100 ways to die

Chapter 1

June 2, 2024
Dear Mom and Dad,
I thought of Akihito today. I can't bring myself to look at him. I like to believe he is getting better, but I know it's false hope. Every day more color is drained from his face, his veins become just a little more apparent, and his body deteriorates to just skin and bones. But if I close my eyes I can see the real him again. Strong, tall, muscular. I can see his hopeful eyes that always contrasted with my pessimistic ones. I miss him. Just like I miss you-

My pen scribbled off the paper as a voice from the doorway called my name.
"Setsuna, I've been calling you for the past 10 minutes." My aunt said shaking her head disappointedly.
"Oh." I responded, finally acknowledging her.
"Well come downstairs birthday girl!" She exasperated.
"I just need a few more minutes." I said turning back around.
"To what? Write depressing poetry? This is a day of celebration for gods sake!" She exclaimed, snatching my journal from my desk.
My balled up fists turned white from the pressure I exerted.
Aunt Haruka was always the insensitive one.
"Celebration of what? Another year without a family?" I growled with teary eyes.
"Setsuna you're not alone. I lost them too. If you would just open up-"
I cut her off by finally walking out of my bedroom.
I slammed the bathroom door behind me. Or at least I thought it was.
My eyes met the lifeless body on the blue bed.
One hand gripped the door knob tightly and the other covered the loud gasp that escaped from my lips.
"Ak-a-a-aki...." his name sounded so foreign coming from my mouth.
I could feel my body break apart just as my heart had.
I haven't seen him since he logged on.
I slowly made my way to his bed, using anything as a support to keep walking.
"Akihito-" I repeated as i stared at his forever closed eyes.
My tears dripped on his pale face.
My petite hands cupped his now defined cheek bones. He's so different than what I thought he would look like, so much worse.
The room had a heavy atmosphere of silence but I couldn't bring myself to leave.
Sword Art Online. The first ever VRMMORPG produced for the nerve gear. It raided Tokyo in 2022, consumers lined up for hours, one of them being my brother, my twin brother, Akihito. His best friend, Rei, was a beta tester for the game, that's where his obsession started. He raved on and on during dinner, and he began to skip his classes. When the game was finally released, he dedicated everything to it. When he wasn't logged in he researched, game strategies, maps, guilds. He chose the virtual world over reality.
We had fought ever since he found the game. I've never understood his imagination and wanderlust, his future should be set on reality. But he never understood... or maybe it was me who didn't. Akihito finally convinced me to give it a try when he promised to continue his classes, but I never made it.
I had stayed late to tutor a boy in my class, he was desperate to pass finals and I couldn't just turn away. But I should've. I ran home on that dreary day hoping that my relationship with Akihito wasn't ruined. After all I never break my promises.
I walked into my aunt sobbing in front of the screen that flashed "the death game."
You see, people who log into sword art online don't come out. All users have been locked in until all 100 levels are passed. And if you die in the game, you die in reality as well.
I should've stayed by his side.
I should've logged in with him.
But I didn't. The last memory with me is a broken promise.
The nerve gear has since been outlawed and there is absolutely no way to access him. But seeing him like this, it urges me to go to extremes. To not give up on him.
And for the first time I had reckless and lawful ideas.
"I will break into the Kayaba Akihiko's residence and steal the nerve gear." I stated. Giving Akihito one last look I made a promise. A promise I wouldn't break.
"I will get you out."