The Untold Truth: SAO Fatal Bullet Prequel

Old Wounds

May 10th, 2025

The day came to where I had to be interviewed about my experiences in Aincrad. It was a cool Saturday morning when I got ready. Exiting my apartment, I saw the dark blue sky broken up by orange light from the sunrise. Locking the door behind me, I trotted down the stairs and mounted on my bike. I had to drive to the viewing spot I found when I first got here. Racing through the streets, I finally reached Yoyogi Park.

"This place is beautiful," I remarked.

Standing on top of the park, I stared out into the bay. The sun cresting over the horizon in the distance. I had a lot of time before the interview, so I spent it watching the sunrise. No wonder why Japan was called the Land of the Rising Sun.

"I've never seen anything like this back in Aincrad."

My phone rang inside my jacket pocket. Pulling it out, it was a reminder about the interview. Stuffing it back into the pocket, I ambled back to my bike. It seemed like a nice day to go outside and stay outside. I wish I could place a rain check for the meeting today but I'm sure Kikuoka would be mad. Racing through the streets, I finally reached the Survivor School. I could see some students in clubs staying and practicing.

"Sure is a lot different when not that many people are here," I thought.

Cruising through the courtyard in a black hoodie and jeans, I stuck out against the flora near me. After taking off my shoes, and storing them in my locker, I slipped into my pair of slippers. Opening the door to the entrance, the halls were empty of students. It was a lot different compared to when I counsel on Fridays.

"What room did he say it was?" I thought while opening my phone.

Reading my e-mails, I saw his message.

"Meet me in your usual counseling room," I read, "Okay."

My steps were barely audible as I paced through the hall. Climbing up a flight of stairs, I finally reached the counseling room. Opening the door, everything was the same way I left it.

"Hello?" I asked while closing the door, "Kikuoka?"

Someone interjected, "I'm right here."

Looking at the table, I saw a man in a suit. His face bore a grin and glasses rested atop his nose. I could never forget a face like that.

"Take a seat," he instructed.

Stepping forward and pulling up a chair, I situated myself in front of him. It feels odd being on this side of the table. The windows situated to my right instead of the left. The open room to my left rather than the right.

"I'm sure you know why we're here," he says.

"I'm sure I know," I joked.

"How does it feel?"

"What do you mean?"

"It's the first anniversary since you went back there on your own terms."

"I know, I'm still confused about my choice about going back."

"I'm sure you are. Even I was surprised when you accepted my offer."

There was a tense silence after his reply. It felt like we didn't know what to do next.

"So...uhm.... the interview?" I reminded.

"Oh yeah," he stated, "Sorry, I forgot."

He placed a briefcase on the table and the flipping of locks could be heard. Opening the case, the contents revealed themselves in the morning light. Snacks of different types piled on top of each other. A small voice recorder was resting in the corner. He then placed the briefcase on the floor. Pressing on the red circle, the recorder came to life, marked with the sound of a chime.

"So...Kaito...what did you do there?"

"Well, for one, I was a beta tester. I knew some of the ins and outs of the game. But Kayaba told everyone that this game was our new reality, all I could think of was to get stronger and stronger. I ditched everyone on the first day."

(1000 hours)

"What about your guild? I've seen on the Cardinal logs that you were a part of the guild."

"The first one was the Aincrad Liberation Force. A guild developed to keep law and order. Sort of like a division of Military Police per say."

"I still don't understand why you joined a guild. Why is that?"

"I've learned that dungeon diving gets dangerous as soon as I saw one of my friends die in front of me. I figured that a guild would guarantee me some safety."

"But then you got wiped out. When you woke up back here in Tokyo, what do you last remember?"

"I remember we were going after the 25th boss. The first quarter floor of the game. I was wiped out along with the rest of my party. When I went back in May, I learned that most of the people I served alongside died in that raid."

"Majority of the ALF?"

"Yeah, it's a shame."

Kikuoka reached over and pressed on the recorder. The screen stated that the recording was about 2 hours.

"Well Kaito, thank you for doing this meeting."

"Yeah..."

I stood up from the table and started to walk out. Retracing my steps, I finally get back to my bike and standing in my normal shoes. Throwing my leg over the side, I turned on the bike and donned my helmet. The meeting opened up old wounds. But maybe, opening them would let them heal better than before.