Chapter 96: Kirito at Orthopedics
That day, Hachiman Hikigaya and Kirito were somewhat tired from the morning onward.
The night before, after logging back into ALO, the two had so much fun using magic that, under Yui's guidance, they practiced without realizing it until late at night.
Although they had mastered several kinds of magic that could be used in actual combat, the fatigue lingered—mostly mental exhaustion.
"Maybe we got a bit carried away yesterday."
"Yeah... but it was fun."
"We already have a few magics we can integrate into battle."
"The effects still need work, but for disruption-type magic, our current skills should be enough."
The two were eating breakfast together in Hachiman's room, looking tired but still excitedly discussing magic.
"I heard from Miss Haruno that the familiar team probably won't arrive until tomorrow."
"Although it's an unexpected situation, they ended up going the opposite way."
"We'll have to apologize next time we meet."
"Yeah, by the way, what was the name of that team member?"
Hachiman made a bad face upon hearing this question. "...Sorry, I forgot to ask."
"We can ask next time anyway; we'll meet tomorrow."
"But someone else will be picking us up today. I did ask her name—it's Leafa."
"Oh, our first time meeting other players. We should learn a lot from her."
"I want to ask her to take us to the Sylph tribe capital, Sylluban, and also buy weapons and armor."
"Then, after breakfast, we'll do some light exercise and take a nap?"
"Sounds good, let's do that."
After finalizing their plan, the two finished breakfast and went to the garden.
After some healthy movement in the yard, they returned to their rooms to take a nap.
.
.
.
Suguha transferred by train and finally arrived at the hospital where her older brother Kazuto was admitted. It took about an hour and a half.
She muttered to herself as she walked toward the service desk: "First time here, it's really far... Excuse me, could you tell me where Kirigaya Kazuto's ward is?"
"Please wait a moment."
While the nurse checked, Suguha looked around and noticed four striking young women entering the hospital. 'They must be visiting friends? Each one is a different type of beauty.'
Just then, the nurse finished and gave her the ward's location. After thanking her, Suguha headed to the elevator.
She saw the four women about to close the elevator doors and took the one next to it.
Upon reaching her floor, she noticed the four heading toward a distant ward. 'So they're here to visit someone on this floor too.'
While searching for her brother's ward, Suguha unknowingly wandered a bit. "Ah, here it is."
The ward was right next door to where the four women had entered.
Feeling the coincidence, she knocked gently.
After waiting for a moment with no reply and assuming her brother was asleep, she slowly pushed the door open.
Sure enough, Kazuto was sound asleep. She quietly sat beside the bed, gazing at his sleeping face. 'He's sleeping so peacefully...'
Her cheeks gradually warmed. Actually, they weren't blood-related.
This fact was revealed to her by their parents after Kazuto was trapped in SAO for a year.
During that year Kazuto was trapped, Suguha became increasingly exhausted.
One day, her parents suddenly asked: "Suguha, do you like Kazuto?"
Surprised and caught off guard, Suguha couldn't answer immediately.
Her heart raced as her mother explained that they weren't scolding her, but felt sorry to see their daughter so downcast.
They had long suspected her feelings and decided to reveal a secret they had hidden for years—the two were not biological siblings—and promised not to interfere with her feelings.
"But Kazuto probably doesn't see you that way. You can confess or not, but if you keep feeling like this, it will only make him feel guilty when he wakes up.
So cheer up, and greet him with a smile when he does."
From that day, Suguha pulled herself together. After a year, Kazuto finally awoke, but she has yet to confess her feelings.
'Ah, he's moving'
Seeing her brother shift, she poked his cheek. "Wake up soon... Seems like he won't. Maybe a secret kiss... should be okay?"
Her heartbeat was even more intense than when confessing to her parents.
Just as her lips were about to touch his cheek, Kazuto suddenly opened his eyes.
Suguha blushed deeply and jumped back.
Kazuto, unaware of what almost happened, greeted her casually: "Yo, Suguha. You're here. Sorry, I overslept after not hearing from you for a while."
'Good, he didn't notice.'
"I should be the one apologizing for coming in without knocking when you didn't respond."
"It's okay, we're family."
'Family... Our definitions of family are a bit different...'
Seeing Suguha silent, Kazuto asked why, and in a hurry she mentioned the four women from before. "The people in the next room are my close friends."
"Oh? Male?"
"Yeah, my best friend."
"Best friend..."
'Can my brother really have best friends?'
While she imagined, Kazuto suddenly became nervous:
"D-Don't get close to that guy! He's a natural player!"
"What are you saying all of a sudden..."
"He's super popular! Those four we saw earlier are all after him!"
"Are all four into him?"
"One's probably his sister, but there are so many girls who like him."
"You're totally different from my brother."
"That's too much..."
"But he only has room in his heart for one person, me... Liz..."
Kazuto suddenly showed a complex expression mixing sadness, loneliness, and determination. 'It's the first time I've seen my brother look like that... Maybe he already has someone special.'
Suguha's heart was torn apart. "Brother, I'm going now."
"Oh, say hi to Mom and Dad for me."
As she hurriedly left the ward, she bumped into Haruno in the corridor. "Ah!"
"Sorry! Miss Haruno, what are you doing here?"
"Visiting Hachiman~ Suguha, you look pale."
At that moment, Kazuto came running out and suggested: "I'll introduce Suguha to the friends in the next room."
Without knocking, Haruno pushed open the neighboring room's door.
What greeted them was the sight of Yui pushing Hachiman down onto the hospital bed. Suguha blushed furiously, shouted "Sorry for disturbing!"
and ran away.
Kazuto was left dumbfounded on the spot, while Haruno chuckled quietly, enjoying the scene.
"Let's do the introductions next time,"
Kazuto smiled wryly and decided to first clarify the situation with Hachiman.