The Maverick(Sword Art Online X Male Reader)

Special: Ordinal Scale

.......

I smiled as I opened my drink.

Eiji:I'm now more powerful than Lightning Flash and the Black Swordsman. Me, of all people. It's all thanks to Ordinal Scale.

That's when I began to reminisce. A weakling in the Knights of the Blood Oath. I felt alone. Isolated. Then there she was.....I swear, I'll deliver my promise to you.

.......

With three of my friends losing their memories being Kirito, Asuna, and Klein. I wasn't going to just accept that and move on. To have those bonds we've forged over those two years just ripped out was absolute bullshit. So I decided to go on a hunt for Eiji. I had no idea where to look aside from the SAO boss locations. I had Strea collect any data that could assist me. I planned on doing this myself but Shino came to help. Bless her soul since she was a big help. Then I saw Yuna, she seemed cloaked or something and then disappeared. I had cross-reference where she was pointing and Eiji's player data which landed me in a presentation by Shigemura. The creator of the Augma. I thankfully was able to get a word in private with Shigemura to which I confronted him about Eiji and people's SAO memories being erased by the Augma, he not really surprisingly, denied any claims. I noticed the picture frame in Shigemura's office so I asked Kikuoka if Shigemura has any family to which he had a daughter by the name of Yuuna. She died two years ago in SAO. Didn't take a genius to line the pieces up together. Unless I got solid evidence, I couldn't get Ordinal Scale shut down. I took time to check up on Kazuto and Asuna to see how they were doing and it honestly pained me to levels unimaginable same with Klein...I couldn't take it anymore. I felt so angry at not really knowing what to do. To be honest, I was in my emotions that I don't even remember texting Shino.

.......

I received a text from Y/N asking me to come see him. It was really sudden so I was caught off-guard. When I arrived at his house, I opened the door and walked in. He told me that he'd leave the door open. I noticed his parents weren't home and he wasn't in the living room. I went upstairs and found his room. I haven't been to his room before. I knocked on what I assumed was his door.

Shino:Y/N? You there?

I got not reply which I didn't like. I slowly opened his door and peeked in. I saw Y/N sitting on the edge of his bed with his head slumped over. He looked up at me and weakly waved at me. I smiled and sat down next to him.

Y/N: Thanks....for coming.

Y/N stared at the ground letting out a sigh.

Y/N: I visited Asuna and Kazuto. They.....were alright
for the most part. Kirito seems a lot more anti-social though....

Shino:......

Y/N: I failed them....I was supposed to protect them..

Y/N tightened his hands into fists.

Y/N: Kazuto, Asuna, and Ryoutarou. I'm supposed to protect them...

I touched Y/N's face and tilted his head towards me.

Shino:Y/N, I think you put yourself on too high of a pedestal. You're not a superhero. You're just an average human like the rest of us so stop trying shoulder the whole damn world okay? You always have your friends who will lend their help. Sugu, Keiko, Rika, Agil, Yuuki, and of course, me.

I placed Y/N's head on my lap and ran my fingers through this hair as he quietly laid there

Shino: Don't be afraid to let us share the load.

Y/N didn't reply as we stayed together for awhile. When that was over Y/N offered to give me a ride home so I wasn't going to deny that. We arrived at my apartment as I unbuckled my seatbelt and got ready to get out the car. I turned my gaze towards Y/N who looked at me and smiled.