The early morning sun bathed the world in a warm, gentle light as Ryuto and Asuna hurried out of town.
After checking their bearings, Ryuto led her at a brisk pace toward the distant horizon.
Two days had passed since they had left the Misty Forest, steadily leveling up as they ventured deeper into new territory. Now, they had reached the Yale Jungle.
Today, Ryuto seemed unusually animated. There was an energy in his step, a hint of anticipation, as though something special awaited them. Early that morning, just before leaving the safety of town, he had leaned toward Asuna and promised her a surprise.
His mood was infectious. Even the tedious grind of fighting monsters seemed lighter, almost fun.
Halfway through their monster hunts, Asuna's curiosity got the better of her."So… what's this surprise you're talking about?" she asked.
Ryuto only smiled.
"You'll see when we get there," he replied. "It's a place I discovered during the closed beta. It left me speechless back then… it felt so real, so breathtaking."
Four hours later, the sun hung high overhead, its light beating down with midday intensity. Ryuto reflexively reached up to wipe away sweat—only to remember that SAO avatars didn't actually perspire. The heat, however, still felt real enough. He muttered under his breath about Kayaba Akihiko's "genius" decision to include such details, glanced at the map, and realized they were almost there.
He slowed to a stop."Asuna—this way."
Taking her hand, he guided her along a narrow path. Thick bushes closed in around them, tall trees rising like pillars on either side. They walked in silence, their footsteps muffled by the forest floor. Gradually, the vegetation thinned, and shafts of dazzling light began to break through.
And then—suddenly—the world opened before them.
Ryuto halted, and the intense light made Asuna instinctively raise a hand to shield her eyes. When she lowered it, her breath caught.
A waterfall of shimmering silver crashed down from the cliffs above, its torrent slicing through the air before exploding into the river below. A fine spray of mist drifted upward, cool against the skin. Sunlight refracted through the haze, scattering into a perfect rainbow.
The oppressive heat of midday was banished by the refreshing chill of the water vapor.
Ryuto's silver-white hair was dusted with tiny droplets, sparkling like crystals in the sunlight. His crimson eyes narrowed slightly as he stood facing the falls, welcoming the rush of cool air.
"Ryuto-kun, look! It's a rainbow!" Asuna called over the roar.
"What? I can't hear you!"
The pounding waterfall drowned out her voice entirely. Ryuto tried to listen, but the sound filled his ears completely. Grinning, he fished out a small notepad and pen, scribbling a quick message before showing it to her:
Try shouting it out loud.
He then cupped his hands around his mouth and bellowed toward the falls.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh—!"
The sound vanished instantly into the roar, but Ryuto's shoulders seemed lighter, freer. Days of stress and frustration from endless grinding dissolved in that moment.
Asuna watched him for a second, then tried it herself.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh—!"
For the briefest instant, her mind went completely blank. All the suffocating pressure—Kayaba Akihiko's death game, her mother's strict expectations for the past fifteen years—faded into the background. She turned toward Ryuto, who was still yelling into the mist, and shouted at the top of her lungs:
"Ryuto-kun! I'm really glad I met you in this death game. It's misfortune mixed with luck… I've started to like living in this world. And most of all—I like you the most!"
Her words were swallowed entirely by the thunder of the falls. Ryuto, seeing her mouth move, assumed she was trying to tell him something. He pointed to the notepad and gestured for her to write it down. But Asuna only shook her head with a smile.
Instead, Ryuto reclaimed the notepad from her and quickly wrote:
Asuna… remember a few days ago, when you asked me why I live? I told you: "Because I am alive." I brought you here to show you what I meant. You're here, in this world, right now—truly living. Look at it. Feel it. We should live… simply because we're alive.
Asuna's eyes stung as she read his words. Fighting back tears, she wrote in return:
Then I'll say it: I'll live with everything I have. And Ryuto will do the same. This is our promise—because we are alive… we live.
Ryuto nodded firmly, sealing the silent vow between them. It was like an invisible chain linking their hearts.
With their spirits renewed, they left Silver Falls behind and made their way toward the Mine Valley—Ryuto's destination for this quest.
Two days later, not far from the Mine Valley, they were back to fighting side-by-side.Ryuto moved in and out of an elite monster's blind spots, drawing its attention while Asuna struck with precision. Their teamwork was flawless—almost like a perfectly choreographed dance.
At last, the monster faltered under their combined pressure. With one final blow, it burst into a glittering stream of polygons, scattering into the digital sky.
The two sheathed their weapons. Ryuto opened his map interface, scanning it briefly before speaking to Asuna.
"Asuna, the Mine Valley is the target location for my quest. It's said there's a field boss in the area. When the time comes, we'll need to stay alert."
Asuna nodded firmly in acknowledgment. Satisfied, Ryuto closed the map, and together they set off toward the valley.
From afar, the Mine Valley looked almost serene. A massive tree dominated the landscape, its vast branches stretching out to block the sun, draped in lush green leaves and dotted with vibrant fan-shaped blossoms. The scene radiated life and beauty. But Ryuto knew better—this was Sword Art Online. The system would never allow him to obtain the Heartwood Ore so easily. A fierce battle was inevitable.
Beside him, Asuna noticed his fixed gaze on the valley and the faint tension in his brow. Without a word, she stepped closer and gently clasped his clenched left hand.
Her touch snapped him from his thoughts. He glanced at her, and the tightness in his expression eased.
What am I afraid of? he thought. With Asuna—the Knight of the Flash—fighting beside me, I'll only grow stronger. If I shy away from challenges, then there's no point in my being here at all. In SAO, I've found someone I want to protect. For her sake, I'll forge myself into the sharpest blade, sever Kayaba Akihiko's twisted game, and lead her out of this world alive.
Turning his hand, Ryuto clasped hers in return, his grip firm and warm. That warmth carried the same resolve burning in his heart as they walked—slowly but with unwavering steps—toward the Mine Valley.