Chapter 84 – Hachiman's Awakening
Asuna opened her eyes to a vast expanse—but it was not the expected hospital bed. Instead, she found herself in a cage-like structure, clearly imprisoned.
"Huh… where is this… am I still in SAO?"
All around her was sky—just endless sky—and a massive tree. The cage Asuna was in seemed to be hanging from this enormous tree.
"Hachiman-kun! Kirito-kun! ...Kayaba-san?"
Despite her shaken emotions, Asuna took a deep breath and tried to calm herself.
'Hachiman-kun always said to stay calm no matter what.
All the more reason to stay composed in times like these.
First, I should observe my surroundings...'
She started by scanning the environment, peeking down from the cage. The ground was so far below that she couldn't see it at all—clearly, she was at a high altitude. Then she inspected her body.
'This is a virtual body.
So this must be a different game.
Definitely not SAO... none of the SAO floors were this tall.'
She guessed she had been transferred directly from SAO to wherever this was, possibly imprisoned.
'If I really have been locked up by someone, then they might soon notice I'm awake. For now, I'll just have to wait...'
Her guess proved correct quickly.
From the direction of the tree's connecting pathway, a figure in extravagant clothing came rushing toward her.
To Asuna, he looked like he was dressed in ancient Greek or Roman attire.
"I logged in right after getting the report, and sure enough, you're here."
'Logged in... so this really is a game world.'
"Who are you? Where is this?"
"Oh? We've met many times. You don't recognize me in this form?"
Asuna searched her memory but drew a blank—his appearance likely didn't reflect his real-life looks.
"Sorry, I don't recall. And I don't understand this place at all."
As she looked around, Asuna noticed a small black speck moving far below.
She stared at it intently, which made the man glance down as well.
"A... a player?! No way! They can't fly this high—not with ALO's system settings!"
"Someone with wings… a player?"
From their movements… were they taking pictures? Damn it! Don't look! Get back!"
Realizing this might expose his secret, the man panicked. But Asuna desperately waved her arms, yelling to try and get the distant player's attention.
"I'm here! Please see me!"
"Stop that!"
The man rushed to the front of the cage and used his access privileges to activate a concealment shield.
Still, Asuna kept waving, trying to be noticed—until the player below collapsed from exhaustion and fell.
"Damn it! Why did something like this have to happen now..."
Opening what looked like a system window, the man contacted someone.
"We're initiating emergency maintenance. We'll deal with the rest later. For now, Asuna-san..."
"Who are you?"
"No point hiding it—I'm your father's subordinate. My name is Sugou."
"Sugou… -san? Does my father know about this? And what is ALO?"
"You have many questions, but for now, we need to deal with the urgent situation first."
With that, Sugou vanished in a hurry.
Perhaps due to the maintenance kicking in, Asuna's consciousness faded quickly.
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.
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Kirito awoke to complete darkness.
"That's right…"
Realizing he was wearing a NerveGear, he slowly removed it and looked around the room—what looked like a hospital room. He tried to sit up.
'I can stand...'
Carefully avoiding the IV tube, he managed to rise to his feet, though unsteadily.
"Wow… my muscles are really atrophied."
Seeing his emaciated body made him tremble.
"If I hadn't cleared the 100th floor, I might not have made it..."
Collapsing onto the bed's edge, Kirito pressed the nurse call button.
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.
.
Klein, Argo, and Silica gradually regained consciousness.
The luckiest of them all was Agil—he opened his eyes to see the wife he'd longed for most.
"Darling!"
She had come to visit, and tears poured from her eyes as she threw herself into his arms.
"I'm sorry… I'm back."
"Welcome home."
The two clung to each other, crying, until the hospital staff arrived.
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.
.
Lisbeth, before awakening, had been wandering endlessly in darkness.
"Kirito! Kirito!"
She kept calling out despite knowing it was hopeless.
'SAO was definitely cleared... then where is this? Was it all just a dream, and I'm actually dead?'
Lost in her pursuit, she once again lost consciousness.
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Yumiko Miura visited Hachiman as usual.
As the hospital's visiting hours neared their end and she was about to leave, she suddenly heard a sound behind her—on the bed, Hachiman was blankly staring at her.
"Huh? Why are you the first person I see? Am I still dreaming?"
"Hikigaya!"
Tears streaming down her face, Miura buried his face into her chest.
"So soft… This isn't a dream? It's really you?"
"Don't call me 'you,' geez."
Miura held him tightly and wouldn't let go as Hachiman let her vent without complaint.
"This is a hospital, right? Do you visit often?"
Surprised by how calm his tone was, Miura finally loosened her grip.
'The old Hikigaya would've been flustered beyond belief.'
As she stared at him, she noticed his eyes had lost their former gloom.
"You look more handsome now… though way too skinny."
"Why the sudden compliment? Trying to mess with me? Just answer my question first."
"Ahaha, some things haven't changed. Yeah, this is a hospital. I go to college nearby and visit you a lot."
"I see… Thanks, Miura."
"Welcome back, Hikigaya."
Smiling as she wiped her tears, Miura pressed the nurse call button.
"Let's contact Haruno-san. Oh, take a look at the back wall."
"This is a Yukinoshita-related hospital?"
"Haruno-san has done a lot for you. Be sure to thank her."
"..."
"The back wall? Whoa!"
A massive wedding photo of Hachiman and Asuna was hung there.
"Why is this here?!"
"They said it was exported data or something—I don't really get it either."
"This is basically public humiliation!"
"It was approved by everyone. You're not allowed to take it down."
"Everyone meaning who?"
"Yukino, Yui, Iroha, Komachi, Kawasaki, and me."
"So basically everyone I know..."
"This is the person you love the most, right?"
"Yeah, this is my wife, Asuna."
Miura, seeming prepared for this, smoothly changed the subject.
"You've probably noticed Yui and Yukino's feelings, haven't you?"
"Their feelings…"
"Yeah."
"I had a vague idea before, but I kept running away back then."
"And now? They looked really frustrated when they saw that photo—you and Asuna. Iroha and I too, by the way."
"You too? Then Hayama...?"
"Call me Yumiko. Hayato turned me down at graduation—we've been done since then."
"..."
"Seeing that photo made me think you're kind of cool now."
"It's just your imagination. I already have Asuna..."
"I knew you'd say that. But I won't give up—probably none of us will."
"Did I become popular while I was in a coma? But my feelings haven't changed. I'll still treat everyone sincerely. Thank you, Yumiko."
"Eh?!"
She was stunned by the sudden use of her name.
"You really have changed a lot."
"When someone who's taken care of you asks to be called by name, you should oblige."
"That's the Hikigaya I want."
As the medical staff arrived, Miura prepared to leave.
"It's nice to wake up with someone there. Bye, Yumiko."
"Bye... Hachiman."
As Miura waved and left, Hachiman sat in thought.
'The fact I can naturally say 'Yumiko'... I really have changed.'
After a medical check-up, the hospital room door opened once more.