Sword Art Online: Aincrad's Hollow Fragment

December 4, 2024

Floor 76: Arc Sophia

Another day, another chance to ponder over the secrets and discoveries Aincrad had left to offer. Agil's shop was busier than ever so the crowded noise was making me lose focus. I would've gone up to my room, but Ashtry was taking a bit of time to rearrange and clean it up. Why she needed to do that, I would never know. As I was about to get up and exit the establishment, a small hand grabbed my shirt and tugged down gently. I looked down, noticing Yui looking up at me with a smile.

Yui- Hello there Kazzu.

"Well, hey there Yui. What brings you here?"

Yui- I was awoken by the noise. It seems crowded today.

Kirito- Is there an event going on here?

The Black Swordsman joined the fray as he took a seat next to me, Yui taking one next to him. We observed the area to see if anything special was going on.

"I don't see anything out of the ordinary."

Yui- There are some people playing cards at the far table. They are getting really worked up over it!

Squinting my eyes and taking a closer look, I noticed the card game they were playing. I smiled as I leaned back in my chair, now aware of why the patrons were getting hyped up.

"They're playing poker. By the looks of it, money is involved. No wonder they are so riled up."

Yui- Poker?

Kirito- It's a card game in which you earn points by making combinations of cards using the five cards you have in your hand.

Yui- Have you two played before?

"No, I was too busy with work to care about that stuff."

Kirito- I played a little bit of it online.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Agil walk up to our table and take a seat across from Kirito, a small smile on his face.

Agil- You play Kirito? I'll go a round with you.

Kirito- Sure, sounds fun. It might be nice to show Yui what kind of game it is.

"You're willing to teach your child about poker and the concept of gambling?"

Kirito- What could it hurt?

Suddenly, a giant overbearing force crashed down on top of my head and pulled me into a bear hug, squeezing tighter until I broke for air.

Strea- Kazzu! I heard you were going to start a game! Can I play?

"I... don't... see... why... not..."

Agil- It's no problem to me. More people make for a more interesting game.

Strea jumped for joy while letting me go, allowing me to hold my head in slight irritation from how hard Strea hugged me. She then looked around confused.

Strea- So what do we get if we win? What's the prize?

Agil- Well I was thinking we play for fun but, how about a free item off of the menu at my shop?

Kirito- Hard pass.

Strea- Gross.

Agil- Alright then, what do you two think it should be?

Kirito- Usually it's...

Asuna appeared out of nowhere and gently slammed her hand on the table, earning our attention as she looked at her boyfriend.

Asuna- We can't bet with money, Kirito.

Kirito- Well we shouldn't start a fight between us.

"We could always ask the AI what she would want as a prize. Yui, what would you want for a prize?"

Yui- A prize huh? As much as it would be a treat to spend one day all alone with my daddy, I think I would rather spend that time with you Kazzu.

"With me!? Why?"

Yui- Because you created me, I want to know what was going through your mind as you were building the Cardinal System and the Mental Health Counseling Programs. Plus, with how much time has passed since I disappeared, we have a lot of catching up to do.

Strea- Well I think that settles it!

"Um, I don't think..."

Lisbeth- Hey! Wait a moment!

I turned my head and noticed Liz, Leafa, Silica, Sinon, Sachi, Kiyo, Ashtry and Klein walk up to our table and take a seat, smiling from ear to ear.

Lisbeth- I overheard what's going on here. I'll be playing too, naturally.

Trying to sneak some alone time with me Liz? Clever way to hide it.

Leafa- Yep, yep, me too!

Now why would Leafa want to be alone with me? I guess she did say she was a huge fan of mine. Perhaps she could use this to get a free one-on-one interview?

Silica- I'll play too!

Silica could want to go exploring dungeons with me. She did state that she came to this floor to help us reach Floor 100.

Klein- Now wait a minute! At this point, it would be weird if I didn't play right? I'll steal exclusive rights to Kazzu and have him do my bidding!

The fact that you want alone time with me Klein makes me more suspicious of you, but I'll play along for now.

Sinon- My interest has been piqued. I'll play too.

That's a wild card. What would Sinon want to be alone with me for?

Sachi- Sound's like it could be fun. I, myself, have a few things I want to catch up with Kazzu.

If that is going the way I think it's going, this could be a nightmare between her and Ashtry.

Kiyo- I may not know how to play but I'll stand on the sidelines and cheer for you all!

Ashtry- I'll join the game, might as well try to get some alone time with my prince since he's busy most of the time.

I still feel very bad about that. Even though she has assured me that my absence was excused, I still can't help but feel guilty.

Agil- Will you be playing Kazzu?

"It wouldn't make sense if the prize played the game and won. I'll just observe."

Agil- Cool. The prize is set: exclusive rights to Kazzu for the rest of the day.

"Wow... I feel so appreciated here..."

Agil- We'll play poker, but since there are a lot of us, we'll use some special rules. It's cool to base this poker game off the Texas Hold 'Em they play at the casinos, right?

Texas Hold 'Em... That's the one where you use the two cards in your hand the five on the table to make special combinations.

Agil passed each player a certain amount of poker chips, each player pulling their own pile up next to them.

Agil- If you use all of the chips in front of you, you're out. The one with the most chips at the end wins. If you want to give up, say "Fold". To challenge someone's hand, say "Call". Any time you want to add more chips, yell "Raise". Everyone got that?

Everyone gave the shopkeeper a slight nod as they prepared themselves for a battle of cards.

Agil- Then let's get started!

Agil started passing out cards to the players, Kirito and Sinon looking at their cards with a disappointed look.

Kirito- No good. I fold.

Sinon- I fold, too.

Lisbeth- My turn then, right? I can totally win with this hand! I gotta put up or shut up! Ok, I'm all in! I'm out if I don't win here, so come on!

Strea- Call!

Lisbeth- Call!?

Strea- You heard me smithy, heh.

Kiyo- Showdown!

Agil- Show us your hands.

Strea showed her cards first, having a combo of different suits but escalating from number six to number ten. She had a straight in her hand.

Lisbeth- A straight!?

Strea- Too bad! Three of a kind with kings isn't bad either but not enough to beat me! Never assume you have won. Any combination can lose.

Lisbeth- Damn it... this sucks... I wanted to spend more time with Kazzu...

"You'll get your chance Liz; it just won't be today."

Agil handed Strea another set of cards while the others prepared for the next play. Silica got nervous and looked down at her cards, worried about her chances of winning.

Silica- What should I do, Pina? Should I go for it and raise, or should I fold?

Pina- Skraw...

Silica- What do I do? It'll be my turn soon.

"Sorry to worry you more Silica, but it is your turn."

Silica- Oh, sorry! I'll... uh... I'll raise!

Kirito- Call.

Silica- Call!? Kirito, why!?

Kiyo- Showdown!

Agil- Show us your hands.

Silica lowered her head as she displayed her hand, showing she had a jumble of cards without a pair while Kirito beat her with two pairs of a two and a six.

Silica- Aww, I knew I didn't have a good hand. I lost.

Pina- Skraw...

Silica- Don't be sad. It wasn't your fault Pina. While it's too bad that we lost, I still had fun!

"That's the only thing that matters in this game. Glad you two had fun."

Pina- Skraw!

Agil handed Kirito another set of cards which he looked over with a smile as he looked at me with a wink.

Must be a damn good hand.

Leafa- Hmmm.... no one is really raising the stakes... I think I'll go for broke! I'm going all in!

Kirito- You sure about that Leafa?

Leafa- What do you mean? Shouldn't you be taking the easy way out and folding?

Kirito- While you might be right, I'm going to go ahead and call.

Leafa- What!? Don't strain yourself. It's bad for your health.

"What does that have to do with cards?"

Kiyo- Showdown!

"Let's see those cards lady and gentleman."

Leafa went first with three of a kind with three number nine cards. Kirito smiled as he laid down his cards with a three of a kind of his own, the only difference being that his three cards were jacks. Kirito was the winner.

Leafa- Three jacks!? Aww, I lost!

Kirito- We're family, Leafa. Of course I'm going to see right through your poker face when you're not confident in your hand.

"That's an underhanded tactic."

Kirito- It's entirely fair my good man.

Leafa- Well this sucks... I totally wanted to win!

Agil handed Kirito another set as Klein started to smile wide.

Uh oh, if Klein's smiling, this is only going to end badly.

Klein- Here we go, here we go! I can feel Lady Luck coming my way! It's on Kirito! All in!

Kirito- Betting the house Klein? You sure about that?

Klein- Yeah, I'm good for it. I've got the best hand! You've got no chance Kirito! If you're going to fold, do it now!

Kirito- I raise.

Klein- What!? Why didn't you fold!?

Sinon- I fold.

Asuna- Same here.

Strea- No thank you, I fold.

Sachi- Fold.

Ashtry- I know better than to try my luck with Kirito. I fold.

Klein and Kirito both presented their hands. Klein only had a pair of number four cards while Kirito once again had two pairs of number three and seven cards. Kirito had won again.

Kirito- Whoa, Klein I'm impressed. You bluffed and went all in with only a pair of fours! Good job!

I chuckled at the sarcasm in Kirito's voice.

If Klein knew any better, he wouldn't have tried to outplay the Black Swordsman.

Klein- Oh, come on! Kirito once again takes all that is good away from me!

Kirito- If you don't want me taking things from you, you should use your head a little bit more Klein.

"You're going to need a healing crystal for that one Klein."

Klein- Shut up Kazzu...

Agil took everyone's cards, reshuffled them and distributed them out again. As Asuna got her cards, she looked at Ashtry with a silent glare which Ashtry responded with one of her own.

These two are getting into it. Wonder what the move will be.

Asuna- Alright, I'm going all in. No doubt about it.

Ashtry- Call.

Asuna- What!?

Kiyo- Showdown!

Ashtry set her cards down and looked at Asuna with a smirk. Her hand consisted of random number cards but the suit on each card was the same: a club. Ashtry had a club flush. Asuna almost had her beat with a straight.

Ashtry- I win.

Asuna- Aw man...

"Nice one sweetheart."

Ashtry- I've known Asuna for a while now, even though she has a decent poker face, I can read her like a book.

Asuna- No fair...

Kirito- Entirely fair, my love.

Strea- Oh so that means the only ones left are me, Sinon, Ashtry, Kirito and Sachi! Let's crown the winner, quick!

Sinon- I don't plan on losing.

Kirito- Neither do I.

Ashtry- Let's settle this.

Sachi- May the best cards win.

Lisbeth- Man... I really wanted to win...

Leafa- It's going to suck no matter who wins. We might as well cheer them on.

Silica- Let's go Kirito, let's go!

Silica silently clapped her hands twice to her small cheer. I chuckled at the sight and turned my attention back to the game. Agil passed out a new set of cards to everyone. Strea's eyes widened as she started squealing.

Strea- This has to be the best hand! Oh, what to do? I'm going all in!

Sachi- As much as I want to go against her, I can't. I fold and with that, I lose my last chip. I'm out of the game...

Ashtry- It's ok Sachi. I'll win for you!

Kirito- As much as I want to call Strea out, she's too unpredictable. I fold.

Sinon- Call.

Strea slammed her hand down as she had three of a kind being kings. Sinon smirked as she laid down her cards, three of a kind being kings but also having a pair of tens next to it. Sinon had a full house.

Sinon- Kings full of tens, full house.

Strea- A full house!? Can a hand that strong even show up in the end!?

Strea let out a defeated sigh as she stood up from the table and bowed her head at her opponent.

Strea- You've bested me Sinon. I didn't think I could lose but you have proved me wrong.

Sinon- It's no big deal, it's just a game.

"Besides, it's not like we won't play another game ever again."

The final three contestants, Ashtry, Kirito and Sinon, remained in the game. The small crowd of eliminated players started getting interested as Agil passed out a new set of cards, Sinon immediately grimacing at her cards.

Sinon- Yea, I'm just going to fold. No way in hell I was winning with that hand.

Kirito- You and me Ashtry.

Ashtry- What are you going to do Swordsman?

Kirito looked down at his hand and thought for a moment, pondering his choices. He then gave a smirk as he placed all of his chips on the table.

Kirito- All in.

Ashtry- Then I'll match you. Let's see what you're working with.

Kirito- Ladies first.

Ashtry set her hand down as she had four of a kind with the cards being four queens. Kirito's eyes widened as he looked back at his cards and groaned.

Kirito- Damn it... I thought I had you.

Ashtry- Well you thought wrong. Seems like you were defeated by the Red Hunter!

Ashtry started to laugh in a playful, maniacal manor. Everyone joined in on her laughter as Kirito smirked and presented his cards, a four of a kind with his cards being kings. Ashtry stopped laughing immediately and looked at Kirito shocked.

Ashtry- No way!

Kirito- The Red Hunter has been bested by the Black Swordsman! And the crowd goes wild over the turn of events!

Kirito pretended to be a cheering crowd as the loser's circle laughed at him, watching as Ashtry humbly stood up and walked away from the game.

"It's the final matchup between Sinon and Kirito. One last match to see who gets to hog me like a ragdoll for the rest of the day. May the best cards win!"

Sinon- It's on Kirito!

Kirito- Same here Sinon.

Agil distributed the cards one more time to both players, both grabbing them without hesitation. The small crowd of losers looming over them, wondering who would win the clash of cards. Kirito and Sinon staring at each other, trying to find a slight shift in their gaze go call them out on. However, both players kept their focus steeled and their nerves unracked. Sinon was the one to make the first move.

Sinon- May as well go all in if it's just the two of us, right Kirito?

Kirito- I don't see why not.

Kiyo- Final Showdown!

Agil- Show us your cards.

Kirito laid his down first, presenting a hand escalating from six to ten while holding the same suit on each card. Kirito had a straight flush.

Ashtry- A straight flush...

Lisbeth- That's the second to last highest combination in the game!

Sachi- Can Sinon even win this?

Sinon looked over towards me and then back down at her cards. She gave off a small smile as she laid her cards face down so we wouldn't be able to see them. She then stood up and bowed her head to Kirito.

Sinon- Congratulations Kirito, you win.

Kirito smiled as he jumped out of his seat, excited for his victory as Yui and Asuna came up and hugged him. The rest of the losers clapped for the victor as Sinon joined them. I smiled as Kirito grabbed my arm and raised it up high.

Kirito- And now for me and my prize to go and spend the rest of the day together! Dungeons, mini bosses, maybe a duel!? There's so much we can do! I'll go grab my stuff!

Lisbeth- Alright, alright, no need to brag! I really want to play again...

Strea- Did I hear someone call for a rematch?

Silica- I'm up to play again!

Sachi- I'll go and make drinks for everyone!

Sinon- I'll help you out Sachi.

Everyone walked away to set up and prepare for their rematch. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Sinon's cards were still faced down on the table. Curious as to why she didn't reveal her hand, I walked over and looked at her cards, my eyes widening at the result. She had a ten, jack, queen, king and ace with the same suit. Sinon had a royal flush, the best combination in the game. If she showed this hand to Kirito, she would've won the game. So why didn't she?

Sinon- So I see someone couldn't keep their curiosity in check.

I turned around and noticed Sinon with a small smile behind me. I handed her cards back as she set them back on the table.

"Why? Why didn't you...?"

Sinon- Well for a few reasons. One, it was just a game. Even though we were playing for a prize, it was nothing more than a friendly game. Two, the prize isn't an object. The game should've had an item to hand out to the winner, not rights to a human for a day. And three, as much as it would be nice to spend a day with you and get to know a bit more about you and this world, dig through your head a bit, I don't need to play a card game to have that. I could just ask to hang out with you.

She explained everything, ending with a wink to me. I chuckled at her words.

"I suppose you're right. Maybe after this we can find time to hang out. I would like to know more about you and the world you come from."

Sinon- I'll hold you to that. Now it might be wise to get ready. Your date is waiting for you at the door.

I turned around and saw Kirito hopping up and down like a little kid, waiting for me to finish my conversation and join him for the rest of the day. I smiled and indicated that I would take one more minute before looking back at Sinon.

"Well, as unfair as it is to give up your free day with Kazzu Akihiko himself, I hope you and the rest of these guys have a good time playing poker. Be sure to win for real this time."

Sinon- I don't plan on "losing" a second time Kazzu.

We shared a laugh as I joined Kirito at the exit of Agil's shop, looking back only one more time to see Sinon look at me with a small smile as she waved me goodbye, hoping I would enjoy the rest of the day with my best friend.