The Medicuboid was installed with many times the number of pulse generated components compared to the Nerve Gear, and could completely eliminate the feeling of the body, and even had a CPU that had a processing speed that was far superior to the AmuSphere—in other words, was the overwhelming ability Yuuki displayed in Alfheim because of the outstanding specs of this machine?
Asuna had this idea for a moment, but she immediately rejected the notion. Yuuki’s amazing sword skills have exceeded the level which a machine’s specs could display. In regards to the talent in battle, Yuuki’s ability was enough to match Kirito’s, and maybe even beat him.
As far as Asuna knew, the reason Kirito became so strong was because he spent much more time fighting on the frontlines than anyone in those two years where they were imprisoned in SAO. If that’s the case, how long had Yuuki been in that world created by the Medicuboid—
“As you can see here, the Medicuboid is a delicate machine.”
Doctor Kurahashi, who was silent for a while, started talking again,
“As you can see here, the trial machine of the Medicuboid is one that needs a lot of careful maintenance. In other words, it had to be in a place where the air was free of dust, bacteria and viruses. Once the patient is willing to enter the sterile room, it could drastically reduce the risk of infection. It was because of this that I suggested Yuuki-kun and her family to accept this experiment.”
“…”
“However, even now, I would still wonder whether this was the best thing for Yuuki-kun. When treating AIDS, the «QOL»—Quality of Life is something noted to be really important. The doctor has to consider about how to improve and maximize the patient’s lifestyle while undergoing treatment. From that sense, the volunteer who accepted this experiment would not be considered good when considering her quality of life. She couldn’t leave the sterile room, and couldn’t interact with anyone. My proposal really bothered Yuuki-kun and her parents. However, it was probably because of the expectations to this unknown virtual world that made Yuuki-kun decide on this…she agreed to take part in this experiment and entered this room. After that, Yuuki-kun continued to remain in this Medicuboid all this time.”
“All this time…you mean…?”
“Just as I said. Yuuki-kun almost never returned to the real world. Or rather, she couldn’t. During a hospice treatment, we would use morphine to ease the patient’s pain. For Yuuki-kun, we used the Medicuboid’s sense removal function to replace morphine…she has been in all sorts of virtual worlds travelling, other than a few hours a day where data was collected. Of course, I talked to her in that world.”
“In other words…she dived in for 24 hours a day…? How long has that been…?”
“About three years.”
On hearing the doctor’s simple answer, Asuna immediately couldn’t say anything.
Before today, Asuna thought that amongst all the users of AmuSphere in the whole world, the ones with the most dive experience should be the old SAO players, including her. But now she knew that she was wrong. This skinny girl lying in front of her was the purest virtual traveler in the world. This was the reason Yuuki became so strong.
—You became a resident of this world already? Kirito once asked Yuuki this. He must have felt that Yuuki was similar to him in some aspects during their short battle.
Asuna realized that a form of belief started to spread inside her. It was like she was standing in front of a swordsman who far surpassed her, offering a beloved sword to this swordsman. She had such a feeling as she closed her eyes, and then lowered her head.
After a moment of silence, Asuna looked back at Doctor Kurahashi,
“Thank you for letting me see Yuuki—she should be alright if she continues to remain here, right? She can continue to journey through that world, right…?”
However, the doctor didn’t answer Asuna’s question directly. He sat on the chair in front of the control panel, had his hands placed together on his knees, and then stared at Asuna with a steady expression.
“—Even if she’s in a sterile room, it’s impossible to remove the bacteria and viruses that were in her body. With the weakening of the immune system, they will continue to multiply. Right now, Yuuki-kun’s infected by Cytomegalovirus and Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria, and she has almost lost all her vision. The encephalitis caused by the HIV is worsening, and I think she probably won’t be able to move her body on her own.”
“…”
“She was infected with HIV for 15 years…her AIDS acted up for 3.5 years. Right now, Yuuki-kun’s condition is in a terminal state. She clearly knows about this. I suppose you should know the reason Yuuki-kun disappeared right before your eyes.”
“How could it…how could it be…”
Asuna widened her eyes and shook her head slightly. However, she couldn’t ignore what she just heard with her ears.
Yuuki would always hesitate over whether she should be with Asuna. The reason she did so was because she really cared for Asuna. She did this to prevent Asuna from feeling hurt on the day she had to leave. No, it’s not just her. It was because Shiune and the other Sleeping Knights understood the truth that they would have the attitude of a mysterious group.
However, Asuna never noticed it, and never tried to think about it. She merely continued to inflict more pain on Yuuki. On remembering the tears Yuuki shed before she logged out of the Black Iron Palace, Asuna felt an aching in her heart.
At this moment, Asuna thought of something, and she immediately looked at the doctor.
“Then…doctor, does Yuuki have an elder sister…?”
On asking this, the doctor immediately frowned as if he was shocked by this sudden statement, and hesitated for a while, before slowly nodding his head.
“—It’s not about Yuuki-kun herself, so I didn’t mention it…yes, she has a twin elder sister. It was the caesarian section at the beginning that caused this tragedy.”
The doctor seemed to be searching through his memories as he said,
“Her sister’s name was Aiko, and she too stayed in this hospital. Both twin sisters weren’t similar…the elder sister would always smile in the past, silently protecting the energetic and lively Yuuki-kun. Oh yes…her appearance would resemble you somewhat…”
Why past tense? Asuna muttered deep inside her heart and stared at the doctor. And the doctor seemed to hear the voice in her heart as he added,
“Yuuki-kun’s parents…died 2 years ago, and her sister died a year ago.”
What she thought she should understand lost all significance.
In that world, Asuna saw many instances of countless people dying, and she herself edged on the borders of death. Thus, she felt that she understood the meaning of life and death. She knew that she couldn’t change this fact that happened in front of her even if she struggled.
She only knew Yuuki for a few days, but after knowing of her past and her current situation, Asuna still couldn’t accept such a heavy fact, and could only lean her body on the thick glass in front of her. The meaning of the term ‘reality’ and the significance it had seemed to corrode and blurred, even disappearing completely in the end. Asuna lowered her head and placed her forehead on the icy cold surface.
I’ve already fought hard, so what’s so bad about being insistent with such a little happiness? Asuna always had this thought, which was why she was scared of change, didn’t dare to argue with others, and could only find all sorts of excuses for her cowardice and silence.
However, Yuuki was fighting ever since she was born. She continued to wrestle against this cruel reality that tried to take everything away from her. Even after knowing that the end was near for her, she was still able to show such a dazzling smile.
Asuna closed her eyes hard and shouted to Yuuki, who was traveling in a certain distant world, from deep within her heart.
—Let me see you again. Just once.
This time, once they meet, both of them must continue to talk for a long time. Yuuki once said
that some things have to be done through forceful means for the other party to understand. If she couldn’t shake away her weak side and all her baggage to talk with Yuuki, there was no need for both sides to talk.
Asuna finally felt a warm liquid coming out of her eyes. She placed her right hand on the glass and exerted force into her fingers, looking like she was searching for a certain kind of touch on that slippery surface.
At this moment, a gentle voice came from somewhere.
『Don’t cry, Asuna.』
Asuna quickly raised her head, shocked. She shook aside the water droplets on her eyelashes and opened her eyes, staring at Yuuki who was lying on the bed. The petite profile was no different from before, still lying there. The machine that covered Yuuki’s face didn’t change at all. However, Asuna noticed a blue light blinking on a monitor panel opposite the glass. The words behind the screen were different from before, showing the words [user talking].
“Yuuki…?”
Asuna murmured, and then spoke with a trembling yet clear voice,
“Yuuki? Are you over there?”
Asuna immediately heard the response. It seemed that the voice came from the microphone installed on the wall,
『Un. It’s through the camera, but I can see you, Asuna. Amazing…you look just like you do in-game. Thank you…for coming to see me.』
“…Yuuki…I…I…”
She wanted to say something, but didn’t know what she should say. This anxiety that couldn’t be described made Asuna’s chest feel uncomfortable.
But before she spoke, the voice came from above the head again.
『Doctor, please let Asuna use the neighboring room.』
“Eh…”
Asuna was puzzled and looked around to see Doctor Kurahashi looking serious as he seemed to be pondering about something. However, he immediately showed a steady smile that cleared everything, and nodded his head before saying,
“Alright—there’s a seat I use for FullDive to talk and an AmuSphere. The door can be locked from the inside, but please try not to exceed 20 minutes. As for the procedures, I won’t be explaining them.”
“I…I got it.”
Asuna hurriedly nodded, and then looked back at the girl who was lying on the Medicuboid. Yuuki’s voice echoed again.
“The application of the ALO launcher is installed inside. Once you log in, we’ll meet at the first place we met.”
“Un…I got it. Wait a minute, I’ll be right there.”
Asuna said with a firm voice, bowed to Doctor Kurahashi behind her, and turned around. She took a few steps to the door deep within the observation room and raised her hand at the scanner. The door slid aside, and Asuna immediately darted in.
What was behind the door was a room that was half the size of the observation room. There were two black leather recliners inside, and the headrest on both sides had a familiar ring-shaped helmet.
Asuna hurriedly locked the door, put her bag on the floor and laid down on the nearest chair. She used the button on the handle to adjust the reclining angle of the back, and then raised the AmuSphere before putting it on her head. She took a deep breath, pressed the switch, and there was a white light in front of her. Asuna’s consciousness left the real world.
In the bedroom of the house in the forest, the Sylph rapier user Asuna woke up in it, and her impatient body that wasn’t used to the feeling of the VR world immediately jumped up.
She flapped her wings in the air to glide, and immediately flew out of the window without touching the floor. Right now, It was about dawn in Alfheim, and the thick forest was covered with white fog. She turned in the air and immediately rose quickly, breaking through the white fog as she rose out of the woods. Asuna put her hands close to herself and continued to rush through the center of the level.
It took her less than 3 minutes to reach the air above the main streets. Then, Asuna flew straight to the center of the plaza and landed in front of the transfer gate. As countless players stared at her wide eyed, she turned around and pulled an emergency stop. She then jumped into the portal the moment she stopped.
“Transfer! Panareze!”
The moment she shouted it, a bluish-white light immediately flowed down like a waterfall, pushing Asuna up.
The transfer immediately ended. Once she came out from the transfer gate, it was the main of the central plaza on the 24th level Panareze. Asuna forcefully kicked the stone floor on her right and leaped into the sky. This time, she flew towards an island north of the capital. The girl that was flying at full speed continued to leave afterimages on the water that vibrated.
In a short period of time, she saw the profile of a large tree. It felt like her duel at the base of that tree against «Absolute Sword» Yuuki took place a long time ago. The island that was fully crowded back then could be said to be completely silent.
Asuna slowed down as she went around the tree and got ready to land. As there was a thick layer of fog below, she couldn’t see the ground.
Once she stepped onto the grass that was covered with dew, she started to look at the environment around her. Perhaps the light of day wasn’t enough as she could only see several meters in front of her. Feeling anxious, Asuna could only move around the woods quickly.
Once she was halfway through and arrived on the eastern side of the trees…light finally came in from the outside, sweeping away the morning mist immediately. Asuna finally found the person she was looking for through the gap between the white curtains.
Yuuki’s back was facing Asuna, and her deep purple hair and bluish-purple dress was swaying. At this moment, Asuna could only hold her breath and watch this. The dark elf girl suddenly turned around and stared at Asuna with her amethyst colored eyes. Her light-colored lips showed a frail smile, like snow.
“—For some reason, I just had the feeling that Asuna would try to find me in the real world. I didn’t tell you anything, and that couldn’t possibly happen.”
After murmuring such words, Yuuki smiled again,
“But you still came, Asuna. It’s rare for my premonitions to come true, but I was really happy…”
They didn’t meet for a mere few days, but it felt like Yuuki’s standing posture had a little transparent feeling. This made Asuna feel tight in her chest, as she seemed to be scared, wondering whether the girl in front of her was merely an illusion, as she slowly walked forward, step by step.
The fingers Asuna reached out finally touched Yuuki on the left shoulder. She immediately couldn’t hold back the impulse to check Yuuki’s body temperature as she silently hugged her with both arms.
Yuuki didn’t look panicked at all, as she leaned on Asuna’s shoulder like grass swaying with the wind. She still had her armor on, but Yuuki’s body still gave a warmth that was enough to move someone’s heart. The level of this was more than values that electronic pulses could determine. Asuna heaved a sigh and closed her eyes.
“…When Nee-chan hugged me, she had this smell as well. It was the smell of the sun…”
Yuuki, who rested on Asuna’s body, muttered.
At this moment, Asuna finally said her first words through trembling lips.
“Aiko…san? Your sister played VRMMOs too?”
“Un. The hospital allows people to use the AmuSphere in an ordinary room. Nee-chan was the first leader of the Sleeping Knights. She was a lot stronger than me…”
Asuna felt that Yuuki’s forehead was leaning hard on her shoulder, and raised her right hand to stroke the silky hair of the dark elf. Yuuki froze for a while, but immediately relaxed, and then continued,
“At the start, there were 9 members of the Sleeping Knights, but including Nee-chan, 3 people have disappeared…so I discussed it with Shiune and the rest, that we would disband the guild once the next person disappears. Before that, we wanted to create wonderful memories together…to talk about an adventure that we hope can make Nee-chan proud…”
“…”
“The place we first met was a medical network
called «Serene Garden», a virtual hospice. Even when our illnesses were all different, in the broad sense, we’re all people in the same circumstances. We could talk to each other in the VR world, play games, and enjoy our lives to the fullest until the end…this was the intent behind the this operation.”
Having heard Doctor Kurahashi’s words the moment she entered the hospital, Asuna’s heart has somewhat felt that the Sleeping Knights, including Yuuki, were all able to be so strong, energetic and calm was because they were all in the same boat.
Even though she already had such a thought, Yuuki’s words continued to weigh down heavily on Asuna’s mind. Shiune, Jun, Tecchi, Nori, Taruken’s cheerful smiles flashed through her mind.
“Sorry for not telling you the truth, Asuna. The reason the Sleeping Knights were about to disband in Spring wasn’t because everyone was starting to get busy and didn’t want to play games, but that two of us were already declared to not last past March. So…so, that’s why we hoped to create our final memories in that wonderful world. We wanted to leave the proof that we once existed on that Memorial.
Yuuki’s voice started to tremble again. However, Asuna could only exert a little more force into her arms that hugged Yuuki.
“However, our attacks weren’t successful…everyone discussed it and decided to get someone to help out. Actually, some of us actually objected to it. Once that person knows about our problems, we’ll be bothered, and there would be bad memories left behind. In the end, this really happened…sorry…I’m really sorry Asuna. If possible…please forget about us…”
“How can I do so?”
After answering simply, Asuna brought her face to Yuuki’s.
“I’ve never felt bothered, and I never thought that those were bad memories. Being about to meet with you guys, being able to help you guys defeat the boss, I was really happy. Even now…I want to join the Sleeping Knights!”
“…Ahh…”
Yuuki’s breathing and body jerked for a moment.
“I’m…really happy to be able to come to this world to meet with Asuna…those words of yours were enough. I’m happy now…I have no regrets…”
Sword Art Online - Volume 7 - Mother's Rosario Page 15