Yuu 206-210

Title: A Starless Night Aria

After settling matters at Sobu High, the next step, naturally, was to have a casual chat with his girlfriend.

At the same time, Yuu also wanted to know what happened to Sugou and the fugitive.

“I’m so exhausted~” As soon as the call connected, Asuna whined playfully. “After coming back from the police station, Mom dragged me to the hospital for a check-up. Dad rushed back on the Shinkansen as soon as he heard the news, and together with my brother, they kept asking me this and that… I only just finished dinner!”

“Sounds like you’re really worn out. You went out to have fun and ended up enduring so much.”

Yuu thought for a moment. Kouichirou had sent him a message too, but he’d ignored it.

…Well, no big deal. Messages from guys could be answered anytime.

“It wasn’t that bad. Most of the stuff was handled by Mom, and everyone was just worried about me out of kindness…” Asuna let out a tired sigh, but soon her spirits lifted, and she giggled. “Besides, this time out, I gained a lot of good things!”

“What good things?” Yuu asked, curious.

“Ahem!” Asuna deliberately cleared her throat seriously, as if striking a formal pose with a straight face.

“First, I found out Yuu-kun is amazing at playing the piano!”

Yuu raised an eyebrow.

“Then, I found out Yuu-kun is amazing at doing anything!”

“Isn’t that redundant?”

“Don’t interrupt, I’m giving my report!”

“Alright, alright, you finish talking, then I’ll speak.”

“And also, I found out the girls in Yuu-kun’s club are really pretty!”

(Is that a good thing?) Yuu muttered to himself.

“No, wait, that doesn’t seem like a good thing… Whatever, Yuu-kun wouldn’t flirt anyway. Right?”

“Of course.”

Yuu wasn’t so clueless as to not respond just because of his “you finish talking, then I’ll speak” comment.

Unaware that his answer was just polite reassurance, Asuna, far from satisfied, let out a pleased hum.

“And then, Mom officially approved our relationship. She won’t meddle in our dating anymore~ Hooray!”

Yuu smiled, responding flatly, “Sooner or later.”

“Exactly, our business is none of her concern!” Her voice was cheerful and firm as she continued, “After the fugitive spilled Sugou Nobuyuki’s name, Mom seemed to doubt her own judgment. She looked really shaken… After this, she probably won’t push us to go to some university or follow a certain path, right? After all, I saved her, and you saved me.”

“That guy was originally after me. To be honest, you saved me once too.” Yuu said jokingly, “Even I might not have survived if I got stabbed with that poisoned syringe.”

The reason he said “might” was because he was protected by that damn system—a system capable of rewinding time to conceal its existence. It wouldn’t let its host die, would it?

[Confirmed. Before the host faces forced death, the system’s Return by Death function will activate, rewinding time at a certain cost.]

(Forced? So if I kill myself, you’ll just watch me die?)

[The system cannot prevent the host from committing suicide. Please maintain a healthy mindset to complete missions.]

(Damn you…)

The corner of Yuu’s mouth twitched. After finishing his exchange with the system, he heard Asuna say:

“So, thank goodness you’re okay…”

Her tone sounded a bit strange.

“Asuna?”

Asuna took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice casual, but it trembled as she held back sobs. “I kept thinking, what if he hadn’t attacked us, hadn’t switched targets out of some wicked whim, but followed Sugou’s orders and attacked you when you crossed paths…”

“What if… I couldn’t see you again…”

A part of her heart felt empty, like a void; a piece of the sky was torn apart, like the apocalypse.

Those feelings, wrapped in her words, pierced through his ears, etching deeply into Yuu’s heart.

He lay silent on his bed, mouth slightly open, as if forgetting to blink.

“…Sorry, I meant to talk about good things.” Realizing the mood had grown heavy, Asuna quickly took a breath, forcing her tone to be cheerful again. “Anyway, Yuu-kun will definitely be fine! An attack I could fend off, you’d handle even more easily, right?”

“After all, Yuu-kun is my hero!”

Full of reliance, longing, and trust—she smiled unhesitatingly as she said it.

Suppressing the strange emotions enveloping his heart, Yuu lowered his head, saying resignedly, “Yeah, I’m Asuna’s boyfriend. How could I not be a superman to be worthy of you?”

“Ah, that’s way too much!” Asuna immediately shouted, dissatisfied.

She then shared that the fugitive was sent back to prison, and Sugou was detained in a holding cell. All of Sugou’s dark past had been exposed, and Kyouko planned to hire the best lawyer to ensure he’d be imprisoned for at least ten years. Even if not that long, she’d never let him get parole or bail easily.

But for some reason, listening to her voice and gazing at the darkening moon outside the window, Yuu no longer cared about those things.

He just smiled, savoring every second of their conversation.

“And the most important good thing!” Asuna’s emotions suddenly surged, like a host about to announce the grand prize, letting out a giggle through her nose.

Yuu played along cooperatively. “What’s that good thing?”

Asuna didn’t beat around the bush, joyfully announcing, “That stubborn, strict Mom—she actually allowed me to play Sword Art Online again! After so many days, I can finally go online!”

Yuu exclaimed in surprise, “My gosh, the internet-addicted girl can finally relieve her withdrawal symptoms?”

“Hm? What’s that supposed to mean?” Asuna’s tone instantly turned dangerous.

“Nothing, congratulations.” Yuu said with a wide smile. “Spread your wings toward a brighter future, Asuna.”

“Ugh…” Asuna was probably pouting. “Even though that’s a nice thing to say, why do I feel annoyed, like you’re teasing me…”

“You’re overthinking. So?” Yuu firmly changed the topic. “Want to go online and check it out now? I haven’t logged in either, so I don’t know if the mission’s gone or if we’re still in the Land of Love.”

“Of course! The mission’s time limit has passed. I wonder if Grandma Martha is okay…” After a worried sigh, Asuna giggled, sounding a bit shy.

“Also, fighting that fugitive wasn’t satisfying at all… I want to be like you, Yuu-kun, and find a worthy opponent for a serious fight.”

One that wouldn’t get hurt in the real world, of course.

“In short, you’re itching for a fight, huh?” Yuu smiled wryly.

Despite receiving an elite education since childhood, with an elegant and beautiful appearance and an aura like a refined lady who never left home—

His girlfriend was a rapier master who could swing her blade as fast and bright as a meteor, fearlessly striking even the fiercest enemies, her strength indescribable.

So, the hidden streak of violence in her slender, soft body might be greater than imagined…

“Exactly, that’s right!” Asuna honestly gave up defending herself. “Yuu-kun, don’t forget, you still owe me a duel! I can’t beat you in the real world, but in the game, that’s not certain!”

Yuu said resignedly, “You’re so eager to outdo your boyfriend, huh…”

“It’s not about outdoing you. I hate losing without getting a chance to fight back!” Born with a competitive streak, Asuna spoke with rare firmness. “It’s decided—once everything’s settled, we’ll duel on the grasslands!”

“You’re really something…”

After agreeing to meet online, the call ended.

Yuu put down his phone, his fond smile slowly fading.

He tilted his head, expressionless, silently gazing at the starless night sky outside the window.

After a moment, a starless night aria softly echoed.

“This should be… the last time…”

Without any proof, his intuition told him so.

When he went on that date with Haruno at the amusement park, Yuu felt the same feeling, the same frustration.

His rationality knew he had to accept it, but even so, there was a vast gap between knowing and doing.

For now, he could only let himself sulk, feel unhappy, and vent all his negative emotions. Later, when they met, he’d give her his best smile.

Because he was Asuna’s boyfriend.

“Alright then, let’s get started.”

Closing his eyes and calming his emotions, Yuu let out a long breath.

He took out the gaming helmet he hadn’t touched in two weeks, thought for a moment, then placed the glasses Asuna had given him—worn only during lessons—on the headboard, turned off the light, and lay down.

Putting on the helmet, his entire body relaxed, Yuu whispered:

“The last time… Link Start!”

The last time, he’d enter this game for Asuna.

The last time, he’d transcend the boundaries of reality and virtuality just to meet her…

To say goodbye to her, and to the version of himself who fell in love with her.

The next second, the world lit up in white.


Title: How Quiet the Streets Are

The scenery before his eyes gradually came into focus.

Yuu sat up from the bed, looking around. Indeed, it was their house in the Land of Love, the master bedroom occupied by Asuna.

(So, the mission isn’t over yet?)

Thinking this, he sensed someone watching him and turned his head.

Asuna, dressed in pajamas, propped her chin on both hands, smiling broadly at him.

Her eyes curved like beautiful crescent moons, gentle and adorable.

“Morning, darling.”

When their eyes met, she spoke in a cheerful voice, as if fully prepared.

“…Why the sudden change in how you address me?” Yuu paused for a moment, patted her head, then got out of bed from the other side.

Asuna stood up too, stretching her body while subtly showing off the charming curves of a young woman.

“Hmm~ Because in this world, our husband-and-wife status hasn’t been revoked yet~”

So, experiencing married life a bit early wasn’t a problem—she smiled shyly but happily, raising her left hand high, gazing at the ring on her ring finger with a nostalgic and tender expression unlike her usual self.

Yuu opened the menu and quickly grasped the situation.

While they were offline, the mission had indeed failed due to the time limit. But whether due to a game patch or intentional design, a recovery mission had been added to the mission log, maintaining their temporary husband-and-wife status and the right to use their house.

“We need to obtain the True Love Flower before twelve at the Civil Office… That’s much easier.”

His muttering stopped when he felt a warm weight on his shoulder.

Asuna placed her hand on Yuu’s shoulder, her upper body leaning close, curiously observing the mission log that should only be visible to him but was now shareable with his partner.

“So, no need to hatch eggs anymore? That’s kind of a shame…”

Her soft hair brushed his ear, her warm breath tickled his nerves, and the gentle, elastic touch on his back…

A rapid heartbeat seemed to resonate for a moment.

Yuu stood still, saying without changing his expression, “Maybe it’s a humane consideration from the game developers? Or perhaps your brother knew you couldn’t go online, so he secretly modified your game data and changed the mission for us.”

“Is that so?” Tilting her head in confusion, Asuna could almost feel the heat on the side of her face. “My brother isn’t that nice. I think it’s our love that moved the system, giving us a chance to make up for it!”

Hearing Asuna’s serious tone, Yuu laughed, then casually stepped forward, moving out of her embrace.

“Well then, get ready. We’ll complete this mission now.”

“That urgent?”

Asuna sat back on the bed, her face slightly flushed for some reason, her hazel eyes watery, like a teasing gaze after a passionate kiss.

The spacious bed, the slender girl—every glance and smile was a temptation.

Yuu admitted, at that moment, his pants reacted—

After all, with the system’s antics, this virtual world was no different from reality to him.

All the reactions that should happen did, and what should stiffen could stiffen. He just didn’t know if his genetic factors…

Better not continue that thought.

Unfortunately, even in the virtual world, he didn’t want to have a farewell kiss, leaving behind bad memories of cheating with his girlfriend and then leaving.

When entering the System Space, those memories would surely weigh him down for a long time, even making him hate himself.

Yuu couldn’t be a hero, but he had his own moral boundaries.

Especially remembering the incident with Haruno, where he also held back, not finishing something before completing the mission, the once-raging blood slowly flowed back to his heart, an indescribable sadness filling his chest.

Some parts softened, but his heart hardened.

“Asuna, the virtual world is indeed a place where anything goes.”

Yuu walked in front of her, his palm cupping her warm cheek, his fingertips gently stroking her soft hair, whispering, “So, don’t give me that ‘I wouldn’t mind whatever you do’ look. It’ll make it hard for me to hold back.”

Asuna covered the back of his hand with hers, her eyes gazing at him softly and directly, her voice as if trying to melt his heart and bones.

“We’re husband and wife, and I love you—so, no need to hold back.”

“But what if everything we do in the virtual world is recorded in the game’s backend logs?”

“Eh?!” Asuna’s eyes widened, freezing in place, as if just realizing this.

While saying this, Yuu also asked the system in his mind: (System, would that happen?)

The cold, girlish voice of the system, at this moment, sounded so pleasant and reliable:

[Please don’t worry, host. Under certain special conditions, any scenes involving the host and the target will be censored, filtered, and modified by the system. You can refer to the Justice Execution status—no matter what is done, it cannot be accurately observed by others.]

So, all possibilities that could make certain people uncomfortable had been completely avoided?

Yuu nodded in satisfaction internally.

(Good. Damn system, this is the first time I genuinely want to thank you.)

“…”

The system didn’t respond further.

Yuu, of course, wouldn’t tell Asuna this, only watching her expression change before she puffed out her cheeks and huffed.

“You’re right… But if there’s a chance of player privacy violations like that, I’ll ask my brother to confirm! If it’s true, I won’t let it slide!”

Speaking like a prosecutor, Asuna stood up from the bed, swinging her right hand downward. With a clear bell-like sound, the menu appeared in front of her.

She quickly tapped a few times, and her pajamas transformed into the light armor she wore for battle, glowing faintly.

“I was still enjoying the fun of changing clothes, but after you said that, it feels creepier…”

“Well, no need to worry too much. Even if it’s a beta version, a game company, unless they’re stupid, wouldn’t do something that’d bankrupt the game.”

Casually comforting the sour-faced Asuna, Yuu equipped his gear as well, then turned and left the warm room.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Night enveloped Aincrad, the streets silent, not even the occasional NPCs in sight.

Only the full moon cast a brilliant silver light, paving a beautiful path for the two of them, straight toward the Civil Office.

“It feels so empty. No old ladies or kids suddenly running out on the streets—so different from before.”

Holding Yuu’s hand, Asuna looked left and right, feeling as if it had been ages since she’d been here, unable to help exclaiming.

Yuu rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

This was a virtual world—no weird black cars would suddenly appear, nor would three assassins pull out guns… Good, the flag was set, no problem!

“Maybe it’s designed this way to make the mission easier for us.” Yuu said, unconsciously quickening his pace. “Let’s hurry then.”

But after a few steps, he felt a tug on his hand.

“What’s wrong?” He turned to her.

Asuna frowned slightly, her expression a mix of worry and a hint of loss. “Yuu-kun, why do you seem in such a rush? Got something to do in the real world?”

“…No.”

“Then, don’t you want to be with me?”

“…Not that either.”

“Well then, can we take a stroll for a bit?” Asuna asked cautiously, gazing deeply into his eyes, her look trembling slightly.

Having composed his emotions and maintained his act, Yuu naturally wouldn’t let her see anything.

“Of course, I just didn’t expect you to be so relaxed.” He squinted with a smile, tightly gripping her small, warm hand, speaking in a teasing tone.

Asuna tilted her head in confusion, leaning against his shoulder. “Is being relaxed not allowed?”

Yuu explained, “Well, look, even though the mission can still be salvaged, it doesn’t say how Sister Martha is doing now…”

“AAAAH—”

Before he could finish, Asuna screamed, anxiously pulling him along as she ran.

“Oh no, I forgot Sister Martha’s still waiting for us! Yuu-kun, hurry, hurry, hurry, no time to dawdle here!”

“You’re the one who said that, then suspected I didn’t want to be with you…”

Yuu rolled his eyes, his body feeling boneless as he let Asuna drag him along.

Asuna glared at him, both annoyed and amused, saying playfully, “I misspoke, okay? I promise I won’t doubt you again! Come on, let’s hurry, finish the mission as fast as possible, and deliver the flower!”

“Want me to carry you?”

“Sure!”

Thus, Yuu’s super-fast rickshaw service was back in action, carrying the chestnut-haired girl laughing joyfully in the strong wind, speeding toward the Civil Office.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

“The True Love Flower?” The NPC looked up at the two of them, pulling a box from under the desk and saying curtly, “Qualifications met. Here.”

[Ding!]
[Obtained Mission Item: True Love Flower. Next Mission: Deliver this box to Sister Martha.]

Seeing the notification appear in the item and mission logs, Yuu and Yuuki Asuna exchanged glances.

“…That’s it?”

“Then all our efforts before this were for what…”

Seeing their complex, hard-to-accept expressions, the NPC explained flatly, “Indeed, temporary couples from outside must pass trials to obtain the True Love Flower. But if, in the process, they truly fall in love, no further trials are needed… In our country, every couple who sincerely loves each other can take the True Love Flower without conditions.”

Asuna blinked, then suddenly understood, huffing proudly and giving Yuu a teasing glance.

“How about that? They said we’re truly in love, huh?”

“Trying to embarrass me?” Yuu gave her a strange look, then poked her soft, thin cheek. “Before that… your cheeks are red.”

“Ahem, ahem! What…” Asuna’s small, flushed face stiffened as she feigned seriousness, raising her head and puffing out her chest, hands on hips. “Haven’t I confessed my love to you multiple times? But I’ve never heard a serious confession from you… Be honest, Yuu-kun, are you shy?!”

Yuu waved his hand. “No, not at all.”

“So calm?!” Asuna stepped back, looking deeply hurt.

“By the way, haven’t I already said I like you? You haven’t confessed multiple times either, have you?” Yuu sighed, saying resignedly, “Besides, we’ve kissed so many times. Now you’re asking for a serious confession… It feels a bit off.”

“I didn’t say now… Whatever!” Her face puffed up like a steamed bun, Asuna suddenly flicked her long hair and quickly walked out of the Civil Office. “Yuu-kun, you’re such a blockhead! Tomorrow when we meet in the real world, you’ll see!”

“You’ll make me see? What are you gonna do…”

Yuu followed her, outwardly calm but inwardly torn between laughter and tears.

Such a typically male response—it’s no wonder she got mad. Maybe Asuna also realized he was playing dumb?

It wasn’t that Yuu didn’t want to confess or say sweet things to make her happy—that would be easy. But he thought those words should be saved for the end.

Until he could no longer lie, no longer needed to hide himself with acting, he would tell her everything he wanted to say, to end this relationship properly.

The final confession always needed a touch of ceremony!

Though a bit selfish, this was what Yuu wanted to do.

“By the way, how do we leave this country? Isn’t the portal outside the city closed?”

“Check your bag. They gave us a return crystal too. Just use it to get to the Starting City.”

“Same return point?”

“I remember there’s a portal-like structure near the Main Street. We should come out there.”

“Alright then, three, two, one, use it together. Three, two, one!”

*BUZZ!*

A white light flashed before his eyes. As a weightless sensation hit, Yuu quickly controlled his body, standing firmly on the ground.

Asuna panicked a bit, and coincidentally, she emerged from the portal right in front of Yuu.

“Whoa! Careful!”

After shouting, to avoid crashing into her, Asuna spread both arms and leaped forward as if to tackle him.

Turning half his body, Yuu easily caught her, her warm body crashing into his chest, her softness and slenderness fully enveloped in his embrace.

“It’s rare to see you so flustered.”

“Ugh, if the distance wasn’t so close, I could’ve reacted.” Asuna slipped out of his arms, tidying her messy hair and clothes, muttering with slightly flushed cheeks.

Then, seeing the medieval city before her, her expression turned bright and joyful again. Brushing her hair behind her ear with one hand, she smiled and exclaimed, “It feels like it’s been ages since I was here…”

“The place where it all began—really nostalgic.”

Less sentimental than Asuna, Yuu stepped toward the Great Cathedral first.

“Come on. I’m more curious now about what reward Sister Martha will give us after we complete this mission.”

“Wait for me—your thinking’s too practical!” Her chestnut hair fluttered behind her as Asuna hurried to catch up.

“We took this mission to save that grandma, didn’t we? She already gave us cooking skills and recipes, right?”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“I think this time it’ll be equipment or a combat skill. Maybe something related to the church? A cross sword or something.”

“…Asuna, you’ve become quite the gamer.”

“You’re praising me?!”

Amid their aimless chatter, they finally arrived at the Central Cathedral.

As if impatient, Asuna quickly pushed open the dark brown wooden door, shouting loudly inside, “Grandma Martha, we’re back with the True Love Flower! Are you okay?”

The echo of her voice floated among the high arches, the sacred and solemn atmosphere undisturbed.

Soon after, under Asuna’s anxious gaze, the white-haired old nun slowly emerged from the rest room behind the chapel, her face pale and weary.

“Cough, cough… Of course, I wouldn’t give up until I heard good news from you two.”

Saying this, she walked toward the ornate, ancient altar, forcing a kind smile and waving at them.

“Come here, children. Let me hear your story.”

“The fruits of this journey must be more than just that flower.”


Title: I Liked Her Without Realizing

In the grand and spacious cathedral, even a normal speaking voice would echo.

The three of them sat in the front pew, and Asuna slowly recounted their experiences in the Land of Love—of course, the more intimate parts couldn’t be shared, only a simple description of the scenery and trials they went through.

Sister Martha nodded after listening, glanced at the two of them, then smiled and said:

“To my knowledge, after passing the ten trials, the Land of Love also tests your closeness. Only if your closeness meets the requirements will they grant you the True Love Flower.”

“Closeness?” Both asked with surprised expressions. “Where is this value displayed?”

“It’s not displayed anywhere, so the verification method is very simple.” Her face seemed to flush slightly, and Sister Martha smiled kindly, looking at their palms. “You haven’t checked the status of your rings, have you? Something wonderful has already happened.”

At her words, Yuu suddenly remembered that at the very end of the description for the mission ring that forced them into a husband-and-wife status, there was indeed a line:

“If both truly love each other, perhaps something wonderful will happen…?”

He and Asuna exchanged glances, then simultaneously opened their inventories to check the ring’s item description.

[Item: Hearts Bound Together (Pair)]

[Attribute: Special/Accessory]

[Bonus: (Multiple attributes)]

[Description: My heart for you, your heart for me.]

[Evolved from the True Love Ring, a false bond will eventually bloom into the flower of true love. Swear by this ring for this affection.]

[Wherever you are, no matter how time passes—you are in my heart, and I am in yours.]

[Note: Hold a wedding ceremony with this ring, and the ring will evolve again.]

“The name… changed?” Asuna’s eyes widened.

“Not just the name—the bonus attributes are higher than the equipment we’re wearing, and it can evolve again…” Scanning the text description, Yuu frowned slightly.

Asuna gradually showed a joyful smile, seemingly very satisfied with the evolved couple’s ring, but Yuu’s expression briefly turned complex before he closed the interface as if uninterested.

Of course, the subtle shift in his mood went unnoticed by others.

Sister Martha looked at Asuna’s smile with affection, then after a moment, shifted her gaze and extended her hand toward Yuu. “Give me the seed of the True Love Flower, and I’ll teach you how to use it.”

“Seed?” Asuna turned her attention from the ring to her, asking in confusion, “They only gave us a seed? How did you know, Grandma?”

“The Goddess told me.” Sister Martha pointed upward, and both immediately understood this referred to the game system itself, part of the mission storyline.

“It’s embarrassing to admit, but I only learned now that curing the curse of lost love is just a side effect. The most important function of the True Love Flower is to grant an eternal blessing for the future of those who love each other.”

Taking the box from Yuu’s hand, Sister Martha spoke as she pulled out a small, ordinary-looking seed from inside.

Then, she grasped both of their hands, placing the seed in their clasped palms, smiling and stepping back.

“In your heart, say the name of the one you love.”

Yuu and Asuna froze, instinctively looking at each other.

Soon, Asuna gave him a gentle smile, unhesitatingly lowering her head and closing her eyes, her grip firm and warm.

Yuu closed his eyes too, but at that moment, he couldn’t help asking himself—

‘Do I really love Asuna?’

He had vowed not to repeat the same mistake again.

He had thought he wouldn’t be swayed by mere love.

From the start, he had resolved to use Perfect Acting to play the role of her boyfriend and husband, never letting his act turn into genuine feelings.

Let alone love, when had he…

Fallen for Asuna?

Though devoid of emotion, his memories remained.

Yuu still remembered realizing he liked Haruno after meeting her at the vacation villa.

The reasons were complex—her distortion, her persistence, her loneliness.

And because, for the first time, he wanted to make someone other than his sister happy.

At that moment, the Yuu in that timeline truly fell in love with Haruno.

But now?

His first meeting with Asuna at the artificial lake—she was just a passing stranger.

Their first meeting in the game—she was a skilled swordswoman and a pitiful little sister constantly pushed for introductions by her friend.

After that, Asuna became the system’s conquest target, but their relationship didn’t change because of it, and Yuu had no intention of actively pursuing the mission.

As teammates, they leveled up in the wild together, strolled through towns together, took on church missions together; forced to become a temporary couple, stayed offline at the same hotel, and went online in the same bed…

She was a good girl—beautiful, well-endowed, long-legged, tough yet gentle, with clear and stirring emotions of joy and sorrow, her eyes brighter than any star in Aincrad.

Even so, Yuu remained unshaken.

Accompanying her to the Land of Love, camping with her in the wild; exchanging messages with her in the real world, advancing and retreating with her in the game…

Even so, Yuu remained unshaken.

Running while carrying her under the night sky, chatting casually with her in narrow alleys, gazing into her teary eyes in a warm bedroom, enjoying subtle and innocent intimacy.

Even so, Yuu still felt he hadn’t fallen for Asuna.

Even after leaving the game world and doing so much to win her back, it was only because of the target, sympathy, and various calculated factors—not “because I like her, I did this.”

So, until that moment, Asuna’s feelings were a one-way street.

His acting had successfully fooled her, but it could no longer fool himself.

Whether dating her or kissing her, Yuu always held an umbrella in the rain, not letting it soak him.

Having once lost the sunlight, now he only wanted the rain to stop, to greet the next sky with a dry body.

But looking back, for some reason, every raindrop carried her figure.

“We’re just ordinary teammates. Me, Asuna, even if trampled by a Frenzy Boar or beaten to death by an orc, I wouldn’t date a reckless, careless, disrespectful guy like that!”

“Then let’s get along well until we divorce!”

“…But I’m willing.”

“As an online boyfriend, will you be with me?”

“From now on, I’ll get closer to you every day… until, in both the real world and the game, we become the most important person to each other.”

“Because you said so, Yuu-kun… no matter what, I’ll choose to believe you.”

“After all, Yuu-kun is my hero!”

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

In the cathedral.

Fragments of memories flashed through his mind. Yuu didn’t open his eyes, a smile unconsciously forming at the corner of his lips.

Somewhat resigned, a little relieved… but no longer uncertain.

“Time really passes so quickly.”

So quickly that he didn’t even notice everything had changed.

It turned out he had long been standing in the rain, letting its gentle drops embrace him, melting a heart that refused to waver.

Unknowingly, the sound of rain vanished, but its traces remained.

Unknowingly, summer passed, and she was still there in autumn.

Unknowingly…

Unknowingly…

Like Asuna, Yuu had unknowingly fallen in love with his online girlfriend—that was all.

But dating, having a girlfriend, it wasn’t that complicated, was it?

Yuu chuckled wryly to himself, then, without hesitation, spoke the name of the one he loved:

Yuuki Asuna.

At that moment, the seed in his palm emitted a strong light and warmth.

Both instinctively released their hands, letting the seed, now a glowing source, slowly float in the air. They watched it rise to the cathedral’s ceiling, blooming into a radiant light like the sun.

Reflexively closing their eyes, waiting for their vision to normalize, Yuu couldn’t help but peek through the slits when he caught the strange scent of flowers.

“This is…”


Title: The Unfinished Wedding

Standing beside Yuu, Asuna slightly parted her lips, her face filled with astonishment as she observed the surroundings where the white light was slowly fading.

The night in Aincrad, at some point, had become as bright as day. Beyond the window stretched a vibrant field of colorful flowers.

The cathedral was no longer so grand, now resembling a charming little countryside wedding chapel. A long red carpet stretched from beneath their feet to the door, with ten rows of pews lined up on either side, the wood gleaming with a warm glow.

The church was adorned with fresh flowers, heart-shaped wreaths neatly decorating the arches on both sides. The statue of the Goddess at the front even held a bouquet of white baby’s breath, the fresh and elegant floral scent wafting gently with a faint breeze, refreshing the mind.

It was truly like transmigrating to another world. In gaming terms… was this another new dungeon?

Asuna stared blankly for a moment before snapping out of it, realizing that Sister Martha, who had been frail and sickly, now stood at the center of the altar, holding a red-covered prayer book, her face radiant with a kind smile as she looked at them.

Temporarily ignoring the strange transformation, Asuna exclaimed in surprise, “Grandma Martha, you’ve recovered?!”

Shifting his gaze, Yuu also looked at her.

“Yes, thanks to you both, the True Love Flower bloomed smoothly.” Sister Martha bowed slightly in gratitude, her tone as gentle as a neighborly grandmother. “My matters and the mission completion rewards can be discussed later. For now…”

She glanced around with a mischievous smile and winked. “This room was specially prepared for you two, appearing only for ten minutes after the True Love Flower blooms—the most luxurious wedding venue in all of Aincrad. I don’t need to remind you what to do, do I?”

“Eh?” As if in disbelief, Asuna’s body stiffened, her face gradually warming.

Yuu looked at Sister Martha oddly. “…Are you really an NPC?”

“Of course, I’m a native resident, Adventurer.” Sister Martha smiled politely, but for some reason, there was a profound air about her. “And besides, instead of focusing on an old lady like me, you should be paying more attention to the girl beside you.”

Hearing her words, Yuu instinctively glanced to his side.

Asuna’s fair, beautiful face was tinged with pink. She quietly raised her gaze, tugging at Yuu’s sleeve, whispering with an innocent and sweet expression:

“Yuu-kun, this is a wedding hall!”

“…Indeed, it’s a wedding hall.”

“It seems like we can hold a wedding ceremony!”

“…Sister did say that.”

“There might even be a blessing from the Goddess!”

“…That’s how the game is set up.”

“…”

The corner of Asuna’s mouth twitched, and suddenly, she flashed a wide smile, her voice sweet and soft.

“Yuu-kun, if you keep playing dumb, I might actually get mad, okay?”

Yuu hugged his sulking girlfriend in front of him, ruffling her hair vigorously, laughing heartily with cheer.

“Hahahaha, just kidding!”

“—Asuna, let’s get married!”

Asuna wriggled out of his embrace, pouting with dissatisfaction, tidying her hair.

“Ugh—why can’t you just be honest at a moment like this? Wouldn’t creating a warm, touching atmosphere be better?”

“That’s for the official wedding later.”

Yuu shrugged, shifting his gaze from the shyly smiling chestnut-haired girl to Sister Martha, who was chuckling amusedly.

“How do we do it?”

“Since we only have ten minutes and it’s just the three of us, the procedure has been simplified as much as possible.”

She opened the red-covered book in her hands, and a sudden glow of equipment-changing effects shimmered around Yuu and Asuna.

Moments later, when they looked down, their light armor and leather gear had transformed into a wedding dress and a suit, perfectly fitted to their bodies.

Though the modern style felt a bit out of place in Aincrad’s otherworldly theme… no one minded anymore.

“Amazing…”

“There’s even a mechanism like this…”

As they marveled, Grandma Martha gestured. “Stand in front of me.”

Yuu glanced at Asuna, and Asuna happened to glance at him.

Her chestnut hair was covered by a pure white veil, and faintly, Yuu could see her gentle hazel eyes.

Her snow-white neck and shoulders were exposed, her collarbone elegant and alluring. Above the off-shoulder neckline was a deep I-shaped curve. His gaze moved downward, past the full valley to a suddenly narrowing plain, her perfect waist tightly cinched by the wedding dress, while her hips were hidden by the voluminous skirt, the sight subtly breathtaking.

As Yuu observed her, Asuna was observing him too.

The white suit with a sword-like collar accentuated his well-proportioned figure—not overly tall or muscular, but the masculine charm was undiminished, captivating and leaving one in a daze.

…He was already handsome, but now he’s even more so.

Was this the magic called marriage?

“You look beautiful. It suits you perfectly,” Yuu praised sincerely.

Snapping out of it, Asuna’s face flushed, but she generously lifted her head, smiling and saying, “Yuu-kun, you’re really handsome too! I accidentally ended up liking you even more.”

“Is that so? I won’t waver just because of a simple change of clothes.” Yuu laughed too, though a bit mischievously. “Whatever you wear, I like it. I like it best when you wear nothing…”

Before finishing, he casually turned his face away, as if he hadn’t said anything.

“Alright, let’s go to Sister Martha.”

Unfortunately, Asuna had heard the first half and could guess the rest.

“Yuu-kun, you…”

She glared at him, embarrassed and angry, then sighed with a mix of resignation and amusement, complaining in a tone of “What am I going to do with you~”.

“He says that, but in a moment like this, he can still hold back. I really don’t know what to say…”

“Then just say I’m a gentleman.”

“Tch, shameless!”

After a bit of quiet bickering, they reached Sister Martha—Yuu standing on her right, Asuna on her left, both pairs of eyes looking straight ahead.

“Are you ready? Then let’s begin.”

Sister Martha gave a faint smile, her hands holding the red-covered prayer book, her eyes slightly closed, her tone suddenly solemn and sacred:

“O Goddess of Creation, we come before You to bless this couple entering the sacred bond of marriage…”

The long prayer echoed in the pristine white cathedral. About three minutes later, Sister Martha opened her eyes, looking at the perfectly matched young man and woman before her.

“Please, in the presence of the Goddess of Creation, state any reasons that prevent you from uniting.”

First was Yuu.

“Yuu, do you take this woman as your wife and enter into the bond of marriage with her? In sickness and in health, in poverty and in wealth, for no other reason, to love her, cherish her, respect her, accept her, until the end of your days?”

Yuu answered firmly, “I do.”

Then it was Asuna’s turn.

“Asuna, do you take this man as your husband and enter into the bond of marriage with him… until the end of your days?”

Asuna smiled happily, “I do!”

“Then, both of you, exchange the rings on your fingers.”

Yuu removed the silver ring from his left ring finger. The simple ring suddenly glowed, transforming into a beautiful diamond ring adorned with blooming crystal flowers.

Asuna experienced the same, the crystal flowers sparkling brightly, as if chanting blessings for them both.

“Asuna…”

Yuu took her left hand, looking into her slightly reddened eyes.

In those teary, radiant eyes, an overflowing love enveloped his figure.

—To be surrounded by such immense love was truly boundless happiness.

He smiled, slowly slipping the ring onto her slender, fair ring finger, saying:

“Are you satisfied now?”

“Hm?”

Snapping out of her overwhelming happiness, Asuna blinked in surprise, as if not understanding why Yuu asked.

But after thinking for a moment with a furrowed brow, she answered, “Saying satisfied or not feels a bit strange… Even if it’s not official, marrying the person you love—isn’t that every girl’s dream?”

“Especially when that person saved you from a prison-like life, always standing by you through joy and sorrow. Isn’t that beyond mere satisfaction?”

Asuna smiled again, looking into his eyes, her voice clear and firm.

“Yuu-kun, since meeting you, I’ve never regretted my choices… And loving you is the proudest and most memorable thing in my life!”

From the depths of her heart, she expressed her truest feelings.

Yuu’s confident demeanor was truly cooler than anyone else in the world.

“So, I’m happier than ever before.”

“And in the future, I want to be happy—much, much, much happier!”

“Yuu-kun… Can you grant my wish?”

Her words fell.

Asuna smiled, looking at him, who had stopped moving after sliding the ring to the base of her finger.

As time passed, the expression on his face slowly turned to confusion.

“Yuu-kun?”

The silence lingered for a moment.

“…Asuna.”

“I love the smile on your face, and I love the way you say you love me.”

Yuu released her hand, not extending his left hand to exchange rings, but gently caressing the side of her face.

Though the touch was so gentle and affectionate, at that moment, Asuna felt a piercing pain in her heart, as if it were torn apart.

“Yuu—”

Before she could speak, Yuu lowered his head, his lips curving into a faint smile, whispering.

“This is my answer.”

Because the important thing was here, now.

[Ding!]

[Yuuki Asuna’s wish has been fulfilled.]

[Congratulations, Host, for completing the mission.]

[You may proceed with mission reward settlement immediately. If settlement is not initiated by 6 a.m. on September 22, the system will automatically enter settlement time.]

[Note: The settlement process is irreversible. Once you choose to enter settlement, you cannot leave the settlement space until the world correction is complete.]

“No need for confirmation. Settle the mission.”

Yuu didn’t listen closely to the system’s response.

The next second, his world sank back into darkness.


Title: Injury Time

An empty world—calling it that wouldn’t be entirely accurate.

The place known as the System Space was still filled with ruins and desolation, with cold silence and eternal loneliness lingering there.

Yuu woke from his dream, opened his eyes, looked around, then tilted his head back and greeted the golden sun:

“Good evening, you troublemaker who took back Haruno’s comb.”

Yoo no Kougyoku, of course, didn’t respond, still radiating its false light and heat dozens of meters above, yet it made this world feel closer to reality.

Entering this place for the third time, Yuu naturally felt no need to comment. He casually sat on the ground in front of the LCD screen:

“System, come out, let’s chat!”

The screen flickered, and a pixelated head suddenly appeared.

Then a voice sounded. The initial electronic Hatsune Miku tone quickly shifted to a soft, human-like voice, as if voiced by a seiyuu.

“Chat intelligence has not yet been loaded. Many functions will be available in the future. Please complete more missions, Host.”

Yuu’s eyes widened in surprise. “Impressive, you’ve evolved again?”

“Yes, Host,” the system responded, unusually attentive. “The current appearance and voice were chosen based on the Host’s preferences to encourage more active mission completion. However, the intelligence has not fully evolved and still differs slightly from the spirit AI the Host is familiar with. Please don’t expect too much.”

“Damn, you even know my XP preferences?!”

Yuu was genuinely shocked, feeling the same embarrassment as someone asking another to destroy their computer before dying to hide its contents.

He now wanted to grab the screen representing the system and smash it with an Earth-style Semper Sen To move, ending with either one of them dead or both perishing together.

Of course, the most likely outcome was nothing would happen—after all, this world was vast, and the system was the greatest.

“Well then, let’s start the mission settlement.”

As if uninterested in such trivial questions, the system’s soft voice, oddly unsettling, announced on its own.

“Mission target: Become Yuuki Asuna’s online boyfriend and fulfill her wish.”

“Mission completed.”

“Reward statistics: Cash—5,024,891 Yen.

Status—Spotlight, Heart Technique (Limited), Precise Timing, Justice Execution, I Anticipate Your Moves, Weather Forecast.

Skills—Swordsmanship (Perfect Level)… Vocal Expertise (Proficient Level)… Learning (Proficient Level)…”

Though he didn’t care much, over the past few days, Yuu had been collecting various rewards from Asuna. Aside from physical items, the money in his account was nearing tens of millions, making him increasingly desensitized.

As for skills, his Swordsmanship had reached Perfect Level, allowing him to memorize and refine any sword techniques he saw, though its practical use in the real world was limited, slightly less useful than Acting.

Not only Vocal Expertise, but many skills that were previously at the Proficient Level had been combined into Expert Level, with some even nearing Perfect Level. Asuna didn’t provide many new skills, but this helped solidify his foundation, bringing him closer to becoming a professional monster in all fields.

Like the money, once he mastered many things, Yuu’s heart no longer stirred. He only knew he was a wealthy pervert.

…Hmm, a pervert in ability, not character or biology.

Please don’t misunderstand.

Then, the new status—Weather Forecast.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t a move from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure Part 6.

As the name suggested, he no longer needed to check weather forecasts, with accuracy surpassing any meteorological bureau.

With these thoughts, Yuu’s mind wavered along with the system’s voice.

“Usage time: seventeen days.”

“Settlement completed.”

“Congratulations, Host, for obtaining the reward: Ame no Kougyoku (Rainlight Gem).”

“Next target—Hint: On Monday, September 22, at 3:30 p.m., remain seated for ten minutes and do not wander.”

Hearing this, Yuu couldn’t help but frown.

“Damn, ‘don’t wander,’ are you a kindergarten teacher… Wait, it’s specified this time?”

Realizing this, he furrowed his brow, thoughtfully observing the system’s screen.

The pixelated head swayed, as if nodding. “The Host need not be surprised. Missions are not fixed; different choices lead to different outcomes. Even the system cannot control the direction of fate.”

“I see…” Yuu rubbed his chin, the meaning of the statement clear.

(So, I can change as I please, and if the Host disagrees, complain to fate?)

(Nice, that’s the system’s style.)

The LCD screen suddenly flickered. After the pixelated head vanished, Yuu knew what was coming next.

Perhaps because he’d experienced it once before, even though he had to face the scene of parting with someone he liked again, his expression remained calm, unlike the last time when he couldn’t control his emotions and ended up as a dark history in the system’s eyes.

People do need to get used to things.

Fortunately, his adaptability was decent—whether a transmigrator’s talent or something else, he didn’t feel much sadness or grief beyond emptiness and resignation.

So be it. He was mentally prepared.

With dead-fish eyes, the scene of their first meeting at the artificial lake appeared before Yuu.

Then, various scenes of meetings in the game and the real world.

Meetings on sunny days, meetings on rainy days…

Images and memories flashed together. Though not as stimulating or distorted as with Haruno, they were like a blanket over his shoulders, a warm touch enveloping his body, making him unconsciously relax.

Yuu’s eyes softened. He sat cross-legged, propping his chin with one hand, as if watching a comedy film, the corners of his lips curling up as he enjoyed each image flashing across the screen.

The system even replayed the autumn performance scene, which he’d only seen in the final moments but was genuinely thrilling—the scene of Miss Umbrella Driving Off the Dangerous Fugitive. Honestly, even in the real world, Asuna’s rapier strikes were as beautiful as meteors, mesmerizing.

Not only that, the reactions of the mother and daughter, who seemed at odds but prioritized each other in the face of danger, also brought a satisfied smile to his face.

“Not bad, right?”

As Sora once said, feelings can push someone forward, even someone like him—and that was truly wonderful.

Finally, the scene paused at the beautiful flower-filled cathedral.

The pristine white altar, Asuna gazing into his eyes, as if wanting to etch this moment into her heart forever.

The crystal ring was already on her ring finger. Yuu didn’t comfort Asuna’s confused expression, simply ending it with a satisfied smile.

“Wow, this is really…”

From a third-person perspective, Yuu could see his own face, full of affection, with an expression composed of three parts loss, three parts resignation, three parts helplessness, and one part love.

He couldn’t help rubbing his warming cheeks. “Kind of embarrassing.”

“Handsome as ever, but I didn’t expect… I was looking at Asuna and the others with such a deep gaze?”

With Haruno before, Yuu hadn’t noticed at all, but now, with the system practically zooming in on his face to the point of showing pores, it was hard not to.

Only now did Yuu fully realize that human eyes could truly speak.

Especially when in love, those eyes seemed to chant I love you repeatedly like a sacred mantra, sweeter and more melodious than any cheesy pickup line.

For people who love each other, that’s how it is. But watching it himself, this scene was clearly another dark history.

“Sigh… What is fate like? If you can’t fight it, you have to learn to enjoy it?”

Life is tough. Yuu sighed.

He placed both hands behind his head, stretched out his legs, and lay back.

The screen in front of him displayed a snow effect again.

“Timeline collection completed.”

“Mission execution period: September 5 to September 21.”

“All interactions established with the target during this period will be reclaimed by the system. The rest will be reasonably rerouted to ensure the outcomes remain unchanged, and no relevant memories will be retained except by the Host.”

“After collection is complete, the system will automatically return the Host to the real world.”

Though spoken in a gentle tone, hearing the same words as a month ago naturally didn’t evoke any new feelings.

Yuu closed his eyes, looked up, the corners of his lips curling slightly in contentment.

Though there was no breeze here, he pretended to be relaxing in a vast meadow, saying casually and comfortably:

“Remember to take my feelings of love for Asuna. This time, I retreated successfully. I hope she lives peacefully from now on and doesn’t meet any more weird guys.”

The system replied, “Confirmed. The Host’s feelings of love for the target will be released. This will be executed after returning to the real world.”

“Good.”

This time, Yuu didn’t feel too heavy-hearted.

As he’d said before—“I’m a selfish person. Love will only hinder me from completing missions.”

Whether the third, fourth, or fifth time, Yuu would hold onto this mindset for his own sake until the system was gone.

It had nothing to do with cowardice; he just didn’t want to love someone who would forget him.

It had nothing to do with being a hero; he was just an ordinary person who couldn’t split his heart into many pieces.

So, he had to protect himself well.

“By the way, this could also be called a love brain?” Suddenly recalling something, Yuu couldn’t help but sneer, mocking himself. “Trapped by love, without freedom, the whole mind thinking only of a girl… I would’ve scoffed at this type of person before.”

In the end, it was all because of this damn system!

As if venting, Yuu bent his long legs, still clad in suit pants, and kicked the LCD screen.

*BANG!*

The sound was loud, but unfortunately, the system was entirely unaffected, continuing to speak in its soft, clear voice—likely voiced by Kana Hanazawa, with the pixelated head resembling a chibi Chiaki Nanami:

“Worldline collection has ended, world correction program completed… correction halted.”

“Detected Host possesses status—Injury Time. Would you like to activate it?”

The main part arrived.

Yuu sat upright, leaning forward slightly, his hand unconsciously rubbing his chin, frowning seriously as he pondered for a while.

After confirming the question, he finally spoke, “…If activated, there won’t be any excess energy used to reforge the comb, right?”

The system answered curtly, “Correct. If Injury Time energy is depleted, Kougyoku will not activate on its own.”

Yuu pressed further, “And what if that really happens?”

The screen flickered twice with a snow effect. “The future cannot be predicted. Please be more cautious, Host.”

Yuu: “…”

What an irresponsible answer, truly leaving him speechless.

(And the one who should be cautious is this cowardly damn system, right? Why’s it telling me to be careful?)

(Is it afraid Haruno will remember the past and hit my head with a comb?)

(Or scared Asuna will pull out her rapier and riddle my body with holes?)

If something like that really happened, though he’d be nervous, Yuu wouldn’t be afraid—unless the head-smacking and hole-poking came at the same time. Then he might tremble a bit.

“Forget it, let it be.”

Dismissing the chaotic thoughts, Yuu stood, brushing off his white suit pants, which were completely dust-free.

Unlike before, the current him no longer had the resolve to refuse using Injury Time for the sake of the consciousness he’d created.

After all, for him, the person he loved would eventually leave him; sooner or later, the outcome would be the same.

Rationally considered, using Injury Time to avoid the appearance of a second troublesome comb was the wisest choice.

With that thought, Yuu, without much hesitation, shouted:

“System, activate Injury Time!”

The system didn’t respond. Instead, a white light enveloped his vision again, accompanied by a slightly disorienting weightless sensation.

Before reflexively closing his eyes, Yuu was still thinking—

He shouldn’t have any regrets left to fix, right?

He’d received her happiest smile and knew Asuna had changed.

Though they would part ways, from now on, Asuna could walk straight toward her own life…

With Haruno’s precedent, Yuu was very confident and hopeful of this.

—So, with the main story perfectly concluded, what else could be done in a side story?

Carrying such a question, the next second, Yuu stepped into the distortion of time.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Injury Time.

Referring to time that has ended but not quite, forcibly inserted time that shouldn’t exist.

At least, that was the system’s definition.

If the world were likened to a line, the system would cut this line to another, forcibly altering its course. The original line, meant to end there, had a fragile thread tied to its end.

This fragile thread, which would vanish on its own soon after, was called Injury Time.

Thus, one thing became very clear—

When the world ended, that’s where it would begin.

“Ugh…”

Yuu came to, finding himself back in the pristine white hall.

The baby’s breath above his head still emitted a fresh, elegant fragrance, and the small hand in his palm still felt soft and warm.

The ring was fully slipped onto her slender, fair ring finger, the sparkling diamond ring blending beautifully with it, creating a work of art.

—This is Injury Time?

Yuu quickly grasped the situation, instinctively glancing at the girl’s expression in front of him.

If he remembered correctly, Asuna should now realize something was off and be about to ask him something when…

“…What’s going on?”

As if seeing Santa Claus transform into a naive blonde beauty, Yuu froze, awkwardly staring at her.

For some reason, Asuna, in her wedding dress, no longer looked like she did before he completed the mission.

Asuna’s eyes were tightly shut, her lips bitten until pale, her brows deeply furrowed, as if suffering a headache.

Yet she didn’t seem to be in too much pain, more like she suddenly understood something. Her expression shifted between shock, confusion, realization, anger, and sadness, a mix of emotions intertwining and changing.

The only thing unchanged was perhaps her left hand, gripping his tightly.

A very tight grip.

“A-Asuna?”

After hesitating for a long time, Yuu finally asked cautiously, stepping back, his hand trying to pull away casually, but it was as if caught in a crevice, unable to move.

“…Yuu…kun?”

As if her consciousness had just returned to reality, Asuna slowly opened her eyes, her voice sounding somewhat mechanical.

Yuu shuddered from head to toe, twice.

At that moment, the sacred, majestic white cathedral felt like the Arctic.

Though he couldn’t understand what was happening, his intuition reacted—

Telling him to run.

If he didn’t run now, it would be too late.