"I find it hard to believe that you managed to defeat me, Kazu-san," Mayumi addressed me, as if there was nothing she had said earlier. "To your current self," she quietly added, so that only I could hear.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, equally quietly, not understanding anything.
"I will tell you everything. At least, everything I can tell you," that was her response. "Well, at least everything I have time for. Let's meet at your cottage in an hour. Bring with you m… Asuna-san."
"Wait!" I called out to her, and the girl froze, not turning back to me. "Why... why did you call me 'dad'?"
Her head twitched, and she slowly turned towards me, looking at me with her sparkling eyes.
"I'll tell you later, dad."
And then she didn't just walk away from the arena; she ran, presumably so I wouldn't ask any more questions. But I didn't have a chance to call after her or even follow her, as the space around me was engulfed in bright fireworks, and my friends rushed in, congratulating me.
I couldn't help but smile, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment.
As I made my way out of the arena, I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something special about that girl. And I couldn't wait to find out more about her and her unique abilities. But for now, I was content with the knowledge that she had called me 'dad'...
*
We didn't waste any time and immediately with Asuna, putting aside the celebrations and skill review, we hurried to our cottage located on the exact same twenty-second floor of the fortress. As it turned out, we arrived earlier, as there was no one around the house, and after a thorough check (just in case), inside as well.
So all we could do was nervously wait for the mysterious girl to arrive and explain everything. Upon hearing what Mayumi had said, Asuna just blushed and turned away from me, refusing to look at me for some time. Maybe she understood something that I didn't? It's unclear... I'll find out later, if I remember. The clock's hand struck twelve with a thud, and along with it, there was a knock on the virtual house door.
Asuna flinched and looked at me. I just nodded in response and headed to the door to open it. There was no need to fear killers since you still couldn't kill in a safe zone. So I was confident that our guest had arrived and quietly turned the creaking doorknob.
Gray eyes immediately stared at me, with amusement dancing in them.
"You're punctuality in the flesh," I couldn't resist a teasing remark. The girl simply shrugged.
"It runs in the family. May I come in?"
I stepped aside, and the brunette quickly hopped inside, looking around. Shaking my head, I closed the door and walked into the living room, where Mayumi had already settled into a comfortable chair. I sat on the couch next to Asuna and calmly watched the restless girl. Where did she manage to put all her combat readiness?
"So, let's get back to where we left off," I spoke up. "What about explaining your strange behavior?"
But then Asuna suddenly realized something.
"Oh, let me make some tea, we're just sitting here..." she said.
In the end, we sat and waited while Asuna hurried to the kitchen to make tea. The game was one thing, but the cooking aspect was implemented to the fullest, and it took a few minutes to make a simple cup of tea. During this time, Mayumi and I exchanged glances. She looked at me with a smile on her face, biting her lip. Her gaze traced every line of my perfectly recreated in-game face, clung to my black hair, and returned to my eyes, which were almost the same, but darker. It was as if she was devouring me with her gaze.
I kept up with her and decided to take a closer look at her as well. After ALO was recreated, it became a common practice to recreate our original faces with few changes (hairstyle, hair and eye color not counted). Light gray eyes, long black hair just like mine, fastened on the left with a steel clip adorned with bright red petals, and braided into a short braid on the right. Her pale skin, as if lacking the necessary pigment, contrasted sharply with the jet-black hair, giving the girl a resemblance to the snow maiden from old Japanese legends. She really looked a lot like me. Thanks to racial characteristics, my skin was slightly darker than in reality, but otherwise... it was like I had returned to GGO. It was as if I were looking at my past self. Except that what I had heard hinted at a completely opposite event.
Mayumi and I exchanged a knowing looks before I turned to Asuna and simply said, "Just getting to know each other better."
"You seem quite mesmerized," Mayumi commented, breaking the silence between us.
I chuckled nervously, feeling a slight blush rise to my cheeks. "Well, it's hard not to be when you look so captivating."
Mayumi's smile widened. "It's all part of the game, after all. But there's more to me than just pixels and avatar customization."
Then Asuna returned with a tray of cups with steaming tea, interrupting our conversation.
"Mmm, tea prepared by Asuna-san... How nice it is to try it again in this game," Mayumi murmured softly. "Well then... Shall I start from the very beginning?" With our silent nods, the girl settled herself comfortably, cradling the cup with both hands as if warming herself against it, and prepared to tell her story. "It all began in the distant year of 2039, when my sister and I were born to our mom and dad. You already know my name, it's Mayumi, and my sister's name is Tomoko. I won't go into detail about our upbringing, as it's not very interesting. I'll focus on the peculiarities that led me to the current events and... to you." Asuna and I exchanged glances. The girl next to me looked excited, as if eager to hear the continuation but also apprehensive. Mayumi glanced at each of us once, pausing for a couple of seconds, and continued.
"My father was a brilliant virtual reality technology developer, but before that, he was the fastest player in all the worlds based on the once-faulty Sword Art Online game servers. He still hasn't abandoned the world of gaming to this day, immersing himself in it from a very young age. Just like my mother. The genes of the two most accomplished players produced outstanding results, and they prophesied me the title of Blade Princess in the new ALO."
Asuna abruptly placed her cup on the table. The glass made an unfortunate clink, but the cup remained intact, without a single crack. I, on the other hand, simply gazed ahead in silence at that warm smile.
"Allow me to introduce myself properly now," she said as she placed the empty cup on the table with a truly regal grace and, in perfect accordance with the rules, bowed in greeting. "They call me Kaguya - The Unstoppable Storm. But my parents gave me the name Mayumi. Mayumi Kirigaya."
Asuna and I exchanged surprised glances, realizing the significance of the surname Kirigaya. It was the same surname as mine. The room seemed to grow smaller, the air thick with unspoken questions.
Mayumi continued, her voice steady despite the weight of her revelation. "Growing up, my parents told me stories of their adventures in SAO, of battles fought and victories won. Their tales fascinated me, and I became determined to follow in their footsteps. I trained relentlessly, honing my skills, and when ALO was recreated, I seized the opportunity to prove myself."
She paused, her eyes meeting ours, filled with determination and a touch of sadness. "But there's something else you should know," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "The reason behind my strange behavior. It's not just about the game or the title I carry. It's about a secret, a hidden truth that connects us in ways I never imagined."
We listened in silence, the gravity of her words sinking in. The room was charged with tension, a sense of destiny weaving its threads around us, binding our fates together in ways we were only beginning to understand.
My mind refused to think. More accurately, there were plenty of thoughts swirling in my head, but the reality right in front of me just didn't register. People couldn't simply travel through time in any way. Or could they...?
Seeing the gears grinding in my head, Mayumi chuckled and reclined back in her chair, once again transforming from a princess into an ordinary child.
"It's been a while since I've seen that expression on your face, Daddy Kazu!"
"Daddy..." Asuna mumbled thoughtfully from the side, touching her lips. "So it seems..."
"That's right, Asuna-san. You are my mother. I'm sorry for addressing you by your names, technically you're not my parents yet, so it feels a bit awkward... Let's better focus on this battle! I've been learning to resist you, Kazu-san, for so long, and I can't wait to hear your praise!"
Mayumi, with her eyes filled with excitement and anticipation, looked at Asuna and me like a little girl, even though she was around the same age as us. In this dialogue, Asuna, who was clearly contemplating many things, allowed me to take the lead and simply listened.
"Uh... Um, well, yeah, you did great. You were able to resist all the players, and well..." I hesitated for a moment, then the words just slipped out. "How did you copy my skills?!"
Unconsciously, I brought my hand to my mouth, and Mayumi, blinking a couple of times, burst into laughter.
"How did I know you would ask that? Hehehe..." She rubbed her knees against each other and crossed her arms over her chest. "My father passed on the skills to me. That's it. Some of them were created, while others were simply improved by me. But I earned Dual Blades myself when my father organized a tournament. I had to work up quite a sweat!" Mayumi laughed again, covering her eyes.
"Another tournament...?" It slipped out of me. "Wait, you said my father organized it?" Now that's a perspective, indeed. What strange events await me in the future? Could it be the sole ownership of ALO? It's hard to imagine.
Asuna's eyes widened in surprise and her lips parted slightly, clearly astounded by Mayumi's revelation. She glanced at me, silently urging me to ask more questions.
"Yes. In that tournament, he played for very expensive prizes, the rarest equipment you can find in the whole game, and also this skill that saved his life more than once. My father always fought with the utmost seriousness, as far as I can remember. That's why I got angry when you fought so reluctantly, Kazu-san. I'm sorry."
She covered one eye, stuck out her tongue, and tapped her head with a little fist. It was a natural, theatrical, and, as Klein would say, a "moesh" movement.
"Well, what about that move, Mayumi? How did you manage to stay unharmed and stop that skill?"
"Oh, about that... It's my own invention," Mayumi proudly lifted her head. "Mom uses pseudo-reality distortion, right? Wait, you didn't know that?" She looked at our puzzled, especially Asuna, faces, almost horrified. "I have to show you this! Kazu-san, will you volunteer? I don't want to hurt Asuna-san..."
Asuna, who had jumped up and was still upset by her failure, was halted by my hand. I stood up and positioned myself opposite Mayumi, who was quickly navigating her menu. And she did it with astonishing speed, as if she knew the location of every icon and string like the back of her hand.
Feeling a mixture of excitement and curiosity, I watched as Mayumi confidently scrolled through her menu, searching for the skill she wanted to demonstrate. As she finally found it, she turned to face me with a mischievous smile.
"Games based on the 'Seed' contain potential possibilities for creating new skills, as well as distorting reality in ways far from the real world. No one knows about this yet, not even the developers. The reality distortion I mentioned allows for multiple strikes in the same instant. But it's a mythical aspect, a concept that can be realized in this game. Pseudo-reality distortion resulted in the creation of a skill for rapiers that mimics this concept. Get ready..." she said, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "I promise you'll be amazed!"
Mayumi assumed an interesting pose: she extended her left hand forward, while slightly retracting her right hand and clenching the fingers into a fist. Then, a spark of green ignited in her eyes, and she lunged forward with a speed I couldn't even keep up with. As she approached the point of impact, her right hand accelerated even further, and... somehow, I managed to discern these movements. Reflexively, I began to lean back, keeping my eyes fixed on the fist which rapidly struck the air in front of her, creating multiple illusions that zoomed towards me along with the original strike. I couldn't evade them far enough, and all five of them collided with me, pushing me back slightly. It seems that attacking someone in a safe zone still wasn't possible.
Despite the impact, I managed to maintain my balance, albeit staggered. I could feel the force behind Mayumi's skill, even with its limitations within the game. The illusions dispersed into thin air, leaving me slightly winded and amazed by the intricacies of her technique.
Asuna's eyes widened, realizing the power that Mayumi possessed. She approached us cautiously, curiosity brimming in her gaze. "That was incredible, Mayumi-chan! How did you come up with such a unique skill?" she asked, a mixture of awe and admiration in her voice.
Mayumi's smile widened as she met Asuna's gaze. "It was a combination of inspiration and experimentation. The concept of distorting reality intrigued me, and through trial and error, I was able to create a skill that embodies that essence. But remember, it can only be used within the game."
As their conversation continued, I couldn't help but marvel at the boundless creativity that unfolded within the world of virtual reality gaming. The possibilities were literally endless.
"See? Do you get it now?" she exclaimed, leaping back into her seat. I sat on the couch next to Asuna, whose eyes were filled with vivid curiosity. It reminded me of a moment from SAO. Back then, I had nearly been killed by Kradil, and Asuna had attacked him with a technique that appeared as if her sword had split into multiple light copies. However, there were not just five of them, like Mayumi's fists, but... I couldn't even remember how many there were. But there were a lot. They shimmered with such bright green light that the surrounding world seemed to turn grey. They relentlessly attacked the player alongside Asuna's rapier. The effectiveness of such an attack was revealed to be extremely high, as the reflected effects returned to their source.
"So, you used the exact same skill simultaneously with Asuna, right?" I decided to clarify, just to be sure.
"Yes, you got it!" Mayumi exclaimed with joy, even jumping in her seat. Such a lively girl... It was unusual for me to see people with such immense emotions. It somewhat amazed me.
Mayumi's exuberance was contagious, and I couldn't help but smile at her excitement. It was fascinating to witness the connection between virtual worlds and real emotions, how these game skills could evoke such passion and joy. Asuna, too, wore a smile on her face, and I could see the shared excitement between the two girls. It was moments like these that reminded me of the limitless possibilities of gaming, where imagination and skill intertwined to create unforgettable experiences.
"Mayumi-chan," Asuna suddenly began, "why did you... how should I put it... come into this reality?"
Her smile dimmed a little, and serious eyes were fixed on me.
"Kazu-san, Asuna-san, have you heard of the concept of a Time Loop?"
I leaned back in my chair, barely resisting the urge to run my hand over my face. I felt that something much more serious had come my way, given the forces at play. I couldn't help but wonder who had invented a time machine capable of sending a person or their consciousness into the past.
A quick glance to the side revealed that Asuna was both frightened and had no idea about the nature of the question. I could practically see the question marks appearing one after the other above her head as she shifted her gaze from Mayumi to me.
"Of course, I've heard of that. An event from the past occurs only with the intervention of a subject from a presumed future. It's a concept explored in many works of science fiction literature," I replied.
"It can turn into a time paradox if the intervention is not used correctly," Mayumi added, nodding knowingly.
"And what are you trying to say, Mayumi... Something happened in the future that required this level of intervention?" I said, skeptically.
"In a way, you're right, Kazu-san. Unfortunately, I can't reveal what happened or will happen in your future with Asuna-san. Otherwise, it might cause a 'loss of motive' for you, which would be detrimental for all of us, including Tomoko. This paradox can be avoided, but it's better if you don't learn anything compromising. Actually, the reason I was sent here is quite simple: the condition for transferring the recreated skill 'Dual Blades' to the Black Swordsman, Kirigaya Kazuto."
"Is that all?" I asked, a little disappointed and yet relieved. Asuna sighed next to me, still hesitant to intervene in our conversation. "Just a skill?"
That's the essence of it," Mayumi replied with a hint of mystery in her voice. "But the significance of this skill and its connection to the events that have transpired in both the virtual and real worlds is far from ordinary."
Asuna finally spoke up, curiosity piqued. "Mayumi-chan, can you at least tell us more about this skill and how it's tied to our future?"
"Well, no... But let me give you a hint. Do you really think all your insights in the most dangerous moments came from nowhere?" I jerked as if I'd been jolted with electricity, and Asuna put a concerned hand on my shoulder. Could it be... she... I... Could it be?
Meanwhile, Mayumi rose from her chair, winked at me, and somersaulted back over the backrest.
"And also, it's one of the main conditions for Tomoko's and my birth! Well, Asuna-san, don't blush so much!"
"Hey!"
Asuna turned crimson too and jumped up from her seat, while all I could do was shake my head, crushed even at the thought of having such a daughter. And not just one, but two.
Mayumi, still grinning mischievously, added, "And don't forget, the universe has a funny way of bringing people together. It's not a coincidence that we all found each other."
"Well, is it time, Kazu-san?" Mayumi quietly asked, approaching me awkwardly. "I don't have much time in this layer of reality, so I have to do what I was sent here for. Don't judge harshly, after all, this spark has belonged to me for many years..."
With these words, she came up to me and placed her left hand on my shoulder. Then she closed her eyes and slightly lowered her head. Flames began to ignite in her right hand. It was a beautiful sight, the birth of living flames shaping into a perfectly round sphere, captivating the imagination. Noticing Mayumi herself, I saw a crimson thread extending from her chest straight to the sphere. Her face was strained, and she was inhaling air through her nose with a hoarse sound.
Finally, the sphere in her hand finished taking shape, and Mayumi let out a sob. Then she swung her hand and struck me in the chest with the sphere, barely managing to stay on her feet. I caught her just above the floor.
"I expect the same great accomplishments from you, Dad," Mayumi mumbled and gently caressed my cheek with the tips of her fingers. I could only look at her and nodded, unable to utter a single word. "Mommy..." she faltered for a moment and then continued. "Always stay by his side. I... hope to see you both again someday."
And with those last words, she dissolved into golden dust in my arms.
I held the golden remnants of Mayumi in my hands, my heart heavy with a mix of sorrow and awe. As the golden dust dispersed, I felt an inexplicable warmth, a connection that transcended the boundaries of reality. My eyes were moist, but I managed to smile through my tears, understanding the magnitude of Mayumi's sacrifice and her enduring love for us.
Asuna, still flushed from the revelation, approached me, her eyes reflecting the same mix of emotions I was feeling. She reached out and held my hand, offering silent support. Together, we stood in the midst of the fading golden particles, a poignant reminder of the extraordinary world we had become a part of.
Somehow I felt like Tomoko, our otherworldly daughter, observed the scene with a solemn expression, her eyes brimming with wisdom beyond her years. It's like she took a step closer and placed her hand on my arm, her touch grounding me in the present moment.
In that surreal instant, I realized the truth in Mayumi's words. Our family was bound by more than blood; it was woven together by threads of destiny, love, and sacrifice. With a deep breath, I turned to Asuna, my heart swelling with gratitude for the extraordinary journey we had undertaken together. Whatever challenges lay ahead, we would face them united, drawing strength from the profound love that connected us, even across the boundaries of different realities.
*
Two girls sat at the table in the room, on cozy chairs, each holding a cup of tea. The girl with luxuriant, long hair, tied back with a white headband that allowed her bangs to fall elegantly, had a full cup of chocolate cookies next to her, which she enjoyed eating. The other, her sister, with gray eyes and dark hair, sat gracefully and upright on her chair, holding a cup of peppermint tea with both hands.
Suddenly, she looked up at her sister and lightly touched her left temple with two aristocratic slender fingers.
"Mayumi-nee-sama...?" she asked.
But the girl only shook her head and smiled mysteriously.
"Don't worry, Tomoko," she reassured her. "Daddy's mission is now complete."
Mayumi leaned back on her chair with a soft backrest and looked at her younger sister, whose light brown eyes sparkled with genuine interest.
"Really? Would you tell me, please?" Tomoko asked eagerly.
"Of course, I'll tell you. It was very interesting in the past. But first, let's go and tell them everything."