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Warning Spoiler Alert: This article or section contains details about plotlines not covered in the anime. Do not proceed unless you wish to be spoiled.

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 SAO.[3] His real name is Tsuboi Ryoutarou (壷井遼太郎, Tsuboi Ryōtarō?).[4][5]

Appearance

Real Life / Sword Art Online Avatar

Klein wears a headband over his red hair (it is the same one in real life, it would seem), and his physique seems to be one, or perhaps two, cuts above the average child physique of the SAO universe. During the two years in Aincrad he used red robes and black armor resembling those of a samurai including a katana, along with his guild members. 

His facial features include a thin chin strip, thin eyebrows, a sharp nose, and a pair of gentle eyes.

ALfheim Online Avatar

Klein's ALO Avatar

Klein's ALO Avatar

In ALfheim Online, Klein's appearance is mostly the same as his appearance in Sword Art Online (which is also his real-life appearance), except that his hair is dyed red in ALO. Klein plays as a Salamander in ALfheim Online.

Background

Originally, he 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.[2]

Personality

Klein is one of the friendliest people in the series and sets the mood when he's around. He never holds grudges against others and is always ready to lend a helping hand. He cares deeply for his friends and always wants to be by their side fighting alongside them when they are in danger even to the point of getting angry when Kirito was fighting Death Gun, saying he should've converted to GGO as well. He gets angry when people get into situations that can get them killed since he wants to protect as many people as he can.

Klein is a very loyal person, which is apparent in his friendship with Kirito. He is very loyal to Kirito, despite Kirito usually treating him with coldness. It is later revealed this coldness is due to Kirito feeling guilty for leaving Klein behind at the beginning of SAO. Klein does not care about this and the two make up as Klein is shown to be the person Kirito relies on the most, beside Asuna.

Klein is also a "bachelor" and is shown trying to get together with various women in the series, such as Asuna and Freyja, and even Kirito's sister, who he'd yet to meet. He usually has no luck, however, making him somewhat of a comic relief.

Chronology

Aincrad Arc

Reaver

Klein using the skill Reaver.

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.

Klein

Klein and Kirito part ways

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».

Caliber

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 Excaliber by setting Freyja, who later turned out to be Thor, free. 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

Klein 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.

Abilities

Sword Art Online

SKILL SLOTS[6]
One Handed Curved Blade Katana Light Metal Equipment Lightweight Shield Equipment Battle Healing
957 / 1000
822 / 1000
933 / 1000
861 / 1000
562 / 1000
Emergency Recovery Searching Straining Extended Weight Limit Fighting Spirit (Hate Skill)
759 / 1000
710 / 1000
594 / 1000
685 / 1000
712 / 1000
Sewing
366 / 1000

One Handed Curved Blade Skills

Gallery

See Klein/Image Gallery

Trivia

  • Ryoutarou was one of the the hardcore gamers who were waiting for 3 days in line during the SAO release.[7]
  • Ryoutarou's avatar name, Klein, was derived from the term Klein bottle (クラインの壺い, Kurain no Tsuboi?), based on his real name Tsuboi Ryoutarou.[5]
  • Klein was one of the 10+ players who had the extra skill «Katana».
  • In the 4-koma Klein is much more prominent and he tends to bug Kirito with messages or calls.
  • In all commercially released media Klein first met Kirito on the first day of the SAO official service start, but in the web version, Klein first met Kirito on September, 2013 (2023 in the light novel timeline), three months before the Christmas Event.[8]
  • Klein nicknames Kirito as Kiri-no-ji (キリの字?).

Notes

  1. However, in the 'face to face' Q&A page about Klein that come together with a popularity vote, he was said to be using Kokuenmaru as his last Katana in SAO

References

  1. http://www.swordart-onlineusa.com/staff/index.html
  2. 2.0 2.1 Volume 1, Chapter 10
  3. 3.0 3.1 Volume 1, Chapter 2
  4. Sword Art Online no subete
  5. 5.0 5.1 Q&A session in the third popularity contest held by Kawahara Reki as Kunori Fumio, 2005
  6. Material Edition 2
  7. Episode 1
  8. Web version of Red-nosed Reindeer

Navigation

Characters
Major Characters
Alice Zuberg - Asada Shino (Sinon) - Ayano Keiko (Silica) - Eugeo - Kayaba Akihiko - Kikuoka Seijirou - Kirigaya Kazuto (Kirito) - Kirigaya Suguha (Leafa) - Shinozaki Rika (Lisbeth) - Tsuboi Ryoutarou (Klein) - Yui - Yuuki Asuna (Asuna)
SAO Players
Aincrad Liberation Force/ALS Hokkaiikura - Joe - Kibaou - Kobatz - Liten - Melonmask - Okotan - Schinkenspeck - Thinker - Yulier - Yakumo
Divine Dragon Alliance/DKB Buxum - Hafner - Lind - Morte - Schmitt - Shivata - Yamata
Fuumaningun Isuke - Kotaru
Fuurinkazan Dale - Dynamm - Harry One - Issin - Klein - Kunimttz
Golden Apple Caynz - Grimlock - Griselda - Schmitt - Yolko
Knights of the Blood Asuna - Daizen - Godfree - Heathcliff - Kirito - Kuradeel - Nautilus
Laughing Coffin Johnny Black - Kuradeel - Kuro - PoH - XaXa
Legend Braves Beowulf - Cu Chulainn - Enkidu - Gilgamesh - Nezha - Orlando
Moonlit Black Cats Ducker - Keita - Kirito - Sachi - Sasamaru - Tetsuo
Titan's Hand Rosalia
Two-Handed Builders Agil - Lowbacca - Naijan - Wolfgang
Others Argo - Ashley - Ceba - Coper - Diavel - Gin - Gwen - Kein - Lisbeth - Lux - Mina - Mito - Nishida - Rossa - Ryufior - Sasha - Silica - Yuna
Beta Testers Argo - Coper - Diavel - Isuke - Kirito - Kotaru - Mito - Morte
NPC Angel - Kizmel - Leyshren Zed Yofilis - Lion - Myia - NPC Orchestra - Pina - Ruru - Scarecrow - Theano - Tilnel - Tin - Toto - Yui
Non-Canon Aaaa - Ado - Alberich - Alice Zuberg - Ceniza - Clumy - Cocoa - D.I.L - Eugeo - Fer - Fuego - Garcia - Idhrendis - Knakia - Koharu - Lapis - Leafa - Leuer - Linhua - Mariah - Mater - Mikiha - Miyurin - Notte - Oculus - Philia - Protagonist (Integral Factor) - Rain - Rano - Sanya - Seeda - Sinon - Stilla - Strea - Typhon - Ulrik - Vela - Vecta - Wendelin - Yuuki
ALO Players
Cait Sith Adie - Alicia Rue - Silica - Sinon
Gnome Agil - Tecchi
Imp Yuuki
Leprechaun Ceba - Granze - Lisbeth - Talken
Pooka Sasha
Salamander Eugene - fastuosa - Gtacs - Jun - Kagemune - Klein - Mortimer - UxperXJ
Spriggan Kirito - Kuro - Nori
Sylph Erika - Fukaziroh - Leafa - Lux - Recon - Sakuya - Sigurd
Undine Asuna - Chrysheight - Siune - Thinker - Yulier
NPC/Navigation Pixie Angel - Emely - Hraesvelg - Leviathan - Nerakk - NPC Orchestra - Pina - Skuld - Thiazi - Thor - Thrym - Tonky - Urðr - Verðandi - Yui
Others/Unknown Ashley - Fairy King Oberon - Garnet - Gwen - Marinca - Saitou Shouichi - Slug Researchers
Non-Canon Alice Zuberg - Argo - Black Lotus - Eugeo - Heathcliff - Persona Vabel - Philia - Rain - Sachi - Seven - Strea - Sumeragi - Yuna
GGO Players
Dyne's Squadron Arashi - Dyne - Ginrou - Jin - Miso - Sinon
BoB Participants Blackwood - Colonel Liberty - DA*LU - Dyne - E.J. - Fernil - Garrett - huuka - Jack Reacher - JIGEN - Kakouton - kaeeeede - Kakameposu the II - Keith - Kirito - Lion King Richie - Masaya - Musketeer X - No-No - Pale Rider - Pancho - Raiden - Licoco - Setsugekka - Shishigane - Sinon - Sterben - Stinger - Subtilizer - Ten-Q - Uemaru - Usujio Tarako - Yamikaze - XeXeeD - XYZ
Death Gun Victims Garrett - Pale Rider - Usujio Tarako - XeXeeD
Squad Jam Participants KKHC Shirley
LPFM Fukaziroh - LLENN - M - Pitohui
MMTM Bold - David - Jake - Kenta - Lax - Summon
Narrow Dashin - Hidehide - Nagama - Nobu - Saika - Yasu
SHINC Anna - Eva - Rosa - Sophie - Tanya - Tohma
ZAT Benjamin - Casa - Frost - Koenig - Yamada - Let's Play Host
ZEMAL Heuy - Max - Peter - Shinohara - Tomtom
Others Clarence
Other main series characters Behemoth - Spiegel
AGGO manga original characters Batian - Boss - Costa - Lorosae - Panama - Rio
Non-Canon Afasys - Agil - Alice Zuberg - Argo - Asuna - Bazalt Joe - Daisy - Eiji - Eugeo - Itsuki - Klein - Kureha - Leafa - Lievre - Lisbeth - Philia - Premiere - Protagonist (Fatal Bullet) - Rain - Sachi - Seven - Silica - Strea - Yui - YUNA - Yuuki - Zeliska
Underworld Resident
Human Empire Rulid Village Algu - Alice Zuberg - Bercouli - Donetti - Doyke - Eugeo - Garitta - Gasupht Zuberg - Ivenda - Jaina - Jink - Kirito - Nigel Balbossa - Orick - Ridack - Sadina Zuberg - Selka Zuberg - Sister Azalia - Sulinea
Zakkaria Banou Wolde - Egome Zakkarite - Kelgam Zakkarite - Telin Wolde - Telulu Wolde - Toriza Wolde
Centoria Azurica - Cardinal - Quinella - Sadore - Yazen
Sword Mastery Academy Azurica - Eugeo - Frenica Szeski - Golgorosso Balto - Humbert Zizek - Kirito - Raios Antinous - Ronye Arabel - Sortiliena Serlut - Tiese Shtolienen - Volo Levantein - Zobun
Central Cathedral Ayuha Furia - Berche - Cardinal - Charlotte - Chudelkin - Elevating Operator - Fizel - Hainag - Hana - Linel - Quinella - Soness Furia - Xiao Choucas
Integrity Knight Alice Zuberg - Bercouli - Dakira - Deusolbert - Eldrie Woolsburg - Entokia - Eugeo - Fanatio - Fizel - Giro - Hobren - Jeis - Linel - Nergius - Renly - Scheta
Dragons Amayori - Himawari - Hinageshi - Hoshigami - Kazenui - Shimosaki - Takiguri - Tsukigake - Yoiyobi
Others Alderes Wesdarath V - Almera Woolsburg - Cruiga Norlangarth VI - Eolyne Herlentz - Eschdol Woolsburg - Hozaika Eastavarieth - Zeppos
Dark Territory Black Iums D.I.L - Dampe - Fu Za - Iskahn - K.U.V - Leazetta - Lengil Gira Scobo - Lipia Zancale - Vixur Ul Shasta - Yotte
Orcs Moricca - Renju - Rilpirin
Ogres Furgr
Giants Sigurosig
Goblins Aburi - Hagashi - Kosogi - Kubiri - Oroi - Shibori - Ugachi
Non-Canon Aleo - Cardo - Carver - Dorothy Isaiah Elisheva - Edith - Elcar Marscull - Fazahd - Hektor Ul Günther - Hersyrian - Jared - Kainan - Kayode Norlangarth - Kirimai - Lushe - Mary - Medieta - Medina Orthinanos - Momento - Paulie Aurimas - Phinea Suvale - Proxy - Rogu - Round Robin - Sarai - Shirley - Somelier - Sylvie - Tolgash Southacroith III - Vallenthor - Wegin Sorby - Zacza - Zappas - Ziczi
Underworld Visitors
Agil - Alicia Rue - Asuna - Eiji - Eugene - Gabriel Miller - Hirono Takashi - Jun - Kirito - Klein - Leafa - Lisbeth - Moonphase - Nori - Sakuya - Silica - Sinon - Siune - Tecchi - Vassago - YUNA
Non-Canon Argo - Ceba - Itsuki - Kureha - Mito - Philia - Premiere - Rain - ReoNa - Seven - Strea - Tia - Yui - Yuuki - Zeliska
Asuka Empire
Players Clevel - Koyomi - Merida - Nayuta - Ran - Yanagi - Yuuki
NPC Clovis (AI)
Staff Torao
Reality/Other Games
Rath Aki Natsuki - Higa Takeru - Hiraki - Ichiemom - Kikuoka Seijirou - Koujiro Rinko - Nakanishi - Niemom - Yanai
Others Alicia Klingerman - Cel - Clovis - Critter - Doctor Kurahashi - Eiji - Endou - Fujita Shin - Kirigaya Midori - Kirigaya Minetaka - Okano Kouji - Oosawa Mizue - Oosawa Sachie - Sada Akiyo - Satou Rei - Shigemura Tetsuhiro - Yuna - Yuuki Kouichirou - Yuuki Kyouko - Yuuki Shouzou
Non-Canon Es - Gattas - Genesis - Goliath - Kaede - Laraiah - Layla - Michael - PoH (Variant Showdown) - Premiere - Richter - Sigil - Teria - Tia
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