~from Kirito's POV 1st person~
I opened my eyes - my real eyes - and looked around.
I was in some kind of hospital room.
I tried to sit up, but while I had been upping my virtual stats, my physical body had been deteriorating all the while, and I barely had enough effort. I hated feeling this weak, this vulnerable...
...I can't protect anything as I am now...
...but then again, I wasn't able to protect anything even when I had the strength to...
I almost laid back down and went back to sleep, but then a single thought struck me.
The truth of the matter was that, while in SAO, none of us had known whether or not we really "died" when our HP ran out. Akihiko had no reason to lie about that, but there was no absolute confirmation, as no news passed between the virtual and real worlds. That's what sparked so many red players...
I had to check. I had to know.
I reached for my IV stand and used it to support my body as I struggled to stand after not having used my muscles in two years. I'm certain that if I'd kept the same mass as before, I wouldn't have been able to take a single step, but I'd also lost a considerable amount of weight, and I slowly managed to get into a standing position. Then I tried to take a step, and my leg gave out beneath me.
My friends...I need to know...
My determination - or was it fear? - pushed me up again, and again as I fell once more, until I was able to take consecutive steps. I managed to make it all the way to the door, but I was easily exhausted in my current state, and part of the way down the hallway, I fell, letting go of the IV rack, and landed face down, unconscious.
***
It was a while before I woke up next, and when I did, I realized that I was back in the same room as before.
I was filled with a sense of relief. Some part of me had refused to believe that I'd made it back, that when I woke up, I'd be back in the inn on level 100.
It took me a moment to realize that someone else was in the room.
"Kazuto," she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks as she grasped my hand tightly. "It's me, Kazuto. It's Suguha, your cousin. Do you remember me?"
"Su...gu...ha," I whispered in a broken, unused voice.
She cried even harder as she hugged me.
"Too...hard," I whispered. It felt like my damn ribs were going to snap - that is, if I still had ribs, if they hadn't somehow liquified while I'd been away.
"Sorry, sorry," she apologized, pulling back and wiping her tears away with a smile, only her old tears were immediately replaced with news ones. "It's just...it's been so long."
I nodded. Then I looked down at my hands, trying to figure out how to convey my thoughts to her. Finally, I looked up her. "News..."
She tilted her head slightly before a look of understanding dawned upon her and she nodded rapidly. "Oh, I get it. You probably want news about the other players, right?"
I nodded, urgency in my eyes, and she hesitated.
"Well...the doctor said for you to take it easy, that I'm supposed to let you rest, and not say anything that'll upset you."
"I...need...to see...who's alive," I finally got out.
She stared at me, pain in her eyes. Finally, she exhaled heavily. "Okay, Kazuto. I'll bring you whatever I can find tomorrow. For now, though, just rest."
I stared at her for another long second just to make sure that she wasn't lying to me, and when I was satisfied that she meant her promise, I finally leaned back and closed my eyes.
It wasn't because she told me to, though. It was because I needed to get stronger as fast as possible, and that meant I needed sleep, unfortunately.
Olivera...I don't know how, but you managed to escape death once. Maybe...
Maybe...
I know it's wrong of me to hope, but...
I want to see you again, so please...
Please don't be dead...