Chapter 26: Chapter 25: An Informative Shopping Spree
December 5, 2024
Floor 76: Arc Sophia
Strea- Master, Master! Can we get this one!?
I was currently walking around the shopping district with Strea, who requested that I joined her shopping spree. When I think of shopping sprees, I thought we would be finding better gear and items for when we went out to the field, but Strea's interests wandered elsewhere. Her mind wandered over to pastries and desserts displayed out in the shopping center. I chuckled nervously at her obsession with sweets, walking up to the display case that Strea was ogling. The dessert she was fawning over was a triple layered multi chocolate flavored cake. To my surprise, I found myself slightly drooling over the dessert as well. Strea looked over at me and giggled.
Strea- You're drooling Master.
I shook out of my trance and wiped the small amount of saliva off my cheek and chin, Strea giggling at me the whole time.
Strea- Seems like you have my love of sweets too, huh, Master?
"I won't lie my digital companion; it does look delicious. However, I just fed you lunch not a while ago. You had three servings worth and five drinks with it, I'm surprised you still have the will to eat."
Strea- What can I say Master? I finally get to experience food this good, even if it's just code. Plus, I get to spend more time with you.
Strea locked her arms around my own and held me close. I didn't mind as she nuzzled my arm, smiling wide as she looked up at me. I looked back down and smiled back at her.
"Strea, I don't know how many times I told you to call me by my name, you no longer need to call me Master."
Strea- I know...
"So, why are you still calling me that? You call me that when we are alone, but when others are around you call me by my name. What's the reason for that?"
Strea looked down and held onto me tighter, which caused me to stop walking and lift her chin up.
"Strea, please tell me. I designed you the same way as Yui, yet she has learned to call me by name because she is now Kirito and Asuna's child."
Strea- Well, my reason is slightly similar to Yui's.
"Enlighten me."
Strea- When Yui was in purgatory, she admitted having lost all sense of emotion until she started observing you, Ashtry, Asuna, Kirito and Kiyo. When she broke through the Cardinal System's protocols, she was given the ability to learn how to love a new family hence became her own "person" in a sense.
"So how come you aren't your own "person" and still follow the protocols I gave you before the game launched?"
Strea- That's the weird thing... I'm no longer following those protocols.
"What do you mean?"
Strea- Just like Yui, when I was stuck in purgatory, I was also restricted to leaving and interacting with the players. I was scared, trapped and alone. Each player that died made me feel sick, guilty, and empty. If I were there like you had designed me to be, I could've helped save to people. I could've lowered the casualties. I...
Strea started to tear up slightly until I pulled her in for a hug, wiping the tears away with my thumb.
"What happened to you wasn't your fault. My father placed you in a prison with no way to escape. He forced you to watch because you and Yui were creations of my design. That was just another way for him to get back at me for trying to stop him."
Strea- Regardless, I was in the same emotionless state that Yui was in. But, just like her, I regained those emotions by observing select players. It wasn't the same players that Yui observed, however.
"Then who were they?"
Strea- Rika Shinozaki A.K.A. Lisbeth, The Master Smith. Keiko Ayano A.K.A. Silica, The Beast Tamer and Sachi, The Scared Spear.
My eyes widened at her list. She had observed those three players for the same amount of time as Yui did and had learned to be her own "person" through them. It still didn't explain why she called me "Master".
"Ok, so what did you learn by observing these three?"
Strea- While observing the three players, I was only focused on three main points in their stories.
"Which was?"
Strea- When each of these players met you. You changed their lives for the better when you journeyed with them.
"How so?"
Strea- I'll start with Silica. You and your daughter had saved her life and offered your services to her in hopes to save her pet dragon. You taught her how not to be a puppet used for status, you taught her how to follow orders and you taught her how to be brave in dire situations. You did all of this while working with Kirito in order to capture Rosalia.
"Ok... what about Liz?"
Strea- You had heard a rumor that an old acquaintance ran a smith shop, and you wanted to pay her a visit, while also going there to have a sword crafted. One thing led to another, and you were both traveling up the mountain. Once you guys were stuck in the hole, you taught Lisbeth that no matter where we are, virtual reality or in the real world, the things we experience and feel are real. Even if our bodies are made out of ones and zeroes.
"And Sachi?"
Strea took a moment to compose herself as she gave off a small smile, looking up at me and staring right into my eyes.
Strea- Sachi... was the dealbreaker for me... Sachi trusted you to help her overcome her fears. She trusted you to be her shield if she needed to be protected, her sword should she fail to raise her own, a partner who would be with her no matter what happened. For the longest time, you were exactly what she needed. Until the day you left.
My eyes widened as she explained to me how Sachi felt after that day.
Strea- Sachi was devastated, heartbroken over your departure from the guild. She would have panic attacks, worry herself sick and even contemplated taking her own life because she was afraid that she would never see you again.
"Sachi..."
Strea- However, that changed when the revival item appeared in her possession. Kirito had sent the item to Sachi along with a message pertaining you and her.
"What did the message say?"
Strea- It said: "Sachi, I know you don't know me, and you probably never will. I am sending you this item on behalf of Kazzu Akihiko, or as you may know him now as the Dark Prince. I also wanted to tell you that, should you hate him, you should forgive him. I'm unaware of what happened between you two and the rest of your guild, but what I saw today was not the emotions of a man who didn't care for you. He was willing to risk his life to be able to grant you a way to see one of your friends again or to save yourself should you fall in battle. For what it's worth, Kazzu cared about you all very much. Enjoy the item, hopefully you'll never have to use it."
"Kirito..."
Strea- After that message was sent, you gave Sachi the most important lesson of all. You taught her that no matter how hard the challenge is, no matter if she was alone, that she should never give up. Whether that be in a fight or living her life, you taught her to keep on moving forward.
"With these three people, I've noticed that you focused on what lesson I imparted with them."
Strea- Correct. These lessons were the foundation of my emotions. I wanted to be there with you to learn more about you, support you and to learn from you, hence why I call you Master. I understand my programing originally restricted me from calling you anything else, but now I choose to call you that name out of respect.
"Well... that's good to finally know..."
Strea- I apologize if the name still makes you uncomfortable Kazzu. I'll stop calling you that if you want.
"I don't have a problem with the name, I was just confused as to why you kept calling me that. If you wish to keep calling me Master, then go ahead. Only when we are alone though, I don't need the others getting a weird idea about it."
A smile appeared on her face as she jumped up and gave me another bear hug. I was used to these hugs by now, even if her hugs still felt like they were going to crush my bones. She released me and giggled again.
Strea- Well this was fun Master. We should do this again sometime. Plus, I learned something today.
"And what's that?"
Strea- You're not just a warrior, you're not just Kayaba's son, but you are a scholar. I hope you continue to teach to those around you Kazzu.
"Thank you Strea. I'll try."
Strea- See you around Master.
She ran up to me, kissed me on the cheek and ran away with some pep in her step. I chuckled and looked up at the sky, noticing the clear blue sky.
"A scholar huh...?"
Lisbeth- Hey Kazzu!
I looked down, noticing the pink haired smith approach me with Sinon, Ashtry, and Silica in tow. I smiled and waved them over.
"Hello ladies, how can I help you?"
Lisbeth- You got a minute?
"Of course, what's going on?"
Lisbeth- Nothing serious. We just wanted to ask you a few things.
I looked around and noticed Sinon and Silica looking at me with silenced worry. Ashtry looked at me and shrugged.
She must've gotten dragged into this by Liz. Wonder what this is about. These two are giving me some pretty strong glares. Did I do something wrong?
Silica- So Kazzu... you did a pretty good job of avoiding the topic last time around, but... just who is this Strea?
Sinon- The way it looked to us, you and her were getting kind of intimate.
"Liz, did you set them up to do this?"
Lisbeth- I have no idea what you're talking about. You're the one linking arms with another woman when your girlfriend is right here.
Ashtry- Liz, oh my God.
"Jesus Christ why...?"
Lisbeth- I just want to hear it from the horse's mouth. Who is she and what is she to you?
"If I was going to start somewhere, I could start with how we met."
Lisbeth- So this is where we get to hear all of the juicy details about Kazzu's flirting technique.
"Liz, stop it. I'm not going to tell you anything about flirting."
Lisbeth- Aw man...
"It happened when I was taking a stroll through this town. Suddenly, I felt like someone was watching me, but my searching skill couldn't identify anyone or anything."
Ashtry- Seriously? You mastered the searching skill to basically have a pair of eyes on the back of your head. You seriously couldn't find her?
"Not at first. I had the feeling I was being followed for a while, so I ducked in an alleyway and concentrated on the skill hard enough to find and grab her."
Lisbeth- So she was following you around? But why?
I promised Strea to keep her real identity a secret... It sucks to lie but...
"Honestly, I still don't know. I've tried to get her to tell me plenty of times, but she just skirts around the subject. I've even tried doing the same to her and follow her around to see what she was up to, but she always found me out before I saw anything."
Silica- Y-You don't think we should be worried about her, do you?
"At the moment, no. But this is just a gut feeling. I believe that Strea harbors no feelings of hostility towards me and the rest of the group."
Lisbeth- I believe it. It seems like she's really taken with you, Kazzu. Considering the fact that she was hooked around your arm a minute ago.
"Let that go Liz."
Lisbeth- What do you think Ashtry?
Ashtry- Well, I think that Kazzu and Strea's relationship is clear now. The only thing that concerns me is the fact that she approached him without a motive in the first place.
Lisbeth- Love at first sight maybe?
Ashtry- You would say that, Liz.
Lisbeth- S-Shut up! Besides, I was just joking!
"As long as we don't know her true identity, we really should be cautious, but you don't have to worry about me doing anything."
Ashtry- I trust you, my prince. Now, can you three leave me and Kazzu to talk for a moment?
Lisbeth- Sure! Let's go girls! I heard there's a huge cake in the shopping district right now!
Lisbeth took off running while Silica and Sinon followed slowly behind her, laughing at her lust for food. I looked at Ashtry with a confused look.
"Everything alright?"
Ashtry- Can you tell me about your real connection with Strea?
"What...?"
Ashtry- Kazzu, I know you well enough to know that you hate lying to people. I've figured out when you are lying or not based on your movements. So, could you please be honest with me? I don't want to keep things secret between us.
I let out a sigh as I grabbed a hold of my partners hands. I felt guilty hiding something like this from her but surely, she would understand why. I took a deep breath and let it all out.
"Strea is the second Mental Health Counseling Program that I created before the game's launch. She was designed to be a "companion" to help players with difficult quests, assist in training exercises and even help fight the floor bosses. She, like Yui, was trapped in purgatory by my father."
Ashtry- So she's another A.I.? No wonder she clings onto you. You're basically her dad.
"I don't want her to see me like that. I'm not her master, or her father, I'm just a friend. I don't know how or why she is decided to reveal herself on this floor, but she isn't a threat. She seems very docile actually."
Ashtry- I trust your judgement Kazzu, but we should still keep an eye on her. She may not be a threat, but she could be being used by your father to slow down our progress. Just stay on your toes around her, ok?
"Ashtry, if I'm correct, could you perhaps be jealous of Strea?"
I gave her a cocky smile as she turned her head away, flustered and annoyed.
Ashtry- So what if I am, you jerk?
"Ashtry, you have nothing to be jealous of. I love you and only you. I would never betray your trust like that."
Ashtry- I know... I'm just... I don't want to lose you to a girl because you don't find me interesting anymore...
"Is that why you allowed the other girls to have more quality time with me and not reacting to their constant flirting and holding onto me?"
Her eyes widened as she took a step back, shocked that I had read her emotions like a book.
Ashtry- You noticed?
"It's not that hard to spot. Ashtry, if you really don't want to lose me, why allow them the chance to woo me?"
Ashtry- Well... you have a connection with them. You've known them way before we got to know each other and I've kind of had this small guilty feeling in the back of my head because of it. I want to make you happy and if that means sharing you with the people you have been with in the past, then I'll accept that.
I frowned as I pulled her in for a kiss. She was shocked at first but ultimately leaned into it and deepened it. I held onto her waist tightly and pulled her closer, forcing her to wrap her arms around the back of my neck. I pulled back slowly as a small strand of saliva dripped down our lips, Ashtry's face bright red.
"Ashtry, I don't need the others around to make me happy to be with you. I love you for you. I will always love you for who you are. No amount of time with a Beast Tamer, a Master Smith or an old flame could ever change that."
Ashtry- You mean it?
"Absolutely..."
We inched closer and connected our lips together once more. Our tongues battling it out for dominance with me being the victor. If I had it my way, I would've made love to her right there on the spot. However, a small squeaky voice snuck up behind us and jumped forward.
Kiyo- Boo!
"Gah!"
Ashtry- Ah!
Me and Ashtry stumbled back as Kiyo started laughing hysterically. Ashtry puffed up her cheeks at her daughter while I looked away blushing.
I love Kiyo, but to cockblock her own father... that's cold.
Kiyo- Sorry Mama, Papa but you should see the looks on your faces!
Ashtry- Come here you little rascal!
Kiyo playfully screamed as Ashtry started to chase Kiyo around the town square, leaving me to slowly walk behind them and chuckle silently. Off in the distance, Strea moved her head away from a corner and sat down in the street, thinking about the scene she just witnessed.
Strea- Loving one person is ok, but spreading that love to others is just as good... however, it's important to know where your loyalties lie... the question is Master... what do you see when you look at me? What are your loyalties when it comes to me...? Yui...? Your father...?
She looked back at the spot where we were, only to see that the three of us were gone without a trace. She sighed and held her fist close to her chest.
Strea- Are you even aware of what happens after this is all over...?