Sword Art Online: Forgotten Edition

Fragment 75 - The Shadow Legion

As the rest of the players reveled in their victory, the Shadow Legion remained rooted in place, a stark contrast to the celebration around them. They sat in stunned silence, the weight of their loss heavy in the air.

Among the entire front-line team present, only Haru's life had been lost, leaving a void that felt insurmountable.

Kirito and Asuna approached, their hearts aching for the grieving group. They understood the depth of the pain; they had all fought side by side, and now they faced the reality of Haru's absence. But despite their efforts to comfort them, the light in the Shadow Legion's eyes was dimmed, extinguished by sorrow.

"His HP bar is no longer there... Haru's... dead," Volt murmured, her voice muffled as she buried her face in her hands, the despair choking her words.

Musashi's heart shattered as memories of Haru's cheerful smile flooded her mind. "He was just a kid... He doesn't deserve this..." Tears streamed down her face, each droplet a testament to the bond they shared.

Hero shook his head, a deep-seated resolve igniting within him. He stood up, his voice steady despite the pain. "He wouldn't like this..." The edges of his eyes burned red, tears threatening to spill.

The others looked at him, confusion mingling with their grief. "What are you talking about?" the dagger users voice cracked, laced with anger and heartbreak.

"I'm saying Haru would scold us for crying like this," he asserted, determination shining through the haze of sorrow.

For a moment, they were silent, the weight of his words sinking in. Volt, still gripped by her anguish, shot back, "What do you know?! How can you say that?!" She grabbed his shoulders, desperation in her eyes.

"Because he's gone, Volt!" Hero's voice trembled, the truth piercing through their despair.

"I KNOW! ... I know..." Her words broke into sobs, and she fell to the ground, tears streaming freely.

Musashi knelt beside her, gently patting their heads to offer comfort. "We cared for the kid... I know we did. But Hero's right. I don't think Haru would approve of us crying right now," she said, her voice barely a whisper as she struggled to hold back her own tears. Then, unable to contain herself any longer, she hung her head, her composure shattering. "But... just this once... I don't care if you call us crybabies... I don't think I could hold it in if I tried..." She wailed like a child, releasing the flood of emotions she had kept at bay.

Kirito and Asuna felt their hearts break alongside them, tears streaming down their faces as they mourned the loss of a friend who was now gone forever. In that moment, Haru became a memory to cherish, a flicker of light in their hearts. His legacy would live on in them, remembered as the strongest front liner in SAO, the Silver Bullet.

...

"A favor? Well, that would depend on the difficulty," Kayaba Akihiko replied, intrigued.

"Yeah... well... Is it possible to... erase memories?" Haru asked, his voice wavering slightly as he met Kayaba's gaze, determination mingling with trepidation.

The man's eyes widened in surprise; he hadn't expected such a request. Yui, too, was momentarily speechless. Kayaba gestured for Haru to elaborate.

"After witnessing Yui's 'death,' I felt the crushing weight of losing someone close." Haru's brow furrowed, his hands trembling slightly. "Everyone wasn't themselves—we even fought among each other. We were all consumed by sadness. So... I thought that if everyone could forget about me and my death, then they wouldn't have to suffer, right?" His words poured out in a rush, his heart racing as he spoke.