Tsuboi Ryoutarou

Klein (クライン, Kurain?) is one of the 10,000 players who were trapped in «Sword Art Online» and the guild leader of «Fuurinkazan» (風林火山, Fūrinkazan?), one of the clearer guilds.[2] He became Kirito's friend after he asked Kirito to show him how to play Sword Art Online.[3] He later began playing ALfheim Online as a Salamander. His real name is Tsuboi Ryoutarou (壷井遼太郎, Tsuboi Ryōtarō?)

Background

Originally, Klein was a new player who spotted Kirito as a beta-tester, and requested help from him. Kirito trained him in the basics of Sword Art Online and was impressed with his progress. Klein later rejoined his friends in order to form a guild. He was a stern supporter of Kirito, despite the general opinions of beta-testers.

Chronology

Aincrad Arc

He was first seen posing with his friends while a female news reporter was reporting about Sword Art Online and how only 10,000 copies were sold. Early in the official version of the game, he noticed and identified Kirito as a beta tester, and asked to be taught the basics of fighting. Soon after understanding the basics, he attempted to log out so that he could eat his pizza, but noticed that there was no log out option.

Afterwards, he and Kirito are recalled to the Starting City, where Kayaba Akihiko announces that Sword Art Online has become a death game and a reality, shortly afterwards the avatars of players, including Klein's, are transformed to look like the real bodies of the players.

After the tutorial, Kirito took him to the streets of the city, telling him that they needed to get to the next village together. But Klein refused the offer by saying that his friends must be in the plaza and that he needed to be with them. He suggested that they could all go together, but noticed that Kirito felt worried about the idea, so he dismissed it. Soon they parted ways, with Kirito heading to the next village and Klein returning to the plaza.

They met each other by chance on various occasions throughout the two years in Aincrad due to both of them being in the front lines later on in the game. The first of such known encounters was when Kirito went to the Wolf Plains to do some overnight leveling, as he spent most of the day helping his Guild, the members of the Moonlit Black Cats level up at a fast rate. Another meeting was a few days before Christmas, when they met at the Ant Hill on the 46th Floor, which was the most efficient leveling area at the time. Then again during Christmas, when he tried to convince Kirito not to battle Nicholas The Renegade alone, but Klein eventually let Kirito go while he and his guild kept the Divine Dragon Alliance from taking on the boss. When Kirito came back, he gave the item of revival to Klein, telling him that to use it on the first person he sees dying. In August, 2024; Klein was one of the members of the crusade against Laughing Coffin.

Klein and Kirito later met up on the 74th Floor, when Klein and his guild encountered Kirito and Asuna in a safe zone in the Labyrinth. Their meeting was interrupted by an Army platoon who demanded a map of the Labyrinth. After the platoon departed, Klein, Kirito, Asuna and members of the Fuurinkazan decided to follow the platoon in case they got themselves into trouble. After seeing that the platoon had engaged with «The Gleam Eyes» and that crystals could not be used within the boss room, Klein and his guild helped get The Army members to safety.

Klein later met up with Kirito and Asuna on the 75th Floor for the boss battle, and they fought against «The Skull Reaper». After the battle, Heathcliff's identity was uncovered by Kirito and Heathcliff paralyzed all the clearers, except Kirito. Before Kirito began his duel with Heathcliff, he apologised to Klein for leaving him on the first day. In response to that, Klein told him that he would not forgive him for it until Kirito bought him a meal in the real world to make up for it.

Fairy Dance Arc

Klein was present at Andrew's Dicey Cafe to celebrate the «Aincrad Capture Commemorative Party», and was later also present during the unveiling of a content update in ALO, the «Floating Castle Aincrad», which introduced «New Aincrad» to the ALO universe.

Extra Edition

Klein joined Kirito and the others in the «Deep Sea Plunderers» quest in ALO.

Phantom Bullet Arc

Klein was seen watching Kirito's battle during the «Bullet of Bullets» tournament at Asuna's rented house in Yggdrasil City. Upon seeing «Death Gun», he reacted by saying he knew the person from SAO as one of the members of the red guild, «Laughing Coffin».

Calibur

Klein was one of the players invited to join Kirito's party in an attempt to clear the Inverted Ice Pyramid. During the adventure, he helped Kirito obtain the Holy Sword Excalibur by setting Freyja, who later turned out to be Thor, free. Thor rewarded him with Mjölnir for his assistance, which he then gave to Lisbeth as he did not use blunt weapons. Later when Skuld appeared at the end of the quest, Klein asked for her address. The whole party was amazed when she actually gave him a contact address.

Mother's Rosario

ein came along with Kirito to help Asuna in New Aincrad's 27th Floor Labyrinth. Together they managed to help stall a guild for 3 minutes in order to allow Asuna and the Sleeping Knights to fight that floor's boss.

Known Equipment

• Karakurenai

Skills

Sword Art Online

• One-handed Curved Blade - 957/1000
  
• Katana - 822/1000
• Light Metal Equipment - 933/1000
• Lightweight Shield Equipment - 861/1000
• Battle Healing - 562/1000
  
• First Aid - 759/1000
• Searching - 710/1000
• Straining - 594/1000
• Extended Weight Limit - 685
  
• Fighting Spirit (Hate Skill) - 712/1000
• Sewing - 366/1000

Sword Skills

One-handed Curved Blade

• Reaver