Sword Art Online: Double Adventures

Episode: Strea - Chapter 2: Strea's Awakening

~ December 4th, 2040 | Time: Early Afternoon ~

The following day, we find Kazuto riding down the street on his bike, following the flow of traffic as he kept his eyes forward. In his mind, however, memories of his late night talk with Asuna still echoed inside. It was a talk to decide about what to do with the new "family member" sent their way.

In their bedroom, Asuna was admiring her new necklace in the mirror while Kazuto sat on the edge of the bed. In his hand was the small data chip he received, reading the label on it and seeing the words "Strea". Asuna looked back to him.

"Kazuto? Are you okay?" she asked. He nodded.

"Yeah. I'm just….thinking about what we're going to do. I mean….we already have Yui and Yuna in our family. I dunno how we could handle a third child. I'm doing the best I can to support all of you." he said. Asuna was quiet, her eyes locked on Kazuto, before shedding a smile. She crawled onto the bed and approached Kazuto from behind, wrapping her arms over his shoulders.

"You mean WE do the best we can to support our family. Don't think you have to handle everything by yourself. This isn't like what happened in GGO, right?" she asked. Kazuto glanced back at her and then to the chip.

"Still…I don't know how to handle this. What if….What if we activate this program and find out something is seriously wrong with it? Remember. Kayaba himself cut this mental health program from the game and instead left it to Yui." he asked. Asuna sighed.

"Kazuto…think about how Yui felt about this. Remember when we told her in private? That we found another person who is like her? I bet whoever is inside is just as lonely as Yui was. We should give it a chance." Asuna said "Besides….Yui's been telling me lately that she feels rather "different" when she's with Yuna. I can understand what she's saying. Do you?" Kazuto rested his hand on Asuna's arm.

"I know. Yui's not like Yuna. She isn't really flesh and blood. But…that doesn't make her any less our child." he muttered. The two fell silent as Kazuto's eyes returned to the chip in his hand.

Returning to the modern time, Kazuto has just arrived outside the college he attended prior to his wedding with Asuna. Parking his bike out in front, Kazuto took off his helmet and slipped it under his arm before heading inside.

~ Inside the Classroom ~

Approaching the classroom, Kazuto stopped at the door and peered in through the door window. The classroom door was labeled "Advance Mechanics". After peeking in, Kazuto knocked at the door.

"Excuse me? Is anyone in there? My name's Kazuto Kirigaya." he called. Just then, the door opened and there stood a man dressed in a white lab coat, covering a light green button shirt and tan slacks. This was Kazuto's teacher from college.

"Why Kazuto….welcome. I didn't think you'd be over this soon. I wasn't expecting you until much later." he said. Kazuto smiled as the teacher let him in.

"Sorry to bother you Mr. Yokoza. But…I wanted to get this to you as soon as I could." he said. Fishing in his pocket, he took out the computer chip.

"Ah. So THIS is what your friend at the government sent you, eh? A program that is similar to your daughter Yui. My. What a find this is." Mr. Yokoza said, examining it himself. Kazuto slipped it back in his pocket as the teacher approached the far side of the room. He stopped in front of an object covered by a thick white cloth. As Kazuto approached, Mr. Yokoza tore off the sheet, showing the frame of a robotic android, quite similar to the one he obtained from his worker friends to place Yui in. But unlike Yui's model, this one appeared more child sized. It had solid white hair on top of its head.

"This is the spare you guys had around?" Kazuto asked. Mr. Yokoza nodded.

"Yes. This was the one I told you about over the phone. Its a bit of a older model than the one my students are working on now and the school was thinking about scrapping it. Quite frankly, I'm glad one of my brightest students is taking it off my hands." he chuckled. Kazuto grinned before crouching down. He stared at the robot's blank face.

"Well, if its anything like the one I used to upload Yui into….this ought to be easy. Mr. Yokoza? Can I borrow the science lab?" he asked.

~ In the Science Lab ~

We later find Kazuto and Mr. Yokoza having moved the android frame into the nearby science room, where Kazuto remembered they would have access to computers necessary to make the upload. As the professor set up the android frame, Kazuto looked on at the data chip in the palm of his hand.

"Okay "Strea". Time to wake you up and see just who you really are." he thought. Looking to his teacher, he received a light nod, signaling everything was set up. As the android frame sat in a chair, Kazuto opened the component in the back and began fiddling around within. He then took the data chip and inserted it within a designated drive slot within the android before closing up.

"All right. It's in." he said. Mr. Yokoza nodded before approaching the counter for a remote control, meant to activate and shut off the android. With the press of a button, they heard a humming sound coming from the android. The gears within its body began to turn and grind as the frame began to power up. The first thing that sprung to life was the android's previously shut eyes, revealing dark pink colored eyes. Inside the android frame now was the consciousness of the inserted program, Strea. It looked around the room in confusion.

"Hmmm? W-What? Where….am I? Did….Did Kayaba change his mind? Is this….Aincrad?" it muttered. Kazuto looked on in surprise, a bit amazed to hear the voice talking about Aincrad.

"No doubt about it. This IS something Akihiko Kayaba made for Aincrad. But…the only question remaining….is WHY did he drop this program from SAO?" he thought. Just then, the android turned and faced Kazuto, locking eyes with him.

"Wh-Who are you?" it asked. Kazuto crouched down and looked into Strea's eyes.

"H-Hello there….Strea, right? My name's Kazuto Kirigaya. And, as of today, you and I….are family." he said. Strea looked on in confusion.

"Uhh….okay? Tell me. Where is my master? Where is Kayaba?" it asked. Kazuto lightly gasped, looking towards Mr. Yokoza before facing Strea again.

"Well…..see…I don't know how to tell you this. But…..Mr. Kayaba isn't around anymore. I'm afraid….he passed away." he said. Strea gasped.

"W-What? He's…dead?" it asked. Kazuto nodded, putting his hand on the android's shoulder.

"Yes. But…fortunately for you, I happen to be a former player of his final work, Sword Art Online. It was….his final wish that I care for you and your older sister, Yui." he said. Strea was silent, looking on at Kazuto. Just then, a smile came to the android's face.

"Okay then. Its nice to meet you….DAD. My name's Strea, otherwise known as Mental Health Counseling Program Number 2, codename "Strea". Happy to make your acquaintance." it said. Kazuto smiled back. Just then, Strea noticed the body it was placed into and lightly gasped, covering herself.

"Uhhh….what are you…?" he asked. Strea glared at him before lightly winking with a teasing grin.

"You dirty daddy! How can you look at your new daughter this way?" she teased. Kazuto stuttered, turning bright red before quickly turning away.

"I….I am NOT being "dirty"!" he exclaimed. Mr. Yokoza laughed as Kazuto's face remained beat red. But as Mr. Yokoza put his lab coat over Strea, he peered back.

"Well…at least that answers if it's a boy or a girl. Great. Now I've got THREE little girls to watch over." he said.

~ A While Later | At the Kirigaya Residence | Time: 2:45 p.m. ~

After awakening Strea, Kazuto was on his way back home with Strea hanging on behind him, hugging around his waist. As they were approaching the house, Asuna, Yui and Yuna could be seen waiting by the front door. The bike came to a stop as Kazuto locked down the stand and hopped off with Strea. Having made a pitstop previously, Strea was now wearing a red t-shirt and dark colored pants. She also had stopped to get her hair dyed a different color, choosing light lavender.

"So, Kazuto, is this our newest family member?" Asuna asked. Kazuto nodded as he patted Strea's head.

"Yep. This is Strea Kirigaya….our third "daughter"." he said. Strea smiled and waved.

"So…it IS a girl huh?" Asuna teased "Well, aren't YOU the ladies man Kirito?" Kazuto sighed.

"Yeah. Believe me. I'm not all that surprised either." he replied. Yui and Yuna hurried over and greeted Strea face to face, surprising her slightly.

"Hi Strea! Nice to meet you!" Yuna exclaimed.

"Welcome to the family little sister!" Yui added. Strea quickly ducked behind Kazuto's legs. As she peeked back, Kazuto chuckled.

"It's okay Strea. These are your sisters I was telling you about. This is Yui…and that's Yuna. Go on. Say hello." he said. Strea looked up at him before facing the two girls again. She emerged from behind Kazuto and approached them. Looking between them both, Strea smiled.

"Nice to meet you both! I'm Strea! Your new sister!" she cried. Yui and Yuna's faces lit up and they all cheered loudly. As Kazuto and Asuna looked to each other with smiles, their faces soon turned to worry as they looked at Strea, hugging her two sisters in a group hug. However, unbeknownst to her, she was hugging too strongly and her sisters were fighting to get free.

"W-W-Whoa! Strea! Ease up! EASE UP!" Kazuto called, pulling them apart. Once freed, Yui and Yuna quickly rushed back to Asuna, attempting to get away from her.

"S-Sorry Asuna. I forgot to mention this. Strea's got….let's say….she's got one heck of a bear hug." he explained. As Kazuto stood next to Strea, he looked back to her. But rather than seeing a hurt expression on her face, Strea nervously chuckled instead.

"Whoops. S-Sorry. Guess I don't know my own strength!" she chuckled, sticking out her tongue.

TO BE CONTINUED…