Wait Kirito wanting to take a break from games is brilliant for the upcoming arcs. Just have the terminal illness and death gun arc simultaneous and have Kirito NOT tell asuna he's doing some stupid as shit. Asuna's off having fun with some new friends not even knowing about death gun let alone Kirito being involved.
For all she thinks he ISNT playing games. Hes like off in a park doing normie shit.
All thats left is to give him a good reason to get involved.
and like sure they DO hang out in tandom vr worlds together. But thats mostly bc Yui isnt physical. Its just to be with her sometimes.