Sword Art Online: Fate (Sword Art Online x Male Reader)

Chapter 7: See You, Partner

Asuna POV

A few months ago.

(N/n) and I are on our way to the inn after a long battle again the 5th-floor boss. The battle was tiring, it took us everything we got to defeat it. Luckily, we got no casualties and manage to do it just fine. 

"Man, that was thought..." (N/n) stretches his arm as we walk through the town.

"Yes..." I plainly said. Showing no emotion at all getting tired from all the battle.

"Did you see how Kirito manage to do that combo? Dang! I really wish I could do it too."

I silently took the walk as (N/n) kept talking about our battle. After a while, he notices how I didn't respond to his word or give an interest in the conversation, he looks at me for a moment trying to figure out what he did wrong or the reason why I was so silent. Suddenly he stops, blocking the way.

"What are you doing?" I asked why his blocking my path.

"Asuna, are you okay?" He sounds concerned.

"Okay? What do you mean? I'm completely okay."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes... now can you move out of the way?"

"But, you don't seem okay..."

I raised an eyebrow as I look at him without saying anything. Why would he even think that way? I'm okay, I'm just a little tired.

"You didn't let out a smile..." he continues.

I can't help but let out a sigh, "Why would I smile?"

"I mean, we just defeat a floor boss and yet, you didn't even celebrate. You still look this all gloomy and down for whatever reason. Didn't you feel happy that we manage to defeat it?"

"How can I feel happy, (N/n)?"

"What!?" He seems shocked, "We just defeat a boss. We should celebrate, you know. We're one step closer to completing this game." 

"(N/n)... I think you forgot something here..."

Another confusion strike him, it appears that he didn't understand what I'm trying to say.

"This is not a game..." I continue, "In this world, we fight to give our everything so that we can return to the real world. You know that if we died here we're going to lose our life, right? You can't act like this is some sort of game, (N/n)... we're fighting for our life for god's sake, and if you play around. One day, we might lose it..."

"So are you saying we can't have fun? We need to act serious all the time?"

"If that is what it takes to escape and survive in here then the answer is, yes."

There is a moment of silence as he continues to watch me, seeing how serious I was with my answer.

He looks down before he mutter, "Is that really a life?"

"Excuse me?"

He raised his gaze back at me, "I mean... if that's your logic, what's the difference between being dead to having a life that you did not enjoy? Aren't those the same thing?"

"(N/n), I didn't think you get what I mean. We need to get serious so we can get out of this virtual reality and enjoy our lives in the real world."

"But, if we don't live in the moment, everything that we do would be pointless."

"What are you trying to say?"

"What I'm trying to say is, you need to enjoy the moment that we have. Starting by putting on a smile on that face." (N/n) raised his fingers and put them on the edge of my mouth before he gently use them to form a smile on my face. "See, with a smile like that, you look cuter." He finished with a warm smile.