Disclaimer: I don't own anything apart from the words that I write and the characters that I create. Credit goes to the original creator of the SAO universe; credits also to the creators and contributors to the Code Lyoko series and related works.

This is unbelievable. After three years, we are finally free from these virtual reality prisons! I can finally enjoy the wonders of real life. But after about nearly four years, and experiencing the wonders of VRMMORPGs, will our lives ever be normal again?

Author Notes:

A/N: I'm taking a shift from third to first person and Karen is being promoted to main character from her previous state as deuteragonist to protagonist. (Deuteragonist = second most important character)

Real Life Standard Time: [17:30] August 23rd, 2025

After XANA followed through his promise, he and Cardinal gained access to the system and logged out everyone that was trapped in ALfheim Online with all of the changes done to our souls being repaired thanks to XANA's Scyphozoa. After I was logged out, I wake up in a room with a very bright white color, apparently that of a hospital room though my eyesight is a little blinded because of this light though when I look to the right, I can see a mirror, which reveals my hair having obviously lost all of the green dye I used before, also showing the true amber color of my hair and its much longer than I normally keep it. After a couple of seconds pass, I hear a female voice that I can just barely recognize

"Karen! You're finally awake!" I hear a female voice say in great surprise.

"Huh? What's going on?" I say, with my voice being rather disoriented after three years of my real body being comatose.

I then suddenly feel a lot of pressure around my upper body and when my sight finally adjusts to the new environment, I see my mother: Clara Koizumi and father: Garrett Koizumi, looking both sad and happy at the same time, and a nurse who apparently was watching over me during the three years I was comatose. My mother has the same amber colored hair as I do though she keeps it in an odango style while my father has short black hair. They're both wearing business suits though that's pretty common to me, since they usually always wear suits. I move my arms slightly to find them rather frail, the looks are like when you're in water for a long time.

"You're finally back Karen." Garrett says, and when I look at him, he's crying. I...can't exactly blame him considering how long I've been 'gone'.

"Father...I'm home..." I say with me feeling tears flowing down my face, since I've finally returned to reality after three long years of being in virtual worlds.

I hear the door open and apparently this new person walks in rather quickly, from what my senses tell me. Although my eyesight's still a little bit blurry, I can see that this person has emerald colored eyes, medium long blonde hair in a straight style, wearing a female school uniform colored white and red.

"Miss Takara, we can't have too many people in here! Miss Koizumi's still frail from the long sleep." I hear the nurse say.

"Huh? Wait, I remember you. Ophelia, right?" I ask in a frail tone, still trying to readjust to the fact I'm actually in reality.

"I'm glad you remember what I look like Karen, it's good to see you for real." I recognize the voice as Ophelia's now.

"Where am I?" I ask the four people around me, though I already have a suspicion considering the environment.

"You're in a hospital in Kyoto, about a tenth of the ten thousand players of that blasted Sword Art Online game were moved here at some point. To be honest, over a third of the nation's annual medical budget of the last three years have been focused here and the other hospitals holding SAO players." Garrett grumbles a little angrily. I'm not surprised that my parents are angry at Argus over the fact Akihiko imprisoned ten thousand people, especially foreign visitors from overseas like the Uchimayas.

"Dad, I imagine that you and mom sued Argus over this?" I ask a tiny bit nervously. A tiny part of me is not really able to believe these two are my family, though it's just my life in Aincrad conflicting with reality somewhat.

"Not just us, dozens if not hundreds of families sued. The company actually went bankrupt two years ago, though we've kept the servers intact because all the Sword Art Online players were still trapped."

"What I don't entirely understand is why you were still trapped. The Aincrad players were freed two months ago. Why were you and the others still comatose?" Clara asks me in a curious tone, missing a few pieces of the puzzle.

"I can explain that part" I state in a serious tone, this knowledge must be brought to light. "Sugou Nobuyuki of RECTO Progress imprisoned three hundred players from Aincrad including myself and experimented on them to control people's emotions, thoughts, and memory. He was apparently trying to gain the ability to enslave people's souls." I say in a mildly depressed tone, with me having a small frown as I remember those experiments. I was badly affected by those experiments and I wasn't able to do anything except watch myself be an utter and complete idiot. I hated XANA with a passion after Aincrad but he still went out of his way to help me and the others.

"Wonderful...As if Kayaba's imprisonment was bad enough, now we have a psychotic whack-job trying to manipulate the soul itself." Garrett retorts angrily, shaking his head in anger and disbelief.

"I don't think Sugou will be a problem. I dealt with him in Alfheim." I say with a small smile, since I saw Sugou get killed by XANA's monsters back in Alfheim.

"Either way, Koizumi Designs did suffer quite some backlash from its involvement in Sword Art Online and Alfheim Online if this gets made public. But we've distanced ourselves from Virtual Reality MMOs and focused on other departments. Thankfully, our reputation is not fully destroyed, we can still cleanse our involvement with these menaces." Garrett says, clearly angry about his involvement in Virtual Reality MMOs, not wanting to deal with them anymore apparently.

"I see...um...can anyone here get me a wheelchair or something?" I say weakly, trying to get up though the nurse quickly admonishes me when I try.

"Miss Koizumi, please don't exert yourself right now! I'll go get something you can use." The nurse says compassionately and in worry.

The nurse leaves to go find whatever she's getting for me to use.

"Karen, why do you want a wheelchair? You ought to take things slow." Clara says, calming down somewhat from her euphoria.

"Father, you said the SAO players were here, are the last three hundred here?" I ask slowly.

"Yeah, why?" Garrett asks curiously.

"I have some friends I want to see." I say with a calm face, since I want to see if Katsuo and the others are here in this hospital.

"Friends? Didn't you say before that Makoto and the Takaras were your only friends? While I know Ophelia was here getting treated for a wound she got while working on one of her robotic creations, Airi and Kazuma are at their house, and I'm sure that you know that Makoto died two years ago." Garrett says with regret, not wanting to sound too mean.

"The friends I want to talk with were friends I made during my three years in Aincrad" I say a little quietly before I look toward Ophelia "Robotics? That's a new one."

"Hehe, I got into it a week after you started playing Sword Art."

"Karen, are you sure these people can be trusted? People are capable of wearing many masks, so-" Clara says worriedly, before I interrupt her rather angrily.

"Mom! I can't believe you of all people would say something like that! You worked in the military, where you need to trust the people around you!" I say, angry that a former soldier would say something like this.

"Ms. Koizumi, Karen's right on this! Besides, I met them and her friends are very good people, they can be trusted." Ophelia says in mild anger.

The nurse walks in right now, thankfully unaware of our mild argument and is carrying something in her hands

"Miss Koizumi, I have some cybernetic leg braces, if you wait a moment, I'll apply them."

The nurse applies the pair of cybernetic braces to my legs, then helps me get out of the bed. After I am certain that the nurse applied it right, I look toward her, wondering if my friends are in this same hospital

"If I could ask, I want to meet people who were a part of the SAO tragedy."

"If you know what their names are, I could look through our patient list."

I want to see Katsuo Viperia, Kana Shimuzu, Sylvia Miyagawa, Haruka Uchimaya, Mamoru Nakasone, Keiko Ayano, and Asuna Yuuki, are any of them here?" I ask seriously.

I see her pull out a clipboard and look through it before walking toward a wall phone in the room and uses it to talk with someone else who works here. She then looks toward me with a smile

"All of the people you specified are here. Katsuo Viperia, Kana Shimuzu, Sylvia Miyagawa and Haruka Uchimaya are beginning to wake up according to the other nurses, though Mamoru Nakasone, Keiko Ayano, and Asuna Yuuki are still not waking up yet, however, do you wish to meet with them in one of our larger meeting rooms?"

"Yes please. Mother, father, I want some private time with them, Ophelia, you can come if you wish." I say seriously.

She then calls someone again and after a minute passes, the nurse hangs up

"The nurses will be bringing your friends to room A238. They should be there within five or ten minutes."

"Thank you. Ophelia, let's get moving." I state solemnly, not wanting to face my parents right now.

"Sure. Mr. Koizumi, Mrs. Koizumi, I'm glad to see you again." Ophelia says with a bow, before we walk out, though I'm doing it a lot slower because of how heavy these braces are and considering how I haven't truly walked in three years.

Ophelia and I depart the room leaving my parents shocked at the fact I was so insistent about this. I notice Kazuto walking nearby, seemingly looking for Asuna, and I guess that Kazuto was connected to Alfheim Online here in the hospital.

"Kazuto!" I say in surprise, it's been a long while since I saw his real life appearance.

"Who are you?" Kazuto asks us, as he's never seen Ophelia for real before before, and my signature green hair from Aincrad was scanned from when I had it dyed.

"Ophelia Takara, pleased to meet you again Kazuto Kirigaya." Ophelia says with a bow.

"So this is your real life appearance Ophelia? Pleased to meet you for real." Kazuto says with a small smile. "I presume you must be Karen...wow do you look different." Kazuto says laughing slightly.

"Yeah, my green hair was dyed, which I used before I involved myself in this whole SAO thing, anyway, Kazuto, I presume you're here to see Asuna?" I ask casually, and a little weakly.

"Yeah, and are you okay? You look a little sick." Kazuto asks worriedly.

"Kazuto, I just woke up. Remember that me, Katsuo, and the other three hundred players were comatose for three years straight now." I say weakly. "Anyway, I'm meeting up with Katsuo and the others in a minute, why don't you come along with me?" I say calmly, coughing a little after this.

"Sure, but take care of yourself first, if you're feeling weak like you say, don't push it." Kazuto says in concern.

"Duly noted." I say calmly, even if I'm tired from the long rest, I still have my sharp instincts over the three year training in Aincrad.

"You know, I think Asuna Yuuki is still asleep, if you want to see her, she'll most likely still be in her room." Ophelia says calmly.

"I see, thank you, sorry Karen, Ophelia; but I made a promise to Asuna to see her before she wakes up." Kazuto says apologetically.

"Sure, I'll meet you later." I say calmly, walking to the room where Katsuo, and the others are.

While Ophelia and I walk around the hospital with us having small conversation

"Since when were you into robotics Ophelia? The last time I saw you, you were afraid of getting your hands dirty messing with tea leaves, and now you're making robotic mecha?"

"What can I say? I just found the whole concept fascinating. I mentioned it in passing to your father a week after I decided to take up the field and he bought me a whole lot of books and manuals about mechanical engineering, robotics, and all that. He's been crazy supportive of it."

"That wouldn't exactly surprise me. My dad is fond of you three. I mean, after we first met and when your mother applied for a job at Koizumi Designs as an accountant, he hired her with little thought and he was pretty friendly with you all."

"You know, I sometimes wonder if you asked him to do that."

"Nope. Like I knew how to ask him how to do things like that back then." I respond with a small chuckle, not able to express anything further because of how weak I am right now.

We continue walking about trying to find room A238 when I see a young teenage girl with very long purple hair stumble around and fall down a few times. Ophelia rushes to the girl's side to help her up, since I can't exert my muscles much yet because of how recently I got out of my comatose state.

"Are you okay?" Ophelia asks worriedly.

"Urk...yeah, somewhat. I'm trying to get used to walking again. I was walking fine just a little while ago and now I'm as paralyzed as a collapsed elephant."

I recognize the voice now "Haruka, good to see you." I say, slowly walking toward the pair.

"Huh?" Haruka asks in mild confusion, as she's helped up by Ophelia. "Oh! Karen, I would say good to see you again, but this is the first time we've truly met in a way. Should one of us say hajimemashite?"

"Yeah, what in the world should we say? We've known each other for three years yet this is our first true introduction. Nice hair by the way Haruka." I say with a comfortable smile before I crack a small joke about how her hair being extremely long compared to how I just saw it a little while ago.

"Ah shut it. Like you're one to talk you girly priss." Haruka retorts with a fake pout before laughing quite a bit.

"Hahaha. Ya got me there Haruka." I say with the same amount of laughing, though I clutch my chest with this laughing fit.

"You two seem to be rather close." Ophelia chuckles rather comfortably, with a smile on her face, though she lightly frowns out of sadness seeing me in pain like this.

"Jealous?" I ask with a sarcastic grin on my face, trying to hide the pain.

"Don't mock her Karen. Anyway, why are you two out here?"

"Oh yeah. We're going to go meet Katsuo and the others." I say, remembering what we were going to do before we got interrupted.

"Mind if I join you? I'm going to be stumbling about otherwise." Haruka says with a small embarrassed laugh. I notice how she doesn't have cybernetic leg braces on like me, so I guess that's why she's stumbling around so much.

"I don't mind Haruka; Ophelia, you're going to need to support her though. I think I can manage if I just walk slowly."

"Okay." Ophelia says nonchalantly, lending a shoulder for Haruka to lean on as we walk to the room.

Real Life Standard Time: [18:30] August 4th 2025

Ophelia, Haruka, and I in room A238 where Katsuo, Sylvia, and Kana are. I can easily tell they look quite different because of the fact all of their hair being much longer than what I saw in Aincrad, though I can recognize them instantly because of their similar appearances from their time in Sword Art Online. I highly doubt that Katsuo, Sylvia, and Kana will recognize me because of the fact that the green hair they all saw me with is back to its natural amber color. I've noticed Katsuo stumble and nearly fall twice when I entered, being helped by the girls both times.

"Jesus dude, take it easy. We made it back to reality after three years, don't push yourself and send yourself to your grave." Sylvia chides, trying to get Katsuo to calm the heck down.

"I'm trying to get used to walking Sylvia. It's a pain in the freaking rear, but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."

"Emphasis on 'what doesn't kill'. You will kill yourself if you keep this up!"

"Oh, hey Haruka. Who are these two?" Katsuo says casually to Haruka, noticing her entering the room alongside myself and Ophelia, with a curious tone to me and Ophelia.

"Hey Katsuo, Sylvia, Kana; good to see you again." I say with a smile, I'm surprised that these guys are even able to pull off standing like this, my legs are still mildly paralyzed from the three year sleep.

"Karen Koizumi, glad to meet you in real life." Katsuo says, recognizing me now since I talked to him, walking toward me and offers his hand for a handshake. "What happened to your green hair?"

"My hair's not naturally green. I lost a bet with Makoto a week before Sword Art Online and I had to dye my hair as a punishment. Ophelia, you remember what the bet was? I've forgotten what it was." I reply rather calmly, exchanging the handshake before I look toward Ophelia.

"Nope, I've forgotten myself. Kazuma or Airi may remember but don't bet on it."

"Good to see you again Karen." Kana says, limping toward me and offers her hand for a handshake

"Likewise Kana." I say, exchanging a handshake with her "I suspect you all are feeling weak from being in reality for the first time in three years, right?" I ask the group seriously.

"A little. I fell on my face and hurt my nose a bit on the way here. Now I know how my imouto felt that one time five years ago." Sylvia mumbles, rubbing her temple just thinking about it "Wait...how can I remember that?"

"Imouto? Yeah, I think you recalled talking about having an imouto and otouto before?"

"Yeah. I actually wonder what happened to those two. I've been away three years so I imagine things have been tough."

"Didn't you have an uncle or something supporting you when your parents passed away?" Katsuo asks, having heard the story once back on floor forty four in Aincrad.

"Indirectly. He doesn't know a lick of Japanese so he did what he could and sent frequent stipends to us. I used it alongside money I earned through extensive volunteering to pay rent and get food."

"Yikes. You've certainly been through quite a bit. Where did you live?" Kana inquires, noting a good amount of surprise at this new chapter in the story.

"Kyonan over in Chiba prefecture. What about yourselves?"

"Both Kana and I were born in Higashi over in Okinawa prefecture, though when my parents died, I went to live with my uncle in Hitoyoshi over in Kumamoto prefecture. What about you Karen?"

"I was born in the United States but we moved to Japan almost immediately afterward. I lived the longest in Komoro in the Nagano prefecture. It was where I first met Makoto actually." *

"Woah. I know that Mamoru and Haruka aren't native to Japan, but I never expected you of all people be native from outside Japan." Kana says in quiet awe, and I'm not too surprised on this one. I've never told these guys where I'm native to, since I never really cared to before now.

"Ya know, now that we're finally back in reality, what will we do with our lives? It'll be a tiny bit awkward for us to return to normal schools after missing three years of it." Katsuo asks a little clumsily.

"I have no clue to be honest. I'd want to resume school immediately, but there's no way I'd be able to do well in school if I were to return to the normal curriculum. After missing three years, none of us would be able to handle a normal school curriculum. Not without who knows how much cramming." I say a little sadly.

At this point; Kazuto, Asuna, Mamoru, Rika, and Keiko walk into the room, with Kazuto and Rika being the only ones not limping in any way.

"Good to see all of you." I say with a smile, noticing the group enter the room.

"Same here Karen Koizumi. Nice hair." Mamoru replies, chuckling as he glances at my hair.

"Can it." I sarcastically whip back, not wanting to hear that line again. "Anyway, let me formally introduce Katsuo Viperia, Kana Shimuzu, Sylvia Miyagawa, and Ophelia Takara." I say with a laugh.

"Hehe, I suppose this is the first time we've met in real life, so I can let it slide." Asuna says laughing lightly.

"Heh, look at you Asuna, you've been comatose as long as the rest of us, and you still look like an angel, talk about unfair treatment." Katsuo says sarcastically.

"Jealous Katsuo?" Kana asks while laughing.

We all begin laughing our butts off because of this and it helps relieve the tense atmosphere a little bit. However, around now, I notice a teenage girl with bronze red colored hair and gold eyes wearing a school uniform not native to the Kyoto prefecture, I guess its from where she went to school before, runs into the room.

"Sylvia, you're finally awake! Thank goodness!" The girl says with tears in her eyes, quickly running toward Sylvia and embraces her.

"Madoka, it's been such a long time! I'm so sorry I was gone so long." Sylvia says quietly, lightly crying on her younger sister's arms.

"Is this your sister Sylvia?" Katsuo asks curiously.

"Who-Who are you people?" Madoka asks shrinking somewhat, having just noticed us all.

"Madoka, these are my friends, say hello to Katsuo Viperia, Karen Koizumi, Kana Shimuzu, Kazuto Kirigaya, Asuna Yuuki, Keiko Ayano, Rika Shinozaki, and Ophelia Takara." Sylvia says with a calm tone, still crying slightly.

However, even with the introductions, Madoka is hiding behind Sylvia slightly, if I were to guess, she's not used to meeting new people.

"Madoka, you don't need to be afraid of us, we're not going to harm you." I say calmly, though she only backs up even more.

"Madoka, I know I've left you alone the last three years, but know these guys can be trusted. I swear." Sylvia says in a quiet tone, trying to encourage Madoka. "Madoka, how has Tsubasa faring since I was trapped?" She asks worriedly.

"He's been staying in a different hospital here in Kyoto. He's been bed-ridden out of concern for you. You should go visit as soon as possible so he won't need to worry." Madoka says quietly.

"So Tsubasa is sick? No..." Sylvia says in dismay after hearing that Tsubasa is sick from worry.

"Nee-chan, his doctors suspect he'll start getting better once he sees you, he's been worried sick that you'd never return." Madoka says, trying to cheer up Sylvia a little.

"I should go and see him." Sylvia says as she tries to walk out of the room but is quickly stopped by both Madoka and Mamoru.

"Nee-chan, if you go now, you wouldn't be helping Tsubasa!"

"The girl has a point Sylvia. Think about the condition you're in. If you try to go find him in your current state, he'll only get more concerned for your wellbeing. What we need to do is to recover our strength here in the real world and then we can go about regaining our former lives."

"That's surprisingly intelligent coming from you Mamoru. Especially from how you tend to be an alcoholic." Katsuo grins and retorts sarcastically.

"Being a smart-aleck I see. Look, I may like alcohol, but that doesn't make me an idiot. Besides, I don't drink for real as often as I did in virtual worlds. I'm not that obsessed."

"Then why did ya tend to drink so much in Aincrad and Alfheim?" Kana asks, wondering about the answer to this question.

"Cause it didn't work like true alcohol. Sure you get light-headed, but the effects are hardly like what could really happen if you drink for real. Besides, with the crap I've seen, sometimes you have to drink to get those memories out. Like the Crusade."

"Stop! Stop! Stop! Dear lord, do NOT bring up that time! That is one thing I never want to remember!" I shout, wanting Mamoru to shut the hell right here before he talks more about it.

"Oh yeah...sorry." Mamoru quickly apologizes over the matter, leaving Madoka and Ophelia blinking in confusion over why I lost my composure, though the others frown rather grimly as their minds apparently flashback toward the Crusade, one of our absolute devastating battles ever.

"There's something I want to ask you guys. Do you have any idea on where you'll be staying?" Kazuto asks us all, apparently wanting to know if we have possible accommodations here.

"My uncle lives all the way to the south in Kumamoto. Who knows if he's even there anymore. He did say he was planning on packing up shop before I got into Sword Art." Katsuo says with a small groan.

"Well, you could stay with me and my family for a little while until you can find out more."

"Thanks Kazuto."

"I'll just stick with Keiko's family for a while. They still live in this area right?" Kana interjects, voicing her stance.

"If they haven't moved, yeah."

"I think I could try moving into the apartment complex where Hector and Amelia were living before Sword Art Online, but of course, I'll need to handle the rent and all that on my own. And of course, while I was this in name, I'll need to make quite a few stops to officially become Haruka's guardian."

"It'll be a challenge but my foster parents did entrust me to you. I'm just relieved that you're not just some random stranger and someone I've known since I was a child."

"My family lives near here too. So I guess that counts for everyone." I say, pretty much guessing that everyone has something planned.

"You forgot someone."

We all look toward the door out of instinct and see a rather familiar person enter the room. He appears to have a mildly dark shade of mahogany colored hair, emerald colored eyes, and is wearing a biker vest over a dark indigo colored shirt, black jeans and casual silver colored boots alongside what appears to be wool gloves on his hands.

"Holy cow. Hikaru?!" Katsuo exclaims, noticing that Hikaru entered the room "What the hell is with your outfit dude?"

"Glad to know you haven't forgotten who I am." Hikaru chuckles as he walks toward us. "And shut up, I like this outfit. It looks cool."

"So XANA followed through his promise and materialized you in our world? You're not an AI anymore?"

"Nope, I did a little test when I showed up in an empty room. I actually drew a little blood and it stung like mad. Guess it comes with attempting such a thing when you're untrained."

While Hikaru was speaking with Mamoru and Katsuo, Kana and I sat down in chairs, noticing that the group began splitting up within the room to have private conversations

"Karen, whatcha think of Hikaru now that he looks like a bad boy?"

"Kana, I hate those kinds of damn stereotypes. I may like the guy, but I don't any more just because he's dressed like that. I'm ashamed you even thought of it."

"Why do defensive Karen?" Kana sneers and laughs a little quietly, not wanting the others in the room to hear.

"You're just asking me to beat you up Kana."

"Gomen gomen, I was joking. Don't hurt me." Kana replies sarcastically with a cat-like smile, mimicking a common gesture that catgirls from anime would do with their hand.

Real Life Standard Time: [19:00] August 4th 2025

POV: Sylvia, Madoka

Not long before Hikaru entered the room, we began splitting to different parts of the room to have private chats, and I wanted to have one with my little sister

"Madoka, I need to ask, have you had any complications while I was stuck in Sword Art Online?"

"Ano…" Madoka mumbles rather awkwardly, with her having a faint blush on her face.

"The truth Madoka."

"Well, I dropped out of school a few years ago. I had to free up time for work to pay for Tsubasa's treatment and to pay for rent and food. I did have to lie about my age, which I am ashamed about, but circumstance forced my hand. I actually have two jobs: I work as an accountant for this one game company: Koizumi Designs and I work part-time as a cashier for a restaurant."

"Koizumi Designs?" I mutter in surprise hearing my sister working at my friend's parent's company "Karen, could you get over here please?"

Karen quickly walks toward me, though she of course is suffering from the limp we're dealing with "What is it Sylvia?"

"Apparently Madoka lied about her age to try to get work with your parents' company. I don't know what age she pretended to be, but she would be fourteen about now."

"Wait, you're that Koizumi? P-Please don't tell your parents I lied about my age! I need that job to pay for all the expenses I have!"

"Madoka-san, I have to tell them about this. My father spent years building up that company and I won't let it fall because of one little girl, no offense Sylvia."

"Karen, she did it because of how I was comatose. Please find some way to let her off the hook! I-I'll take her place in the jobs she took!"

"Nee-chan, you were never good with math in school. It'll be difficult for you to handle accountant work."

"I don't care." I say with a stubborn tone toward Madoka before looking toward Karen "Please. I don't want her to suffer for this. Not when it was my fault, I was the one who bought Sword Art Online and the NerveGear in the first place. If anyone should be at fault, it should be me. I had to make a lot of tough choices when my parents went missing on that cruise."

"Look, I'll see what I can do, but just be aware that there could be nothing I could do in this regard considering the circumstances. But I want to inquire Madoka-san, when did you start working at my parent's company?"

Madoka begins playing with her fingers rather awkwardly as she speaks "...About two years ago. I was twelve when I took the job. I've been practicing acting since I was four so I was able to throw my voice to make myself sound older and I faked the visa to 'confirm' my age. It's amazing what you can do with technology eh…?"

Karen then looks toward me rather seriously "Sylvia."

"I know. Two years is not something that can be easily undone, especially with the circumstances she pulled. It's entirely possible she might not be able to work if this is made common knowledge on her background. But once again, I don't care. I'm the eldest of our family and it is my responsibility to right what is wrong." I say with a mildly brazen expression. If there's positives from Aincrad is how they greatly tempered a good number of us. I myself was rather shy and reserved before the beta, but over the three years, I've become very strong and my new personality shows that resolve. Haruka was the same way and while she's not aggressive, she's not afraid to put her foot down when people push her. Good or bad, we've all been shaped by Aincrad's death game and most of us have become better people as we fought together to survive.

"I respect the resolve Sylvia. Look, I'll talk to my parents and see if I can work something out. Just...don't expect miracles." Karen says to me as she begins to walk away toward the door

"I'm coming with you Karen. I refuse to let this personal discussion happen without me and Madoka."

"I know better than to fight you when you get determined. As stubborn as I am, you're one of the few people I couldn't easily win against. Who knows if I'd even be able to. I'm just relieved we've worked together so long despite our minor conflicts."

"Let's go. I want to end this quickly." I say with a frown, taking a step and lightly grunting inaudibly "Oh dear lord. I'm glad I was given a brace but damn does this hurt like hell. Madoka, mind helping me a bit? I need a little more readjustment to walking."

"Sure nee-chan. I'm not eager but...I'll help."

POV: Karen

The three of us walk out of the room and after a good amount of walking, we found them in the lobby. I quickly call out my parents, whom both walk toward us in a quiet corner of the main lobby

"Karen, you do know we're not too amused about how you stormed out of the room, right?" Garret says with a solemn frown.

"Sorry otou-san, okaa-san, but well...you did kinda test my nerves. Look, I'm just not the same girl from three years ago. Listen, I need to talk to you about something major."

"What is it Karen?" Clara inquires, apparently wondering what I want to ask them about.

"It's about me, Koizumi-san." Madoka interjects a little bit awkwardly, talking to my father.

"Mitsuya Tamika-kun? What are you talking about?"

"Well...that's...not actually my real name. I er...I faked it. My real name is Miyagawa Madoka. I'm...err..."

"Koizumi-san, my imouto had difficulty getting by without me helping since I was trapped in Sword Art Online. We lost our parents a decade ago and I was caring for my younger sister and brother for years with help from family abroad. When I was in Sword Art Online, she was forced to falsify certain documents in order to secure work. I don't know what age she said she was, but she's actually fourteen." Sylvia interjects, speaking up for her sister and explaining a detail or two to my parents.

This particular revelation apparently utterly shocked my parents as they have the most surprised looks on their faces "Miyagawa-kun, you clearly must be aware of the consequences." My father replies with a very solemn, near angry, look on his face.

"Koizumi-san, I know what my sister did was wrong, but please don't punish her for this. I don't care if it takes forever but let me take her place. I'm the oldest in my direct family and it falls to me to accept responsibility."

"Karen, you've known this girl much longer than we have. What is your opinion on this?"

"Mom, Madoka-san was forced to act out of desperation because of how Sylvia was trapped, cutting off a source of income for their family, and her expenses grew dramatically. What I would recommend in this situation is to let Sylvia take a job at Koizumi Designs in lieu of Madoka and dock a percentage of her salary to pay back what Madoka had earned. She worked illegally yes, but her heart was in the right place. I don't want my friends and their families to suffer because of our own actions."

"Hm, Miyagawa-kun, do you think you can handle this? You'll be taking her accountant job."

"Of course. I've grown a significantly strong back-bone from my time in virtual reality. I don't care what challenges I am up against, but I will face it with no hesitation."

"Your resolve is impressive, but let's see if you can keep it up after going through this." Garrett then looks toward Madoka after grinning slightly toward Sylvia "Miyagawa Madoka, I do have to say. You may have been working under false pretenses, but you had a very admirable work ethic. When we get this dealt with and when you are old enough, I'd like to offer you work for real."

Madoka simply bows and when she raises herself after the bow she slightly smiles and looks toward my dad "I'd appreciate it Koizumi-san. The job I had with the company had a really good salary. While I did have to cut corners, this job helped me cover expenses I had: Rent, medical treatment for my brother, and getting food and all that."

"Wait, medical treatment? Your brother's sick?" My mother apparently was surprised about this one.

"Yeah. He fell ill some time after Sylvia-nee-chan was trapped in Sword Art Online. I divided my income very strictly between paying his treatment in increments, cover rent, and get food. I did sometimes have to skimp on food or reduce the increment I paid for the month."

"That's...horrible. Garrett."

"I know, and while I feel bad for their circumstances, we can't help everyone. We're not a relief organization."

Real Life Standard Time: [19:30] August 4th 2025

"Perhaps I could help Koizumi-san." I hear someone say and when I look around, I see Mamoru slowly walk toward us

"And who exactly are you?" Garrett asks, with his face saying what he has on his mind and politely does not say 'And what nerve you have for butting in on our conversation.'

"I am Nakasone Mamoru, a family friend of the Uchimayas, who helped with Sword Art Online's security. I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your conversation Koizumi-san, but a nurse came into the room where I was and urged us to return to our rooms for proper treatment, and I passed by while you were talking trying to find these two. But look, I have gotten to know these guys over the last three years and I want to help them." Mamoru sounds rather refined when speaking toward my father before he looks toward Sylvia and Madoka "Sylvia, I do know a few people here in Japan. I think I could arrange for them to provide residence and what you would need to regain your life until you can get things back in order and I'll do what I can to arrange for getting Tsubasa's treatment paid for. The Uchimayas are rather well-known and have a good number of friends and contacts all over. My own family is extremely close to them so we've been able to ask for a rare favor or two, but I'm rambling. I'll put in some calls and try to arrange something."

"Mamoru, if you can pull this off, I'll be eternally grateful." Sylvia sincerely bows in appreciation.

"What can I say? We have to help each other whenever we can. We've worked together for three years, I'm not abandoning any of you after what we've been through. But look, I need to repeat what I said. We need to get back to our rooms. We need to get rest to prepare for our physical therapy. Apparently we begin first thing tomorrow morning."

"Oh for god's sake. Physical therapy the day after we get out of a three year long coma? You must be-" I groan very irritably over how I'm already being forced to push my limits.

"Afraid not. Come on, everyone's being brought back to their rooms. Let's not cause any unneeded strife with the staff. Madoka-san, you mind helping your sister to her room? Koizumi-san, I'll bring your daughter back to her room."

"Karen?"

"Okaa-san, I've known Mamoru for years. He's silly sometimes, but he's very responsible. He saved my life more times than I care to admit. Just like all of my friends, I trust him a great deal. Let's go. If we're going to be going through therapy, I want to get a good night's rest and some food. It'll be irksome to deal with, especially with how I was never big on physical exertion before.

My parents both send a mild glare toward Mamoru, with me guessing that they don't exactly trust him despite what I said about him

"Relax. I wouldn't harm a single hair on her body if you get what I'm saying. For one thing, I'm exerting all the strength I have just walking, besides, while I've saved her life a lot, she's saved mine just as many. I'll do just about anything to protect my friends, that is a very firm promise, and we Nakasones never break our promises. Ever." Mamoru was rather nonchalant and actually had a small grin on his face at the start before it became rather grim when speaking the second half of the conversation.

"Very well. If you try anything-" Garrett tries to say before being interrupted by Mamoru

"I won't."

"Dear, I've learned how to read people from when I was in the military. This young man is serious about this. Let's give him a benefit of the doubt." *

"Very well." My parents walk away at this point, with Mamoru helping me to my room.

*I need to be clear about this one thing. I forget if I brought this up in Aincrad or Alfheim so if I listed a different place where Karen grew up, lemme know in a review or PM and I'll change it. I just can't remember for the life of me.

ugh...I hate using that phrase in written works. If I didn't use that right, please let me know.