This was the southern part of Saitama Prefecture, in Tokorozawa on the Musashino Plateau, where a private company operated a high-class medical facility.
If Rozen were here, he would certainly not find this high-class medical facility unfamiliar.
Because back when Asuna had been imprisoned in the old ALO, this was exactly where she had stayed, receiving treatment and being monitored.
Now, both the original SAO and the old ALO incidents were long in the past. Though they were still often spoken of as if they were nightmares, leaving no small impact on those involved and their families, that impact had gradually faded.
Even if they were occasionally brought up, they had already become matters of the past, like something that had already passed away.
For Asuna, however, the meaning of this hospital was far from ordinary.
After all, it was here that she had awakened, here that she had undergone rehabilitation, and here that she had lived for several years before finally returning safely to the world.
Thus, Asuna was already very familiar with this place. Whenever her body showed any sign of trouble, she usually chose to come here for a check-up.
On this day, Asuna walked out of the high-class medical facility, a report in her hand.
Looking at the report in her hand, Asuna's expression was exceedingly complex.
There was bewilderment.
There was delight.
There was unease.
There was anxiety.
All kinds of emotions mingled together, leaving her expression truly a mixture of sweet and bitter feelings.
"Haah..."
After a long while, Asuna couldn't help but let out a sigh.
There was nothing she could do.
"If Mother finds out about this, what am I going to do...?"
The moment she thought of Yuuki Kyouko's stern and merciless face, Asuna immediately felt a headache coming on.
A few months ago, Asuna had been fighting hard against Kyouko's attempt to make her transfer schools. At last, just recently, she had won the battle, gaining Kyouko's compromise so that she no longer had to transfer and could stay with all her close friends.
But now, after finally claiming victory, such a thing had suddenly happened — it was like a bombshell destined to shake not only the Yuuki household but even the Yuuki family itself.
Asuna could already imagine how furious Kyouko would be when she learned of it. Not even her father or her brother might stand up for her this time as they had before.
Worse still, if things went badly, this might even become a disgrace to the Yuuki household and the Yuuki family, something that would affect her for life.
Asuna herself felt deeply uneasy.
Because, for someone her age, this matter was undeniably a huge deal.
If it went wrong, she might no longer be able to continue her studies. Her future could be cut off in an instant, left adrift with no path forward, never receiving the understanding of anyone around her.
Even her close friends — if they learned of this — would surely make an uproar.
"What should I do...?"
Asuna was deeply troubled.
At that moment, a cheerful voice rang out.
"Asuna!"
With that cry, a girl came running toward her.
"Yuuki!"
Asuna instinctively called out the other's name.
It was none other than the genius swordswoman whom Asuna and the others had befriended several months ago — Yuuki, also known as Konno Yuuki, who had been cured of her illness thanks to Rozen's elixir and had been discharged, able to live normally again.
Asuna was still used to calling her Yuuki, and over these months the two had become inseparable best friends who shared everything with each other.
This time, only Yuuki knew the real reason Asuna had come to the hospital. Everyone else was completely unaware.
So Yuuki nearly charged at her like a runaway cart, grabbing Asuna's hand with force. She pressed her face close, speaking with extreme nervousness.
"Well? Did you get it? Did the results come out?"
Yuuki looked both excited and anxious.
"This... um..."
Seeing this, Asuna gave a bitter smile inwardly while blushing on the outside.
"What is it already!? Hurry up and say it! You're killing me here!"
Yuuki was genuinely on edge.
Even a cheerful optimist like her understood just how serious this matter was.
That was why she was desperate to know the result — was it just a misunderstanding, or was it really true? If she didn't find out, she felt like she would die from worry.
"Y-You... just look for yourself..."
Blushing furiously, Asuna could only hand the report to Yuuki.
"This... This is...!?"
Yuuki immediately snatched it up and read it carefully, her eyes going wide.
Then she couldn't help but cry out.
"Oh my God! Asuna! You really are... mmphhh!"
Before she could finish her sentence, her mouth was hastily covered by Asuna's burning-red hands.
"Don't shout so loud!"
Asuna saw the strange looks people around them were giving and felt so embarrassed she nearly wanted to crawl into a hole.
"Mmphhh mmphhh!"
Yuuki kept making muffled noises, struggling under Asuna's hand, even patting it repeatedly to get her to let go.
"Guh! Were you trying to suffocate me, Asuna!?"
At last freed, Yuuki gulped for air and shot Asuna a reproachful look.
"Well, who told you to shout like that? What if someone had heard!?"
Asuna, embarrassed and annoyed, retorted.
"I didn't mean to!" Yuuki pouted, but soon her expression shifted into one of joy and concern as she exclaimed, "But Asuna, you really... really... ahh, what do we do now!?"
"I... I don't know either..." Asuna admitted, still anxious.
Even the famed "Flash" Asuna, known also as the "Berserk Healer," the vice-commander of the "Knights of the Blood Oath," could not help but feel nervous and uneasy when faced with this kind of situation.
Strictly speaking, Asuna was already an adult, and under Japanese law, even marriage would have been permissible. But she was still only a high school student, and a daughter of a distinguished family at that. To suddenly face such a situation — there was no way she could remain calm.
"Ugh..." Yuuki worried as well, muttering, "Yui-chan would probably be thrilled, Kirito-kun and Leafa-chan might be surprised and happy too... or maybe shocked out of their minds. What should we do?"
The two girls fretted together, showing just how serious this matter truly was.
After a long while, Yuuki seemed to think of something and looked at Asuna.
"I think... it'd be best if you told Rozen about this first, don't you think?" Yuuki said very seriously. "After all, he's the one who should take full responsibility, and in the end, the decision rests with him, right?"
"Rozen..." Asuna murmured, the impulse to tell him immediately flashing through her heart.
In fact, the moment she received the report, she had already wanted to run straight to Rozen and tell him everything.
But because of Yuuki and the others, Rozen had already been abroad for more than a month. During this time, she hadn't even been able to reach him by phone — all contact had been cut off. Even if Asuna wanted to consult with him, she couldn't.
Yet right now, she needed him more than ever.
No — perhaps in her entire life, she had never needed Rozen more than at this very moment.
What should she do...?
Asuna continued to wrestle with her anxiety.
Until...
"Were you looking for me?"
A cheerful voice suddenly entered Asuna's ears.