Natsuki was quick to comply. "Whatever you say." She pushed the button on the remote to turn the screen on. It turned on but was quickly covered in static. "What is that?" Shinon asked.
"Aw, there must be a problem with the cameras," Natsuki said.
"What could be wrong with the cameras?" Asuna asked. "Aren't they body cams?"
"Yes, but that doesn't mean they can't mess up too," Natsuki said, returning to the computer next to the player. She typed in a few things and the screen turned back on, however, they only had one camera. The one following above the player was no longer available.
"What happened to the other camera?" Asuna asked, watching the screen as it seems to bounce slowly.
"Perhaps it went out?" Shinon asked.
"Is he limping?" Asuna questioned.
They all watched as the player stumbled over a rock. He tripped but then returned back upright again. "I think he is," Kirito said. They watched as he entered a dark room and scanned for a health potion.
"His HP is almost down," Shinon noticed.
"I think he's looking for something to help with that," Asuna remarked.
The lancer dug in a treasure chest and ignored the coins inside. He found a magic potion but that back inside. "Hand him a health potion," Asuna said to Natsuki, still at the computer, trying to fix the other camera.
"A health potion?" she checked. Asuna nodded. Natsuki coded in a health potion and dropped it inside the chest, which the player gladly took. He drank it, much to his disgust, and refilled his health. His health bar went up however, he still limped.
"Is he okay?" Shinon asked. The player left the dark room and the camera filed with static again, although, they could still see. "Hey, your camera's going out," Kirito said.
"I'm trying!" Natsuki said. "Something's wrong with the code!"
"I'm not sure if he is okay," Asuna replied to Shinon. "Usually players stop limping after their health is refilled..."
"Unless he already has a problem walking," Shinon suggested.
"He was just fine before," Kirito said. "If you noticed, when he was fighting The King, he didn't limp at all."
"You make a good point," Shinon said.
The player limped his way out of the city and into the open field. The lancer fell to his knees and the player in the bed yelled again. "Uh oh," Asuna said.
Shinon ran over to the player to calm him down. "Do you think he's okay?" Natsuki gave her a worried glance. "Do you think there could be something wrong inside the game?" Kirito asked.
"Inside?" Natsuki asked. "I didn't even think to look for that!"
Shinon placed her hand on the player's tense shoulder. He calmed down a bit but not much. "Hey, I think he might have a fever," Shinon said, noticing sweat dripping down his forehead.
"A fever?" Asuna asked. "That's possible?" She ran over to Shinon and the player and examined him. "I think you're right!" Asuna ran out and came back in with a wet towel. She gently put it on his head and the player calmed down completely.
Natsuki got the camera to work, just the body camera. "Ah, there we go!" Natsuki watched as the player returned to his feet and began walking again, except this time, slower than before. "Do you think he pushed himself to hard?" Asuna asked.
"Inside the game?" Natsuki asked.
"I don't think so," Kirito said. "It seems to be inside the game. The player's character hit the ground first before he yelled."
"Should we take off the Nervegear?" Shinon asked.
"Take it off?!" Natsuki asked, surprised by the question. "Are you kidding right now? Please tell me your kidding!" Shinon said nothing. "Oh, honey, no!"
She ran back over to her desk across the room and picked up her phone. She began reading off the screen. "'The Nervegear headquarters released an update on the headset. We have found out that it was a glitch in the system, meaning the game is going crazy. There is no possible way to fix it, so far, but we will find a way. However, if any players were trapped inside, advise them not to remove the headset.'"
"W-what happens if the headset come off?" Asuna asked, worry in her voice.
Natsuki looked back down and continued reading. "'The Nervegear seems to have some way of fusing the characters to the game. No one is unsure of how this happens, however, since the player fuses with the game, they seem to fuse with the system, having disastrous consequences if removed. Please watch them and make sure the Nervegear doesn't get removed while they're inside the game.'"
"Is that it?" Shinon asked.
"So, we can't take the headset off?" Kirito asked.
"Of course not!" Natsuki cried.
"What'll happen if we do take it off?" Asuna asked, hoping for an answer.
"Who knows," Natsuki said.
"You mean they don't say in the article?" Shinon asked.
"Nope. Just that it shouldn't happen," Natsuki said.
"That's terrible!" Asuna cried. "The player is stuck inside the game!"
"And he seems to be getting worse," Kirito said.
"What?" Natsuki asked, looking at the screen. The player is on his knees on the floor, coughing.
"I-is he okay?" Shinon asked, worry in her voice.
"I'm...not sure," Natsuki asked. "Let me see if I can contact him." The player on the bed began breathing heavily. "Well, whatever you do, make it quick!" Asuna said. "I think he's getting worse over here!"
Asuna and Shinon stayed near the player, trying to help him and calm him down. Kirito stared at the screen as Natsuki punched in some commands. Or questions.
'Can you stand?' Words on the screen appeared above the player's head. The player looked up at the words. He shook his head. 'Can you move your hand?' The player stopped coughing and put his hand back onto the floor. He then lifted his other hand. 'Good. There's something.'
'Can you move your legs?' The player turned towards his legs so the camera could face them. He moved his legs but the player in bed yelled again. "It's okay, calm down," Asuna said, replacing the towel she walked in with. 'I'm sorry.' The words on the screen said.
'Can you talk?' The player answered with a yes. 'Good. Do you know what happened? When did this happen to you?'
The player explained that he went into a dark house last night and looted the chests inside and was attacked by...something he couldn't explain. 'Do you perhaps know what it looked like?' The player paused, coughed again, and shook his head.
"This is going to be tricky," Natsuki said.
"He was attacked by something but he doesn't know what it is?" Shinon checked. "Was it an enemy in SAO?"
"Oh, good suggestion!" Natsuki replied. She typed it into the computer. The player stared at it, then shook his head. "If it wasn't a regular enemy, then...what was it?" Asuna asked.
The group continued conversing, but Kirito didn't hear any of it. If it wasn't a regular enemy from SAO, then what could it be? Could it be a new monster no one has encountered before or could it be a glitch? What if it was something from the real world? What if it was a cat or dog or something? If it was a glitch, what kind of glitch could it be? Everything glitching is coming outside of the game. So it couldn't possibly be something from the real world.
'What color was it?' The player paused. "It was...red and...and black..." the player replied, heavy breaths on every pause. The player in bed calmed down but Asuna and Shinon never left his side.
Black and red? What could possibly be black and red? Nothing in real life he knows about. So it has to be something in the game. But, what could it be? The player didn't see it, so it makes it harder, but it had to be something! It just couldn't be fake! The lancer would never make things up, especially in the state he's in. Most of the player's he's met have seen most of the enemies in SAO. Except, that player hasn't seen it. It could be because he's new, or because the enemy is new. But there can't be any new enemies. They haven't released a downloadable content, not one he knows of. However, if they did release one, everyone would know. So it can't be that. What is it? What could it be?
"Natsuki!" Kirito called after shaking off his thoughts. He had to do something about it. He needs to be their eyes. He knows it's risky but he has no other choice. "Get me in that game!"
"What?!" Asuna cried. "Are you crazy?"
"Asuna, look. I know it's risky. But the player is too sick...or whatever he is...to do anything. I have to be your eyes from inside the game."
"But, Kirito-"
"Asuna, I know. I'll be fine."
"Are you sure?" Shinon asked. "What if you can't come back out?"
"I will. I promise." Kirito knew what he was doing wasn't smart. He wasn't sure if it was going to work. He also wasn't sure if he would be able to keep his promise. But he had to.
"Are you sure?" Natsuki asked this time. Kirito turned towards her. "Yes. I'm sure." Natsuki hesitated, but she nodded. "All right."
She led them down the hall and into another room. She handed Kirito a headset. Before he put it on, Asuna stopped him. "Kirito, please don't do this."
"Asuna, I have to." Kirito grabbed her hand. "I'm sorry but, I have no other choice. We need to find out what's going on in there."
"Kirito please-" Asuna stopped what she was saying as tears filled her eyes. Kirito smiled at her and placed his hand on her cheek. "Kirito! Please...be safe. Come back to me. Promise me that, okay?" Asuna said through her tears.
"I will, I promise." Kirito wasn't sure if he was making a promise he couldn't keep. But he didn't want Asuna to worry about him. He gave Asuna one more glance. She nodded at him, with tears in her eyes. He didn't want Asuna to cry. But he had to do this. They need eyes and the player is unable to do it himself. Kirito smiled at Asuna and put on the headset.
"Are you ready?" Natsuki asked. "There's no turning back.
"Yes," Kirito responded. Natsuki clicked a few buttons on her keyboard. "Okay. You're ready."
"Link start," Kirito said. Asuna knew what those words meant. It meant that she might not see Kirito again. She knew that he was most likely making a promise he couldn't keep. Once he said those words, tears fell uncontrollably. She couldn't help it. They wouldn't stop. Shinon placed her hand on Asuna's shoulder. "I bet he'll be okay," she said reassuringly.
Asuna knew she was right, but she just couldn't handle it. She might never see her Kirito again and she did nothing to stop him. What if his last words were 'I promise'? She couldn't handle that. She covered her face and ran through the door.
Kirito wasn't in the game yet and heard Asuna run out. He wasn't trying to make her feel too upset. In fact, he didn't think she would be that upset. He wanted to help her but, it was too late. He was in and just as Natsuki said, there is no turning back. He didn't want Asuna to cry. He didn't want her to worry about him. I'm sorry, Asuna, he thought before he entered. I am really sorry. I hope I come back. I don't want you to cry forever. I hope-no. I will come back. I will help you stop crying. Just, hang in there, Asuna. I will be back, I promise.