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Familiar faces

"All right, let's settle this." They're in the seventy-fifth floor's boss room. Kayaba stands a couple of feet away from him. Posture straight, ready for the fight ahead of him. No trace of concern on him.

"Kirito!" Shinsou screams. Worry evident in his voice, his eyes are pleading him to not do this. Body paralyzed like the rest of the players around them. Izuku knows, that if Shinsou could move right now, he'd be trying to hold him back.

Putting on a brave face, he tries to seem reassuring. He knows it doesn't work though. Shinshi knows him too well, knows when his smiles are fake.

"I have to do this. There's no turning back now." He says resolutely. Trying to convey the determination he's feeling.

Shinsou looks like he wants to protest but seems to think better of it. Instead, the boy meets his gaze seriously. A distressed smile forming on his features. "Don't die, okay? Whatever happens, you have to survive." He says, as tears leak down his face.

"I'm not going to die, okay? I'm going to win. I'm going to bring an end to this world."

Shinsou doesn't respond to that. He just looks at him, eyes conveying an unspoken message. A soft 'I believe in you' that only he can understand.

Squeezing his hand one last time, Kirito stands up. Knowing that no matter what, he would try to finish this. Even if it means dying in the process. He'll bring Shinsou home.

H walks towards Heathcliff, drawing both his swords in the process. He needed to give it his all if he wanted to win.

"Kirito! Don't do this!" Klein's voice reaches his ears, a reminder of the people he was leaving behind.

"Kirito!" Yashi pleads from his place next to the katana wielder on the ground.

Turning slightly, I see them. Both of them seem to be trying their hardest to move. To stand up and stop him. They can't though. No one can. Kayaba made sure of that.

His eyes fall on Yashi first. "Thank you for everything Yashi. For the help and support you've shown me and the rest of the players in the game. For being a constant pillar for me to rely on." I smile at him, noting the tears that fall down his face. The first sign of weakness he's seen on the man. The hero that has worked so hard for the players to have some sort of hope throughout the game.

His gaze then turns to Klein. His best friend is looking at him with pleading eyes. Begging him to stop. To think about this. "Klein, you were the first friend I had in this game. I just want you to know that I don't regret staying with you that day. You're my best friend." His breath gets stuck in his throat as he tries to continue. Not letting himself break down right now.

"Don't you dare die on me now! Do you hear me Kirito?" The man shouts, crying harder with each word. "I still owe you a dinner when we get back to the real world!"

"It's a deal then. I'll see you on the other side." He tries to smile, but he knows it doesn't quite reach his eyes. It feels like he's walking into his grave.

With one last gaze at the boy who's helped him feel for the first time in two year. He takes a second to memorize his features. Make sure to nod once at him. Conveying a silent 'I'm sorry'.

Before turning back towards Kayaba. Facing whatever fate had in store for him.

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"K-Klein." His voice wavers as he whispers the name. The words, hanging in the silence. His heart-rate picks up, nerves fraying with the possibility. It's not him. It can be, right?