(Author's note: Warning! Cruelty of words that might enraged some readers. Read at your own risk!)

Hospital..

A woman just inserted a Red Rose into the vase she had stacked up a bouquet so far as she pays a visit to her daughter.

???: It's been two years, dear... How are you doing in the game?

The woman stares at her daughter's pale body, motionlessly lying there, with the arm attached with the feeding tube, also with the nervegear still wearing to the head. She gently holds her daughter's cold hand with pale skin.

???: Your hands are cold as always.. But you're still alive and kicking..

She sets a recording tape to her daughter's palm.

???: Do you still remember the first time playing the piano with you when you were just a kid? I could feel the joy from your laughter and that's what kept my sanity so far.

She holds her daughter's hand and warming her. Tears well up and drips on the back of her daughter's palm.

???: I missed you.. Koharu..

The woman hugs her hand gently but tightly so she could tell that her daughter's soul is right beside her by just feeling the pulse of her daughter's hand.

Meanwhile... Fierce battle in Floor 75's Boss Room..

Koharu, who just lost her partner, Lai.. who just sacrificed of defeating the mastermind but his efforts immediately went in vain after Kayaba just got revived by the Cardinal System in all of a sudden that enraged Koharu enough to grit her teeth.

Koharu: KAYABA!!!!

She dashes forward with both of her and her deceased partner's One-Handed Swords in Dual Wielding, along with the movement in the Speed of Light. Koharu lands her first attack on Kayaba under a second with Lai's Dark General's Sword and surprisingly, her combined stats with Lai made her attacks so powerful that it physically breaks the entire barrier of the Kayaba's immortal status. She continuously lands several slashes furiously. With Lai's overwhelming Strength and Koharu's immesurable Agility, Kayaba stands no chance to turn the table as Koharu endlessly stunlocks her opponent. She launches him forward with her Dual Cross Slash as her starting combo. During in Kayaba's momentum, Koharu follows up with 30 hits of "Void Barrage". Then she rushes at the end of the Momentum and wield out both of her Titan's Shurikens. Start spinning both simultaneously and also with the Lava Element and Ice Element applied. She launches herself forward in the opposite of Kayaba's momentum and blasts him entirely. Sending him straight crashing against the barrier that has been confining her since the beginning of the battle. The combination of the Lava and the Ice cause a huge explosion, but Koharu shows no sign of any mercy on him as the barrier starts cracking out and inevitably got destroyed into million pieces. Everyone was terrified by Koharu's growing stats as she longs for him more.

Akihiko: Koharu...

*Glitch noises*

Kayaba notices his avatar starts glitching out from all the attacks Koharu just dealt. The girl who is still enraged at the mastermind while grieving her partner, Lai. Her sadness, mixed up with her hatred overwhelms her mind and her tears drips down a few on the ground as she holds both of her Swords tightly. To the point that Lai is the only one that matters the most to her entire life now. She stutters..

Koharu: Lai...! I'm...! Sorry!! I couldn't..!!

She rushes forward, straight towards Kayaba's direction and continues her attack. Koharu swings both of her Swords up and slashes down, her speed is able to outrun her target and launches Kayaba again and again in the airborne like a ping pong. Each strikes that Koharu executed triggers one of the memories she had with him in the past inside her mind, causing her emotionally impact that boosts her attacks. Meaning, the more she attacks, the stronger she can get and more deadlier she will become to no limit. The picture of Lai kneels down, reaching out to her with his hand before meeting his death flashes through her mind, causing her to wear out mentally. She repeats the promise she had with Lai in Floor 35.

"We pray...!!"

Koharu lands a heel drop, sending him straight down. Then she lands and violently stabs through Kayaba's entire body with Dual Swords.

"For our sorrows to end!!"

She throws him away to the air and shoots out a Spear with Lai's Perforator, penetrates through Kayaba. She adds up the damage with her Nailgun that switched out with her Moonkiss. Then, she goes above Kayaba and smashes him back down with a Titan Shuriken, lands back and strikes up with her knee that brutally left a huge impact on Kayaba's stomach.

"And hope our hearts will blend!!"

Koharu strikes up with two straight kicks and then a backward roundhouse kick. She dashes forward and slashes through Kayaba entirely. Causing more glitch on Kayaba's body.

Akihiko: My body!

She wipes off her tears as she couldn't control her cries at all. Koharu eventually let loose of her emotion as she will do anything to wipe off Kayaba's existence. She lunges herself back, penetrates through Kayaba's avatar again with her Charging Slash, forming an 8-pointed Star before launching Kayaba back in airborne.

"May our souls be combined as one!!"

Koharu shoots out another Spear again, next with a Titan Shuriken. Then, she pulls her target back and smashes him away with both Swords. Later, she combines her blades and chases her target down while repeating the last line of the promise.

"So we can be perfect as one!!"

She thrusts through Kayaba with both of her blade combined as one. Then, she separates the blade and lands 50 pre-slashes in just a second. They both land and as soon as Koharu sheathes both of her weapons and makes a clipping sound, all of the slashes executes around Kayaba's avatar at the same time and leaving several large slash marks on the ground. The damages ruins Kayaba's stats and causing his developer's option system to breakdown. Koharu breathes down heavily as she is mentally exhausted from all the emotion. She calls out to him in expressionless tone.

Koharu: Lai..

She unsheathes her Swords. Both of the blade shines brightly together.

Koharu: I'm so.. Lonely... Mother...

Her memories repeat itself in her mind, especially the one they spent their moment together as she lingers the feelings for him. She cries more and loud as she vents out her endless pain.

Koharu: I don't want to do this at all...! But everyone just keep pushing me around!

Both of her grips soften down, remembering all the effort Lai has done for her so she could live a peaceful lives during their separation.

Koharu: Is this.. How you really felt...?

Then, she grits her teeth hard as she remembers the person, the one who trapped her inside this brutal death game, killed thousands of people and caused her partner's death.

Koharu: I hate you...! I hate you so much!

Her emotion turns back to negative.. Koharu violently throws a huge blow that sends Kayaba a far from her. Then, her blades cuts all of Kayaba's limbs mercilessly while letting out her cries before sticking the sharp tip of the blade against his throat.

Akihiko: I guess this is the end for me...

All of the players around her suddenly disappears and the ground starts shaking violently that distances between Koharu and Kayaba.

Koharu: !?

The ceiling breaks apart, revealing the sunset sky. Suddenly.. A world-size titan shows up from above that terrifies them to the core.

Akihiko: Is that!?

A demonic, titan voice reveals out from the figure.

???: You think I would let it end like this?

Its gigantic hands reaches inside and grabs Kayaba's dismembered avatar. Koharu tries to dodge but inevitably and unexpectedly got teleported away from the boss room to somewhere unknown but safe. Only leaving Kayaba and the unknown titan.

Akihiko: Impossible... You're still-!

He got crushed in the Titan's palm as it tighten its grip before getting thrown straight to the killing zone like a bullet. Then, it grabs the whole Steel Castle, Aincrad. Both of its hands starts squeezing and twisting it until it cracks the entire building, crumbling the whole Castle before chugging it whole down to where Kayaba landed. The mastermind stares at the Crumbled Aincrad is about to crash down like a planetary meteor. A smile appears on his face, feeling proud that someone has exceeded him.

Akihiko: I guess I lost in the end...

*Boom!!!*

System announcement. As of 2:55pm, November 5, the game has been cleared. Repeat, the game has been cleared.

Meanwhile... Sunset Skyway.

The girl got teleported in the sky. Surprisingly, Koharu didn't feel the fall at all and slowly opens her eyes. Knowing that she is now standing on an invisible platform. She looks forwards to the sun setting down itself.

Koharu: Did I... Beat him?

Her question left unanswered as she is the only one in the Sunset Skyway, watching the figure just disappears into thin air.

Koharu: ...

She realizes both of her Swords still equipped on her back. She unsheathes Lai's Dark General's Sword and stares at the blade.

Koharu: I got you killed when you were looking out for me... Maybe I'm still too weak and don't deserve to be with you..

She holds the Sword in backward, pointing the tip of the blade to herself. About to stab through her chest in the attempt of suicide..

Koharu: I'm going with you.. Lai..

She screams out to disperse the fear within her as the blade is about to penetrate through her avatar. Suddenly, someone grabs her hand and completely stop her from suicide.

Koharu: ...

She looks up, noticing the ghost figure of Akihiko Kayaba standing beside her while his hand still grabbing hers.

Akihiko: I assume Death isn't your answer to solve this problem.. !!

She suddenly pulls him and strikes his stomach with her knee. Causing Kayaba to recoil and releases her. She throws a jab and another one with the back handle of the Sword, leading Kayaba to bend down and she smashes his head down with the body of the blade before with a tackle charge with her shoulder, sending him away from her but it didn't do any damage to him as he gets up like he was fine. She yells out in terrifying blood gurgling.

Koharu: Why are..!? You won't...!? DIE!!??

The mastermind remains calm and rational. He admits his defeat in the attempt of mediating her agitated soul.

Akihiko: I admit I had lost.. There's no point for this battle. Does it calm you down yet?

She loosens her grip on the Sword as she sees no point of beating him down without making him suffer. She turns away from him and sits down, facing towards the sun while resting her exhausted soul.

Koharu: ...

The man stares at her who is confused about how she ended up in the sky, despair that she lost him and grief for his death. Akihiko couldn't help but to activate the recording crystal before answering all her questions she has been storing up for this day..

Akihiko: I have activate the recording and it'll transfer to your nervegear. I'll record all of my answers that you have been seeking for so I want you to listen up.

The girl did not responds to him, not to disturb his recording.

Akihiko: Ahem.. 2:57pm in November 5th.. This is Akihiko Kayaba.. This will be my final message before the data of Sword Art Online gets deleted..

He takes a deep breath, remaining his usual calm.

Akihiko: I've been storing my reasons that let me kept up motivated on developing a full-dive VR, and kept it memorized it till this day. The reason why I did all of this... I want to create an ideal world for me to experience. A world that is fair to all the entities in this world such as the players, NPCs, or even monsters. Although it is totally unfair for how I treated those two in the battle.

Akihiko: I'm genuinely sorry for doing that to him.. Because both of them are too strong that breaks the game's balance more than I do..

For a 16 years old girl like Koharu could even tell that Kayaba is bullshieting with his reason and his sense while pushing the blame to the duo. She got dumbfounded to the point that she doesn't even want to be mad at his reason and his philosophy.

Akihiko: I want to create a world that is fair, balanced and peace without any laws and restrictions. But the humanity itself made it unfair as the players tried to exploit the system's bugs and some of them would even pillage the NPCs, killing other innocent players and even attempt to conquer everything in this world, even though it's just a virtual world. That's what humanity really is.

He respectfully doesn't want to reveal her name to the recording.

Akihiko: Some of you are probably still too young.. But I've seen things that you can't possibly understand. The balance of the real world we're living in is already broken beyond repairing. You'll soon understand that in your life.

Koharu: ...

Akihiko: I wanted to escape the real world and fly to that floating castle that I fantasized and desired for a long time and planned to stay there for eternity, I'm even happy that I can finally perish in my finest creation. I really apologize for causing the deaths of the 8000 players and I'm sorry for making the other thousands to suffer to my selfish motive.. But...

Akihiko: After meeting some certain people.. I've seen a lot of bright sides because of them. The reasons behind their battles gave me hope that there's a peace, no matter how slightly it is, they would fight for it no matter what. That's the end of my final message.. Farewell..

He presses the stop button and ends the recording. Kayaba places it beside Koharu.. She notices it but left it beside her as she doesn't care anymore..

Akihiko: You can do whatever you want with it.. You can either post it online or hand it to the government. This is just my final message to all of the people.

After a few seconds, she finally speaks up to him..

Koharu: ...You said the data of this world will be deleted.. Where are the survivors now?

Akihiko: They will be back to the real world.. As for those who unfortunately perished to this world. Their mind and their soul will be gone forever.

Koharu: ...Lai is now one of them.. Along with the dead players. He must be suffering with the ones he had killed.

Akihiko: ...

He silences and closes his eyes for a while..

Akihiko: He made up to his name as the Oathkeeper. A man who kept his Oath and promises to the others he swore with. But couldn't finish the last one in the end.

Koharu: ...

He opens his menu with a list of certain data he had retrieved out from the SAO's storage before the delete even starts. He showcases her with both of their SAO's avatar stats.

Akihiko: I had retrieved all the stats of you and Lai from the storage..

Koharu: ...Whatever.. I don't have the mood to even ask.. What's the point of keeping his stats..?

Akihiko: You'll soon find out the reason.. Koharu.. But what I'm doing now will not harm you and the others. It's up to you to believe me or not..

Koharu: I'd be idiot enough to believe a mass murderer who got everyone involved in the first place.

Akihiko: Like I said.. Believe me or not.. And..

Suddenly, he grabs out a letter..

Akihiko: Before I take my leave, I found a letter in Lai's storage.

Koharu: !!

She turns around and notices the letter, surprised but instantly depressed that it's his farewell letter to her..

Akihiko: I will give you some space now.. I have others things that needed to deal with..

Akihiko slowly disappears into thin air.. Koharu quickly stands up before catching up to him..

Koharu: Wait!

It was too late for her to even catch up to him.. And she is now alone in the Sky.. With a 9-minutes timer still counting down before she got forcefully transfer back to the real world when timer reaches zero. Koharu inspects the letter in her hand, with no decoration on the cover at all. She opens the letter, reveals a piece of paper written with Lai's handwriting, along with some of his tears marked on the paper.

Koharu...

I wrote this letter in the middle of the night before going to the Boss Raid. If you're seeing this letter, Koharu. I'm probably already.. On the other side I should say..

You and I had been through a lot of different experiences in our separated paths. We both missed the time we spent moments with our friends. Although we are both side of the same coin. But at the same time, we are like Yin and Yang. The Light and The Dark.. When both collide, things we didn't want for, happened.. I did not wish to ruin your peaceful life while I was away, but you insisted going with me, helped me regained my humanity.

I realized I was the one who is lagging behind you after you proved yourself to me when we fought in the dungeon. After that, you continue to surprise me with your growth. I'm glad Kirito and Asuna helped you up. As for me.. I don't want to say sorry because it'll make you feel sad again.

Your blade grows way longer than mine. The same goes for our paths, if I ever had reached the end of the line first before you. You have to leave me behind. I can't drag you down with me because the others need you more than I do.. Plus, no matter how strong and overpowered I am. There's no guarantee as always in terms of getting out of here. Even if I did.. Well...  I can't even tell in the future anymore. But I'm sure once we somehow cleared Aincrad...

I will see you on the other side...

Till we meet again..

My love..

*Drip*

A tear drips on the paper, follow up with a few tears drops as Koharu's heart being hit by sledgehammer. As she reads further, suddenly notices a ring and the Snow Globe that Koharu had gifted him with during Christmas. The impact causes her cries out loud while holding the paper to her chest.

Koharu: *Sobs* But I don't want to leave you behind! Why you have to do this to me!?

She bends down as her heart feels it could crack into million pieces if she feels any sadness, grief or even any thoughts of him flash through her mind. She let loose of her emotion..

Koharu: *Cries* Ugggh!!! Ahhhh!!!! Guh..! *Sobs!*

She slowly lies down on the platform, emotionally injured. A shadow figure secretly cuddles her from her rear. The feelings of drowsiness eventually wash over her mind and let her escape from her nightmare.

She fell into a deep sleep.

Somewhere unimaginable..

.

..

...

....

Hospital..

*Beep!* *Beep!* *Beep!*

The room fills with silent atmosphere except the beeping sound from the machine. A pale body of a girl rest on the bed with the feeding tube that is supporting her hunger and her nutrition for two years. Suddenly, a few of her fingers starts moving while her eyes slowly open. Koharu notices the ceiling that isn't exist in SAO. Taking her a second to realize she is back to the real world. She could feels the warmth of her left hand, knowing that someone had held her hand for a very long time. She vaguely recognizes her mother's warmth after being trapped for two years, but still knowing it was her who stayed with her all along. Her voice stutters as she barely speaks up a word.

Koharu: Mo... Mother...?

As she raises her arms, she couldn't feel it at all but only sore and numb on her bones and nerves. She grabs the nervegear, slowly pulling out, revealing her long, beautiful but a bit dried straight hair. She forces herself on getting out from the bed but immediately falls on the ground as her legs feel like jelly.

Koharu: (My legs feel like jelly... I have to.. Find him..!)

She can't feel her limbs moving completely so her body glued to the ground until the nurse suddenly checks on her.

Nurse: Miss! I'm glad you're awake! But you still need some rest! You can't fully move your body yet!

Koharu: Lai...

The nurse notices her stuttering voice and carefully listens to her.

Koharu: Lai... Where.. Is he?

The nurse comforts her when trying to carry her back to the bed.

Nurse: I'll help you find your friend. You should rest now.

Her arms slowly lowers down, letting the nurse carries her back on the bed. Koharu's mind is still all about him, worrying if he made it back yet. But the fact that she saw her partner died in front of her already gave her the painful answer. She eventually loses her hope on him being still alive.

Koharu: *Sobs..* Don't bother..

Nurse: Huh?

Koharu: I forgot he's dead.

The nurse silences for a while, aware that the patient is emotionally hurt.

Nurse: I'm.. I'm sorry for your loss. I'll take my leave.. Call me if you need me..

She takes her leave from the room. As soon as she steps out to the outside, a group of annoying as feck reporters suddenly attempts to swarm into the room to interview the patient without even considering her mood.

Reporter 1: Is she awake!? Can I interview you for a second!? I heard you are one of the beta testers!

Nurse: I'm sorry! This is hospital! Please don't disturb or even invade the patient's privacy! Or else I'll call the security!

Her warning completely got ignored as the crowd's noises overshadowed her voice while they keep barging in and bombing with senseless questions.

Reporter 2: How did you awake from the nervegear!? Is Kayaba decided to let you off?

Reporter 3: Or are you actually one of the Kayaba's employee!?

Reporter 4: Miss! Are you aware of Kayaba's plan? Are you actually part of his plan? Or are you a murderer like him as well!?

Their unreasonable, cruel and rude questions completely ruin her peace to rest her mind. Koharu shuts herself off from them with the pillow covering her ears. Scared, freaked out and wishing them to just go away.

Koharu: Ugh!!

Even other doctors, nurses, employees and even the security who are trying their best to disperse the crowd that are barging from outside, it didn't help shutting down the noises. She yells out in her mind while suffering by the Cruel Reality of the Real World.

"Please!! Make it end!! I beg of you!!"

End of Chapter...