I'm currently on Floor 74 trading blows with a lizardman, he swipes at me and I dodged it. I quickly turned around and started running away from it. As expected my head started tingling, turning around I see the lizardman right behind me and was about to hit me.

Quickly charging up a sword skill "Horizontal Square" I slashed it on It's side and then spun around and slashed it on its chest then it's back, it went to hit me but I quickly ducked out of the way and slashed it on it's chest, causing a square to appear and disappear killing it.

I take a few breaths and stood up and sheathed my sword.

U/n:(Thoughts) It's been almost two years since this death game started. I'm still going it alone, fighting solo on the front lines. Akihiko Kayaba's out there somewhere, watching. I wonder what he's thinking. Or more importantly what he's doing.

I let out a sigh.

U/n: Man I'm beat, I'm gonna go home.

(Timeskip)

After leaving the dungeon, I was walking back until I heard something within the woods. Behind a fallen tree I spotted a Ragout Rabbit.

U/n: No way. That's a Ragout Rabbit.

Quietly as I can I pulled out two needles. I threw it to the tree behind it, causing it jump in the air. I could see the fear in its eyes right before I threw the second one at it.

(Timeskip)

After killing the Ragout Rabbit I went to Floor 50, to sell some loot from the dungeon, he was surprised to see the Ragout Rabbit.

Agil: No way! Th-This is an S-class rare item! Holy crap, this is the first time I've ever seen one! Hey, U/n, don't you already have all the money you need? I'll buy it, but I'm saying wouldn't you rather have it for dinner?

U/n: Sure, it's just-- well, who knows if I'll ever find another one.

Agil: So keep it!

U/n: What's the point? I don't have a high enough cooking skill to prepare an item like this.

Agil: *Sighs* Yeah, you're right. If we try, we'll just burn it.

U/n:(Thoughts) There's one person who can probably pull it off. But she's too busy.

I felt a tap on my shoulder.

Asuna: U/n.

I turned around to see Asuna waving at me with a guy right behind her.

I grabbed her hand.

U/n: I've found my chef.

Asuna: Uh, what chef?

The guy behind her cleared his throat. I let go of her.

U/n: Hey! Asuna's here! Seeing you in a dump like this is beyond weird!

Asuna: Oh, save it! I came to see if you were still alive! You know, it's almost time for the next boss raid!

U/n: Ain't I in your friend list? If you wanted to know I'm alive, you could've checked that.

Asuna: Whatever. Now I know you're alive. Anyway, what are you up to? What's all this about a chef?

U/n: Oh, yeah-- that. I was wondering what your cooking skill level is.

She smirked.

Asuna: Totally maxed it out last week.

U/n: What?!

Asuna: Cool, huh?

U/n: Well, if you're that good, how about a challenge.

I showed her the Ragout Rabbit and she was completely surprised.

Asuna: Y-You got Ragout Rabbit?!

U/n: I'll make you a deal. All you have to do is cook it for me, and I'll let you have a little bite.

She grabs me by my collar and glared at me.

Asuna: Half. Deal.

U/n: D-Deal.

She let's go and and threw her arm up in the air.

Asuna: All right!

U/n: Sorry, Agil. You heard the lady. Guess I'm keeping it.

Agil: Yeah, but you could at least let me taste it, right?! I thought we were tight, man!

U/n: I'll write about how good it was for you, but only two pages.

I walked away and I could hear him.

Agil: Damn! That is cold!

We walked out of the shop.

Asuna: So, where am I gonna cook it?

U/n: Oh, uh....

Asuna: I'm guessing not your place, right? You even own any cookware?

I don't answer.

Asuna: Okay. Because the main ingredient is special, I won't have a problem if we used my place this time.

I jumped in surprise. Asuna turns around to the guy following us.

Asuna: Thank you for escorting me. You may go.

???: I'm sorry, ma'am. But I can't allow you to go home with such a shady character.

She sighs.

Asuna: I don't know the extent of his shadiness, but I know he's quite skilled. In fact, he's 22 levels above you, Kuradeel.

Kuradeel. Are you implying I'm inferior to him? Oh, I know. He's one of those beaters, isn't he?

U/n: Last time I checked, I'm the only beater.

Kuradeel: You shouldn't go with him ma'am! All him and his kind care about are themselves! You can't expect anything good to come from scum like that!

Player1: Hey! What's going on?

Player2: That's Lightning Flash Asuna!

Player3: You're right! She's really cute!

That last comment annoyed me. This argument caused people to stop and stare at us.

Asuna: Listen I'm Second-in-command here. I am ordering you to go home.

She walked away from Kuradeel and grabbed me by the back of my coat, dragging me along with her.

U/n: Are you sure about this?!

Asuna: Of course!

I look in front of me and say Kuradeel glaring at me.

(Timeskip)

After leaving Kuradeel, Asuna and I teleported to Selmburg and walked towards her house. I looked around the area and was surprised on how nice it is.

U/n: Whoa. There's barely anyone here. It's... really cool.

Asuna: If you like it so much, why don't you move here?

U/n: I don't know. Getting a house seems like it's gonna cost an arm and a leg. Anyway, what's the deal with that guy back there? He glaring at me like crazy.

Asuna: Oh, he's just my bodyguard. The guild's new policy says all higher-ups have to have an escort.

I could hear the sadness in her voice.

Asuna: It's lame. The guild didn't have all these rules and regulations before. We used to be really small. Then more and more people joined up. After that, when we became the strongest guild, everything started getting weird.

I hear the bell chiming in the distance. Asuna turns around to face me with a smile on her face.

Asuna: Well, I'm probably making a bigger deal out if it than it is.

She turns around resuming our walk.

Asuna: Anyway, we better hurry! It's getting dark.

U/n: Oh, okay.

(Timeskip)

After a few minutes of walking we made it to her house. I walked inside and saw how nice it is.

U/n: Wow, you have a nice place!

I looked around more.

U/n: Hey, how much did this all cost?

Asuna: Mm. The room and the furniture cost around 4 million col. Anyway, make yourself at home.

U/n: Uh, sure.

I walked over to a chair and sat down.

U/n: 4 million. That sure is a lot of col! I'm sure I earned the same or much more than that much, but spending it all on a place.

I heard footsteps behind me. Turning around I see Asuns wearing a different outfit.

I blush as I watch her coming towards me.

Asuna: Are you gonna take off your coat, or what?

I look back down to my coat.

U/n: Oh! Yeah, sorry.

After taking my coat off, we both walk into her kitchen. She goes to her inventory and brings out the Ragout Rabbit.

Asuna: So, this is a legendary S-class ingredient. Okay! How do you want this cooked up?

U/n: Chef's choice.

Asuna: In that case... how about we make it into a stew?! Ragout!

She takes out a pot and places it on the table. And she takes out a couple of vegetables.

Asuna: That's pretty much the definition of a stew.

She equips a knife and taps the Ragout Rabbit as it turns into multiple pieces of meat. She does the same with the vegetables. I watch in silence. She puts all of them inside the pot.

Asuna: In real life, there'd be a lot more steps involved in preparing this.

She closes the lid and puts the pot in a oven.

Asuna: Cooking in SAO is so simple. Believe it or not, it's kind of boring.

She sets the timer for the oven.

Asuna: That takes care of that! Now for the next step. I was thinking about making a couple side dishes.

She pulls out more vegetables. I watch not saying a thing. I couldn't help but blush a little watching her.

After a few minutes the timer goes off on the oven. Asuna walks over to the oven and takes the pot out and placing it on the table. She opens the lid as I smell the delicious stew.

(Timeskip)

After cooking the stew, me and Asuna ate and we are currently sitting down at the table, drinking tea.

We both sigh contentedly.

Asuna: I've been here two years, and this is the first time I've ever eaten S-class food. I'm so happy I survived long enough to eat that.

U/n: Ditto.

She chuckles.

Asuna: It's so weird

Sometimes-- I don't -- I get this feeling that, like I've lived here my entire life. You ever feel like that?

U/n: Yeah, almost all the time. In fact, there's moments where I don't think about the real world at all. And it's not just me. These days, more and more people don't seem to care about clearing the game and getting back to the real world.

Asuna: I noticed there's not that many players out there fighting on the front lines-- maybe 500, if that. I guess they're used to it. They don't care anymore.

I look down thinking about my parents, about Miles and Gwen. About my life.

Asuna: Yeah, well, I want to go back.

I look back at Asuna.

Asuna: I mean, there's things I haven't done yet. I have to!

I smile.

U/n: I know how you feel. And when you stop to consider it, there's everyone else, right-- all the people who still count on us? If we give up, it's not fair to them.

I drink my tea. Asuna stops what she's doing and looks at me. She waved her hand in front of her.

Asuna: Unh-unh! Don't go there!

U/n: Wait, huh?

Asuna: I've seen that same look on guy's faces before, and always right before they propose to me.

I looked at her shocked. She notices my expression and laughs.

Asuna: You should see your face. I guess you never had a girlfriend before!

I blush.

U/n: Whatever! I'm a solo player.

I take a hug drink out of my tea. She chuckles softly and drinks out her tea. She looks at me with a serious face.

Asuna: And you're okay with that? You don't ever want to join a guild?

I rubbed the back of my head.

Asuna: I know how the Beta players don't fit in with the guilds. But... ever since we got to Floor 70, things are getting more dangerous. The monsters algorithm are even more irregular. There are things a solo player can't handle-- unexpected things. Sometimes, wrapping out isn't an option.

U/n: I'm pretty careful. Besides I work better by myself, anyway. Most of the time, instead of helping, party members just get in the way.

My head started tingling.

Asuna: Oh, yeah?

Right before I knew it, there was knife pointing right in front of my face.

U/n: M-My bad. Everyone except for you of course.

Asuna: Good.

I let out a sigh of relief.

Asuna: So, what do you say you and me team up again?

This shocked me.

She twirls the knife between her fingers

Asuna: White and black are my lucky color this week, anyway.

U/n: Wait a minute! Don't you have stuff you have to do for your guild?! You can't just leave them!

Asuna: It's not like we have any leveling quotas to meet.

U/n: What about your bodyguard, then?

Asuna: I'll just ditch him!

I groan. I was about to take another sip out of my tea, but realize it was empty. Looking up I see Asuna holding a pitcher. I sigh and held out my tea as she refills it.

I grab it and saw Asuna sending me a party invite.

I take another sip out of my tea.

U/n: The front lines are dangerous, though.

My head tingled again. And once more I had the knife close to my face. But this time to close, as it stop inches away from my face.

U/n: Y-You win. I submit.

I press the accept button. She throws the knife in the air and catches. She smiles. A smile that I'm beginning to enjoy seeing.

(Timeskip)

After having a knife close to my face two times. I exited Asuna house as she standing by the door.

Asuna: Well, I suppose thanks are in order for the meal, so thank you!

U/n: Why are you thanking me? I should be thanking you for cooking it. Maybe next time-- oh, what am I saying? I'll never get my hands on an S-class ingredient again.

Asuna: No way! You can make anything yummy if you have the skills to cook!

We both look up at the sky.

U/n: Looking at this world... and seeing what it's become since we got here-- is this really what Akihiko Kayaba wanted to create?

(Timeskip)

I'm currently on Floor 74 waiting for Asuna to arrive. I sigh.

U/n: Where is she?

I yawn. Just then I heard the teleport gate behind me making noises.

U/n: Huh?

Turning around I see Asuna appear.

Asuna: AAH! WATCH OUT!

Without having any time to react, she falls right on top of me. We both fall to the ground. I groan.

I felt my hand touching something soft and squishy.