The Survival Logs || Sword Art Online Fanfic

Clashing Guilds Arc: Chapter 45 - Connected Bonds

26 October 2023

Horizon's Edge guild base, 30th Floor

I knew my way around the Sea Company dormitories relatively well. My occasional visits to Irokei's room were proof. Not that I wanted to visit a girl's room for any particular reason, since all the sleeping chambers had the same interior appearance in the guild base. You couldn't even change the furniture in there to suit your taste.

I'd usually visit her in the day, whenever I returned to the guild base from my Drifter work. Apart from the other Company Leaders and Misuko, Irokei was someone I could be comfortable around with. Being with her relieves some stress off my shoulders every single time.

This time, I was coming up to her room in the evening, instead of the usual afternoon. Misuko had told me to see Irokei right after the meeting, and added that it couldn't wait until tomorrow.

Even though I should have been used to seeing Irokei in her room by now, it still felt weird for me to visit her in the evening. The sky---or rather---the giant ceiling was halfway into colouring itself into a dark shade of blue.

It was as the saying had went: The night was still young.

I knocked on the door twice, casually waiting for it to open. I could hear my breaths as a brief silence followed, before the door gently swung open in a gap, big enough to show a head with long light purple hair.

I simply tried to smile with whatever energy I had left, as Irokei swung open the door fully, beaming back at me. She was in her casual wear, I had assumed, as she was wearing a delicate combination of shirt and shorts.

"Iro..." I started. "Misuko said that I should talk to you about stuff, so...."

"It's alright. Come on in."

Irokei's voice sounded really gentle and soft as she spoke, as if she didn't want to spoil the evening atmosphere around the place.

Strolling over to my usual sitting spot, which was simply the edge of Irokei's bed, I placed my spear in front of me, letting it lean at my chest as I sat, its blade reaching over my right shoulder. It was almost as if I wanted to hug it, especially with my hand touching the its pole body gently.

Irokei sat at my left, looking down at the ground apprehensively. It was usually her who would start a conversation whenever I visited her, but this time she looked conflicted. Her eyes slowly rolled to catch a sight of me, before blinking back front.

Misuko definitely had good reason for getting me to talk to Irokei.

"I'm guessing..." I started off the conversation bluntly. "You want to talk to me about that incident?"

"...Yeah." Irokei's reply sank into the ground.

"Is it my duel with Hallow?" I asked. "I still think about it a lot. I wouldn't have defeated him without your help, Iro. I mean, that arrow you shot back them, it was quite spe--"

Irokei had reached over to grasp my left arm, now staring at me directly. She took in a big breath, before speaking in a very forced manner.

"That was...my careless mistake...!"

I looked at the girl whose grip on my arm was beginning to feel tighter. My bewilderment grew, as I sat frozen, without a reply or reaction to show.

"That arrow.....was enchanted with an attack power buff."

I couldn't wait for my silent confusion to reach its peak.

"Huh? Enchanted? But.........why?"

The grip on my arm softened a little, as Irokei place her other hand on her chest.