《《SEASON ONE COMPLETED》》
Kazuto Kirigaya had finally found the tranquillity he'd longed for. With his beloved circle of dear friends, they relished a peaceful life in the real world. The days of virtual battles in Sword Art Online felt like distant...
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Late at night... Kirito slipped through the grand doors of the Crystal Chalet, his steps cautious as he limped inside, his battle-worn figure casting long shadows under the dim light. The place was quiet, save for the occasional creak of the floorboards and the soft, eerie whisper of the wind outside. The battle between Vasilisa and Shō had ended hours ago, leaving the city in an uneasy calm.
As he made his way down the hallway, Kirito's nerves were on edge. His right hand—well, what used to be his right hand—throbbed in phantom pain. He clutched the stump at his side, praying no one would notice him sneaking in.
Just as he neared the staircase, a maid with long bunny ears and a sharp gaze—stepped out from around the corner. Her fluffy tail twitched as she spotted him. Without missing a beat, she flashed a warm, welcoming smile.
"Welcome, Master!" she whispered enthusiastically, ears perking up. "I—"
Kirito’s eyes widened in panic. Crap. His right hand—or the lack of it—made the situation even worse. Without thinking, he flailed his remaining left arm wildly, desperately motioning for her to shut up. His face said it all: Please, for the love of all that's good, just... be quiet!
The bunny maid blinked, her ears twitching in confusion. She tilted her head as if trying to decipher what he was doing. "Uh, sir? Are you... okay? Is this a new form of—"
Kirito doubled down on his frantic shushing motions, waving his stump as if that somehow added urgency. His left hand made a "zip your mouth" gesture with all the flair of a man who had lost not only a limb but all sense of dignity.
Just as Kirito was desperately flailing his left hand around like a windmill with no purpose, a stern voice came from right behind him, causing him to freeze in place.
"It seems your attempt at sneaking in has failed," the voice stated flatly.
Kirito's soul nearly left his body. His heart skipped about six beats as he slowly turned around, already knowing he was done for. There stood Rem, her expression unreadable but with the slightest hint of amusement.
"W-What attempt to sneak in?" Kirito stammered, his face flushed with the kind of guilt only a caught child would have. He flailed his stump again, as if that might somehow exonerate him. "I-I was just... you know... casually walking... limping in!"
From the shadows, Rem stepped forward, her blue hair shimmering faintly in the dim light. She crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow.
"Even the thickest of walls have ears of their own in the Crystal Chalet," she said, her voice calm but sharp. "You and Lady Yukime once told me that yourselves."
Kirito gulped audibly, his gaze darting anywhere but directly at her.
Rem cracked her knuckles menacingly, the sound echoing in the quiet hallway. She smirked slightly. "Guess it’s true, after all."
