???: Mr Shiranobu, how are you today?

Akiri: The same as usual

Currently, Akiri is seen wearing a red hoodie and navy blue jeans, sitting on his electric wheelchair. He is talking with a therapist, wearing a brown suit, holding a pen and notepad.

Therapist: Great. Now let us begi-

Akiri: I still don't get why I need therapy. You've already concluded that I don't suffer from any psychological traumas. Unlike most of the other survivors

Therapist: Even so, it is necessary for all of the survivors to be given therapy. Now, have you contacted your friends?

Akiri: No. I don't want to ruin their time with their family

Therapist: It had already been 2 months. I'm sure they won't mind. Just a simple greeting would suffice

Akiri just sighed.

Akiri: Fine. I'll try

Therapist: Good. How about your surgery?

Akiri: I've talked with the surgeon. If things go as planned, it'll be done in March next year

Therapist: That's good to hear. I wish you the best in your recovery

They then continued with the session. Mostly consists of the therapist asking Akiri a few questions about how he was feeling and if there is anything that he wanted to say. A while later, the therapist puts down his pen and notepad.

Akiri: So, we done here?

Therapist: Actually, there's one last thing I want to ask you

Akiri: What is it?

Therapist: Do you have any regrets?

Akiri: Who doesn't?

Therapist: Perhaps I should be more specific. Do you have anything you regret doing, during your time in SAO?

Akiri flinched for a split second before regaining his composure, but that didn't go unnoticed by the therapist.

Therapist: I know that you are hiding something. Something you regret doing

Akiri: I'm not telling you...

He answered simply as he knew he couldn't lie to him.

Therapist: You refuse to admit it, but you are in great pain

Akiri: I'm not telling you

He repeated the same words.

Therapist: I see... Then there's no point in forcing you

With a defeated sigh, he drops the subject and puts down his pen.

Therapist: I'll see you again on your next visit. You may leave now

Akiri: Yeah, whatever

He then went towards the door which the therapist opened for him and he went out of the room.

Akiri heads towards the exit and once he is outside, he went towards a black Rolls Royce SUV parked on the sidewalk.

The driver's door then opened and Alexander walked out of the car and went towards Akiri.

Alexander: Done already, sir?

Akiri: Yeah. Let's head back home

Alexander just nodded and opened the passenger side door for Akiri. He then climbed in and got into the seat.

Alexander carried his wheelchair and puts it inside the trunk. He then got into the car and drives off.

(Timeskip)

(Akiri POV)

I am currently in my room, strumming away at my guitar.

Today marks two months since the death game, Sword Art Online had been cleared and the remaining survivors were able to finally log out after spending two years trapped in the game.

But despite the game being cleared, there are still about 300 people that haven't woken up. Among those 300 people is Asuna, who had been transferred to another hospital. It is widely believed that the still-missing Kayaba Akihiko is behind it. But I was still sceptical about it.

I played my guitar for a few minutes when I heard a noise coming from my phone and saw that I got an email from Kazuto.

Akiri: (thoughts) A picture?

I opened the picture and my eyes widened in shock.

Akiri: Asuna?

I looked at the picture more closely to make sure I wasn't mistaken. Even with the low quality of the picture, I know that it is her.

Akiri: (thoughts) It's her... But how?

Kazuto then sent me a location to meet up with him.

Akiri: Dicey Cafe?

I quickly put on my red hoodie and went straight towards the garage as fast as I could.

(Elsewhere)

(Kazuto POV)

I walked inside the bar to see Andrew cleaning a glass with a towel.

Andrew: Hey, you're here early

Kazuto: Does anyone ever comes here besides me?

Andrew: Shut up. It's busier at night

Kazuto: Whatever you say

Andrew: Is Akiri coming?

Kazuto: Yeah, I sent him the same picture you sent me. He'll be here soon

He nodded and I went to sit on the barstool.

Andrew: That's a nice car

Kazuto: Huh?

I turned around and looked outside the window and saw that a black SUV had parked right outside the bar.

Kazuto: Yeah, but who-

The door opens and a tall man wearing a black suit comes into the bar and holds the door. Then, someone who is in a blue electric wheelchair and wearing a red hoodie came into the bar. Both my and Andrew's eyes widened as we recognized him to be Akiri.

(Akiri POV)

I went through the door to see someone I haven't seen in a long while.

Akiri: Kirito, it's been a while. Or should I call you Kazuto now?

Kazuto: Akiri?!

Akiri: What? Surprised?

I went towards the bar and saw the guy behind the counter and I recognized him.

Akiri: Agil?

Agil: Yep. But here, it's Andrew

Akiri: Andrew. Got it

They then saw Alexander walking up to us.

Akiri: Guys, this is Alexander. My caretaker

Alexander: A pleasure to meet master Akiri's friends

Alexander says in Japanese while bowing lightly. They smiled and nodded in response.

Kazuto: I'm guessing we should move to the tables

Akiri: Yes, please

We then moved to the tables. Kazuto and Andrew took a seat while I just stayed in my wheelchair.

Akiri: Alright, on to the matter of business. That photo you sent me. Is it really her?

Andrew: It's a bit of a long story

He went over to the bar and reached over. He then pulled out a game and puts it on the table.

Kazuto: A game?

Andrew: It's an MMO for the AmuSphere, a successor of the NerveGear

Akiri: Alfheim Online? So it's another virtual MMO like SAO

Andrew: Yeah. It means "Land of the Fairies".

Akiri + Kazuto: Fairies?

Kazuto: It's a casual game then

Andrew: No, apparently not. There's a heavy emphasis on player skill. PKing is encouraged

Kazuto: Player skill?

Andrew: No actual levels, as such. Using skills improves them. Combat depends on the player's athletic ability

Kazuto: Sounds tough

Akiri: (thoughts) Not for me though

Andrew: It's like SAO, but with magic instead of sword skills. It is really popular lately. I've heard it's because you can fly

Kazuto: Fly?

Akiri: Not surprising considering it's a game about fairies

Andrew: Yeah. You play as a fairy, so you have wings. The game has something called a "flight engine", which allows the player to fly once they've become used to it.

Kazuto: How do you control it?

Andrew: No clue. But I heard it's pretty hard to learn

Akiri: Well, you'd be controlling wings, that humans don't have, so I imagine it would be pretty hard

Kazuto: So what does this popular game have to do with Asuna?

Andrew: She is inside this game, Alfheim Online. At what's called the World Tree. A legendary castle sits atop this tree. Players are divided into nine races, all of them racing to reach the castle first

Kazuto: Can't they just fly there?

Akiri: If they could, they already would, genius

Andrew: Yeah, there's a limit to how long you can fly, so you can't do it forever

Kazuto: Then how was the picture taken?

Andrew: I was getting to that. There was an attempt made by five players. They lined up, bigger ones at the bottom, and flew up like a rocket. But they couldn't make it, even to the tree's lowest branch. Before the last one fell, they managed to take a few pictures. And something strange was in one of them

Andrew then showed us a picture.

Kazuto: A birdcage?

Andrew: When they zoomed in on the cage as best as they could, they found the picture I sent you

Kazuto: But why would Asuna there?

Kazuto then looked at the back of the case and saw it was being published by a company named RCT Progress.

Akiri: RCT Progress...

I looked over and saw that Kazuto's expression has changed after he saw who was publishing the game.

Kazuto: Agil, can I take this?

Andrew: Not at all, but are you planning on going there?

Kazuto: I need to see it for myself. A game where your life isn't on the line is too easy. Akiri, you're going too, right?

Akiri: You know I am

Kazuto: Good. We'll have to buy the hardware too

Andrew: It works with the NerveGear as well. The AmuSphere is just a NerveGear with better safety

Kazuto: Good to know

Akiri: So I'll just need to get the game then. Al, get the car ready

Alexander nodded and went outside the cafe.

I then noticed that Kazuto is taking glances at my legs and I just smiled.

Akiri: You're wondering what happened to me, aren't you?

Kazuto: Yeah. But if you don't want to talk about it, I understand

Akiri: No, it's fine

I took a deep breath and started to talk.

Akiri: You remember when I told you that I once did parkour?

Kazuto just nodded and I continued talking.

Akiri: It happened about a year before SAO. Long story short, on the way back home from the top of a building, I fell down about three stories tall height and damaged my spinal cord

Their eyes widened as they let out a surprised gasp.

Akiri: I was diagnosed with paraplegia. Paralysis to the lower half of my body

Kazuto: I'm sorry

Akiri: It's okay, really. I've gotten used to it. Not long after, we found a surgeon that can make me walk again and I had an appointment booked. But then SAO happened, so the surgery could not be done. Now, I have to book a new appointment and the earliest it can be done is next year

Kazuto: It must've been hard for you

Akiri: Yeah, it was... But enough about that. For now, let's focus on the present

Kazuto nodded and stood up from his seat.

Andrew: Go save Asuna. Until then, our fight can't really end

Kazuto: Right

Akiri: Trust me. Our fight will end soon enough

Kazuto and I both went out of the Dicey cafe. He then went towards his bicycle, but I grabbed his wrist, stopping him.

Akiri: When you saw that the game was being published by RCT progress, you looked like you're about to kill someone. There's something else you're not telling me

Kirito: I'll tell you later. But now is not the time

Akiri: Alright, if you say so. I'll stop by the store and get my hands on the game. Once we're in, we'll meet up

Kazuto: Got it. See you later, Akiri. And don't be late again

With that, Kazuto got onto his bicycle and went away while I just rolled my eyes and I got inside the car.

(Timeskip)

After buying the game, Alexander drove me straight home and I went into the gaming room.

I then grabbed my NerveGear which was sitting, dusting on the shelf.

Events from when I was in SAO flashes through my mind in an instant. From the moment the game began to the very end. Even some of the moments I would rather forget.

Akiri: ...

Alexander: Sir? Is everything okay?

I was snapped out of my thoughts by Alexander.

Akiri: Y-yeah. I'm fine

I then inserted the game into my NerveGear and put the device on my head.

Alexander: Good luck, sir. Bring Miss Asuna back

Akiri: I will

I lied down on the bed and closed my eyes as I took a deep breath.

Akiri: Link start!

My vision is instantly flooded with bright, colourful lights as my NerveGear activates. I am then met with a welcome screen.

Welcome to
Alfheim Online !

-------------------

(A/N: Alright. I'm finally continuing this book to finish off the Fairy Dance arc. I'll try my best to update this book as often as possible. For now, you can expect an update at least once a week, but that is subject to change. Thank you for your continued support and as always, thanks for reading.)