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.