[IRL, SAO Survivors School]
It took me a minute or so to finally relax again, I hadn't felt this distraught since I returned to the real world, to find my sister had passed away, and my siblings had grown up a bit. To hear her voice again, to see what became of her, it was alot to take in but I was grateful.
Yuuki... Aiko too, they did everything they could to keep her safe from SAO, I had almost forgotten we met once. Asuka Empire, I remember fighting alongside them, how Yuuki enraptured me with her skill, she was the most beautiful person I had ever seen. Now, she was where Merida was, she had no purpose.
I helped the Sleeping Knights complete their goal. Would that be it for Yuuki?
I grit my teeth slightly, "No, I can't let this be how she goes, I... she needs to hear this too!" I wiped my tears with a cloth Asuna gave me, "Thanks, sorry I... I never thought I'd hear her voice again, sure, I have recordings at home but... that was new," Looking to Hosaka, I felt my face brighten as I tried not to sniffle again. "Hosaka, I can't ever make this up to you, thank you so much for this,"
She smirked, I imagine her whiskers would be twitching, "Anytime, Mal, but ya got that twinkle I've seen, yer about to do something biG," Dusting off her knees, she turned and poked Kazuto in the stomach. "Come on, Kii-bou don't go leavin' the poor guy hangiN',"
"Ah, yeah-yeah, I know that," Kazuto shoved her hand away as he walked around to address me with a somewhat serious expression that had me sit upright. "So, do you want to see Zekken, no matter what?"
That wasn't even up for debate. Meeting his gaze I nodded once. "More than anything,"
"But they told you it'd be better not to see her, right? Even so?" Kazuto was firm, he was testing how far I'd be wanting to go with this. But there was something else, he was withhold something and Tomo knew what. I played along.
"I've said it before, but I want to talk to her, I want to know more about who she is - now, I have so much I want to ask her about Merida's final days, the things they did together, and... I want to save her from herself," I clenched my fists against my legs. "Yuuki, her last goal was to immortalize the Sleeping Knights, now, what else was there for her? I'm certain she's thinking about that, I have to tell her she's wrong! That she can fight this!"
I knew what Serene Garden was, it was only for those admitted into hospitals, those in need of palliative care. That recording was within that world, I knew, because Merida talked about it, only now I'm remembering this. Just how much had I supressed her memory? I shook my head, this wasn't important now, I can use this. Yuuki was in Full-Dive for that long would explain her inhuman abilities in Alfheim, the dots were connecting.
"Whatever it takes, I have to find her," This time I will save someone with my bare hands.
Hosaka snickered, giving me a mischievous grin. "Yer really fallen hard for her, MaL?" She cooed as I lost my seriousness, blinking down at her.
"Eh?" What did that mea - why was Asuna smiling like that too.
"Whadda think, A-ChaN?" Hosaka nudged.
"I think it's really adorable these two together, like when they were out shopping before their raid, even Yuuki was gushing over him after he left," She was? Now my face slowly rose in temperature. The idea of me and Yuuki... well, it's not a bad thought but - grah! Stop it, this isn't the time!
"Okay! What were you leading toward Blackie, lay it on me!" I rotated sharply toward him, face bright red as the girls giggled at my response - or rather a lack of one.
Kazuto smiled, rummaging through his pocket. "Well, you might get to see her if you go here," He held out a note with an address on it. 'Yokohama Kōhoku General Hospital', knew it, that put another piece in place. "Of course, it's only a possibility,"
"How the hell did you get this?" I glanced at Hosaka who raised a finger to her lips. Top secret, guess that's a payment and a half.
"That's the only place in Japan conducting clinical trials for the Medicuboid,"
"'Medicuboid'?" That's a name I haven't heard of. Not even Merdia mentioned anything of the sort. "Any pointers?"
"Prototype for medical Full-Dive to replace pain killers for uh - ahem, you'll get a bigger picture when yer therE," Hosaka coughed into her fist, that's never a good sign. She slapped my back again a little harder. "Keep yer head on straight and book it after today, 'kaY?"
"Y-yeah, I..." I grabbed Kazuto's hand, pulling him into a quick tap of my shoulder. "Again, thank you for this," He smiled, pulling back to bump his knuckle to mine.
"Sure thing, consider it my own thanks for back then," Kazuto's eyes glossed with a memory, I think I could guess which one. But for that reason alone, I was glad to have met them all.
Now, it was my turn to finish what I started.
Otherwise, what kind of mercenary am I?
What kind of person was I trying to be?
The wind cut through my hair and hood as I gradually entered the parking lot for the hospital Yuuki was supposed to be located. The second school was over I ran without hesitation, taking my skateboard today was a good call as I kicked it into my hand again, hooking it under my arm as I adjusted my red hood again, it's now or never.
Inside was the standard large reception/waiting room, I didn't pay it much mind as I approached the front desk. "Hi?" My greeting drew the woman's gaze with a welcoming smile.
"Afternoon sir, are you here to visit a patient?" She asked.
Here comes the awkward part, "I am, but, I don't technically know their name," I smiled slightly, the lady giving me a strange face as she cocked her head.
"Excuse me?" She blinked as I tried to word this right.
"She's a girl my age, short blackish-brown hair, black eyes, and I think her name might be Yuuki, though I'm not sure exactly," Not like I stalked her or something. Oh wait, here I am. "Yeah, that doesn't help my case..."
"Hm, I could look for you but that's not a lot of information to go on," She replied.
"Ah, um... okay, she may also be a patient using a device called a Medicuboid that's being tested here," If anything, they should know what that is.
"Pardon me-" To my left, an older woman with glasses looked visibly shocked at my explanation. "-but what's your name?"
"I'm..." Hm, maybe... I stood up a little straighter now. "If Yuuki knows, my online status is Malzeno, but I'm Kazuki Asami, ma'am."
That got a reaction from her as she stood up in a hurry. "Please have a seat and wait one moment,"
"A-Alright," But the woman had already taken off, so I thanked the receptionist and went to take a seat, fiddling with my hands as my foot tapped rapidly.
It didn't take long for a man in a labcoat to approach in my direction. He had a small build and was slightly plump. He wore glasses and the hair on his shiny forehead is parted on one side. He looked to be in his thirties. He offered a smile as I stood up. "Sorry about that, I hope you didn't wait too long."
"Not at all," I bowed slightly.
"Um, so you're Mr Kazuki Asami, correct?"
"Yeah, and you?"
"My name is Kurahashi, I'm Yuuki Konno's primary physician," Kurahashi introduced but I felt my heart warm at the mystery lady's name.
"'Yuuki Konno', huh, guess that's three now," I held in my laugh as the doctor led me off to speak privately with a cup of tea to boot, I really needed it from skateboarding all the way here when I wasn't taking a train.
Alone, I sat with my heart practically pounding in my chest, Kazuto's and Tomo's aid was accurate, I was so close to the truth now, to her again. I just hope I can make things right and hopefully do for her what she and Aiko did for my sister.
Kurahashi smiled delightfully for a moment. "I'm surprised you found us, you see, Yuuki had told me that someone named 'Malzeno' would come visit,"
"I see..." I sipped my tea as the doctor took a drink of his coffee.
"But also that she hadn't told you about this hospital, I replied, 'well, he's certainly not going to find you here!'," He held in a laugh but his smile showed it, as well as the kindness in his eyes. "I was quite astonished to hear from the reception desk."
"I tend to have a way of messing up people's plans," I remarked.
"Oh yes, all she seems to talk about is you," He replied with a bright grin as I felt a little hot under the collar. But then, his face dropped to a sadden interpretation. "The only thing is, whenever Yuuki talks about you, she always ends up in tears,"
My whole face dropped after that, she... was still crying because of me.
"Normally, she always keeps a stiff upper lip about her own plight," I listened closely. "But she said she wants to see you, though she could never do so again."
"Because whatever illness is afflicting her has kept her here for years," I spoke up, the tea keeping my throat from drying up as Kurahashi's brows shot up at my reply. "My sister, she knew Yuuki and Aiko, before I became trapped in SAO,"
"That's a surprise, what was your sister's name?" He asked.
"Merida Asami, much like Yuuki she, heh, didn't really take alot of creative liberties with her username," That at least got a small laugh from the doctor as I added, losing my smile. "Herself and her friends said the same things to me before they ghosted me," My fingers were taut to my cup. "Why? Is it because of her illness? Why does that have to matter?" My frustration was growing.
Kurahashi set his cup down, the look on his face was grim, leaning onto his hands propped up by his knees. "Alright, why don't I start by telling you about the Medicuboid?"
"Go ahead, I'm all ears."
I learned that the Medicuboid was developed by the government with the intension to act as an alternative form of anaesthetic, it was designed to be a modified extension of the Nervegear. The Medicuboid has a stronger electromagnetic output than both the Nervegear and the AmuSphere, so it can make muscles completely numb and cancel out the spinal reflexes - making it possible to avoid using anaesthetics, which still have a small-but-rare risk. It had many more pulse-generated components than the Nervegear and its CPU far surpasses the processing speed of the AmuSphere. It was a dream machine, as the doctor called it.
While the doctor was all abuzz about the practical applications, I was too, the idea of it becoming a commercial product for hospitals was ground-breaking. His smile lost its vigor, and he took off his glasses to wipe them. "But it's not as if it can cure the illness itself. The field that has the highest hopes for the Medicuboid..." He met my gaze. "That would be terminal care."
...
...
...
Terminal... Care...
"In Kanji, it's written as, 'final stage medical treatment'," His words sunk in like an anvil tied to my stomach, I was dragged down into my seat as color drained from my face. Yuuki was... I-I mean I knew something had to be wrong but... oh Gods...
"Yuuki told me to tell you everything about her if you wish to hear it," He continued. "But afterwards, you may wish you'd stopped the conversation right here,"
To run away again.
To turn my back again.
"No way," Kurahashi stared back at me, shocked by my answer as I glared right back. "If you've heard all she's said about me, then you'd know I'm extremely stubborn," I gestured for him to continue, even if it would hurt like hell, "I've not come this far to run away now,"
Merida, I'm not giving up.
[To Be Continued...]
[Author's Notes]
We're nearing the end of what I'd consider the first arc, things are starting to change soon, maybe not instantly, but gradually. Oh, and I'm not dumping all that exposition about the Medicuboid because we've all heard it before. I hope you enjoyed, I appreciate the support, seeya in the next chapter, Readers!