[IRL, Yokohama Kohoku General Hospital]
[Malzeno's POV]
It had been two days since everyone gathered in the thousands before Zekken, I had never seen such a united front of players in my life. The Frontrunners that helped to clear SAO were mighty, but they were finite. But when asked, not a soul ignored Asuna's call, and in turn, my own request to stand and fly in solidarity for Yuuki.
That felt so long ago now, my sleep pattern had practically crumbled, I barely slept, and if not for Doctor Kurahashi I'd probably have starved too, refusing to leave the hospital, and in turn, Yuuki's side.
The others had come and gone to visit; primarily Asuna, herself restless, Kazuto and Tomo too, I don't think an hour went by without one of the others chatting with me via text or call, it helped to keep my spirits afloat. If not Sinon's cool approach to the issue or Klein's stupid humour, even Agil's solemn advice.
Again and again I'm surrounded by so many who have given me so much, who've supported and cared for me beyond any measure I could repay. Even the Sleeping Knights saw me, someone who wasn't with them nearly as long as each other, as their new leader if... I couldn't find the words to refute them on that matter.
~Are you sure you don't want us up there with you?~ Again, my Mom asked over the phone, I could easily pick out her worry from here.
"It's fine, really. Yuuki's pretty self-conscious about people seeing what she looks like, but thanks," I didn't try to hide the strain in my voice, I was hanging on by a thread constantly. "And no, Dad can't just appear out of the blue, I know you would,"
~Now that's a bit harsh~ I heard him call over in the background, followed by my Mom chuckling once. ~Don't side with him~
~You heard him, dear, no surprise visits~ My Mom defended before her voice grew softer. ~If anything happens, call us, understand?~
Biting my cheek, I rubbed the dark circles under my eyes. "I will, promise... love you,"
~We love you too, both of you~ The call ended, and it meant a lot to know they cared just as much for Yuuki's health as mine.
This is exactly what Yuuki wanted to avoid, she tried to push others away so they wouldn't be left heartbroken. And I stupidly inserted myself into her life, and I said I'd see this through, regardless of what happens to her.
How pathetic, I couldn't even do that much for her.
I had no strength in the real world. I'm just another person who was shadowed by giants. Even the fraction of power I had in full-dive meant nothing, I can't change an illness like hers, it's not a damn fantasy!
"Beating yourself up won't make this any easier," I didn't even flinch at Kurahashi's voice by the doorway. I spared him a glance, barely able to look him in the eye, but I saw his small, calm smile.
"Yeah, well, I feel like the biggest failure of a human being possible," No shortage of venom from me.
"Hm... Yuuki had expressed as much after Aiko's death," Kurahashi revealed, clearly to grab my attention, even in my funk I still raised my head a bit. "As I've stated, Yuuki was in a constant battle, the loss of her parents was hard, but Aiko was what nearly tipped the scales,"
"As you know, they were very close, so in losing her, Yuuki fell into the occasional spiral of depression, even her brave face could only do so much to hold back her true feelings," I had no idea, among so much more I didn't know about her, what she never wanted to tell me either.
"But to my surprise, she became much more open to talk about those times with me ever since you two met," Now, I raised my head fully, my face red from prior, self-inflicted embarrassment, now I only looked at Kurahashi with confusion. "Yes, it was a shock to me too; Yuuki never liked to speak about Aiko's death, so why now? But then she said you had demons of your own, learning of what happened to you in SAO,"
Right, about my friends. I nodded along as he continued. "She said to me then, 'It hurts to think of Mom, Dad, and Aiko, how useless and pathetic I felt, but Malzeno keeps trying to move forward with his own heartache even when he's cheering me up or others by being himself, so I don't have any excuse', mind you, she went on a few tangents but that's the general summary,"
Finally, a laugh escaped us both. "Yeah, I expected as much, Doc..." Looking down at the phone in my hands, I turned on the screen to see Aincrad, despite how grim others might see it, the castle was pretty great for a wallpaper.
"I think now is a good time to hear for yourself," My head turned sharply to him, seeing the AmuSphere offered to me. Is... is this...
As though sensing my tangent of thoughts, Kurahashi placed them beside me. "I'll need to get back to work, I'll leave the rest to you, Mr Asami,"
"I..." I couldn't begin to speak before he left, the edges of his coat vanishing around the corner.
Now alone in the silent observation room, I held a hand over my eyes, stifling my emotions as a few tears leaked out, I... there was no much I had to say... and I'm scared to do it...
Deep breaths, I have to do this...
Setting my phone on the bed as I grabbed the AmuSphere beside it.
Slapping my cheeks to get my head out of its funk, I laid down and slotted the device over my head, it was strange, every time I did this, I always felt my memories call back to that sunny day. The internet and news reports going wild for the release of the greatest Full-Dive game to date, the stock limited and sold out almost within minutes.
Just like then, a rush of fear and joy ran through my whole body in an instant. So I closed my eyes to embrace that unknown.
"...Link Start." I said softly, the bright lights and colours flooding into view soon after.
Arriving within a void, I scanned my environment, noting that while the world was dark all around, specks of light glimmered around me, as though I were walking through space, stars glittering in the darkness. Behind me, I saw the faint outline of a blank screen, filled in with starlight also.
My footsteps felt heavy, finally drawn forward to the only source of activity within this secured virtual space where only one other had ever visited. Those few steps came to a grinding halt, my chest compressing when I stared directly into another pair of eyes. I felt a hiccup escape me, my whole body beginning to quiver in place.
Standing a few meters away, oddly surprised by my intrusion into this world, was Yuuki. Her hair was short and scruffy, a blackish-brown hue, the bangs hanging above her smooth, onyx eyes that remained wide with wonder, her lips formed into a small 'O' shape.
She wore just a pair of yellow pyjamas with a red jacket over the top, my own real body was formed in this world too, so in a way, this was the first time we've met like this face-to-face, baring when me and Asuna came to see her two days ago.
Yuuki blinked after a while of staring, for a moment I thought I was seeing things as I watched her lips curl upright into a sheepish grin, eyes softening. "...hey, you look terrible, Kazuki," She tilted her head at me, studying my face. "Have you been sleeping properly? You look nearly as pale as me for crying out loud,"
Every word, how she acted so calm and relaxed about everything, it was enough for my legs to finally move toward her weakly, "Yuuki... are you alright?" My smile was shaky, tears beginning to form again seeing her only a few feet away.
"Well, better now then two days ago, I... I really thought that was the end of the line for me," She admitted, her smile broadening to a toothy grin. "Guess you were wrong," That surprised me, blinking at her as she held up her fists tightly as if to flex. "You did change fate, you brought everyone to see me, I guess that was enough for my body to hold out, though I have no idea how that works medically speaking, heck, I could end up biting it still... well, I'm not gonna complain!"
"That's ridiculous," I murmured, finding it completely absurd. "I... I can't change fate, that's n-not how it works,"
She hummed at that, her cheeks pinker as she smirked. "Yeah, well, don't care, I say you changed my fate, so that's all there is to it, so there," She huffed, hands pressed firmly to her hips.
Did I really? How, how can I change anything? But she was standing right there, she was just a few feet away, even if it was only for a while, she was really right in front of me. There wasn't some pre-recording or vivid dream. I could tell Yuuki apart from those in a heartbeat.
"Kazuki," I jumped at my own name, we were only two feet apart, emerald and onyx meeting evenly in this infinite space. She gave me a toothy grin once more, her eyes closed for a moment. "I'm glad you're okay too,"
My jaw trembled, unable to stifle my croaking voice.
"No, really... thank goodness," Feeling the hot tears run down my cheeks, I finally closed the gap, embracing her with all my strength. "I thought you were dead! Thank goodness... you're okay, Yuuki! I'm so sorry I never realized what you've been going through until the end, I'm so sorry... I...!"
Unable to restrain my sobs, I felt my legs give out under all my grief, feeling her hands close around my back, falling with me to our knees as I buried my face against her shoulder. Her head came to rest against my own, rubbing my back slowly which only served to worsen my cries.
"Yeah, thank goodness," Yuuki copied, feeling her tremble against me too, her own tears staining into my shirt. "It's okay, we can talk about it now if you want? My pain and yours, all of it for as long as you want,"
"I don't know how or why, but thank you... thank you for letting her live...!"If there was a God, I had nothing but gratitude.
"Ye-yeah, I'd like that..." I sniffled, clutching to the girl I loved more than I could ever convey.
[IRL, Kawagoe, Asami Residence]
[Malzeno's POV]
I stared at the monitor before me with dull eyes. Just another early morning, but it was the weekend at least, so I had nothing better to do than to lean back and see what's what in the gaming world, as well as a funny video or two to pass the time. Sunlight had already crept into my room, April had begun, Spring Break had passed and so most of the craze was about the release of that new device that's a spin on Full-Dive, or a close relative as both Full-Dive and this device work to bring what the other can't provide.
"Drama, drama, more drama, some getting cancelled, global warming-okay, fun times are upon us," I drawled to myself, sipping my tea with a heavy sigh, leaning back as a notification popped up with an awful picture of a rat with a 'transparent' background like a checkerboard, and a badly cropped PNG for a crown on top.
[Rat] - Found us a juicy lead in GGO, up to give lil ol me a helping hand. I'll pay ya~
Even from here I could feel the smug smile and cat-like laugh coming from Tomo. I typed back with one hand.
[Ranger] - Not today, Argo, taking the day off for something important
[Ranger] - Fill me in on the deets later tho
A few seconds later.
[Rat] - Oooh, now that's some juicy intel I wanna know. I'll be round later to hear the deets in return~
And like that my afternoon has become a living hell and I'm only just up. Sighing to myself, I pushed away from my keyboard, playing some gentle songs to wake me up some more as I sat down on the edge of my bed, sipping more of my hot beverage.
My fingers brushed across my bed, finding the lost item that had fallen off during the night. It was a white-framed, headset-like device that would fit around a person's ear, I still needed to adjust mine after some... modifications. The device also has two arms: one is equipped with a projection lens at its tip and extends to the user's eye. So is projects a transparent film over your eyes for the full effect.
An Augma as they're called. Still doesn't compete with Full-Dive if I'm honest, but that's a whole fiery debate online anyway.
With a touch of a button, I was given a few changes to my field of view, namely stuff I found comfortable and second-nature in the digital world. I have to admit, it's a little strange to have an aspect of full-dive pulled into reality but when has the threat of over-advancing ever stopped humanity, right?
I wary smile formed on my lips. "As if accidently waving my hand to bring up my menu in real life wasn't already a bad habit..."
Raising my left hand forward, I could feel a bow form to my grip, well, if I said the magic words, it would. Strangely, it didn't feel like SAO or ALO, holding a weapon in reality the way I do in those games wasn't the same, both worlds were too far apart in my eyes, I like that way, makes each world special.
While I contemplated some deep thoughts, I felt pressure sling over my shoulders, coming to connect by my collarbone as a chin rested to my shoulder, it didn't feel exactly the same, the Augma could only simulate the sense of touch so far with augmented reality. But the sensation of arms around my neck was unmistakable, causing my body to relax.
"Mornin'..." The sleepy voice muttered in my ear as I brought a hand to touch where her arm was.
"Rise and shine... Cupcake," My nickname earned a flick from her hand under my chin, eyeing her sleepy form.
Her appearance was like her real self I had met in her personal full-dive realm, her onyx eyes staring at me lazily behind a slit stare. Yuuki hasn't been as active for several days after I had my chance to see her again, even after the relief, my sleep pattern was still irregular for a while.
Now? She was back to her usual self, her condition stable and far from the danger she was in prior. And some of that God-given luck fell to Siune too, having finally been given the all-clear on her own condition, a variant of leukaemia, so while her own battle was long and hard, she was fit to leave the hospital she was in, much to our relief.
"Doesn't feel the same..." Yuuki murmured again, attempting to tug at my shoulders as I set my cup on my beside table to shuffle up with my back against the headboard, Yuuki moving over to flop against my chest, making a funny sound. "You feel more real in full-dive... does that make sense?"
"Coming from you, that's the most sense I'll get," I replied, feeling her hand lock to mine for a moment, even if my subtle movements caused her body or hand to clip through my own. "That begs the question, how often do you touch me when I'm unaware?" I teased, seeing her eyes open a little more, and a faint pink tint cross her cheeks. That caused my own face to warm up with a growing smirk. "My-my, Ms Konno, I didn't think you'd be so bold..."
"Sh-shut up, I didn't see you complain b-back in that hot springs," She fired back, and I had to admit, she wasn't wrong. Not to mention how she looked in a towel... "See, you're thinking about it,"
"What? So I can't appreciate how sexy you are?" Now there's a word I never used before, so it made the impact far more rewarding as I tried not to laugh as Yuuki shot up to look at me, face entirely scarlet. "Pah hahaha, your face is priceless!"
"I swear, when I see you in ALO, I'm gonna throttle you..." Her eye twitched, crossing her arms to her chest, looking down at herself in silence for a moment. "...you m-mean that?"
Reeling in my laughter, I relaxed and retained my calm smile. After everything, I was in no rush to hold back any other thoughts I had around her. "Without a doubt. Pretty sure I said you were attractive, less you want the finer details? Though, mind you, that may cause you to opt out of my Augma,"
Her sly smirk returned, "Nah, save it for full-dive..." Again, a silence followed, Yuuki then, nervously, shuffled around to lean into my side. My skin tingled and I could feel pressure on my side that wasn't actually there. All basic senses mimicked by this device. "...Kazuki?"
"Yeah?"
"Back when you fought me on the island... I think I realized why you were fighting so hard," She began, and I didn't interrupt. "It might sound weird, but it felt like you were fighting my illness, and trying to push me to do the same, if that makes sense?"
"I just didn't want you to give up, I know you fought for so long, and I know that the next time, saying to 'fight it' isn't going to be enough, I can't... change that, no matter how much I scream and beg," I admitted, feeling her hand rest to mine like a fuzzy sensation on my palm. "So I thought, 'if this was really the end, I don't want any regrets left', so I screamed everything I felt then, I had everyone show up, stranger or otherwise to be there either for your recovery or your end,"
Looking to her, my smile was like the one back then, genuine and warm. "It was the hardest battle I've ever lost, even if it sounded like hopeless nonsense, I'd have kept believing you'd live, even after you disappeared," It would've torn me apart, but that's all it was... faith.
Staring into her onyx eyes, Yuuki appeared visibly touched by my honesty, hand to her chest as she leaned forward to kiss my lips; a buzz that tickled my senses but that was all, still, the gesture carried its warmth and weight perfectly.
Leaning back, Yuuki groaned. "It still doesn't feel right... it's cool I can visibly walk around and stuff but I can't feel any of this," Was she seriously getting annoyed she couldn't kiss me? How many guys would give anything for a girl like Yuuki.
"I'll make it up to you later, Cupcake," Patting her on the head I hopped to my feet. "Besides, you have a lovely date with yours truly, time to stretch your digital legs and see the world properly this time-of course, if you can keep up,"
Blinking, I saw her vanish and appear at my door, tapping her foot with a smug grin plastered to her cheeks. "Well? Hurry up already, I can't go anywhere without you,"
"Aw, I love you too," I cooed.
"Gah, not what I meant, dork, and you know it!" She pouted, if only for a split second. "I expect nothing but an amazing date today, no exceptions!"
Chuckling under my sigh, there wasn't a lot I could do to refute her now, is there? "Aye, leader, be right there," Still needed to change as not all of us could just snap their fingers to look presentable. "Yuuki?"
She paused before she'd move outside to give me privacy, blinking from around the doorframe as I stared at her for a moment, taking in her face in every detail, finding the words crawl up after our talk. "Love you,"
Pausing, Yuuki's cheeks grew rosy, closing her eyes with a toothy smile. "Heh, love you too," Then she disappeared around the corner... hopefully not to sneak a peek either.
My eyes then lingered on the drawer connected to my desk, recalling something I had to do when I was alone someday, but sure, that can wait a little. I had a date to prepare for, after all.
[To Be Continued...]
[Author's Notes]
Aren't I just lovely for the previous chapter's cliff hanger, though, I think most realized Yuuki would've survived, but that's just my thoughts. Unlike other fanfics, however, Yuuki isn't magically cured, not for a long time, AIDS doesn't just vanish into thin air after all. This arc was really to focus primarily on this moment, whereas the previous arc was centered on Malzeno's growth.
Now, we're heading into the final arc. I'll have a fun little preview planned for the occasion, I'm sure some of you might've figured it out. For the final arc is Till The End and conclusion to Timeless, sadly.
I hope you enjoyed, I appreciate the support as always; see ya in the final arc, Players!