It had been a week since the Christmas party, yesterday was New Year's Day. And as per tradition, Silica and I spent the day together– playing and exploring the two towns we had available together whilst Pina flew overhead, we then returned to my Inn room and had a cheesecake together, and then we finished the night like we usually did: by watching the fireworks together until she inevitably would fall asleep onto my lap, where I then brought the sleeping tamer back to the Inn. 

Asuna was still up when I arrived and she offered to take Silica from me to take her back to her room. Pina seemed to have no objections to this, and so neither did I, and so Asuna relinquished me of the little tamer I had in my arms and then carried her to her room.

This past week has been a very chaotic one, what with it hosting both the Christmas and New Years celebrations. But also because surprisingly, Sachi was now up here on Floor 76 with all of us now! 

She managed to run into me whilst I was on my way back to the Inn, apparently she had been looking for me for most of the afternoon.

*FLASHBACK*

???: "Oh! I found you U/N! Thank goodness! I was worried that I'd be wandering around out here for hours!"

Y/N: "Hmm? I recognise that voice... Wait!"

Y/N: "s-Sachi?!"

Sachi: "h-Hello U/N... I'm uh... I'm here!"

Y/N: "I... yeah. I see that, and... don't take this the wrong way, because it's really great to see you again, but... what are you doing up here?! You know you can't go back down to the other Floors once you come up here, right?"

Sachi: "Well... y-yeah. But I... I was getting... a little l-lonely. i-I'm sorry! *sniffle* I knew I shouldn't have come—"

*pomf*

Sachi: "U/N?! wh-why are you hugging me so suddenly?!"

Y/N: "Don't... Please don't ever think that you don't deserve to be up here with us."

Sachi: "b-but I—"

Y/N: "If you wanted to come up here, then you can be up here. And you'll be welcomed up here just like anyone else has. If fact, I'm really happy to see you again! It's been too long!"

Sachi: *sniffle*

Y/N: "And... you picked quite the interesting day too! This is now the second Christmas in a row that we've met after a long while of not seeing each other, right?"

Sachi: "... a-at least your eyes work this time!"

Y/N: "True, I almost forgot that we had that little scare of me maybe ending up blind! But... I still don't regret my decision – even if I did end up permanently blind, knowing that you'd be back and alive in this world, ready for your return to the other one once we cleared this game would be more than  worth it to me."

Sachi: "y-You can't really mean that! Right?"

Y/N: "... I can't think of a price that I wouldn't pay to keep you, and all of our friends safe."

Sachi: "?!"

Y/N: "Come on, you probably need a place to stay, no? I was heading back to the inn to cook something for a friend who... well, she couldn't be here for our party unfortunately... I'll make you something too whilst I'm at it and then we can see about finding you a room at the Inn... unless you want to buy your own place again, like you had back on the First Floor?"

Sachi: "... You stay at the Inn don't you?"

Y/N: "I have a room there, yeah. Room #0001. But, I'll be honest with you: I don't use it all that much at the moment!"

Sachi: "That's okay! I just... I don't want to be on my own anymore. So... when you're around, could you come see me? Oh! But it doesn't have to be all the time! Just... when you've got nothing else to do, th-that's fine by me!"

Y/N: "Of course Sachi! I'll be sure to visit you often! And don't forget all our other friends! We all live in the Inn together, all on the same Floor – there's a few spare rooms on that Floor too, so that you can claim one too!"

Sachi: "r-Really? Everybody's together again?"

Y/N: "Well... not everybody, not yet... But at least for now, you'll never be too far from company when you want it! You'll never be alone again, not whilst you're here with us."

Sachi: "U/N... th-thank you. This is definitely my best gift I've gotten for Christmas since we got trapped in this Death World!"

Y/N: "I'm.. glad to hear that! Merry Christmas Sachi!"

Sachi: "Merry Christmas U/N! And—... i-is that... what you're standing underneath... isn't that... m-mistletoe?!"

Y/N: *sigh* "... Strea!!"

*FLASHBACK ENDED*

As nice as this festive week was, the busyness of it meant that me and Philia didn't have as much time to deal with the Hollow Area as we originally planned. She said that she had a little scout around the new area on her own whilst I was in Aincrad, but she didn't want to stray too far from safety without me to back her up.

But that meant that we hadn't been to that place that Philia had asked about a while ago, the potential place she found that could be the home of the Karma-Restoration Quest we've been looking for.

So that's what the two of us are doing today!

Philia: "Come on U/N! It's this way! Let's go!"

Y/N: "h-Hey wait Philia! No need to pull me along, I'm coming, I'm coming!"

Philia: "But this could finally be it, I could finally get rid of my Orange Cursor in just a few more minutes and—"

Y/N: "—We'll end up aggroing all manners of mobs into following us if we keep running through the Fields like this. Philia, I know you're excited, but ending up surrounded and dying to mobs isn't the way I want to clear your Orange Cursor."

Philia: "... You're right. Sorry."

Y/N: "You don't have to apologise, I just don't want anything to happen to you on this exciting day is all... Here: want to take my hand and we can walk together? It'll be easier to avoid having to fight any mobs if we keep close and move slowly, no?"

Philia: "Heh, sure. That's fine with me!"

* * *

We then walked through the coastal entrance of this new area we had recently unlocked and then we headed in the direction that Philia had said that this area of interest should be. Eventually, we left the beach-like terrain and were back in the far too common forest biome.

Y/N: "Hmmmm... that church-like structure you mentioned should be just around here, right?"

Philia: "That's right!"

Y/N: "If it really is the church, we should be able to do the Karma Restoration Quest there... Huh? There's some kinda structure over there. That could be it... Let's take a look!"

. . .

When we entered the building, we encountered a robed man standing before us, they had a quest marker above their head... this is the first NPC I've ever seen in this Hollow Area, right?

Monk: "Greetings. It appears that you have something you would like to get off your chest..."

Philia: "Ummm... uh... Yes, I do!"

Monk: "I wish I could help... Alas, our confessional has been destroyed..."

Philia: "o-oh... I see..."

Y/N: "Hold on Philia, I think that this could be the Karma Restoration Quest!"

Philia: "Really?!"

Y/N: "Sure! It seems to be a quest where we have to fetch the materials to fix the church."

Philia: "And after it's fixed... we confess?"

Y/N: "I guess so... I have to say, though, that it doesn't seem like it'd be enough to get rid of an orange cursor... this far up the tower, the requests were way harder than the First Floor one was after all..."

Philia: "Well, there's no harm in giving it a try? And besides, this isn't the Aincrad Tower anymore, right?"

Y/N: "You're right! So, let's start looking for items that fit the bill then!"

Hmmm... so it says we'll need to deliver '5 High-Quality Woods' ... I suppose they're probably just mob drops from enemies around here, right? Oh! There were those big Treants just a little ways back, right? We should try fighting those!

Philia: "Hey U/N? We should try fighting those big Treants that we found a ways back, right? I bet they'd drop some wood materials!!"

Y/N: "I was just thinking the same thing Philia, let's give it a shot!"

* A SHORT WHILE OF FARMING MOB DROPS LATER *

Philia: "Aha! I knew it would be those big trees that dropped it! Now just to drop them off at the church and then we'll be on our way back to Aincrad!"

Y/N: "... Here's hoping. The church is just around the corner now, let's see how this goes."

. . .

Monk: "Oh, wonderful! This is just what we need to rebuild the church!"

Philia: ". . ."

Philia looks worried, maybe she's starting to doubt that this will clear her Cursor too now... no reason for her to be distraught, let's get her looking towards the next step of the quest rather than worriedly worrying about the reward.

Y/N: "Now I guess we'll just have to wait, and the church will get fixed..."

Philia: "...okay. So we just sit here and wait then?"

Y/N: "I guess so, at least these pews aren't broken, so we can sit here!"

Philia: "...Hey? Could you uhm... h-hold my hand again... maybe? Please?"

Y/N: "Hmm? Oh, sure!"

Her hands are shaking so much... actually, her entire body is. Is she really that worried about it? ... I guess it makes sense actually, this is her chance at freedom, at going home to Aincrad and finally being truly safe again.

But regardless of whatever happens next, know that I'll always be by your side, Philia. 

You won't be alone, as long as you let me stay by your side.

* * *

Monk: "Thank you so much! We couldn't have rebuilt this church without you!"

Y/N: "I suppose that people can start confessing again now, right...?"

Monk: "—Now, this is just a small thing... But I wanted to express how grateful I am."

 << Item Obtained: Cleric's Cross! >>

Philia: ". . ."

Monk: "Do be sure to return if anything else troubles you."

And then... the monk just walked away? Damn it! I knew something felt off about this...

Philia: "I... It doesn't look like this is it."

Y/N: "No, it doesn't... Sorry Philia."

Philia: "Why are you apologising, U/N? You've done so much for me... I'm just really grateful and happy."

Y/N: "We haven't found what we're looking for yet, though! How about we keep searching?"

Philia: "But, U/N, you've got so many assaults and other things to go on back in Aincrad, I'd feel bad..."

Y/N: "Don't worry, if those guys need me on Assaults then I'll join them, but this is really important to me as well."

Philia: "U/N..."

Y/N: "Listen, you remember Argo, right? She's come up to Floor 76 now, and she's really good at getting a hold of useful information way before anyone else. She might know a way we can get rid of your Orange Cursor, Philia... I'll go and ask her right away!"

Philia: "U/N... Why are you still doing all this for me?"

Y/N: "What do you mean? You're my friend! How many battles have we fought together now?!"

Philia: "But I'm... (I don't think I've done anything to deserve this kindness...)"

Y/N: "Hmm? Sorry, I didn't catch that. What was that?"

Philia: "Oh... Nothing..."

Hmmm... She's probably still in shock. She was expecting to get rid of her Orange Cursor now after all... 

Y/N: "Now, I'll be as quick as I can. You just wait in Administration Area and take it easy."

Philia: "o-Okay... Say hi to Argo for me?"

Y/N: "Of course! See you soon!"

Philia: "See you soon..."

* TELEPORT: ARC SOPHIA! *

Y/N: "Ah, there you are! Say, Argo... do you have a minute?"

Argo: "Oho? Looking for me were ya? What's up, U/N? Got some new information to share with me?"

Y/N: "Actually, I was hoping you'd have some information for me. About a quest to get rid of an Orange Cursor..."

Argo: "Getting rid of an Orange Cursor...? What kind of dangerous stuff have you gotten yourself into now, U/N?!"

Y/N: "Ummm... I don't think I've gotten myself into anything dangerous just yet... w-wait? You don't know about Philia?"

Argo: "Don't know about Philia? Well... I heard that ya found her in that Hollow Area. What else is there to know? 'Cause you must have somethin' in mind, right? I mean, a quest to remove an Orange Cursor... You know what that means, right?"

Y/N: "Well, I think so... but how's about I get you up to speed?"

* A SHORT WHILE OF EXPLAINING THE HOLLOW HAPPENINGS TO ARGO *

Argo: "An Orange Player in the Hollow Area... This is the first I've heard of such a thing– then again, I don't know much about that place anyways! In fact, all I know about that place is that yer've been going back and forth there..."

Y/N: "Right... I guess if even you don't know anything, Argo, getting the information I need is not going to be easy..."

Argo: "To be honest, I think you know more about the Hollow Area than anyone else, kid. In fact, I'm kind of jealous. I'd like you to share everything you know about the place... and hopefully not at your exorbitant rates! Nyehehe!"

Y/N: "I guess you would, wouldn't you!"

Argo: "Hey! What's that supposed to mean?!"

Y/N: "For now, though, I think the best thing to do is for you to go there with me, right?"

Argo: "U/N..."

Y/N: "Yeah, what is it, Argo?"

Argo: "I know you're strong and stuff... but be careful, okay?"

Y/N: "Huh? Why are you saying that all of a sudden? I'm not doing anything dangerous..."

Argo: "I don't believe that for a second! Going to the Hollow Area, hanging out with Orange Players... Ya can't tell me there's nothing dangerous about that!"

Y/N: "Ha ha... Well, when you put it like that... but Philia's good people. I trust her with my life!"

Argo: "I know but... Oh, what's the use? Yer not going to listen to me anyways..."

Y/N: "Don't worry, Argo! I'll be careful!"

Argo: "Okay then, well... you caught me just as I was about to leave. So I better get going. See you again soon."

Y/N: "Thanks Argo!"

*sigh* That was a bust then... But I guess I shouldn't have expected anything else. Nobody but me has really explored the Hollow Area and can still get to Aincrad... But what do I tell Philia...?

* TELEPORT: ADMINISTRATION AREA! *

Y/N: "Huh... Well, I guess I don't need to tell you anything just yet then..."

She looks peaceful... and happy, despite what happened today. I'm just glad to see that she can still smile in her sleep.

But... she's kinda seeping over to my side of our two futons... again. So I wouldn't be able to get onto mine without either getting real close to her– like, so close that we might as well be hugging, close; pushing her back over to her side, which might wake her up; or I could just leave her be and... maybe explore some of the Hollow Area that we kinda skipped over? There were some places in that first area that we didn't really look into, right?

Yeah, I think I'll do that.

* TELEPORT: SELVENDYS FOREST AREA: Garden Paradise - North! *

Alright! So... this was one of those places we sorta just walked through to get to where we needed to go, but I noticed that there was a small chamber that didn't really have any mobs spawning around it, and there was a really interesting smell too.

It should be somewhere around... ah! Here!

Right in the center of this particular chamber of the maze-like forest that we didn't bother to explore was a handful of trees. But the tree right in the center seemed to be a fruit tree: and it had dropped a lot of fruit onto the ground and still had some upon its branches.

As I walked closer to it, I could tell that this was definitely where the sweet smell was coming from: the ripe fruit that was on offer from this tree.

Y/N: "Hmmm... it looks like an ingredient item... I guess I could pick a few for myself, and then maybe I could grab some for Asuna – these might just be Hollow Area-unique fruits that she could use for more variety in what she cooks!"

 << Items Obtained: Sweet-Smelling Fruit! >>

Y/N: "Huh...? It doesn't have an actual name then? Weird..."

Well, I'll leave myself a note in my messages to Kirito: something to remind me that this was where I found this fruit, in case Asuna asks me for more later or something.

And now... to go through that 'Forest Maze'

Both Philia and I agreed to avoid going through the Forest Maze, it didn't seem to lead to anywhere important that we couldn't get to using another path and we didn't want to risk getting lost in the maze, but...

I couldn't help but notice that there was a single offshoot from this maze that you couldn't get to from anywhere else, and whenever I looked at it on the Hollow Map, there was never a Mission there or anything to do. It just seems like... an empty area?

But I've got some time to burn whilst I let Philia rest, so why don't I give it a shot?

* TELEPORT:  SELVENDYS FOREST AREA: The Tomb Before Darkness! *

I can't teleport right into the Forest Maze area, because there aren't any teleport obelisks in there for me to take advantage of, so I have to use the one just outside the Forest Maze area and then walk in... despite it's name, this supposed 'tomb before darkness' is literally just another forest transit zone. Sure there are a fair few more skeleton monsters than other places... but that's about it I think? Nothing that would really cause me any issues whilst running solo.

But from what the Hollow Map seemed to suggest, I should only need to remember which way is northwards. Because the place that caught my attention can only be accessed by going north from this Forest Maze area...

* TIMESKIP *

Y/N: "Oh... wow!"

I managed to find my way into this special zone which had piqued my curiosity, and I was greeted by quite the pretty field of flowers!

Hmm... It looks like there aren't any enemies at all around here. This place is bathed in warm sunshine too. It's a lovely spot. I bet Kirito would love to take naps out here!

Speaking of the others... this might be a nice idea to come back here sometime, for a picnic or something? I could remember this place for if Philia needs cheering up again for sure! I could also probably tell Asuna, she's been wanting to visit this Hollow Area for a while now, maybe a safe picnic out here with Kirito and Yui might be a nice introduction to it? Kirito and I can both take one extra person with us, so that should work. And then I could just play bouncer at the entrance in case any mobs show up whilst those three enjoy a picnic in this flower field?

Well... all in all, this wasn't a waste of time after all! I was expecting to just find empty rooms or something! But I actually found some nice and calm places to relax, plus some fruit to try cooking with too! I guess for now, I could head back to the Administration Area, to see if Philia's awake yet, else I could pop back into Aincrad for a spell to let Asuna know what I found? And maybe just say hello to a couple friends over there?

<3529 words>