

According to the 2nd episode, Kirito and Asuna met in the first month of SAO.
Yet 2 years later, they meet again and it seems they are like complete
strangers.

What happened to them in those 2 years? Do the light novels explain this?


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2012-12-12T07:33:17.257
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sword-art-online
What happened between Kirito and Asuna in those 2 years?


In the anime, a _lot_ happens to Kirito through those two years.

  * He distances himself from other players after clearing the first floor's boss, due to him being identified as a "Beater" (beta tester/cheater). When he does run into people he knows from the real world...

> ...he reluctantly agrees to join a guild with them, then they go on a raid
> and it winds up costing all of his friends their lives. He shoulders that
> grief for the next two years.

  * He tells Asuna to go ahead and join a guild if she sees an opportunity, due to her strength.

  * He never really got to _know_ her in the short period of time they interacted when clearing that boss, except for the fact that this was her first MMO, and that she was surprisingly talented.

Two years later, they reunite - recognizing each other from the boss raid they
did way back when. That's about all they could recognize each other from,
anyway. In that time, they've both become very strong SAO players, and are
fighting on the front lines, determined to clear the game.


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2012-12-21T06:09:22.260
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During the two years, players teamed up to clear the floors. However Kirito
decided to solo the game (heavily influenced by Sachi's death ep. 3). This
made contact between other players uncommon. Even though Kirito was a solo
player, he participated in Boss Battles.

Before the boss battles he talked with other players for strategy. Asuna being
one of the leaders, and Kirito being one of the strongest of players, would
talk to each other or at least be in the same area.

It was referenced during the time of Gleam Eyes (Boss of the 74th Floor) when
Klein found Kirito in a party with Asuna.


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They both meet at a guild, trying to beat the first level, and they formed a
group. Kirito becomes a solo player, then plays in a guild called “The Moonlit
Black Cats”. They then meet again, and sort of like each other. Asuna wants to
quit the “Knights of the Blood Oath” but Heathcliff stops them. Kirito
challenges him, and the leader turns out to be Akahiko Kayaba (the creator of
SAO). As a result, Kirito try’s to stab him, but Heathcliff prevents himself
from dying with an immortal shield. Kirito then has a fight with Heathcliff.
Then, Kirito gets almost killed before Asuna comes to save him and dies
instead. Kirito says he wants to be here for sleeping today.


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Ok, so kirito first met asuna while clearing the first floor. They team up,
and beat the boss. They later meet while buying bread and after that when
kirito is sleeping and the whole grimlock thing happens. That basically is
what happens in the two years.


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2014-02-14T00:16:55.320
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