December 21, 2024
Floor 76: Arc Sophia
It was the middle of the night in the town of Arc Sophia, three o' clock in the morning to be exact, and yet I couldn't sleep. I kept tossing and turning trying to force my body to shut down but for some reason, it wasn't happening.
"Damn it..."
Why the hell can't I go to sleep? It's the middle of the night and yet I feel wide awake...
I sigh and get out of bed, equipping my gear and leaving out the door.
I guess doing a bit of sword training could tire me out.
As I walked out of Agil's shop, I walked over towards the center park where someone familiar caught my eye, sitting down on a park bench.
Is that... Sinon? Wonder what she's doing here...
As she looked up at me, I had made it over to here and took a seat next to her.
"Hey there, Sinon."
Sinon- Kazzu? What are you doing up at this time of night?
"I couldn't sleep. I thought I would come out here and get a workout in. But forget that, I should be asking you that question. What's up? Can't sleep either?"
Sinon- I had a dream... a nightmare from a long time ago...
"It wouldn't happen to be the same nightmare as a couple days ago, right?"
She nodded her head and held herself close. I didn't want to pressure her on what it was, but I now know that it was a personal nightmare from long ago.
"A long time ago, huh?"
Sinon- Yea... It's like I'm just not allowed to forget it. The dream keeps reminding me.
"About a bad memory from your past?"
Sinon- Yeah...
I was happy that she was opening up to me more, especially after all we have been through since meeting. I continued to listen as she explained it at her own pace.
Sinon- I'll tell you about it but don't freak out ok? I'm confused enough as it is.
"You have my word. Can't be worse than what I've seen in this game."
Sinon- Alright... I first heard about Sword Art Online from a news report on TV. They said it was an awful death game that killed so many people, but they still hadn't caught the person behind it all.
Kayaba...
Sinon- When I fell into this world and you caught me... that was when I came into this world.
"I thought as much. But that mean you got your hands on a NerveGear or some other form of Real Dive tech, otherwise you wouldn't be able to enter games like this."
Sinon- Right. When I heard the news, they stopped selling NerveGears, I had a Medicuboid.
"I believe I've heard about those... it was developed for medical purposes to improve the quality of life and help treat terminally ill patients, right?"
Sinon- Correct. They've been trying to use virtual reality to help the blind and deaf for ages. They use it as a substitute to anesthetics sometimes. I've been using mine to test out its counselling features. Some think that virtual reality massive multiplayer game could help with the treatment of mental illness. Obviously, they use a much more stable and harmless environment than Sword Art Online. So, I created an avatar and waited of my counselor. But suddenly the ground started shaking. I never really understood what happened after that. Did I fall into Sword Art Online? Or did I get sucked in?
I bet the errors that happened when I was fighting Kayaba had something to do with that.
"But isn't your memory returning a good thing?"
Sinon- Not really. I keep remembering the things that I'd rather forget.
"If you don't mind me asking, what type of things? If I'm asking too much, I'll back off."
Sinon- No, it's ok. I just don't really like talking about this stuff. The point of all of this is, I think that coming here was my destiny. Although I've heard that if players get killed here, they... well, they...
I noticed her increasing fear and reached out to her. Gently grabbing her hand and stroking the top, I gave her a warm smile and then a serious glare, her eyes widening at the sudden gesture.
"Don't worry."
Sinon- Huh?
"I promise that won't happen to you. I will protect you. I will get you back to the real world and you will not die in this hellhole of a game."
Sinon looked at me with shock in her eyes as she raised her hand up to her chest, clenching her clothes tightly.
Sinon- Are you being serious?
"Absolutely. It's my promise to you."
Sinon- Why would you promise something like that to me? You hardly even know me.
My mind flashed back to a memory I once thought forgotten. I remembered the hidden room that me and the Moonlit Black Cats explored. Remembered the monsters that surrounded us and the deaths that had occurred. Ducker... Sasamaru... Tetsuo... and I nearly sent Keita into suicide.
"I just can't bear to lose anyone else. Not again, not like them."
Sinon- I'm sorry. Now it's me who's asking too many questions. You don't have to answer.
"I appreciate it... I also promise to tell you about it someday."
Sinon- I... you know... I never realized this until now, but I think that you and I are pretty similar. At least, that's how I feel.
"Really?"
A small smile formed across Sinon's face as she lowered her hands closed her eyes, resting her head on my shoulder and falling fast asleep. I smiled and remained still for her.
She looks really peaceful this time. She's not saying anything in her sleep. I don't know why Sinon thinks we are alike, but I don't mind it if that means she trusts me enough to rest her head on my shoulder.
I kept a firm grasp on Sinon's hand as she slept next to me, closing my own eyes and joining her in slumber.
Maybe one day we can exchange histories and fully understand what is wrong with each other, but even when that day comes, I'll still be there to keep my new promise to you, Sinon...