Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-96.48.230.104-20150210084429/@comment-45.49.147.19-20150714102807

You do realize that they're only 17, and haven't even beent though college. In real life, they would probably have stable careers in their mid-twenties, and Kirito would probably end up being a software developer like he's always wanted to be, and Asuna would probably end up supporting herself as some sort of doctor since she cares about people psycholocially and assisting their life and death processes as in Yuuki Kono and Kirito's well-being. After all, she is a berserk healer. Then they would get married.

The author possibly poses other characters for a sense of realism within his notion of true love, that it's actually something that requires hard work on both Asuna's and Kirito's relationships to maintain.

Liz and Suguha: The unrequited lovers that still respect one or both parties to not get involved.

Sugo: The lover that doesn't have boundaries and almost resorts to rape that Kirito has to protect Asuna from.

Sinon: The girl that tries to be his best friend, gets on the good side of the girlfriend to get closer to him. Obviously doesn't respect really Asuna and Kirito, as while pretentiously serving as a good  friend, she asks Kirito to remember her every time he uses Excaliber.

Silica: The fangirl of Kirito that is too young to know any better.

Yui: The daughter that makes sure her daddy doesn't cheat. She was only okay with Leafa for some reason because according to another wiki contributor, didn't consider Suguha as a woman and they needed her to save Asuna.

Well there you have it. Also, I think ti gives their relationship mroe dynamic that the couple stays together even through periods of absence. They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, and the fact that Asuna and Kirito stay together despite all these people getting in the way emphasizes that they're a strong enough couple to last. If you guys have ever watched the extra episodes though, you'd see that Asuna does get jealous- I love how human she is as a character. She sorta yells at him a bit, but that's expected of any tsundere or any female in her position.