[Alfheim Online, New Aincrad, Floor 27]

Three days, I still came back here. I visited Floor 10's main town too, I went to places I have been with them. Still nothing. I sighed, sitting down at the round table in front of the firepit as it provided the only light to the inn. No one was here, good, I had to sort my items anyhow.

I moved for my Friends List first like always, it had become second nature in days. I scrolled and found her name again, 'Yuuki'. The last message was about a Dango quest...

[Yuuki]: It says we have to do this during a full moon in the Wisteria Shores!

[Malzeno]: You do realize we split up in town to gather supplies not look at quests

[Yuuki]: Hey, this is important too!

[Yuuki]: Like for money!

[Malzeno]: You really had to think about that one, huh, Cupcake?

[Yuuki]: It's not fair, you have them all done I don't!

[Malzeno]: We can do it straight after the boss if you want

[Malzeno]: Mainly so you stop buzzing my message tab

[Yuuki]: Don't tempt me, I'm very persistent

[Malzeno]: Among other things, seeya soon

[Malzeno]: Taller

[Yuuki]: O.L.D.E.R!

I managed a small laugh at that, but it was very short-lived. I just... hadn't the energy right now.

"Mr Malzeno," That voice! I spun around to find an Undine with blue, almost white, hair, staring at me with guilt-ridden eyes.

"S-Siune! I, h-how are you? Everyone?" I leaned forward as she sat down next to me. "Yuuki, I... what the hell happened?"

She just shook her head. "None of us are able to get into contact with her either," She opened her eyes to look at me straight. "Mr Malzeno... I don't think Yuuki wants to see you again, and for no one's sake but yours."

What did that mean? "For someone who claims not to know what's going on you seem oddly certain to what she's thinking." She didn't look at me, staring at the table. I relaxed, getting worked up wasn't helping. "Look, I just want to know why? You guys don't know but... I've seen those looks before, and with Argo's help, I've learned to pick up on social cues, you've been trying to keep me at arm's length since we met, but why is that? What is it I'm missing?"

"Am I..." I clenched my fist to the table, my façade cracking a little. "...Am I... really that much of a nuisance? To her? Was it... just a job like always?" I couldn't hold back a small choke in my voice as her head spun around to me with wide eyes. "How is this for my sake? What do I gain from losing everything again?" I let it slip, but not enough for her to realize what...

"You weren't a nuisance!" Siune yelled, shaking her head with a painful smile. "We're all truly grateful to have met you, because of your strength we turned our final memory into something unforgettable, all because of you," I felt my heart clench at that, I... really did that? She stood up, staring straight ahead. "I'm certain Yuuki feels the same way, she... really loved being near you despite it all..."

Siune clenched her eyes shut, trying to hold back tears. "But this is our fervent wish! We'd like you to forget all about us now."

That's how it is then?

Just... forget.

Yeah. Sure.

"Ah... I get it now," I too stood up, turning my back to her to hide my pain, anger, all of it. "Heh, I'm just... a mer - no, a stupid fifteen-year-old who thought things would change, I really am pathetic, aren't I?" I asked her but I didn't expect an answer. "...who'd ever be friends with a scumbag like me? After all I've done, you're right, I should just forget,"

"Malzeno..." She tried to say but I just couldn't hack it, not anymore.

"Same to you... forget... I ever was near you; though, you probably already have," It's how it should be I guess.

"I'm sorry," Siune croaked, and my head spun around to see her opening her menu like Yuuki did. I couldn't stop myself from reaching back again.

"w... wait!" I hit the table, her blue particles scattered by the impact. "...don't go..."

I stared at the table, seeing the tears stain its surface.

"What do I do now... sis?" I asked no one. There was no answer.

[IRL]

I rubbed my eyes again as I walked down the stairs with a lack of energy, all I kept thinking about was what Siune said last night. All for my sake? Why? This isn't about me, it was her but... how can I know with nothing in my hands? My frustration grew before a felt something tug my shirt, immediately causing that irked face of mine to dissolve.

"Big brother, are you okay?" It was the youngest in my family, my brother Saburo, who was only five years old but he had a heart of gold, but also saw through my fake smiles like an arrow. Plus, those big blue eyes were unavoidable under a scruffy bunch of strawberry-blonde hair.

"Ah, wrong side of the bed, that's all," I messed with the top of his head, tugging him along to the dining room. "Come on," We arrived as I gave a curt flick of my hand to those present. "Morning."

"Morning," My Mom greeted me as she lightly pushed a mug of piping hot tea in my direction. She had long raven hair, her bangs held across her brow with a hairclip, wearing blue-rimmed glasses over her deep blue eyes. I sipped my tea, it tasted sour...

Her fingers then pinched my chin tenderly, humming through a frown. "You have bags under your eyes," She wasn't easily fooled, I've been like this for three days. "What's been with you lately? The last three days you act so sluggish,"

"It's nothing, really," I managed a smile, pointing at her. "Your health's important too, you know?"

She rolled her eyes, drinking her own tea, giving me 'the look' as I adverted my gaze, watching my siblings eat at the table behind me, oblivious to my well-being, aside from Saburo but he was immediately focused on breakfast. "Don't use my words against me, and I'm perfectly fine now," She patted her chest where a scar hid under her shirt. "Is this about those friends of yours? 'The Sleeping Knights'?"

"...sure," 'Friends' was a stretch. Clearly, my tone tipped her off more than I realized by how her eyes softened.

"Or is it about her, Yuuki, was it?" Mom sighed as she leaned against the counter. "Did you two get into a fight or-"

*Knock Knock Kn-Kn-Knock Knock!*

"Oh no..." I knew that assortment of knocks anywhere, but my energy was tapped out, and I had no real way of warding off their surprising visit at this time. "I'll get it, better than this conversation..." I didn't miss my Mom's eye roll at my disregard for the sore topic.

Mentally preparing myself, I reached the small hallway to the door where the blurry shadow stood on the opposite side of the glass pane to the right of the door. Opening it, I first saw a bundle of curly golden-brown hair before my eyes settled on the girl with a sharp grin, all she was missing were those whiskers.

She wore a bright yellow coat over her uniform with a pair of glasses tucked into the left breast pocket as she winked.

"You're... here?" I blinked as I let her pass. Argo the Rat, AKA, Hosaka Carina Tomo. She kicked off her shoes before stepping onto the wood panelled floor, twirling around to greet my deadpan stare. "What are you plotting, Hosaka?"

"Nyahaha, what, can't big sis drop by early to see her adorable partneR?" She quipped, practically inviting herself deeper into the house as I took a long sip of tea and followed her as she gave a perky wave. "HellO~!"

"Hi, Ms Tomo!" My siblings waved back with my second youngest sister, Ami, running up to hug Tomo tightly, the blonde grinning happily as she hugged the girl with a pat.

"Hi, Tomo!" Ami beamed, she was the spitting image of my eldest sister, her hair long and dandelion in pigment, tied with a white ribbon into a ponytail, her bright green eyes buzzing with glee at Hosaka's visit.

"Peppy as ever I see, you've been lookin' out for yer Mom while I handle ol' Mal herE?" I shot her a pout that made the Rat chuckle as my sister nodded rapidly. "So cutE..."

"Tomo, good morning, what's with the sudden visit?" Mom asked as she prepped a new cup for the arrival. "Don't you usually meet halfway to school?"

"Yep, but I've got somethin' big to drop by and it can't waiT!" Hosaka smiled a little less mischievously as she fished around in her bag. "Wanna take this privatelY?"

She was serious. I didn't really think about it and followed her to the living room across the hall, I sat on the sofa while Hosaka took the arm chair, holding something small in her hands. We sat there in silence for a time as the small clock on the mantle ticked by. Eventually, she spoke up.

"Heard anything from ZekkeN?" Of course she'd ask that first...

"No, nothing," I breathed, staring at my hands. "I've ran it through my head on a loop, but... all I know is that she must've lost her sister, and that bringing it up triggered her, I... I just want to know why," Clenching my fists, I struggled to think of how her teary face reminded me of myself. "There's more but there's nothing I can do, I... I've run out of options,"

"Not talked about this with yer folkS?" I shook my head as Hosaka lightly kicked my leg. Yeah, deserved that. "Listen, this ain't like SAO, get mE? Sooner ya accept that the b-"

"I. Know. That." I rasped, screwing my eyes shut. "But when I looked at her eyes, she looked as frightened as I was back then," Raising my head, I stared into Tomo's neutral gaze. "I looked at her... and I saw myself,"

Hosaka nodded, then handed me a black rectangle roughly the size of a phone. I popped it open, inside, was a USB that looked worn out, no wonder she carried it in a case. "Took me longer than I'd like to admit, but, got some of the files back for yA,"

Is this...?

"Y-you mean - b-but the files were corrupted, how did you...?" I suddenly felt heat rise back through my body as I held the case tightly, afraid it'll slip away.

"Files were mostly corrupted, buuut a few I managed to scrape together again, good as neW," Hosaka hopped to her feet, smiling back at me as she flicked my forehead. "Durin' lunch, wanna take a look at what yer sis had seeN?"

My sister's memories. Maintained via her Nervegear this whole time. I finally had them again.

"I... thank you, Hosaka," I whispered, feeling her hand rest on my head to comfort me. I didn't deserve this, but I'd be damned to let her hard work go to waste.

[To Be Continued...]

[Author's Notes]

Malzeno may not have all the answers yet, but Argo may just provide that added kick he needs to try. I hope you enjoyed, I appreciate the support, seeya in the next chapter, Readers!