December 2, 2025
Floor 76: Arc Sophia
Kirito, Asuna, Ashtry and I were shopping around town on this fine sunny day. Not too hot but not cool enough for a breeze. The shopping district was rather quiet this time around, but we didn't mind. As me and Kirito were looking at weapons and accessories, both women came up and tapped us on the shoulders.
Ashtry- Hey boys.
Asuna- Buying something?
Kirito- Nah, we're just browsing...
"But now that you mention it, it couldn't hurt to stock up on potions while we are here."
Asuna- Smart idea Kazzu, I should buy some myself.
Ashtry- Especially since our party keeps growing more and more. A well-stocked inventory could mean the difference between life and death.
Asuna- Let's see... where did I put those things?
I looked at Ashtry and smiled, enjoying the company I was with as I wrapped my arm around her waist. She gave me a small blush and a quick peck on the cheek. Before we could enjoy the rest of our day though, Asuna's face dropped. Almost in horror, as she kept scrolling at her menu frantically.
"Asuna?"
Ashtry- What's wrong?
Kirito- Were you running even lower on inventory than you thought you were?
Asuna- No... no! Th-There must be some kind of mistake!
Kirito- Hey, it's ok. Relax. We did throw all of those items that were corrupted when we arrived on the 76th floor, remember?
Ashtry- Are you sure? I've seen you with the same armor and weapons as before.
Kirito- ...I got new ones...
Asuna- No! No! It's something much worse... Kirito!
Kirito- Y-yes ma'am!?
Asuna- Would you mind opening your status screen and checking my status?
Kirito- Um... ok?
He did so and Ashtry and I kept an eye out so nobody could read their screens. A few clicks later and he was on his status screen.
Asuna- Well?
Kirito- I'm looking, but I don't...
Asuna- AND...? What about the link to my screen?
Kirito- Hey... yea wait a minute... i-it's not there... there's no link to your status screen.
Ashtry- What?
"But you two are married right?"
Kirito- Yes, we are. We should be able to access our partner's status whenever we want to...
Asuna- Same with you too huh? Try checking your items
Kirito switched over to his items and his eyes went wider.
Kirito- The hell!? None of our items are shared!
Asuna- We can't see each other's status and our item sharing has been disabled...
Asuna slowly started to get tears in her eyes and looked at Kirito with the most saddened, heart ripping expression.
Asuna- You didn't... divorce me did you K-Kirito...?
Kirito- What!? Of course not! How could you even think of such a thing!?
Asuna- I'm sorry... it's just... our status isn't "Married" anymore, so I thought...
Ashtry- You thought the worst just like always. It's ok Asuna...
"If anything, it's another glitch in the system. Might have reset everyone's status along with their skills."
Kirito- You think we should head back to the inn and tell everyone? Maybe see if anyone knows anything?
"Sounds good. Let's go, quickly!"
We all started running towards Agil's Shop as I was sending a mass message out to our friends, telling them to meet us at the shop. A few minutes later, most if not all of us had gathered in the shop.
Sinon- So what's going on?
Lisbeth- Is everyone ok?
Silica- Is anyone in trouble?
Klien came bursting through the door last and ran over to me, catching his breath and leaning on a table.
"Well?"
Klien- I got your message, and my buddy says he hasn't seen any married couples above the 75th floor
"Damn... well that confirms my theory about another glitch..."
Kiyo- Wait... married couples?
Lisbeth- In a game with such a low female-to-male ratio, married players are already a very distinct minority anyway.
Klien- Plus, only serious Assault Army members made it up to the 76th floor. Besides the ones who wound up here by accident or course.
Lisbeth- Ahem... like me, you mean?
Silica- There are more of us out there than you'd think.
Leafa- Probably not too many who came from a completely different game though...
Sinon- Just a well, if you ask me.
Yui- You can say that again.
Klien- What I was getting at is that the Assault Army members who voluntarily head to the upper floors are hardly gonna waste their time with romance.
Kirito- Damn it... so much for the investigation. We've run out of leads before we even started...
Kiyo- Investigation on what?
"Kirito and Asuna are no longer a married couple thanks to the glitch in the game."
Lisbeth- So, the two of you really aren't married anymore huh? Like, really really? Does that mean that Kirito is single now?
Lisbeth would say that as a tease and while it earned a chuckle from Sinon, most of the group was not finding it funny, especially Asuna and Kirito.
Asuna- Hey! No! Back off! He's not single! There's a word for people like you, you know!
Ashtry- There are several words, which one are you referring to?
Lisbeth- Whoa, whoa, whoa relax Asuna. I was just joking. But so far as the system is concerned, you're technically not married anymore, right?
Asuna- Well... no but it's not like we got a divorce or anything...
Kirito- Like Kazzu said, thanks to that glitch, a lot of our data was corrupted when we arrived on the 76th floor. Our marriage data must've been scrambled at the same time...
Sinon- Just thinking out loud here, but could either of you have tapped the button to apply for a divorce accidentally?
Asuna- I get where you're coming from =, stranger things have happened. But a couple can't get a divorce without the other partner accepting it first...
Leafa- So no matter how much you hate your partner, you can't divorce them without their permission?
"Sounds bad when said out loud but that was the idea yes. There is one way, but it would require the person who was applying for the divorce to give up all of their items to the player they were leaving."
Asuna- Both players would have to agree to a divorce if they both wanted to keep their items. And given that neither of our inventories are empty, that can't be what happened here.
Klien- So... couldn't you two just... get remarried?
"They've tried that already. The system wouldn't let them."
Ashtry- It was literally the first thing they did.
Silica- Well what if you tried to marry someone else? Have you tried that?
Kirito- Someone other than Asuna? I didn't think of that. I guess it's worth a try.
"Maybe it's just a situation where currently married couples are going through this glitch..."
Ashtry- Kazzu, Kirito, hold on for a moment.
Asuna- Yea wait a minute! Are you out of your mind?! Like I'm just going to sit her while you marry someone else!
"The guy isn't actually going to marry them, you two."
Kirito- Right, it's just to see if it's possible to marry anyone.
Asuna- I don't care! I won't allow it!
"Seriously?"
Ashtry- Yea, I'm gonna switch sides and agree with the boys. There's really no need for the dramatics Asuna.
Lisbeth- Alright then, why don't you send a marriage proposal to another male player?
Asuna- Another male player?
Klien- I'll be the one!
Kirito- No you won't! Seriously.
Asuna- I politely refuse to do so.
Klien- Oh come on you two! It's not like I was actually going to press accept or anything. Just something for the memories. Something to tell the grandkids!
"Klien, in order to have grandkids, you need someone who wants to bear your child first..."
Klien- That was cold Kazzu...
Asuna- Well... maybe I could try sending a marriage request to Kazzu...
As soon as she said that she could feel multiple sets of eyes burning into her body. Lisbeth, Silica and Ashtry all looked at her with a hidden fire in their eyes, causing the Lightning Flash to back down.
Asuna- Never mind...
Kirito- Ok, this is getting old. I'll just try proposing to someone ok?
Asuna let out a sigh and sat down on a chair in defeat, crossing her arms underneath her bust.
Asuna- Fine...
Kirito- Alright let's see here... why don't we start with... Lisbeth.
Lisbeth looked at him a little flustered before shooting a quick glance at me. I gave her a small nod, and she stepped forward.
Lisbeth- Well... a talented blacksmith and a swordsman... we could make quite the fetching couple!
Asuna- You better decline his proposal, you hear!? Don't even think about pressing yes.
Lisbeth- Alright, alright jeez... was just a joke... It's not like I want him anyways... I have my eyes on another prized swordsman...
As the tension died down, Kirito would let out a sigh and send her a marriage proposal. Instead of hitting no right away, Lisbeth decided to play around some more.
Lisbeth- Oh my! Getting married like this out of the blue! Whatever will my folks back home say?
Asuna- LIZ!!!
Lisbeth- Yea yea, I hear you. Sorry Kirito but that's a no for me.
She would press the decline button and the screen vanished from her view. Asuna let out a sigh and Kirito rubbed the back of his head.
Kirito- Not a problem, but that just goes to show that it was just a system error since I could send proposals to anyone... I'm not thrilled about our marriage status being changed but if it's just down to some system error, it's probably nothing to worry about.
Asuna- I guess you're right... there's no use fretting about it.
It seems like that's easier said than done... perhaps there's something I can do to restore their marriage.
It seemed like Ashtry was having the same idea, considering she was staring at the unwed couple and holding her chin in her hands. I nudged her and she broke out of her trance, giving me a small smile before looking back at the couple. I had a feeling something was going on with her, but I decided to leave it be.
Seems like they aren't the only ones feeling something towards the loss of their marital status... which just means I have to help them out with it by any means possible.