Epilogue Part 3

The entire group was silent after hearing this information as They all felt bad for thinking bad about Kayaba and his motivations. I then said to the group "But...don't let this conversation ruin our fun right!" as they all agreed on it as they also shouted "To our freedom!!" as we all cheered and began drinking soda and eating ordered pizza.

Kazuto had paid for the pizza as he promised as I looked at them and ate my pizza. They all sat at a table as they all laughed and were having a fun time. Damian sat down beside me with his slice of pizza and a can of Fanta as he ate his pizza slice.

"You're not gonna sit with the others?"

Damian asked me as I shook my head saying "I don't think I'd fit in." still having the reapers mindset as I drank a bit of my soda. "Why not? They're your friends too, Ryushin." Damian replied as he had made a compelling point, I cleared my throat and said to him "Well, I've done some really inhumane and cruel things in SAO, I don't want to ruin our group because of my involvement with some SAO purges.".

"That's in the past now, Ryushin, We've all moved on from it, you need to do the same."

Damian said to me as I took a bit of thought into it as he smacked my shoulder lightly. I sat up and looked at him before seeing Kanao laughing at the table and sharing her stories from SAO. "See even Kanao has also gotten over it." Damian said as I sighed briefly, saying "Yeah, she looks like she's gotten over it..".

He grabbed my arm and stood up saying "Stop being so sad all the time Ryushin, it's your party!" as he pulled my arm towards the group "hey hold it Damian-" as they looked and smiled at me. "Is Ryushin finally done being all gloomy at the corner?" Klein joked as Kanao smacked him over the head saying "I'm sure he is, join us Ryushin, we're just sharing our stories.".

I sighed a bit as I looked at Kanao and finally accepted it saying "Fine, pull me a chair" as they all cheered saying "now the party's here!" as we began discussing and sharing our stories from SAO. one hour turned into two, two turned into four and four turned into six. six hours of sharing stories, having laughs, and having a great time, up until it was time for all of us to leave. Klein had to leave to clean his apartment and Rika left with Damian and Asuka.

Meanwhile, Kanao, Asuna, Kazuto and I helped clean up Agil's bar and make it sparkly clean. "Thanks for the help guys" Agil thanked us as I said "No problem Agil, anytime to help." as Asuna and Kazuto looked at us and said "Well, it's time for us to go as well.".

I smiled as I said "You two stay safe out there" as we waved goodbye at them as they left through the entrance. I looked at Agil saying "Thanks for everything Agil, wouldn't have gotten anything done without your restaurant in SAO." as he chuckled saying "We wouldn't have gotten anything done without You and the rest of the frontliners Ryushin, We're in your debt.".

I smiled as we shook hands as I waved goodbye to him, holding Kanao's hand as she also waved goodbye. He said as we left "Don't forget to stop by sometime-" as the door closed behind us. We began walking down the street as Kanao clinged herself to my arm, blushing I asked Kanao "Where's your home?" as she pointed saying "It's up there".

We began walking in the direction of where her house is, I held her hand as I said to her "Do you still want to go to the coffee shop?". She looked at me as she replied "Not today, but we will still go one day" she put on a smile as it made me fluster up more as my ears reddened up with my cheeks.

Kanao was surprised by this saying "is that how you really blush!" as I shook my head quickly and tried covering it with my hoodie, "Oh come on Ryushin! Lemme see it more!" as I shook my head vigorously.

"Such enthusiasm..."

She thought as I shook my head as I had a fully red face. We arrived at her place as I saw it was a pretty rich house but not very fancy. "Thanks for taking me home Ryushin" Kanao said to me as she lets go of my arm and stayed at the front gate, turning around and bowed politely. I bowed politely in return and replied "No problem Kanao." she then grabbed my other hand and kissed me on the lips.

This was my first time ever kissing someone in real life as I embraced the kiss and felt at ease with it. She walked past the front gates and into her house moments later as I began walking off towards the direction of my house. I walked down the street heading towards my house, having a strange feeling like I was being watched. I stopped and turned around, seeing no-one there. A little creeped out but I kept walking as there were two ghostly-like figures standing right where I was.

It was Kirin and Toru as they were smiling and holding hands, they walked up the street as they faded away after reaching the spot where Kanao and I kissed. Two little rings fell from their hands as one landed on the other as both rings had an etching on it saying "Forever Together" in Japanese before the rings faded as well.