Suguha Kirigaya is the deuteragonist of the Fairy Dance Arc and a recurring character in the Sword Art Online series. She is Kirigaya Kazuto's cousin, who was raised as his sister. While Kazuto was trapped in Sword Art Online, Suguha became interested in virtual reality games and began playing ALfheim Online (ALO) as a Sylph warrior named Leafa.

Suguha is an accomplished kendo practitioner, having continued the sport after Kazuto quit. Her physical skills translate well into the virtual world, making her a formidable player in ALO. She plays a crucial role in helping Kirito reach the top of the World Tree in ALO to rescue Asuna.

Throughout the series, Suguha struggles with her feelings for Kazuto and her online friendship with Kirito, not realizing they are the same person until later in the Fairy Dance Arc. Her journey involves coming to terms with these feelings and finding her place among the SAO survivors.

Personality and Appearance

In real life, Suguha has short black hair and dark grey eyes. She has an athletic build due to her kendo training, with defined muscles. In ALO, as Leafa, she has long blonde hair, bright green eyes, and pointy ears, which is a characteristic of the Sylph race.

Suguha is upbeat, outgoing, and socially adept, contrasting with her more introverted cousin, Kazuto. She can be aggressive when provoked but is generally kind-hearted. Suguha is determined and hardworking, as evidenced by her dedication to kendo and her quick mastery of ALO.

Powers and Abilities

As Leafa in ALfheim Online, Suguha possesses several notable skills:

• Wind Magic: She specializes in wind-attribute spells, including offensive and stealth magic.
• Healing Magic: Leafa knows various healing spells, making her a valuable support player.
• Swordsmanship: Her kendo skills translate into exceptional sword-fighting abilities in-game.
• Flight Mastery: Leafa is highly skilled at voluntary flight, earning her the nickname "Speedaholic."
• Tournament Champion: She has won the Sylph fighting tournament multiple times.
• Physical Strength: In real life, Suguha's kendo training has given her considerable physical strength.

Trivia

• Suguha's avatar name, "Leafa," is derived from the English word "leaf," playing on the kanji in her real name.
• She is one of the five fastest Sylphs in ALO.
• Suguha originally disliked VRMMOs but took up ALO to understand Kazuto better.
• Her English voice actress, Cassandra Lee Morris, shares the same birthday as Suguha.
• Suguha was initially conceived as flat-chested, but this was changed at the editor's suggestion.
• As a child, she often asked Kazuto to read her Greek mythology stories.
• In an official character popularity poll, Suguha and Leafa ranked 18th and 20th respectively.