*FLASHBACK*

It was just another night in Aincrad, but tonight Lisbeth and I decided to try another one of the player-run restaurants that had been set up recently. We'd been trying a few of them these last couple weeks, Lisbeth said it was to lessen the load on me as I had been cooking dinners for us every night on top of all my Floor Clearing efforts.

But I know what it really is, because it's just been the two of us and she objected to inviting anybody else to join us...
She wants to try a larger variety of food than I've been cooking without feeling embarrassed!

She really is such a foodie!

On our way back from our outing the two of us were discussing the meal we'd just had.

Lisbeth: "I know you don't like pasta that much, but you have to admit that that place does some good spaghetti!"

Y/N: "I uh... I guess so. It was something different I suppose."

Lisbeth: "Well it wasn't just the food, the atmosphere of that shop was the best one yet!"

Y/N: "It was kinda familiar... wasn't it from a Disney movie?"

Lisbeth: ". . ."

Y/N: "Oh! It was Lady and the Tramp right? Tony's Restaurant!"

Lisbeth: "...uh- yeah! I thought it was familiar too. I just couldn't place it!"

Y/N: ". . ."

Lisbeth: "Anyways... I was wondering if... maybe... could we- Hey! Why'd you stop walking?"

Y/N: "I just uhh, I saw her..."

I then point down towards the little tunnel under the bridge where a small, familiar silhouette is sitting with their arms around their legs.

Lisbeth: "Is that... oh, I can't remember her name... but she's your friend right?"

Y/N: "Sachi. Yeah, she's a friend..."

Lisbeth: "... Well, looks like she needs her friend right now. I know the way home so I'll leave her to you and I'll see you back at hom- back at the room."

. . .

Y/N: "h- Hey Sachi, what are you doing down here?"

Sachi: "U/N? W- what are you doing here?"

Y/N: "I uh- I went out for dinner and I noticed you as I was walking by... you okay?"

Sachi: "..."

I sit down a couple feet away from her, I don't want to impose on her or make her feel like she has to talk.

Y/N: "Do you want to talk about it?"

Sachi: "... it's silly."

Y/N: "I'm sure it's not. But if you don't want to the-"

Sachi: "-i- i'm afraid."

Y/N: "... I'd think you an idiot if you weren't."

Sachi: "wh- what?"

Y/N: "Trapped in another world where you have to fight monsters to return home? I think everybody is afraid or at least has been afraid at some point."

Sachi: "..."

Y/N: "Hey, I know it's been a couple of months, but I got you a Christmas present!"

Sachi: "y- you did? You really didn't have to do that..."

Y/N: "I know, but I wanted to... sorry I didn't bring it to you sooner, but at least now seems like a good time!"

*SHORT TIMESKIP*

Sachi: "Y- You can't give this to me, really! You should give this to a more important player, someone out there fighting on the front lines!"

Y/N: "I already gave them their Christmas gifts, this is for you. This and a promise."

Sachi: "A promise?"

Y/N: "I promise I'll get you out of this game alive. No matter what. Okay Sachi?"

Sachi: "..."

Y/N: "Oh, looks like your guild was looking for you. Here comes Kirito. I'm going to leave you with him now, you should tell him what you told me... but maybe don't tell anyone about that gift just yet?"

Sachi: "Sure thing U/N. Thank you again, for everything! Have a goodnight!"

Y/N: "Sleep well Sachi."

As I depart from Sachi I leave on the other side of the river to the side that Kirito was approaching from, as we pass though the two of give each other a silent nod of understanding.

I'm sure Sachi will be safe now that Kirito's joined her guild, but it's definitely better to be safe than sorry when lives could be on the line right?

*FLASHBACK ENDS*

It's been a fair few weeks since the 30th Floor was cleared, when I almost died to that Boss...

At this point we were now on the 40th Floor and the front lines were preparing to take on the 40th Floor Boss Room, but they wanted as many of the stronger players there as possible, which is why...

Argo: "I just don't understand, ya haven't been in a Boss Raid for the past 9 Floors. I heard from Asuna that ya almost died because of that necklace ya still wearin' but that can't have been enough to scare ya from helpin' out surely?"

Y/N: ". . ."

Argo: "Come on U/N, ya gotta work with me a little here! What's it gonna take to get ya to get involved with the Boss Fights again eh?"

Y/N: "Why did they send you to recruit me?"

Argo: "Because you an' I go way back! That and yer been avoidin' everybody else on the front lines like the plague!"

Y/N: ". . ."

Argo: "I gotta ask though, if ya don't plan to help out in the Boss Fights anymore then why are ya still spendin' so much time out on the Field grindin'? Ya definitely still our highest levelled player but ya don't back up anybody anymore."

Y/N: "My time on the Field has never been dangerous... I'm not risking lives when I'm out there-"

Argo: "-But ya riskin' lives when ya aren't helpin' in the Boss Room! I just- ... help me to understand?"

Y/N: ". . ."

Argo: "Please?"

Y/N: "... Before, I wasn't worried. It was fun. And if I messed up I wouldn't drag anyone else down as I did it all solo... but now... a life- lives are on the line. I'm not cut out for that..."

Argo: "Ya don't have to shoulder it all on ya own! Asuna and Kii-bou would be right up there with ya in the Boss Room, and it's not just them! Ya got Agil, Klein and Rain regularly showin' up to help out at these fights!"

Y/N: ". . . they can't help me."

Argo: "That's because ya aren't lettin' 'em in! Poor Asuna's been frettin' about ya for a while: ya haven't been openin' any of the messages she's sent ya!"

Y/N: "... I don't deserve the time after my outburst back on the 30th Floor... and I'm busy with something else anyways..."

Argo: "Busy with wha-"

???: "Excuse me, U/N? I'd like to have a talk with you if you wouldn't mind?"

Argo: "Heathcliff? ... Go ahead and try, do ya need me to make myself sparse?"

Heathcliff: "No no, that won't be necessary. I'm just here to ask in person for U/N's assistance during the 40th Floor Boss Room, being that it is another Milestone Floor we are sure to encounter something particularly tough. And Aincrad's strongest would certainly be a boon to the cause." 

Y/N: "No... sorry, I'm busy."

Heathcliff: "... You know, Asuna debriefed me on what happened on the 30th Floor, about how that neckla- that locket of yours started glowing during the fight and that it completely incapacitated you."

Y/N: ". . ."

Heathcliff: "She mentioned it was quite a bright glow at the time, but that it dimmed down after a few moments... it's still glowing now too... might I inquire as to why?"

Y/N: "It's the reason I'm busy . . . I've got somewhere else to be. Good luck with the Boss Raid."

. . .

*ARGO'S POV*

Argo: "I don't think I've ever seen that necklace they've got equipped before, is it a unique piece of equipment?"

Heathcliff: "I don't think so no. I believe it is a reward from a cooking quest: The Locket of Preserving. It was used for a quest to deliver a food item to an NPC before it expires."

Argo: "So what, it's like a mini-fridge?"

Heathcliff: "In a sense... anything placed within the Locket will not expire, but once you take it out of the locket then the durability starts to count down again, The effect only works though if you have it equipped."

Argo: "So U/N isn't helpin' with the Boss Fights because they want to keep their cookin' materials fresh?!"

Heathcliff: "Hmmmm... I'm not so sure about that. I've never seen a Locket of Preserving glow like that, I wonder what it is within that locket..."

*TIMESKIP - Y/N'S POV*

The front liners have headed off to start on the 40th Boss Room, I stuck by my decision and didn't join them... but I can't keep doing this. Eventually I'll have to re-join the clearing effort.

But I don't think I'm quite ready for that just yet... not with-

???: "U/N? ... Oh U/N!"

Y/N: "hmm? Oh, uh- hey Yuna. You okay?"

Yuna: "We need your help! There's some players trapped in a dungeon and we're forming a rescue party. Naut and I are going but all the other big players are in the Boss Room, but then I saw you here, you can help us out right?"

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