Flashback from Floor 22 of Old Aincrad at night...

Asuna: It's too bad you can't really see stars here in Aincrad. It's still a pretty nice view though. In the real world where I live, the night sky is too bright to see the stars.

Kirito: I didn't know you were a city girl.

Asuna: Don't tease me like that.

Kirito: You know, there's a pretty good stargazing spot in my hometown. As well as a small observatory. I bet that Sonic's home in South Island has a good spot too.

Asuna: Then let's head to the spot in your town someday.

Kirito: Yeah. Someday we will both go and see shooting stars.

Asuna: Of course, we'll have to survive and clear this game first.

Kirito: That's right. I'll even give you a present in the real world.

Kirito and Asuna both hold hands. In the present day real world, at Kazuto and Asuna's home, Asuna writes in her diary about the promise while Kazuto is sleeping. She takes a sip of her tea, and looks to Kazuto for a moment, smiling. She then gets out of her seat and looks out the window at the night sky, thinking of the shooting stars.

Asuna: It will happen very soon.

She looks at the date on her calendar of when they will both see the shooting stars with Yui and Strea. Meanwhile at the old Argus headquarters, the birthplace of Sword Art Online, a man heads inside to grab some data from the original SAO. On November 6th 2022, 10,000 players were trapped inside the death game, Sword Art Online, the VR game built only for the NerveGear. They have all realized that game over inside the game meant real life death. Besides the panic, many players picked up their swords and fought to clear the game, while others who suffer from fear, end up either staying on the sidelines, or end up killing themselves. There were also murderers known as PKers too. Then, two years later, on November 7th 2024, two heroes have cleared the death game, and set everyone free. Those two heroes were Sonic the Hedgehog, and Kirito. 4,000 people lost their lives in the end. The incident drew to a close with the death of Akihiko Kayaba. All of the 6,000 SAO survivors that were set free have returned to their normal lives in the real world. The complete SAO Incident report book has been released two years later. The man who shows up at Argus turns out to be an old SAO developer.

SAO Developer: Here we go.

He starts collecting data from old SAO. Months later, the Augma gets released, an Augmented Reality device that allows people to use their real life physical functions. Asuna, Rika, Keiko, and Ray play Pacman 2026 on the Augma. Sonic, Mighty, Yuuki, Kazuto, and Yui watch them. They clear the level.

Keiko: We did it!

Asuna: Well done Silica. Thanks for helping Liz. You too, Ray.

Ray: 100 points?! Cool!

Rika: We get free cake for winning! Man, that's awesome!

Kazuto: Aren't you guys playing games a little too much?

Sonic: Well look who's talking.

Rika: Besides, we get points from a lot of shops, so we might as well play anyway.

Asuna: Why can't you just admit you wanted to play with us?

Yui: Yeah! I already played with Mommy in Pacman a while ago!

Mighty: It's still pretty cool though. I mean, we get to watch TV wherever we go.

Rika: And it's even better than a smartphone.

Sonic: We can even tell that the weather report is good, which is exactly what a regular Samsung or IPhone would do.

Yuuki: Looks like you're really into it, right Liz?

Rika: I wouldn't go too far there, but the good thing is that they handed all of us SAO survivors in the school free Augma's.

Waiter: Sorry for the wait. Here is your reward for winning the game.

They hand Asuna, Rika, Keiko, and Ray their cakes.

Asuna, Rika, Keiko, and Ray: I want this one.

They all point at the cakes they chose, and Asuna hands them what they wanted.

Yui: Can I have some of yours, Mommy?

Asuna: Sure, Yui.

Ray: It even knows what kind we like too.

Rika: I think it was called Deep Learning, right?

Sonic: That would be called thoughtful, unlike a certain someone with black hair.

Kazuto: Well, the Augma can tell what's in that cake you're eating.

Rika gets a warning on her Augma saying that she might be consuming too many calories.

Rika: Oh.

A while later, after they eat, they head out into the mall. Rika runs ahead, and Keiko tries to catch her. While that's happening, Sonic, Mighty, and Ray look around, and Kazuto, Asuna, and Yui look at a TV monitor with the northern lights.

Ray: What else should we do?

Sonic: Don't know.

Asuna starts getting a message from Rika.

Rika's Message: How much until the goal?

Asuna's Message: About halfway there.

Rika's Message: You want to get a present for your husband and daughter, right?

Asuna's Message: Yeah. I'm still working on it.

They both send emoji faces, and Kazuto, Yuuki, and Yui appear in front of her.

Kazuto: Umm, Asuna?

Asuna: It's nothing. Hehe.

The entire group walks down through the mall.

Mighty: You guys sure are lucky to get free tickets to Yuna's live concert.

Rika: Yeah. They gave all of us survivors at our school tickets.

Yuuki: I'm lucky that I got one. Can't wait to see it.

Sonic: I heard she's got a pretty amazing AI.

Rika: Hey Silica, you're a pretty big Yuna fan, right?

Keiko: What? No! I'm not!

Rika: Really? Well, you and Suguha were both belting out Yuna's songs at karaoke the other day. Now do it! Share your voice with everyone!

Rika puts lays out an AR stage on Keiko. Keiko starts getting cringed up at the moment, but then she takes out her microphone and sings one of Yuna's songs. After that, everybody claps their hands, and she runs back to the group.

Yui: Wow!

Sonic: Nice one, Silica!

Yuuki: You were great! I loved it!

Keiko: Are you coming to Yuna's concert too, Kirito?

Kazuto: I don't know. I'm not so much of a big fan.

Yuuki: We should all go as a group and bring everyone.

Kazuto: If I'm up for it. I have to admit, this is a pretty neat device. I still think Full Dive is better. Especially after being totally immerse for a certain time.

Mighty: Do you really want to go back to Aincrad?

Keiko: Speaking of Aincrad, I wonder if those rumors were true.

Sonic: Rumors?

Keiko: There are bosses from Old Aincrad showing up in Ordinal Scale.

Rika: Oh, right.

Yuuki: That's pretty surprising.

Kazuto, Asuna, Sonic, and Mighty: Huh?!

Asuna: Are they promotion battles?

Yuuki: Not sure, but they keep their locations a secret until the last minute.

Rika: It's kind of hard to get their without a ride. Wonder how we're gonna get their.

Sonic: I can just already be there on time.

Kazuto gets a message from Ryoutarou.

Ryoutarou's Message: Let's do an OS battle together.

Kazuto: Oh crud.

Asuna, Yuuki, Rika, and Keiko: Kirito...

Yui: Can I join the fight with Mommy and Daddy?

Kazuto: Oh fine. I'll try it once and then I'll think about it again.

Yuuki: Count me in too.