Kirito and Asuna’s Best Moments in Sword Art Online, Ranked

One of the things people like best about Sword Art Online is the beautifully fleshed out relationship arc for two of its main characters: Asuna and Kirito. Both strong characters in their own right, the story is at its peak whenever these two are working closely together.

With that in mind, let’s rank the top moments between Kirito and Asuna leaning on both the anime and the books that have yet to be turned into anime.

#8 Asuna and Kirito take a nap

This is a pretty iconic moment from the Aincard days. What really makes this moment special is that Asuna learns that there’s more to Kirito’s character than just badass solo player – she learns more about his philosophy, and also takes it to heart, resting underneath the tree for the first time. This is about more than a cliche romantic moment, however. It speaks to the greater themes of the Aincrad arc – humans faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, becoming hardened themselves to deal with the extreme circumstances. The only escape? Something as simple as watching out for someone else while they are sleeping.

While it would be nice even in the real world to have someone watch over you while you take a nap at the park, the Aincrad world is a much more wild and dangerous world than even the one we inhabit – rogue wild animals can attack you, player killers can assault you – any number of evils can befall you in Aincrad if you let your guard down.

However, Asuna learns to rely on Kirito for the first time – something which will become a habit later on (as we’ll see in a moment).

#7 Kirito and Asuna fly through Moon Cradle

Moon Cradle is a somewhat unusual arc. It takes place directly after the emotional climax of the Underworld story, and depicts some happenings that take place during Asuna and Kirito’s 200 year stay in the Underworld. However, instead of focusing primarily on the future Star King and Queen, Moon Cradle follows Ronnie as she learns to become an Integrity Knight. While that’s not a bad story, it definitely pales in comparison to the moments we spend with Kirito and Asuna, such as during the middle of the second book in the Moon Cradle arc.

After spending some time with Asuna and Kirito in their new home in the Underworld, we watch them take flight to go and save Ronnie and Tiese from harm. Asuna also leverages her Stacia powers once again, and between the two of them no one really stands a chance.

#6 Asuna loses memories in Ordinal Scale

As if surviving two years in a death game weren’t bad enough, now Asuna is faced with potential early memory loss. As she uses the Augma – the device that lets her see the artificial reality world of Ordinal Scale – it seems that her memories of her cherished Aincrad days with Kirito begin to fade away.

It’s a strange subplot to an admittedly great anime film, and one that is so subtle is can easily be missed on more casual Shonen observers. And I think that polarizing aspect about Sword Art Online is also one of its greatest strengths – it defies typical shonen tropes by focusing more on characters, relationships, and complex themes over the more simplified tropes of a typical battle anime. And yet, its battle scenes are as good as the best battles in anime.

Faced with potential memory loss, however, Asuna remains calm and collected, showing a strength and fortitude that is as great as any battle hardened Shonen Heroe out there.

#5 Kirito saves Asuna from certain death

The progressive films are not necessarily Sword Art Online at its finest, but one of their best moments that you won’t find anywhere else is where Kirito seemingly effortlessly saves Asuna from certain death. And he does it in that devil-may-care shoulder-shrugging kind of way that is his signature.

The stark contrast between the fears and terrors of Aincrad with Kirito’s effortless handling of them sort of sets up the relationship between the two: Kirito is Asuna’s way out of the evils of the life she finds, and eventually his strength helps transform her own strength as she goes on to become of Sword Art Online’s strongest characters.

#4 Kirito and Asuna reunite in Alfheim

Many fans of the original Aincrad Arc struggle with the following arc “Fairy Dance.” The tonal shift from the seemingly closed-off and complete narrative of Aincrad into the newer and less scary world of Alfeim can be a little bit jarring, as is the threat Asuna is under compared to the pretty easy going world everyone else enjoys post Aincrad.

However, this arc is certainly underrated – it’s filled with explorations of complex emotions that’s pretty unusual for the genre. And while many are quick to dismiss Asuna being “sidelined” to a damsel in distress world, it’s not so much putting Asuna on the backburner as it is an exploration of her character. How does she fair in a world where Kirito is no longer readily available to defend her, and where her awesome powers are no longer at her disposal?

The answer? Even in the face of the most horrible scenario imaginable, Asuna’s greatest strength – far greater than any sword skill – shows its metal. Her resolve, faith, and confidence in Kirito never wavers.

In the moment where Kirito and Asuna are reunitied, this faith and trust is shown when Kirito admits that he’s not a hero, and that he has no real power. However, when he says he’s trying to be the hero she needs, she simply says “I know.”

#3 Kirito and Asuna meet in real life for the first time

I remember the first time watching through Sword Art Online, the wait for when Asuna and Kirito would reunite in the real world felt like forever. However, the emotional payoff of seeing these two back together in the real world is immensely satisfying. Luckily it’s far from the last time we ever see them ruinted after a trying tine.

#2 The log cabin

Sword Art Online captivated me from the first episode, however it further drew me in during the Log Cabin arc where we get to see Kirito and Asuna together as a young family. As a young romantic once myself, I totally could relate to the experience and the joys of finding love amidst all odds. What we don’t know at the time of watching, however, is how the Log Cabin itself would be a focal point for the remainder of the story – acting as a physical manifistation or symbol of the sheltering love between Asuna and Kirito. It’s this sheltering love that draws so many into the world of SAO – after all many of us are playing our own death game and – in the words of the Rolling Stones – gimme shelter!

#1 Asuna chooses to stay

My top pick for the best Asuna/Kirito moment of them all is this: Asuna choosing to stay in the underworld at the World’s End Alter even though it most likely means death in the real world, and 200 years trapped in the underworld with him. It’s the kind of love that we’ve only ever heard about in fairytales, and yet one that not only makes sense in SAO – it feels totally real.