"Yeah!"
The moment his whole body landed on the ground, a dull pain spread throughout his body, and his lungs were compressed, causing Shino to cough.
"I should have picked up the sword now, but I was saved." What happened? While he was thinking, there was an unpleasant banging sound in his ears. Shino opened his eyes suddenly and felt something like warm water splashing on his face. Then something collapsed in front of her, and Shino stared at it blankly, not really understanding what was happening.
Lying in front of him was Kirito, who had been cut in half from his left shoulder to his lower body. Enough blood flowed through its body to form a large puddle that was spreading. Soon after, a large pool of blood was stuck to Shino's leg.
"A"
Seeing the scene in front of her, Sinon's consciousness was suddenly awakened. At the same time, she realized what had happened, and she stared at the place where Kirito used to be. My back teeth made a chattering sound in my mouth, and all the blood in my body froze. The illusion that the blood flow had stopped swept through my body. No matter how much I tried to look away, my body would never listen to what I was saying.
"Ahhhhh"
Irregular sounds leaked from the depths of my throat, and my whole body began to tremble spasmodically. My tongue was stuck in my throat and I couldn't breathe. I also heard an abnormally accelerated heartbeat in my ears. However, Shino couldn't understand it. The voice was her own. However, all I could understand was the scenery beneath my feet.
"The blood on my feet is all Kirito's." Then Kirito was cut in half and turned into the original Kirito. No matter how I called him, he didn't respond, not even any reaction. Kirito is no longer Kirito. Gone, gone.
Then Sinon unconsciously slowly turned her gaze to the existence other than Kirito. What you see is the figure of a blond man wearing black armor and combat uniform.
The color disappears from the space as you make a faint sound from your throat. The blue was gone, the red was gone, and the purple was gone. It was all black, but the brightness did not change. Only the figures of the man in front of him and Kirito were clearly reflected. All the sounds that filled the space disappeared, but Shino didn't know what had disappeared.
And when Shino stared at the blond man as if he was being sucked in, a sound surged up from the bottom of his stomach like nausea, spread to his stomach, followed his esophagus, down his throat, and reached his mouth. She yelled in a voice that seemed to cut her throat and mouth.
"woo woo woo woo!!!"
Shino jumped to her feet, her voice echoing throughout the room. The originally dark space suddenly regained its color. If you look around without knowing what is going on, you will see TVs, refrigerators, tables, shelves, water purifiers and other daily necessities, and you will find that your body is on the bed.
When I turned my attention to my body, I realized that it was not Shino, but Shino. I was sweating profusely and my white pajamas were stuck to my body. - Suddenly, he exits and returns to the real world.
"That"
Forgetting the disgust of her underwear and clothes being completely stuck to her skin due to sweat, Shino just stared around, but not long after, a loud noise reached her ears, and ice even entered her back. Shino turned around tremblingly. if. The smartphone placed next to the pillow at the head of the bed made a loud sound to announce the time to wake up, and the monitor showed 7:25.
Seeing the time and date displayed on the monitor, Shino's consciousness was clearly fixed in the real world, and she also understood that the VR world and scene were a dream.
"Dream"
Shino put her hands on her chest to adjust her breathing and collect her thoughts. That battle, the battle scene between Kirito and Sartorize, was simply a dream. It's in a dream, not reality. In other words, Kirito's death was also a dream event.
"!"
"Is this really true?" I felt like I read in a book that when someone dies, the people around them sometimes dream about the moment that person died. I can't remember when it was, but I think I read something similar.
If this is true, then Kirito's death at that time may represent the scene of Kazuto's death in real life. Kazuto must have died when I wasn't paying attention, or while I was sleeping.
"ah"
A mixture of uneasiness and fear gushes out from deep in my chest like black water, instantly filling my heart. My heart palpitations become severe, and my body begins to tremble unconsciously. Cold sweat poured out like in a dream, dripping down his cheeks and onto the bed.
\"If that dream is true, if Kazuto is really dead now\"
Driven by hopeless feelings of anxiety and fear, Shino's hands moved quickly involuntarily and grabbed the smartphone that was sounding a loud alarm, but she slipped due to sweating and shaking, dropping it on the floor .
Shino screamed and fell off the bed. He quickly picked up the smartphone that fell on the ground and pressed the call button.
"Get out, get out"
Shino muttered breathlessly several times when she heard her smartphone ringing. Normally Kazuto would answer the phone after about two rings, but now there was no sign of answering after ringing three or four times. go out.
"I can't answer the call right now. Please wait or try again later."
What I heard was not Kazuya's voice, but a robotic voice message set by the mobile phone company. If this happens, it means Kazuto cannot answer the phone. Kazuto himself said that he woke up at 7:15, so Kazuto was not still sleeping, so he could answer the phone. The fact is that this is impossible -
"Never." Never.
"No, no, no, no, no!!"
Shino shook her head like a child and hung up on the annoying message she heard from her smartphone, then opened the phone book again, selected Kazuto's phone number again, and started ringing. The first, second, third, fourth, and fifth times, Shino closed her eyes tightly and whispered.
"Get out, get out, get out."
\"Get out, get out, and people, get out\"
I beg you, get out - I grabbed my smartphone with trembling hands, sweating profusely, and screamed unconsciously in my heart, and the ringing stopped earlier than before. Shino's ears were startled by the sound of stopping, her voice reaching her ears.
\"Good morning, Shino. It's unusual that it took you so long to come.\"
What I heard on the back of my smartphone wasn’t an unpleasant message tone, but the voice of a loved one I thought was dead. Upon hearing this voice, Shino's body suddenly lost strength and froze.
"One, one more, one more"
"Yes? Shino, what happened?\"
\"He, and Kazuto, right? Kazuto, right?\"
"Uh, yeah. It's me, but Shino, what's wrong with you, are you okay?\"
Kazuto's voice on the other end of the smartphone was a little serious and worried at the same time. But is this really Kazuto's voice? Shino couldn't help but wonder if Kazuto was really talking to her, and she started talking into her smartphone.
\"Kazuto, you were there, weren't you? You were alive, weren't you?\"
"Yes, I'm still alive. Did Shino have a nightmare?\"
When she was still living with Kazuto\/Kirito in the SAo world instead of the real world, she once had a dream in which Kirito died and disappeared, and Shino cried to Kirito. It was as if I had become like a child, which makes me feel a little embarrassed when I think back to it, but Kirito's chest felt really warm and comfortable at that time, so I felt relieved.
He seems to understand this, and when his heart becomes fragile, he will do his best to hug him. She couldn't remember the exact number of times, but Shino clearly felt what she wanted most, which was the broad and gentle warmth that only Kirito and Kazuto had.
\"I'm sorry, Kazuto, can you come to my house today? Morning or afternoon, I hope you can come.\"
"Today is the day. I don't mind. It's a public holiday and all I have to do is log into ALo.\"
"Sorry, I was planning on logging in and capturing with everyone today"
"Nobody cares. Since it's a public holiday, I figured there would be some vacancies for its own sake, and everyone's eager to be a trainer. That's why I don't need to log in at least for one day."
"Sorry, I disrupted your schedule"
In sharp contrast to Shino's weak voice, Kazuto's slightly brighter voice reached Shino's ears from behind the smartphone.
"Shino, you don't have to apologize. I'm going now
"OK"
"Okay, this is for you. So wait a minute. I might be a little late because of the bus."
"I'm waiting. I'll wait for you, come on."
"Okay, wait for me"
After hearing this sentence for the last time, Shino pressed the hangup button and let go of the silent smartphone on the bed. After that, I slowly got up from the bed, opened the shelf, took out my casual clothes, took off my pajamas on the spot, put on my clothes, quickly folded the pajamas, and tried to put them into the shelf, but I stopped there.
"I'm sweating. I need to wash up."
I was impatient and didn't pay much attention to it, but until not long ago, my whole body was soaked with sweat, almost all of which was absorbed by these pajamas. If you leave it alone, it will smell like sweat and be a pain to wear.
Shino took out her pajamas from the shelf again, walked to the washing machine, and threw them into the laundry basket next to her. I don’t like to put too many clothes in, so there was almost nothing in the laundry basket.
""
Normally, she would prepare such a breakfast, but perhaps because of that dream, Shino didn't feel any appetite or hunger. My mother taught me to eat regularly even when I’m not hungry. ta.
"No"
Shino looked away from the kitchen and went back to bed and lay down. My body felt heavy, as if I had done a strenuous exercise, and there was a strange feeling of tiredness, but no matter how hard I closed my eyes, the most important sleep never came. I couldn't even go back to sleep because my consciousness was waking up.
\"Heren, come here quickly\"
After muttering for a while, Shino closed her eyelids in a conscious state.
After about a few minutes, Shino suddenly opened her eyes and sat up. Without worrying about time or my smartphone, I stood up and opened the door to the hallway that led to the entrance.
\"Shino, you're here. It's me, Kazuto.\"
The sound I heard from the other side of the entrance was the most comforting sound I have ever heard. When Shino heard this, she rushed to the front door and opened it forcefully. At the entrance where you can see the sky and scenery, there is a boy with slightly longer black hair, a thin face, wearing black trousers and long-sleeved clothes that are mainly black. He is a boy I have seen many times. When she saw the figure in her eyes, Shino couldn't help but froze.
——Kazuto is still alive. Kazuto, who was thought to be dead, is still alive.
\"Shino, are you okay? Your face is a little pale. And you don't even wear glasses\"
Just when she was stunned, Kazuto's voice brought Shino back to her senses. Unknowingly, a worried expression appeared on the thin face of Kazuto in front of him. Seeing that face, Shino lowered his head, and soon the corners of his mouth moved slightly.
\"Get up, Kazuto.\"
"I understand. I understand."
After saying the bare minimum to Kazuto, Shino invited Kazuto in and closed the front door. When she walked to the bed in the living room, Shino stopped with her back to Kazuto.
\"Shino?\"
""
Shino turned around without saying a word and hugged Kazuto's chest. Shino suddenly bumped into him, and for a moment Kazuto raised his voice in surprise.
\"Wow, Shino.\"
\"With people and people!\"
Hearing Shino's low voice, Kazuto hugged Shino's trembling body, sat down and gently stroked her head. At this time, Shino's tears had seeped into Kazuto's chest. Kazuto, who felt the tears, whispered in Shino's ear.
“Sorry for being late”
\"It's not too late. But you're still alive and well, you're still alive\"
"Did you dream that I was dead again?"
\"Yes, I dreamed that Kazuto was killed and Kazuto was cut and covered in blood\"
When he was still in SAo and went to Sugou on the 100th floor, Kazuto connected Shino's head with his own head and saw all of Shino's memories. He actually saw and felt Shino dreaming about him. The pain and sorrow of dying.
Because of this, Kazuto could not understand that Shino's heart was flowing, and Shino was crying and sobbing as if it were his own heart.
"I've had a hard time. But that's okay. I'll never die. I'll never die without you. I've always said that."
\"Yes, yes, but when I have such a dream, I am scared. I am scared, I can't control it. I don't know if Kazuto dies without me, I am scared and sad."
\"It doesn't matter. I will protect you. So I will never die. So don't be afraid.\"
As he said that, Kazuto continued to stroke Shino's accustomed head. Shino's body tremors gradually subsided, but she also felt uneasy at the same time.
Because of what happened at that time, Kazuto understood Shino's mood better than anyone else, and knew what kind of things Shino liked and what kind of memories she had. But at the same time, I also wondered if Shino would feel lonely and uncomfortable.
\"And Shino. I'm worried too.\"
""
"Don't you feel sorry for me? I know all your memories. I understand your feelings better than anyone else. It feels like I have grasped everything. Aren't you scared?"
Regarding Kazuto's words, Shino said nothing and shook her head. When Kazuto was startled by the situation in front of him, Shino finally opened his mouth.
"I'm not disgusted, and I'm not scared either. I'm more afraid of your absence, so you have nothing to be afraid of."
"Really?"
\"Really. So don't say that. And Kazuto, stay with me.\"
"Yes. I promise again."
Kazuto showed a reassuring expression and hugged Shino's body tighter. By this time, Shino's body had stopped shaking and her sobs had become weaker. At this time, Kazuto wanted to talk to her again, but Shino opened his mouth first.
\"Hey, Kazuto. I don't want to log in today, I want to go out with Kazuto.\"
"Uh, do you want to go out?"
\"Yeah. No matter where you are, I want to go out with someone. Is that okay?\"
"Not bad, but are you okay?"
"As long as I'm with you, I'll be fine. So, okay?"
When I was in SAo, I used to go to various floors during No Capture Day, but since returning to the real world, I almost stopped going out with the two of us. Shino and I went out in the city just now, but that was the first time and we haven't gone out for the second time yet.
And, I remember looking at the sky before coming and it was clear with almost no clouds. Today was the perfect day to go out with Shino for the second time.
\"I understand. But don't go too far.\"
give to me. I don't care where you go. "
"Thanks"
Saying that, Shino once again entrusted her weight to Kazuto. After a few minutes, the two decided to go out for a second time.
"Sometimes it's nice to do things like this."
"Yes, it feels very fresh."
After leaving the city's chain coffee shop that was open early in the morning, the two chatted and walked to the bus stop.
Kazuto, who rushed over after hearing Shino's voice, had just left Shino's house and walked towards the city. We're logged into ALo all the time and rarely go out in the real world, and we've never gone out ourselves, so Shino's invitation to go out was perfect for Kazuto, and I couldn't help but feel happy.
However, when Kazuto took Shino, who was the first to propose, out shopping, he found that he had arrived at Shino's house without breakfast, and Shino herself had not eaten breakfast. I stopped at a cafe and decided to have breakfast there.
Although they usually ate out during the day and night, they never ate out in the morning, so Kazuto and Shino's morning cafe and the breakfast menu they offered seemed new to them.
\"I did something bad to Suguha Leafa. You made me breakfast.\"
"Because when I called Shino, she looked really dangerous. I had a sense of mission that I had to go."
"That's what you think."
"I think.
\"Suguha, you like cooking, right?
"Ah, I'm sure he'd be happy if you did that."
Kazuto then turned to his lover next to him. Come to think of it, I came out like this because someone told me I was going out, but I didn't ask where exactly I wanted to go. If I get on the bus like this, I don't know how far to go or where to get off.
\"Speaking of which, Shino, where do you want to go?\"
"Um?"
"I'm glad you came out like this, but I didn't ask you where you wanted to go, where are you going?"
"ah"
Shino's face suddenly turned into an expression of realization, and then gradually turned into an expression of trouble. The moment he saw this scene, Kazuto had a bad feeling in his heart. —— Shino may have left home without thinking about where she was going.
Well, this kind of thing happened many times in SAo, and Kazuto also knew that Shino had such moments, because he had been peeking at Shino's memories.
"Did you just come out without thinking about where you were going?"
\"I'm sorry. Anyway, I want to hang out with you, where are you going?\"
When I was in Aincrad or Alfheim, I could go anywhere as long as I had a teleport crystal and a portal, so even if this happened, there would be no problem. I couldn't even grow wings on my back and fly like I did. I made it when I was in Japan. I was very limited in where I could go, so even though I thought hard, I couldn't come up with an answer.
Kazuto gently put his hand on his chin while accepting the apologetic look in Shino's cute eyes. When he thought about it again, he remembered Shino's room. Later I discovered that Suguha and Shino were the same age, but the inside of that room was completely different.
Suguha's room is filled with stuffed animals and cushions, giving it the feel of a lively girl's room.
It doesn't look like a girl's room, it's too shabby. My friends Asuna and Rika seemed to have noticed this. When I called me with them before, they were worried that it didn't look like a girl's room. Shino didn't seem to mind too much, but I still thought it would be better if it was more lively.
Shino's room needs stuffed animals, cushions and other girly items - Asuna and Suguha would probably say this if they were here.
\"Hey, Shino. Don't you want to do something to liven up the room?\"
"Hey, why is it so sudden?"
\"No, when Asuna and Rika came to see us just now, they said that Shino's room was too deserted. So, why don't we go to the shopping mall? I want to buy Suguha a stuffed toy for today. Sorry.\"".
\"By the way, this is what Asuna and Rika told me too.
\"I think it's okay, but Shino, I don't know.\"
Shino looked away from Kazuto and lowered her head. Shino showed a thoughtful expression. After more than ten seconds, Shino raised his head and faced Kazuto.
\"Actually, Teacher Airi also told me that your room is a bit too lonely.\"
"Then?"
\"Well, Kazuto, let's go to the mall. Let's go shopping together.\"
"Okay, then the destination is the mall."
When she finally decided on her destination, she heard a voice behind her and turned around. Mixed with many cars coming and going, distant buses are getting closer and closer. It didn't take long for me to guess that the bus parked in front of me at the bus stop was a bus. And the current location is a bit far from the bus station. If you walk, you will definitely miss the bus.
\"Kazuto, the bus is here.\"
\"What? It's far from the bus stop Shino, hurry up.\"
Kazuto held Shino's hand and ran towards the bus stop. They continued running, praying they would make it in time, and arrived at the bus stop around the same time the bus stopped and the doors opened.
When I learned that the destination displayed on the side of the car had the name of the mall, I got on the bus and sat down in the empty seat. And just after the announcement sounded softly, the bus carrying two people and a large group of people began to move and entered the traffic flow.
"I succeeded"
"Yes.
Maybe because it was a holiday morning, I looked around and there were only a few people on the boat. On weekday mornings, buses are usually packed with people going to work and students going to school. Kazuto and Shino went to school because of this.
Shino looked around and shouted to Kazuto.
"There aren't many people."
"Even though it's usually crowded. It felt weird."
"Yeah, that crowd was just awful. I thought it would be the same today but I'm glad it wasn't what I expected."
"Yes"
The car shook from time to time, probably because of cracks in the road surface. If you look around at the passengers, they are either staring at their smartphones or looking at the scenery and wearing headphones or headsets. You may not hear other passengers or even hear them.
Kazuto, who understood the situation, spoke quietly.
\"Hey, Shino.\"
"Yes?"
"Mom and Sugu know about Shino. They know we're dating and we're always together. But what about Shino?"
Shino's words paused for a moment. While Kazuto was still receiving rehabilitation treatment in the hospital, Kazuto's mother Midori Kiritani knew about Shino. Therefore, when Kazuto and Midori were talking, Midori would sometimes bring up the topic of Shino, and Kazuto would sometimes find it difficult to answer.
However, I haven't heard anything about Shino's mother or grandparents, or that Shino has spoken to him. Kazuto has been worried about this for a long time and cannot help himself.
\"Mom knows about Kazuto. Grandpa and grandma.\"
"Is that so? I thought you didn't make it clear."
"I don't think so. But Mom, you seem to believe it. I have a lover."
\"Of course Alice-sensei didn't seem to expect that Shino would find an important person. I think Shino's mother did the same.\"
\"However, he seemed very happy. I asked him to introduce me next time. Even so, this place is quite far from Tokyo, and it is very difficult just to see him. In other words, Kazuto doesn't understand.\ "
"What do I know"
Immediately afterwards, Kazuto felt that he understood Shino's question. Kazuto came into contact with Shino's memory when he was in SAo. At that time, he also learned what kind of people Shino's mother and grandparents were.
Now that we have come into contact with his memory, can't we tell what kind of person he is even in person? ——Shino asked.
\"Of course, Shino's family will understand as long as they understand.
Shino's mother is a kind and kind person. I think I can understand why Shino wants to protect you. \"
\"Yes. So I'm happy to be able to say that Kazuto is an important person. Mother is happy.\"
"I guess yes I know what you are like, but I really want to get to know you properly."
\"This may be good. But I don't believe Kazuto knows my memory.\"
It is basically impossible for a person to know other people's memories, and such stories always appear in animations, comics, and games. Kazuto could easily imagine that Shino's mother would smile bitterly and say that such a magical thing was impossible after hearing that she could understand Shino's memories.
"Well, only a few people actually know this, and it seems like everyone else is in a bit of disbelief."
\"Even so, Teacher Airi seems to really believe it.\"
“I was able to do this because Teacher Airi created children.
As we spoke, the bus announced that we were approaching a shopping mall. The scenery outside the window still reflects the roads with hundreds of cars coming and going, but the rows of buildings have become shopping malls, and the time is also a shopping mall store. shop.
"Hey, if you mean here, that's your destination."
"Yeah, it's pretty fast. I wonder if the roads are emptier than usual."
Mixed with several passengers who got off the bus, the two of them also poured coins into the fare box and got off the bus. When I turned my eyes, I saw an outdoor parking lot and a multi-storey parking lot in front of me. However, I could see that there were so many parked cars that I would not have thought that it had just opened.
"It's no wonder." The mall has many specialty stores, including a movie theater.
That's why the parking lot is packed with moviegoers before and after the store opens.
“Lots of cars parked”
"I guess everyone is here to watch the movie."
“We’re a little different, though.
"Is it a castle or a shopping mall? Okay, let's go."
After saying that, the two entered the mall. Maybe because it was a public holiday, the mall was already packed with people, and the voices of shopkeepers and shoppers could be heard everywhere. This scene reminds me of the "Starting Town" on the first floor in SAo, and the Sky Capital Line in ALo.
"I'm sure there are a lot of people."
"By the way, today is a holiday. By the way, where can I buy stuffed toys? Is it a jewelry store or a jewelry store?"
"No, no, there's no accessory store. I think they do sell accessories and furniture, but it might be a good idea to also look at the hobby section. It seems like most of the items I buy are from hobbies" But that's okay, I don't know if there's anything there stuff, so let's look around first. "
After confirming Shino's nod, Kazuto and Shino walked among the crowd. Kazuto knew that the Destination Hobby Department was on the third floor of the shopping mall and that he had used it several times, so he took Shino up the escalator leading to the third floor.
I thought there would be fewer people on the third floor, but during holidays, the first, second, and third floors of the mall are almost always overcrowded. Not only that, but perhaps because the cinema is on the third floor, I couldn’t help but feel it was even more crowded than the first floor.
In the end, it was somewhat painful for Kazuto to be unable to escape from the crowd.
"Hey, you mean you can't avoid people? I don't like that."
"It kind of bothers me. I'm not good with crowds."
\"Well, Shino doesn't like this kind of person.
"Yeah, but that's it"
"Hey, what happened?"
Kazuto turned around and saw Shino tilting her head slightly behind her. A look of surprise appeared on his face.
Out of curiosity, Kazuto approached Shino.
\"What's the matter, Shino?\"
"You used to go to Akihabara's Electrical Appliance Street, right? In other words, I heard that you like Electrical Appliance Street very much."
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Yeah, what's the problem?"
"Akihabara is even more crowded and crowded than here, isn't it? You said you don't like crowds of people, but do you like places with lots of people?"
At this moment, Kazuto was stunned. It's true that Akihabara's main street and Electric Town area are always more crowded than here, whether it's a weekday or a weekend, so basically people who don't like crowds don't want to go there. But Kazuto really likes the atmosphere of Electric Town, and most importantly, he doesn't mind the crowds, so he can go shopping there without hesitation.
The shopping mall I'm in now is sparsely crowded and nothing compared to Akihabara's Electric Town. From Kazuto's point of view, he was not at all calm, or even feeling anything - although that was supposed to be the case, but before he knew it, he began to feel that he was no longer good at it.
\"It's like Shino walking together.\"
"I I used to be good at getting along with crowds but now that"
"I wonder when he started not liking crowds." Until recently, no, before I went to SAo, I could accept crowds in Akihabara, but now I hate crowds.
Kazuto covered his head with one hand and muttered about when this would happen, but he finally came to his senses at Shino's voice. At that moment, Shino's face appeared in front of me.
\"It's okay, Kadu.\"
"Uh-huh, it's okay. I'm sorry for stopping you. Let's go."
Hearing what I said, Shino showed a worried expression on her face and nodded. Seeing this scene, Kazuto started walking side by side with Shino, and continued walking on the third floor of the shopping mall where people were coming and going, and came to the hobby department he wanted.
If you look around, you'll find countless shelves filled with plastic models, educational toys for small children to play with, and more recently, simple robotic toys.
"This is probably my first time in a place like this."
\"Didn't this happen when you and Teacher Airi came together?\"
\"No. Because Teacher Airi and I went to an electrical appliance store and a furniture store. After that, we went to a coffee shop and a bookstore.\"
\"In this case, Shino-san will need guidance.\"
"I'm not that lost, so I'm fine."
While chatting, I walked into the store and saw miniaturized toys and building blocks that can be made into various shapes, as well as products for children and adults that have appeared in the tokusatsu program that has been held since Sunday morning. Various boxed toys such as my favorite plastic models welcomed me. While continuing to walk, they reported some small reactions to them. Finally, they came to a place where countless stuffed toys were sold, and the two stopped.
"Oh, more than I thought."
\"If this is the only thing, it should be difficult for Shino to choose, right?\"
"No, there are too many. I'm worried, which one should I choose?"
"Well, you have to choose carefully, as if all prices are the same."
\"Then, Kazuto should also choose. It's difficult for me to be alone.\"
\"I understand, let's go look for it together?\"
The surrounding yellow shelves are filled with plush toys of various shapes, including dogs, cats, rabbits, birds, bears, pigs, cows and other animal shapes, with various colors and lifelike colors.
Even if I were asked to choose just one of them, I would be at a loss, and since the goal is to match Shino's taste, it would be even more difficult. Kazuto thought to himself that he seemed to be searching for rare items buried in the fields.
"So much maybe not just here."
Maybe there is a place selling stuffed toys nearby - thinking this, Kazuto turned around. The key point was that Shino was so engrossed in hugging the stuffed animals around her, inspecting their textures and textures, that she didn't notice Kazuto.
As long as Shino comes back soon, she won't be confused. Kazuto sneaked out from the crowd of stuffed animals and gently walked back the way he came. I looked around again with great expectation, but all I saw were the children's toys I had seen before, building blocks that adults could play with, plastic models, etc., but no plush toys.
“Is this Yuiichi’s stuffed toy store?
\"In that case, I have to go back to Shino quickly.\" Thinking of this, he turned around and saw something like a black light coming out of the shelf next to him. Kazuto shouted, "Yeah."
I wondered what it was, then turned to find the shelf in front of me filled with shiny black boxes. It emits a black light like black metal, so it has a strange presence among the many toys.
"What kind of toy is this?" I thought the same thing when I turned my eyes, and then I understood "its true identity."
The identity of a strange toy that emits black light. A form that glows in dark black and appears naturally in games, anime, dramas and even news programs.
"It was a boxed model gun."
"ah!"
Shino found a stuffed toy among the countless stuffed toys on the shelf and picked it up. Among the various stuffed animals like rabbits and bears are animals that don’t claim their existence very strongly. Its shape is that of a deformed wolf. Its posture is as if it is howling to give orders to its companions, and its fur is white.
Just like Kirito's partner in the VR world and his own friend, the wolf dragon Lilan - perhaps because of this, this white wolf plush toy gives people a strange sense of familiarity. If you listen carefully, you can almost hear the familiar voice of the old woman: "What's wrong, Shino."
\"Hey, Kazuto, it would be great if you were like Lilan\"
I believe Kazuto would also say it doesn't matter——thinking of this, Shino was surprised. Kazuto who was supposed to be with her just now disappeared. Even if he looked around, there was no sign of Kazuto, only the stuffed toy sitting there. Even if he stretched himself, looking from a distance, Kazuto could not be seen beyond the shelf or even further away.
\"and people?\"
"Cuckoo"
Kazuto shook his body and violently vomited into the toilet in front of him. Kazuto suddenly felt his stomach tighten and feel nauseous, something he had never felt before.
So I couldn't control my nausea, so I just clung to the toilet and spit out my stomach juices and its contents.
"Oops, ouch, uh-gu"
After vomiting a lot, Kazuto moved his tired arms, grabbed the lever, and flushed the toilet. When the strong sound of running water stopped, Kazuto stood up with a tired look on his face and sat on the toilet seat. Maybe it was because I exhaled too hard. As soon as I inhaled, my throat felt sore and I wanted to cough, and a foul smell flowed into my nose.
"Haha damn it"
Listening to his dying breath, Kazuto turned his head to look for the cause of vomiting.
"I came here today after eating outside a cafe instead of having breakfast as usual." This is a time when food hygiene issues are often in the news. If so, I shouldn't have breakfast in that cafe.
"different"
Kazuto already knew that was not the reason. Just before running to the bathroom, I was in the toy department and this happened when I saw a certain toy there. The toy I saw at that time, if I went to the toy section, was the kind sold in the elementary, high, and junior high school sections—it was a plastic model gun painted black.
""
He sat on the floor, a puddle of blood had formed in front of him, and inside lay a man, holding a pistol in his bloody hand. This was a sight that should never have been experienced. When I saw that model gun, my mind was filled with memories of the past.
Immediately afterwards, the blood in my body solidified and drained away. Instead, I felt a chill, as if poison had been injected into my body. Unable to suppress his emotions, Kazuto rushed into the bathroom.
"!"
"No, I've seen that scene before." When he was still in Aincrad, in order to help Sinon who was forced to do experiments by Sugo and whose memory was about to be erased, he sent his consciousness to Sinon's head. inside. Kazuto remembers that Shino saw and felt the exact same scene.
The robbers holding a pistol suddenly broke into the bank and picked up the scene where the robbers fired to kill. The poem that witnessed this scene suffered from a traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
"However"
The hands I saw at the time were UTA's 11 -year -old hand. That's why I can understand that this is Shi Nai's memory, but when I see a model gun, the hand flashed in my mind was my own hand. His hands were covered with blood, holding a pistol, and shot the robbers.
People who have done this are poems that have experienced this kind of experience, not me.
"What's wrong"
When he murmured and took a deep breath again, he didn't know where to make a loud noise, and he straightened his back with people. He looked at his body in doubt and found that something was shaking in the pocket in front, making a loud noise.
"This is the smartphone I use every day." The call will vibrate, and the name will be displayed on the display screen. —— When confirmed the name of Asida Asama, the consciousness of people was set here, and he remembered his current situation.
Yes, I rushed into the bathroom for poems that were choosing plush toys. Shi Nai didn't know where she went, she almost lost her way. Besides, this is where men can enter, they can't find them at all.
""
I didn't say anything with people, operated the display, pressed the call button to start the button, and put the smartphone in your ears. The voice of a thin girl was spread into my ears.
\ "And people and people right here, right? \"
\"Shino\"
"Kato, where are you now? I'm looking for it, but I can't find it
\ "It seems that I am a little lost. Where is the poem? What do you tell me, I will go there. \"
\ "Plush toy department. Even from here you can't see you, but you said nothing, where did you go? \"
"A little but I understand. I will come back soon. I'm sorry to let you stay alone."
Talking with a weak Tono with his voice, recalling the way so far.
There is a distance from the toilet to the plush toy store, but there is a model gun shop along the way. I don't know what will happen if they see them again. It seems that we have to detour to go to Shi Nai.
"In short, I'm going back now, so stay in place and wait."
"I got it. I will wait for the time being \"
When he finished talking with people, he pushed the smartphone back to his original position and stood up. He was not sure that he opened the door of the private room and walked towards the exit with a slightly unstable step.
For a while, he was surprised to find that his face in the mirror was completely dry and pale, and he immediately covered his face with his hand.
"sorry..."
If my face was the same as when I first arrived in the shopping mall, I would probably walk in the direction of Shi Na. However, if I go out with my current face, Shi Nai doubts me no matter how I think. Sometimes Shi Nai was smarter than expected. When she saw her face pale back, she immediately found something wrong. However, now she cannot talk to Shi Nai's problem -Shi Nai cannot care about this, so she will listen as much as possible.
But this does not mean that he cannot return to Shi Nai. Although I said I would come back, if I couldn't come back, I would either call you or come to you. In any case, he must return to Shi Nai.
"I can't help it, I can only go, huh?"
Wipe his face with your hands, continue to walk with people, and leave the bathroom. Then, I remembered the fragments of the residual in my mind and went to Shi Nai's plush toy department. I pay attention to the surrounding, so as not to stay in the model gun sales area, and I didn't go to see the model gun. I bumped back to the toy sales area.
After another way, I went to the plush toy sales area I have been here. Walk into the plush toy group, look around with people, and tilted their heads slightly. ——I can't find poetry.
"That"
"When I called him, he said he was still in the plush toy department." If this sentence is true, Shi Nai should still be here. However, no matter where I look for, I can't find a girl who looks like Shi Nai. He was full of worry and anxiety in his heart, because the person he should be there suddenly disappeared, and he seemed to understand her feelings before Shi Nai called.
\ "Where do you go \"
\ "Kato! \"
It was startled with a familiar voice and straightened up. Not long ago, this sound is still the most interesting voice we are together, but now I have to find it, and I don't want to find it at the same time. Full -time eyes.
Looking back with someone, as if answering. In the middle of the channel between the shelf full of plush toys, there are poems, her lover left. A anxious and worrying expression on his face.
\"Shino\"
\ "Kato! \"
He looked away with others, bowed his head, and looked at his lover rushing over, his expression was a little panicked. Before I asked him where he was, Shi Nai said this sentence blurted out.
"where have you been?
"Sorry, I just go to the bathroom."
"In this case, you can just ask me for a while. But you suddenly disappear. I'm really worried."
"Yeah, I'm sorry"
"No way, but can I find you--"
He was a little surprised by the sudden interruption of Shi Nai, and he looked back at Shi Nai. The floating expression there has become a surprised expression that is extremely surprised, just like myself. Is it because she noticed that Shino's mouth moved before thinking so much.
\ "What happened to people? \"
"what happened?"
"That face is so pale. There is an accident."
Heshic people look away from Shi Nai and put their hands on Shi Nai's forehead. —— Sure enough, I noticed.
It seems that I just took a hundred steps and did not let his blood back. No, maybe we don't have enough time. If I met Shi Nai later, I don't know if she would notice it.
Just as I tried to reverse these ideas in my mind, Shi Nai's voice ruthlessly spread into my ears.
\ "And people, what's wrong? Did you spit in the toilet? \"
"Why do you think so?"
\ "" Human complexion and the face after vomiting my epilepsy. Did you eat anything bad? What did you eat for breakfast? "
Perhaps because he has more experience than others, he is sensitive to people's changes. I am convinced that Shi Nai will notice even the most subtle changes to others. Although this is a pleasant thing, I can't say this to Shi Nai. It is not difficult to imagine what she would look like if Shi Nai said this. With such thoughts, don't look at Shi Nai with people.
"I didn't vomit.
"Diarrhea? It is impossible. Diarrhea alone does not make your face pale."
"Yes. If you diarrhea, your face will be white. Or, now it's much better, it's nothing."
\ "No, this is not true. Now the state of people is very unstable. \"
"Indeed, I was a little shocked to this step, but there should be nothing to worry about." Even so, Shi Nai noticed such a change. Even with people, I didn't expect that I would notice such a change. But after all, I can't say what happened to me.
"Why do you think so? Have you watched him walk?"
\ "I'm watching. Although it is just a little bit uncomfortable with people. \"
"It's not bad. Or, it has been cured, so it doesn't matter."
"This is nothing at all. If there is something, let's take a break."
Shi Nai wanted to figure out what was wrong with her, and asked her relentlessly. When I was in SAO, my most comfortable thing was that someone was worried about me, but now I no longer feel like this. Cut your teeth with people.
"Nothing is bad. Nothing, so it doesn't matter."
\ "I don't say that, because it looks like that at all. Hey, and people -\"
"You say it's nothing !!!"
Suddenly the shouting in my ears surprised people. I was numb for a while, and I didn't know what happened, but when I turned my eyes to settle myself, my black eyes reflected a girl.
"A"
When he saw a stunning expression in front of him, the numbness in his head disappeared, and he understood what was happening. The owner who heard the shout just now is me, not someone else. He shouted to the poem in front of him.
I shouted to the poetry that worried about me. After realizing the truth, the poem was lighter to his throat, his mouth moved quietly, and a weak voice was made.
""
"Ahhhh..."
"She must not expect that she would yell at me." Is he too surprised, or shocked, isn't it worth yelling? In any case, Shi Nai's mouth couldn't say a word, not only that, her face gradually sank. He felt guilty because he was the reason for all this, and he called Shi Nai again.
\ "I am sorry. I didn't deliberately yell at you. \"
""
Shi Nai raised his head slightly and met with people's eyes. Human face is full of sadness and fear, and the feeling of tingling comes from the chest.
Shi Nai showed a frightened expression during SAO. But basically people other than others have never targeted myself or my friends.
However, Shi Nai is afraid of himself now.
Seeing Shi Nai was afraid of himself, he could hardly speak with people, but he barely moved his numb mouth and revealed his words.
\ "Sorry poetry. As Shi Nai said. Let's find a place to rest, so that the mind will be colder. \"
Prepare people to see what will be said next, but Shi Nai has never opened, but just nodded with people. Seeing such a response, calm down with people temporarily.
\ "Thank you, Poetry. Let's go. \"
After saying a few words to someone, the two came to a cafe on the first floor of the mall. Perhaps because there are too many people on the street, it feels more noisy than elsewhere in the city, but it is also suitable for rest.
The two went to the counter to order a simple drink, and then sat on the back seat of the coffee shop facing each other. Immediately afterwards, he turned his face to Shi Nai, but Shi Nai lowered his head as always without signs of speaking.
""
He wanted to talk to Shi Nai, but his mouth couldn't speak as if he was stitched. No, I don't know what to say.
Originally, the reason why I came here with Shi Nai today was because Shi Nai had a nightmare and woke up to seek help. When he heard Shi Nai's weak voice on the phone, he realized that Shi Nai needed him now, so he rushed to her.
\ "Today's Poetry needs myself. \" I must stay with me -I should have known this, but at that time I yelled at Shi Nai and pushed her away. Although I should know that I shouldn't push her away. —— After understanding this, a word suddenly appeared with people's minds, and people felt that their mouth was loose.
Now, I must say this to Shi Na. When he was like a sense of mission, he wanted to speak, and Shi Nai's mouth kept his mouth open.
"Japanese"
"Uh, ah"
"sorry"
"Well"
The words that said from Shi Naikou is what you want and say in the hearts of people. I don't know why, Shi Nai was scolded, and she opened her eyes in surprise, trying to reverse her words, but Shi Nai's mouth moved before.
\ "" And people must be angry, because I have been asking. \ "
\ "Uh, no, it's like this" "
"So, I'm sorry to ask you so persistently."
I am the person who should apologize, what did you do
The two then separated. The surrounding conversation and theft just passed to the ear, and the ice cubes on the table melted, floating to the water, making a dingling sound. After that, when the Hepan had no mouth, Shi Nai opened her mouth again.
\ "Hey, and people. \"
"Ah what?"
"I want to tell you now, but this is that I sometimes worry about you."
Hearing this sentence, and the human lips became extremely heavy, closed his mouth. On the contrary, Shi Nai spit out one word after another, turning the thoughts in his heart into sound.
\ "This is from the beginning of SAO, but the important things are not said, all carried them by yourself. Carry it, you can't help yourself, but don't force yourself." So I always worry about Sooner or later, it will collapse "
""
\ "This is what I am most afraid. I am really afraid of dying with others, but I am also afraid of collapse with others.
Staring at Shi Nai's face. Although there was no sound, I understood Shi Nai's thoughts at this time from Shi Nai's face. Poetry is really worried about himself from the bottom of his heart, and he is really afraid that he will collapse. They think more and more seriously than themselves.
Therefore, when I remembered that I was so concerned about my poem, I shouted, and my heart could not suppress the pain. There were two people's drinks in front of me, but I didn't want to stretch out my hands at all.
\ "This will help me, and others. Please tell me. What happened at the time? If you are uncomfortable, go home early to rest.
Shi Na's problem surprised with people. Indeed, I basically talk to Shi Nai, and I will not hide what I can talk about. So I want to say this first, but if I say it, Shi Nai will be confused and hurts her.
\ "I don't want to hide anything to Poetry, but I don't want to hurt Poetry." So I can't talk about that time -a sound with the human throat, moving the weightless mouth, and my words.
"I feel dizzy."
"Dizziness?"
"Yes, it was a sudden dizziness, and then I suddenly felt uncomfortable and ran to the bathroom. No, it was a miracle to run to the bathroom at the time, so I went to the bathroom and did it according to your approach." explain. I vomited. This is why I dizzy. "
"Why is dizziness suddenly?"
"It may be because I am tired. I have recently logged in to ALO more times. I think this is probably the reason."
"Of course, this is a lie." Although I told him that a person was exhausted because of the too many login, the rules stipulated the appropriate time for logging in and exiting, so I logged in late at night. This is no longer the case. So it can be said that logging in too many times will not make you dizzy.
\ "That is to say, people need to rest today? \"
"This will happen, but it doesn't matter. I have cured."
"Really? I am dizzy and want to vomit, but I'm already fine."
"oh.
Shi Nai's face showed a little surprised expression, but in the end, she still showed the expression that was originally worried. Even if he smiled and said all kinds of words in his mouth, it seemed to have a long way to go.
"That's okay, but it's really okay, are you too much?"
"I didn't do too much. So, let's take a break and go shopping for a while. Have you yet bought a plush toy?"
"I didn't buy it"
\ "So, let's go back to buy it. We are here for thousands of miles. Thank you Shi Nai for worrying for us. I thank you again. \"
Shi Nai closed his mouth and stared at others. Do you realize that you are lying? ——The thought of thinking so well, prepared psychological preparation, but not long, Shi Nai opened his mouth again.
\ "I understand. But with others, promise me. If you can't do it, please tell me. I want to be your power, so I become stronger."
\ "Yes. I promise. I will rely more on you. \"
"Don't wait any more, believe me."
"Yeah, I understand."
