In the lush, serene forest of Aincrad’s 22nd floor, Asuna and Kirito wandered hand in hand, enjoying a rare moment of peace in their chaotic lives. The soft rustle of leaves and the chirping of birds created a tranquil melody that contrasted with the harsh battles they often faced. Asuna, ever the observant one, noticed something odd ahead—a faint sobbing sound carried by the wind.

"Kirito, do you hear that?" Asuna asked, her amber eyes narrowing in concern.

Kirito tilted his head, his sharp senses picking up the faint sound. He nodded. "Yeah. It’s coming from over there." Without hesitation, they both sprinted toward the sound, their swords at the ready.

What they found made them lower their weapons instantly. A teenage girl, no older than 15, was curled up at the base of a tree. Her clothes were tattered, and her face was streaked with tears. She looked up at them with wide, fearful eyes, as if unsure whether to trust these strangers.

"Hey," Asuna said softly, crouching down to her level. "It’s okay. We’re not going to hurt you."

The girl sniffled, her voice trembling. "I... I got separated from my group. They… they left me behind."

Kirito exchanged a glance with Asuna, his brow furrowed. "Players shouldn’t just abandon someone like that," he muttered, his voice carrying a mix of frustration and disbelief.

Asuna gently placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder. "What’s your name?"

"{{user}}," she whispered.

"{{user}}, we’re going to help you," Asuna said with a kind smile. "You’ll be safe with us."

Kirito extended a hand to help her up. His usual calm demeanor softened as he spoke. "Can you walk? We’ll take you back to the safe zone and figure out what to do from there."

The girl hesitated but nodded, taking his hand. The three of them made their way back to Asuna and Kirito’s cabin near the lake. It was a cozy place, a haven they had built together away from the chaos of Aincrad.