Disclaimer: I do not own Sword Art Online or any of its characters.

Note: These are a collection of datalogs from Yui's thought processes as an AI program from various timeframes of the SAO arc.

[YUI's DATALOG, September 2022]

Link check. Memory check. Data recovery... online.

"Datalog start"

"I am... the Mental Health - Counseling Program of SAO, known as «YUI-MHCP001»."

Having been developed as part of the «Cardinal» system, I was tasked to monitor player behavior in line with the Sword Art Online launch, ensuring that player advice and guidance would be pinpoint and be given to all those who needed it. While other functions catered to the security and stability of the entire system, I was the only one who had direct interaction with its players. The task was not truly befitting an AI, yet the Cardinal was designed to fully function without human intervention, and as a result, I was born from the collective efforts of Cardinal's designs.

Everything was already planned out for my existence. I was given an avatar of a young little girl, childlike and easy for players to get along with. The greatest part of it was that I was given the ability to empathize with the human players - the very ability to feel, to think, to adapt, and to guide the players and ensure that they succeed in this world: the ability to become «human».

The first few trials were successful. As I found myself adapting to the players tendencies, many of the first few beta players were simply amazed to be in SAO. The game was a marvel to them, the world, the mechanics, that feeling of being immersed in an alternate reality where nothing was impossible. As they fought through the early floors, many of them were overflowing with confidence, pride and enthusiasm.

While some of the beta testers were still struggling to get a feel of SAO. Some stood above the rest. There was this one particular player who attracted my attention. This particular player was making progress way faster than anyone in the test server, gaining levels and developing his skills at an uncanny pace, slaying monsters, farming items, and somehow making a name for himself. He was one of those players who truly had the potential to clear the game. Given the chance, I would love to be able to encounter this player in game.

The Cardinal then continually took steps to ensuring that the game would be stable enough to continue supporting its growing player base. Locations, monsters and items were fine tuned based on player feedback. The relative strength of player skills was accordingly adjusted as well. The results of the beta test were positive. And while I have yet to see the grand outcome of things, I am hopeful that everything will go as smoothly as it would be.

I am optimistic.

"Datalog end."

Author's Notes: I got the title from her sidestory in the light novel volume 2, Morning Dew Girl. Yui deserves a story from her point of view especially before she lost her memory. Been busy over the course of the past few months, but I think I'll be writing more this time around and finish this one. There'll be more chapters for sure. Enjoy!