Sword Art Online: Re-Release

December 25, 2026: Sinon

OHAYOOOOOO!   HAPPY DECEMBER FIRST!  So!  This chapter, because it's December takes place on Christmas!  But, let me warn you now, you will not like the ending of this chapter.  It's a HUGE shock!!!  I'm gonna receive so much hate for it, but the opportunity came up and I took it.  I didn't like it myself either.  But it was so good I had to leave it in!  Anyways, as always, comment #TEAMKISUNA or #TEAMSHIRITO!  Also as a sidenote!  If you wanna talk to me you are welcome to I am always up for a chat!  Actually I'd love it if you would like to say something to me!  Makes si so i have a better connection with the fans!---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"MERRY CHRISTMAS AINCRAD!  TODAY IS CHRISTMAS!  CHECK YOUR INVENTORY FOR A SURPRISE ITEM!  YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA GET!  IT'S TIME TO SPREAD SOME JOY!  SAY HELLO TO PEOPLE AND GIVE SOME GIFTS!  NOW HERE IS THE STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR!  CURRENTLY THERE ARE 12,374 PLAYERS REMAINING!  YOU ARE ON FLOOR 28!  STRONGEST PLAYER IS: KIRITO!  HAVE A NICE DAY!"

I open my inventory to see what I got, and I see a ring.  Band of Darkness: Raises Stealth Attributes by 40.  That's a pretty good item.  I press the button to equip, and a black ring appears on my hand.  Kirito is standing next to me and sighs.  "Of course, another one."  I look at his inventory and see, Wedding ring:  Raises NPC appeal by 75.  I hold in my laughter, "Well Kirito!  I hear you're pretty popular among NPC's!  Could you show me the trick?"  He looks at me with a slightly embarassed face, "Please shut up Sinon."  

I start busting out laughing, also falling on the floor.  "You should see your face!  You look so perturbed!"  He looks at me, "Well, anyways, do you want this or not.  It's a gift."  Still barely containing my laughter, "I'm flattered Kirito, sure!"  The trade menu pops up and I see the item, Blossoming Tunic (Social Item).  "Uhm, Kirito... What is this?"  He looks away while scratching the back of his head.  "It was a uh... monster drop on Floor 16, I thought it looked pretty so I gave it to you."  Floor 16, Floria, Floor of Flowers.  

I feel my face begin heat up.  "Well uh... thanks!  I uh, I'll try it later.  Anyways uhm, here's something for you."  I input in the trade box his gift.  "Black Icon: Raises Defense by 100.  Thanks Sinon, I'll equip it now."  We both accept the trade, and I receive my outfit.  

"THERE HE IS!!!"  I hear the stampeding of feet before I see them.  Kirito's fangirls.  "DID YOU GET US ANYTHING KIRITO!  HERE I GOT YOU AN ENGAGEMENT RING!  WHO CARES ABOUT THAT GIRL TAKE ME!"  There it is, my face is heating up again.  Kirito grabs my hand and starts dragging me to town.  We're running and we reach the teleport plaza.  "TELEPORT!  XAFIRE!"  The blue light engulfs my vision and pretty soon we are on our home Floor of 23.  

Kirito is panting, "huff, I think we lost 'em.  C'mon let's go home.  We've been out since yesterday."  Yesterday we met Klein who told us what's been going on back with the rest of them.  According to him Asuna has been getting worse and worse.  Somehow I feel like part of it was my fault, but I don't know why.  She brought this on herself, shunning Kirito and then refusing to fight or see him.  She even removed him from her friends list apparently.  And me.  

I wonder what's going on.  Normally Asuna is this cool-headed person who always has it under control.  I wonder if something happened.  Pretty soon we are at the door to our house, Kirito opens the door and we go in.  I hear a SWISH and then Kirito falls on the floor.  'Kirito!  What happened!"  Then I see it, a green shuriken imbedded in his throat.  

I look up at my party bar and see he's in the yellow zone for health and is poisoned.  "Hold on!  Let me get something!"  I run into the back room, searching for something that can possibly help him.  I need to hurry, if only I had an antidote crystal in my pouch...

I hear Kirito struggling in the room and I run back in.  His hand is reaching towards me and his HP gauge enters the red zone.  "Shi-Shi-Shinon..."  "KIRITO!  STAY HERE!  DONT DIE!"  I scroll through my inventory and find it.  A Heal Crystal.  I pull it out and yell "HEAL!"  I look down at Kirito and his HP gauge hits zero.  "No... I healed you... Kirito..."  He looks up at me, "Shino, I-I-I don't wanna go!  I have so much left to do!"  Tears are falling down his face as he says it, "Bye Shino...Merry Christmas..."  

He explodes into blue polygons and I sit there, motionless.  Tears fall down my cheeks.  "NO!  STOP PLAYING THIS GAME KIRITO!  YOU'RE STILL ALIVE...you're still alive...you have to be...there's no way...you wouldn't die from that..."  I sit there, unable to comprehend what I just saw in that short amount of time.  I grip the sword he left.  His Elucidator.  "Kirito..."