Morin and Yuuki Asuna's reunion did not change the world.
More accurately, even though Morin and Yuuki Asuna were the famous Guild Leader and Vice Leader of the number one guild Star Reavers in SAO, their return to the real world did not cause any major waves. The news media, which had been eagerly following every update about the SAO incident, could not find any trace of the two, let alone disturb them.
Thus, after reuniting with Yuuki Asuna, aside from being invited to a family dinner hosted by Yuuki Shouzou with indescribable flavors, Morin spent his days both flirting with Asuna and getting busy with preparations.
Five days later, at Morin's home in the real world.
Despite Morin having been hospitalized for over a year, the regular maintenance by a housekeeping company, coupled with a thorough cleaning and minor renovations arranged upon his discharge, left the house looking pristine. Fresh furniture and a few replacements made it impossible to tell that no one had lived there for so long.
"Morin, where is Yui?"
Yuuki Asuna, who had rushed over, paid no attention to the state of the house. The moment she sat down, she immediately asked, unable to hide her anxiety.
Just moments ago, she had received a message from Morin telling her that little Yui was about to wake up.
Upon hearing the news, Yuuki Asuna, who had just been cleared for discharge after a full recovery checkup at a private hospital, disregarded the doctor's advice and jumped into the family car to rush over. She was desperate to see her daughter again — even if not related by blood, her feelings for Yui were no different than for her own child.
"Asuna, do not be so anxious. Yui is still sleeping."
Seeing Yuuki Asuna's eager expression, Morin, who had originally planned to take things slowly, had no choice but to coax her with a helpless smile. He placed his SAO game helmet and a portable computer hardware unit together on the table, quickly setting everything up under Asuna's impatient urging.
The computer booted within seconds. Morin connected the SAO helmet through a communication line and began typing rapidly on the virtual keyboard. Soon, the display shifted, revealing a lush and vibrant small garden.
Under the clear blue sky, the bright light illuminated emerald green grass and colorful flowers blooming around a massive ancient tree. Morin zoomed in on the canopy, revealing a cozy flower nest where their beloved Yui, looking like a tiny sleeping pixie, lay curled up, her delicate wings shimmering softly.
At the sight of her, Yuuki Asuna's breath caught in her throat, almost unwilling to disturb Yui's peaceful sleep.
"Yui, it is time to wake up."
Smiling warmly at Asuna, Morin tapped the virtual keyboard lightly.
A tiny droplet of water materialized above Yui's forehead and fell onto her soft cheeks. The cool sensation made her frown instinctively. Her translucent wings fluttered, and slowly, she opened her drowsy eyes.
When Yui saw Morin and Asuna on the other side of the screen, her gaze froze for an instant before her entire face lit up with joy.
"Papa! Mama!"
Through the electronic camera, Yui rushed toward them, waving her arms excitedly and filling the virtual screen with her adorable figure.
"Yui, you are awake. That is wonderful."
Tears of joy welled up in Yuuki Asuna's eyes as she called out affectionately to her daughter.
"Mama!"
"Yui, how are you feeling? Are you uncomfortable? When SAO ended so suddenly, you were not hurt, right?"
"Mama, I am fine."
Before long, Asuna had taken over the entire screen, chatting warmly with Yui, their intimate conversation pushing Morin to the sidelines without a chance to speak.
Watching them interact so tenderly, Morin's smile grew even brighter. Not minding being forgotten for now, he stood watching for a while longer, whispered something to Asuna, and then quietly left the living room, heading upstairs.
Far from the laughter downstairs, Morin's face changed as he reached the staircase.
"Damn it, is the staying time only this short?"
The smile disappeared from Morin's face. His expression darkened as he stared at the countdown on the virtual light screen only he could see.
The display read 0 days 7 hours 12 minutes 31 seconds remaining, the numbers decreasing steadily with every second.
No matter how much he tried to deny it, the truth stared him in the face — after completing the two major mission objectives, his remaining time in Sword Art Online was almost gone.
"Damn it. Asuna, Yui..."
Clenching his fists tightly, Morin's heart filled with bitterness.
If he could choose, Morin would never leave Sword Art Online. Here, he could live in a modern and peaceful world, using the technology and knowledge stored in his memory to build a successful life. But more importantly, he could stay by the side of Yuuki Asuna and little Yui.
Unfortunately, personal wishes were meaningless now. No matter how he struggled, the cold, relentless countdown reminded him of a harsh truth. Since the moment he accepted the so called god's offer and entered Sword Art Online, he had surrendered his freedom.
There was no longer any choice.
"Asuna, Yui... take care."
Listening to the cheerful laughter coming from downstairs, Morin's chest ached with sadness.
He extended a hand toward the light screen and gently pressed the return button.
In the next moment, Morin's figure vanished without a sound.
Downstairs, neither Yuuki Asuna nor Yui realized what had happened. It would not be until later, when Asuna went upstairs and found the letter Morin had left on his study desk, that she would realize — that bastard Morin had left without saying goodbye.
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Try Other Fics I Have
•SAO: I replaced him?
•Anime: I Want Harem
•DxD: I am Kanda Sorata
•Anime: Curse Of Immortality
•Genshin Impact: I have Broken System