It's September 15, 2026. Kirito and Asuna have recovered quite well after all the Underworld stuff.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohOyB1SocH
Kirito was in his room when there was a knock.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlYbzSj8MR
Suguha: Onii-chan, come on, Asuna's probably already waiting.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjgpRuWDKe
Kirito got up and turned off his computer.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmG0O6iM70
Kirito: Yeah, I'm coming, Sugu.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4AaGJocZdo
He grabbed his jacket and went outside with Suguha, where Asuna was already waiting.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdv8ZYbT381
Asuna: Kirito, there you are! You know I hate it when you're late.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUfYR34Zox
She pulled him into a hug.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt7Dul1oUr
And so the three souls went for a peaceful walk.
Meanwhile, all hell broke loose at Rath's place.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIILe64MJmG
Kikuoka: Higa, restart the server quickly, or the whole Underworld will blow up!!!!!!
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxpldbb6tk
As he said this, there was an explosion. Smoke was everywhere, and when they looked up, there were five people standing there:
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52O24VZCKe
Four girls and one boy.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaPBPaN20b
Maple: Where have we landed? Is this some kind of special quest?
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbExbqocVW
Sally: If we keep ending up in places like this, it must be because of you. These things always happen with you.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtIzD6misN
Kasumi: Watch out, there are two people here.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsR46dkTTci
Iz: This doesn't look like a quest, guys.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsan6CHaw14
Kuromu: Don't worry, I'll take care of the enemies.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYpdZmjeqV
He charged at Kikuoka, but when he reached for a weapon, he realized there wasn't one.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1QjNQuGN8
Kuromu: What's going on???
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr18Qq5zwzX
Kikuoka: Higa... I think we've done something we shouldn't have.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVGkgJmUbj
Kirito Suguha and Asuna finally arrived at the park.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrxa8ZCBIa
Where Liz, Sinon, Rain, and Phillia were already waiting.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrvAd7oWV4
Liz: There you are at last! I thought you weren't coming at all.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytTBTPfq4Z
Asuna: Oh no, just someone here was on the computer again for too long.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthrpPVfWjW
Her gaze fell on Kirito.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEvqFGdetP
Kirito: That's not true at all... Okay, yes it is.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20Q2MTqDg6
Everyone laughed.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreMmpdGtU6
Phillia: Typical Kirito, that's just how he is.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFcA0sXl8L
Rain: You Asuna, Didn't Yuu......
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeg4ZqaYcmX
Voice: ASUUUNA
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRAwicMAhi
At that moment, Yuuki rushed up and hugged Asuna.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllQVJjDT7g
Asuna: Wow, Yuuki, are you okay? 😂
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpYswpXJrV
Yuuki: Of course, I'm just glad to see you. :)
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfZTFE7xLt
Sinon: Oh man, Yuuki, you just saw her a few hours ago at school.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21MRmkbIxC
?: Hello, there you are! Yessss!
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDDP5oZXPL
At that moment... Klein is also too late.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkLL3WPqtR
Klein: Sorry, my dog ate my pillow.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGs5DPJgBAX
Sinon: You don't have a dog.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1k4D5ED46Z
Klein was about to reply when Kirito's phone rang.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bhvieNwDy
Kikuoka: Kirito, come to Rath quickly, something's happened.
Approximately 30 minutes later
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJSiXTUwjn
Kirito: You're seriously telling me that your server overload somehow opened a gateway to another dimension and that the five of them are now here?
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4L08EUCtWv
Kikuoka: Yes, that's exactly what happened.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDZ5654QbJ
There was silence until Maple broke it.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOzxPEMFKi
Maple: Are we stuck here forever?
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVygERMBu4z
Higa: No, we'll definitely find a way to bring you back soon.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Q2CYxNMCP
Kirito looked at Maple.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOAk3hSytO
Kirito: My name is Kirito, nice to meet you.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtHRKpXdQT
Maple: My name is Maple, nice to meet you too.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLuT7gXGHY
So everyone got to know each other and talked until a loud shout rang out.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8SCl31O4J
Klein: AH, WHY DOES HE LOOK LIKE ME????
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBSqNWB3BF
Kuromi: Better question, why do you look like me???
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiIBcDPe0v
Suguha looked at the two of them.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4OCbmThas
Suguha: Mmm, I do see a certain resemblance.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw42YacqQeQ
It wasn't even five minutes before Klein and Kuromu were talking like two best friends, as if they'd known each other for years.
Kikuoka: What do we do now? We have to find somewhere to put the five of them up.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgqOJ9Kl9K
Iz & Kasumi: We'll both go to a hotel.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYlsUZzTKy
Klein: Well, I'm all for Kuromu coming with me.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeGlSReJMs
Everyone seems to agree.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZy6KVxmk4
Kikuoka: Okay, then we just have to figure out what to do with the two of you.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLaT4H3wBv
(Looks at Maple and Sally)
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNzwZm52bo
Suguha: So, Maple, you can come with us. I have a spare bed in my room. That's no problem, is it, Kirito?
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0Yszizr7V
Kirito: No, basically. I just don't know what Mom and Dad will say, but it'll work out.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dbv4YhNxT
Sally: Then I'm the only one left.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCzT6n1hHp
Asuna: I'd really love to, but my parents wouldn't allow it. They're very strict.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhg1dLqwcU8
Rain, Liz, and Philia were in the same boat.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wfKqILm0F
So everyone looked at Sinon.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9RErL837S
Sinon: Why are you all looking at me like that?
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjXk6hAuCs
Philia: Well, you live alone, so it wouldn't really be a problem.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu02YerY9iY
Sinon thought for a moment.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDXwc4h0tO
Okay, fine, I'll take Sally with me.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNirSkVJSu
So everyone said their goodbyes and headed home.
Finally, Suguha, Kirito, and Maple arrived at the couple's house, where they were greeted by their mother in the hallway.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRv059N6zfj
Suguha's mom: Hi you two, there you are again! But who is that girl?
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvInzOmd4a
Her gaze fell on Maple.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBOefpFQ0t
Suguha and Kirito knew they couldn't possibly tell the truth. After all, no one would probably believe them.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehXgDifLNR
Suguha: Um, this is Maple, a good friend of mine. Would it be okay if she stayed here temporarily?
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lrEkkOHE2
Suguha's mom: Suguha, you know I don't really like this during the school year, but... It's okay, but it's bedtime at 10 p.m. Tomorrow is...
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaEsT4zG4a
Kirito and Suguha seemed relieved, and Kirito went to his room.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4n19S5RQq
And Suguha and Maple went to theirs.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttkSkUxPBf
Meanwhile, at Sinon's:
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5kshkLqMB
Sally: You have a nice apartment.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDk4G0syBc
Sinon: Thanks. Feel free to sit down. Are you hungry?
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHLUzPzwAA
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2spHInKpsS
Sinon Sally: No, but thank you.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWW4GELNkk
The two talked until Sinon suggested she log into Alo so she could show Sally.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYMh8l5eIl
Sally: Wow, this is nice too... And wait a minute... I'm wearing my clothes from New World Online?
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBuRoHNztX
Voice: Oh, you're here too!!!
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpN8W09oLO9
It was Leafa and Maple.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23JcdPPj4s
Maple: Sally, there you are! Did you notice our clothes too?
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZU0FhDucA
Sally: Yes, and I have the skills and everything else too. Weird.
Then Syrup and Oboro appeared and jumped into Sally and Maple's arms.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnr2qqFMaXr
Before anyone could say anything, a scream rang out.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXirBj3g4BZ
PINAAAA, stop! Where are you going?
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYvVmYKBwF
Silica came around the corner with Pina: Oh, hey Sinon, hey Leafa, who are these two?
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTbAm00Q8I
Sinon: Oh, hi, just two friends.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFHAknj2A0
Maple: Hello, I'm Maple, and this is Sally.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjJh2kGNJS
At that moment, Pina went over to Syrup and Oboro, and the three of them started playing.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqqddXXEWJ
Sally: That's so cute! :)
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQeu8GqWBa
Voice: Suguha didn't tell Mom you to be in bed by 10 PM. It's already 11 PM!
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBysHhZjAbN
Leafa: Oh, Onii-chan, I'm sorry. Please don't tell her anything. We'll log off right away.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0nCAddxlg
Kirito came downstairs.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IpgaqhyHs
Kirito: How cute are they? What are their names?
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5i6C0AU2D
Maple: This is Syrup, and this is Oboro.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnE43pHOoYK
Kirito looked at them...
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgTwnFhPKb
Kirito: What's the fox's name?!
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPmdrneFXs
Sally replied: Oboro, any problems?
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfH5CA7AhL
Kirito: Ah, Oboro, sorry, I was thinking about something from the past, sorry.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltys4DWM4n
(He was obviously thinking of Oberon.)
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoOk9u4JXX
After that, everyone logged out and went to sleep.
Meanwhile, at Rath's
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0dZC04OBR
Kikuoka: Good, Higa, everything seems to be fine in the Underworld. Nothing's broken.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcxsDNcK0m
Higa: Okay, then we should go to sleep. It's late.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91ZPPJbyLI
They left the room.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyV6Kgsq9We
When the screen came back on:
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1615RQkvS
Voice: Oh yeah, I can smell it and almost taste it—so many sweet little souls! Hahaha.
262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwDNE7rrlB
End of Chapter 1
ns216.73.216.38da2
and then Add to home screen.