Chapter 12
The slight touch on the right shoulder of the uniform caused Asuna to look over; it was a light sakura petal on it.
The girl used a fingertip of her left hand to tap it. It was an oval shaped petal without any stains on it, looking as if it wanted to indicate something as it continued to move. It finally floated with the breeze and disappeared amongst the many white spots dancing in the air. Putting her hands back on her knees, Asuna looked at the blurry spring sky again.
Right now, it’s the first Saturday of April, 3pm.
It has been a week since Yuuki died, and her funeral had just ended. The location of the funeral was a Christian church surrounded by sakura trees in the hilly region of Hodogaya, Yokohama District, and the petals that started falling looked like they were sending Yuuki off —however, the funeral itself was far from the stereotype of being 'solemn'. Including the aunt, who was the mourner, there were only four relatives who attended the funeral. However, there were more than 100 youths who claimed to be Yuuki’s friends. Of course, these people in their teens and twenties were all players of ALO. The relative who accepted the signatures at the counter may have thought that Yuuki didn’t have many friends because she had been hospitalized for more than 3 years, and seemed to be thoroughly shocked by the turnout.
Once the funeral ended, everyone was at the large front yard in front of the church discussing the «Absolute Sword» incident, but Asuna herself couldn’t get together with the crowd for some reason, and she quietly left to find a bench behind the shadows of the church sanctuary as she looked up at the sky by herself.
Yuuki had left this world—the Yuuki who said hello through a probe on the shoulder, the Yuuki who smiled when she saw Asuna’s cooking in the home of forests, had gone to a faraway place and would never come back. Up till now, Asuna couldn’t accept this fact. This girl wasn’t crying anymore, but whether it was in the midst of a noisy crowd, a corner in a café, or in the winds of Alfheim, her heart raced whenever she thought she heard Yuuki’s voice.
During the past few days, Asuna had been thinking about what «life» exactly meant.
All lifeforms were instruments of gene transfer that existed to increase the chances of their own blood’s continued existence in the future. Decades ago, this saying seemed to have caused a commotion. If it was viewed merely through this point, even people who suffered from HIV in such an age, lack of an immune system or something similar would only be considered a mere lifeform. However, this virus would continue to multiply and duplicate itself until it took the life of its host Yuuki, causing her death.
If one thought of it in another way, humans had been doing the same thing for thousands of years. they took other people’s lives for their own gain, they sacrificed other countries to ensure their own countries' safety. Even when she looked up at the sky, she could see a formation of fighter jets flying from Atsugi base to an unknown place, letting out white contrails on the other side of the spring scenery. Will humans one day destroy the world they exist in like this virus? Or will they be defeated by some organism with higher intelligence and be cast away…?
The last words Yuuki left behind still echoed in Asuna’s ears. She said that she couldn’t create anything in this world, and couldn’t give any help to others—Yuuki herself didn’t leave any of her genes behind as she left this world.
However, Asuna’s inner thoughts were moving as she touched the butterfly knot on her uniform. Yuuki did use this instantaneous touch to leave a mark that couldn’t be erased deep inside her heart. The soul of the «Absolute Sword» and the heroic bearing that challenged this great difficulty continued to live on in Asuna’s heart. The youths that were present amounted to more than 100, and they should have the same thoughts as Asuna. Even as the memories fade with time, even as the memories crystallize, there would be something in everyone’s hearts.
In that case, life wasn’t just a transfer of information through the 4 bases [5] . It was an instrument that could hold memories, mind and soul that didn’t have any physical bodies. In the distant future, if humans could really create a complete medium of a spirit through memes or an ambiguous state where the brain mimics the virus, the incomplete life of humanity could then use this to prevent their own extinction—
Until that day comes, I must use a way I can to transfer Yuuki’s soul on. When I have children, I will continue to explain this incident to them, I will let them know that in a gap between reality and the virtual world, a miraculous petite girl once let out such a glow.
Asuna muttered to herself deep in her heart, and then silently opened those eyes that she did not know she had closed.
She saw a figure coming over from a corner of the building in front of the porch, and hurriedly used her fingers to wipe away the tears in her eyes.
It was a lady. Asuna felt that she met her before somewhere, but didn’t have any impression on that face at all. That woman’s body was slightly tall, and she had a simple looking black one-piece dress with a shawl covering her shoulders. She had shoulder-length black hair, and the silver necklace in front of her chest was the only ornament on her. She looked like she was in her twenties.
The woman headed over to Asuna and finally stopped slightly in front of her before bowing. Asuna hurriedly got up, and once she lifted her head, the seemingly transparent clear skin of the woman entered her eyes. The pale white reminded Asuna of herself when she woke up from her long slumber. Looking at it closely, one could tell that the woman’s neck which was exposed out of the shawl was as slender as a wrist, it looked like it would break with a single touch.
The other party stared wordlessly at Asuna’s face for a while, and then, those beautiful date-shaped eyes showed a tender expression as her lips showed a slight smile.
“Are you Asuna-san? You look just like you did in the virtual world. I recognized you at first glance.”
On hearing those calm and wise words, Asuna immediately guessed who this woman in front of her was.
“Ah…are you, Shiune-san…?”
“Ehh, that’s right. My real name’s An Shi En. Nice to meet you…and long time no see.”
“Ni, nice to meet you for the first time! I’m Yuuki Asuna. We haven’t met for a week.”
After the somewhat awkward greeting, both of them started chuckling. Asuna used her left hand to indicate for Shi En to sit down on the bench, and she sat down beside her.
At this moment, Asuna noticed something. All the Sleeping Knights members were probably patients who were struck with terminal illnesses and needed care at a hospice. Was it really alright for her to come out alone like that…?
Shi En seemed to notice Asuna’s concern as she nodded her head slightly before saying,
“Don’t worry. I finally got permission to go out during April. My brother came along with me too, but I wanted him to wait for me outside.”
“…Then…your body’s already…?”
“Yes…I had acute lymphoblastic leukemia… in other words, the leukemia in my body disappeared... I had it three years ago, and I went into remission after undergoing chemotherapy... But I fell ill again last year…after that relapse, the doctor indicated that the only effective treatment was a bone marrow transplant. But the white blood cell composition of my family members didn’t match mine…and the bone bank didn’t have any suitable donors for me. I was already mentally ready and decided to make use of my remaining time…”
Shi En paused for a while and looked at the sakura flowers above. A small little vortex breeze whipped up several flower petals and made them dance like snowflakes.
“—Once my illness relapsed, I couldn’t undergo a bone marrow transplant, and was administered all sorts of drugs and salvage chemotherapy to ease the pain. But because of the overuse of new and test drugs, the side effects were really serious…it was really so tough that I had thought of giving up a few times. I told the attending doctor many times before that if there’s no hope, just let me go through chemotherapy so that I can go through my last moments…”
Asuna suddenly noticed that Shi En’s hair that swayed with the sakura flowers was actually a wig.
“But…whenever I met Yuuki, I just had the thought of not giving up easily. Yuuki had been fighting with the same pain for 15 years, and how could I, someone older than her, give up after a mere three years of treatment? I kept telling myself this—however, the amount of medication dropped slowly since February this year…and the doctor told me that my condition was improving. However, I just felt in my heart that the moment finally came. They changed my medications from the salvaging chemotherapy type to the treatment more common for standard living. I was really scared then…and yet felt at ease. I knew about Yuuki’s condition, so I felt…if Yuuki’s with me, it doesn’t matter even if I go to another world. No matter where I go, she’ll be protecting me…it’s funny, isn’t it? Yuuki’s younger than me, yet I rely on her so much…”
“No…I can understand.”
Asuna replied simply and nodded her head. Shi En then smiled and nodded as she continued on,
“—In the end…a week ago, the following day after I said farewell to Yuuki, the doctor came to my room…and said that I had recovered completely…the leukemia has completely vanished, and I could be discharged. I was wondering what nonsense he was spouting, whether he was just letting me go back to meet my family and say my farewells? I was wondering about that…and in the midst of confusion, I was really discharged two days later. Yesterday, I even felt that I may be cured. I heard that a certain test drug was really effective…”
Shi En paused for a while again, and her smile was twisted with a somewhat teary expression.
“But, I just felt that something didn’t feel right. This time was given to me when I felt that it was long gone, and only served to bother me. And…and to Yuuki, this is…”
Shi En’s voice trembled a little, and when Asuna noticed the little tears that appeared in the corners of her eyes, she couldn’t help but feel sad too.
“Yuuki was waiting, yet I’m the only one waiting. Is this really already…I already promised Yuuki, Ran-san, Clovis and Merida that…we’ll always be together…yet I…yet I…”
Shi En couldn’t talk any further as she lowered her head and her shoulders continued to tremble.
Ran-san should be the first guild leader, which would make her Yuuki’s older sister. The other two should be Sleeping Knight members who were already dead. The members of the Sleeping Knights may have experienced the most devastating and painful lives in this world, and the trials that were experienced may be more reliable than being family or lovers in a certain sense. Asuna felt that she had no right to say anything, but she couldn’t help but do so.
She reached her left hand out and silently covered Shi En’s right hand that was placed on the bench. Shi En’s fingers were thin, but Asuna really felt a sense of warmth from the hand.
“Shi En-san. I’ve…been recently thinking about…life should be something that can hold and pass a person’s thoughts. For a long time, I’ve been scared of expressing my thoughts to others, and I didn’t dare to look into other people’s thoughts. But Yuuki told me that there was nothing to be scared of. I want to pass this strength I learnt from Yuuki to more people. I hope that while I’m still alive, I can pass Yuuki’s thoughts to further places, and then…when I meet Yuuki again, I hope that I can pass her even more thoughts.”
It was a little interrupted, but Asuna still tried her best to say such words. She felt that she didn’t express more than half of her emotions, but Shi En, who lowered her head, slowly nodded her head deeply as she put her other hand on Asuna’s left hand.
Shi En lifted her face, and though those beautiful black eyes were stained with tears, she was smiling.
“Thank you…Asuna-san.”
After muttering that, Shi En reached her arms out to hug Asuna, and Asuna hugged her thin body hard. Shi En then whispered beside Asuna’s eyes,
“We’re all thankful to you, Asuna-san. Ever since Yuuki’s sister, Ran-san died, Yuuki’s been trying her best to encourage and support us in place of her sister, and we ended up over-relying on her…whether it’s pain or difficulties, Yuuki would lend her strength to support us. You might feel that it’s pointless saying this now…I was really worried about Yuuki. I was wondering who would be Yuuki’s pillar of support. She was always smiling and never showed any signs of irritation…but I was worried that one day, the petite her would bear too much and crumble…at that moment—you appeared. Yuuki looked really happy when she was with you, Asuna-san. She just looked so natural, like a bird who finally knew how to fly. She seemed to be able to fly so high into the skies…until we couldn’t reach it…and then left us…”
After saying this, Shi En paused for a moment, and the screen inside Asuna’s heart showed an instant glimpse of Yuuki becoming a bird and flying high in the other world.
Shi En moved her body aside and smiled in a somewhat sheepish manner. She used her fingers to wipe away her tears, and took a deep breath before saying in a clear voice:
“—Actually, it’s not just me. Jun…was also afflicted with cancer that was tough to treat, but recently, the drug that was given started to work really well, and I heard that the tumor got smaller. It’s like Yuuki’s telling both of us that it’s too early for us. Looks like it’ll be a long time before the Sleeping Knights are finally together.”
“…Yeah. Next time, you must put me as a formal member.”
Asuna and Shi En exchanged looks with each other, fufu, and started laughing. They lifted their heads and looked at the sakura-colored sky. The steady breeze blew from behind, shaking their hair. Asuna imagined Yuuki hugging both of them on the shoulders and flying off while flapping her wings, and then silently closed her eyes again.
A few minutes passed just like that. Two sets of new footsteps that approached them broke this silence. They turned their faces behind, and saw a boy wearing the same uniform as Asuna — Kirigaya Kazuto, and Doctor Kurahashi in black robes, walking over.
Asuna and Shi En got up and greeted the two people who approached them. They both nodded their heads. Kazuto then said to Asuna,
“So you’re here. Did I bother you two?”
“No. But…eh? Kirito-kun, you know Doctor Kurahashi?”
“Uun…recently. Because of that message probe recently, we’ve been using email to contact each other.”
Doctor Kurahashi then interrupted,
“Yeah. That camera was really interesting, so I was discussing with him over whether it was suitable for use in FullDive Technology.”
“I see. Then…that means…”
Asuna suddenly thought of something, and asked the doctor,
“How’s the testing with the Medicuboid? Did someone inherit that screen…?”
On hearing that, the doctor immediately smiled and nodded his head hard, saying,
“Ah, it’s nothing. We got sufficient data for the testing. We’re proceeding with negotiations with the manufacturers for a practical product. Maybe An-san and the rest can use Medicuboid soon…”
The last parts of these words were said to Shi En, but after talking till here, the doctor widened his eyes and hurriedly said,
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