I'm a Sword Master in Sword Art Online

She blinked: "In the real world... I'm your senior, Mochizuki-kun."

The boy's eyes widened in surprise.

Felia softly uttered her real name—Takemiya Kotone—and said she had attended Tamagawa Junior High School in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, and was now a high school student. Although Mochizuki Kaede had no recollection of her, she clearly remembered that day.

It happened one after school during her junior high school years. She was assigned to carry a heavy box of miscellaneous items to the storage room. The weight of the box made her stumble, and she tripped and fell to the ground, scattering her belongings everywhere. Just as she was scrambling to catch her things, a silver-haired boy squatted down, deftly helped her organize all her items, and even took the initiative to carry the heavy box.

When she saw the boy's face up close, she was stunned. His features, framed by silver hair, were delicate and handsome, and his voice was gentle yet steady. Later, she made a special inquiry and learned that he was a junior student a year below her, named Mochizuki Kaede.

Fate is truly wondrous.

The connections missed in the real world are reconnected in this virtual world in this way.

. . . .

Thank you to [LovesCandy the Most] for the generous donation!

Chapter 201: Shy Mitt

The afternoon sun lazily streamed into the guild hall, outlining the window frames on the oak floor. Mochizuki Kaede sat on the sofa, flipping through today's newspaper, her silver hair shimmering softly in the warm light.

"Mochizuki Kaede, are you free now?"

A cool voice came from behind, accompanied by the crisp sound of leather boots on the floor. Without turning around, Mochizuki Kaede knew who it was; in the entire guild, only Mit's footsteps were so crisp and decisive.

He turned his head, and there stood a purple-haired girl beside the sofa. Her high ponytail swayed gently as she slightly raised her chin, and her violet eyes were fixed on him with a girlish focus.

“There’s a limited-time two-player quest in Flower Valley,” Mitt said bluntly. “The reward is rare forging materials that can enhance my weapon.”

Seemingly to explain why he had come specifically to see him, Mito added, "Today is the guild's day off. Yuna went to a concert, Asuna took Yui and Strea out to play, and Silica and Philia went treasure hunting with the treasure map Argo gave them..."

Her tone rarely carried a hint of helplessness: "So I had no choice but to come to you."

Mochizuki Kaede placed the newspaper on the coffee table and said gently, "Of course."

His answer came without the slightest hesitation. Whether it was the president's care for the members or the mutual support among companions, it was only natural.

A hint of tenderness flashed in Mitt's eyes: "Shall we set off now?"

"it is good."

……

Flowers bloomed across the hillsides, swaying gently in the breeze, their fragrance filling the air. The mission was simple: team up in pairs to defeat 20 flower monsters. These plant-based monsters, while not powerful, were adept at using vines to entangle their enemies.

"Leave the left side to me." Mitt drew her giant scythe, its blade gleaming coldly in the sunlight. Each slash precisely struck the flower monster's weak points, swift and decisive. Before the severed flower demon could even spit out its venom, it dissipated into data fragments in the wind.

Mochizuki Kaede's lightning blade arced through the flowerbeds, petals fluttering down wherever the lightning passed. The two worked in perfect harmony; Mito cleared large areas, while Mochizuki Kaede precisely finished off any stragglers. In less than ten minutes, the mission was already halfway complete.

However, an unexpected event occurred at that moment.

A giant flower monster lurking deep within the flower bushes suddenly launched a sneak attack, its thick vines lashing out at Mitt's back like whips.

"careful!"

Mochizuki Kaede's warning came a second too late. Mito dodged with astonishing reflexes, but was still grazed by the vines at the waist. The immense impact threw her into the air, sending her plummeting towards the nearby stream.

"Wow--"

Water splashed everywhere. Mochizuki Maple quickly dealt with the remaining flower monsters and hurried towards the stream: "Mite, are you alright?"

The stream water was only thigh-deep, and Mitt was struggling to climb out of the rapids. Her high purple ponytail was completely undone, and wet strands clung to her beautifully curved back. Today, she wore a set of light leather armor, paired with light-colored combat pants. At this moment, the equipment was completely soaked by the cold stream water, clinging tightly to her body and outlining her graceful figure.

To make matters worse, because she was standing up with her back to Mochizuki Kaede, this posture revealed the full curves of her round and perky buttocks.

SAO's highly realistic physics engine didn't miss this opportunity to "show off its skills," even simulating the transparency of wet fabric with remarkable realism, revealing glimpses of purple lace panties through light-colored cloth.

Just as Mitt was about to say she was alright, she suddenly realized her predicament. She whirled around, her crimson eyes blazing with embarrassment and anger: "Where are you looking?!"

The turning motion made the soaked fabric cling even tighter to her body, and her rounded buttocks even trembled slightly with the movement, like ripe fruit swaying gently in the wind.

"Uh..." Mochizuki Kaede realized her rudeness and quickly closed her eyes. "Mite, I didn't see anything, don't worry."

Mitt bit her lower lip, trying to get ashore. Her long legs had barely touched the rocks by the stream when the slippery moss made her slip—

"what!"

With a short gasp, she lost her balance and landed squarely on top of Mochizuki Kaede. The two of them tumbled onto the grassy bank of the stream, Mito's full buttocks pressing directly onto Mochizuki Kaede's lower abdomen. The impact caused Mochizuki Kaede to groan softly, her gray eyes widening slightly.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

Wang Yuefeng could clearly feel the damp coolness of the grass on his back and the soft, delicate body of the young girl against his skin. Mi Te's wet hair hung down, and water droplets dripped onto his cheeks, carrying the unique fragrance of Huaxi Valley.

Mitsu frantically tried to get up, but slipped again in her panic. This time, her hands instinctively braced themselves on Mochizuki Kaede's chest. Their faces were close, their warm breaths mingling, forming an ambiguous white mist in the cool air.

Mochizuki Kaede placed her hands neatly at her sides: "It's alright, get up slowly."

Mitt's current state was completely different from her usual self. Her usually cool face was flushed, with a blush spreading from her ear tips to her collarbone like cherry blossoms. She finally steadied herself and staggered to her feet, her soaked clothes clinging to her body, outlining her slender curves.

Mochizuki Kaede considerately took off her coat and handed it to her: "Wear this for now."

“…Thank you.” Mitt took the coat, her voice several octaves lower than usual. She wrapped the oversized coat around herself, finally concealing her awkward situation.

Mochizuki Kaede stood up nonchalantly, brushing the bits of grass off her pants: "The mission is more than half complete. Shall we continue?"

His tone was calm and normal, as if the accident had never happened.

Mitt lowered his head, his fingertips gripping the hem of his coat tightly: "What happened just now...don't tell anyone."

Seeing Mito's rare shy expression, Mochizuki Kaede smiled gently: "Of course, this is a secret between us."

Mitt gazed at the boy's gentle smile, as if under a spell, momentarily lost in thought.

She was soaking wet as she emerged from the stream, her purple hair clinging to her flushed skin. Shame, anger, panic, and some other indescribable emotion churned within her, making her thoughts as chaotic as a tangled spiderweb.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the gentle features of the silver-haired boy. Mitt's crimson eyes trembled slightly, a certain impulse quietly growing within him.

Fragments of memory suddenly came rushing in—

When they first met, the boy was a newcomer to the game SAO, filled with curiosity and confusion. She taught him how to use weapons and how to dodge monster attacks. In a sense, she was indeed the one who guided him into this deadly game.

The night they parted, she went into the boy's room and whispered that she was a coward. The boy gently shook his head, denying the statement. Perhaps it was precisely those words from the boy that allowed her to survive as a solo player and make her way to where she is today in this cruel game world.

They met again in the boss room on the eighth floor. When she heard about the boy's attack by Kradir, her heart felt as if it were being clenched by an invisible hand.

On Valentine's Day, witnessing the boy and Asuna's intimacy, a sudden sharp pain in her chest caused her to uncontrollably shout at them. She had always thought it was resentment over her best friend being taken away...

At this moment, all the fragments of memory suddenly pieced together into a clear pattern.

Mitt's purple eyes widened slightly, and his breath caught in his throat for a moment.

Ah... I see...

Chapter 202: Mitt's Kiss

Water droplets slid down from Mite's damp eyelashes.

At this moment, all the unease found its answer: those inexplicable concerns, those unfounded emotions, those subconscious attentions…

“Wang Yuefeng…” Her voice was as soft as a sigh, carrying a tenderness that she herself was unaware of.

The boy looked at her in confusion, only to see the usually calm and composed girl suddenly approach. Her damp purple hair brushed against his cheek, carrying the coolness of the stream and a faint floral fragrance.

Under Mochizuki Kaede's astonished gaze, Mito closed his eyes and gently kissed his lips.

The kiss was awkward and fleeting, like a petal falling onto the water and creating ripples, as if it had exhausted all her courage. The moment their lips touched, the fragrance of Huaxi Valley, the unspoken thoughts, and the longing she herself was unaware of, all melted into that fleeting touch.

As their lips parted, Mitt looked up, her purplish-red eyes brimming with tears.

"I..." Her voice trembled slightly, "...I think I've fallen for you."

As soon as she finished speaking, Mitt suddenly opened her eyes wide, as if startled awake by her own words. A wave of shame instantly overwhelmed her, and her fair cheeks flushed bright red.

"No, no..." she shook her head frantically, staggering backward.

She didn't understand why she had suddenly lost control. Maybe it was because she was out of her mind after falling into the water, maybe it was because the sunlight was too dazzling, or maybe... it was because of the boy's gray eyes that always looked at her so gently that she was momentarily bewitched.

But regardless, this is wrong. Mochizuki Kaede is the person Asuna loves! And Asuna is her most important friend!

“I’m sorry… I…” Mitt kept backing away.

Mochizuki Kaede finally snapped out of his shock. Seeing Mito's pale face and panicked expression, he instinctively took a step forward: "Mitsu..."

"Don't come any closer!" The girl retreated like a startled deer, forgetting that there was a stream behind her. Her heel suddenly slipped, and she fell backward.

"careful!"

Mochizuki Kaede rushed forward and grabbed her wrist at the last second. However, the rocks by the stream were too slippery, and the two fell into the water together in the struggle.

Mochizuki Kaede felt completely soaked, his clothes becoming heavy. He struggled to his feet and discovered that the coat he had draped over Mitte had long since been washed away by the current. Mitte's long purple hair was spread out in the water, like a cluster of blooming wisteria flowers.

"Are you alright?" Mochizuki Kaede's hand firmly supported Mito's thin shoulder, the warm touch penetrating through the damp, cold fabric. His voice, like warm velvet soaked in sunlight, was exceptionally clear amidst the babbling water.

Mitt kept her head down, her wet purple hair like a draped curtain, shutting out her expression from the world. Her slender shoulders trembled slightly beneath her palms, like butterfly wings shrinking in a storm. Crystalline water droplets dripped continuously from her pointed chin, creating tiny ripples on the surface of the stream.

"I'm sorry..." After a long silence, she finally spoke, her voice as soft as a candle flickering in the wind, "Please forget what happened just now."

Mochizuki Kaede had never seen Mito like this before. The girl, who was always as sharp as a blade, now had drooping eyelashes soaked with water, and her usually piercing purple eyes were misty. Her disheveled long hair clung to her pale cheeks. She looked like a child who had lost her most beloved toy, or like a cherry blossom battered by a storm, so fragile that one couldn't help but want to catch her in their palm.

The stream flowed between the two. Without a word, Mochizuki Kaede pulled the soaking wet Mito into her arms. The girl's body tensed instantly, but she didn't push away the embrace. Mochizuki Kaede lifted her legs with one hand and steadily carried her ashore.

His boots pounded across the damp grass as he gently laid her down under a large tree on the bank. His fingertips brushed against her cool cheeks, wiping away the water droplets.

"Being liked is a very happy thing," said Mochizuki Kaede. "Thank you for telling me."

Mitsu remained silent, only her slightly trembling eyelashes betraying the turmoil in her heart. Mochizuki Kaede's hand gently stroked her back, the movement as tender as soothing a frightened nightingale. A breeze swept by, the air carrying the fragrance of flowers and the scent of flowers, mingling with their soaked clothes. Mitsu's long purple hair clung to Mochizuki Kaede's arm like a tangled piece of silk.

Time passed in silence.

Finally, Mitt raised her head. When her crimson eyes opened again, they were clear as before: "We... are still companions."

Her voice regained its calm and composure, as if the loss of control had never happened: "As for matters of the heart... let's talk about them after we finish this game."

This statement contains an obvious attempt to escape, but at this moment, it is the only way she can do it—how could she take away her best friend Asuna's beloved? This realization binds her true feelings like shackles.

Mochizuki Kaede's gaze lingered on Mito's face for a moment before she simply nodded slightly.

Having composed themselves, the two exchanged a smile, tacitly sealing the tender moments they had just shared deep within their hearts. They picked up their weapons again and searched the sea of ​​flowers for the remaining flower fairies. Mitt's scythe remained sharp, and Mochizuki Maple's lightning blade was still precise; only they knew that something had subtly changed.

As the sunset painted the sky crimson, the mission was finally complete. Mitt obtained the rare material he had hoped for. On the return journey through the mountains, the two maintained a perfect distance, just enough to hear each other's breath without touching. Falling petals swirled between them, and neither mentioned the kiss that had carried the sweet scent of the stream.

The guild hall of [Golden Rule] was brightly lit. As the door was pushed open, Asuna's teacup suddenly tilted, the black tea swaying precariously around the rim.

“Mite? What’s this…” Her amber eyes widened slightly as she looked at her friend—whose purple hair, usually tied in a high ponytail, was now cascading down her shoulders like a waterfall.

"I encountered a bit of an accident in Flower Valley," Mite explained calmly, omitting all ambiguous details. Her loose hair softened her usually sharp features, revealing a touch of gentleness and grace under the light.

Wang Yuefeng stood quietly by the window, gazing through the window at the sunset on the horizon.

Behind her came the cheerful chatter of her friends. Silica and Felia were excitedly showing off their treasure hunt finds, while Stoleya leaned back on the sofa, listening to Yuna describe the fun things that happened at the concert.

"Dad!" Yui ran over and jumped into Mochizuki Kaede's arms. He gently ruffled the girl's hair.

Mito took the black tea Asuna offered him and glanced at the window seemingly unintentionally. This subtle movement did not escape Asuna's notice.

She blinked, her sharp gaze shifting back and forth between her friend's flushed earlobes and the silver-haired figure by the window. In the rising steam of the black tea, Asuna's lips curved into a thoughtful smile.

Chapter 203: Naked Enclosure

night.

Asuna walked lightly to Mochizuki Kaede's room. She gently pushed open the door, a playful smile on her face, and said in a clear voice, "I'll sleep with you tonight."

Without waiting for Mochizuki Kaede's response, she walked confidently into the room and even used his bathroom to take a shower. Her slender silhouette was quickly reflected in the frosted glass, and the sound of running water filled the air.

Mochizuki Kaede shook her head and chuckled as she looked towards the bathroom. Since their honeymoon ended and the two returned to the guild, such nighttime visits had become the norm. Asuna would always choose a time when all the guild members were asleep, like a cat that recognizes its own nest, sneaking into his room every few days under the moonlight.

Sometimes they discuss tomorrow's strategy, and sometimes they simply fall asleep quietly in each other's arms.

According to Asuna, sleeping together had become a habit, a "warmth remembered by the body," something she couldn't break and didn't want to. However, she still had to be mindful of her image within the guild and couldn't openly be inseparable every day, so every few days, she would sneak over under the cover of night...

Half an hour later, the bathroom door slowly opened, something she would never normally take so long.

Mochizuki Kaede was sitting quietly on the edge of the bed when she heard the bathroom door open. She subconsciously looked up, and what she saw made her freeze instantly, as if she had been struck by a spell.

The chestnut-haired girl had just finished bathing; her long, silky hair was still slightly damp and casually draped over her shoulders. Her fair skin glowed with a luminous sheen under the light, with a few faint blushes, resembling delicate flower buds about to bloom.

However, what was most surprising was that she was wearing a nude apron as vibrant as a rose. A ribbon was tied into a bow behind her neck, the thin fabric barely covering her vital areas, leaving most of her skin exposed without reservation. Even her ample bosom was partially revealed. Below were two long, slender legs, smooth and lustrous like the finest mutton-fat jade.