Sorry I haven't updated in a long time, I've been worked up over school stuff. I'm really important in school staff after all. Student Council, Musical Technician, Chorus, Sports referee, Class Representative, and Student of the month, Math League, Science Olympics. So I'm kind of lucky that a snowstorm just hit my town in the face, so here I just for you guys. I noticed you guys were anticipating this chapter. I'm making this chapter strictly IRL based, too bad huh?

Disclaimer: I do not own Sword Art Online. Sword Art Online belongs to Reki Kawahara. I only own the OCs, weapons, and skill names.

Freedom

5 days later

Yuusuke's POV

It was my birthday today, December 17. It was Seiko's birthday too. I was born at 11:45PM, Seiko was born 11:50PM. I was still in the hospital, they had given me a haircut since it had grown out these 2 years, and I was recovering faster than they had expected. I had asked the representative that came to talk to me, just like Kayaba said, about my friends. I found out that Seiko was in Soma. Minamisoma Hospital to be specific, I was in Fukushima University Hospital, only 52 km from each other, yet neither of us can get there.

The medical staff said they were surprised I was able to walk again already. After being asleep for 2 years, I guess a lot of people can't walk just yet, but I can walk fine. I was discharged, but I have to keep in touch with the hospital for the next few months. Kyo was in Osaka, Tarou was in Yokohama, Aiko was in Tokyo. My cousins were in the same hospital as me, right across the hall from where my room was. I visit them all the time now, they were really surprised that I wasn't dead. That came out wrong, they were happy I was alive. Still sound really messed up, I guess you don't hear that everyday huh?

Soma is about 2 hours from where I am right now, so I think I'm going to give someone a nice birthday present and fulfill a promise.

Seiko's POV

It's been 5 days since we were released from SAO. 5 days since Yuusuke died. 5 days since he beat the game. 5 days since I saw any of my friends. 5 days since I ever felt happy.

Yuusuke was gone. I can't believe I'm thinking such dark thoughts on my birthday, I guess it was Yuusuke's birthday too. I guess I'll push those thoughts out of my mind for now just for him. I know he wouldn't have liked me thinking this way, he would probably tell me to forget about him if anything.

I fell back into bed, I haven't contacted any of the others since I got out of SAO, even though we exchanged e-mail addresses. Yuu's cousins have been texting and calling me non-stop for some reason. I haven't even picked up the phone or even looked at the messages even once.

I guess it just wasn't meant to be huh? Or is god just that cruel?

Yuusuke's POV

It was 8:00PM when I got on the bus, 10:15PM when I got off the boss, 11:00PM when I got to Minamisoma Hospital.

"I'm here to see Nakamura Seiko."

"Oh, and who might you be?"

"I was in Sword Art Online incident with her."

"My gosh, how are you even standing?"

"I guess some would call it willpower, but I think it's because Seiko thinks I'm dead."

"Why would she think that."

"You saw on the news right? The player names Yuu, beating the game. My name is Kurosawa Yuusuke. Nice to meet you."

"B-but Seiko told us you committed suicide inside the game in the final level."

"I survived...somehow...so can I see her?"

"Of course, she's in room 151, floor 3."

"Thank you, sorry for taking up your time."

"What a charming young man..."

Seiko's POV

It was 11:30PM, it's almost time, 11:50PM was when I was born. I'll say a prayer to Yuusuke at 11:45. I think I'll do that every year, it seems like a good tradition.

I suddenly heard someone knock on the door.

"Excuse me, can I come in?" It was an awkward voice, maybe in the tenor range, just slipping into baritone. I don't think that was the nurse's voice.

"Yes, come in." The person slid the door open, they were wearing a black and white coat, dark grey jeans, and a beanie that just covered their eyes.

"Nice to finally meet you Ms. Nakamura."

"Umm, do I know you?"

"That's a little rude to say to someone who taught you the physics of VRMMO isn't it Seiko?" He slipped his hat off to reveal black hair. His eyes closed. I studied him for a second.

"That's not true, I know the person you taught me VRMMO, and it's not you!"

"Really, wow Seiko, I'd think you'd recognize me by now, but I guess not." He opened his eyes. He had one green...and one grey.

"Y-Y-..." It was him. It was really him. I must've fallen asleep while waiting for my birthday.

"Y-y? You mean Y-Y-Yuusuke?" My face turned cherry red, I hope he doesn't notice since it's so dark.

"H-How are you alive? Is this a dream?" I realized I sounded like a little kid talking to Santa.

"Well, the truth is that I never really died, would you like to hear the story?" How could he act so casual? I thought he was dead, he visits my hospital, for some reason can walk, and is joking around with me.

"It can't be you."

"Why is that?"

"Because stuff like this only happens in anime."

"By the way, have you been keeping up on that, I haven't seen the last 2 episodes."

"Stop!"

"What?"

"I thought you were dead, I thought you had left me...and you just show up here better than ever and make jokes with me?!"

"I'm sorry...I didn't know how you would react to me being here. If you don't want me here then I understand." He stands up from where he was kneeling at my bed. Before he walks away, I grabbed his sleeve, I don't know why, but I did. He didn't look back at me.

"I...don't want you to go..."

He stayed quiet.

"I missed you Yuusuke. I'm only acting like this because of that."

"You know...I'm kind of glad you didn't read my cousin's e-mails."

"Why is that?"

"Look for yourself."

I picked up my phone and saw all the messages they sent me.

Mai: Yuusuke's alive Seiko!

Yuuki: You can be happy again Seiko!

Mai: Yuusuke is visiting you soon!

Yuuki: He's always at our hospital, maybe you can take him off our hands.

Mai: He said he's going to visit you on your birthday.

Yuuki: Have fun! Anyways, if you break Yuusuke's heart, I'm going to make sure you go to sleep and never wake up. Bye!

I smiled. This is exactly what I would expect from Mai and Yuuki.

"What does it say?" I hesitated for a moment. I probably shouldn't let him see that last one.

"Well, it says you're alive and that you're visiting me."

"Well I know that, Yuuki told me she sent a secret last message. What does it say?"

"Oh! Umm, well...I can't tell you."

"What! Why?"

"Because she made me promise not to."

"That doesn't make sense, you didn't even look at the messages until now!"

I grabbed his shirt collar down and kissed him, he was completely caught off guard. I pulled back.

"Happy birthday Yuusuke." He looked down at his watch. 11:45PM. He smiled at me.

"Perfect timing as always Seiko." I blushed.

"Well, it's not like I could get out of here and get you a real present, so..."

"Well, I did get out of the hospital and got you a present."

"Really? What is it?"

"Slow down. Here, it's custom designed." He took a long box out of his bag and handed it to me. I opened the box, it was a necklace. It was made of silver and gold. Silver on the left side, gold on the right. On the chain was a symbol of 2 swords crossing. It was -Moon Shade- and -Angel's Light-.

"Why did you choose these 2 swords instead of the ones we had at the end of SAO?"

"I chose these 2 swords because they both mean a lot to us. -Moon Shade- was the first sword I bought you, -Angel's Light- was after the floor 2 boss fight. Where I changed myself and realized I was in love with you..."

I hugged him. He suddenly lifted my chin and kissed me. It lasted for about 5 seconds before he pulled back.

"Happy birthday Seiko." I looked up at the clock. 11:50PM.

The Nurse's POV

I was still staring through the window of Nakamura Seiko's room. It's no fair, Seiko woke up 5 days ago and is already with a cute boy. I, on the other hand am 25 and haven't had a boyfriend. It's not fair, but who am I to question Ms. Nakamura. I don't know what those 2 experienced in SAO.

I can only imagine, but I'm sure it's not pretty. Ms. Nakamura had told me all about Yuu. She said that he had accepted a one on one duel with the last boss. At the end, he was about to lose, but stabbed himself and the boss to ensure all of his friends got out safely. Yet, here he is.

I wish I could have some kind of moment like that, but stuff like this only happens in anime, manga, or fan fiction. Right?

That's all I got, I rewrote this chapter 3 times. The first included Yuusuke getting amnesia and met up with all of his friends in the high school for SAO players. But didn't remember them at all. In the end, he got his memory back, fluffy moments and all that. The second had him come to Seiko's hospital in a wheelchair and would've been paralyzed for a year. So this is what I went with in the end. That's all for now, I think I'm going to do only 1 more chapter for this one. TheDemiGeek, Out!