(Why did I do that…?)(Ever since the boss changed phases, my mind went blank. I just reacted — analyzed, attacked, moved — but none of it made sense. My body acted on its own. Like something inside me took control… how?)
His lips moved slightly, but no sound came out.
—"Are you okay, Aomine?"— Mito asked, leaning toward him.Nothing. Not even a word. Just the empty reflection in his eyes.
Kirito, still holding his sword halfway to its sheath, approached with a tired smile.
—"I've never seen anything like that,"— he said, genuine admiration in his tone. —"As a beta tester, I thought I'd seen it all… but those movements— they looked natural, almost rehearsed. Like a dance. It was incredible."
Asuna, brushing digital dust from her face, nodded with a bright smile.
—"Yeah… exactly.Aomine-kun, you should fight more often, not just give orders.The way you moved… was beautiful."
Their words hit a wall of silence.Aomine kept staring at the ground, the light in his eyes gone.His mind was somewhere else entirely.
And then—The echo of metallic footsteps filled the corridor.Heavy, rhythmic, disciplined.
Everyone turned toward the chamber's entrance.A full formation of players approached: polished armor, gleaming shields, banners of red and gold fluttering with pride.The ALS guild had arrived.
At the front walked Michael — sharp gaze, steady pace, sword at his side.Behind him followed Keiki, Elsa, Historia Gundou, and Yuna, each carrying a face of authority and determination.
When they came close enough, Michael raised a hand.The marching stopped instantly.A heavy silence fell again.
The guild leader stepped forward.
—"So… it was you ten who defeated the boss,"— he said in a low voice, with a faint hint of recognition hidden beneath it.
Kirito nodded, somewhat tense.
—"Yeah. We did." —His tone was careful, his eyes darting subtly between ALS members.(If I'm right… Argo doesn't have it. Egil doesn't either. Which means… Aomine must be the one holding it.)
Michael crossed his arms.
—"I see…"— he said slowly. —"I suppose it can't be helped. But at the very least, I'd like to see it with my own eyes."
Kirito swallowed hard.The tension could have been cut with a knife.If he showed nothing, he'd lose all credibility.
Then — a soft ping echoed in his interface.A system message appeared before him:
[Special Item Shared With You — Flag of Valor]
Kirito's eyes widened in surprise, but he didn't hesitate.He opened his inventory and materialized the item for all to see.A long spear emerged into the air, bearing a white triangular flag that fluttered gently, glowing with a pure light.
The radiance reflected off their faces.For a brief moment, even Michael seemed to hold his breath.
—"It's called the Flag of Valor." —Kirito gripped the staff firmly. —"I'm sure everyone here knows what it does, right?"
A murmur spread through the ALS ranks.One of the players opened his mouth to speak but fell silent when Michael shot him a glance.Silence returned.
Michael narrowed his eyes.
—"Then tell me, Kirito…What do you plan to do with that item?"
The dark-haired boy met his gaze.His expression hardened.The air between them seemed to vibrate.
—"I have no intention of handing it over to ALS.I already know what your guild plans to do with items like this.However… I might reconsider, if two conditions are met." —His voice didn't waver.
Michael raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
—"Two conditions, huh? Fine. Let's hear them. What are they?"
Kirito took a slow breath, choosing each word carefully.
—"Technically two, but I'll be satisfied if even one is fulfilled.First: if another of these items drops in the future, ALS will take one and DKB the other. Any other guild without a flag at that time will be allowed to claim their own."
Michael listened without expression.Everyone else held their breath.
—"And the second?"— he finally asked.
Kirito stepped forward, his voice calm but sharp as steel.
—"That would be… if ALS and DKB merge into a single guild."
The room froze.Glances crossed.Whispers turned into gasps.Several ALS players shouted, outraged by the impossible condition.Their faces showed shock, annoyance — and in some, subtle unease.
But Michael said nothing.His cold, analytical expression hardened.He moved forward through his men, his cape trailing behind him, and when he reached Kirito, he paused… before walking past him.
—"I'll consider your conditions,"— he said in a neutral, almost calculated tone.—"We'll see if one of them can be met. The second, however… has a very low probability. Still, I'll try to make it happen."
His boots clanked against the metal floor as he walked toward the back, where Aomine still sat apart from the others — silent, lost in thought.
The blue glow of the chamber reflected across his face, but his eyes looked hollow, trapped in a maze of thoughts he couldn't escape.His breathing was shallow, uneven.A faint tremor ran through his hands.
(He could've died! He could've died! He could've died!)(I shouldn't have stopped! I shouldn't have hesitated! I shouldn't have thought!)
The words echoed endlessly inside his head.The battle had ended — but inside him, the fight continued.
—"Michael,"— called Sakuragui, approaching.
The ALS leader turned slightly, his tone softening when he saw the boy.
—"Looks like you got to him before we did,"— he said, glancing at Aomine. —"When we saw his HP bar in the yellow, we rushed here as fast as we could.It was… a relief to see you made it."
Before he could continue, a firm, annoyed female voice cut through the air.A sharp thwack landed on Aomine's head.
—"Idiot… you take too many risks, you know that?"— Historia scolded, arms crossed.Her tone sounded more worried than angry.
Aomine didn't answer.Didn't even flinch.
The silence that followed was unsettling.Historia frowned, stepping back slightly.Yuna, beside her, leaned closer, placing a hand on Aomine's sword arm.She felt a faint tremor run through it.
—"…Aomine-chi,"— Yuna whispered softly.
Aomine slowly lifted his head.His eyes were wide — unfocused — and his teeth chattered as if struck by sudden cold.But when he recognized their faces… something in him loosened.He bit his lower lip — and suddenly smiled.An exaggerated, forced, almost theatrical smile.
—"Heh… you guys came.Took you long enough, huh?Well, I did a good job this time, didn't I?As a fighter instead of a strategist.Heh… guess I'm kinda proud of that."
His voice was quick, too light.A weak laugh slipped out of his throat.His teammates exchanged silent glances — uneasy, but understanding.Something was clearly wrong, yet this wasn't the time to call it out.So, one by one, they returned his smile — forced, but warm.
Except Historia, who scoffed and turned on her heel.
—"Hey, black-haired cheater,"— she said without looking back, —"the teleport gate's ready."
Kirito blinked, slightly confused, then nodded quickly.
—"Ah… right. It's ready."
—"Good. I'm heading back first." —Historia's voice was flat as she walked toward the stairs.
Aomine stood up with Sakuragui's help, leaning against his shoulder.His breathing had steadied.Around him, his teammates smiled in quiet relief, preparing to leave the chamber.
As they moved out, Kibaou watched from behind, sighing deeply as he lingered with the ALS members who had come to assist in the raid.The political tension wasn't over — but for now, everyone was too exhausted to care.
Aomine turned his head slightly.His gaze fell on the scene ahead —Asuna speaking softly to Kirito, her hand resting gently on his arm, her smile warm and radiant.Kirito, eyes lowered, replied with something Aomine couldn't hear.
(I guess I'm jealous.)(Having something like that… someone who looks at you that way.)(But… I still have my team, right?)
His smile softened.And with those quiet thoughts echoing in his mind, he walked toward the light of the exit — leaving behind the battlefield of the fifth floor.
Night had fallen over the 5th floor, dyeing the sky in a deep shade of violet-blue. The magical lanterns of the central town glowed softly, and in the middle of the plaza, a large pyramid decorated with floating crystals illuminated the surroundings in warm tones.
Players were gathered around it, laughing, raising mugs of mead, and holding chunks of roasted meat.The chatter of voices, the smell of freshly baked bread, and the crackle of fire made it seem, if only for a few minutes, as though everyone had forgotten the danger lurking beyond each floor.
—"Three, two, one…"—"Zero!"—"Happy New Year!"
The sky lit up.Magical fireworks exploded above the city, painting spirals of red and silver light. The reflections danced across the players' faces as laughter and music mingled with the metallic echoes of clinking cups.
On a high terrace, far from the noise, Aomine watched in silence.The glow of the fireworks reflected in his eyes, giving them a nostalgic shimmer. The night wind stirred his coat, and his breath formed faint white clouds in the cold air.
For a moment, his expression softened.He seemed to be gazing beyond the sky itself, as if searching within those lights for an answer—or perhaps, a promise.
Soft footsteps echoed behind him.
He turned slowly, surprised by the figure approaching:a girl with long, dark-purple hair, slightly waving in the wind, dressed in a more casual outfit, far from her usual armor. The light from the sky cast a bluish tint on her skin, and her calm eyes carried a glint that hinted at quiet exhaustion.
—"Sakuragui?" —Aomine asked, somewhat incredulous.
She gave a faint smile, walking until she stood beside him.Her boots echoed against the stone floor, setting a slow, even rhythm.
—"You look rather lonely," she said gently, her gaze fixed on the fireworks.
Aomine allowed a small, dry smile to form.
—"Just relaxing…" he murmured, crossing his arms. "Don't want to end up drinking too much."—"And you? Did you come all the way here just to see this poor guy?" —he added teasingly, trying to lighten the mood.
—"Maybe I did." —Mito replied without hesitation, a soft smile curling her lips.
The boy blinked, caught off guard by the sincerity in her tone.
—"And here I thought you…" —he began, but she interrupted softly.
—"Mito," she said. "I'd rather you call me Mito. It feels… more fitting, if we're friends."
Aomine raised an eyebrow, amused.
—"Are you sure? Don't complain later when I start overusing it every five minutes."
Mito chuckled lightly.—"Then I'll be there to hit you every time you do."
—"Wow, such a direct threat…" —he replied, feigning fear— "That's scarier than a floor boss."
—"It should be," —she shot back with a playful grin, never taking her eyes off the sky.
Silence settled between them.The distant laughter blended with the fading bursts of fireworks.From their perch, they could see the ALS and DKB guilds below, locked in ridiculous eating and drinking contests, shouting loud enough to shake the plaza. It was a warm, almost human scene.
The wind picked up, brushing through Mito's hair, and for an instant, Aomine thought he saw her smile… a real smile, not the kind worn to hide something.
She turned her head slightly toward him, pretending to keep watching the sky.
(I guess this company isn't so bad…) she thought, lowering her gaze slightly.(This time… I want to protect something. Something I can't afford to lose again.)
Without realizing it, Aomine's eyes drifted toward her as well.The two stood there in silence as the heavens filled with falling lights that shimmered like fragments of stars.The night of the fifth floor became an eternal moment.