A/N: Hey guys, I'm back with another chapter. This chapter is relatively short compared to my previous ones, but still should contain no less drama.
This story's interest is growing fast, by the way! I've got 9100 views now, which is a +1100 in two weeks! Much obliged everyone! I hope, that by the end of the month, I will have a 10,000 view! Come on, let's make it happen!
On another note, I think that this whole story will be about 20 chapters long, if things all go according to plan. Meaning, that we're about halfway through the story. I can't wait to show you what I've planned for the ending. And also, with my intern term's end drawing nearer, I have to start writing a report for the term. So, my time for writing the next chapter may be a bit restricted. But I'll try my best to bring you the next chapter before the next month. No promises though, unfortunately…
And lastly, in the ending author's note last chapter, I gave you a false clue by accident, it seems. I said that the broken family picture frame was a use of symbolism… But what I actually meant that it was the use of foreshadowing… my apologies for that! And in fact, that foretold event will start happening this chapter! So brace yourselves for another drama this chapter!
Now without further ado, on with the story; as always, please leave a comment after you've read this chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own SAO, its characters or the OSTs! They belong to Kawahara Reki-sensei and Kajiura Yuki-san respectively!
Chapter 11 – You Reap What You Sow
April 1st, 2026, Wednesday, 9 AM. Setagaya, Yuuki manor, Kouichirou's room.
Kouichirou paced around in his room furiously. Seriously… what a break from work this turned out to be… It was the morning since Asuna's dramatic departure from their family. Kouichirou had always thought that if someone was to run away from this family he always thought that he would be the first. But he never expected Asuna to be the one to openly choose to run away like she had. Thinking back, though, he realized that he should have seen this coming.
He was truly saddened to see Asuna grieve for her friend like she did. He had hoped that the wound from Yuuki's death would be able to heal with time as she stayed with her family, but their parents' meddling had ended any hopes of that.
He thought back to what happened the previous night and just minutes ago…
When Kouichirou returned home after failing to bring Asuna back home, he found his parents both devastated. However, after what his mother had said to Asuna, Kouichirou was in no state of mind to forgive her this time around. So he bellowed at her, blaming her for Asuna's departure and that she was on her own for this problem. This then led to the argument of what they should do to bring Asuna back home before Asuna's boyfriend called them, informing them that Asuna would come to school the next day.
When the Kirigaya kid assured them that Asuna was at her friend's place, the three of them had done nothing but argue as to what they would do about Asuna. Kirigaya Kazuto had also informed his father that Asuna was planning to go to school the next day. Upon hearing this information, his mother said that she would go to the school and bring her back herself, ignoring the Kirigaya's warning. But both Shouzou and Kouichirou found fault in this. Of course, while they wanted to have Asuna back with them as soon as possible as well, Kouichirou argued that if they tried to bring her back by force, it would only serve to solidify Asuna's hatred towards them, and it would only be a matter of time before she runs away again.
Shouzou, trying to find a compromise between their arguments, suggested that he would go to school today to have a discussion with Asuna's teachers and principal about how they could convince her to return home and have them talk to her, AND talk with her themselves, if possible. However, given that Kyouko was the main source of Asuna's fury, he decided that it was better for her not to come along. At first, she argued against this, but ultimately agreed, although very reluctantly. They had already notified the teachers about the situation at the time. So Shouzou planned to go to her school and discuss the matter with Asuna's teachers.
On the next day, Shouzou hurriedly ate breakfast, and quickly left for the SAO Survivor's School, leaving the mother and son in the dining room in a very tense and uncomfortable silence.
Kyouko could tell that Kouichirou was still angry with her, but she had to say something… anything…
"Listen, Kouichirou, I…" Kyouko started, but Kouichirou cut her off.
"If you're trying to justify yourself by giving me some flimsy excuse, then forget it." Kouichirou said.
"Of all the things I've heard you say to her, yesterday was the worst! Have you forgotten that Asuna hasn't gotten over Yuuki's death yet? And you just had to compare me and her together didn't you?! And what's worse, you still refuse to admit your mistake with Sugou!" Kouichirou continued. Kyouko froze where she was, defeated.
"Whatever you were trying to say to me just now, if it's about asking me for help to get Asuna back, like I said yesterday, you're on your own for that!" With that, Kouichirou stormed out of the dining room and went to his room, leaving Kyouko in the dining room to drown in guilt.
'What am I going to do…?' Kyouko asked herself.
Kouichirou thought deeply on what could be done to bring Asuna back. He had attempted to message and call her cellphone, both yesterday and today, but Asuna had responded only with silence. Infuriated by the conversation with his mother just moments ago, he kicked his desk in frustration before plopping down on his chair.
(A/N: Play the OST: "No Escape")
But then, suddenly, a thought occurred to him. He gave the thought over, and after thinking for about 10 minutes, the idea seemed to be legitimate. If it worked, then he could find where Asuna was, and find an excuse to get away from home as well. And right now, some time away from home seemed to be just what he needed as well.
He had never said it out loud, but Kouichirou had gotten long tired of his mother's cold and stoic behavior, much like Asuna. Of course, he cared for her, like a son should, but yesterday's event made him forget all about that, replacing the care with pure fury.
In any case, Kouichirou took out his cellphone and looked up for the person he had in mind in his contact list. To get his newfound plan in motion, he would need some help. He then dialed the number of the person that he had saved onto his contact list, just in case something happened. He hoped this would work…
"Moshi moshi? Hello, it's been a long time. This is Yuuki Kouichirou." Kouichirou said as soon as the person picked up…
"Ah, yes, Yuuki-san… it's been a while. So, what can I do for you? If you're calling me like this out of the blue, then there must be something you need from me." The person on the other end of the line deduced.
"Glad to see you're as keen as I remember. Alright, I'll get straight to the point: I need your help." Kouichirou said solemnly. Hearing this, the receiver of the call became silent.
"Go on." The person said.
About an hour later…
After barely managing to finish her breakfast, Kyouko sat at her seat and gave the thought over the entire situation. She really hated to admit it, but Kouichirou was right… what she said to Asuna yesterday was most likely what drove her out of her home. She was just so angry that Asuna had openly rebelled against her yesterday, and being compared to Sugou was what really made her lose her temper. She had even slapped her in her anger. Thinking back, she started to regret her actions yesterday.
If they were going to bring Asuna back, who seemed to be serious about wanting nothing to do with the family anymore, seeing as she still refused to pick up their calls and did not call them since her disappearance, then she was really going to need help from her family. The Kirigaya boy may have said that she was safe at her new friend's home, but seeing as she had never met this new friend, or heard about her before yesterday, she couldn't help but be suspicious about her. She just wanted to bring her daughter back as soon as possible. So, deciding to swallow her pride for once and got up to head to her son's room to ask for help.
Just as she left the dining room, however, she heard Kouichirou exiting his room from above and coming towards the stairs from the second floor. So, she went up the stairs to face him.
"Kouichirou, listen, I…" Kyouko said as soon as her son came to view. But what she wasn't expecting was to see a baggage right beside him. Her blood froze when her mind registered what that could mean…
"Kouichirou… what, what do you think you're doing?!" Kyouko asked in disbelief.
"What does it look like? I'm leaving. I need some time away from everything. Asuna said that she as sick of this family, and for that matter, so am I!" He said. He then proceeded to descend the stairs and exit the manor to the yard.
"Don't do this, Kouichirou!" Kyouko said, following behind him, praying that this was just a bad April Fool's joke.
"Then what do you suggest we do? Just sit and wait for you to barge into wherever she is and bring her back using force and harsh words? Honestly, haven't you done enough damage for one lifetime?!" Kouichirou argued, attempting to turn back to be on his way out until he heard what his mother said next.
"Asuna doesn't know what she's doing right now! That boy may have said that Asuna was in safe hands with that friend of hers, but we don't even know who it is! I won't believe that she's in good hands until she's back here with us!" Kyouko declared. At this, Kouichirou, who had his back turned to his mother, turned back to face her again.
"Who are you to lecture anyone about Asuna's well-being? During SAO, you treated Asuna as if she was already dead and gave up on her life entirely!" What Kouichirou meant by this was that after the start of SAO, they had waited and waited, praying that Asuna would wake up. But as days became weeks, weeks became months, and months became years, not to mention the increasing death toll, Kyouko had eventually abandoned all hopes of seeing her daughter alive again. She had even stopped visiting Asuna in the hospital for a considerable period of time. Kyouko may have been trying to be realistic at the time, but her actions had been no less discouraging and unhelpful.
"Since the day I can remember, you've done nothing but discourage us. And on the rare occasions you've actually TRIED to help, you've only made things worse that it would've been better for you to have done nothing at all!" Kouichirou criticized harshly.
"How dare you!" Kyouko snapped.
"Then tell me, who endorsed the engagement that would have most certainly destroyed Asuna's life? And who allowed that bastard Sugou to gain so much power that he almost took down the entire Recto with him; especially when I warned the both of you not to trust him!" Before the SAO and ALO incidents, apart from Asuna, Kouichirou was the one other person in the Yuuki family who was well aware of Sugou's true nature. Ever since the Yuuki siblings had met Sugou, he had been nothing but an eyesore for them both. He always acted like a nice guy in the presence of their parents, but when they were alone, he would always find ways to torment them. In particular, Sugou always seemed find sadistic pleasure when making Asuna miserable during his visits. So, needless to say, Kouichirou absolutely hated Sugou and was quick to defend her from Sugou's approaches whenever the two of them were alone with Sugou.
Also, during the uproar caused by ALO after the exposure of Sugou's crimes, when he found out that his parents had engaged Asuna with Sugou, without her consent no less, Kouichirou was beside himself with rage. He would have cut all ties with the family then, if it hadn't been for the fact that Asuna needed their help for recuperating.
"If we made a decision for you, it was because we thought it was the best for you. If we were reluctant to contribute, it was because you were naïve. A thousand times you would've a wrong decision, and facing who knows how many failures you would've faced, had it not been for our help! Let me tell you something Kouichirou: Life is not a video game, and there are no second chances!" Kyouko declared. At this, Kouichirou's face hardened.
(A/N: I both agree and disagree with Kyouko's statement above. Yeah, life is not a video game. And as for there being second chances, I think that depends on exactly what kind of chances they are…)
"It's funny… I can say the same for you! But yeah, you're right… there are no second chances… not when people like you are left in charge!" Kouichirou retorted back and he continued before his mother could answer back.
"You know something, Kaa-san? When Asuna was stuck in SAO, have you even taken your time to think of how I felt about the whole ordeal? How I had to bear the guilt that I offered Asuna to go to SAO in my place, and expose her to the dangers of certain death? What did you do back then when I needed the mental support too? You did nothing, that's what; thinking that you were the only one suffering from the crisis! What I wanted was from you back then was to actually say something to me… something that would have made my guilt more bearable! You may think that it was childish of me to think like that, but I don't care! Let me ask you: Has the thought of giving us some kind… any kind of words of encouragement ever crossed your brilliant mind?! Has it?!" Kouichirou pointed out. Kyouko stood where she was, processing her son's words. As much as she wanted to retort back, she couldn't deny that her son had a point. Yes, the thought of wanting to say something to her son during SAO did cross her mind more than once, but she really didn't know what to say to him at the time. Plus, her pride wouldn't allow her to be so, 'affectionate', for lack of a better word. So, she had kept silent. But now that her son had explicitly brought the subject up, she started to feel very guilty. As those thoughts started to plague her mind, the expression of guilt and sadness started appear on her face. Kouichirou responded few seconds later after her silence.
"I didn't think so… It makes me wonder, though. What you would've done if I was the one stuck in SAO instead of Asuna! After all, the copy of SAO and the NerveGear were mine to begin with! It was only by sheer chance that I had a business trip on the day that SAO's launched! What would have happened if I didn't have the business trip then? If I was the one trapped in SAO for two years, can you say for certain that you wouldn't have given up on me, your 'successful son', like you did with Asuna? Well? Can you?!" Kouichirou asked resentfully. For the second time in a row, Kyouko found herself unable to counter her son's statement. Kouichirou's question ricocheted in her head. She tryed to come up with a reasonable answer, but… she could not…
"That silence is as good as a 'no'… And you know what? Another thing is… Sugou didn't have to become what he is today… we all first met Sugou when he was in middle school, didn't we? Ever since you met him, you've done nothing but pressure him to getting good grades, go to a reputable school and such. And I bet that his family gave him the same kind of pressure as well! Considering those facts, you should be grateful that Asuna and I didn't break from your pressure and become twisted like he did! And how Asuna reacted yesterday should be a clear indication that your pressuring is doing nothing but ruining people!" Kouichirou argued. At hearing the last two points, Kyouko's expression suddenly changed from sad to angry.
"Chotto matte (Wait a minute)… are you trying to blame me for that man's crimes?!" Kyouko questioned, outraged.
"Yes! Yes, I am!" Kouichirou declared. The two glared at each other for what seemed like hours.
"Alright, since you're putting it that way, I can't deny that we made a mistake by engaging Asuna to that… monster… But everything we did until now was to try and rectify that mistake. And the families we contacted with, they…" Kyouko tried to explain, but something that she said made Kouichirou even angrier.
"Wait a minute… families? You mean the Murayama's weren't the only family you contacted?!" Kouichirou questioned, furious at this revelation. He had only seen the email from the Murayama family and somehow, the possibility that that they were not the only families they had contacted had never crossed his mind.
"Yes, and if you'd just give us a chance to rectify that mistake and take the chance at least meet them as well…" Kyouko said, trying to convince her son. But she had unknowingly crossed another line.
"No…! You and I are finished!" Kouichirou snapped.
"Musuko-yo (Son)…" Kyouko said, truly hurt, her facial expression and voice backing it up. But Kouichirou wouldn't have any of it.
"Do you take me for a soft-hearted mama's boy, that just because you call me 'son' I might change my mind?! Just how many suitors were you planning to have us meet, or am I supposed to believe that you were contacting those families just for simple business?" Kouichirou surmised.
"Kayaba Akihiko may have been the one to initiate this whole series of tragedy, but Sugou Nobuyuki was no less a monster, and everything that bastard did, he did under YOUR ignorance! Both YOU and Tou-san!" Kouichirou shouted in an accusing manner. When he finished, he approached the gate, but then abruptly turned back again to face his mother.
"And you know what? I really wanted to believe that she was wrong… but, Asuna was right… you really are no better than Sugou…!" Kouichirou said resentfully. Hearing such words from her son, Kyouko really started lose her composure. She didn't even have the strength to shout anymore.
"Kouichirou… please…" Kyouko pleaded weakly, but Kouichirou ignored her.
"I'm warning you, mother. I'm going to give you one week. If you don't reconcile with Asuna until then, or try to bring her back by forceful means, you and I will be through, permanently! So I suggest that you swallow that stupid pride of yours and take responsibility for once!" Kouichirou bellowed at Kyouko furiously.
Then he exited the yard to head for his car. Shortly after, a car ignition sounded and soon, Kouichirou's car could be seen driving away from the Yuuki manor.
Kyouko at this point, lost all composure and started crying.
'I thought I was doing what was the best for our family… but… what went wrong…? How am I going to fix all of this…?' Kyouko asked herself.
For what seemed like hours, Kyouko wept bitterly. For the first time in a year, she was completely clueless as to what she should do.
A/N: There we go guys… another depressing chapter… But bear with me guys, things will start looking up in a few more chapters.
And guys, try and guess who Kouichirou was calling this chapter in the comments! Seriously, try and guess. The answer will be revealed next chapter!
As always, thank you for reading this story and I will see you in the next chapter!
And one more thing: The argument above was actually derived from a few cutscenes of a game series that I'm quite fond of. Let's see if someone can get its reference!
Yours truly, KiritoIRL.
