Level Twenty Nine – Resolve

Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture – July 6, 2025

Akemi was at home, preparing the sandwiches for this afternoon. However she was feeling insecure again. Ever since the incident in the alley she was feeling terrified every time someone stepped too close or she saw someone looking at her. It was fine when she was with someone else, but when she was alone, it made her nearly jump out of her own skin. She looked up at the news cast, turning up the volume as she noticed something about a new tech announcement.

"The newest announcement made today happens to involve that oh-so-secret new project that the company has been working on for months, promised to the public at the end of this year. It is said that it will bring even more realism to the gaming world and that-" Akemi shut off the transmission, shaking her head.

"Idiots." She mumbled. "Wasn't nearly losing all those people "real" enough for them?" she asked, gripping her hand into a fist. Any mention of that new project made her so upset and angry; she'd been impossibly irritable when she was by herself at home since Makoto had been placed back in the hospital. Ayaori had pulled her aside and told her that she needed a break the last time she visited, and even though she knew he was right she couldn't get away from the thoughts that worried her or made her upset. "If I hadn't gotten this damn job… if I'd just walked him the rest of the way…" she said, trying to keep her emotions in but finding herself unable. She slammed her hand down on the counter in frustration. "Makoto…" she sobbed. "Makoto, I'm sorry…" But she stopped herself, knowing that getting mad would do nothing for her. "… I'll find who did this…" she told herself. "I'll find who did this to you, Makoto, and I swear anyone involved is going to get taken apart…" she vowed, gripping her hand into a fist, feeling tears streaming down her cheeks. "… Please, be okay, Makoto…" she bit back a sob, feeling her whole body rejecting the thought of losing her baby brother.

After calming herself down, Akemi was heading towards Kazuto's school when she ran into Hiwa and Takuto. The brother and sister had been shopping for snacks when Hiwa burst out of the store and latched onto her friend, but the dark haired girl didn't seem too panicked or put-off. "Ake~? What's wrong?"

"... Nothing, Hiwa." she smiled a little. Hiwa seemed confused by her friend's dismissal and lack of embarrassment as she was still clung to. Takuto hadn't told Hiwa, Akemi made him promise not to. "Are you two busy?"

"Nope. Are you heading to see your little knight~?" Hiwa teased.

"I am but I have some time to kill. Would you two like to get some tea with me?"

"Sounds great~" Hiwa turned to her brother. "Right?"

"Sure." Takuto said, carrying the bags of snacks. The three walked off towards the little shop that Akemi frequented, Takuto sitting down as Hiwa and Akemi went to the counter to make their orders. Orange-Cream Tea and an Apricot Scone for Takuto, a sweet Matcha Blend and an Apple Tart for Hiwa, and a Strawberry Milk Tea with a Fruit Tart for Akemi. The glasses girl paid, Hiwa pouting at her and trying to make fun of her need to pay for the food as making her a good lover, but Akemi was still unphased.

"Ake, what's really wrong?"

"... I'll tell you later, okay?" she pat Hiwa's head. "I can't get into it before I go and see Kazuto. I'll be a wreck."

"... Okay, but you gotta promise." Hiwa said as they headed back to the table. "Taku, we should have Ake over for dinner sometime."

"Okay, when?"

"Any time. So long as she promises to make food~"

"Oh, good idea." Takuto turned to Akemi. "What would you want to make, Akemi?"

"... Maybe some baklava?" she was staring blankly out the window. "Or some stroganoff..."

"Whoa, ambitious." Takuto said, eyes wide. "Must be cause she's visiting her boyfriend tonight." he said to Hiwa, who nodded, grinning.

"Must be must be. Ake's such a good wife, it's a shame Kazuto-kun stole her from me~" she said cheerfully. "I wish I had someone like Ake to make me food and cuddle all the time~"

"Hiwa... That's weird." Akemi replied, making Takuto chuckle. She was doing pretty good, considering what happened. She could still react to Hiwa's commentary, it was just scaled back. "And I'm not his wife yet."

"Ah, yet means that you've thought about it~" Hiwa giggled. "I'm so proud of you, Akemi~"

Akemi headed out after the snack and was walking when she got a message from Hana on her phone. -Your scores are so high! When did you get them to the millions?!- it read. Akemi smiled a little, shaking her head. Hana was always one to react like this when Akemi got a really high score on something. The girl sighed, continuing on her way.

The young woman waited outside of Kazuto's school, staring up at the sky and listening to some music to calm herself down. She had been so caught up that she hadn't realized how much she missed the boy she'd fallen so hard for. She heard the chime, assuming he would be out soon, removing her earbuds and putting them away, hearing murmurs of students walking by wondering who she was and why she was there. But not long after she spotted her reason, smiling and waving at him. "Kazuto~" she called, the boy hurrying over to her. "Hey."

"Hey." He said, ruffling his own hair a little. "Ready to go?"

"Of course." She smiled.

"And you brought the food?" he questioned, making her look over at him and nod with a smile.

"Of course. Fresh made this morning." She said. "So let's go. And we can eat sooner, right?"

"Yeah." He took her hand and walked with her back to the house.

Kazuto's House – 2pm

"I won't go back."

"Why not?" he asked, sitting cross-legged on his bed, hands on his ankles as he stared at her.

"I can't right now." She replied, sitting at the other end of his bed, one leg hugged against her chest as the other rested over the edge of the mattress. "With Makoto in the hospital again I can't think straight… I'd get in the way."

"That's dumb, we'd cover for you." He pouted.

"Kazuto… I know it's dumb, but I can't help it…" she turned to look at him. "I'll come back soon… just… not right now, okay?"

"… Okay." He mumbled, knowing she was shaken but not bringing it up. "But soon." He moved over to her and kissed his cheek, smiling a little. "Everyone keeps asking where you are and stuff." He sighed. "It's exhausting, you know."

"Mmm… has anyone hit on you since I've been gone?" she asked.

"A little." He leaned forward, leaning so they had their foreheads resting on one another. "But it's really useless on their part." He added. "Cause I don't care who flirts with me… even if they're good looking or whatever, I'm yours… always…"

"Mmm really? Cause Asuna told me you were flirting a little with some of the girls in game."

"Wh-what?! I-I wasn't!" he pulled back in shock, noting Akemi grinning. "Y-you did that just to get a rise outta me."

"Of course." She hugged onto him. "I have to keep you on your toes~" she chuckled, running her fingers through his hair. "… I missed you…" she added, burying her nose against his shoulder, making him sigh a little as he pulled her closer. "… I really can't stand this… I feel so helpless…"

"You aren't helpless, Akemi." He reminded her. "… So please, stop telling yourself that."

Rika's Apartment – 7pm

"Huh? A video call?" Rika asked as she and the other girls all sat in her room, talking over the phone to Asuna.

"Yeah, a video call." The orangette stated. "I heard from Shino-chan that she and Ayaori were putting something together for Akemi, so I figured we should get in on it too."

"Why a video call?" Keiko questioned.

"Because she's lonely." Suguha replied. "I asked Onii-chan about it and he said she's having a hard time adjusting to life because of her new job being so hard core right off the bat." She added. "She doesn't have a lot of time to do stuff online anymore, and with Makoto still not feeling good she's got her hands full. It's a wonder she was able to go see Onii-chan today."

"Eeeh, but what is a video call going to do?" Rika asked.

"It might at least help with something." Asuna replied. "I mean, it's one thing to hear that it'll be okay from Kirito-kun, but maybe hearing it from other girls will help her feel better?"

"… Alright, let's try it then."

Kazuto's House – 10:35pm

Akemi was half asleep when she heard her phone. She picked it up, noting that Kazuto was sitting at his computer desk. She stared at the screen for a moment before answering the video call. "Asuna?"

"Hey, Akemi." She smiled, waving. "Hang on, let me connect you."

"Huh?"

"Akemi-san!" Keiko, Rika, and Suguha all appeared on the screen. "We heard you were feeling kind of lonely so we thought we should tell you!" she smiled cheerfully.

"Akemi, we're all waiting for you to come back to Willow Lake Pure, so get your butt back in gear!" Rika stated. "We wanna clear that new stage they put in the last update together!"

"Akemi, we need you to come back!" Suguha exclaimed. "It's so boring when we can't make fun of you and Onii-chan! He's so clueless he lets other girls flirt with him and everything!"

"S-sugu, shut up!"

"Whaa-!? Onii-chan?!"

"A-akemi are you at his place?!"

"Yeees." She smiled. "I'm spending the night."

"Whaaat!? No way!"

"That's why you told me to go spend time with Rika, isn't it Onii-chan?!"

"Whoa, watch out!"

"Hehe, you're all so funny." Akemi smiled. Asuna chuckled as well, soon all of them were laughing. After it settled, Akemi sat up. "Thanks you guys…" she added. "I'll tell Makoto you lovely ladies said hello." She added, waving before hanging up. She looked to Kazuto as he got off his chair, hugging onto him as he sat next to her.

"Better?"

"Yeah." She smiled. "But I want you to stay in bed with me."

"… So long as you keep your hands to yourself." He pecked her cheek, making her smile more.

"Aww, I can't hold onto you?" she teased, poking at his cheek. "So unfair~"

"It's not unfair, it's so I don't start something." He replied, laying down with her before they both passed out.

Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture – Hospital : July 15th, 2025

Akemi rushed past all the people in the hallways, nearly sliding past her brother's hospital door. She opened the door, nearly slamming it open to see her brother sitting up and being checked over by a nurse. "M-makoto…"

"Nee-san…" he seemed sleepy, but the nurse let Akemi get past her since she was just about done checking over Makoto. As the nurse left the room, Akemi dropped her bag on the floor next to Makoto's bed and latched onto him. "Don't cry…" he pet her head a little as she buried her face against his shoulder.

"I-I'm sorry… you're… I…" she sobbed, Makoto sighing at her and waiting for her to compose herself. "Makoto." She looked up at him. "You're okay…"

"I'm sore… and now covered in tears." He said, making her smile a little. "… But I'm okay, Nee-san…"

"I'm glad…" tears still flowed down her face, but she was smiling.

"… Why are you crying?"

"I'm fine."

"That's a lie, Nee-san."

"… I'll tell you later." She replied. "Okay?"

"… Have you been gaming?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Why do you think?" she ruffled his hair gently. "I was worrying about you."

"You're gonna lose if you don't keep fighting."

"Lose what?" she asked, confused.

"You're gonna make Kazuto lonely, and you're gonna lose the fight to that creep that killed Mugen." He stated simply. "You gotta fight, Nee-san. To make sure you and Kazuto stay together, for starters." He stated. "And second, because you gotta beat that creep to the floor."

"… Man, you're so aggressive." She smiled. "That's the one thing above all else that makes you just like Mama."

"… Yeah." He nodded, a little surprised at his sister brought up their mother. "… And if I take after mother, then you must have father's stubborn streak."

"That's true." She smiled. "But that's why you're right… I have to fight."

Akemi's Apartment – July 21st, 2025 : 8am

The next week went without incident, and once Makoto was clear to leave the hospital but was spending a few days at their aunt's house to make sure he was always supervised. Akemi sat in her apartment when she heard someone at the door. She got up to check, eyes widening at the figure she sat standing there. "… Uncle Tamaki…?" Akemi looked confused as to why the man was here, letting him in since it was hot outside. "What are you doing here…?"

"I'm here to talk to you about your future, Akemi." He stated. "Sit."

"Father told you to stop trying to come here." Years ago, just after her mother's death, she was told by her father that this man was not to be associated with. She wasn't allowed to talk to him or anyone else from the main house unless it was her grandparents, and even then it would have to be supervised. She was wary of this old man who had married into the Aihara, she'd heard many rumors as a child that he was only after the inheritance that his wife would receive.

"Your father is a man who understands business and not inter-familial relations." The old man stated. "And your carefree mother was always running off." He stated. "In all honesty, your mother threw away the only part of her life that could have done her any good when she left with your father." The man stated, having sat himself down at Akemi's apartment's dining table.

"What does that have to do with anything?" she growled. "You married into the family, you have no right-!"

"Your mother created a rift in the family, as the new CEO of the family business I seek to mend that rift through the next generation." He replied. "Your mother was a reckless woman who cared only about her own happiness." The elderly man stated. "And your father only ever encouraged her behavior to keep her to himself. She was going to be a powerful member of this family, but she threw it away to pursue a life with a man who said he loved her. All he wanted was her money-"

"Shut up."

"Excuse me young lady?"

"I said shut up." Akemi looked up at the man, eyes narrowed dangerously. If looks could kill, then the man across the table from her would be a cold lifeless corpse. "How dare you… how dare you come into my life now. How dare you insult my mother on the 10th anniversary of her death and insult my father's motives for marrying her!" she stood up. "And now you want me to join the family back into the Aihara group because all you want is Makoto and Ayaori's talent under your thumb. Like hell. You're the one who married into the family for the money. Get out."

"Akemi that is no way to-!"

"If you DARE say you're my family then I will not hesitate to prove you wrong. Now GET OUT." The man sighed and got up, leaving without a word. Akemi was trembling but she stood firm. "Bastard… how dare he." She muttered. "Mother left the Aihara so she could marry the person she loved… Father loved her…" she slammed her fist on the table. "That arrogant bastard has no right!" As though her temper hadn't already been frayed, this was the incident that she would not allow to pass. She picked up the phone and dialed a number, waiting for someone to pick up on the other end. "… Hi, Baba." She said softly. "Do you have a minute to talk?" she smiled.

Kawagoe City, Saitama Prefecture - July 30th, 2025

Akemi walked into work, surprised when she saw her former supervisor's office being cleared out. "What's going on?" she asked the secretary.

"Oh, didn't you hear?" she asked. "Your father had him fired."

"Fired…? For what?" Akemi questioned.

"Apparently he's been seen picking up young girls around high schools." She told Akemi. "Your father fired him as soon as he found out." Akemi quirked an eyebrow, knowing that her father wouldn't have hired someone like that in the first place; the background checks were extensive, she knew that it wouldn't happen.

"Is my father in the building?"

"Yes, he's with the tech office." She smiled. Akemi nodded and headed to the technology office, opening the door to see her father standing behind one of the IT specialists.

"Father."

"Akemi." He waved her over, the young woman stopping a short distance from him. "Did Yato tell you about Otonishi, Higaki?"

"She did." She replied, feeling concerned about that name.

"Good. Starting today you'll be working as the assistant to your new supervisor." He motioned to the screen where there was an identification work form with a picture. "You remember him, I believe?" he asked.

"You… hired Juzo-san?" she asked him.

"I did. He is more than qualified for the job." He stated. "And seeing as he used to work for your mother, I thought it would be a nice change of pace." He added. "You will also be working for me, however." He added. "I will have my secretary from the main office send you some work that you can do at home off the laptop that Rie is about to give you." He added, the woman at another desk standing up and walking over to Akemi with a laptop.

"… Okay."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing… thank you." She stated, turning to head out into the main office. Higaki… his name had been Higaki? She stopped in the hall, suddenly making a realization. "It was him…?"

"Yes it was." Her father stated, walking up behind her. "I asked Ayaori to check something for me based on what I'd found since it was suspicious to our techs… your cousin made the connection and I immediately had him fired."

"… He was right there…" she gripped her hands into a fist. "That monster was right there, and I…" she felt a hand on her shoulder, turning to her father.

"Violence is not something that your mother appreciated, Akemi." He stated. "Take a breath… go blow off some steam. You've been too busy recently, according to Ayaori." He added. "Despite how quiet he normally is, your cousin gave me quite a lecture the other night when I stopped by to check on your brother." He stated, removing his hand. "Said I was pushing you too hard and too fast into adult life." He added. "So go home and get some rest." Even though it sounded like an order, Akemi could tell that her old man was going soft on her. Ayaori must have been holding in all that concern for him to blow up at her father that way. And knowing that Ayaori probably heard from Kazuto about what happened to her, she bet that her father was trying to apologize in his own way. She just took her laptop and placed it away before heading back home.

"Of course Mama didn't appreciate violence." She mumbled as she walked up to her door. "But that isn't going to stop me from beating up that monster for what he did…" she added, heading for her room and grabbing her phone to message Kazuto. "Are you going to be on tonight?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I'll see you at the cabin." She sent her message before placing the amusphere on, laying back on the bed. "… Back I go…" she sighed, closing her eyes, taking a few calming breaths and listening to her own heartbeat for a short while before saying the magic words that would send her back into her virtual wonderland. Back to the place that gave her some solace. "Link start."

((Finally- ; A ;

I'm sorry I took so long, this chapter was kind of hard to write. But I got it done!

Just a few more chapters to go! Please look forward to them! Reviews are always loved, thanks for reading!

-Winter Cheshire))