Sword Art Online: The Duo Factors

Chapter 46: Lai's gravestone 2

Year 2025, January 21.. Japan Standard Time, 3:00am..

After escaping from the container yard, Koharu silently sitting at the front seat alone, with a M1014 shotgun resting on her lap while Aki taking control of the steering wheel as a driver. The silent continues until Aki asks for her current status.

Koharu: ...

Aki: Are you okay, Koharu?

Koharu: ...What do you think, Aki?

Stating out the obvious, Aki replies before remaining back to silent.

Aki: ...Nothing..

Judging on her emotional status, Aki wouldn't attempt to reply in their conversation without triggering her. But Koharu continues. Surprisingly, her tone becomes calmer but somewhat despair instead of anger.

Koharu: I'll be joining with Lai soon after the sun rise. So what's the hold up?

Being the only being who had witnessed the two young teen's cruel adventure to restore peace to the humanity and resulting a SAO survivor had met his end. Getting rid of his regret, he confesses what he had to say from his mind to her for a long time.

Aki: Sorry for involving you two in this mess. This whole full VR tech was a major mistake.

She shuts him up immediately as soon as she hears his apologize.

Koharu: If apologizing is the only thing in your mind. I'd rather wish not to hear it..

Aki: ...

Preventing him from making it worse. The silent continues between them. Until Koharu resumes back with a question she had in her mind.

Koharu: How did Koujiro Rinko felt when she knew your death at that time?

Aki: It was different that time.. My death was merely a part of my dream, a part of my plan. Koujiro Rinko agreed with me during that time after fully and mentally prepared.

Koharu: ...

Aki: That time.. She hesitates when she first hears my request. I remember I could feel the despair and sadness behind her voice and words. I anticipated this because death is something that even a person with high EQ like her cannot handle it.

Koharu: Why throwing your life away and falling along with SAO? You could just stay as a human.

Aki: Humans are creatures that lust for continuous growth and evolution by any possible ways. Such as learning, interacting, pursuing and discovering. But also, exploiting, dominating, scheming and manipulation. I figured some certain organizations would try to buy my full-dive technology with overwhelming finance or brute force their way for me to hand over. And then use it just for their own greed. Just like what Sugou is doing right now.

Koharu: Even the government as well?

Aki: Yes.. They are just a group of human beings with power that controls the fate of Japan after all. You will know the truth one day.. If you're still alive..

Koharu: Still.. Despite knowing the success rate is extremely low, you're still taking the chance.

Aki: "Move forth without looking back.." That's one of the basic discipline for us scientist. At least for me and Rinko. Even if the scan that kills me, didn't work out transferring my consciousness successfully. Koujiro Rinko will finish what we've started ten years ago on her own.

Koharu: And does it worth in the end?

Aki: ...

From a normal human being degraded into a consciousness that wanders around in the cyber world. Aki couldn't find the desirable answer for her.