Girl of the Morning Dew

October 25th, 2024 - 22nd Floor

Hikari: "Yes! I got it!" I reel in the fish and it was a Shiny Marine

Hikari: "Nice!" I looked at the description of the fish and it says that it has a special scale that shines. it said to bring good luck to those who see it

Hikari: 'Wonder what kind of luck it is.'

Nishida: "What a nice catch you have Hikari-san. You may even beat me in the future."

Hikari: "Don't say that your the one who taught me how to fish there's no way I can beat you Nishida-san."

Nishida: "Oh don't be like that your fishing skill is at the max level I'm sure you can beat me." I shrugged

Hikari: "Whatever you say Nishida-san."

Nishida: "So you came here to get some peace quite again am I right Hikari-san?"

Hikari: "Yep. You already know me and I love to be in a place to relax a bit."

I then cast my fishing rod again

I, Nishida, and some other fishermen were busy fishing till we heard someone

And that someone is Asuna riding Kirito

Asuna: "That surprised me." We all looked at the pair and the others smiled while I smirked at them. They noticed my smirk and got a little bit embarrassed

They were whispering something but since my hearing skill is at the max I can perfectly hear them

Kirito: "So there are people watching..."

Asuna: "I guess so...

Kirito: "Not only that but Hikari is here as well..."

We all waved at the pair and Asuna waved back

Asuna: "Come on, Kirito-kun, you wave too."

Kirito: "Not in a million years."

Asuna: "Should I get down?"

...

Kirito: "Hold on tight!" He then bolted down the path and we all chuckled

Nishida: "Are they your friends?"

Hikari: "Yep and it looks like they finally got together."

Nishida: "It seems so." We all then continued fishing in peace

~After 15 minutes~

I thought about going to another fishing spot so I stood up

Hikari: "I think I'll switch to another spot Nishida-san."

Nishida: "Okay If you want to know any more fishing locations you know who to ask Hikari-san."

I then walked down the path thinking what kind of fish I would catch. I was pretty much in a foggy forest so I should just stick to the path till I heard Asuna's voice

Asuna: "W-W-Wait, Kirito-kun! Jeez!" I saw Asuna running to Kirito so I kind of just followed them since this is pretty much the part where Yui is found

I followed Asuna till I saw Kirito holding onto Yui

Asuna: "A-A player?"

Kirito: "This is pretty strange."

Asuna: "Strange?"

Hikari: "She has no curser Asuna." I appeared right behind her and she screamed

Asuna: "Don't scare me like that! And where did you come from?"

Hikari: "Sorry I kind of heard your voice so I followed you."

Hikari: "Anyway to answer your question Asuna this girl has no curser on top of her head." Asuna then checks on the mysterious girl and finds no curser at all

Asuna: "Is it a bug?"

Kirito: "Probably."

Asuna: "Why is... a small girl like her in SAO?"

...

...

...

Asuna: "At any rate, we can't just leave her here. Once she wakes up, we can probably figure this out."

Hikari: "By "we" you mean just you two right?"

Asuna: "Oh no as payback for scaring me you're coming with us."

Hikari: "Ehhhhhh..."

Asuna: "Anyway let's take her to our home."

Kirito: "Yeah, sounds good." He then carries Yui

Hikari: "Wait you two are living together now?"

~At Asuna and Kiritos Home~

After laying Yui on their bed for her to rest I was just leaning on a wall while the three of us talk about the situation

Kirito: "Well, we know one thing for sure now. Seeing how we were able to bring her home, she can't be an NPC."

Asuna: "That's true. If she was an NPC, when you picked her up, a harassment notice would've appeared."

Kirito: "She can't be a quest trigger either."

Hikari: "Right because if she was, we would have been given a quest the instant we got to her."

Kirito: "Yeah... This means she really is a player who got lost there... Or at least, that's the most plausible scenario.

Hikari: "But why would a kid be doing at the 22nd Floor?"

Kirito: "I wouldn't know the circumstances, but maybe she has a parent or guardian that was with her?"

Asuna: "Yeah, she probably logged in together with her family. I hope they're okay."

...

Asuna: "Hey, she'll wake up, right?" As she says this Asuna scoots closer to Kirito and lays her head on his shoulder

Hikari: "I mean her body is still here so she is very much alive Asuna."

Kirito: "It's probably the NerveGear that must be still be communicating with her. I think she's in a sleep-like state. So I'm sure she'll... wake up eventually." Asuna nodded

~Night Time~

Hikari: 'This blows... Why did they insist on me coming with them?' I was laying on a couch since the pair said that we all need to be ready once she wakes up. I tried to convince them I'll come as soon as she wakes up but they insist on me staying here

I decided to go outside to walk for a bit

Hikari: "I guess I can pick up some items while I walk along the way."

~After a few minutes of walking around~

Hikari: "Time to head back I got enough items for today." While I was just going back to the cottage I see some players inside the forest

I got curious so I decided to check it out

Green Player 1: "Please let me go!"

Orange Player 1: "Oh shut up already!" The player stabbed him with a sword

Orange Player 2: "Just kill him already!"

Green Player 1: "W-Wait please N-" The Orange smashed his head

*SHATTER*

Orange Player 2: "Finally now let's go bring his loot back to the boss."

The two Orange Players were just going away till one of them saw me

Orange Player 1: "Hey somebody saw us!"

The two then pay attention to me

Orange Player 2: "Great well let's just get this over with." They then pointed their weapons at me

Orange Player 1: "Now girly if you don't want to get hurt you better give up all of your items or else..."

I stayed silent

Orange Player 2: "Hey answer us!"

I said nothing

Orange Player 1: "Oh screw it let's just kill her." One of them rush toward me with the intent to kill me

Orange Player 1: "DIE!" He swung his sword at me but I dodge without much effort and I stab him with my sword

Orange Player 1: "W-What..."

Hikari: "Idiots... Hehehe... You two are a bunch of idiots." When he saw me my eyes were colored red and I was smiling

I then swung my sword to the side cutting him in half

*SHATTER*

Orange Player 2: "Y-You killed him..."

Hikari: "Looks like I'll have some fun for tonight." I walked toward him

Orange Player 2: "S-Stay back or I'll-" I dashed toward him and sliced his arm off

Orange Player 2: "M-MY ARM!" He then dropped to the ground with fear in his eyes

Orange Player 2: "Please I'll give you anything you want! Just let me live!"

Hikari: "Oh I know what you can give me~" He then had a small smile on his face but...

*STAB*

I thrust my sword into his head

Hikari: "Your life."

*SHATTER*

...

...

...

...

...

I quietly walked back inside the cottage and lay on the couch

Hikari: "At least I had some fun for today..." I chuckled then I close my eyes readying myself for tomorrow

~The Next Day~

I woke up to the sound of Asuna calling me and Kirito

Asuna: "Ki-Kirito-Kun! Hikari! She's awake!" I then stretched my body then walk toward the room

Kirito: "Morning..."

Hikari: "What's up Asuna?"

Kirito: "Is there something wrong?"

Asuna: "Quick you two, come over here!"

We both looked at the bed and see Yui awake

Asuna: "Thank goodness, you woke up. Do you remember what happened to you?"

She said nothing but shook her head meaning she doesn't know

Asuna: "I see..."

Asuna: "How about your name? Can you tell me?"

Yui: "N-Name... My name... Yu-i? Yui. That's... my name."

Asuna: "Yui-chan, huh? What a nice name. I'm Asuna. and these two are Kirito and Hikari." I waved and Kirito smiled

Yui: "A-una? Ki-to? Hi-ri?"

Hikari: 'Hi-ri?'

Asuna: "Say, Yui-chan, why were you in the forest? Do you know where your father and mother are?"

...

Yui: "I dunno... I dunno anything..."

Hikari: "She has amnesia?"

Asuna: "But that's..." Her face was full of sadness but Kirito decided to change the subject

Kirito: "Hey, Yui-chan." He sat on the bed

Kirito: "Can I call you"Yui"?" She nods

Kirito: "All right. then you can call me "Kirito"."

...

Yui: "Ki-to?"

Kirito: "It's Kirito. Ki-ri-to." She then started thinking then she spoke

...

Yui: "Ki-hi-to."

Hikari: "I mean that's close enough." I chuckled and Kirito pats her head

Kirito: "Maybe it's a bit too difficult. You can call me by whatever comes naturally."

Yui then starts to think then when she knows what to say she said

Yui: "Papa."

Kirito: "M-Me?" He points to himself

Yui: "Auna is Mama." Asuna was a bit reluctant to accept that name but once she saw her sad face she accepted it

Asuna: "That's right. I'm Mama, Yui-chan!"

Yui: "Mama! Papa! Mama!"

Asuna: "You're hungry, aren't you? Let's have breakfast!"

I whispered to Kirito

Hikari: "Congratulations Kirito you are now a father." I smirked and he flinched

Kirito: "I-I guess so." I was smirking at him till Yui called me not by my name but

Yui: "Let's have breakfast! Onee-chan!" My jaw dropped

Hikari: "O-Onee-chan?" I was going to object but

Yui: "No?" She gave me the puppy eyes and I couldn't resist

Hikari: "S-Sure you can call me Onee-chan." I smiled at her and Kirito whispered into my ear

Kirito: "Congratulations Hikari your now a big sister." He smirked and I sighed

Hikari: 'Karma is a freaking b-' I was interrupted when Yui jumped to me and hug me

Yui: "Onee-chan!" I smiled at her

Hikari: "Alright alright. Asuna I'll help you on cooking the food."

Asuna: "Oh thank you Hikari."

After we cooked the sandwiches I sat down and watch Yui staring at the sandwich Kirito is eating

Asuna: "Here, Yui-chan, this is for you." She put her plate with 2 ordinary sandwiches and sat down beside me

But Yui just kept staring at Kirito's sandwich which he notices

Kirito: "You know, Yui, this is very spicy." Yui thinks for a bit

Yui: "I want the same one as Papa."

Kirito: "I see. If you're up for the challenge, I won't stop you. Everything is an experience." Kirito then grabs a sandwich to give Yui one and Asuna was worried fi she can't take it

I grabbed her shoulder for her to relax

Hikari: "Calm down I'm sure she can handle it."

Asuna: "I hope so."

As soon as Yui takes the sandwich she bites down and she keeps chewing with a bit of uncomfortable face

Yui: "Yummy..."

Hikari: 'That is cute."

Kirito: "She's a pretty gutsy girl. Let's go for a super-spicy, full-course dinner tonight." And she nods

Asuna: "Jeez, don't get carried away. I'm not cooking something like that."

Kirito: "Then how about Hikari?"

Hikari: "Uhh I-"

Asuna: "Hikari isn't going to cook anything like that right?" She stares at me

Hikari: "Ahaha... I guess not."

Kirito: "Well you heard the lady."

Yui: "You heard the lady." They both laugh and Me and Asuna were smiling at the two

After we were finished eating Yui was sleeping peacefully

Asuna: "Hey Kirito-kun, Hikari, what do you two think?"

Hikari: "Well she has amnesia so that's obvious."

Kirito: "But that aside, from the look of things..."

Asuna: "She's just like a baby...I...I..." She was tearing up

Asuna: "Sorry. I don't know what I should do..." I and Kirito looked at each other and we nod

Kirito: "You want to look after Yui until her memories return, right?"

Asuna: "Yeah, but..."

Kirito: "It's quite the dilemma. If we don't get back to clearing, it'll take that much longer for Yui to be free."

Asuna: "I know..."

Kirito: "Anyways, let's do what we can now. Judging from her gear it's hard to imagine she's been in the fields every day. First, we should go to the Starting Town to search for her parents or siblings."

Asuna: "You're right." She clutched her hands

Kirito: "Look the both of us don't want to part with Yui either." Kirito held her hand

Kirito: "How should I put it... It's been short, but the time we've spent with Yui here made it seem like this was a real home... That's how I truly feel and I'm sure Hikari feels the same way."

Asuna: "Really?" I sighed

Hikari: "Yeah of course it's kind of a new experience taking care of a little sister." I smiled

Kirito: "But it's not like we'll never be able to see her again."

Hikari: "That and... Her real parents are probably worried about her as we speak"

Asuna: "Yeah. Once she wakes up, let's go to the Starting Town."

Kirito: "Just in case, be prepared to arm yourself at any time."

Hikari: "Yeah since that place is now Army territory."

Asuna: "It would be best to keep our guard up." The three of us then heard Yui talking in her sleep with a smile on her face

Yui: "Mama... Papa... Onee-chan..." We all smiled at her

October 31st, 2024 - 1st Foor: Town of Beginnings

The three of us walked around so that Yui who is being carried by Kirito in his back might remember something about her memories

Kirito: "It's been a while since I've last been here."

Asuna: "Me too."

Hikari: "I mean it has been two years ever since we left." The three of us remembered the events that happened here and Asuna shook her head

Asuna: "Hey, Yui-chan. Do any of these buildings look familiar?" She looked around the area to try and remember but she failed

Yui: "Not really." She was disappointed so she rest her head on his shoulders

Kirito: "Well, the Starting Town is frighteningly large, after all. For starters, let's head over to the central marketplace.

We were walking through the marketplace and it was pretty much empty

Asuna: "Say Kirito-kun... Around how many players are here now?"

Kirito: "Hm, let's see... The remaining players in SAO number at around 6,000. Including the Army, around 30% of them should be in the Starting Town, so... Maybe a bit short of 2,000 people?"

Hikari: "If that was the case then there should be plenty of players here."

Asuna: "I agree isn't this a place a little deserted?"

Kirito: "You're right..."

Sasha: "Return the children!" We all look toward the direction of the voice

Army Member 1: "Oh, their babysitter showed up." The voices lead to an alleyway

Hikari: "Tch..." I'm getting pissed just by hearing their voice

Army Member 2: "Hello! We've been waiting for you!" We all nodded and rush toward the scene

Sasha: "Please, return the children!"

Army Member 3: "Can you not make it sound like we're the bad guys here? We were just showing these kids how things work around here. This is also an important part of the Army's duty."

Army Member 4: "Exactly. Citizens have a duty to pay taxes, after all." They all laugh

Sasha: "Gin! Kain! Mina! Are you there?!" They blocked her view

Mina: "Sasha-sensei! Sensei, Help us!"

Sasha: "Don't worry about the money, just hand it all over to them!"

Kain: "Sensei, it won't be enough."

Sasha: "Huh?"

Army Member 2: "You lot have built up quite a sum to pay off as it is."

Army Member 3: "We need you to give up your equipment as well, including all your armor. Everything you have."

Sasha: "Get... Get out of my way! Or else..." She grips her sword to prepare and attack them

Army Member 3: "Huh?" He saw us running towards them and jumping over to the other side and when we did that the Army Members were confused

Asuna: "Everything's all right now. Take back your equipment."

Kain: "Okay." They then take back all their equipment back

Army Member 5: "What the hell? Who the heck are you guys?"

Army Member 6: "Are you going to obstruct the duties of us, soldiers of the Army?!"

Hikari: "Oh shut up!"They all flinched at my words and my eyes started turning red

Kirito: "Hikari your eyes." I was pissed off I was going to take a step forward but Yui held my arm

Yui: "Sissy..." When I looked at her face she was concerned about me. I shook it off and calmed down and my eyes started turning back to normal

Army Member 3: "Whatever, give me a second." He steps forward

Army Member 3: "I haven't sen you three around these parts, but... you do know what it means to obstruct the Liberation Army, don't you?!" He took out his sword to try and put fear into us which worked for the kids but not for us

Hikari: "Okay that's it." I was going to take out my dagger but Asuna stopped me

Asuna: "Hikari can you let me handle this?" I looked at her and she was pissed as well

...

...

...

Hikari: "Fine..." I stood back

Asuna: "Thank you. Kirito-kun, take care of Yui-chan. And can you take care of the kids?"

Kirito: "Right." While I nod

Asuna then takes her rapier out and walks toward him still trying to inflict fear on us

Army Member 3: "Huh?" Asuna then powers up her rapier and stabs him in his face

He then got knocked down only for Asuna to prepare another powered up attack and stabs him again

Everybody was surprised by this but I and Kirito just smirked

Asuna: "Don't worry. In a safe zone, no matter what happens, your HP won't drop. Yes, there's only a slight knockback effect. But regardless, fights in safe zones can carve fear into people." She grips her rapier again but it looks like he wants to run away

Army Member 3: "S-Stop it!" She then stabs him again knocking him back

Army Member 3: "M-Men! Don't just stand there. Do something!" All of them readied their swords but when Asuna points her rapier at them they all got scared and fled and Asuna returns her rapier back to its place

Hikari: 'What a bunch of cowards.'

The kids were speechless and Asuna was getting a bit uncomfortable at the silence

Kain: "Whoa. That was amazing, Miss!" The kids ran to her

Gin: "I've never seen anything like it!"

Mina: "Yeah, you were so cool!"

Sasha: "Thank you very much."

Gin: "You're the coolest! Thank you!"

Kain: "I wish I could do that too!"

Asuna was getting embarrassed at the compliments she was getting

Kirito: "Well? Mama's super strong right?"

Hikari: "She sure is popular huh?" Just then Yui flinched and look up at the sky

Yui: "Everyone's..." She started reaching her hand to the sky

Yui: "Everyone's hearts..."

Hikari: "What's wrong Yui?"

Kirito: "Yui?"

Asuna: "Yui-chan?"

Yui: "Everyone's hearts..."

Hikari: "Yui, are you okay?"

Kirito: "Yui."

Asuna: "Yui-chan, did you remember something?"

Yui: "I... I... I wasn't here... I was always alone, in a dark place..." All of us were worried on what she was saying till

*GLITCH* *ERROR* *GLITCH*

Yui: "AHHHHHH!?!?"

Hikari: 'Ouch that hurts like hell.' Yui fell from Kiritos back and Asuna caught her

Asuna: "Yui!"

Yui: "Mama... I'm scared, Mama..."

Kirito: "What... was that?"

Hikari: "That's what I wanna know."

Yui: "Mama..." She then passed out

Asuna: "Yui-chan..."