It was a small treatment room, but it was crowded with all kinds of high-tech machines.

Lying quietly on the examination instrument, Yuki, with his eyes closed, is receiving today's treatment.

The right hand is connected to the catheter for infusion, and the sound of electricity is constantly coming from my ears.

The treatment process was very boring, and the mental depression caused by this environment also made her uncomfortable.

She was tempted to get up and tell her attending doctor that there was no need to waste time because no one knew her health better than her.

But in that case, her family would never 'forgive' her.

So she had to keep going until she could find the 'parts' for the 'machine' that could continue to work.

……

"Dr. Kurahashi, so today's 'mission' is all over, right?"

Holding on to the edge of the bed and sitting up, Yuki moved his right hand, which he couldn't clench, and asked softly.

Since last week, her physical condition has taken a turn for the worse, her vision has been gradually deprived, and even her body control seems to be slowly being lost.

Even if the blessing of life force can make her body behave like a normal person, many of the 'precision parts' inside are actually like aging machines, to the point where they will rattle and may 'stop functioning' at any time.

In the face of the 'broken part', if there is no way to 'connect', no matter how strong the 'processor' is, is it?

Now her body is almost in such a state, all signs are on the surface, and the disease has entered the terminal stage.

Fortunately, even if she has to stay in the intensive care unit all day now, she is glad that the previous 'preparations' have been almost done.

As a closed beta player of a certain game, she has the right of first refusal at the time of release, and when the time comes, she can ask Dr. Kurahashi to take it over, and she doesn't have to queue up early tomorrow morning to compete for the limited release of the game.

With a light breath, Yuki quietly waited for Dr. Kurahashi to appear, maybe he would 'scold' her for taking the treatment as a "task".

For this doctor who is too conscientious, as if he is atoning for something, she actually doesn't hate it that much.

Only this time, someone in the observation room didn't speak for a long time.

“…… What's wrong? ”

Seeing that the other party finally walked out of the observation room with the report, Yuki found that the face on the other side was very ugly.

As for why, she already had a hunch, and she wasn't too surprised.

"How much time do I have left?"

Opening his mouth slightly, Yuki calmly asked about this heavy topic.

“…… What a stupid thing to say! Hurry up and lie down and sleep well, I'll have the nurse send you back to your room! ”

"As long as you stick to the treatment, you will definitely get better!"

Gently pressing Yuki's head, the man smiled very reluctantly.

"Doctor...... Has anyone ever told you that you don't lie at all? ”

"Since you're not happy to say now, well, forget it."

“……”

She smiled very energetically, and Yujile, who was lying down again, tirelessly 'hit' her attending doctor.

The 'hatred' that sent her to the psychological counseling room last time, the black-haired girl has never forgotten.

"Alas......"

Looking at the black-haired girl who was pushed out of the ward by the nurse, Dr. Kurahashi clutched the report tightly in his hand.

(Obviously the encephalopathy caused by the virus itself is still eating away at your body, and I am afraid that it has already ...... if you are normal.) ）

(What is it that supports you to laugh out loud so fearlessly...... ）

……

Perhaps, only she knows.

Because her future cannot be found in the present "real world".

*****************************************************************************************************

– November 6, 2022, early Sunday morning.

"I'm sorry Xiaozhi, but I want you to grant me this troublesome request."

The girl standing in the middle of a long line, wearing a mask, and tying her hair in front of her, said apologetically to the short-haired girl next to her.

“…… Because no matter what, I want to see the world that can make Xiaoyu addicted. ”

This idea, which I had in the first place, became even more determined after Yuki was admitted to the intensive care unit.

Recently, her sister has not only become worse in health, but also talks to herself more and more, and is studying something every day with those game materials.

Perhaps, Lanzi also sensed something.

That's why she's here, even if it's just a little bit, and she wants to be closer to her sister.

It's just that her health is not too good, and in order to prevent her physical exhaustion, she has to ask her friends who know each other through Yuki.

"It's okay Sister Lanzi, in fact, I have this plan recently, but I haven't found a chance, and this time it's just right."

Smiled understandingly, Naoba didn't care.

Or rather, Lanzi's request just made her up her mind.

Because she also has an 'Internet addict teenager' at home......

Naoha, who felt that she couldn't stay estranged like this, wanted to ease her relationship with her brother, so before talking to him, she decided to experience this game that made her brother think about it day and night.

Maybe we can find an opportunity to reconcile and reunite the bond that their family once broke for some reason.

What's more, after the previous tests, the cost of using NERvGear has also been adjusted to a range that is acceptable to two people, or most players.

Everything is ready, only the east wind is owed, and that's what it should say.

……

"That's right, Sister Lan...... Xiaoyou's body, does it really matter? ”

Because they were afraid that Naoba would be worried, neither of them told her about Yuki being sent to the intensive care unit for the time being, but mentioned in the communication that the girl had recently needed isolation treatment and was inconvenient to be visited.

The actual situation is not far off.

“…… It's okay, the doctor said, it will get better. ”

"I'm the same sick person, but now I'm standing here."

"What I can do, Xiaoyou, who is much more powerful than me, has no reason why I can't do it."

As if hinting at herself, and in order to reassure Naoba, Lanzi emphasized in a tone of great conviction.

"Ah...... Yes, her words must be fine. ”

As if infected, Naoba nodded vigorously.

"Then in order to surprise her, let's cheer together!"

"Hmm!"

……

If Yuki was here, she would definitely complain that her sister and friends shouldn't set so many 'flags' for her.

It's just that now she doesn't know that the two of them are also planning to enter this game.

Otherwise, she would have done her best to stop it.

Because this time, it's no longer a 'game to be played'.

When the three of them reunite in the game again, Yuki may get not only 'surprise', but also 'fear'.

……

On Sunday, November 6, 2022, at 1 p.m., after all the preparations, players with the character name "Yuki" logged in to the game "Sword Art Online", which has attracted the attention of the world.

This day also became the beginning of all subsequent events.