, but also has a say in it himself.

"That's one way of putting it. I understand why you feel confused about the subject love, but if I could suggest something to you, it's the following: Follow what you think what love is. If you say that you care deeply for him, it means that you love your friend, Shoji. At least, that's what the Shoji I used to know told me back in the castle Aincrad, and it led me to meeting my amazing wife!" tells Agil to the white-haired girl, hoping to clear her mind of the vague ideas she had regarding love. Yuna indeed already feels more satisfied with the two men's explanations, but Agil's explanation also piqued her attention. Although since many people could name themselves Shoji in SAO, she decided not to continue on that subject.

"...You guys both are right. I can't thank you both enough! I'm going back to him, telling him how I feel about him, as well as telling him that I love him very much!" tells Yuna, revealing her beautiful smile that she always carries with her. Agil and Klein both seem shocked by her sudden will to leave already, but they also feel proud of themselves, knowing that they both helped someone to find her love of her life.

"Hold on Ruby! As a cherry on the cake, you could always attempt to have sexual intercourse with him to improve your relationships!" Klein exclaims. Yuna, who already clinched her hand around the door knob, looks back at Klein and lets go of her touch on the door.

"Klein, please don't." says Agil with a serious tone to it.

"Improving our relationship? I would do anything possible to improve our relationship!" says Yuna enthusiastically while walking towards the bandana wielder. Agil, who still sits at the table, stands up and prepares to flee from the upcoming conversation. "Sorry my friends, but I rather don't take part in the upcoming talk. Excuse me, but I will continue on working in the stockroom. Yuna, it sure is good to meet you! Please come over more often if you got time, alright?" requests Agil to the diva, who takes his leave as soon as he can. Yuna and Klein look towards one another again, with Yuna eager to hear Klein's advice.

"Sorry if I sound dumb, but what is sexual intercourse?" asks Yuna with doubt in her mind. For some reason, she really, really feels dumb about this question. Especially since she is designed to be the perfect human, preferably without the tag 'AI' attached to it, she feels like she has to know everything perfectly regarding the teenage life. It appears that the girl still has a lot to learn, despite being a machine.

"Don't worry, you know what it means, you just need a little reminder." says Klein, who already seems excited to talk about it. Yuna insists on explanation, but wouldn't want to know the simple stuff regarding this 'sexual intercourse'. She wants to know everything regarding love. Every inch, every bit, every juicy detail.

"Maybe. But please, tell me everything. I want every juicy detail, if it means improving my relationship with the one I so deeply love, Shoji."