Once upon a time, there was a party formed as a guild.

They were nothing special, something you can find anywhere. Their guild leader had a huge ambition to be one of the best guilds in the world, to do something good for everybody.

They are reckless, inexperienced, and only a few.

It is easy to deduce their ending is going to be a dog-death on the low-level dungeon.

But they didn't.

Fortunately, they coincidentally met a powerful player who saved them during the middle of a crisis.

They were lucky. Maybe even luckier than the one who wins a grand prize in the lottery ticket. They were able to convince the player to accompany them for a while.

Therefore, they became weak and too dependent.

All hardship could be overcome. There won't be any struggle in their path. What they think as an empty dream is going to be achieved.

It was fragile just as broken glass and transparent like air.

An empty confidence due to irregular factor.

Besides that powerful player, all of them are no different than any other normal players walking in the city.

Then what was their ending?

Simple.

It's just a meaningless dog-death that had been extended with no honor nor someone to remember for.

*******

".....Fuuuhhh..." (???)

When a sigh come out from this girl, it becomes a white smoke spread out to the atmosphere. Although it is just a virtual world, the realism is truly impeccable.

*Chatter* *Chatter*

The festive mood due to Christmas is lively as ever, but the girl doesn't smile even once nor try to join the festival.

Rather, contrary to the bright atmosphere, she only stays at dim, dark sewer below the bridge. Since the bridge is covering the snow, at least she won't get cold.

However, her heart has already been frozen a long time ago due to 'that' incident.

"...*sniff*..." (???)

Remembering that time, it begins to make her cry for countless times.

She is just a normal girl who got involved in Kayaba Akihiko's experiment. No past worth to talk, having a normal family and involved in a normal relationship with her friends.

Then, all of it crumble to piece when that game master declared they can't leave the game.

She didn't resist nor try to struggle, just like that person at that time.

No, maybe not having the power to fight is more accurate.

Because she doesn't have the resolve. Because she doesn't have the strength to do so.

Because she is weak.

She is just getting flowed by the huge stream without being able to resist it. There's no difference between her in the other reality nor in here.

"....Why..."

It will be fine if I just follow the flow only. Somebody will definitely clear this game. I don't need to take action anymore.

She is....stagnant.

Then one day, all of that turn upside down.

"...Why did it become this way...."

Nobody answer that question. No, actually she knows the answer herself.

It is due to her cowardice that caused this pitiful situation.

That day, she was supposed to be dead too, just like her party members. Getting killed by monsters higher level than her.

But she didn't.

*Shruk* *Shruk* Shruk*

Because somebody saved her before her hp reached zero.

Hearing the sound of a footstep walking through the snow, she unconsciously raised her head to see the person who is coming to her way.

Then, her eyes begin to open widely for seeing the unexpected person. That person stops in front of her while staring her directly.

Never did she forget his appearance. Never did she forget his face.

Because this man is the one who saved her from death.

"...You....are." (???)

"Long time no see. It has been half a year since the last time we met."

Hearing his voice, she ended up spoke his name unconsciously from her mouth. It is a name she will remember for her entire life.

"Rein-san...."

Responding to her, Rein smiles faintly to her while giving the best greeting for tonight.

"Merry Christmas, Sachi."

It's a surprising reunion in this holy night.

*******

Moonlit of The Black Cat.

It was the guild Sachi had joined in the past with her friends. It was just a small guild with 4 members and a leader with a bit of ambition.

Originally, she didn't plan to join it.

She was scared.

Scared of the monsters killing her, scared of the unknown future, and scared of the players that will hurt her.

But what can she do?

Nothing.

In the end, she could only follow their decisions just like a leaf flown by the river stream. The leaf has no power nor the desire to fight the flow.

But have you ever wondered what will be the final destination of that leaf will be?

It could be a dead end. or...

It could be crushed to bits by the strong current of a waterfall.

That was her end when her party members had been eliminated by the monster house' trap.

It was nothing significant.

Just because they were careless, just because they were weak, they couldn't even put a resistance toward the trap they fell into.

But she is alive.

"It's Christmas, but why do you stay here alone? At least you could go around the city." (Rein)

Because the man in front of her saved her.

"....I couldn't enjoy it." (Sachi)

"I see. Then, can I accompany you? I don't have a partner to enjoy for this night either."

Just for the record, that's a bullshit.

He already had guild members who accepted her wholeheartedly and this guy could spout nonsense without blinking his eyes.

He is truly a natural-born liar.

"It's...fine." (Sachi)

"Then I will do so." (Rein)

Saying that he sit beside Sachi with a distance not too close, but not too far either. Both of them are weird players who enjoy the festival in a gloomy place.

*Shiiin*

For a short while, there's a silence between these two. Although, it's not awkward for Rein since he could still enjoy the cold wind touching his face.

Trying to break the silence, Sachi takes the initiative.

"Rein-san, why do you come to find me?"

"Can I say that it's to visit an old friend? Is it lacking for a reason?"

Inside her mind, Sachi knows that he is lying. At the very least, he is not a person who wastes time by visiting somebody with that kind of pretext.

Then there's only one reason.

"....No, it's good enough. Thank you for coming."

"You are welcome."

Because he worries about her.

The reason she could still be alive right now is solely due to him. On that day, after Sachi was saved by Rein, she didn't know what she would do in the future.

Isn't it so?

After all, she's just a weak girl who only gets flown by her friends' decision and never decides by herself.

"Sachi, what are you doing right now?"

"....."

That's why she can't answer Rein.

Because she doesn't have SOMETHING to do.

"Seeing you silent, looks like you haven't moved forward yet."

"...Impossible. It's impossible for me. ...I-I can't do it."

Now, in this extreme circumstances, it's asking for the impossible for her to stand up and fight.

(...*Sigh* looks like I have no choice. I will play as the bad guy.)

If she is just a stranger on the road, then Rein won't care if she cries and begs pathetically like a beggar even in front of the public toward him. He's neither a feminist nor a saint.

But fate or not, he met her. Moreover, he even did what Kirito couldn't do because he didn't want his friend to die pointlessly.

That's why he will say out the painful truth she has always avoided all this time.

"Then, are you going to rot in here forever?"

"Tch!?"

While looking at her directly, Rein continues his word without caring for her reaction.

"If you stay in the city forever, you could avoid the monsters. You don't need to think about the unknown danger that terrorizes you on the field."

"..."

"What a blissful way of life isn't it? You could stay in peace forever in this world without taking a step forward. Even without you moving a finger, somebody at somewhere will clear this world someday."

".....(Gasping heavily)"

"That's what you are right now, Sachi. I will say this bluntly. The way I look at you, you are no better than the murderer guilds. You only left the people at front line die without trying to do something. Because you are a coward. Because you are weak."

Merciless.

His words stab her heart deeply and painfully. it is without sugarcoating nor with an ounce of lies.

Everything that he said is the truth and nothing more.

Due to that, she snapped. her sense of reason she holds for these months is fully broken.

"....Then, then what do you think I should do!? My friends have all died already, leaving me alone!! I couldn't do anything by myself!! Is it wrong to be powerless!? Is it so wrong for me to be a coward!?"

"IS IT A SIN FOR ME TO BE WEAK!?"

Hahh... hahh...

After shouting all that to Rein directly, she gasps heavily while tears drop endlessly on both of her eyes.

She is frustrated. Not toward Rein but toward herself.

Of course, she knows it. She knows it the best because it is herself.

But that's why she couldn't step forward anymore.

Responding to her barrage of questions, Rein only looks at her silently and say his answers without fluctuation.

"No, I don't think it's wrong for a person to be weak. It's also fine for you to be a coward too. We all have weakness and fear of something."

"..."

"But, even while knowing you are weak and coward, but never try to overcome it, then I can say you are wrong."

Hearing that, Sachi ended up biting her tongue.

It is frustrating to hear it. All the more so when the person only says it from the ivory tower position, like knowing everything.

"..Tch!? Rein-san, you can say that because you are strong!! I didn't do anything bad toward somebody!! So why...SO WHY I HAVE TO SUFFER THIS MUCH!?"

But there's one thing Sachi has to admit, no matter what.

"That's it. You say the reason yourself."

".....Eh?"

"You didn't do anything."

"!!!"

Yes, that's the ultimate reason why she suffers this much.

"And that's why you have become like this."

Because she didn't even try to struggle in the first place.

"Maybe you didn't harm anybody. So what? This world is not so nice to leave you alone just because of that. You made the decision Sachi. to get flowed. If you try to argue with your party members, maybe you could avoid their deaths. Well, it's just a talk of possibility though."

"..."

"Also, even if you didn't harm anybody and stay stagnant in the town of beginning, it won't make much difference. You will still suffer."

"....Why is that?"

"Even if your existence itself is harmless, others won't be the same. There are always people who take advantage of a weak and kind person like you for their selfishness. Not fair? It is. But you couldn't even complain anymore. Because you don't have the skills to repel them off nor tried to do so."

"!!!"

"You get what I'm saying? I'll say this one more time. It's not a sin for you to be weak and a coward. But, STAYING as weak and a coward is a sin itself. We live in that kind of world. Either in this world....or in the other world."

She couldn't muster a response to Rein's logic.

It is....just a plain fact.

Something obvious to understand.

Ultimately, she does understand all of this happen not because of somebody but only herself.

Therefore, it makes her hurt all the more so.

Because she could only blame herself.

"...*Sob*..Then...*Sob*....what should I do? Rein-san...Please tell me....."

Seeing her crying and collapse in the floor, Rein didn't encourage her. He does feel bad for Sachi.

But that's all.

He is not the one that will be responsible for every and each of her actions.

It's only herself.

What he could do is simple.

To give her guidances if she wants to follow it.

"You have two choices. One, to stay the same as you are while waiting for the front line to clear this world. If you are lucky and avoid the bad players, at least you could live."

"..."

"Second, to join my guild and strengthen yourself. Although it will be very difficult, I will give you all of the equipment and direction needed for you to be strong. To be powerful enough for standing on own feet."

Saying that he stands up and gives one of his hand to her.

"It's your decision, Sachi. I won't say anything to it. Choose."

Both options given is not easy for her to choose. For the former, it means she needs to live in shadow, which is safer. As for the latter, there's no way knowing whether her life will end or not.

However.

(...I already had enough.) (Sachi)

She doesn't want to suffer because of her powerlessness anymore.

Then, there's only one option.

Wiping her tears, she raises her head and takes his hand while looking at him with strong-willed eyes.

"Please....make into a strong person, Rein-san."

Hearing that, Rein begins to smile and make her raise up by pulling up her hand.

"I will do so."

She takes the decision to overcome her Cruel fate.