Brother!
Wh-What's going on, Sugu?
Listen...
I found this article on the Internet this morning.
And right here...
G-Guess some people have similar names.
It isn't similar.
It's exactly the same.
I suppose it is...
B-But you know, it's a common name.
I mean, it's an abbreviation of my real name.
I'm sure the "Kirito" in GGO is really Kiri...
Kirigamine Tougorou or something.
If you don't eat, it'll get cold.
Crimson Memories
That man...
He was a Sword Art Online survivor.
And that isn't all.
We probably fought before,
and tried to kill each other.
Brother!
You have a scary expression again.
Th-That's not true.
Listen...
Actually, I already know that you converted from ALO to GGO.
Did you really think I wouldn't notice when you dropped off my friend list?
It isn't as though you check that list every day.
Even if I don't, I could still feel it.
Last night, I noticed you'd disappeared,
and I logged out and tried to barge into your room.
But you wouldn't leave ALO without telling me unless you had a good reason,
would you?
I figured there must be some reason, so I talked to Asuna-san first.
I see...
I'm sorry to call you this late.
It's okay.
And I was just—
No, it's nothing.
You know, if you say that much, you may as well finish.
I was only thinking I wanted...
to hear your voice.
Well done.
What's wrong?
Ah, nothing.
Did something happen in the new game you converted to?
No, that's not it.
Just...
If your new job's that tough, want me to help?
Thanks.
But if you also converted, Yui would be lonely.
Are you sure you're okay?
Yeah, I'll be back soon.
Tell me if you need anything at all, okay?
I will.
Goodnight.
Call Ended
I can't involve Asuna in this.
That man will take part in the main BoB tournament.
I need to settle things with him.
This is my problem.
Brother...
Asuna-san said you'd kick some butt in GGO like usual,
and then you'd come back at once.
But it actually sounded like she was really worried.
So am I.
Because...
Because when you came home late,
you had this really scary look on your face.
Maybe so...
You aren't doing anything dangerous, right?
I don't want you to go away again.
I won't.
I promise.
Once the GGO tournament finishes tonight, I'll come back.
To ALO...
And to this house.
Okay.
It's all right.
I'll come back.
Yeah.
By the way, Brother...
I heard from Asuna-san that this new job you have pays a ton!
Y-Yeah...
I'll treat you to anything you want, so look forward to it.
Great!
There's this nanocarbon practice sword I've been wanting!
O-Oh...
Yeah, leave it to me.
He makes me so mad.
That guy makes me so mad!
I-It's rare for you to be so blunt...
Because he's a jerk! And a sexual harasser!
And a show-off!
Why would you come to GGO to use a sword, anyway?
And then he pretended to be a girl so I'd show him around the shops
and help him pick out equipment!
Jeez...
He makes me so mad!
What is it, Shinkawa-kun?
No, not just rare. It's the first time I've seen it.
You talking that much about someone.
Really?
Yeah, you usually don't seem to care that much about other people.
Actually, I get mad really easily.
I see...
Then, want to ambush him in some field?
If you want to snipe him, I'll be a decoy.
But if you want to get back at him, maybe you'd prefer to fight head-on.
I can get two or three good machine gunners quickly!
U-Um, no...
It isn't like that.
It's like, well... He pisses me off,
but the way he fights is so straightforward and honest.
I want to beat him in a fair fight.
I'm going to blast a hole
in that ridiculous avatar of his in today's tournament.
Then, would you surrender?
Killing girls isn't my thing.
Just you wait...
I'll pay you back twice over!
Wh-What?
Is it okay for you to do that?
I was okay... Maybe because I'm mad?
I see.
Asada-san!
Wh-What's wrong, Shinkawa-kun?
I'm just kind of worried.
You aren't acting like you usually do.
H-How do I usually act?
You're always so calm and collected.
Nothing upsets you.
You have the same problems I do, but you don't run from school.
You're strong... Really strong.
I'm not strong... You know?
Just seeing a gun sets me off...
But Sinon's different!
She has that huge gun she uses.
I think that's who you really are.
I'm sure that someday, the real you will be able to be like that, too.
So I worry
when I see you getting upset or mad over a guy like that.
I'll... I'll help you!
I...
A long time ago, I used to laugh and cry like a normal girl, too.
I didn't want to be the person I am now.
Asada-san...
S-Sorry.
I'm really happy you said that...
And I think you're the only person in this city who really understands me.
But I'm still not up to feeling that way right now.
I think I won't be able to solve my problem unless I fight.
Oh...
So would you wait till then?
Thank you.
This name...
That skill with a blade.
Are you the real thing?
Are you Kirito?
Are you Kirito?!
What's wrong, kiddo?
You have a scary look on your face.
Nothing...
It's nothing.
This is your chance to get free counseling from a hot nurse.
Tell me what's going on with you.
It wouldn't be right to refuse an offer like that, would it?
Um...
Aki-san, before you moved to rehab, you were in surgery, right?
That's right.
Um, this is... This is a really rude and insensitive question.
But how much do you remember about the patients who died?
Let me see...
If I try to remember, I can recall their names and faces.
Even the patients I was only in the operating room with for an hour...
Yeah, I remember them.
Have you ever wanted to forget?
Let me see.
I don't know if this is an answer...
But I think that if it's something you're meant to forget, you will.
Without even thinking that you want to forget.
Because you know...
The more times you think you want to forget,
the stronger those memories become, right?
So doesn't that mean that, deep in your subconscious,
you think you really shouldn't forget them?
Then I'm a monster.
When I was in SAO, I killed three players...
Three people.
They were all reds.
Murderers...
But I had the option of neutralizing them without killing.
But I killed them anyway.
Out of rage, hatred, and a desire for revenge.
And for the past year,
I'd totally forgotten about them.
No, even right now, as I talk about it,
I can't remember two of their names or faces.
In other words,
I'm a person who can even forget people I've killed.
Kirigaya-kun, I'm sorry.
I told you I'd be your counselor,
but I can't take away your burden
or carry it with you.
I never played Sword Art Online.
So I can't really know what it means when you said you killed them.
But I know this.
You did it because you had to,
to protect someone else.
In medicine, there are times when you must pick who lives and who dies.
Of course, that doesn't mean it's okay to kill someone if you have a good reason.
But everyone involved has the right to consider the lives they saved.
You have that right.
You have the right to save yourself,
by thinking of the people you've saved.
The right to save myself?
But... But I...
I forgot the people I killed!
I threw away that burden! That duty!
That's why I don't have the right to be saved—
If you'd really forgotten, you wouldn't suffer so much.
You remember them.
When the time comes to remember everything, you will.
And when that happens, you have to remember
that there are people you protected and saved.
Tell me if you need anything at all, okay?
Um...
Thanks for earlier.
It was nothing!
I don't think anything will happen until after 8:00.
But I'll be back at 10:00.
All right, see you later.
Okay, see you later,
hero Kirito-kun.
Link start!
Asada-san...
Okay!
I'll fight with all my strength.
And I'll definitely defeat him!
Link start.
Look out!
Klein-san, are you okay?
Everyone, hit him from the side!
Who does he think he's impressing?
Klein-san, get him!
This is easy...
Whoa! Poison!
Klein-san!
Asuna-san!
Um...
Silica-san? Asuna-san?
Asuna-san!
I'm sorry. I spaced out in the middle of a fight.
It's okay! Don't worry about it!
Well, you couldn't help it today.
It's almost time for Kirito-san's tournament.
It's a little early,
but let's call it a day and start getting ready to watch.
We made enough to pay for our drinks and food.
You aren't going to eat it all yourself, are you?
It'll be okay, Mommy.
Daddy's going to win.
You're right.
No matter where he goes, Kirito-kun is Kirito-kun.
Okay, let's go to our room in Yggdrasil City.
Yeah!
Okay, there it is!
Jack Reacher Sterben XYZ Pale Rider Gunner X JIGEN Kirito Sinon Keith
Sinon!
Spiegel...
BoB Main Tournament Starts: 65 Minutes
It's almost time.
I believe in you.
I know you're going to win.
Thanks.
What are you going to do now?
I'll watch the feed in a bar somewhere.
Then, when I'm done, you can either celebrate my victory or lament my defeat with me.
Sinon...
No, Asada-san...
Wh-What?
I can believe in your words earlier, right?
Earlier?
You told me to wait...
Once you're certain of your strength,
you and I c-can...
Why are you saying this now?
I... I really...
I really like you!
I'm sorry. Not now.
I want to focus on the tournament.
I don't think I can win this battle unless I use every ounce of strength I have.
I see.
You're right.
But I believe you.
I'll believe you and wait.
Yeah.
Okay, I need to get ready.
I'll talk to you later.
Good luck!
I'll be cheering you on!
BoB Main Tournament Starts: 42 Minutes
Today, I won't lose!
Neither will I.
Next Time Bullet of Bullets