Y/N POV

I was sitting at a table with the group that I saved, the Moonlit Black cats.

Ducker (Or many know him as...Gary): Here's to us, the Moonlit Black cats! Cheers everyone!

The group (Excluding Y/N): *clink glasses* Cheers!

Ducker: I gotta another one. Here's the the guy who saved our lives, Grim!
Group:To Grim!

Y/N: C-Cheers guys...

Tetsuo: Thanks, man.

Sasamaru: You really saved us back there.

Sachi: Thank you. Thank you so much. You're not as heartless as everyone says you are

Y/N: Nah, It's Cool. I joined SAO so I could save others from dying. (There's something... different about her...)

Sachi: I can't tell you how scared I was. And it made me so happy when you came to save us I-*starts tearing up*

Y/N: (Oh, god. Here comes the tears, I'm not equipped for fighting these.) It's fine.

Keita: Um, Grim, sir, I hope I'm not out of line asking this but I was wondering what level you're at?

Y/N: Uhh... Level 25... As I've mentioned in that book of mine, I've found places where you can infinitely grind XP.

Keita: Really? You're a little higher than our levels and you're still a solo player? You're an inspiration, sir!

Y/N: Please, you can call me Y/N or Grim, I don't really care which one. And another thing, I'm not your superior. Being solo means I'm always hunting monsters out in the boonies. It's not very efficient.

Keita: O-Oh, right. Well In that case, I hate to spring this on you here but if you want, we'd love to have you in our guild. Our mace wielder, Tetsuo, is the only one we can put up front right now. *pats Sachi's head* and then we got Sachi over here. I was thinking about having her switch to sword and shield, that way she can fight on the front lines. The thing is, she says she's not sure if she can handle it. If you join us, maybe you can teach her a thin or two. I mean, you have extensive Knowledge on this game since you designed some of it and you even wrote that book.

Sachi: Oh come on, I'm not that useless. Seriously, you can't just put me up front and expect me to know what to do. I'd get terrified.

Keita: It's no big deal, just hide behind your shield. Yeah, right. Ever since I've known you, you've always been a scaredy-cat.

Sachi: *embarrassed groan which causes Y/N to smile a bit while the others laugh in a nice way (They're Not making fun of her)*

Keita: We always joke around like that. You see, in real life, we all go to the same high school and are members of the computer club. But if you're worried about fitting in with us, don't worry about it. As far as I'm concerned, you're already a part of our group,*looks at his guild members* Right?

They all agreed and I felt honored that they would actually go out of their way to ask me to join them. Sachi then smiled softly at me, which caused me to blush slightly but I then made up my mind.

Y/N: Well, I'm very glad for the offer, but... ah what the hell? *smiles* I'll do it.

I then smiled even more as Sachi got excited.

Timeskip

My new found friends/Guild were currently fighting a huge ass preying mantis and it was currently targeting Sachi who was hiding behind her shield.

Y/N: Sachi, get back! I got this!

I then ran towards Sachi and cut off the preying mantis's arm with a sword I was using to help teach Sachi, making it hiss in pain. I then blocked an attack from the mantis, knocking it off balance.

Y/N: Tetsuo! Now's your time to shine!

Tetsuo: Right!

Tetsuo then ran in front of the  mantis and smashed his mace right into its neck, killing it and causing Tetsuo to level up.

Tetsuo: Alright!

I then smiled at them celebrating and I felt Sachi hug me, taking me by surprise.

Sachi: Thank you for saving me. It means a lot.

Y/N: *Smiles* I should be thanking you all. If I hadn't joined your guild, I probably wouldn't have been able to find happiness again.

We all then took a break and had some food and talked. Ducker then placed keita in a choke hold and they joke darling but I then looked at my real level... Level 50...

(So when I first published the original version of this chapter, somebody criticized that kirito had a much higher level at this point. I did research on my own; no. He's not. In fact, Y/N is two levels higher than Canon Kirito)

Timeskip

Keita: Everyone, I have an announcement to make: on our last monster hunt, we were able to save up to 200,000 col!

Tetsuo: Buying a House Of our one doesn't seem so far away now!

Sasamaru: I know! We should upgrade Sachi's equipment!

Keita: Good idea.

I then noticed that Sachi was looking at me so I smiled at her.

Sachi: I'm fine with what I had.

Ducker: Oh come on! It's not fair to have Y/N be on the front lines all the time.

Y/N: It's fine. I don't mind at all.

We then continued talking a bit more and I smiled through it all. Once it was time to sleep, I waited for everyone to fall asleep before going outside and taking a walk through the fields. While I was walking, I came across Klein again. I then watched as he slayed a dog/Hellhound monster. He then sheathed his katana before he noticed me and smiled.

Klein: What's up, Y/N! *to his friends* The trash mob's all yours, Guys.

Klein then ran up to me.

Klein: Man, it's been ages since I've seen you. What are doing? Some late night leveling?

Y/N: No. I... uhh... I suffer from insomnia in the real world and without my medication, it's been pretty difficult to sleep.

Klein: I See...*notices Icon Above Y/N's health bar* What's up with that icon? Did you join a guild?

Y/N: Yeah, I guess you could say that...

Guy 1: All clear! We can move on!

I then walked past him.

Y/N: Well, it seems you're busy and I want to finish my nighttime walk so I can fall asleep sooner. See ya.

Klein: Yeah...

I was continued walking until Klein spoke again.

Klein: Try opening up your heart to people. If you show them that you're just as human as they are, they'll come to accept you.

Y/N: *scoffs* I've already tried that...

I then warped back to the town we stayed in and I then got a message from Keita saying that Sachi had run away somewhere and hadn't returned yet. Understanding the situation, I used detective mode to find her. When I did, I saw that she was huddled up under the bridge.

Y/N: Sachi!

Sachi: *looks over* Y/N?

Y/N: Everyone's worries about you.*sits down next to Sachi*

Sachi: *sighs* Hey, Y/N...?

Y/N: Yes?

Sachi: We should run away together...

Y/N: Run away? From what?

Sachi: From this town, from the monsters. From the moonlit black cats. And from Sword Art Online...

Y/N: Sachi... the way you are speaking is worrying me... are you talking about suicide?

Sachi: *sad laugh* It doesn't sound like a bad idea to me right now...

I immediately ran over to her and hugged her, taking her by surprise. I then felt tears appear in my eyes.

Y/N: Please Sachi. Don't ever speak like that again.

Sachi: Y-Y/N...

Y/N: I know things are difficult right now, but I promise, I'll put an end to this game once and for all. Just please, don't do anything stupid like suicide and leave me alone... alone in this dark, empty abyss where nobody really cares about me... I need you here... with me. I promise, I'll do anything to protect you. I'll go walk straight through just to save you so please...*looks Sachi in the eyes, showing that he's crying* Please... don't leave me here alone. I won't be able to face the dark without you... (Why am I like this around her? It's strange, it's similar to the feeling I get when around Argo... but stronger I guess? This... love isn't it? I... I like It. It's peaceful... and calming.)

Sachi: Y/N... *blushes slightly but smiles* I...I think understand what you're trying to say...

Y/N: What am I saying then? I just need to know if you're correct or not.

Sachi then held my hands and I looked down at our hands but as soon I looked up at her, she kissed me on the lips quickly before I could kiss her back. She then smiled at me.

Sachi: There. That's what you were saying.

Y/N:I...*smiles softly* yeah, so please promise, you won't die on me....

Sachi: Only if you promise to protect me~.

Y/N: *smiles/GIF below* I promise.

Sachi: Thank you. I guess I should tell you that I'm actually afraid of dying. It's been so bad, I haven't been able to get any sleep lately.

Y/N: Well as I've already promised, I'm not going to let you die. The Black Cats Are strong enough as a guild. Besides, out margin of safety is above the normal. You also got Tetsuo and me up front with you. Now come on, let's get back to the inn. We're going to need a lot of sleep.

Sachi: *soft smile and hugs Y/N's arm lovingly* Alright~...

Sachi POV

Sachi: *GIF below* (I'm sorry... but I know how my fate ends... but I promise, I'll be by your side until the very end. And perhaps... perhaps god will allow me to see you again some day.)

Y/N POV

Sachi and I then walked back to the inn and I got ready for bed but there was a knock on my door.

Y/N: Come in.

Sachi then opened the door a smile on her face.

Sachi: I can't seem to get any sleep. Is it okay if I sleep with you?

Y/N: sure.

Sachi: Thank you

Sachi then laid down in my bed and I turned off the lights so she could sleep but I went back to doing what I was doing. Once I was done, I laid down in bed facing away from Sachi but I then turned around and placed my arm around her.

Y/N: Don't worry. No matter what, I'll protect you... even if I have to die for you.

I then closed my eyes and went to sleep.

Timeskip

We were at the teleport gate where Keita would go to buy our house. When he left, they talked about how we should raise extra cash for the house and I agreed.

Ducker: Come on, we should go to a higher level dungeon. That will be quick cash.

Y/N: No. Let's stick to our usual hunting grounds...

Sasamaru: But Of we go up there, we'll make a lot more money.

Ducker: And besides, we don't have to worry about it with our levels.

Although I kept persisting that we stay where it was safe, they refused to listen and eventually I capitulated since I could just protect them if things went south, which they most likely would and then it would be easier to convince them that this was a bad idea.

We then explored the dungeon and Ducker found a secret room and every alarm in my brain went off when I saw the chest. Ducker saw the chest and ran over to it.

Y/N: WAIT! DON'T OPEN THAT CHE-

He opened the chest, causing a trap to go off, locking us inside.

Y/N: Don't bother using teleport crystals. They're not going to work. Focus and don't lose sight in the enemies.

They all nodded nervously but Ducker was knocked to the ground was picked to death by pickaxes, causing my eyes to widen.

Y/N: (No.No no no... I can't let this happen! No!)

I then kept fighting with my scythe, taking out many of them in one go, but they killed Tetsuo and then Sasamaru. I can't let Sachi die! I made a promise and I'm not going to break it! I then ran towards Sachi, killing anything that got in my way, but I was too late and I watched as one monster slashed her back, causing my eyes to widen.

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

I then watched in horror as she mouthed something but I couldn't hear her. She then shattered into pieces and I fell to the ground and without being able to control my emotions... I snapped. That sent them all at me and health went down to one... but it didn't matter. I couldn't die under normal circumstances like this but these bastards had no idea who they had killed... Once my wrath and despair took over... The Grim Reaper emerged