:: Author's Note ::

At long last, we've come to this crossroads. Truth be told, I wasn't sure the direction this story was going to go when I first started writing it. Which is part of why I've been struggling with these last few chapters. I didn't know the form this story would take when I first set out to create it, and after having just finished this chapter, I now realize what I've truly been doing this whole time.

These first twelve chapters have all been one giant prologue.

Between the heavy emotions, the bridge I've been building, and the themes I've been working with, it's been a struggle to get to this point. But I'm happy to say I've finally done it. We've reached the end of the prologue.

And have arrived at the beginning of the real story. Here is Chapter Twelve. I hope you all enjoy.

:: End Note ::

Tokyo, Japan.

The Kirigaya Residence.

One day before the official launch of SAO.

Kazuto had spent the last five nights dreaming of Aincrad. The images that appeared in his sleep were so vivid and so specific that he was half surprised he didn't wake up with the NerveGear on. Then again, that's how it had been for awhile. His every thought consumed by this restless need to return to the world he'd grown to love.

Though lately, Aincrad wasn't the only thing he'd been dreaming about.

After going through his normal morning routine, Kazuto checked his computer for any messages. He smiled upon seeing the little envelope icon on his screen, informing him his chat buddy had indeed messaged him.

:: Good morning, Kazuto. :) ::

He sat down at his desk and typed out a response.

:: Morning Dr. Kayaba! How are you today? ::

:: I'm well enough, thank you. And what of you, my friend? Are you as excited for tomorrow as I am? ::

Kazuto started bouncing in his seat.

:: You know it! ^^ Asuna and I have been waiting patiently for two months for this. ::

The text bubble took an abnormally long time to appear.

:: Asuna? ::

Kazuto quickly typed out a response.

:: She's the friend I was telling you about! Asuna has been helping me at school. You'd like her alot. She's so nice. :) ::

Again, the chat bubble took a long time to appear. Something that Kazuto felt was rather odd. Was Dr. Kayaba preoccupied with something?

:: You never mentioned she was a girl, Kazuto. ::

He frowned at that before typing his response.

:: Is that bad? ::

The chat bubble appeared, disappeared, reappeared, and disappeared again. Kazuto was starting to get anxious, something was clearly bothering his chat buddy. Finally, he responded.

:: Of course not, my friend. I'm just a little surprised is all. You seemed so down a few months ago. ::

At that, Kazuto smiled again and typed.

:: Maybe I was a little sad. Truthfully, I think I was just lonely. But ever since I became friends with Asuna, I've been feeling a lot better about going to school. I even got my hair cut! :D ::

And yet once again, Kayaba took his sweet time responding.

:: Loneliness...I know that feeling all too well. ::

Kazuto frowned once more and typed his response.

:: Is everything okay, Dr. Kayaba? ::

The chat bubble vanished and reappeared over and over again before Kazuto finally got a response.

:: I'm perfectly fine. I think I'm just nervous is all. :) ::

:: Nervous about what? ::

:: I have an interview today with some news reporters. They want me to go into detail about the game. ::

Kazuto was getting second hand anxiety just hearing that. He quickly typed a response.

:: Yikes! That's rough. You couldn't pay me to go in front of a camera like that. ::

:: It's not the first time I've done this. But yes...it is rather nerve wracking. ::

:: Are you gonna be okay, Dr. Kayaba? :( ::

It took some time, but he finally managed to get a reply.

:: I'll be just fine, my friend. :) The interview will be held in VR, so I won't actually have to be present. ::

At that, Kazuto finally relaxed.

:: Neat! Maybe Asuna and I will watch it while we're picking up our advanced copies of the game. ^^ ::

:: No pressure. It won't be very interesting. I'm not a good talker. ::

:: Neither am I. But Asuna has been helping me face my fears. Maybe if you know friends are watching, you'll be less nervous. :D ::

Kazuto frowned as his chat buddy once again struggled to come up with a response. He thought that would make Dr. Kayaba happy but he still seemed so nervous.

:: You seem much happier now Kazuto. ::

He quirked a confused brow at his screen before slowly typing out a response.

:: I am. ::

After giving it some thought, he then added…

:: Is that bad? ::

The chat bubble appeared and disappeared over and over again. More times than Kazuto had ever seen it do before. Dr. Kayaba was clearly struggling with something and it was making him nervous. Finally, he got a response.

:: Not at all. :) ::

Kazuto was about to reply when he received another message.

:: I have to go. I'll talk to you later, my friend. ::

:: Okay, Dr. Kayaba. I promise Asuna and I will watch your interview. :) ::

The chat bubble appeared once and he received one final message.

:: I'll see you both in the new world. ::

With that, Dr. Kayaba disconnected from the chat. Kazuto frowned at his screen. Truthfully, he felt a little bad. His friend really did seem to be nervous about that interview.

A knock on his door interrupted Kazuto's train of thought.

"Kazuto? You awake?"

He spun around in his chair and responded to his sister. "Yeah, I'm awake."

"Mom made taiyaki for breakfast," Suguha replied. "Hurry and get dressed while it's still warm."

Kazuto beamed excitedly. Taiyaki was his absolute favorite. He quickly rushed to get some clothes on before heading downstairs, any worries he might have had slipping from his mind with the smell of freshly baked fish pancakes.

The moment Kazuto left his room, a new message appeared in his inbox.

:: Forgive me. ::

Midori couldn't remember the last time she'd seen her son this happy. Kazuto was wolfing down breakfast while busily chatting Suguha's ear off about anything and everything. The poor girl looked a little overwhelmed, truth be told. Though she still seemed to be just as thrilled as Midori was that her brother was in such good spirits.

"So then after the festival, Asuna and I went out for coffee and it was actually really good!" Kazuto explained, talking at a mile a minute in between bites of his favorite breakfast. "I mean, I never thought I'd like coffee shops but they're actually really nice! Everyone is quiet, there's free wifi, and the coffee is actually really good. I always thought coffee was too bitter, but then Asuna showed me this thing called a macchiato and…"

While he continued to ramble at a mile a minute, Suguha slowly turned towards her mother and gawked at her in disbelief. Midori, for her part, was physically trying to contain her excited giggling. As overwhelming as their son's newfound spirit was, seeing him this way made her heart soar. Ever since she came home to find his hair cut so wonderfully, she'd been on cloud nine. Midori owed Asuna so much for everything she'd done for him.

"Hey...Kazuto?" Suguha finally spoke up, a bewildered look on her face.

"Hmm?" he mumbled with a mouth full of breakfast.

"While I think it's great that you've discovered coffee and all that, if Asuna ever takes you back, you may wanna stick to decaf."

He swallowed the bite in his mouth and laughed. "That's funny. Asuna told me something similar."

Suguha turned her gaze away and murmured in exasperation. "I can only imagine why…"

At that moment, the front doorbell rang. Suguha stood up to go see who it was when Kazuto suddenly shot out of his seat.

"I'll get it!" he declared before bolting for the door.

Suguha simply blinked at him in bewilderment before slowly sitting back in her seat. Midori meanwhile, quietly giggled to herself.

"My, but your brother is certainly in rare form this morning."

"Yeah...he is." Suguha sighed. "It's a little concerning, if I'm honest."

Midori turned and looked at her daughter, whose eyes were filled with worry.

"Oh come now," she insisted while returning to her cleaning. "What reason do you have to be so forlorn? You should be happy for him. After so many years, Kazuto is finally smiling again."

"I am happy for him, I promise," Suguha reassured her before turning her gaze back to her mother. "But...doesn't it worry you just how attached Kazuto has become to Asuna?"

At that, Midori stopped cleaning.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm just as grateful for everything she's done as you are," Suguha continued. "But...are we really not going to address the elephant in the room here?"

She remained silent, prompting Suguha to continue.

"Kazuto loves her," Suguha insisted. "And by that, I don't just mean he loves her like how he loves you and me. I mean that he…"

Midori sighed before putting down the plate she held in her hand and speaking up. "Yes, I know what you mean, Suguha."

"And it doesn't worry you?" she asked sincerely. "I mean...what if she doesn't…feel the same way?"

"And what if she does?" Midori challenged, a hint of irritation in her voice. "There's no reason to jump to conclusions, Suguha."

"Mom, we need to address this," Suguha insisted vehemently. "I'm just as happy for Kazuto as you are. But the fact is, his condition…"

"If you truly were happy for your brother then you'd want to support him," she responded bitingly. "You wouldn't go out of your way to find any excuse just to tear him down more than life already has."

Suguha turned her gaze away, clearly hurt. Midori finally calmed down and took a breath, her anger turning into regret.

"I'm sorry, Suguha," she apologized sincerely. "That was uncalled for."

"I get that you don't want to talk about it," her daughter spoke a little softer. She was still a bit tender from that scolding. "It's not like I enjoy being the wet blanket all the time."

"And honestly, you shouldn't have to be," Midori insisted before returning to her cleaning. "I'm his mother. That's supposed to be my job." She stopped again and sighed in a melancholy tone. "But...is it truly too much to hope that maybe things will just work out this time?"

"I want to believe they will," Suguha assured. "Mom, more than anything I hope to God they will. But we thought the same thing about that card game he became obsessed with, and therapy, and…" Her features drooped as a grey cloud hung over her being. "...and kendo."

Midori remained silent. That was one subject she definitely didn't feel like bringing up this early in the morning.

"We've seen this pattern repeat before. Something new will come along, things will look up for awhile…" Suguha sighed woefully "...but then something goes wrong and we end up right back where we started."

Again, Midori said nothing. She didn't want to think about it but her daughter was right. There was no guarantee this would be any different from the other hundred things they tried.

"I really like Asuna a lot," Suguha assured. "She's done more for him in the past two months than I've managed to do in my whole life."

Midori frowned at her daughter in concern. Suguha sounded so unbelievably sad when she said that. And though she was hiding it well, it was clear to Midori that she was a little envious of Asuna for how close she'd managed to get to him.

"But...she still has her own life to live," she continued. "Asuna and Kazuto just both finished graduating. She'll be off to college soon, living her own life, making new friends...getting married."

Midori clutched a hand to her chest.

"How long can this last? Realistically?" she finally asked the question neither one of them wanted to consider. "Whether we like it or not, Asuna has a right to decide how invested she ultimately becomes in Kazuto's life." She lowered her head sadly. "It kills me to say this...but we can't rely on her being around forever. We need to be prepared in the event that she breaks his heart."

After a moment, Midori smiled at her. Suguha truly was wise beyond her years. Then again, she'd always been this way. Growing up with Kazuto as her older brother meant she had to learn to be independent at a relatively young age. Something that Midori considered to be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, Suguha's maturity and responsible nature made her life far more manageable.

On the other hand, Midori hated how much of her childhood Suguha had to give up for the sake of her brother. Yet one more thing she felt an inexorable amount of guilt over.

"You know something...I truly have raised a wonderful daughter."

Suguha gave her mother a curious look.

"I know I don't say it nearly enough, but I truly am proud of the wonderful young lady you've grown into," Midori insisted.

She frowned and turned her gaze away. "You don't have to do that. I get that Kazuto will always be your top priority."

"Suguha…"

She shook her head vehemently before finally smiling again. "Mom, it's fine. Seriously. I know you don't love me any less." She sighed. "But Kazuto will always take precedence over me. That's just the way it has to be."

Midori hated that. More than anything she hated that the most.

"And that's okay," Suguha assured. "That's the way it should be. Because I want to help him too. I love my big brother, Mom. And more than anything…"

She looked up at her mother with determination.

"...I should be the one protecting him."

Before Midori could reply, Kazuto returned with Asuna, who smiled brightly at them both and waved.

"Good morning, Ms. Midori. You as well, Suguha."

"Hey, Asuna." Suguha waved at her chipperly, completely dropping the conversation.

"Good morning, Dear," Midori responded warmly. "Would you like some breakfast?"

Asuna chuckled before shaking her head. "Oh, no thank you. I ate before I came here, I'm plenty full."

"We were gonna go ahead and get our reserved copies from Mr. Muto," Kazuto declared excitedly. "Is that okay, Mom?"

"Have you had enough to eat?"

He nodded assuredly.

She smiled lovingly at him. "Then that's perfectly fine. Just remember to be back in time for lunch."

"We won't be long, Ms. Midori," Asuna assured.

She nodded approvingly. "Have fun, you two."

Kazuto and Asuna left. Once Midori heard the door close, she clasped her hands together and bowed her head, a hopeful smile on her face.

"There's one thing that's different this time. One thing that makes me still hopeful for my son's future."

Suguha gave her a curious look. "You mean the game?"

She nodded. "So long as they share this world together. This...Aincrad, I believe my son will always have a friend he can depend on."

Suguha frowned thoughtfully before turning her gaze back towards the door. "It still feels like wishful thinking to me."

"Maybe it is," Midori admitted. "But as a mother, it's my job to be wishful." She then smiled lovingly at Suguha. "For both my kids."

That made Suguha smile. Without another word she stood up and hugged her mother.

"If you're choosing to be hopeful...then I guess I will be too."

It was during the cab ride to Kame Game Shop when Kazuto pulled out his phone and turned on the MMO stream channel. Just about every station was covering the official launch of SAO, the world's first ever virtual reality MMORPG. It made sense the more Asuna thought about it. Even if SAO was technically just a game, it still represented a major milestone in technological achievement. They'd just finished watching the featured trailer, both of them nearly bouncing out of their seats with excitement.

"Good day everyone, and welcome to the daily MMO stream," the news anchor on Kazuto's screen declared in a chipper voice. "You've just finished viewing the official launch trailer for Sword Art Online, a gaming experience that promises to be unlike anything ever conceived before."

"Talk about an understatement," Asuna muttered, causing Kirito to chuckle.

"But what is Sword Art Online exactly? And what makes it so different from other VR games we've seen so far? To find out more, we go to our correspondent in the field, Haru Hoshika.

Another screen appeared. One depicting a news correspondent standing in front of a massive line of people.

"Thank you, Ren. I'm currently standing in front of a crowd of what has to be hundreds, if not thousands of Japanese citizens here in the greater Tokyo area, all of whom are waiting to get their hands on a copy of Sword Art Online. Some of which have been waiting outside since early morning of yesterday."

The news anchor Ren chuckled at that. "Well that's just what you do if you're a hardcore gamer. Right Haru?"

"Right, Ren. As of right now, all ten thousand copies of the Sword Art Online experience have been completely sold out! This crowd stretches on for what feels like miles as gamers and VR enthusiasts alike wait on bated breath for their reserved copy."

"Boy am I glad we don't have to deal with that mess," Asuna insisted while looking at the massive line of people.

Kazuto nodded in agreement. "Dr. Kayaba was nice enough to let us have our copies discreetly distributed to any retailer of our choosing. Mr. Muto has been holding onto them for us."

"That was so nice of him," Asuna commented.

"So why all the hype over this game in particular, Haru?" Ren asked next. "What makes this one so different from the VR experiences we've seen so far?"

"Sword Art Online isn't a simple VR game, Ren. From everything we've been told, SAO is a truly one of a kind experience. The world's first and only VRMMORPG."

Ren chuckled at that. "Goodness, that's quite a mouthful. Do you mind explaining what that stands for?"

"Absolutely. VRMMORPG stands for virtual reality massively multiplayer online roleplaying game. Think Dragon Quest 2 or Phantasy Star Online 3. Only this game takes place entirely in VR."

"Wow, that is certainly something, Haru. What else can you tell us about this revolutionary new game?"

"Well, Ren, nothing like this has ever been attempted before. Certainly not on this scale. NerveGear rigs are still extremely expensive and the cost for SAO is quite high. I've interviewed several citizens in line and some of them have stated they've been saving as far back as last year just to get their hands on a copy of SAO."

"That's a little staggering, Haru. Is it really worth it?"

Kazuto nodded. "Yes, it absolutely is."

"The cost may be steep, but the benefits are well worth it. This is more than just a revolution in gaming, Ren. Argus Entertainment is hoping to prove this technology's potential for other pursuits as well. Such as in the fields of medicine or even military applications. SAO is the most ambitious project to date with that thought in mind."

"You mentioned Argus Entertainment," Ren continued. "They're the ones who made SAO, correct?"

"Yes, Ren. Argus Entertainment may still be in its developmental stage, but from the projections we've seen, their stock prices are set to skyrocket within the next year. They just signed a major deal with Kaiba Corp. The multinational gaming technologies corporation responsible for producing advanced hologram and lifelight projectors."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, Haru, but isn't Kaiba Corp also responsible for reigniting the Duel Monsters craze in Japan?"

"Yes they are, Ren. Kaiba Corps stock prices recently surpassed that of their biggest competitor Nintendo who've been engaged in a massive bidding war for the rights to mass production of NerveGear rigs. Kaiba Corp recently won the bidding war, and now have exclusive rights to production and distribution of NerveGear for the fledgling gaming company Argus Entertainment. Assuming all goes well with this initial launch, we'll be looking at mass production of NerveGear rigs as well as a whole new line of gaming and VR software."

"So in a way, this is ground zero."

"That's exactly what it is, Ren. We're witnessing history in the making right now. VR technology and NerveGear are set to go mainstream and from there, most likely change the face of the planet as we know it."

"That's certainly a bold claim, Haru. But from everything you've told us it doesn't sound terribly far fetched. Thank you for keeping us up to date in the field."

"You're welcome, Ren. Back to you."

She nodded before turning her attention to the camera. "Now then, folks, we have a very special treat for you here today. An exclusive one on one interview with the man behind the machine. That's right, today we'll be speaking one on one with the inventor of NerveGear himself, Dr. Akihiko Kayaba."

Asuna and Kazuto both leaned in, eager to hear this interview.

"But this won't be any normal interview. In the spirit of celebrating virtual reality we've turned our studio into a massive VR projector, courtesy of technology kindly loaned to us by Kaiba Corp. That's right, this interview will be done entirely in VR."

"This should be interesting," Asuna commented excitedly.

"Without further ado, we now bring you our guest for the day, coming to us live from the virtual world of SAO."

The entire studio became enveloped in light as it projected the holographic terrain of Aincrad. Sitting in a desk overlooking the grassy plains of Floor One was a tall, lithe man with short brown hair wearing a white lab coat.

"That's Dr. Kayaba?" Asuna guessed. "He's taller than I had pictured."

"Thank you for joining us, Dr. Kayaba. It's very nice to meet you," Ren spoke politely.

He offered a demure smile and small nod of his head. "It's wonderful to meet you as well, Ren. Thank you for having me."

"Huh...he's awfully well spoken," Asuna observed.

"It's because he's in VR," Kazuto explained. "Dr. Kayaba told me he did this specifically so he didn't have to deal with any crowds of people."

"Well, I've got to say this world is certainly beautiful," Ren observed while looking around the studio. "Where exactly are we right now?"

"This is Floor One of Castle Aincrad," Dr. Kayaba explained. "It will be here that all players of SAO begin their journey as they ascend to the top of the castle."

"Now from what I've been told, you're not only the inventor of NerveGear, but you were also the lead programmer and designer of SAO as well. Is that correct?"

"Yes, Ren, that is correct. I created the hardware and wrote the software for SAO. In a way, I've created this world from the ground up."

"That's certainly an impressive list of accomplishments. How is it you manage to wear so many hats?"

"Well, Ren, I was born with a rather unique mind as a child. In order to get to where I am today, I had to embrace that uniqueness and turn it into a strength."

Ren looked over her notes. "You're referring to your autism, correct?"

He nodded. "One of the symptoms I developed as a child was severe OCD. In order to achieve what I've created today, I had to embrace that weakness and turn it into a strength, repetitively reading textbooks over and over again, adapting to a world that was not built for me. As a result, I've achieved multiple doctorates in addition to a master's degree in software engineering."

"Wow...his story is so inspiring," Asuna admitted, slightly astounded by his list of accomplishments. "I can see why you look up to him so much."

Kazuto frowned worriedly. "He's nervous…"

"Huh?" she gave him a curious look. "How can you tell?"

He pointed to a single detail on the screen. "You see the way his finger is tapping against his knuckle? That's one of his tics."

Asuna squinted at the screen. Sure enough, Kayaba's pointer finger was tapping repeatedly against his knuckle. Something else she was quick to notice was, as polite and well spoken as Kayaba appeared to be, he was also incredibly stiff. His responses were almost robotic, as if they'd been rehearsed repeatedly before filming.

"Dr. Kayaba has had a lot of time to adapt to his social anxiety," Kazuto explained. "More so than me."

"I'd like to go more into detail about the NerveGear itself," Ren continued. "It's certainly a remarkable piece of technology."

"I can't take all the credit for its invention," Kayaba admitted. "FullDive technology has been in development since before the Covid-19 outbreak of 2020. But whereas those early pioneers sought to change the human mind, we at Argus Entertainment simply wish to explore it."

"And yet when people talk about FullDive technology they always attribute it to you. But you're saying that this technology has existed even before Argus Entertainment?"

He nodded. "No man of learning truly starts anything new, Ren. We all build on the failures of our predecessors. There is nothing original in science. What each man contributes to the sum of our knowledge is what truly counts."

"That's certainly a good quote, Dr. Kayaba," Ren complimented. "So let me ask then, what was the original intention behind this technology?"

"Medical," he explained. "FullDive technology was originally conceived as a cure for certain mental and neurological disorders."

"Including autism?"

For a fraction of a second, Dr. Kayaba seemed to frown. Whereupon that forced smile he wore came right back and he nodded.

"Yes...I suppose so."

"So how is that those early pioneers failed and you've succeeded?"

"Well the problem was never with the technology, but rather what they hoped to accomplish with it," Dr. Kayaba explained. "Changing the human mind is like trying to control the ocean. We cannot hope to create pure order out of something that is inherently chaotic and unpredictable. That's not what Argus Entertainment intends to do. We simply wish to offer a vessel by which curious travelers might float upon its surface."

"Which is why you created NerveGear?"

He nodded. "The possibilities of FullDive technology are limited only by the cost that comes with researching it. Had we more investors, more time, more support, there's so much more we could do. I was the first one to suggest we stop simply talking about the potential applications for FullDive technology and actually show it to people. What you see now, is the most ambitious project in that regard."

"But why videogames?" she asked next. "If your intention was simply to garner mass appeal for the technology, why go that route?"

"Because it showcases what is by far the greatest application of FullDive technology."

"Which is?"

"Escape," he insisted. "Videogames are a medium of escape. As is VR. FullDive technology offers us the capability to break free from the shackles of mundane life and explore the inner workings of our own minds. We can build entirely new worlds within our own heads. Worlds where we ultimately set the rules of how life is played out."

"And is that what SAO is?" Ren asked next. "A world created from your mind?"

Kayaba nodded. "I created Castle Aincrad because I never felt at home in the real world. I just didn't know how to connect with people there. Aincrad offers a solution for those who feel as if they don't belong. In many ways...I guess you could say I made this world solely for them."

"Well I must say, your story is certainly a fascinating one, and we're all quite inspired by your work. However, not everyone has been so quick to praise your accomplishments, Dr. Kayaba."

The forced smile on his face faltered somewhat.

"A fellow scientist of yours, a man who goes by the name of Dr. Ari Moshe?"

Kayaba didn't respond at first. He began tapping his finger against his knuckle much faster than before.

"Dr. Kayaba? I asked if…"

"I'm familiar with the name. Yes," he quickly cut her off.

She cleared her throat and straightened her posture. "Well...many consider him to be your biggest detractor. He's even gone on record multiple times stating that your work is dangerous and unethical."

"Dr. Moshe was the original conceiver of FullDive technology," Kayaba explained. "Make no mistake, he's a brilliant man. But his scope of thinking when it came to the potential applications of his prototype was too linear, too restrictive. If we were ever going to get this technology past the laboratory, we needed to think bigger than what he had in mind."

He readjusted himself in his seat and took a breath.

"Personally...I think that my ambition may have intimidated him. It would not be the first time my mind has...made other people uncomfortable with my presence."

"Well, I suppose I'll just go ahead and ask then. Tell us, Dr. Kayaba, is this technology dangerous?"

A tense silence followed. Finally, Dr. Kayaba smiled reassuringly.

"No more dangerous than the world we already live in."

For some reason, that answer made Asuna nervous.

"Well thank you so much for your time, Dr. Kayaba. We greatly appreciate it. Stay tuned folks, the Regional Duel Monsters Championship Finals are coming up next."

The studio reverted back to normal and Dr. Kayaba disappeared. Once the interview was over, Kazuto closed out of the application and put his phone away.

"I don't like that anchor lady," he stated bluntly. "She made him uncomfortable. I could tell."

"What do you think he meant by that?" Asuna asked worriedly.

"By what?"

"This technology is no more dangerous than the world we already live in," she repeated.

He shrugged. "How should I know? Dr. Kayaba is a lot smarter than most people. Even I don't always understand everything he says."

Asuna bit her lower lip nervously, lost in thought. "It just feels like there was some sort of double meaning there. Like there's something he's not telling us about the NerveGear."

"Does it really matter?" Kazuto asked. "We know it's safe, Asuna. There's nothing in the NerveGear's design that indicates it could potentially be dangerous to use."

"How can you be sure?"

He smiled happily. "Because I looked over the schematics myself. Dr. Kayaba showed me everything. I'm telling you, it's perfectly harmless."

Asuna looked back out the window, still discontent.

"Is something wrong?"

After a moment, she finally shrugged it off and smiled before shaking her head. "No, nothing. I guess I'm just getting a little jittery now that we're so close to launch day."

He smiled back and nodded in understanding. "Well, try not to worry too much. We're supposed to be having fun, remember?"

"I remember."

They continued the ride in relative silence. Whatever worries Asuna had, she kept them squarely to herself.

Kazuto and Asuna arrived at Kame Game Shop and immediately headed inside. There, Solomon Muto was waiting for them, a bright smile on his face like always.

"Kazuto, my boy. So good to see you again."

"Hi, Mr. Muto," Kazuto responded brightly. "Is Yugi here?"

Solomon nodded. "He's upstairs with his friends. They're watching the Regional Duel Monster finals if you're interested in joining them."

"Who all is competing?"

"A couple of new faces," he explained. "Weevil Underwood vs. Rex Raptor I believe."

Kazuto frowned thoughtfully. "What about Seto Kaiba? I thought for sure he'd be competing this year."

Solomon coughed abruptly and turned his gaze away. "Yes well...it would seem the President of Kaiba Corp opted not to compete this year."

"Why? He's easily the top duelist in the world right now."

He scratched the back of his head awkwardly, looking somewhat nervous. "I'm honestly not sure why. It could be the man is just busy these days. He owns a very large company after all."

Kazuto finally smiled again and nodded in understanding. "I guess that makes sense. Especially with launch day of SAO being tomorrow, he probably has his hands full working with Argus."

Solomon chuckled nervously. "Yes, I'm...sure that's the reason."

He turned his gaze up towards the stairs. "I haven't watched a Duel Monsters competition in years…" Kazuto turned to Asuna. "Would you wanna…"

She smiled at Kazuto and waved him off. "You go on ahead. Say hi to your friend and I'll get our copies of the game."

Kazuto beamed at her. "Okay!"

With that, he took off up the stairs. Solomon chuckled at the sight.

"He seems to be in particularly fine spirits," Solomon observed.

Asuna smiled and nodded in agreement. "It really feels like he's slowly coming out of his shell."

"Must be the company he keeps," Solomon observed with a sincere grin. "If there's one thing I've learned from my grandson it's that good friends are a power all their own."

She turned her head away and blushed meekly.

"Now then, let's see where I put those reserved copies." Mr. Muto began rummaging around behind the counter.

"I really can't thank you enough for holding onto those for us," Asuna insisted gratefully. "It would have been really difficult navigating that line with Kazuto's condition."

"Think nothing of it, my dear. If I'm being honest, your copies are not the only ones I've been holding onto. A fellow by the name of Ryoutarou Tsuboi came by not too long ago and picked up four copies for him and his friends."

"I wonder why Dr. Kayaba felt the need to do it this way."

"I imagine it was so that no one could claim to be one of the Beta Testers and steal a reserved copy," Solomon offered before placing a large black case on the counter. "I don't know much about this Akihiko Kayaba character, but if the level of security he employs for reserved copies is any indication, he's very meticulous with his planning."

Asuna nodded in understanding.

"For instance, just look at this fancy security case the reserved copies arrive in," he continued while inputting a code into the electronic number pad on the case. "Each one comes with a unique pin-number I have to use to open the lock." He chuckled in amusement. "It's rather interesting, actually. Makes me feel like I'm distributing important government documents or some such. Not just videogames."

Asuna narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the case. "Isn't that a bit excessive?"

He shrugged. "Perhaps a little. Then again, you can never be too careful these days. You never know when some ruffian might come into your store looking for trouble."

"Speaking from experience, Mr. Muto?"

He sighed woefully. "I'm afraid so. We had a bit of a break in a couple of weeks ago. My store was turned over and my rarest Duel Monsters card was stolen. We managed to get it back, though unfortunately it was torn in half."

"Oh, Mr. Muto, I'm so sorry to hear that," Asuna spoke with concern.

He smiled at her reassuringly. "It's quite alright, Dear. That card held more sentimental value to me than anything else. Even if it's no longer usable, I'm happy enough just to have it back."

After entering the pin number, the case popped open with a metallic beep. He opened the container and pulled out two plastic game cases.

"And here you are," Solomon declared before offering her the cases. "Two copies of Sword Art Online."

Asuna took the cases and inspected them thoughtfully. Try as she might, she couldn't shake that funny feeling in her stomach.

"Is everything alright, Dear? You seem a bit worried," Solomon observed.

"Mr. Muto...what do you know about NerveGear?"

He frowned at that thoughtfully. "Not much, I'm afraid. My specialty is card games. Not virtual reality."

"Kazuto tried to explain to me how it works but...a lot of what he says has a tendency to go over my head," she admitted.

He chuckled at that. "I can't say I'm terribly surprised. That boy is remarkably intelligent after all."

She remained silent, still lost in her own thoughts.

"If it's any consolation, my dear, the National Diet already declared the NerveGear rigs perfectly safe. I'm not too keen on the specifics, but from everything I've read online, the failsafe systems incorporated in the helmet are foolproof."

"Are you sure?" she asked sincerely.

He smiled at her and nodded. "I'm certain you have nothing to worry about. But if you'd like, I can always call the company for you."

Asuna finally smiled and shook her head. "That's sweet of you, Mr. Muto. But that won't be necessary. I'm just being paranoid."

He chuckled good spiritedly. "Well, take it from an old man who's been around for awhile. You should never let a bit of danger keep you from an adventure. You youngsters have invested quite a bit of time and money into this game. It would be a shame to let it go to waste."

He was right. Asuna had already sunk way too much into this to back out now. Her friends were expecting her to come back. Not only that, she made a promise to Midori to look after Kazuto no matter what. Whatever anxieties she was having, she decided to just put them aside.

At that moment a man in a delivery uniform entered the store and approached the front counter. "Package for a Mr. Muto?"

Solomon gave the delivery man a curious look. "Oh? I wasn't expecting any packages today. Who is it from?"

He shrugged. "Haven't got a clue. I just deliver them." The delivery man placed the package on the counter and pulled out a small handheld device. "I just need a quick signature for the delivery."

Solomon signed off on the package before inspecting the box curiously.

"What do you suppose it is?" Asuna asked curiously.

"I'm honestly not sure," he admitted while checking the packaging. "But it's addressed to my grandson, Yugi."

Before she could respond, Kazuto returned from upstairs.

"Rex lost," he declared dispassionately. "It wasn't a very good match." He then added with a smile. "Yugi's new friends sure are nice though."

"I don't suppose he mentioned anything about expecting a package from Industrial Illusions, did he?" Solomon asked.

Kazuto shook his head. "No, he didn't. Want me to take it up to him?"

He smiled assuredly and shook his head. "Oh no, that won't be necessary. I'll just run it up to him myself. You two kids enjoy the rest of your day."

With that, Solomon took the package upstairs. Kazuto, meanwhile, rejoined Asuna near the counter.

"So did you get them?"

She grinned excitedly and held up the games. "You bet I did."

Suguha was busily practicing her kendo in the small dojo behind the Kirigaya residence. During which time Midori busied herself with cleaning the house. Once she was done with her morning practices, Suguha made her way back into the house before heading to the kitchen and fixing herself a glass of water. While she did this, Midori walked in and began working on cleaning the kitchen floor.

"Need some help?" Suguha offered.

Midori smiled at her daughter and shook her head. "No, Dear. I appreciate it, but I'll be fine."

"Hey, I was meaning to ask you. Is it true what Kazuto said? Asuna's family owns the company that Dad works for?"

She frowned at that while continuing to mop. "From what I understand her father is the CEO. I don't think it's the same thing."

"Still, they must be loaded," Suguha insisted.

Midori nodded. "From what I've been told they're quite wealthy, yes. At the very least, I believe that they…oh...oh my…"

She suddenly dropped the mop and clutched at her forehead while leaning against a wall.

"Mom!" Suguha ran over to her and helped Midori into a chair. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she assured in a motherly tone. "I just got a little light headed is all."

Suguha frowned at her in concern. "You've been pushing yourself too hard again. I'll finish the chores, you just rest."

Midori chuckled and waved her off assuredly. "That won't be necessary. I just need a chance to catch my breath."

She glowered and shook her head vehemently. "No, you need rest. I'll make some tea and get started on those chores."

Her mother wanted to protest but after a moment of thought sighed wearily and reluctantly gave in. "Well...I suppose some tea would be nice."

Suguha nodded approvingly before heading over to the stove to brew up some tea. Midori couldn't help but chuckle and shake her head at her daughter.

"Honestly, you kids are going to worry yourselves to death one of these days."

"The doctor told you you need to take it easy," Suguha insisted. "It's not healthy to keep pushing yourself like this."

"I promise you I'm perfectly okay," Midori assured.

At that moment, the front door opened.

"We're back!" Kazuto declared.

Upon seeing Kazuto and Asuna walk into the kitchen Midori smiled at them both and waved. "Did everything go okay at Mr. Muto's store?"

Kazuto nodded excitedly. "Sure did."

Asuna frowned upon seeing Kazuto's mother sitting down. "Are you okay, Ms. Midori? You look a little tired."

"Mom almost passed out," Suguha insisted while working on the tea.

"Again?" Kazuto looked extremely worried.

Midori shook her head vehemently. "It wasn't anything that dramatic. I just got a little bit of vertigo. It happens all the time."

"She's been doing all the chores in the house against doctor instructions," Suguha explained while pouring her mother a cup of tea. "I'm going to take over and get the rest of it done."

"Let me help you, Suguha," Asuna offered. "It'll go faster with two people."

"That's really not necessary, Dear," Midori insisted. "You're our guest. I can't have you doing my work for me."

"I insist," Asuna responded. "You've been incredibly kind to me, Ms. Midori. This is the least I can do."

"Kazuto, keep an eye on Mom for us," Suguha instructed. "Asuna, come with me and I'll show you what all needs to be done."

She nodded determinedly. "Right."

The two left to go finish the chores in the house. Meanwhile Midori sighed wearily at herself.

"Honestly, all this trouble over a simple dizzy spell."

"Are you sure you're okay, Mom?" Kazuto asked, clear worry in his voice.

"I promise you, Sweetie, I'm perfectly fine," she assured him with a smile.

He still looked so discontent. Something about this was clearly bothering her son, more so than just her safety and wellbeing. There was guilt in his eyes.

"Come sit next to me," she offered.

Kazuto gingerly approached his mother and sat down next to her.

"What's on your mind, dear?" Midori asked with a patient smile.

"Mom...am I a bad son?"

Her smile instantly vanished at his words. "Why in the world would you say that about yourself?"

He lowered his head in shame. "Because I spend all day in my room when I could be helping you."

"You do all your chores on time and you never complain when I ask you to do something," she assured him.

"But...you rarely ask me to do anything."

Again, her features glowered sadly.

"You're always tired," he continued. "And you're always busy. When you're not working, you're cleaning, or taking me to doctor's appointments...don't you ever get a break?"

"Kazuto…"

"You once told me that having fun is an important part of life…" He sunk further and further into a depression. "...but your life doesn't seem very fun at all."

For the longest time, Midori said nothing. After taking a chance to process everything he just said, she finally took a breath and sighed before finding her smile again and placing a hand on his leg.

"Life doesn't always get to be fun. Especially when you're an adult."

"But…"

"What's important…" she continued with that same sincere look in her eyes. "...is that my life is happy."

He finally perked his head up. "It is?"

She nodded assuredly. "Absolutely. My life may be very busy, Kazuto, but it's also a life full of love and happiness. Because I have two children who I adore more than anything in this world, who I've had the honor of watching as they grow up into fine young adults."

Slowly, he began to smile again. "You really mean that?"

"Oh sweetie…" Midori placed her hands on his cheeks and kissed his forehead lovingly. "...of course I do."

Though he seemed to perk up for a moment his eyes suddenly filled with worry again. "Mom...why are you so tired all the time? Be honest."

She frowned nervously and turned her gaze away before thinking up something and smiling at him again.

"That's just a part of getting older."

By the look in his eyes, it was clear there was something else he wanted to say, but decided against it.

"Now then, how about we go out to the back porch and share this tea your sister made together?"

Asuna and Suguha had just finished cleaning the house and were now working on folding laundry together. They were determined to get all of this done so that Midori could just focus on resting.

"I really appreciate you offering to help like this, Asuna," Suguha spoke gratefully while folding another white shirt and putting it in the basket."

"Oh please, don't mention it," Asuna insisted. "Your poor mother has enough on her plate as it is. She deserves a minute to herself."

She sighed woefully. "On that, we both agree. I just wish there was more I could do but I'm always so busy with school and kendo."

"Kazuto should be helping too," Asuna insisted. "Autism or no, he's eighteen years old. He should be helping around the house more."

"And he does...occasionally," Suguha admitted. "But getting Kazuto out of his room when he doesn't want to leave is a lot easier said than done. Especially lately since he's been keeping himself plugged into that helmet all day."

Asuna frowned at that.

"When he's plugged in we can't speak to him," she continued with a shudder. "It's creepy. He doesn't move, doesn't make a sound, it's like he's in a coma."

"I hadn't considered how it might look to people on the outside," Asuna admitted.

"We can't communicate with him and any time we turn the game off he has a meltdown."

"If need be, I can talk to him," Asuna offered.

Suguha sighed before shaking her head. "That's alright. Mom already has him on a system and he knows not to break it."

"Still...if he's not pulling his weight…"

"It's not that simple," Suguha insisted morosely. "Kazuto isn't anti-social or lazy, there are days he won't come out of his room because he genuinely just cannot be around people." She then added while looking slightly hurt. "Around...us."

Asuna's demeanor darkened at that moment. She slowly put down the shirt she was folding and turned her gaze away.

"I understand how that feels…"

Suguha turned her head to her curiously. "You do?"

Asuna nodded. "Don't get me wrong, I still can't imagine what it must have been like growing up with Kazuto. But…" Asuna sighed woefully. "...I understand all too well how it feels to be alienated by a sibling."

She was looking at her in a completely different light now.

"I have an older brother," Asuna explained. "His name is Kouichirou," she smiled as happy memories filled her mind. "The two of us used to be so close. We would play together all the time, he would praise me for my hard work even when my parents wouldn't, he was...always there for me."

Suguha smiled and nodded agreeably. "That's how it used to be for Kazuto and me."

Her expression turned sullen again. "But that all changed after he started working for my father's company. Now he's always busy, or overseas on company trips. I barely see him anymore…"

"You must miss him," Suguha observed before sighing morosely and taking a seat next to her. "Asuna...the truth is, I owe you an apology."

"What for?" she asked curiously.

"I've been suspicious of your intentions for my brother since you got here," Suguha admitted shamefully. "But the fact is, you've done a better job handling his autism than we have."

"What do you mean?"

"Our situations aren't exactly the same. You're not close to your brother anymore because he's barely around. It was work that drove you two apart." She glowered even more. "The only thing I have to blame is me."

Asuna thought about her words for a moment when something occurred to her. "Does this have something to do with your grandfather?"

Suguha remained silent, essentially answering her question.

"Kazuto refuses to talk about it," she continued. "But I got the gist of the situation. Something about the two of you practicing kendo together?"

"It was my idea," Suguha explained. "Mom was so desperate to find something that would keep Kazuto occupied and I had just started my private lessons with our grandfather. I thought that...maybe kendo would bring us closer together."

"It seems like your grandfather had other ideas," Asuna observed.

She sighed in frustration. "You have to understand, our grandfather is extremely traditional. He was a nationally ranked kendo champion and retired police officer."

"He sounds pretty hardcore."

"He is," Suguha assured. "I've looked up to my grandfather for his accomplishments in kendo, but…" Her mood soured again. "...when I think about the way he treated my brother...well, let's just say I can't really blame Mom for not talking to him anymore."

"Be honest...how bad was it?" Asuna asked nervously.

"Worse than it should have been," Suguha admitted shamefully. "Honestly...I should have said something sooner. But, I was still really young. And more than anything, I just liked that my brother and I had something in common."

"But he was miserable, Suguha," Asuna insisted. "Surely you must have seen that."

"Not at first. Kazuto has always been very good at hiding his emotions from us. It wasn't until…"

"Wasn't until what?"

She closed her eyes and hung her head dejectedly. "It wasn't until I saw the abuse with my own two eyes that I finally spoke up."

Asuna placed a hand over her mouth. "What happened?"

"We were at our grandfather's dojo, practicing our forms like normal," Suguha explained. "He must have been in a bad mood that day, because he was being especially hard on Kazuto." She shook away the memory before continuing. "Well...for whatever reason, Kazuto decided he had had enough. He threw his kendo stick to the ground and started screaming at our grandfather. Saying how he hated him as much as he hated kendo and all the stupid 'backwards' rules that came with it."

"I imagine that didn't go over so well with your grandfather."

"Well, at first he just looked shocked," Suguha admitted. "Truth be told I was pretty shocked myself. It wasn't until he said he was going to quit kendo and become a programmer that I think it finally clicked with our grandfather what he was doing." A shiver ran down his spine. "That's when he became angry."

A nervous quiver formed in Asuna's heart.

"He started screaming at Kazuto, who in turn started screaming at him." Suguha shook her head in disbelief at the memory. "Some of the things he said about our grandfather...about our culture...it even hurt me a little."

Asuna nodded in understanding. "Kazuto doesn't hold back when you make him angry. He'll tell you exactly what he thinks, no matter the situation."

"Well...it was enough to make our grandfather lose it. He picked up a kendo stick and started…" she swallowed the lump that formed in her throat and shook her head repeatedly. "When Mom came to pick him up and saw all the bruises, she was horrified. She started arguing with our grandfather, it turned to shouting and...eventually Mom stormed out, grabbed my brother and me and took us home. We...haven't visited my grandfather since."

"You almost sound like you miss him."

Suguha sighed in a melancholy tone. "Maybe a little. Don't get me wrong, I'm still mad at him for what he did to Kazuto. But...I do miss learning from a Master Kendo instructor. And as hard as he was on Kazuto, he was always very nice to me."

"Well, yeah, I'm sure he was," Asuna insisted. "Because you could follow all of his instructions without problem and never had meltdowns in the middle of a demonstration."

"I know. I know," Suguha responded glumly. "It isn't fair to make that comparison. Doesn't change the fact that I miss those days sometimes." She drooped sadly. "But not nearly as much as I miss being close with my brother."

"Have you ever tried telling him that?" Asuna offered.

She shrugged. "I don't see the point. It won't change anything." She closed her eyes as tears began to run down her cheeks. "His trust in me is completely shaken. I stood by for so long while our grandfather abused him and didn't say a word."

Asuna placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You can't put all of that blame solely on yourself. Ultimately, it's your grandfather's fault for being ignorant."

"That's just the thing. We were all ignorant. Mom included," Suguha insisted while wiping her eyes. "More than anything, I just want a chance to reconnect with my brother and regain his trust."

"And you will," Asuna assured with a smile. "I'll make sure of it."

Suguha perked up almost immediately. "R...really?"

She nodded. "I'll make sure Kazuto keeps his promise. You have my word."

Suguha wrapped her up in a hug, much to Asuna's surprise.

"Thank you. That means a lot to me."

It took some doing but the chores in the house were finally done. Once Asuna had finished helping Suguha, they went back to the kitchen to find Midori had prepared them all lunch as a thank you, with some assistance from Kazuto. The four of them sat down for a meal together, after which, Kazuto and Asuna went upstairs to play mini-golf on their NerveGear rigs.

They were playing through Asuna's favorite course. A space themed multi-level twelve hole course that used gravity manipulation as a mechanic for each hole. It was a lot of fun, though also devilishly difficult given the course's design formed intricate spirals and corkscrews that completely laughed at the laws of physics.

"Okay...here we go." Asuna focused up while adjusting her grip on the putter. In front of her was a rather precarious looking hole which took the form of a gravitationally inverted corkscrew. Upon launching her ball forward, the course would send it spiraling up instead of down.

"Just a little tap should do it…" She squinted her eyes and stuck her tongue out in concentration before gently tapping the ball with her putter. As it began its ascent up the corkscrew it suddenly began gaining far more momentum than she anticipated.

"Oh no, too much speed. Too much speed!" She gripped the putter worriedly in both hands as the ball threatened multiple times to go sailing off the side of the course. "No no no! Too much speed!"

Despite nearly careening off into space multiple times, the ball successfully made it to the top of the course.

"Yes!"

It then bounced upon making contact with the top before skipping off the edge and floating away into the cold dark void.

"What? No! Why?!" she groaned in frustration before tossing her putter on the ground. "Why?!"

"It's the low gravity," Kazuto calmly explained while setting up his put. "You've gotta compensate for that bounce at the end."

He proceeded to tap his ball, whereupon it cleanly ascended the corkscrew before bouncing directly into the hole without problem. Asuna grumbled at him, her arms folded, looking slightly salty.

"You're doing good," Kazuto assured with his usual friendly candor. "This is the hardest course, after all."

After a moment, she finally smiled at him and relaxed. "Just as well, I'm much better with a rapier."

He chuckled at that. "I agree."

She scoffed at him and put her hands on her hips. "Heeeey!"

They both laughed. After a moment of silence Kazuto spoke up again.

"So will you be okay having your computer moved back to your parent's house on your own?"

She nodded while gripping her putter again and lining up her shot with the ball. "I know enough to get it running. You don't have to worry." Asuna took another shot with her putter, the ball made it all the way up the corkscrew once more before pinging off the side and flying off the course again. "Shoot!"

"What about your parents?" he asked next. "Will they be upset if they find out?"

"Honestly, I doubt they'll even notice," she assured while preparing to shoot the ball again. "But if by some chance they do catch me setting up my rig, I'll just tell them it's for college prep, or something."

He frowned worriedly at that. "So you're going to lie to them?"

She shrugged her shoulders and made the putt. "Only if I have to. Otherwise I just won't say anything."

"A lie of omission is still a lie, Asuna."

She cursed under her breath as the ball once again flung itself off the side of the course. "Kazuto, I understand how you feel about this but I don't have a choice. Lying to my parents is the only way we get to play together, you know that already."

Kazuto remained silent, quietly contemplating her words while Asuna struggled in vain to get the ball up the course.

"Why do people lie?"

She stopped mid-swing and looked back at him curiously. "What do you mean?"

He shrugged. "Lying is one of those things I've never understood. I understand how to lie. But I've never really understood why people lie."

Asuna frowned at him worriedly before giving his question some more thought. "Well...there are multiple reasons people lie."

"Such as?"

"To make themselves look good. To make someone else feel good…" She began racking her brain for more answers. "To protect someone. To avoid trouble. There are lots of different reasons."

Kazuto considered all this information for a moment before asking. "Do people ever lie without a reason?"

She shook her head vehemently. "I don't believe so. People don't lie unless there's some reason for doing it, no matter the situation."

"Why not?"

"Because unless you have something to gain from it, why wouldn't you just tell the truth?" she asked.

"That makes sense, I guess."

An awkward silence hung in the air.

"Kazuto...do you think someone is lying to you about something?"

He nodded. "Multiple people, actually."

"Who?"

"My mom, Dr. Kayaba…" He sighed morosely. "...you."

His words caught her off guard. "M...me?"

He didn't respond, his demeanor becoming incredibly withdrawn.

"You think I'm lying to you?" she asked, sounding somewhat hurt. "Why?"

Kazuto started to fidget again, tapping his fingers against his thumb as he was oft to do whenever he was anxious. "You won't let me come to your house."

Asuna turned her head away and frowned guiltily.

"In the two months we've known each other you refuse to let me meet your parents or visit your home or see your room." He slowly sunk in on himself more and more. "Are you...are you ashamed of me?"

She went wide eyed with horror before immediately placing both hands on his shoulders. "No! Oh no no no, Kazuto, no. You've got it entirely wrong. I promise, it's not that."

He quirked his head at her curiously. "But there's something you're not telling me, isn't there."

Asuna bit her lower lip nervously and turned away. "I really can't talk about it."

"Why not?"

"Because...I just can't, okay?" she insisted as gently as possible. "I promise Kazuto, it has nothing to do with you. This is my own drama I have to deal with."

He furrowed his brow in confusion. "Okay...drama is a word that has multiple meanings. Which kind are you using here?"

"The kind that involves my parents."

"Is that why you don't want me coming over to your house? Because of your parents?"

Asuna sighed morosely. "Look, there's more to it than that. But…" She finally shook her head and smiled before placing a tender hand on his cheek. "...you don't have to worry about me. Okay?"

After a moment, he turned his head away and gazed up at the stars surrounding them. "Is there ever a good reason to lie?"

She thought about his question for a moment. "I think so…"

"What is it?"

Asuna considered her words thoughtfully before turning her gaze back to him. "If the truth can't help the people you love, then you should lie."

After another quiet moment, where Kazuto thought about what she had just said, he finally smiled before checking the time on his HUD.

"It's almost 9:30."

She nodded. "We better log off then."

"Yeah...we should."

Kazuto beamed at her excitedly.

"We have a big day tomorrow."

Tokyo, Japan.

The Kirigaya Residence.

Ten minutes before the SAO server goes live.

It was a wonder how two teenagers could go through this much food in a single week. Midori had just finished stocking up at the store and was in the process of unloading the bags from her car, groaning from the exertion of lugging two heavy shopping bags in each arm as she made her way into the house.

"Well...they are both still growing," she quietly murmured to herself as she approached the house.

At that moment, Suguha opened the front door and descended the stairs, her kendo bag in hand.

"Hey, Mom. I'm off to practice," she declared chipperly.

"Stay safe, sweetheart."

"Need a hand with those groceries?" Suguha offered.

She shook her head. "No no, I'll have your brother help me."

Suguha nodded in understanding. "You may wanna hurry. He's about to log into that game again."

With that, she left for practice. Midori made her way inside before calling up the stairs.

"Kazuto? I need your help with these groceries."

She made her way over to the kitchen counter before setting the bags down.

"Kazuto, I'm not gonna tell you again. Before you log into that game you need to…"

She stopped mid-sentence upon seeing a white letter resting on the countertop. Midori narrowed her eyes at the letter curiously before picking it up.

"What in the world is this?" she wondered aloud. The mail never arrived this early. Flipping the parcel over revealed there was no return address or any lettering that would indicate who it was from. Not knowing what else to do, she finally decided to just tear open the envelope and read what was inside.

Whereupon her heart immediately stopped in her chest.

Dear Mom.

I know that I've been rather quiet lately. More so than I usually am. I've had a lot of time to think over these past two months. And Asuna has been helping me find the words I've been meaning to tell you for a long time. But you know better than anyone else that words have never come easily to me. So I thought I'd tried writing them down this time instead.

"Kazuto…" She placed a hand against her racing heart, unable to believe what she was seeing.

Enclosed, you'll find a check. The first one I've ever written. Asuna helped me, so I know I did it right.

Midori looked back down at the envelope. Sure enough, there was a check along with the letter.

This check is half of everything that I have made over the past two years working for Dr. Kayaba. I want you to have it so that you don't have to work so hard anymore.

"What?" Midori grabbed the check and inspected it. Her eyes went wide in disbelief upon seeing the amount written on the front. "Kazuto...how in the world did you…"

She continued to read.

With more money, you can have fun like I do. You can spend more time doing things for yourself, and less time worrying about me. There will be more in the future, but I hope this amount is enough to help make life easier for you.

Midori was reeling. How in the world did Kazuto make this much money? As many questions as the number on that check raised, she couldn't peel her eyes away from the letter long enough to get answers. So she just kept reading.

You don't have to worry about me, I've still got enough. What's important is that I have a chance to take care of you now, just like how you've taken care of me all these years.

She placed a hand up to her gaping mouth, her lip beginning to quiver.

I want you to know, Mom, that I'm grateful. I'm grateful that I was adopted into a family that loves me so much. You've always been nice to me. You've always been patient with me. You've always treated me like your son, even when there were days where I felt like I wasn't. You've always been the best mom you could be. But…

Her heart shattered into a million tiny pieces.

You also lie to me.

You lie about liking your job. You lie about making enough money. You lie about why you're always tired. You lie about why Dad refuses to come home. You lie about why we never visit grandfather anymore. But most of all, you lie about your own happiness.

Her eyes began to glass over.

For so long, I never understood why you lie so much. But thanks to Asuna, I think I finally understand. You lie because you think that the truth won't help the people you love. And the truth is…

"Kazuto…" Her voice hitched as the emotions welling up inside her threatened to spill over.

It's me. The answer was always me. I'm the reason why you lie so much.

The kitchen was silent as the grave. Nothing could be heard save for the ticking of the clock.

But I don't want you to be sad. I want you to be happy. Just like how you've made me happy all these years. Which is why I want you to know that, no matter where I may be…

Her whole body trembled as tears began to fall onto the letter.

...I'll always remember where home is.

She shook her head from side to side, her hand covering her mouth.

I love you, Mom. Thank you for letting me be your son.

The bag of groceries fell to the ground as her legs gave out and she dropped to her knees. Midori was sobbing. Crying harder than she had in years while clutching the precious note to her chest. There were no words. Nothing could be said to accurately describe how she felt at that moment.

"Oh, Kazuto…" she quietly wept while clutching the note tighter to her chest. "You precious, precious boy."

Silence enveloped the kitchen once more. At that moment, the clock struck twelve.

"Link start!"

Upon hearing her son's voice, Midori jumped up to her feet and rushed up the stairs. There was so much she needed to tell him. Too much she needed to say. She needed to hold him, to hug him, to let him know she'd do it all again if she had to. A hundred, nay a thousand times over if need be.

"Kazuto!" She burst into his room and looked to her right.

He was there, laying on his bed, the NerveGear strapped to his head. She'd missed him.

With a sad smile, Midori took a breath before wiping the tears from her eyes and kneeling down next to his bed. She took him by the hand and kissed the back of his palm lovingly.

"My son…" Midori ran her thumb gently along his cheek. "...my sweet, precious son."

With one more kiss to his cheek she finally stood back up.

"I love you too."

Midori turned and gazed back at the boy she loved and adored one last time.

"And I'm so happy to finally have you back," she declared happily before quietly shutting the door.

It wouldn't be until about an hour later that Midori would be made aware of just how wrong she was.