“It’s really wide here…here, come over here, everyone!”
With their backs facing the large palace, they quickly moved through the garden, and the rectangular «Black Iron Palace» soon appeared in front of everyone. As it was the most famous landmark in Aincrad, a lot of new and old players would go in and out from this place.
After passing through the tall and large gate, they entered the building, and the cooling air immediately stroked everyone’s skin. The players’ socks stepped on the iron floor, and caused many echoes due to the abnormally high ceiling.
Asuna, Yuuki and the rest let out sharp footsteps as they entered the hall inside. They went through two doors, and right in front of them was a large space that was shrouded in a quiet atmosphere. In the middle, there was a long and large monument.
“Is that it?”
Jun and Nori ran past Asuna and Yuuki as they ran forward. After a few seconds, they arrived below the «Monument of Swordsmen». Asuna immediately lifted her head and looked at the end of the thick words.
“It…it’s there.”
Yuuki suddenly muttered, and the hand holding Asuna’s hand exerted more force. At this moment, Asuna noticed that at the center of the black glowing monument, under the words [Braves of 27th Floor], their names were clearly indicated in English.
“It’s there…our names…”
Yuuki suddenly muttered. Upon seeing her wet eyes, Asuna started to feel emotional too.
“Oi~ we’re going to take a shot!”
Jun’s voice could be heard from behind. Asuna grabbed Yuuki’s shoulder and turned around.
“Here, smile, Yuuki.”
Yuuki finally smiled the moment Asuna said that. The 6 of them were lined in front of the monument, and Jun operated the «Screen-Shot Camera Crystal» window. He set the time, let go of it, and the crystal floated in the air, showing the countdown as it flickered above.
Jun ran between Yuuki and Tecchi. As everyone showed their smiles, the crystal let out a ‘passh’ sound as it glowed.
“Okay!”
Jun returned to the crystal. Asuna and Yuuki looked back at the «Monument of Swordsmen» again.
“We did it, Yuuki.”
Asuna let go of Yuuki’s head and patted her on the head. Yuuki nodded her head slightly and stared at the 7 people’s names for quite some time before quickly,
“Un…I, I finally did it, Nee-chan.”
“Fufufu.”
After hearing her say that, Asuna couldn’t help but laugh out.
“Yuuki, you said that again.”
“Eh…?”
Yuuki could only stare at Asuna’s face as she didn’t know why Asuna started laughing.
“You called me Nee-chan in the boss room as well. Of course I’m happy too…――!?”
Halfway through, Asuna took those words back after saying it.
That’s because Yuuki had already widened her eyes as she used her hands to cover her mouth. Those purple eyes let out a transparent liquid, and finally rolled down her white face.
“Yuu…Yuuki…?”
Asuna gasped and reached out, wanting to grab the Imp girl. However, Yuuki took two, three steps back. She opened her mouth and said in a hoarse voice,
“Asuna…I, I…”
Yuuki suddenly lowered her head and wiped her teary face before waving her left hand. With trembling fingers, she pressed the window in front of her, and that petite body was immediately surrounded by white light—―
From that day on, the invincible swordsman «Absolute Sword» Yuuki disappeared from Aincrad.
Chapter 8
Asuna turned her eyes to the paper in her hand, and checked that the handwritten name was the same as the one indicated horizontally on the wall of the large building.
Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture area. The building was located in a place surrounded by a lot of green hills. It didn’t look like the metropolitan area here with the relatively short height, the design of the two wings, and the quietness of the surrounding hills. However, it really took Asuna less than 30 minutes from her house in Setagaya and down the East express line.
The building was new, bathed under the low sunlight of winter. The wall was dyed brown. It’s really like the place I slept in for a long time, Asuna thought, as she put the note back into her pocket.
“Are you here, Yuuki…?”
She whispered. She wanted to meet her, but she felt that, on the other hand, it’s best if the girl wasn’t staying here.
After wandering around for a while, Asuna pulled the collar of her coat that was tightly clinging to her uniform, and hurried walked towards the main entrance.
It’s been 3 days since «Absolute Sword» Yuuki disappeared from Aincrad.
At the final moment, she shed tears in front of that Monument of Swordsmen, and even till now, that image was etched in Asuna’s eyes. She couldn’t forget like that. No matter what, she wanted to see her again, to talk to her again. However, the messages she sent out were all replied with «the recipient’s not logged in», and there wasn’t any signs that they were read.
The members of the Sleeping Knights may know where Yuuki is, Asuna thought. However, two days ago, at the Lombard hotel where they would normally gather, Shiune was the only one who was there. She lowered her drooping eyelashes and shook her head.
“We couldn’t contact Yuuki either. It’s not just ALO. It seemed like she never FullDived again. And we don’t know anything about her in the real world. And…”
Shiune paused at this moment, and stared at Asuna with a worried look.
“Asuna-san. I guess, Yuuki didn’t want to meet you again. It’s not about the others, but it’s for your sake.”
Asuna was so stunned that she couldn’t say anything. After a few seconds, she finally managed to squeeze out a voice,
“Wh…why? No…I feel, Yuuki, Shiune, you guys, you don’t have to break up your relationships with me. If I’ve been troubling you, I won’t pursue this any further. But…I can’t accept that if it’s because of me.”
“What about troubling us…”
Shiune, who had been keeping a calm expression, gave a rare pained expression as she shook her head hard,
“We were really happy to meet you. In this world, we were able to make such wonderful memories because of you, Asuna-san. Helping to defeat the boss, and even saying that you wanted to join the guild. We couldn’t express our thanks enough no matter what. But…really, please, just forget about us.”
Shiune paused at this moment, then moved her left hand to operate the window. A small trade window appeared in front of Asuna.
“It’s earlier than expected, but I want to disband the Sleeping Knights here. The gifts to you are all here, Asuna-san, the items the boss dropped and our equipments…”
“No…there’s no need. I can’t accept this.”
Asuna removed the window like she was shaking it off, and then walked over to Shiune.
“Are we really going to say goodbye here? I…I like, being with Yuuki, Shiune, everyone. I thought that we could still remain friends even if the guild disbands. But, am I the only one who thinks like this…?”
In the past, Asuna would never say such words. However, having spent many days with Yuuki and the rest, Asuna felt that she had changed somewhat. It’s because of this that she didn’t want to say farewell to everyone.
However, Shiune lowered her head, and merely shook it.
“Sorry…sorry, but this is for the best. It’s better to separate here…sorry, Asuna-san.”
Then, she clicked the button of the window as if she was trying to run away, and logged out.
It wasn’t just Yuuki. Shiune, Jun, Nori and the other members never logged on to ALO after that.
Perhaps Asuna herself may be mistaken for thinking that a mere few days of interaction was enough to make them friends. However, the Sleeping Knights left a deep and indelible impression on her. She couldn’t think about forgetting them at all.
The
3rd semester had already begun, but even though she managed to meet up with Kazuto, Rika and Keiko in the real world, Asuna’s heart felt really heavy. On thinking about that, deep within Asuna’s eyes and ears, Yuuki’s smiling face would awaken in front of her. Nee-chan, that was what Yuuki called Asuna. Having realized this, she cried. No matter what, Asuna wanted to know that reason.
And yesterday, during lunch break, Asuna received a message from Kazuto saying, [meet you at the rooftop].
On the bare concrete rooftop that had cold wind bellowing through, Kazuto leaned on the thick pipe that was used for air circulation, waiting for Asuna.
It’s been more than a year since they were released from SAO, but Kazuto in the real world didn’t seem to gain any weight. His younger sister Suguha would tell him to eat more, so he shouldn’t be worrying about his nutrition. Maybe the calories that were taken in were all used up by jogging and the sports gym, or maybe the intense battles in the virtual world would use up the calories in the real world.
The buttons of his blazer were undone, his hands were placed in his pockets, and the somewhat long fringe was blown by the wind. His outfit and height changed, but he still looked the same, like he was in old Aincrad. Asuna looked like she was attracted as she walked over to him, and leaned her forehead against Kazuto’s shoulder as he looked up.
Asuna wanted to express all the intense emotions in her heart in one go, but she couldn’t express them in words. She closed her eyes, endured the sobbing feeling that was welling up in her throat, and felt the gentleness of Kazuto’s hand patting her back. At the same time, a voice rang in her ears,
“Do you want to meet that «Absolute Sword» no matter what?”
These words probably encompassed all of Asuna’s wishes. Yes, just once. That’s because Asuna believed that Yuuki hoped for this as well.
“They told you it’s better not to meet again, right? Even like this?”
Asuna told everything to Kazuto, about the 27th level boss conquest battle, the unexpected farewell after that, and Shiune’s words when she last met her. This question was probably asked after he made a conclusion from those words. At this, Asuna nodded hard again.
“Un, even so, I want to. I want to meet her to talk to her again. I have to.”
“Is that so?”
With that simple answer, Kazuto put his hand on Asuna’s shoulder and nudged her slightly away, pulling out a piece of paper from the pocket of his blazer.
“Maybe you can meet her if you go there.”
“Eh…?”
“It’s just a possibility…but, I feel that «Absolute Sword» is there.”
“How…How do you know this, Kirito-kun…?”
Asuna blankly asked as she received the piece of paper that was folded twice. Kazuto turned to look at the sky, and whispered,
“That’s because that’s the only clinical test area of the «Medicuboid».”
“Medi…Cuboid?”
As she repeated this inexplicable term she had never heard of before, Asuna opened the paper.
Written in small words on it was the name [Yokohama North General Hospital] and the address.
She went through the twin-layered automatic doors that were polished clean, went through the entrance hall that was brightly lit, and the whiff of a memorable disinfectant smell floated about.
There were mothers carrying children and old people in wheelchairs moving by. Asuna went by the silent area and headed for the reception counter.
She filled in her name and address in the form placed at her window, and stopped at the moment she was about to fill in the name of the person she wanted to visit. Asuna only knew about the name Yuuki, and she didn’t know if it was the real name or not. From what she heard from Kazuto, even if she was here, it’s hard to tell if she could check this or even meet her. But she couldn’t just give up here after coming all the way. Asuna decided to take the form and handed it over to the window.
On the other side of the counter, the nurse in white uniform noticed Asuna approaching, and lifted her face.
“Are you going to meet someone?”
Asuna could only blankly nod her head as she faced this smile and question. She handed over the request form that was partly blank and said
“Errm…I want to meet her, but I don’t know her name.”
“Yes?”
As the nurse raised her eyebrows in surprise, Asuna desperately tried to find her choice of words.
“I think it’s a girl about 15 years old. Her name may be «Yuuki», but I may be mistaken.”
“There’s a lot of patients here. It’s hard for me to know when you say that.”
“Errm…I want the person who’s testing the «Medicuboid».”
“As for the patient’s privacy…”
At this moment, a senior nurse inside the counter lifted her face and looked at Asuna. Then, she turned to the nurse who was talking to Asuna, seemingly whispering something.
The nurse before blinked about it and again looked up at Asuna. She used a thoroughly different voice, a delicate one.
“Excuse me, what is your name?”
“Ah, that, I’m Yuuki, Asuna.”
Asuna answered and handed the form over. The nurse received the form, looked at it, and then handed it to the colleague inside.
“Can I check your identification?”
“Ok, okay.”
Asuna hurriedly took her wallet out from the inside of her blazer and drew the identification card for her to see. The nurse cautiously compared the face on the photo and Asuna’s face, nodded her head, told her to wait for a moment, and took the phone receiver beside her.
She used the internal line to call someone, whispered 2,3 words, and turned back to Asuna.
“Please look for Doctor Kurahashi of the 2nd medical department. Take the lift at the front side to the 4th level, head right, and show this to the reception counter.”
Asuna received her student pass and a silver card from the tray that was handed out, and bowed.
After waiting for about 10 minutes on the bench at the reception area of the 4th level, Asuna noticed a white-cloaked figure walking over quickly.”
“Yaa, excuse me, my apologies, sorry to keep you waiting.”
Apologizing in a strange manner and nodding his head was a short and somewhat plump male doctor. He was probably in his early 30s, his shiny forehead was combed in a 3-7, and he had thick glasses on.
Asuna hurriedly stood up and bowed deeply,
“It, it’s alright. I intruded suddenly on my part. Well, it’s alright for me to wait.”
“No no, I wasn’t on duty in the afternoon, so it was perfect timing. Then, Yuuki Asuna-san, right?”
Smiling as her narrowed his slightly drooping eyes, the male doctor tilted his head slightly.
“Yes, I’m Yuuki.”
“I’m called Kurahashi, the main doctor treating Konno-san. I didn’t expect you to come and visit her here.”
“Konno…san?”
“Ehh, her full name’s Konno Yuuki,. written as ‘Cotton’, and Season. I’ve been calling her Yuuki-kun…she’s been telling me all about you, Asuna-san. Ah, sorry, my bad. I blurted this out because of Yuuki-kun.”
“It’s alright, just call me Asuna.”
Asuna smiled as she answered, and Doctor Kurahashi smiled back in an embarrassed manner before pointing his right hand to the lift.
“We can’t really talk well like this. Let’s head to the lounge upstairs.”
Asuna was led to the wide space deep inside the lounge and sat down opposite the doctor. Through the large glass window, they could see the large yard of the hospital and the surrounding greenery. There were very few people around, and only the rustling of the air-con could be heard moving the air.
Asuna wondered which doubts she should raise. However, Doctor Kurahashi broke the silence first.
“Asuna-san, you met Yuuki-kun in the VR world, right? Did she tell you about this hospital?”
“Ah, no
…that’s not it…”
“Oh, then it’s amazing that you managed to find this place. Well, Yuuki-kun once said that a lady called Yuuki Asuna may be coming, and wanted to greet you at the reception area. I was really shocked and asked her whether she told you about the hospital, but she said that she didn’t. So I said that she couldn’t possibly know about such a place. However, I really got a call from the reception counter, and I was really shocked.”
“Well…Yuuki-san, did she mention me to you, doctor…?”
Asuna asked, and the doctor nodded his head hard 2, 3 times.
“Of course. During the past few days, she would always tell me about Asuna-san when we talked to each other. However, Yuuki-kun would start crying after she talked about you. She’s normally not a kid who would reveal her own weakness.”
“Eh…bu, but why…”
“She said that she wanted to befriend you more, but couldn’t do so. She wanted to meet you, but may not be able to do so. It’s not like…I can’t understand those emotions…”
At this moment, Doctor Kurahashi let out a rare pained expression. Asuna took a deep breath and decided to ask,
“That Yuuki-san, and her friends all told me this when they bid me farewell in the VR world. Why? Why is it that we «can’t meet again»?”
The fear that began the moment Asuna saw the name of the hospital continued to expand, and she tried her best to quell his uneasiness and leaned her body forward. Doctor Kurahashi was wordlessly stunned for a moment, turned his eyes at his hands that were cupped together on the table, and then calmly answered,
“Then, let’s start explaining things from the «Medicuboid». Asuna-san, you’re an AmuSphere user too, right?”
“Eh…ehhh, yeah.”
The young doctor nodded his head, lifted his face, and said something completely unexpected,
“It may be ill-suited to say such words to you, but I felt that it was regretful that FullDive technology was used as a form of amusement at first.”
“Eh…?”
“The research of that technology should be funded by the government for treatment. In that case, the current state can be continued for another 1, no, 2 years.”
Sword Art Online - Volume 7 - Mother's Rosario Page 13