Hello, everyone! This is a new chapter! Chapter 5! I hope everyone will enjoy this new chapter! Without further ado, let's start!

Normal POV

In the morning, Kai was staring at a glass window as he laid his hand on it. On the other side was Aichi, now back to his comatose state, as he clenched his fist while laying his forehead on the glass in frustration.

~ Flashback start~

After getting checked on, Kai had ran to where the surgery room Aichi was in as he saw the light still on with Leon and the others sitting outside.

" Kirigaya went back home... He said that he'll deal with Eiji Nochizawa tomorrow for this."

" What's Aichi's condition now?"

" We're not sure..."

" Why did this happen...?!"

" We were seeing Kirigaya off but when I sensed Sendou's Psyqualia, we ran back up but he was gone... The door to your ward was locked and doctors have been trying to get it open..."

" Weren't you supposed to take care of him?"

" He wanted us to leave him alone but we didn't know that this would happen..."

" Here. We found this sitting outside the drawer."

Sharlene handed Aichi's Augma to Kai as he took it from her and wore it as he saw the messages that were sent.

" He had already longed planned about this should anything happen to you."

" It's all my fault... If I hadn't let my guard down..."

The light on the surgery room turned off as Aichi was wheeled out by nurses to somewhere as the doctor followed out soon after.

" Doctor! What's Aichi's condition?!"

At the question, the doctor just shook his head.

" I'm afraid his condition has severly deteriorated. I don't know what happened in there but his brain should've supposingly recovered enough for him to not have deteoriate but now... I don't know the exact cause but the damage has reached his brain stem. Soon, he'll become brain dead and we might have to take him off life support."

" Isn't there anything you can do?!"

" I'm afraid not. If by any miracle that he survives, I can't be sure either that he'll be able to live normally anymore. I'm sorry. We've transferred him to the Intensive Care ward but you must prepare for the worst."

The doctor left after Leon and the others thanked him as Kai ran to where Aichi's ward was at as he entered when the nurses came out.

~ Flashback end~

Leon and the others waited outside as Ren and the others came running over.

" What happened?"

" I take it that you two sensed his Psyqualia too."

" Yeah. But it didn't feel normal. What is going on?"

" Sendou used his life to exchange for Kai's."

" Why?"

" Eiji Nochizawa went after Kai and he was sent here in critical condition. And when Sendou found out what happened..."

" Is Kai inside?"

" Yeah."

" Don't go in yet. Let's leave Kai alone for awhile. This is a little too much for him to take in, that's all."

" Meanwhile, could you tell us in exact detail about what happened and how's Aichi's condition now?" Chris ask

" Yeah."

Inside the ward, Kai got permission from the nurse as he entered the door that separated him and Aichi as he sat down on the chair while watching the heart monitor continuing to beat.

" Aichi... Please wake up... Please... Open your eyes... You're the only one I have left to love and call family... Please... We still haven't done anything together as lovers... We still have a future so please..."

Kai looked up after sensing something again as he got out his own Augma and wore it as he saw the real Yuna beside Aichi.

" Yuna!"

" Don't get too loud. The nurse will hear you. I came to give this back to Aichi."

She opened her hands as an orb was inside.

" That's..."

" Aichi's memories from SAO."

" Why didn't you give this earlier?!"

" I can't. You see, the scan and extraction of memory from SAO came from the fear of dying. I was waiting for him to overcome that so that I could give this back to him but... I didn't think that the time he did overcome it was this result."

" No way..."

" I'm going to give this back but given his condition now depends all on his willpower. Put on his Augma."

" Y-Yeah..."

Kai took out Aichi's Augma that he kept with him as he wore it on Aichi without the nurse noticing and Yuna let the orb be absorbed back into the Augma.

" He should be fine for now. I'll watch over him, you have something with you that relates to what Eiji's about to do, right?"

" Is it... The concert ticket?"

" Yes. By doing a major scan around the whole stadium, the scan can cause the survivors to become like Aichi, or even worse, death."

" No way..."

" Stop him... And my father..."

" Your father?"

" He's Augma's creator and the mentor of SAO's creator, Kayaba Akihiko. My father, Shigemura Tetsuhiro."

" Your father is Augma's...?!"

" That's right. He's doing all this to revive me as an AI using the memories from the SAO survivors of me. That's what the scan is for."

" He'll go that far...?!"

" Yeah. So please, stop Eiji and my father for me and for Aichi."

" I will."

" Thank you. Oh, and Kai."

" What is it?"

" Eiji's not done with your friends yet. He's sent them invites to the concert as well."

" What?!"

" Your friends don't know yet but you should know what to do."

" Yeah, I know. Contacting them won't help much but I think they can help with something else."

" Huh?"

" They get fired up when fighting. So we'll use that to our advantage."

" What do you mean?"

" You'll see."

At Kai's smirk, Yuna flinched a little.

" Now I know why Aichi doesn't like to always take you so seriously..."

" He said that?"

" I could tell."

" Well, just watch."

Kai opened his messaging app on his Augma as he cautiously typed a message to his friends while making sure the nurse want watching as he sent the message.

" 'Be careful. The concert is a trap. Boss monsters will spawn after Yuna's concert. I heard that Aichi would recover fully if we defeat all of them. Would you like to participate?' Seriously? You're not telling them the truth?"

" Well, it is partially true. By defeating every boss monsters, the memories from the ones who got their SAO memories extracted would go back to them once the plan has been taken down, right?"

" That's true but..."

" Oh, I've got a reply."

" 'I'm in!', 'If it's for Brother, then I'm going!', 'Let's show our support for Sendou-kun's recovery!', 'Let's do this!'... Your friends are really predictable..."

" I'll update Aichi's condition to them once we meet. No problem. Hear that, Aichi? Everyone's not going to let you go so easily. So, you've got to wake up, alright?"

" I'm sure he heard you."

" Yeah."

" You still have a few more hours before the live."

" I'll go get ready."

" Didn't you want to spend more time with Aichi?"

" Aichi's strong. Now I'm certain. I can believe him. I know that he'll wait for me."

" I see."

Kai stood up as he remembered something and searched for something in his pockets. He heaved a sigh of relief when he found a pouch.

" I thought they might've taken it out or something..."

" What is that?"

" I didn't just went to defeat boss monsters. I promised already that I would give him a present."

He took out a necklace with a small crystal bottle hanging on a black string.

" The shopkeeper said that the crystal used to make this bottle represents life and love. I thought that it would look great on Aichi and didn't really bothered about the meaning but now... I'm going to make sure that he'll also know that I'm always by his side. No matter where I am, so..."

He wore the necklace around Aichi's neck carefully as he placed a soft kiss on Aichi's forehead.

" I'll be back soon. Then I'll be going now."

" Yeah, be careful."

" I will. Count on it."

Kai exited the room with a newfound determination as Ren approached him.

" Kai, so how was it?"

" I'm going to the concert. To stop Nochizawa. Yuna told me everything about what he's planning to do at the concert."

" Yuna?"

" Yeah. Yuna's father is planning to do a full range scan around the stadium on every SAO survivors in there. Once it's complete and the scan occurs, major damage will be dealt to the brain since the Augma sends out the scan waves. It's enough to cause permanent damage or even worse, death. All just to revive Yuna as an AI."

" And Yuna told you all about it?"

" The AR idol, Yuna, is her dream that Nochizawa remembered. The Yuna that talked to me was the real Yuna's consciousness. So I'm going to stop them."

" Then don't leave me out. I'm going too." Ren said

" I don't plan to. If my theory is true, then boss monsters will appear to inflict the fear in the survivors to cause the scan. So I'll need everyone's cooperation on this."

" Yeah!"

" I know this all happened because of our negligence but since we have not much knowledge about Augma, let us stay here to continue watching over Sendou."

" Of course."

" Then I'll continue to keep watch on the Augma system to find anything interesting. I might just have a breakthrough soon. Give me a few minutes just after the concert starts and I'll be done by then." Chris said

" Yeah."

" Then Tetsu will be the driver again! We'll pick everyone up and go to the concert together!"

" Don't worry about that. Everyone is already on their own way there. We'll all meet up there and I'll brief them about what's going to happen."

" I got it."

They walked off as they got everything they needed ready and set off to the concert. They saw the others waiting by the entrance as they got off the car and greeted the others.

" Kai! Let's whoop Nochizawa's butt!"

" Don't get too vulgar and violent yet. I'll explain the situation but you guys must take this in seriously and not get hasty."

" Yeah..."

Kai explained what happened last night that let to what's happening now on the way in as they sat just behind Asuna and the others.

" Hey, guys!"

" Oh, you guys are here too?"

" Yeah!"

" So, Kai... If what you said is true..." Misaki whispered

" Yeah. This whole stadium is filled with SAO survivors." Kai whispered

" Aichi's not here today? He hasn't recovered yet?"

" No. Where's Kirigaya?"

" Kirito-kun said he's going to the toilet. So he should be back soon."

" I see."

Kai turned to the side as he looked around.

" ... I guess I'm leaving Nochizawa to you for now. I need to see what's going to happen here." Kai thought

Soon, the lights went out and the live started as Yuna jumped out from a burst of light.

" Nothing fishy happenin' yet..." Naoki muttered

" Just wait."

When her first song ended, Yuna suddenly stopped singing as the lights went out and their Augma activated, changing them to their Ordinal Scale battle outfits.

" What's this?!"

Boss monsters started to spawn everywhere in the stadium as Kai got a call.

" Kai!"

" Chris!"

" I'm looking at what's happening from a drone I hacked! It's only momentarily so listen carefully to what I have to say! That big screen displaying the numbers is how much the scan is progressing! Once it reaches 10,000, the mass scanning will occur! You've got to hurry and defeat all the boss monsters or at best, get everyone to get rid of their Augma!"

" The second choice is impossible now... Everyone is in too much panic to hear me. Looks like only the first option is possible."

" And one more thing. You might need a person who's familiar with this word. Apparently, Augma is a device that has data extracted from a Nervegear. So there's a full dive program inside it. I don't know what that program is for but if someone like Yuna knows whether it can benefit you guys, then use it."

" Yeah, I will. Thanks."

" Good luck, Kai. And don't forget, Aichi's still waiting for you."

" Yeah. I won't forget."

He hung up the call as he ran to the others, who were fending off the monsters on their end.

" Tell Kirigaya this once he comes back! In the Augma, there's a full dive program already inside! I'm sure he should know what to do after that!"

" How do you know?!" Miwa ask

" I know he might known something or if even Yuna could come and tell us then I don't mind! As long as I'll be able to stop this as well!"

" Where are you going?!"

" To where Nochizawa is! My side of the promise is not over yet!"

" Then leave this to us! Go!"

" Yeah!"

Kai ran off as he tried to remember where Kazuto told him that he'll meet Eiji and was soon at the carpark as he saw Chaos Drake attacking the defeated Eiji. With one hit, Chaos Drake was flung back momentarily as Kai grabbed Eiji by his shirt collar.

" What are you standing here cowering for?! Huh?! What number 2?! You're just a coward wearing a strong front because of a machine you're wearing! Things like that don't last long, Nochizawa! Stand up and fight!"

" I can't... I have no power... Director already don't need me anymore... I can't be with Yuna or Aichi anymore... It was because of me that Yuna died! Because we tried to fight, Yuna has to die in front of us!"

" But that's all in the past! Don't let your past sins cloud your judgment! Think about the present, about now! What can you do now to change another sin that you're going to add up?! Just sit here and let yourself be killed?! Or are you going to face this?! Let me tell you this! Aichi's not dead yet! He's still alive!"

" Aichi is...? But he said that he would give his life..."

" Yeah, he did but he's still fighting right now! To live for me, for you, for us! Yuna, the real Yuna, gave him his memories back, so his condition will improve! I'm sure of it! So if you, who's still alive and can fight but in this state, compared to Aichi, who's lying on at hospital bed, fighting and still waiting for you to change! He's been doing this all for you! So that you'll change your ways!"

" Aichi..."

" I was the same as you... I committed a sin that I thought I couldn't face myself from but Aichi pulled me out of that darkness despite all the situations we've gone through so I know... This sin will be no different if you don't help me stop this now! It's either you fight or stay here to die!"

Kai picked back up his sword when Chaos Drake recovered as he started to fight it again, leaving Eiji to think about his words as Kai was soon thrown back by Chaos Drake. It was soon raising its claws again as it suddenly froze when Eiji stabbed it with his sword and it exploded in fireworks.

" Nochizawa..."

" ... Aichi's still alive, right? Then I now see another reason to live other than for Yuna and our promise. Even if it's only the two of us, our promise is still there. Yuna will continue to live our hearts... So, I'll... I'll fight!"

" That's what I want to hear."

Lending Kai his hand, Eiji helped Kai to stand as they nodded. Another boss monster appeared as they started to fight it again

At the hospital, Aichi's finger twitched as Leon took notice of it.

" Sendou?"

" Aug... ma..."

" Augma? You want to use it?"

" I... need... it..."

" Jillian, Sharlene. Keep watch of the nurse."

" You don't think he's talking in a dream?"

" No. This is different."

" Alright. Leave it to us."

Leon nodded as he wore the Augma on Aichi and it activated. Aichi's mouth opened again.

" Link... start..."

Just as the boss monster was defeated, Kai and Eiji panted as a voice suddenly called out to them.

" Kai-kun. Eiji-kun."

They turned behind as they saw an image of Aichi.

" Aichi?!"

" I'm using the Augma. I'm sure you might've known by now that the Augma has a full dive system. Yuna has activated Kirito-san and the others' Augma upstairs for it and now they're fighting to save everyone. I can activate it for the both of you. So what will you do?"

" Where are they fighting in?"

" The 100th floor boss monster for SAO. In the Ruby Palace."

" Well, they can't do it by themselves. We'll go together."

" Yeah."

" Then let's go."

His Psyqualia activated as Kai and Eiji laid down against the wall.

" Link start!"

They were soon full dived into the chaotic battle in the Ruby Palace as Kai slashed away a rock coming towards Kazuto while Eiji deflected the sword.

" 'The Incarnate of the Radius'... That's the 100th floor boss monster of the SAO game? It's huge."

" Kai?! And... Eiji Nochizawa?!"

" I'll fight too!"

Aichi appeared in his Ordinal Scale battle outfit.

" Aichi! Don't be reckless! You seriously full dived into here in that condition?!"

" I can do this much at least for now. I mean, I don't know what'll happen to my real body when I wake up, right? So I'm going to enjoy this fight and moment for as long as I can."

" Don't talk as if you won't remember anything when you wake up. I won't let that happen."

" I'll take your word for it but for now... Let's get that thing!"

" Yeah!"

Just then, Asuna dived in and stabbed the Radius in the eye as she hopped off after that.

" Asuna!"

" Looks like she's alright now too."

" Yeah."

A green blast then came soon after as Leafea came flying from a portal and Yui had called other ALO and GGO players to help fight. After that, Yui loaded a program that had their last saved data from SAO.

" Wow... I never wore this in a long time..."

" Now it does seem like the old times."

" Hey, we're not old!"

" Well, I'm not from SAO or anything other games here so..."

Aichi giggled as he tapped Kai's shoulder.

" Then let's start from the very basic, right, Eiji-kun?"

" Yeah!"

" We'll create an opening for you guys to consecutively attack! Let's go, Kai-kun, Eiji-kun!"

" Yeah!"

The three charged as the tree for recovering the Radius's health appeared.

" Eiji-kun! Give me a boost!"

" Yeah!"

Eiji ran in front of Aichi as he jumped on his back to get close enough to the water droplet as he used a sword skill to hit the Radius from above when the droplet hit the bottle necklace Kai gave him without him knowing.

" Switch!"

Eiji immediately caught up and delivered slashes as Kai got ready while running up the arm.

" Switch!"

At the word, Kai started delivering more blows to temporarily immobilize the Radius as he turned to Kazuto and the others.

" Now!"

" Yeah!"

Everyone attacked as the Radius was soon defeated by Kazuto and a sword was given to Kazuto.

" Looks like you can use that to defeat the boss monsters in reality."

" We need to go back now. Finish it, Black Swordsman."

" See you guys later."

The three disappeared as Kai and Eiji woke up. They looked at each other as they heard Yuna's song.

" Let's go see Aichi."

" Yeah."

As they ran to the entrance, Eiji heard Yuna's voice.

" You remembered... My dream... Thank you, Eiji."

Managing a small smile, Eiji continued running to the hospital with Kai as they arrived at Aichi's ward. Kai opened the the door as they immediately ran into the other room without looking through the window.

" Aichi!"

Leon and the others looked over to him just as they removed Aichi's Augma as they saw Aichi and their eyes widened.

And that's the end of this chapter! I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter and I'll see everyone in the next chapter!