Asuna...
Asuna!
I've...
become such a crybaby, Asuna.
Return
We really don't look alike...
Brother...
I'm off to practice.
Morning, Sugu.
M-M-Morning...
Honestly...
If you were watching, you should've said something.
Well...
You were just so into it.
I really wasn't.
It's just a habit now.
I see...
You've kept it up this whole time.
It's so light.
That's timber bamboo, so it's pretty heavy.
Oh, um...
Well...
I guess it just isn't as heavy as I'm used to...
What are you comparing it to?
Want to give it a go?
A go? You mean sparring?
Yeah.
With protective gear?
Or we could stop before we strike each other.
But I wouldn't want you getting hurt right off.
We still have Grandfather's gear, right?
Let's do it in the dojo.
It's been two years, but you sound pretty confident.
I was a quarterfinalist in the middle school nationals.
Think you stand a chance?
And also,
are you sure you feel up to it?
You shouldn't stress your body.
I'll show you the results of all that rehab I've been doing at the gym.
What's that supposed to be, Brother?
Don't worry about it.
It's my own style.
Here I go.
Okay.
He's totally open in the front.
I'll hit him there, and...
Huh?
It's like it's second nature to him.
In that case...
Head!
A-Are you okay, Brother?
Oh, man...
You're strong, Sugu.
Heathcliff wouldn't have had a chance...
Are you really okay?
Well,
let's stop here.
D-Did you hit your head?
N-No, it's just years of habit!
The footwork was fine, but the attack was poor.
Guess I can't do the sword skills without the system to help me.
I was really surprised, though.
Have you been practicing?
In a way...
But it is pretty fun.
Maybe I'll take up kendo again.
Really? Seriously?
Sugu, would you teach me?
O-Of course...
We can spar together again!
When I regain some more muscle.
Actually, Brother...
I've also...
Nope, I think I'll keep it a secret.
What?
What are you doing today?
I'm going to the hospital today...
Right.
You're going to see her, aren't you?
Asuna-san, was it?
Yeah, that's all I can do.
It's my turn to make breakfast,
so you go take a shower.
Yeah.
Two months ago, I defeated Heathcliff,
and I beat the death game.
As soon as I got out,
I traded information about SAO to the Ministry of Internal Affair's
SAO Incident Task Force, in exchange for Asuna's whereabouts.
I learned that Asuna was
being cared for in Saitama, at the Tokorozawa General Hospital.
Yuuki Asuna
And that, including Asuna,
approximately three hundred players had yet to wake.
People believe the still-missing Kayaba Akihiko is behind it.
The SAO incident hasn't ended yet.
Asuna...
Oh, you're here, Kirigaya-kun.
Thank you for your support.
Hello, sorry to bother you, Yuuki-san.
No, come whenever you like.
It makes her happy.
President...
Oh, you haven't met before, have you?
This is our laboratory chief, Sugou-kun.
I'm Sugou Nobuyuki.
Nice to meet you.
Kirigaya Kazuto.
Really?
So you're the hero Kirito-kun?
Oh, I apologize...
We aren't supposed to discuss what happened inside the SAO server, right?
He's the son of a dear friend.
He's always been like family.
Oh, President...
About that,
I'd like to make it official.
I see...
But are you certain?
You're still young.
You could start a new life.
My heart has always been set on one thing.
I'd like Asuna-san to wear the dress
while she's still beautiful.
That's a good point...
It might be time to decide.
I'm sorry to end our conversation, but I have a meeting.
We can discuss this another time.
Kirigaya-kun,
I'll see you again.
I heard that within the game,
you were living with Asuna.
Yes...
Then I suppose that complicates our relationship.
What we were just discussing
was Asuna's marriage to me.
You can't do that...
Indeed.
It can't be done legally.
On paper, I'll simply be adopted into the Yuuki family.
You see, she's never actually liked me.
Neither my parents nor hers know that.
But if marriage was ever discussed,
it's likely that she'd reject me.
So this situation is
quite fortunate for me...
Stop it.
Are you trying to take advantage of the fact
that she's in a coma?
Take advantage?
No, this is my right.
Listen, Kirigaya-kun.
Do you know what happened to Argus
after they developed SAO?
I heard they went bankrupt.
Yes.
The development costs,
plus the massive damages they were forced to pay,
bankrupted the company.
And the maintenance of the SAO servers
was entrusted to the electronics manufacturer Lect,
whose CEO is Yuuki Souzou.
And I work for its Full-Dive Technology Research Division.
You could even say
that I'm the one who's keeping Asuna alive...
So I can ask for a little something by way of compensation, can't I?
I don't know what sort of promises you made to her in the game.
But I'd prefer that you never come back.
Or have any contact with the Yuuki family.
The ceremony will be held in this hospital room in one week, on January 26th.
The Japanese calendar has more auspicious days for a wedding,
but it's a day that brings misery to friends, so I'll invite you.
Enjoy your final goodbye,
Hero-kun.
Brother? The bath's ready.
Brother, if you're in here, say something.
You didn't even turn on the heat. What's wrong?
Sorry.
Could you leave me alone for a while?
But it's so cold.
Wh-What's wrong?
It's nothing.
But...
You're freezing...
You'll get sick.
You should take a bath.
I'm hopeless.
I swore I wouldn't show
any weakness around you, no matter what happened...
Did something happen to her? To Asuna-san?
She's going to go away...
Somewhere I can't ever reach her...
Hey, do your best.
You can't give up on the one you love so easily.
I won't lie
to myself anymore, either.
I remember it like it was yesterday.
When Kazuto told me
he wanted to know about his real parents.
I was really surprised!
He was still ten,
but he'd noticed the deleted record on the Citizen's Registration Network.
Jeez, that sounds just like him.
I was so surprised, I couldn't keep the secret.
So I accidentally told him
that my sister and her husband were his real parents.
Hey, Mom.
What?
Do you think the fact that he began playing online games constantly
ever since he started middle school
is related to that?
It isn't.
He was already building his own machine
out of junk parts when he was still six.
I think he inherited my love of computers.
At least mentally.
Then, I'm heading home.
Don't stay here too long, Suguha.
Yeah, okay.
Happy birthday.
I still can't really believe
my brother and I are actually cousins.
Brother...
But your heart...
Your heart...
belongs to her alone.
Hey, wake up, Sugu.
It's morning.
Wake up...
You won't have time for morning practice.
M-Morning, Brother...
Morning.
Um...
I...
Jeez...
Don't give up.
Yeah, she's right.
You have new mail.
Subject: Look at this!! Sender: Egil
What is this?!
Asuna!
Next Time: Land of the Fairies