Board Thread:FAQ Board/@comment-27616769-20160408010316/@comment-6697950-20160514174205

She began playing ALO a YEAR before Kazuto began playing it. Meaning that she began playing ALO while Kazuto was still trapped in SAO. So she didn't start playing to escape from her feelings. She was just interested in the world that captivated Kazuto so much, i.e. she just wanted to understand him better.