Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Name: Izumi Midoriya
Quirk: System

Description: Izumi Midoriya is a 15-year-old freshman student at Aldera High School. She is a trans woman who began transitioning during her final year of middle school. Izumi is the older sister of Rikku Midoriya, a 12-year-old middle schooler with a powerful telekinesis quirk. She is the daughter of Inko Midoriya, who possesses a weak telekinesis quirk, and Hizashi Midoriya, a dignified, white-haired man who has been missing for over six years with an unknown quirk. While Hizashi claimed to have fire-breathing abilities, it is hypothesized that this was a lie, as both sisters have quirks unrelated to fire.

Izumi is characterized by her long, curly green hair, small B-cup breasts, and a petite, androgynous frame, resulting from starting male puberty but halting midway to begin female puberty. Like her mother, she is shorter in stature, standing at 162 cm. Due to her background in gymnastics and martial arts, Izumi has an athletic build.

Skills: Kendo, Taekwondo, Jiu-Jitsu, Aikido, Capoeira, Iaido, Kyudo, gymnastics, parkour, wall running, Muay Thai, robotics, coding, hacking, analysis, investigation, and cooking.

Quirk Analysis: Izumi’s quirk allows her to replicate and transfer game data from video games into the real world, provided certain conditions are met. Requirements include over 100 hours of playtime in a game with a custom character creator that resembles her real-life appearance at the time of playing. She must be fully immersed in the game and envision herself as capable of performing the character's feats. Izumi can store data from up to three games at a time. To re-store a game’s data, she must invest another 100 hours into playing it.

Recommendation for Quirk Improvement: To maximize her quirk's potential, Izumi should play the new VRMMO she has been invited to beta test due to her quirk, Sword Art Online. Becoming one of the top players before graduating high school could bolster her chances of getting into U.A.

Hero Analysis for the Future Volume 13. 

“It all started on that Sunday. I can still remember Rikku calling out to me that she was going to Grandpa’s dojo for practice. Even though it was two years ago, it was the last thing I heard from anyone in the real world,” spoke a gaunt and malnourished seventeen-year-old young woman. “Then I logged in, just like I had every day for two months, eagerly waiting for the official release of Sword Art Online. That’s where I made my first friend who wasn’t my little sister. It was also the day my life changed. I’d say it was for the worse, but in the game, I found friends... and I fell in love. So, I can’t say it was all bad.”

Sitting across from the young woman in the hospital room was a plain-looking man in a trench coat, holding a notepad and pencil in hand. He wore a fedora-like investigator’s hat, his expression intent and focused. Standing beside him was a similarly gaunt man in an oversized pinstriped suit, his long, unruly blond hair cascading down his shoulders. The two listened intently, fully absorbed in the story of the young woman before them, the story of the Black Swordswoman, Midori.

“Link Start” Spoke a 15 year old Izumi. There she saw a world of colors assault her vision before she saw a screen load her log in Information.

Username: Midori
Password: A!!M1gh7f4ngirl1 

Argo: hey mi-chan dija also get a weird preorder bonus

Midori: Hey, Argo yes I did also got a bonus item for getting passed floor 10 in the beta.
Argo: what did you get?
Midori: Give me 10cor
Argo: oh look at you mi-chan ya do lern huh? 

Argo has sent you 10cor

Midori: They restored my upgraded anneal Blade, I get to skip the quest so that's good. How much do we charge the noobs for info on the quest?
Argo: 1000cor easy 

Midori: Thats steep Argo, but eh the quest does give a blade that I used for the whole beta. 

Midori: Hold up Argo got a noob bugging me, gunna help him out, not for free tho cuz he’s already hitting on me for being a girl. Like dude I'm 15 and I don’t know how old you are, and how do you know I’m a real girl. 

Argo: charg him 200 mi-chan. 

“Hey, hey, you look like you know what you’re doing. Mind helping me out? I mean, I can pay you back. Name’s Klein, I’m 22, and I’m single. I’m sure a cutie like you who knows what she’s doing wouldn’t mind a little virtual date helping a newbie like me understand the game,” said a redheaded man with long hair, wearing a ridiculous bandana on his forehead.

Before he could continue, a menu appeared in his face:

Player: Midori Lvl 1 has sent you a Trade Request.

“What is this?” asked Klein.

“200 Cor. And I’ll show you how to play. I know it’s your starting Cor amount, and if I’m going to have to party with a guy who immediately hit on me just for being a girl, then I’m charging. Don’t worry, we’ll triple what you give me grinding while I teach you,” said Midori.

Midori looked identical to her real self, just older, with straight hair, making her look a lot like her mother. Her hair was black instead of dark green, but she kept her emerald-colored eyes and didn’t have her freckles. She also appeared a few inches taller, standing at 170 cm in the game.

“Fine,” he muttered, interacting with the menu and sending the money. Then, another menu popped up in his face:

Player Midori Lvl 1 has invited Player Klein Lvl 1 to a party. Accept? Y/N

After accepting, she led him off to the fields.

. 

“Even though he was a bit of a flirt and a complete novice with a sword, Klein was a great guy to befriend,” spoke the gaunt 17-year-old to the detective. “It didn’t take him long to get the hang of fighting in the game. Honestly, I’m just glad he learned so quickly. After the first floor, Klein and his friends were regular members of the Assault Team.”

The blond man decided to offer his own opinion. “Midoriya-shoujo, I personally believe that your early lessons to young Tsuboi-san were the reason he stayed alive until the end.”

Izumi looked at the man questioningly. “I’m sorry, sir, you didn’t introduce yourself. But thank you for your kind words. I don’t think I’m responsible for keeping Klein alive.”

“Toshinori Yagi, personal investigative assistant for the Might Agency. Forgive me for not introducing myself when Detective Tsukauchi did,” the blond man replied, his concern evident as he observed how she seemed to view herself.

“Please tell us about the opening announcement ceremony, Midoriya-san,” said the detective.

“It was the very moment everything became real, and we found out we were no longer just playing a game. We were now fighting for our lives,” Izumi began, her voice trailing off into a lengthy explanation. “It was just after Klein informed me of his other friends in the game…”

“Well, gotta give it to you, Midori. You make one fiiine teacher. I’d love to keep partying up with you,” Klein said to the black-haired swordswoman.

“Klein, I mean no offense, but if you keep flirting with me every five minutes, I will actively avoid you. You’re a nice guy, but I’ve never been flirted with like this, and it makes me uncomfortable,” Midori responded firmly.

“I’m sorry, Midori. I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable. It’s just hard being a single guy in his twenties. I’ve always thought if I don’t at least shoot my shot when I meet a cute girl like you, then I’ll be single forever,” Klein replied apologetically.

“Klein, I’m only a teenager, okay? I promise, I’m just too young for you. However, it was fun grinding with you all afternoon,” Midori said, a gentle smile forming on her lips, though her expression held a pensive look.

Midori Lvl 3 has sent you a friend request.

Klein looked at the notice in his face and immediately accepted the friend request before regretfully dissolving the party. Looking her in the eye, he said, “Well, Midori, I’ve got a pizza coming in a few minutes, so I’m logging off for now. Thanks for the friend request. Maybe one day I’ll introduce you to my buddies, and we can all hang out and level up together.”

It was then they noticed the Log Out button was missing from their main menu. After freaking out and attempting to find another way to log out, they came to a terrifying consensus: they were stuck until the developers shut the server down.

“Well, I mean… unless my kid sister or my mom takes the gear off my head, I’m stuck too,” Midori said to Klein, her voice trembling with fear. Just as she finished, their visions were overwhelmed by a pale blue light. Moments later, they found themselves standing in the plaza of the Town of Beginnings.

“A forced teleport... is it already time for the announcement? Maybe they’ll explain why we can’t log out,” Midori said as she quickly located Klein.

Before Klein could respond, their vision was assaulted with red hexagonal alerts littering the sky, each labeled System Warning. The sky turned a luminescent red, and bloody rain dripped through the barrier, pooling and forming the shape of a red-cloaked figure.

“ATTENTION, PLAYERS. MY NAME IS AKIHIKO KAYABA, DEVELOPER OF SWORD ART ONLINE.”

The floating, mage-like figure announced as he gestured to a series of screens now displaying reports about the SAO incident.

“YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED SOMETHING MISSING FROM THE MENU: THE LOG OUT BUTTON. THIS IS NOT A DEFECT OF THE GAME. LET ME REPEAT, THERE IS NOW NO WAY TO LOG OUT OF SWORD ART ONLINE. YOU MUST DEFEAT THE ONE HUNDRED FLOORS OF AINCRAD. HOWEVER, DESPITE MY WARNINGS, TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY PLAYERS ARE NOW DELETED FROM AINCRAD AND REALITY.”

After these words, the plaza erupted into chaos, players screaming and panicking. Kayaba spoke once more, revealing the purpose of a special item in everyone’s inventory. Suddenly, flashes of light filled the plaza as his final message hung in the air.

“It was then I stopped being the swordswoman Midori and became the weak little trans girl who only logged into this stupid game to make her quirk useful. The item we received was a Mirror of Reflection that changed our appearances to our true faces,” Izumi sighed. “Klein told me I looked cuter like that, though, and I told him I was surprised someone with his looks hadn’t already gotten a girlfriend. He appreciated my words and said it wouldn’t be manly of him to ask a little girl to risk her life for five unknown guys. And so, we parted ways—Klein to teach his friends, and me to enter Tolbana.”

“For the record, Miss Midoriya, what is your quirk?” asked Naomasa.

“System. It allows me to replicate my items and abilities from games I’ve invested over a hundred hours into. The requirements are my mind to replicate the system and my body’s nutrients to replicate the items. My stats are also boosted, like a typical enhancement quirk, to match my in-game stats, provided my body can physically handle the boost,” Izumi said with a smile. Quirks were her passion, and after two years of not being able to talk about them, it made her happy to discuss her own quirk, even briefly.

Chapter Text

“From our records, Miss Midoriya, it cost the lives of two thousand souls and a little over two months for any of you to progress in the game,” spoke the raspy voice of Toshinori Yagi, prompting her to share the next chapter of life in Aincrad.

“Yeah, it did. Illfang the Kobold Lord—a boss fight that signaled the game was beatable. It was also the first time I watched someone die, the first time I wasn’t fast enough to save a life,” Izumi said, her voice heavy with the weight of the memory. “It was also the day I became the villain to save the lives of nearly one thousand other players.”

She paused, realizing how somber her words were, and knew she needed to highlight one positive from the story. A small smile formed on her lips. “It was also the day I first partied up with Asuna, the Lightning Flash, and the Static Berserker, Chargebolt.”

Midori found herself at level 14. It had been well over two months since she’d been trapped in this game, back in the town of Tolbana. On her way to meet with the other top players to discuss how they were going to deal with the first floor boss, she found herself wearing a cloak to hide the fact that she was a teenage girl. She was well aware that her gear was among the best due to her being a beta tester and the rewards she’d received. It was also because of this that she could spot the handful of other beta players in the amphitheater, like the blue-haired boy standing in the middle as if he was the one to start the proceedings.

“LISTEN UP!” barked the blue-haired boy. “My name is Diabel, and before this game became a death game, the job I rolled is Knight.”

It was fast, and she overheard the chuckles and dismissals of his claim. Everyone knew SAO wasn’t a class system MMO; it was a skill system MMO. She’d know better than anyone—every class maxed out at the same level cap in the game: level 120. Her skills were no joke either, especially for the first floor. While she pondered these facts, she noticed the small smile on Diabel’s face, which was wiped away immediately when a spiky-haired brunet boy spoke next.

“Can I say something?” the cactus-shaped-haired man spoke. “We all know that over two thousand players have already died, right? And it’s only been two months?” He paused for dramatic effect, an action that visibly agitated Midori, a tall man of African descent, and Diabel. “Well, some of you owe them a fucking apology.”

“You’re talking about the ex-beta testers, right?” Diabel asked skillfully, hiding his agitation.

“YES I AM. TWO THOUSAND FUCKING PEOPLE DIED, AND THE BETA TESTERS FUCKED US OVER, LEAVING US TO DIE. THEY TOOK THE BEST FARMING LOCATIONS, LINED UP THE EASIEST QUESTS TO LEVEL UP, AND DIDN’T HELP A SINGLE ONE OF US OUT. I SAY THEY SHOULD HAND OVER THEIR GEAR AND COR AS REPARATIONS.”

These words struck Midori hard. She’d only logged into this game to be a better hero. It was all she wanted to do—save lives. She also helped people, or so she thought. She helped her friend Argo write a guidebook to get to floor 10 without much risk, including a detailed map of the first floor, explaining the best farming locations in the beta, and noting the changes to the floor. The locations and rewards of every single quest she remembered—something she wasn’t alone in. She knew her fellow beta testers—Argo, Diabel, Scintiller, Joker, Hawks, Midnight, Edgeshot, and Ingenium—all contributed to the guidebook. Hell, she could see the four known pro-heroes and two blondes her age in attendance.

Before anyone could speak out in protest to Kibaou’s claims, a large, muscular man of African descent decided to speak up.

“Kibaou, was it? The name’s Agil. Let me tell you something: first, some of the beta testers you’re talking about are pro heroes. And there are a whole lot of them who handed out these...” He held up a small brown-covered booklet. “These are guides to survive and swiftly level up through the first ten floors, written by the beta testers. They hand them out for free at any item shop here on the first floor. We are all armed with the full information from the beta testers, with four of them being highly popular and trusted pro heroes. Instead of pointing fingers at the beta testers, we should learn from the lives lost and sit down to listen to the players who are hosting this meeting, to defeat this boss.”

“Well, first, everyone party up into teams of six before we continue our strategy,” Diabel said calmly.

Izumi quickly realized that the other beta testers, excluding Diabel, teamed up with a Twilight hero who was also trapped in this game, by the name of Ms. Joke. Knowing she wouldn’t be with them, she looked around for another person or two to team up with. There, she found another cloaked girl and scooted toward her.

“You can’t find anyone either?” she asked hopefully.

“It’s not like that. They all just look like they’re already friends,” spoke the mysterious girl.

“Yeah, I get that. I’m usually a solo player, so I don’t really know anyone, and it looks like the heroes already got two others with them. So, I figured maybe we could—” She was instantly cut off by a boy throwing his arms around herself and the mystery girl.

“Hey, ladies, I couldn’t help but notice you’re not in a party. Why don’t you party with yours truly? Name’s Chargebolt. I’m sure we’ll get along well, even if it’s just for one time,” spoke a blonde boy around Izumi’s age, with a black lightning bolt streak in his hair and golden eyes.

[Player Midori Lvl 14 has sent Player Chargebolt Lvl 11 a party invite] y/n
[Player Midori Lvl 14 has sent Player Asuna Lvl 10 a party invite] y/n

These invites appeared before both players' faces. Before the boy could pitch his worth to her any further, the two players swiftly accepted.

“Chargebolt and Asuna,” Midori muttered.

“These fellow beta testers, to confirm the attendance, answer honestly if you know their real names,” asked the plain-looking detective.

“Yes, I do—all but Diabel, for obvious reasons,” replied Izumi solemnly. “They all became my friends for what I would do later that day when he died.” She paused to collect herself as tears fell from her eyes. “Carina Hosaka Tomo, Yuuga Aoyama, Neito Monama, Keigo Takami, Nemuri Kayama, Shin’ya Kamihara, Tensei Iida, Natsuo Todoroki, and Izumi Midoriya. Those are the only surviving beta testers of Sword Art Online.”

“Truth,” spoke Detective Tsukauchi on impulse, an impulse that caused Toshinori Yagi to cough a small amount of blood in anger. There were nearly a thousand beta testers; not even ten of them survived.

“Please, Ms. Midoriya, continue your story,” spoke the raspy voice of Toshinori. “I would like to know the way you became a villain after the speech you said Mr. Mills gave.”

Tsukauchi quickly took note of the confusion on the young girl’s face. “Andrew Gilbert Mills. You knew him as Agil.”

“Well, it was during the boss fight against Illfang. I noticed something and was quick to call it out…” Izumi started, ready to tell the story of how Diabel died.

“HIS HEALTH IS IN THE RED, STAND BACK EVERYONE I GOT IT,” Diabel shouted as he rushed at the boss.

“Shit, kid! Wait, that isn't the plan!” called out Midnight in distress, wishing she had her quirk at this moment.

“Dammit, kid! The last attack bonus isn’t worth your life!” called out the voice of Ingenium. He also wished he was a little faster and would be kicking his own ass for this in the future.

It was then Izumi, the damn nerd that she was, noticed the boss's weapon had changed. “DIABEL, WAIT, THAT'S NOT A TALWAR, THAT'S A NODACHI!!!” she screamed out. However, it was too late. Diabel was hit, and hit hard. He was flung nearby the green-haired trans girl. A thing she took full advantage of. “Chargebolt, cover me!” she shouted before she tried to pull a healing potion to force down the bluenette’s throat to save him.

“No, it’s not worth it,” Diabel said, stopping her.

“What do you mean it’s not worth it?” Izumi said nearly hysterical.

“Midori, you need to lead them. These people, they hate us for being in the beta. It was probably Kayaba’s design. I can’t… I can’t do it. I can’t be hated for things out of my control again.” He coughed a bit. “I had a villainous quirk, ya know? My quirk made people instinctively trust me. I learned how to be extremely manipulative with it. I was… I was gonna apply for UA, as my university, but Kayaba broke me. Please, save everyone, Midori.” His final words stuck the green-haired girl as he shattered like glass in her arms.

“I want to be a hero too, Diabel,” she whispered. As Chargebolt and Asuna came to her side, she spoke, “Let’s do this.” In unison with her teammates, the three said one word: “Together.”

She was first to move as she rushed the boss, parrying Illfang’s destructive strike with her Anneal blade. “SWITCH!” she screamed out. Before Asuna came in with a few devastating stabs with her rapier, only to have her cloak ruined by barely dodging the boss’s attempt at retaliation.

It was then Chargebolt called out, “Switch!” as he jumped in to deal a few strikes, staggering the boss before he was hit hard, unable to dodge or call out for Midori to take aggro off him with a switch. He was only caught by another blond man with a relaxed grin on his face.

“Nice job, kid,” Hawks said after catching Chargebolt. Before anyone could get their bearings, however, Midori caught the boss in a deep slashing attack, followed by an uppercutting slash to make a solid V shape in the boss, flinging it into the air, causing the boss to shatter into glass-like pixels, and a large congratulations to appear.

[Congratulations, players. Illfang the Kobold Lord has been defeated. Level 2 is now accessible.]

Midori, however, was looking at a different screen as everyone was cheering.

[Last attack bonus: Cloak of Midnight.]

“STOP FUCKING CHEERING!” screamed the scratchy voice of Kibaou. He was then satisfied when the voices calmed down. “Diabel died and no one else cares, huh? Why did you do it? HUH?” he pointed at Midori. “Why did you let Diabel die? You knew what the boss was going to do. I heard you tell him to stop, then you sat there and gloated to his face as he died.”

Amongst the crowd, there were calls of outing her as a beta tester, claiming that’s why she knew. Midori had Diabel’s final words running through her head as Agil and the pros tried to calm down the crowd of angry players before they rioted and tried to kill the beta testers. Then the girl herself began laughing evilly, trying to mimic every villain she’d seen on the news and in shows. She knew her role. If everyone hated her more than the other beta testers—hated her more than the pros that she couldn’t let die...

“You’re right. I knew what the boss was going to do. But don’t compare me to the fucking noobs. I knew what the boss was going to do because in the beta, I went to floors higher than any of the other beta testers. Hell, the pro heroes couldn’t hold a candle to the floors I reached. I knew what the boss did because I’ve seen regular mobs that had more complex patterns than Illfang and fought bosses with dozens more skills than it had.” She paused, equipping the [Cloak of Midnight]. “I’d shower you with the praise you deserve, however. You guys served as an adequate meat shield for me, soaking up some of the damage so I could easily take out the damn thing when it was in cooldown.” She turned from the crowd to hide her own tears at her cruelty. Something Midnight, Agil, Chargebolt, Asuna, and Ingenium alone noticed.

“She’s not just a fucking beta tester, she’s a goddamn cheater,” one player called out.

“She’s a beta tester and a cheater. She’s a goddamn beater,” another player called out. It was a ridiculous fusion slur they made up on the spot, but Midori knew what to do with it. Continuing her villainous chuckle, she spoke out, hiding the tears with her acting, “A beater, huh?” She put a hand to her face to wipe her tears, but with her back turned to the rest, it looked like she was pondering the name. “Yeah, I like it. You can call me a beater, just don’t confuse me with those regular beta testers,” she said, turning around, hiding her eyes with her hair and plastering a manic grin on her face, swiping her arms out wide like she was welcoming the hatred. “When a single one of you reaches my level, then you can choose to challenge me for my knowledge. Just know I was the sole player to make it to the levels I did. Knowledge I refuse to share to simply make my life too valuable to any of you crazy enough to think killing me is worth it.” With those parting words, she took her leave to go to the second floor.

When she made it to the door, she was followed by the pros, Agil, and four teenagers.

“In this game, playing solo can only get you so far. If you ever find the day someone you can trust invites you to a guild, then don’t hesitate to join them. All of you are good and can go far,” she spoke out to the group that followed her.

“So just like that, huh? Play the villain and walk away? And what, not gonna follow your own advice then, right? You just made yourself Public Enemy Number One. No one’s gonna trust you after this,” spoke out the voice of the Smile Hero, Emi Fukukado, or Ms. Joke.

“All of you are safe and don’t need a connection to me,” Midori said, keeping her back to them so none of them could see she was crying.

“Why do it?” asked Chargebolt.

“I always wanted to be a hero, Chargebolt. So if I could keep the other beta testers safe by being the one they all hate, then why not? It’s not like I lied. Floor ten is the highest any beta tester made it, a record set by myself solo. I saved the heroes, the real ones. Everyone knows Midnight and Hawks were in the beta, Kayaba used that as marketing for the game.” With that, she opened the menu to dissolve the party and walk away from the group she had just left dumbstruck. Only noticing afterward, each and every one of them sent her a friend request, something she instantly accepted.

Toshinori bowed his head upon hearing her story. “Young Midoriya, if these words have not been yet spoken to you, allow me to be the first to say this on behalf of the Pro Hero community: You can, in fact, be a hero. No, you already are one. I know your story has only just begun, but this alone made you a true hero.”

“Thank you, Yagi-san.”

“Ms. Midoriya, do you know the names of the players you allied with at that time as well?” asked the detective.

“My best friend Denki Kaminari, and my girlfriend Asuna Yuuki. However, we were married in the game.”

Chapter Text

Before Izumi could begin this next story, a story that hurt her heart more than anything else, the group was interrupted by a gentle knock at her door. A petite, green-haired nurse entered, pushing in a roommate for the young trans girl. It was a malnourished chestnut-haired woman who was merely a year older than Izumi. The nurse was followed by a white-haired teenage girl, who stood at the same height as Izumi—if she were capable of standing. The sight of all of them made Izumi brighten up with joy.

"Mom, Rikku, and..." Izumi was cut off by a choked sob. Seeing her fellow bedridden woman being pushed in by her mother made it all real. They did it. They escaped the death game. "Asuna."

The names of the women caused the protest the detective and undercover pro-hero had die on their lips. How could they? These women were Izumi’s family. If anyone had a right to know her story, it was them. The other patient, however, was another survivor, one that Izumi had claimed as her lover only minutes ago. Yagi, however, couldn’t stay completely quiet and had to make sure.

"Midoriya-shoujo, I assume that you are fine with these women hearing the rest of your account?" he asked gently.

"Yes, Yagi-san. They can stay. Please?" spoke the trans girl.

"Well, on another note, the hospital records noted that in mid-July of the first year, shortly after your own sixteenth birthday, your heart rate accelerated in a way akin to how it would during a boss fight. However, our recordings of in-game events showed that no attempt was made around that time. Would you care to elaborate?" asked the detective, trying to press the story of her life in Aincrad a little further. He wasn’t blind to the concerned look Ms. Yuuki gave Midoriya.

"Would it surprise you to know that falling in love with Asuna wasn’t how I figured out I was gay?" she asked. But before anyone could question her, she continued, "It was in April, on the Eleventh floor, that I joined a guild for the first time. There, I met two women I was hopelessly attracted to."

"Three cheers to Midori! The woman that saved our lives!" spoke out a short brown-haired man with deep brown eyes. He was dressed in light, brown clothing with a metal chestguard, metal shoulder armor on both shoulders, metal bracers on both arms, wearing fingerless gloves, and a beige pair of pants. Around him was a petite girl with shoulder-length black hair and a small mole just under the corner of her right eye. She wore a light blue tunic with a chestguard, a knee-length short skirt, and gray boots. A short girl with a curvy yet slender figure, with auburn bob-cut hair and hazel eyes, had a rounded face with a permanent blush on her cheeks. She was dressed in a black tunic with a black skirt, long black boots with pink accents, and a pink cloak. A boy with brown curly hair and green eyes wore light, green clothing with light metal armor plates on his chest and his left shoulder, brown leather gauntlets, dark boots, and a blue cap. Finishing off the group was a taller teenage boy wearing black plate armor for his chest and shoulders over a lavender leather tunic, black plate gauntlets, and black slacks with black boots.

Midori couldn’t have felt more out of place. These players were all wearing the standard theme for the average mid-levels, while she was decked out in a black cloak with toxic green accents and a golden crescent moon symbol over her heart. She wore a black shirt and a matching black skirt, both with toxic green accents, along with a pair of black thigh-high boots that had the same toxic green soles.

"This is unnecessary, guys. All I did was steal some kills. I didn’t even notice you guys were there until I had managed to finish off most of the mobs you were fighting."

"Miss Midori, can we ask you a question?" asked Keita, the brown-haired man dressed in gear of his hair color.

"I’d prefer you didn’t... but I can see you going ahead with it anyway," Midori responded dejectedly.

"What level are you?!" shouted the auburn-haired girl.

"Level twenty," Midori lied as easily as she breathed, glancing at her HUD to see her level 40 status. She knew that revealing her true level would get her ostracized. Everyone knew of the Beater at this point—the one-handed swordswoman dressed in black who played solo on the front lines. Despite her decision to shoulder the hatred of the entire server, Izumi was lonely and desperate to make real connections, outside of a select few other members of the assault team. She couldn’t be caught talking to most of them outside of raid meetings. Maybe she could help these players level up a little before she had to rejoin the front lines, and since this was a game, she could cut back on her sleep and grind solo when she wasn’t helping them to keep up with the assault team’s levels. Her only saving grace was that her player profile was set to private, which would also hide her level from anyone who wasn’t directly looking at her menu when she had it open.

"Wow! Solo, and you are the same level as all of us. That's amazing! Get this: Uravity wants to join the assault team someday, 'cause she wants to be a hero. She thinks that getting close with Midnight in the game will help her get into U.A. when we all get out of here. So why don’t you run with us so we can level up a little faster to get to their levels?" Keita said while discreetly sending the green-haired girl a guild invite, hoping he could keep her attention and make it seem like a simple party invite.

[You have been invited to join the Moonlight Black Cats. Y/N]

"Without even knowing it, I had accepted their guild invite. It was a mistake that I regret to this day. If I hadn’t lied, if I hadn’t accepted it... Maybe, just maybe, they would have actually lived." Izumi said solemnly. "My hubris killed them. Their blood is on my hands and mine alone."

"Izumi?" Asuna muttered with concern in her voice.

"Baby, no!" Inko, the nurse, gasped.

"Fuck no. You aren’t allowed to think like that, big sis. You are my awesome big hero sister, not a murderer. You didn’t kill them!" Rikku blurted in anger.

"Ri-chan," Izumi said, trying not to cry. To stop herself from getting too emotional at her sister, she decided to crack a joke. "You sound like Kacchan."

"We’re getting off track, Midoriya-san," spoke the detective. "Please tell us more about your time with the Moonlit Black Cats."

"Let me first tell the story of how I became close to Uravity and Sachi."

It was now midway through May, and Midori had ventured out for a late-night grind on one of the higher floors. There, she encountered seven samurai, but only two of them bothered to communicate with her.

“MIDORI, IS THAT YOU?!” shouted a rugged-looking samurai, his red bandana tied around his forehead like a headband.

“What are you doing out this late, Midori-chan? Some late-night grinding?” spoke a smooth voice from a  raven-haired boy, about her age, with ruby-red eyes and a scar over his left eye. Dressed head to toe in the Guild’s signature red armor, carrying a Tedate and Wakizashi, he was Fuurinkazan’s designated tank, Crimson.

“You could say that, Crimson-san,” Midori replied with a tired smile. “And hello, Klein-san. I was just... soul-searching.”

“GUYS, THE REST OF THE MOBS ARE ALL YOURS! EI AND I ARE GONNA TALK WITH A FRIEND!” Klein called out to the rest of the group, who quickly obeyed the order and continued their task.

“So, what’s up, Izu?” Klein asked gently.

“I think... I may have a crush,” she said, her voice quiet as she glanced at Klein, noticing he'd switched to using real names again. It had become a subtle mark of trust among some members of the assault team. Those who trusted one another started using their real names in private—reminders of the reasons they fought.

“Oh-ho! So who’s the lucky guy, Izumi?” Eijiro Kirishima, or Crimson as he was known in the game, asked teasingly. “C’mon, you know I have someone waiting for me on the other side, right?”

“Eiji… Her name is Uravity. She doesn’t know about my title,” Midori said, her voice tinged with uncertainty. “She’s our age and wants to bring the Moonlit Black Cats into the assault team.”

Midori shifted uneasily. “I came out here to think, and because I knew I might find you two to talk about this. I didn’t know I was gay until she convinced me not to leave her guild after her Guild leader tricked me into joining. They think I’m a solo Middie, like them.”

“Izu, you can’t keep lying to them like this. Not if you really have feelings for her,” Klein said softly, his voice firm but understanding.

“I can’t tell them, Ryo,” Midori replied, her shoulders slumping. “I’m the Beater. You know my reputation. No one trusts me, and they don’t know the Beater of the Frontlines—they know Midori, the Solo Swordswoman.”

She looked down, fighting back the flood of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. “How do I reject my own feelings before she rejects me for being both a trans girl... and the Beater of SAO?”

“You manage,” Klein said, his voice soft but grounded. “Rejection hurts, girl, but it’s normal. You owe it to yourself—and to her—to at least try. Remember what I told you on day one?”

Midori nodded slowly, remembering the words Klein had spoken when they first met. Words that, at the time, had felt almost impossible to accept. But now, standing there, with the weight of her emotions laid bare, they made sense.

“Yeah, I do…” Midori said, her voice a little stronger now, a faint flicker of determination in her eyes. “I’ll try. I promise. Thanks, guys.”

Eijiro gave her an encouraging smile, while Klein clapped her on the back, a wide grin spreading across his face.

“That’s the spirit!” Klein said. “Now go get ‘em, Midori. You’ve got this.”

As the two samurai returned to deal with the trash mobs, Midori remained standing for a moment, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, staring into the quiet expanse of the moonlit castle. The soft breeze tugged at her hair, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a sense of clarity. She wasn’t running anymore. She was facing what she had been avoiding—both the fears within herself and the uncertainty of the world around her.

Her fingers tightened around the grip of her sword—not out of fear, but out of resolve. She was ready to face the unknown, no matter the outcome.

“It was that same night, after I accepted that I found Uravity attractive, that I became close to them,” Midori said, a sad smile tugging at her lips.

“I always wanted to ask—what happened that night to open your heart?” Asuna asked softly, knowing that talking about this story was deeply painful for her girlfriend. Still, she wanted to understand what the deceased girls had done to break through Midori’s shell and help her overcome her loner attitude.

“I don’t understand. Izumi’s always been a sweet, caring girl. I don’t know what you mean by ‘open her heart,’” Inko interrupted, looking at Asuna with confusion etched on her face.

“Not after the whole Beater thing,” Asuna said bitterly, her voice hardening. “She was always distant from the assault team. The only people who knew her real name were me, Klein, Crimson, the surviving beta testers, and our personal blacksmith.” Asuna’s gaze turned directly to Inko, emphasizing her point.

Izumi nodded slowly, the weight of the past pulling at her. “It was the conversation we had under the bridge… where the only lie I told was when I acted like my solo player status was due to my original reason for wanting to play solo, before becoming the Black Swordswoman...” Izumi trailed off, her voice growing distant as the memory resurfaced.

After four hours of searching, Midori and Uravity finally found Sachi under a bridge in the town they were currently using as a base for the Black Cats.

A name was exclaimed, a name that after so long, Izumi couldn’t quite recall. “I was so worried, Midori and I looked everywhere,” Uravity said, relief evident in her voice.

“I’m sorry, ______,” Sachi mumbled, her voice thick with emotion as she embraced her friend. The sight made Midori’s heart ache—her little crush on Uravity made the tenderness between the two girls almost unbearable.

“So, Princess, mind telling us what happened?” Midori asked, sitting down roughly three meters away, clutching one of her knees.

“I never wanted to leave the Town of Beginnings,” Sachi whispered, her voice breaking. “I’m scared I’m holding everyone back.”

“Don’t talk like that,” Uravity said softly, pulling away from the hug to look Sachi in the eye. Sachi blushed deeply, flicking a glance at Midori.

“Dammit, I don’t know how to mock that,” Midori muttered, trying to break the tension between the two girls. But the truth was, she wasn’t entirely joking. She felt her heart twist at the thought of Uravity and Sachi being so close—if the cute ravenette’s blush meant anything, they were probably already dating.

“Why the hell would you wanna mock her, Midori?” Uravity snapped, her Kansai accent slipping out in her anger.

“Sorry, sorry,” Midori apologized quickly. “It’s just an impulse of mine to crack jokes to avoid deeper subjects. I’m not great with feelings and dealing with other people…” She trailed off, trying not to think too hard about how adorable Uravity sounded when she spoke in that accent.

Sachi raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. “Why would you have that kind of impulse?”

“Do you think your friendship level with me is high enough to unlock my tragic backstory?” Midori joked with a playful smirk.

“Would it raise it high enough if we opened up to you?” Uravity said thoughtfully, her eyes fixed on Midori as if weighing her response.

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt,” Midori replied with a shrug, though inside, her heart raced with nerves. She wasn’t sure how much to reveal, but it felt right to start being open with them.

Uravity took a deep breath and began her story. “I’m the reason Sachi and the rest of the Moonlit Black Cats even logged into this game.” She sat against the wall between the two girls, her gaze distant. “I never could’ve afforded this game. My family isn’t that well off, you know?” She paused for a moment before continuing, catching the look in Midori’s eyes. “I won a sweepstakes sponsored by the Yaoyorozu Conglomerate… you know, one of SAO’s biggest financial backers. It was a free NerveGear and a free copy of the game. I would’ve been in the Beta if I didn’t live in Mia, but the package took forever to arrive. Well, this convinced my classmates to check out the game with me. And that’s the real reason I wanted to join the assault team—I want to get them out of here.”

Uravity finished, glancing at Midori to see if she was ready to share. Midori could feel the weight of Uravity’s words settle between them.

Sachi spoke softly, almost whispering. “Like I said, I never wanted to leave the Town of Beginnings. I just wanted to trust that the Beater could live up to what his name sounds like and beat this game. I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to my friends while I stayed safe in the safe zone. That’s the only reason I’m out here fighting.” She closed her eyes and looked down, tears threatening to spill. “I’m scared to die, Midori.”

Midori sighed, feeling the weight of her own secret pressing on her. She knew the girls had started using each other’s real names, and she wanted to take the risk with them, to be vulnerable. “Izumi,” she said, her voice steady despite the flutter in her chest. Noticing their confused looks, she quickly amended, “That’s my name. I have friends on the assault team. One of them told me that the assault team members all revealed their real names to each other. They promised that if anything happened, they’d visit each other’s graves when we get out of here.”

She paused, taking a breath before continuing. “So… that’s my name. Though, it’s possible that information might not even be on my headstone.”

The silence hung for a moment, and Midori gathered her courage. “My dead name was Izuku Midoriya. I started transitioning a year before I logged into this game. Unless my mom gave them the okay to work on my body while we’re logged in, then I missed an important surgery. I hadn’t gotten it yet when I logged in, but it didn’t transfer over with the Mirror of Reflection.” She closed her eyes again, the weight of the words she was saying sinking in. “I logged into SAO for selfish reasons. My quirk allows me to use the abilities from games I play a lot. one of the reasons I logged in was because my childhood friend turned bully told me my quirk was useless. I wanted to show him that I could be strong.” She swallowed, the emotion tightening her throat. “I figured if I got strong in SAO, I could be a hero.”

Midori hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell a half-truth. “It’s part of why I play solo. I’m afraid I don’t pass well enough. I’m scared that as soon as someone realizes it, they’ll kill me.” A small tear fell from her virtual eye, and she blinked it away, hoping it made her words seem more genuine. She wasn’t lying to the girls—just hiding part of the truth about being the Beater.

“You’re beautiful, Midori,” both girls said at the same time, their voices sincere and warm.

The three of them shared a moment of laughter, the tension finally breaking.

“I guess we’re all a little messed up, huh, Midori?” Sachi asked, her voice light.

“Yeah,” Midori replied, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “I guess we are.”

“I would regret opening up to them two months later… when my hubris killed them.” Izumi said, her voice trembling, tears staining her gaunt face. She paused to cough from the emotional strain, her body exhausted from speaking for so long.

“Onee-chan!” Rikku exclaimed, her voice filled with concern. With a flick of her hand, she telekinetically brought a glass of water to her sister’s lips, coaxing her to drink.

Izumi allowed herself a small, involuntary smile before taking a long sip from the glass. “You’ve gotten better with your quirk, huh, Riichan?” she remarked, the now empty glass gently pulled away from her by Rikku’s telekinetic powers.

Before Rikku could boast about her progress, the Undercover Number One Hero interjected, his voice soft but insistent. “Forgive me, Izumi-shoujo,” he said, using her given name now, as there were two young Midoriya women in the room. He struggled to push aside the ache in his chest as he looked at Rikku, who resembled his nemesis. “I would really like to know about the incident you keep referring to. How did the Moonlit Black Cats die?”

Izumi’s face darkened as the memory resurfaced, and she took a deep breath before speaking. “It was a week after my birthday. They wanted to celebrate reaching level thirty, and they had enough coins to buy a guildhall while Keita was out.” She paused, her voice faltering. “If they had known I was at level fifty-three, maybe I could have convinced them that the dungeon on the twenty-seventh floor was too dangerous.”

Midori was deeply concerned about the actions taking place on the twenty-seventh floor. She knew that they weren’t equipped to handle this dungeon if they ventured too far. Uravity’s trap detection skill wasn’t high enough to warn her of any spawning traps if they encountered one. Her fears were realized when the party rushed into a treasure room and immediately tried to open the chest inside. Rooms like this were rarely straightforward—typically, opening the chest would trigger a mini-boss or a horde of enemies. She just hoped they kept her warning in mind and had teleport crystals ready. Otherwise, she wasn’t sure any of them would make it out alive. Unfortunately, she was proven right when the room flashed red.

“TELEPORT OUT NOW! IT’S A SPAWN TRAP!!” Midori screamed, her voice heavy with authority, desperate to make them understand this was an order, not just a warning.

“Teleport… Taft!” Uravity called out, but nothing happened. “They’re not working!” the pink-themed, auburn-haired rogue said, panic rising in her voice.

“Damnit!” Midori cursed, her heart rate accelerating. She knew she couldn’t save them all in time. She rushed forward, taking several hits to protect Uravity and Sachi. But when she looked up, her worst fear was realized. Sasamaru, the green-clad lancer, shattered into glass. Before she could recover from the hits, she saw the purple and black-armored tank meet the same fate. He was gone too. That left only the girls for her to protect—and unfortunately, she was already running toward the tank, meaning she was now separated from Sachi and Uravity.

Midori did something she’d never truly done for these new friends of hers—she activated her sword skills. A single use of [Slant] per dwarf cleared her path. As she fought her way back toward the others, the worst nightmare of her life unfolded.

“Thank you for everything, Izumi… Goodbye, I’m dead…” Sachi’s words hit her like a freight train, the pounding in Midori’s ears drowning out their meaning. In a split second, Midori’s heart shattered. The scream that tore from her throat was blood-curdling, and her normally emerald green eyes flashed crimson with rage. As Sachi burst into green pixelated shattered glass.

She tore through the dwarfs, killing them left and right, all in a desperate attempt to reach her crush. She couldn’t let Uravity die too. She couldn’t lose the first person she had fallen in love with.

Just as Izumi neared Uravity, who was holding her own against the dwarfs—having killed her fifth one since they were separated—she turned to meet Izumi’s gaze. Only inches away from her, Midori’s heart shattered again as Uravity’s final words echoed in her mind.

“I love you, Izumi Midoriya… This was not your fault. Don’t forget me, okay?”

With that, Uravity shattered into green pixelated glass.

Izumi froze, her mind unable to process what had just happened. In that moment, she truly saw red.

“Not a single dwarf survived that,” Izumi said, her voice breaking as tears streamed down her face.

“You said the Moonlit Black Cats all died that day, but in your story, Keita was not present,” Asuna pointed out gently, her concern growing.

Izumi’s sobs became more audible, and her voice grew softer, as though speaking the name caused more pain than she could bear. “He did the same thing I was told to do the day before I logged into Sword Art Online,” she murmured with the most broken voice anyone other than Asuna had ever heard from her lips.

There was a long pause, and Izumi’s body shook with emotion before she spoke again, barely above a whisper. “Took a swan dive off the edge of the floor.”

Chapter Text

"Hey, Midori, I know this might sound dumb, but... how did we survive?" Asuna asked, her thoughts drifting to the question she hadn’t dared to voice until now.

"I have a theory," Izumi replied, a thoughtful, almost curious expression crossing her face. "And honestly, it ties back to the story of losing Sachi and Uravity. It’s about the revival item. "

The mere mention of the item caused Toshinori Yagi to suddenly break into a violent coughing fit, expelling far more blood than anyone could consider remotely healthy. Everyone turned to him, concern etched into their faces.

After a few agonizing moments, Toshinori finally managed to steady himself, waving off their worried stares. "Ah, don’t mind me," he said hoarsely, his voice straining. "An old wound from a villain—back before my retirement and my time at Might Agency. I lost half a lung in the fight. If I get too shocked or cough too hard, well... this happens. Nothing to worry about. Please, young Izumi, continue your story."

Izumi hesitated for a moment, then nodded, her gaze shifting to the floor as she began. "The revival item had a short activation window. You had to use it within ten seconds—before the NerveGear could fry their brain..." She paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Let me tell you how I got my hands on it."

It was now Christmas eve, and the Shattered heart of Izumi Midoriya had yet to begin to recover, and she was only resting on a bench because she planned to meet up with Argo for the information on the event happening tonight. 

"Heh, heard someone’s been gettin’ a little too cozy with danger while grindin’ levels, huh?" Argo smirked mischievously, leaning up against the back of the bench Midori was sitting on. "Oi, keep this up, Izu-chan, and I’ll be makin’ bank sellin’ the scoop on how the famous Beater went and got herself wiped!" Argo chuckled, waving her hand flippantly  "C’mon, don’t make it too easy for me, yeah? I might lov’ info, but I’d hate to lose my best source!"

“Speaking of Info Tomo-chan. What do you have for me?” Izumi asked trying to match Argo’s playful teasing. Choosing to ignore how actually concerned she is 

"Eh, nothin’ worth slappin’ a price tag on this time, Izu-chan," Argo said with a shrug and a sly grin.

“You Give Info-Brokers a bad name.” Izumi said trying to mask her own shattered heart with a bit of playful banter. 

"What d’ya expect from me, huh? Ain’t like it was back in the Beta," Argo said, crossing her arms with a teasing smirk. "The story goes, the raid boss is gonna pop up at some random pine tree on this floor. But ya know what, Izu-chan? I got this sneaky little feeling—you’ve got an idea where that special pine tree is, don’tcha?"

“Yeah” Midori pulls out a small bag of cor. “I’ll give you this to keep it private, Ten K cor good for you?” After passing the coin bag to argo she Got up and began walking towards it. 

"You ain’t plannin’ to go solo on this one, are ya?!" Argo’s voice rose, a mix of frustration and worry cracking through her usual sass. She spun around, narrowing her eyes as she watched Izumi start to walk away. "Oi, don’t you dare turn your back on me, Izu-chan! Hey— don’t walk away! We’re not done talkin’!"

“ YOU FOUGHT AN EVENT BOSS SOLO?! ” shouted the concerned voices of Asuna, Rikku, Inko, and Toshinori in near unison, their shock echoing through the room.

Izumi’s face darkened, her eyes hollow and distant as she responded, “I didn’t care about my life at the time, guys. All I wanted was to revive Uravity—just to hear her tell me she hated me one last time.” Her voice wavered, carrying the weight of her guilt. “No one knew the limitations of the revival item back then.”

Inko’s hands trembled, and her voice cracked as she asked, “You didn’t care about coming home to us, did you, baby?” Her heart felt like it was splitting in two, hearing just how broken her daughter had been only eleven months ago.

Izumi exhaled shakily, her expression tightening with self-recrimination. “No... I didn’t. I still blame myself for their deaths.” She paused, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I missed her. I wasn’t thinking about how her brain was already long gone by the time I used the item. Around that time... I forgot the real world even existed. It wasn’t until some time later that I realized it didn’t matter if I lived to see the end of the game or not. I felt like my life was already over.”

She glanced down, her gaunt face etched with sadness. “And even now, I might spend the rest of my life in jail for what happened in Sword Art Online.”

Detective Tsukauchi, standing quietly in the corner until now, spoke with a calm yet firm voice. “You don’t have to worry about that. Chief Tsuragamae has already ruled that any SAO survivor who agrees to a full and truthful interview with me will be pardoned for any actions they took while inside the game.”

Rikku tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her eyes. “Excuse me, Mister Police Officer Sir?” she asked inquisitively, her tone more serious than usual. “How do you know Onee-chan hasn’t lied to you yet?”

The detective smiled faintly, his tone professional yet approachable. “My quirk is called Human Lie Detector . As long as the person fully believes what they’re saying, my quirk will determine their words as truthful.”

Rikku nodded thoughtfully, but Izumi seemed far away now, her gaze unfocused.

She spoke softly, almost to herself, “Kayaba somehow made a boss that could destroy any kid’s belief in Santa Claus...” Her voice trailed off, but then she straightened slightly, her face haunted as she continued her story.

Midori’s meeting with Argo ended just in time for her to reach the area where the instanced forest with the massive pine tree was located—right before the boss would spawn.

"Hey, Midori!" A voice called out, and Klein appeared, his guild following closely behind.

"Klein," Izumi replied softly, just loud enough for him to hear, even though he was still a few meters away.

"I know why you’re doing this," Klein said, his tone sincere and full of concern. "We’re all in this for the revival item. We’ve all lost someone, and we all want to know if it’s true." He paused, his voice catching slightly. "You’re not alone in this, Midori. I know you’ve been hurting since the guild... since everything that happened. But you’ve grown with us. We’re here for you."

Izumi’s expression remained unreadable as she glanced at him, her voice cold and detached. "I’m not here for you, Klein."

He stepped forward, his hands gripping his sword tightly. "Why don’t you fight with us? We have a rule—the player who lands the last blow gets the bonus drop. You can still be a part of this, Midori."

Izumi turned her gaze away from him, the coldness in her voice almost cutting through the air. "If you get it, then it wasn’t worth it."

Klein’s eyes widened with frustration and fear, his voice breaking as he shouted, "AND IF YOU GO SOLO, IT’S SUICIDE!"

Izumi’s eyes hardened, her voice steady but filled with a chilling resolve. "If I die, then everyone is free from the Beater. My family gets closure. It’s not like I deserve anything less than death."

The air seemed to thicken with tension as the group was suddenly surrounded in a half-circle by the Aincrad Liberation Army—Kibaou’s guild. The standoff was interrupted as Fuurinkazen began to engage with them for demanding the revival item for themselves.

Izumi, however, ignored the conflict entirely. Without so much as a glance, she turned her back to the chaos and walked toward the massive pine tree, her steps purposeful.

No sooner had Izumi stepped out of the sight of the other players, the sounds of their frantic fighting growing more and more distant, than a sleigh appeared overhead, gliding slowly and eerily above the massive pine tree. The world seemed to still—an unnatural silence descended, as though the very air was holding its breath.

And then—a cackle.

It rang out like a sickening laugh from the depths of madness, a sound so intense it seemed to shake the very foundation of Aincrad. The walls of the 37th Floor reverberated with the haunting resonance of the laugh, rattling the digital bones of every player on the floor. The ground beneath Izumi’s boots trembled slightly, and the ominous echo gnawed at her nerves. The laughter, cold and filled with malice, seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once, rattling through her like an electric jolt.

But no one was more affected by it than Izumi.

The wind picked up, howling through the forest, yet she stood frozen, her focus unyielding. The Blade of Frost-Steel gleamed in her hand, its cold aura matching the chill creeping into her bones. Her fingers tightened around the hilt, nails digging into the worn leather as though the sword itself was her lifeline.

Her black trench coat, fur-lined and toxic green, snapped in the wind, its edge brushing against her legs, but she barely felt it. The sleeves of her coat billowed, caught by the gusts, but her posture remained unshaken, her eyes locked on the enormous form that had begun to materialize before her. The tree under which she stood—seemingly so peaceful a moment ago—now felt like an ominous marker, framing the monster that loomed ahead.

Her punk black pleated skirt fluttered in the air, toxic green belts hanging loosely but heavy with the weight of her decision. Long, knee-high boots with toxic green laces crunched into the snow, each step more purposeful than the last. Yet with each step forward, her mind churned.

“Was this really the only way?”

The boss’s presence filled the space around her, its towering form casting a long, dark shadow across the ground. Its health bars materialized above it, each one a cold reminder of the fight ahead. The sheer size and power of the creature were enough to make even the bravest hesitate. But Izumi felt no hesitation. Instead, the anticipation twisted in her gut like a coil, tight and uncomfortable. This was it.

“Either I die here, she thought, her heart hammering in her chest, or I’ll finally know if bringing Uravity back is possible. If she’ll speak to me again…”

The air thickened with tension, a tangible weight pressing against her chest. Her breath came in shallow gasps, her pulse loud in her ears. The ground beneath her feet seemed to tremble once more, the vibrations spreading through her boots, rattling her bones.

She wasn’t ready. She knew it. But there was no turning back now.

Her hands shook slightly, but only for a moment. She steadied herself, raising the blade. The sleek, cold steel shimmered in the dim light, reflecting the haunting glow of the boss’s health bars. The wind howled louder, carrying with it the sense that the world was about to shift. The sleigh above the tree seemed to vanish as quickly as it had come, its presence nothing more than a fleeting echo. The focus now was on the creature before her, the looming test of fate.

“One chance. One battle. One way to find out..”.

The silence was broken by the sound of the boss’s roar—a guttural, bone-chilling sound that echoed through the entire forest. Izumi’s heart leaped in her chest as her body instinctively braced for the attack. Every muscle, every nerve screamed to act, but still, she stood, locked in place.

“It’s now or never.”

She took a deep breath, feeling the cold air cut through her lungs. Her mind was focused, her senses sharpened. The world had become a blur of shadows and light, her blade the only constant in her hands. The wind whipped through her hair, but she didn’t flinch. She wouldn’t.

Izumi wasn’t just fighting for herself. She was fighting for a chance at something that had haunted her every waking moment—the chance to bring Uravity back. And if she died here... at least the others would be free of her.

Midori’s eyes never left the monstrosity before her [ Nicholas: The Renegade .] He loomed like a grotesque mockery of Saint Nicholas, a towering, frozen nightmare of death. His form, zombified and encased in layers of ice, seemed to stretch impossibly tall, his blood-red attire dripping with malice. His beard was a tangled mass of evil, hanging like something out of a nightmare, and his eyes glowed a wicked, eerie green. The very sight of him made her stomach churn. This wasn’t just a boss fight. This was her worst nightmare come to life.

"Damn you, Kayaba," she snarled, her voice bitter. "You really wanted to turn Christmas into this twisted... mockery." She gritted her teeth, her grip tightening on her sword. "Too bad for you, I'm already too dead inside to care."

Suddenly, there was a burst of light, blinding her for a moment. When her vision cleared, a second copy of her blade was materializing in her other hand. The glow of it was almost soothing, but her mind was sharp—this was no time for distraction. She had a secret she’d kept hidden for weeks, not out of mistrust, but because the pain of facing it was unbearable. She couldn’t afford to feel weak.

Nicholas the Renegade wasn’t just any boss; he was a test. Could a solo player, using only the Dual Blades skill, defeat something this massive, this dangerous? She didn’t know how she unlocked this skill, but she didn’t care. She had it, and she needed it.

She didn’t even think.

The instant the battle began, Nicholas lunged at her, his claws ripping through the air with terrifying speed. Her reaction was instantaneous— [Cross Block] —her sword deflected the strike with barely a shimmer, but the shock of the impact rattled her bones. Her heart pounded in her chest, adrenaline surging through her veins. She pivoted, rolling out of the way just in time as Nicholas slammed his massive fist into the ground where she had just been.

“Focus. Breathe. Survive.”

She darted to the side, every movement fluid and precise. His next attack came in the form of a sweeping claw swipe. Midori twisted her body, ducking under the strike with an agility that defied belief, then launched herself forward, her swords flashing as she executed [Double Circular] —both blades slashing in perfect synchronization.

The impact was satisfying, but the damage was minimal. Nicholas’ health bar barely budged. He growled, his anger palpable, and retaliated immediately, sending a barrage of massive ice shards hurtling toward her.

Midori dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the deadly projectiles as they exploded around her, leaving a trail of frosty destruction in their wake. She could feel the cold bite at her skin, but she was too focused to care. Her body ached, every move taking its toll, but she couldn’t stop. She wouldn’t stop.

“This is the final test. I can't fail now.”

Each swing of her blades was a dance of death. She blocked, dodged, and struck with deadly precision, but Nicholas was relentless, his attacks growing faster, fiercer with every passing moment. She couldn’t keep up forever. She knew that. She was already reaching the limits of her stamina.

Her vision blurred from exhaustion, but she pushed on, her reflexes an almost unconscious blur of movement. She could hear the roar of Nicholas as he launched himself at her, his form a blur of red and white. This time, she was too slow. The claw connected, and she was sent sprawling, her body slamming against the icy ground with bone-jarring force.

For a moment, everything stopped. The world around her was a haze of pain and dizziness. Her health bar had dipped dangerously low, and her hands trembled, her grip slipping on her swords.

“No. Not now. Not after everything.”

With a growl, she pushed herself to her feet, ignoring the pain that screamed through her body. She couldn’t afford to be weak. Not now. Her breathing was ragged, her muscles burning, but she ignored it all. She had a mission.

The battle had reached its climax. Nicholas, now with only a fraction of health remaining, let out a roar of rage, his form crackling with dark energy. The ground shook beneath him, and his attacks became faster, more erratic. His final form— Final Stage —had begun.

Midori’s heart raced as her entire body tensed, preparing for the onslaught. Nicholas' movements became a blur of rage, each attack more devastating than the last. He lunged at her with terrifying speed, and her mind screamed in panic as she barely managed to block his first strike with a quick [Cross Block] . The force sent her sliding backward, her feet skidding across the icy ground. She could hear the deep, menacing growl from Nicholas, and without thinking, she launched herself into the air, performing an acrobatic flip to dodge his next attack.

Her blades were a blur as she dove back into the fray, spinning around him with grace and speed that seemed almost supernatural. She knew she couldn’t keep this up for long. She was on the edge. One mistake, one wrong move, and it would be over.

The cold, unfeeling voice inside her whispered: “ Finish this. For Uravity. For yourself.”

In that instant, she made the call. With a deep breath, she unequipped her off-hand weapon, focusing all her energy on the remaining moments.

Nicholas roared as his health hit the final sliver, his desperation palpable. He raised both hands high, his body pulsing with dark power. The final blow was coming.

And Midori? She was ready.

Nicholas unleashed his claws and Midori slashed her blade… Only one of them survived.. 

[Congratulations] Nicholas the Renegade shattered into Pixelated glass. 

[Last Attack Bonus Received] 

[Divine Stone of Returning Soul: this  item can be activated on the player's shortcut menu or by holding the materialized item and uttering «Revive ... [Player's Name]». The effect will only work during the time frame between the death of the player and the disappearance of item's effect light, which is approximately ten seconds.] 

A cruel, sick laugh erupted from Midori’s lips, a sound so raw it sent chills down her spine. It was a laugh that carried years of torment, laced with bitterness, malice, and the crushing weight of defeat. There was no joy in it, only the grim realization that her worst fears were now reality. Her chest tightened as she took a breath, her words seeping out like venom.

“Ten fucking seconds,” she muttered, the bitterness thick in her voice. “I guess it was too much to ask for... to be able to revive her.” Her voice faltered slightly, but the contempt she felt for herself drowned any trace of weakness. Her eyes scanned the battlefield around her, the dead, frozen remnants of the battle she fought alone, and her mind churned with regret.

The world had laughed at her, had branded her the Beater , the lone wolf, the player no one trusted. She was the outcast—the one with a hidden unique skill that made her a better fighter than anyone else, the one who preferred to survive alone. Yet, now she was the one who possessed the one thing that could have brought her back from the edge, the one item that could reverse the impossible, the Revival Item . And she had failed.

Her fingers tightened around the hilt of her sword, the cold steel biting into her palm as she fought back tears. “ What was the point?” The world had punished her for every choice she made. She had nothing left. She was the player who could do everything alone, who fought and killed without a second thought. But even that wasn’t enough. Even that couldn’t bring Uravity back.

“This world is too cruel...” The words barely escaped her lips, almost a whisper, but the weight of them echoed in her mind. She could feel the despair wrapping around her chest, suffocating her. Every fight, every battle she had survived—what had it all been for? She had become the monster everyone feared, and now, after everything, the one chance she had to make things right slipped through her fingers.

Midori’s breath came in shallow gasps, her shoulders heavy with the burden of all the regrets she carried. Her body was battered, bruised, and aching from the relentless onslaught of the battle, but it wasn’t the physical pain that tore at her—it was the soul-crushing realization that nothing she had done mattered. She was the player who was supposed to fix everything, but here she was, standing amidst the shattered remains of her hopes.

She had been given the power, the chance, the one opportunity that could’ve changed it all—and she had failed. And now? Now, she was nothing more than a ghost, lost in a world that had already discarded her. The weight of it all felt unbearable, and for the first time, the thought of her own survival seemed utterly meaningless.

"What's the point of living if I can't fix the one thing that mattered?" she whispered bitterly, the cruel laugh from earlier now replaced with a hollow silence.

The words hung in the air, heavy and final. The truth she could never escape. She wasn’t just broken. She was beyond repair.

“What did you do with the item, Midoriya-san?” The detective's voice was calm, but there was a depth to it, a hint of something darker, something almost foreboding in his gaze. His expression remained neutral, but he could tell she was far away, her mind slipping into a trance as she recounted the events. She was reliving it—the moment when the weight of her failure consumed her, the moment she had to accept the unbearable truth.

Midori’s eyes glazed over as the detective's words fell into the silence, her lips trembling for a moment as she fought to stay grounded in the present. But it was futile. The memories came crashing down like a flood, drowning her in a torrent of grief and guilt. Her voice came out hollow, void of emotion, as if she had buried everything inside and locked it away long ago.

“I threw it at Klein...” Her words were slow, deliberate, as if each syllable was weighed down with a thousand regrets. “I told him… if he ever watched someone he cared for die, then he should use it.”

She paused, the room growing unnervingly still. The tension thickened. Her voice dropped, barely a whisper, as she continued, “I guess... he did. On Asuna... or me.”

The words hung in the air like a shroud, suffocating all light in the room. On Asuna… or me. Those words pierced through the stillness with a chilling finality, the full weight of their meaning setting in. The silence stretched. Her tone was so flat, so detached, it felt unnatural, like she was speaking from a distant place, from the darkest recesses of her soul.

“I died when we cleared the game…” The words left her lips with such numbness that it felt like she wasn’t even there, like a shell of the person she used to be. Her gaze drifted into the void, her mind returning to that moment—the point where the world she knew had shattered into irreparable pieces.  

She shut her eyes, but the image of Uravity’s face, the final moments before the girl was lost to her, wouldn’t fade. She had failed. No amount of time or distance would ever erase that bitter truth.

And in that moment, Midori was not the woman sitting before the detective, speaking of the past. She was the broken girl standing in the frozen forest, the weight of her loss weighing heavy on her. The world had moved on, but she was still trapped in that moment, the dread of it suffocating her, pulling her deeper into the darkness.

Chapter Text

"Yuuki-shoujo, Midoriya-san, and Midoriya-shoujo," Yagi addressed Rikku, Inko, and Asuna with a measured tone, his voice soft but firm. "I believe it’s time for us to adjourn for the day. Izumi-shoujo is not in the mental state to continue. Please know that we wish for her recovery and are not without empathy. Detective Tsukauchi and I will return tomorrow morning."

Inko nodded, her expression a mix of gratitude and sorrow. "Thank you, Yagi-san. My daughter will appreciate the reprieve. If you wish to help her snap out of this state in the morning..." She hesitated, her voice trembling slightly before she continued. "I assume she’s still a huge All Might fan. If you were to bring her something signed by him personally, I believe it might lift her spirits enough for her to continue."

There was a moment of silence, heavy and thick, before a voice cut through it.

"It was my login password."

The words came from Izumi, flat and devoid of emotion, like a hollow echo in the room. She didn’t look up, didn’t even move, but the cold detachment in her tone sent a chill down everyone’s spines.

Her declaration lingered in the air, oppressive and unnerving. It was a small, vulnerable admission wrapped in apathy, revealing just enough to remind everyone that she was still there, trapped in her own darkness.

Inko’s breath hitched as she glanced at her daughter, her heart aching at the sight of the shell of the vibrant girl Izumi once was. Yagi shifted uncomfortably, the weight of her words cutting deeper than any outburst could. Even Rikku, usually energetic and quick to fill silences, remained subdued, her eyes downcast.

It wasn’t just the words—it was the way she said them. Emotionless. Empty. As though she were recounting something inconsequential. 

With heavy hearts and solemn expressions, the detective and the undercover pro hero quietly exited the room. Before leaving, Yagi paused at the doorway, turning back to the somber group. His voice, though gentle, carried the weight of his sincerity.

"I promise we’ll return tomorrow with something personally written by All Might for Izumi-shoujo," he said, his tone earnest, as if clinging to the hope that even a small gesture could ease the pain she carried.

As they walked down the corridor, the silence between them was heavy, broken only by Yagi’s quiet sigh. "I plan to report everything we’ve learned tonight to Principal Nedzu. They need to hear this everything she’s endured, every word she shared with us."

Detective Tsukauchi nodded, his gaze forward but his thoughts lingering on the haunted look in Izumi’s eyes. "She’s carrying a weight that no one her age or anyone should have to bear. Let’s hope tomorrow brings her even a sliver of peace."

(Wow First Scene Change that isn’t a Flashback) 

The next day, Toshinori Yagi, the undercover Number One Hero, returned to the hospital room accompanied by Detective Tsukauchi, a shorter man with long, unruly black hair dressed in a black jumpsuit, and a white scarf draped around his shoulders. Perched on the man's shoulder was an unusual sight a small, white, rat-like chimera with intelligent eyes that darted around the room.

As they entered, an unexpected scene greeted them.

Izumi and Asuna were curled up together in the same hospital cot, the one previously belonging to Asuna alone. The two appeared completely at peace, their breathing soft and synchronized, as though they had found a rare reprieve from their shared trauma. Across the room, the short, white-haired girl, still dressed in her black seifuku, was nestled in what was supposed to be Izumi Midoriya's bed. A well-dressed young man with short, disheveled auburn hair slumped in the hospital chair nearby, fast asleep, his head tilted at an awkward angle.

Standing in the corner, the only one awake, was a petite woman with soft green hair tied into a neat bun. She wore a nurse's uniform and a gentle smile as she watched over the group, her presence calming yet vigilant.

“Welcome, gentlemen,” she greeted warmly as the four men stepped inside. “And who might your friends be?”

The chimera on the dark-haired man’s shoulder straightened, its squeaky voice carrying an air of authority as it spoke. “Hello, ma’am. I assume you are Missus Midoriya? I am Nedzu, and this rather tired individual carrying me is Shota Aizawa, better known as the Pro Hero Eraserhead.”

The nurse’s smile faltered slightly, replaced by a frosty edge as she corrected him. “Miss Midoriya,” she said firmly, her tone growing cold. “I was never married to Hizashi Shigaraki.” She paused, her eyes flickering toward Toshinori Yagi, narrowing with a pointed knowingness. “Something I am grateful for, despite that man giving me two wonderful daughters.”

The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of her words pressing down on everyone present. Toshinori’s jaw tightened, the name stirring something deep in his memory, though he kept his expression neutral.

“I believe it’s best not to pry into personal matters,” Yagi finally said, his voice measured but carrying a trace of unease. “For now, could we kindly wake the children? We have important matters to discuss.”

Without a word of confirmation or protest, Inko gently approached her youngest daughter, her soft smile returning the one that had vanished at the mention of her ex. She leaned down and spoke in a soothing tone.

“Good morning, baby. Could you please wake your sister for me?”

Rikku stirred, her voice groggy as she stretched and yawned. “Kaaay, Momma,” she mumbled sleepily, rubbing her eyes before a mischievous grin crept across her face.

Without hesitation, Rikku reached out with her quirk, tugging on her sister’s hair from across the room with a playful flick of her fingers. Meanwhile, Inko crossed to where the auburn-haired man was slumped in the chair, gently shaking his shoulder.

“Yuuki-san, please wake up,” she said softly, her voice warm but firm.

The young man yawned, stretching his arms before blinking himself awake. His husky morning voice matched his tired appearance. “Is it time to wake up Suna and your daughter, ma’am?”

“Rikku’s already on it, Yuuki-san,” Inko replied, her tone as soft as her movements.

The brunet chuckled, shaking his head as he corrected her. “Inko, I’ve told you before you can just call me Kouichiro. If your daughter is going to be with Little Suna, there’s no need to be so formal.”

Before Inko could respond, a loud shout cut through the room.

“RIKKU, WHAT THE HELL?!”

Izumi clutched her head, her green hair a mess from her sister’s antics, while Rikku cackled uncontrollably from her bed, her grin as wide as the mischief in her eyes.

“Midori? What’s going on?” Asuna’s soft, sleepy voice chimed in as she sat up in the shared cot. Her eyes were still heavy with slumber, but concern laced her tone as she took in Izumi’s state. Then, as her gaze wandered the room, her expression changed.

Her eyes widened, and a spark of realization flickered across her face. The gentle remnants of sleep were swept away by a single, overwhelming truth one that made her breath hitch and her heart race.

They were back. Back in the real world.

“Not to interrupt this little family moment,” Toshinori Yagi began, his deep voice calm but purposeful as he stepped further into the room, “but I believe introductions are in order.”

Izumi turned her attention toward him, her sharp gaze shifting to the other unfamiliar faces in the room. Her expression remained guarded, but there was a flicker of recognition in her eyes as they landed on each person.

“Eraserhead,” she began, her voice steady but carrying a tinge of curiosity. “Or is it okay to call you Aizawa? Nem and Emi have told me quite a bit about their best friend... not to mention Loki mentioned his dad once or twice.”

Aizawa raised a brow at her, his perpetually tired expression betraying a flicker of surprise. “Nem and Emi, huh?” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else, before crossing his arms and settling into his usual stoic demeanor.

Izumi’s gaze then drifted to the small, white-furred chimera perched on Aizawa’s shoulder. Her voice took on a note of genuine respect as she addressed him. “And here we have the renowned Intelligence Hero Nedzu. Better known for your role as Dean of Education for my dream university.”

Nedzu inclined his head in acknowledgment, his sharp eyes studying her intently. “You seem remarkably well-informed, Miss Midoriya,” he said in his characteristic high-pitched voice, a hint of intrigue in his tone. “And you’ve managed to retain a sense of ambition, even after all you’ve endured. Admirable.” 

Izumi gave a faint smirk but didn’t reply immediately, her gaze darting briefly to the others in the room before settling on Yagi again. 

“Before we Begin Midoriya-Shoujo. I was told to give you this from my boss. He is very invested in the SAO Case.” Yagi said producing a handwritten letter to Izumi. 

To the Young Heroine Who Saved Over Six Thousand Lives,

Even I, The symbol of peace, was powerless to save those trapped within the cruel grip of Akihiko Kayaba’s twisted world. Yet, you against unimaginable odds stood resolute. You not only survived but became a beacon of hope, saving countless lives in a situation that should have crushed the human spirit.

For your bravery, your sacrifices, and your unyielding determination, you have my deepest gratitude. Words cannot truly convey the debt that I, and the world, owe to you. What you endured and what you accomplished are beyond heroic they are extraordinary.

As a gesture, however small, of the gratitude and respect you have earned, I have enclosed a personal letter of recommendation. It is addressed to any institution or program of your choosing, in any field you wish to pursue. A hero of your caliber deserves the opportunity to live life on her own terms, to forge her own path, and to find the peace and fulfillment you so richly deserve.

The world will not forget your name, your deeds, or your sacrifices. You are a testament to the strength of the human spirit, and we are all better for having heroes like you among us.

With the utmost respect and gratitude,

- All Might

Reading the letter from All Might made Izumi’s eyes brim with tears before a wide grin broke across her face. For the first time in what felt like ages, she allowed herself to feel a flicker of joy, albeit bittersweet. She clutched the letter tightly, almost as if it was a lifeline.

“Well,” she began, her voice trembling slightly as she turned her gaze toward Toshinori Yagi, “I see you told your boss about our interview, Yagi-san.”

Her grin faltered, replaced by a solemn expression as a shadow crossed her face. “Not that I’m not thankful... but All Might might not be so willing to recommend me when he finds out that I killed five people including Kayaba.”

The air in the room turned frigid, the silence that followed her confession heavy enough to crush. No one dared to speak, their shock palpable. The only sound was the faint hum of the hospital equipment, and even that seemed muted under the weight of Izumi’s words.

Finally, a single word shattered the oppressive stillness:

“Truth.”

The voice was flat, devoid of judgment, but it carried a weight that chilled the hearts of everyone present who hadn’t been trapped in SAO. Detective Tsukauchi, his expression unreadable, folded his arms and watched Izumi intently, his quirk confirming what they all feared to be true.

Izumi sighed, her shoulders sagging under the invisible burden she carried. She glanced at each face in the room, some shocked, others uneasy, and a few holding back tears. Finally, she broke the silence again, her tone weary but resolute.

“I’m guessing by the silence, I should start by telling the story... of how Loki and I took out Titan’s Hand while helping a young player named Silica.”

“Problem Child” was all that Aizawa muttered in response to hearing his son was a part of a story where she killed someone. 

Four figures stood near the teleport corridor, their conversation punctuated by the occasional glance toward the labyrinth entrance where the 54th-floor raid had just concluded. Two were teenagers dressed in shades of black, their somber attire contrasting sharply with the more vibrant hues of the adults beside them.

One of the adults, a tall woman with long, flowing purple hair, wore a suit of purple armor accented with deep red highlights. The sleek design of her gear suggested a seasoned fighter, someone who had seen and survived the worst Aincrad had to offer. Beside her stood a shorter figure, her armor trimmed with orange and crowned by a matching orange bandana covering half of her cropped lime green hair. Her easy stance suggested a confident, experienced fighter, though her sharp eyes betrayed a watchfulness born from countless battles.

The shorter of the two teens a girl stood out with her striking attire that seemed both functional and rebellious. She wore a long black trench coat lined with vivid toxic-green trim that almost glowed in the dim light. A wide toxic-green belt encircled her chest , the silver triangular buckle positioned over her right brest. A second strap extended over her right shoulder like a harness, complementing a matching black belt with green trim wrapped loosely around her right bicep.

Beneath her coat, a gray shirt bore a toxic-green crescent moon emblazoned just below the collar, subtly visible with every shift of her coat. A pleated black skirt added an edge of punk flair, adorned with three asymmetrical belts that hung toward her right side, swaying slightly as she moved. Her long, thigh-high boots were equally striking, laced with the same toxic-green and reinforced with polished silver plates that served as both knee and ankle guards, catching the faint light of the corridor. 

Her Curly Green hair gave away her Identity however, when paired with her all black appearance. This was the Black Swordswoman, the Beater of the front lines; Midori. 

The taller teenager was a boy with striking gravity-defying lilac hair that seemed to defy the natural laws of motion. He was clad in an onyx shinobi shozoku, its deep purple trim subtly catching the light as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Across his chest rested a purple bandolier, the kunai it held meticulously arranged and gleaming as though freshly sharpened. A tanto was secured at his hip, its hilt within easy reach, a testament to his readiness for combat.

Despite the game’s mechanics preventing visible signs of exhaustion, this boy seemed to exude a perpetual state of weariness. The dark circles under his lavender eyes contrasted sharply against his pale complexion, giving him a ghostly, almost ethereal appearance. Those eyes, however, were sharp and calculating, scanning the surroundings with the practiced vigilance of a seasoned fighter who trusted nothing and no one entirely.

This was Loki, the Frontlines Ninja a name spoken with a mix of awe and trepidation among Aincrad's top players. His reputation for precision and unpredictability in battle was as legendary as his ability to seemingly vanish and reappear at will, striking with deadly efficiency. Though he stood silent, his presence was anything but. Every movement, no matter how small, carried the restrained energy of someone who could spring into action at any moment

However, despite their in-game names, the group knew each other by their real names: the dark purple-haired woman was Nemuri Kayama, the green-haired woman was Emi Fukukado, the lavender-haired boy was Hitoshi Aizawa, and the curly green-haired girl was Izumi Midoriya.

The group was approached by a nondescript man who was quick to explain his plight. The man was a survivor of an attack by a Red Guild known as: Titan’s hand. 

“Red Guild?”

To everyone’s surprise, it was Aizawa who asked the question that had been on everyone’s mind. He added his own touch of curiosity with a follow-up: “Also, I believe you mentioned being friends with Hitoshi. So, he was the Loki you referred to?”

“Yes,” Izumi replied, her tone soft but steady. “Loki and I became friends pretty quickly, Aizawa-san. I think it was because of my philosophy that quirks were simply tools and that it was lucky that the front-line players swiftly learned to manage without. He told me early on, much like Diabel, that he had what some called a ‘villainous quirk.’” A small, bittersweet smile broke across her gaunt face. “I told him that tools themselves can’t be villainous. That’s like saying our swords inherently killed people. Red players were simply the ones who gave in to the pull of desperation or cruelty. something green players managed to resist.”

It was Asuna who spoke up next, offering the much needed explanation for unique SAO terminology. “Red and Green players referred to the color of our cursors,” she explained. “A red player was essentially seen as a villain. You got an orange cursor if you attacked another green player with lethal intent, or if you actually killed another player. Green players, on the other hand, kept their green cursors as long as they didn’t harm others.

“Red players could revert to green if they avoided combat with other players for three weeks. The only exception was if they killed another red player then their cursor would turn green again after just twenty-four hours.”

“There were other negatives to being branded a red player,” Izumi said, her tone carrying a weight of finality that silenced the room. “I know because I spent time as one.”

Her words hung heavily in the air before she elaborated, her voice steady yet laced with bitterness. “You lost the safe zone buff: the one thing that kept you from being killed in towns. If an NPC spotted you, the guards or the game’s equivalent of police would chase you. The town guards weren’t just cosmetic threats. They were always set to the same level as that floor’s boss, and they were equipped with the third most advanced AI Kayaba ever created. Unlike the bosses, they didn’t follow patterns. They adapted to your actions. If it weren’t for their pre-written speeches, you might almost believe they were alive.”

Izumi let her words linger, the image of those relentless guards sinking into her audience's minds, before continuing. “If you were captured by the guards, however, you were better off than being caught by another player. It’s like the difference between being found by Endeavor or by the police.”

The room went still at the implications. The detective and the pro-heroes all exchanged knowing looks. They were well aware of Endeavor’s harsh reputation; he didn't deal with vigilantes kindly. The difference was stark: the police would lock you up for a few months for obstruction of justice, but Endeavor? His methods often ended with charred corpses. 

 “What happened to the players who killed red players, girls?” Yagi asked, his voice heavy with apprehension, as if dreading the answer he already suspected.

“What happens when Endeavor kills a villain?”

The unexpected response came from Rikku, causing everyone in the room to turn their attention to the younger Midoriya sister. Her voice was steady, but the weight of her words hit like a hammer.

“What?” Rikku said, her tone defensive as the stares lingered on her. “Izumi was a huge hero nerd, so I kept up with hero statistics and the new heroes that came out over the last two years for her.” She paused, glancing at her sister before finishing. “Endeavor currently holds the world record for most casualties in villain fights.”

The room fell into a thick, suffocating silence, one that had become all too familiar during Izumi’s recounting of Sword Art Online.

It was Asuna who finally broke the stillness. Her voice was calm but laced with sorrow. “Rikku-chan is correct. If a green player killed a red player, nothing happened. In fact, if other players witnessed it, they would cheer. They’d call it heroism.”

The statement hung in the air like a lead weight.

The three pro heroes visabley tensed, their agitation evident. Yagi’s jaw tightened as he stared at the floor, his fists clenching at his sides. His reaction was sharper, more visceral than the others, but his companions Aizawa and Nedzu were no less disturbed.

The glorification of murder, even in a game, was an affront to the very ideals they stood for. For Yagi, it seemed even more personal. His usual calm demeanor had been replaced by a rare display of frustration, his anger simmering beneath the surface. Wisps of steam were coming off him. 

Aizawa’s eyes narrowed, his tired expression darkened further. “They turned killing into heroics,” he muttered, his tone cold and flat, yet seething with disapproval.

Nedzu’s small frame stiffened, his sharp mind undoubtedly analyzing every implication of what was being said. To him, it wasn’t just the act of murder but the societal implications of rewarding such behavior that concerned him most.

The tension in the room was palpable. The weight of the discussion was not just about the game it was about the lines between justice, necessity, and morality, and how easily those lines had been blurred in a world designed by a madman.

Izumi sat quietly, her gaze fixed on her lap. She had no defense for what SAO had turned people into, and no explanation could soften the truth. She knew that all of the people who lived through SAO had their world views distorted. 

“After Loki and I took the job we ran into a little brunette girl who wore her hair the same way that Rikku used to” Izumi trailed back into her story deciding the silence could have its atmosphere broken by her continuing her story.

“Zu'u lost fin zii fah haas...” came a booming yet oddly delicate voice from deeper within the forest. The tone was haunting, tinged with sorrow.

Loki and Midori exchanged sharp glances. Without a word, they both broke into a sprint, dashing further into the dense, shadowed Forest of Wandering. The voice had drawn them like a beacon, a promise of danger and mystery ahead.

“PIIINAA!!!”

The high-pitched scream of a younger voice pierced the air, sending chills down their spines. It wasn’t just a call—it was a desperate cry for help. Instinctively, both front-line solo players pushed harder, their feet pounding against the forest floor. Whatever waited for them, they knew they couldn’t hesitate.

When they arrived at the source of the cries, the sight before them was nothing short of harrowing.

A young girl, wearing yellow robe and light armor, was slumped against the base of a massive tree. Her dagger lay a few meters away, just out of reach, as if it had been thrown from her hand by a brutal strike. Before her was floating pixelated shattered glass with a shimmering blue feather spiraled downward, its glow fading as it came to rest in her trembling hands.

The girl’s wide, tear-filled eyes barely registered the five Drunken Apes closing in on her. The anthropoid beasts were massive, their dark red fur matted with grime. Each one carried a crude, menacing club in its right hand and a gourd tied with a string in the other. They moved with deliberate menace, their guttural grunts echoing through the clearing.

Loki reacted first. His lavender eyes narrowed with precision, and in one fluid motion, he hurled two kunai. The blades found their marks, piercing the throats of the two apes closest to the girl. They staggered back, dropping their weapons as their forms shattered into a cascade of polygons.

Midori moved next, her toxic-green-trimmed trench coat billowing as she activated her sprint skill. Her sword glowed with the telltale energy of a charged skill, and she aimed for the remaining three apes. With a single, calculated animation, she dashed through their ranks. The blade connected in a streak of light, carving through the apes with lethal precision. Each one let out a guttural cry before disintegrating into particles, leaving nothing but silence in their wake.

The battle was over in mere seconds, but the scene remained tense. The girl clutched the blue feather to her chest, her breath ragged as tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Are you hurt?” Loki asked, his voice calm but firm as he crouched near the girl, scanning her for injuries.

Midori stood with her blade still drawn, her sharp eyes darting around the clearing, searching for any sign of lingering danger. “Stay alert. There could be more of them,” she warned, her tone cold but focused.

The girl could barely bring herself to look up at them, her voice trembling as she finally spoke. “Pina…She…” 

Both Loki and Midori exchanged a glance. They knew what that feather meant. It was a revival item for the girl’s companion.

“You’re safe now,” Midori said, her voice softening just slightly. “But this place isn’t. We need to move. Can you walk?”

The girl nodded weakly, clutching the feather as if it were her lifeline.

“Then let’s get out of here,” Loki said, standing and offering the girl a hand. A soft disarming grin on his face.

A soft smile framed Aizawa’s face as he listened to the story of his adopted son becoming a hero.

“We took Silica back to the town on the thirty-fifth floor. There, she told us her story of how she was kicked out of a party led by our target, the leader of Titan’s Hand and the first person I killed with my own hands: Rosalia,” Izumi said, her voice tinged with a hint of remorse.

Detective Tsukauchi frowned before speaking. “Izumi, could you please explain exactly how you were responsible for Rosalia’s death?”

“She pissed me off, so I separated her head from her shoulders,” Izumi said dismissively. Her tone was so detached it was as if remembering the act had numbed her to its weight.

Izumi’s demeanor made Nedzu’s curiosity spark. He posed the question that everyone seemed to be thinking. “Miss Midoriya, I believe I speak for everyone when I ask why do you seem so indifferent about the fact that you killed this woman?”

“Oh, don’t get me wrong, I don't regret killing her. I just hate that Aincrad made me into a monster,” Izumi replied, her voice cold and detached.

“What led you to make that decision, Midoriya-shoujo?” Yagi asked pensively, his concern evident.

Izumi sighed before continuing. “It was shortly after Loki and I helped Silica upgrade her gear. We went to the forty-seventh floor to obtain the Pneuma Flower,” she said, pausing for a moment. “I knew Titan Hand’s MO, so I decided it would be the perfect bait to capture them. That was before she ambushed us on the way back.”

“You can come out now,” Loki called out, stopping Silica before she stepped onto the bridge.

A tall woman with ruby red hair tied into a ponytail, cascading down the side of her neck, stepped forward, clutching a spear in a way that suggested she didn’t quite know how to wield it. “Oh, so you noticed little old me, huh?”

Maybe it was the stress, or maybe it was the depression she had been in for some time, whatever it was that caused Izumi to begin laughing maniacally as she stepped forward. “Sit back and enjoy the show. Fair warning… the first three rows are a splash zone~.” Her voice was a manic sing-song, echoing with an unsettling energy.

Her laughter grew louder as she walked halfway down the bridge, her madness palpable in the air.

“Well, I’ll be taking the Pneuma Flower now,” Rosalia said, only slightly intimidated by Izumi’s increasing laughter.

“Oh, little ol’ you’s gonna take it from us? That’ll be a neat trick,” Izumi replied, her voice laced with heavy insanity, the pitch rising with each word.

“Well, a magician is nothing without her lovely assistants,” Rosalia said, snapping her fingers. Seven red players emerged from the shadows, ready to attack the insane trans woman.

“Loki-san, we have to help her! That’s too many for one person!” Silica said, clutching her dagger, fear radiating in every word.

“Aww, that’s cute. You think they’re a threat… Enjoy the show,” Izumi replied, clearly aware that Rosalia had given the signal to attack.

The fight lasted a solid minute and a half. Izumi allowed them to swing at her without moving an inch before she began clapping for them. “Wow, look at you. Valiant effort,” she said with a manic smile.

“You’re all level forty-five, and there are seven of you. How can it take this long to kill one perverted crossdressing little boy?” Rosalia called out, frustration evident in her voice at the lack of progress.

“Looks like you forgot one thing… My numbers are bigger than yours,” Izumi replied, scowling before revealing her level 80 status to the nearby players. “Funny thing get to a high enough level, and you’re basically untouchable. My wounds heal faster than you can fucking hurt me. We could do this literally all day, and you wouldn’t get any closer to killing me.”

“Ugh,” Rosalia scoffed, disgusted. “I don’t care what a little pervert with a god complex has to say. I mean, look at you dressed like a stereotypical whore, lording your levels over us like some kind of god.”

Rosalia’s transphobic remarks finally snapped something inside Izumi. She flash-stepped to the woman with the full speed of her maxed-out AGI stat, her sword piercing Rosalia’s throat in one fluid motion. Normally, such an attack would have already been fatal, but Izumi was fully aware this was just a game this movement was a final warning to shut the woman up.

Loki acted quickly, tossing paralysis-coated kunai at the red players to prevent them from attacking Silica while Izumi dealt with Rosalia. However, he wasn’t aware of just how dangerous a traumatized and pissed-off trans woman could be when facing a bigot.

“Enjoying this, huh? Being this close to the real deal? Don’t perverted little boys like you love copping a feel of the real woman?” Rosalia taunted, digging her own grave.

Izumi’s voice dripped with venom as she responded, “I’m getting tired of your outdated, transphobic bullshit.”

“Like I care, little boy,” Rosalia spat back, her defiance only further sealing her fate.

“Fuck you,” Izumi snarled before driving her blade home, severing Rosalia’s head clean off her shoulders. She watched with a twisted grin as Rosalia shattered into particles.

“Holy shit, that was metal, Izumi-nee,” Rikku said, almost in awe of how her sister had stood up for herself.

“Izumi, you didn’t actually believe any of those hurtful things she said to you, did you, baby?” Inko asked, her voice trembling, looking like she was about to cry.

Asuna was seething. Words failed to escape her lips, her only way of showing concern was by wrapping her arms around her girlfriend.

“Sometimes it’s hard not to,” Izumi’s voice was pained as she spoke. “Sometimes I question myself… Usually, I tell those thoughts they’re wrong, but sometimes it’s hard not to listen to them. I think that’s what made me snap that day. I was still really struggling with the loss of Uravity, and then I ran into people begging me to get justice for their friends who were killed by a treasure hunter PK guild.” Izumi’s gaze shifted downward. “It’s also what made me start opening up to my friends about the pain I was in and actually begin to move on from losing them.”

“Did you see if Pina was revived?” Toshinori asked, trying to shift the topic. It was clear to him that Izumi’s actions had been a case of temporary insanity brought on by the stress of everything happening in SAO.

“Loki told me the Companion Revival Ceremony is beautiful,” Izumi replied, her eyes downcast. “He was with her. I was decompressing.”

Chapter Text

The intelligent individuals in the room were all pondering the inconsistencies in Izumi’s story.

It was Koichiro who spoke up first. “Detective-san, your Quirk is Lie Detector, correct?”

Detective Tsukauchi replied honestly, though with a questioning tone, “That is correct.”

“Izumi’s story doesn’t add up, and yet she never lied?” Asuna’s older brother asked pensively. He hesitated, not wanting to accuse his little sister’s girlfriend of dishonesty.

“Midoriya-san has not lied once in her account of the two years she spent trapped in Sword Art Online ,” the detective answered, now confused about the young man’s line of questioning.

“Onii-san, what are you getting at?” Asuna asked, curiosity evident in her voice.

“How did Rosalia know you were trans, Izumi?” Koichiro clarified. “I assume that, when healthy, you were much prettier than you are now. Speaking honestly, I didn’t even realize you were born male until you shared this story.” Koichiro’s tone was curious rather than accusatory; from his perspective, it should have been impossible for anyone to figure out Izumi was transgender unless she told them.

“Perhaps…” The squeaky voice of the chimera drew everyone's attention. Nedzu adjusted himself slightly before continuing, “I have a few theories, but to be certain, I need a few answers, Miss Midoriya.”

Upon seeing Izumi’s gaze meet his, Nedzu asked his first question. “What date and time did you kill Miss Rosalia?”

“February twenty-fourth, at four-thirty,” Izumi answered confidently. She knew she wasn’t lying about her reason for killing Rosalia. Rosalia was a PKer who targeted rare items and had publicly outed her in front of two friends, which enraged Izumi.

“Detective Tsukauchi, can you tell me the names of the players who died during that time?” Nedzu inquired.

“Only one,” the detective replied, flipping through a folder containing information on all ten thousand players. “Sakura Kannagi, a psychology student at Tokyo Medical.”

“My theories are simple,” Nedzu began thoughtfully. “There is a chance Rosalia found out through some means. Alternatively, Miss Midoriya has consistently used ‘boku’ when describing her own actions, something more commonly used by males.”

“Izumi had a classmate named Ayako Kannagi,” Inko interjected, shedding light on another potential explanation for why Izumi was clocked as transgender.

“Kannagi-san was one of my biggest bullies,” Izumi admitted. “She had a huge crush on Kacchan- I mean, Bakugo-san. She believed I only transitioned to get close to him because I used his childhood nickname.”

Izumi paused, connecting the dots. “Rosalia was Kannagi-san’s big sister.” she based her theory on how much she wished she could be as close to Rikku as Ayako clearly was to Rosalia.” I realize now it was likely the kind of sisterly bond where they shared everything, including their hatred for a classmate.”

"Well, now that we've got that settled, Izumi, I don't mean to pry, but you mentioned she wasn't the only one you killed. You also mentioned a few others and Kayaba himself. Could you elaborate, please?" asked Toshinori Yagi. 

"Laughing Coffin," Izumi said with a hint of trepidation. "Asuna and I noticed they were growing bolder during an investigation into a mysterious death in a safe zone."

"It's also when Midori and I started dating, though I don’t think she realized those were dates," Asuna added with a giggle.

It was April 11th, and Izumi Midoriya better known by her in-game name, Midori the Black Swordswoman, was laying in the grass under the shade of a sprawling tree. She wasn’t asleep, just resting, staring up at the pixelated clouds that drifted lazily across Aincrad’s sky. A senbon needle jutted straight out of her mouth, gently shifting as she chewed on it, a habit she’d developed to curb her tendency to mumble while lost in thought.

“Ahem.”
The sound of someone clearing their throat snapped Izumi out of her reverie. She flicked her green-haired head to the side, her emerald eyes landing on the source of the interruption. Standing nearby was none other than Asuna Yuuki, better known as Asuna, the Lightning Flash. The auburn-haired beauty stood tall, her pristine [Knights of the Blood Oath] Vice-Commander attire gleaming in the sunlight.

Her outfit was immaculate, a reflection of her station. A white tunic flowed gracefully down her form, its edges traced with intricate red patterns that shimmered subtly in the light. A high collar framed her neck with an air of authority, and the red cross emblem on her chest marked her as a member of Aincrad’s most formidable guild.

Her arms were lightly armored, the metallic plates on her shoulders and forearms polished to perfection. They weren’t cumbersome but carefully crafted to enhance her agility, lending her the aura of a warrior both swift and strong. A short cape-like mantle fluttered behind her as she shifted, further underscoring her commanding presence.

Her layered skirt, predominantly white with bold red trims, swayed elegantly with her every movement. Beneath it, thigh-high white stockings accented her toned, lithe legs, perfectly complementing her armor plated boots gleaming white with scarlet details, each step landing with purpose. Resting on the hilt of her legendary rapier, Lambent Light, her hand tightened slightly as she exhaled, her expression a mixture of exasperation and concern.

“What are you doing ?” she finally asked, her voice sharp yet tinged with a note of curiosity.

Izumi, still basking in the haze of her current state, found herself paralyzed by a wave of gay panic. She stared at Asuna, her mind short-circuiting as she took in the knightly beauty standing before her. Several beats passed before Izumi’s brain finally registered that she’d been asked a question.

“Pretty,” she murmured dreamily, her voice laced with a dazed inflection.

Asuna blinked, her brow raising slightly.

Realizing her slip-up, Izumi scrambled to respond, though her filter was still compromised. “Oh, uh, I messed up,” she began, her words slurring slightly. “So, I thought I’d level my alchemy skill, ya know, so I could craft potions and health crystals. And in other RPGs, if you eat a bunch of weird plants and ingredients, you level alchemy faster, right? Well… turns out here, it doesn’t just give you status effects it also makes you feel really, really~ high.”

She let out a dreamy sigh, still clearly under the effects of her experiment, her emerald eyes never leaving Asuna’s form. “Then I started thinking about how nice the weather is on this floor today. And, well… this tree? It’s a really comfy tree. I decided to wait out the status effects here. Come … sit.” She patted the ground beside her with a lopsided grin.

Asuna let out a small sigh of her own, though hers was far more restrained. Still, her lips curled faintly into a smile. She pulled up her interface, quickly sending messages to Heathcliff and Midnight, letting them know she’d found Izumi and would keep an eye on her to prevent any player-killers from taking advantage of her vulnerable state.

Closing the menu, Asuna stepped forward and gracefully lowered herself to sit beside the dazed swordswoman. “I’ll stay with you until this wears off,” she said, her tone firm but warm.

Izumi beamed up at her, a drowsy but genuine smile lighting up her face. “Thanks, cutie~.”

The auburn-haired knight sighed again, though there was no mistaking the faint blush that dusted her cheeks. “Just… try not to poison yourself again, okay?”

“Can’t promise that,” Izumi replied cheekily, causing Asuna to groan softly, though she couldn’t entirely suppress her smile.

“I didn’t expect to wake up sober and in the middle of the biggest gay panic of my life,” Izumi said, her face lit up with a blush so prominent it practically glowed. She ran a hand through her green hair, clearly flustered as she continued. “Asuna was asleep, cuddling into me, and I was intimately aware of how blatantly I’d been flirting with her only hours earlier.”

Asuna, sitting beside her with a matching blush creeping up her cheeks, chimed in. “And Midnight never let us live it down,” she muttered, burying her face in her hands for a moment before stealing a glance at her girlfriend, who looked just as mortified.

Aizawa, leaning back with a relaxed smirk, added his two cents. “Nemuri’s always been like that. Kaina and I got the same treatment from her and Emi until the two of them got locked in that game. Honestly, though? I’m glad the experience didn’t break her.”

Izumi’s blush deepened as she hesitated, clearly debating whether to say more. Finally, with a sheepish grin, she admitted, “Nem watched over us for a bit. She used the chat system to talk to me so she wouldn’t wake Asuna. And… well, she accurately figured out I didn’t want to move because…”

Inko, sensing her daughter’s growing embarrassment, clapped her hands and interjected with a smile. “Not that I don’t enjoy embarrassing you, sweetheart, but I think we’d all rather hear about how your little gay panic ended up leading to that group of murderers you mentioned earlier.”

Relieved by the change in subject, Izumi glanced at Asuna, silently encouraging her to start.

Asuna took a deep breath, her cheeks still faintly pink, and began. “Well… I asked Midori on a date.” She paused, her voice softening as she added, “I made up the excuse that it was to thank her for protecting me while I slept. But really… I just wanted to spend more time with her.”

Izumi gave a bashful smile but quickly turned serious as she picked up the story. “It was while we were eating that we heard the shrillest scream I’ve ever heard. It cut right through the air, and when we ran toward it…” She trailed off, her emerald eyes darkening slightly as the memory resurfaced.

Asuna continued, her voice steady but tense. “We found a man. He’d been lynched, with a blade sticking out of his chest. Before we could even process what had happened, his body shattered like glass.”

The room fell silent, the weight of the story settling over everyone. Izumi’s hand instinctively found Asuna’s, their fingers lacing together as if grounding each other against the memory of that moment.

After frantically searching for a player with the <[Winner]> icon and finding no one, Midori and Asuna shifted their focus to interviewing any willing witnesses. Only one player was willing to speak was a woman with waist-length navy-blue hair that cascaded in soft curls, paired with striking blue eyes. She introduced herself as Yolko.

Yolko’s eyes held a haunted, traumatized look as she began to explain. Her voice trembled as she recounted her connection to the victim: Caynze, the armored man who had just been lynched. “He… he was my friend,” she whispered, her gaze distant as though she could still see the horrific scene unfolding in her mind.

Midori, ever analytical, was eager to press further, arguing that they needed Yolko’s full account while the details were still fresh in her memory. However, Asuna wasn’t having it. She firmly cut off Midori’s attempts to question the shaken woman further. No amount of claiming it was logical from the green-haired swordswoman could sway her. Instead, Asuna insisted they escort Yolko back to the safety of an inn.

Midori complied, albeit reluctantly. 

Unbeknownst to Midori, Asuna had ulterior motives for making her tag along. The truth was, Asuna didn’t want to face the unsettling events of the day alone. Though she’d never admit it out loud, the green-haired woman made her feel safe in a way she couldn’t quite explain.

As they walked, Asuna broke the silence, her voice calm but tinged with unease. “Well, I guess the only clue we have is that spear.”

“Yeah,” Midori replied absentmindedly, bringing a hand to her chin as she began muttering to herself. “We need someone with the appraisal skill. I only know Agil and Ashley who might be able to help. Maybe Asuna has contacts who can appraise items, but considering my reputation, I’m usually stuck with beta testers, pros, or people who’ve actually taken the time to get to know me. Then again, Asuna rarely trusts my judgment in boss raids, so she might not be willing to trust my network. Maybe Tomo-chan knows someone who could help if Agil’s too busy and Asuna’s contacts don’t pan out…”

Her words grew faster and more incoherent as she continued, spiraling into a stream of jumbled thoughts.

“MIDORI!” Asuna’s voice cut sharply through the green-haired swordswoman’s ramblings, bringing her back to the present.

“Izumi,” Midori corrected without missing a beat, snapping out of her muttering.

Asuna blinked, her brows furrowing in confusion. “What?” she asked after a pause, caught off guard.

“Izumi Midoriya,” the green-haired swordswoman clarified, a light blush dusting her cheeks as she avoided Asuna’s gaze. “Asuna, we literally c-c-cuddled earlier today. I think… I think you deserve to know my real name.”

For a moment, Asuna just stared, her amber eyes wide with surprise. Then, a warm smile broke across her face. “Asuna Yuuki,” she replied softly. The significance of the moment wasn’t lost on her. The infamous Black Swordswoman, the enigma that was Midori, had just placed her trust in her. Feeling a flutter in her chest, Asuna decided to reciprocate.

Midori smiled faintly, the blush still evident on her face. “Anyway, Asuna…” She paused, tilting her head slightly. “That’s weird now that I know it’s your real name…”

Asuna chuckled lightly, but before she could reply, Midori shook her head, refocusing. “Right. Neither of us have the appraisal skill, so do you know anyone who does?”

Asuna tilted her head in thought. “I have a blacksmith friend who might be able to help. Her girlfriend, or business partner? Honestly, I’m not sure, also has the skill, but they’ve both been really busy lately. I don’t know if they’d have time to help.”

“Got it. Let me message Agil and see if he’s available,” Izumi replied, her tone soft but determined as she pulled up her menu to send a message.

Asuna watched her companion for a moment, her heart inexplicably light despite the weight of the situation. Even amidst the chaos, she felt a strange sense of comfort knowing they were facing it together.

“Wow, you two are hopeless disaster lesbians, aren’t you?” Rikku teased with a smirk, leaning back in her chair as she listened to Izumi and Asuna recount their story. The way they kept finishing each other’s sentences, pausing to share personal thoughts mid-tale, was undeniably endearing. It was clear how much they cared for each other.

Izumi, however, deadpanned in response. “Ri-chan, let’s not forget I had cripplingly low self-esteem back then. Between my classmates constantly deadnaming me, Kacchan bullying me, and being ostracized for over a year and a half for being the ‘beater,’ I wasn’t exactly in a great place.” She sighed, crossing her arms. “Seriously, even Kacchan gave up on calling me ‘Deku’ once he found out I was trans.”

That caught Inko’s attention immediately. Her eyes narrowed as a storm of maternal fury clouded her face. “Katsuki was bullying you, baby? What did he do?” Her voice was deceptively calm, but the murderous look in her eyes made her intentions clear.

Izumi winced, regretting bringing it up but knowing there was no backing out now. “Aside from constantly using his quirk to threaten me every day since we got them? Or, you know, inventing the nickname ‘Deku’ when we were five?” She lifted her hands to air-quote the hated moniker. “Oh, and there’s also the time he told me to kill myself and hope for a ‘useful quirk’ in my next life. That was, like, right before I got trapped in SAO.”

The room went dead silent.

“Truth,” Naomasa muttered, confirming her story with a grim nod, his voice heavy with unspoken sympathy.

Kouichirou was the first to break the tense silence. His reaction was immediate and passionate. “What the hell, Izumi?!” he burst out, staring at her with a mixture of frustration and disbelief. “Your quirk is awesome ! How could anyone think otherwise? I mean, seriously, if you let me, I’d love to get you into ALO someday. Imagine casting real magic like actual spells just because someone like me programmed it into a game you enjoy!”

Izumi blinked at him, caught off guard by the sudden enthusiasm. “I mean…” she trailed off, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks. “That does sound pretty cool.”

Asuna, who had been silently holding Izumi’s hand throughout the exchange, gave it a comforting squeeze. “It is cool,” she said softly, her amber eyes meeting Izumi’s emerald ones. “You’re incredible, Izumi. Don’t let anyone… anyone make you feel otherwise.”

Rikku grinned, leaning forward with a teasing glint in her eye. “See? Disaster lesbians, also~  couple goals.”

Izumi groaned, covering her face with her free hand. “You’re impossible , Ri-chan.”

“And yet you love me,” Rikku quipped.

“Debatable,” Izumi mumbled, though the faint smile peeking out from behind her hand betrayed her affection for her sister.

Before anyone could speak about what to do with the Bomberanian, Yagi forced himself, with gritted teeth, to move the story along. “So, was Mister Mills able to appraise the weapon?”

Izumi snapped back into focus. “Oh, yeah. It was made by a player. To be honest, that should’ve been our first sign that something was up. The player’s name was Grimlock. He named the spear Guilty Thorn. ”

Midori and Asuna sat in the backroom of Agil’s shop, processing the results of the appraisal. The weapon in question was a meter-long, solid metal spear blade with serrated edges, all infused with various status-effect poisons. Designed to deal significant Damage Over Time , the spear required a high STR stat to wield properly. However, the most concerning part was the lack of confirmation on whether the blade—due to the status effects or its construction—could bypass the game’s mechanics and harm players in safe zones.

Midori, meanwhile, had an idea—a batshit insane idea—one she knew would not sit well with Asuna or Agil.

“Welp, here goes nothing,” Midori muttered. She flipped the spear around in her dominant hand, positioning it to stab her other arm.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Asuna shrieked, lunging forward and grabbing Midori’s wrist just in time to stop her.

“Oh, me? Nothing much. I was just going to stab myself with a mysterious murder weapon that’s potentially capable of bypassing game mechanics and, you know, killing me~” Midori’s tone was flippant and almost jovial until the gravity of what she was about to do suddenly hit her. Her voice trailed off. “Oh my god… what am I doing?”

“Asuna!” she yelped as the weapon was yanked from her hands.

“Agil!” Asuna called firmly, holding the spear as far away from Midori as possible. “Take this. We wouldn’t want someone getting any more ideas. ”

Agil accepted the weapon with a playful smirk. “Ah, I see. Hand the black man a murder weapon. Tale as old as time.”

Despite the tension, his quip managed to break the moment’s intensity, earning an exasperated look from Asuna and a sheepish laugh from Midori.

“Problem Child, I mean this with the utmost sincerity… What… the… fuck? ” Aizawa interrupted, breaking up the story with his signature deadpan tone.

“I wasn’t thinking, okay?!” Izumi shot back defensively, her green eyes wide. “I thought we needed to test if the weapon had special qualities or if poisoning a player could kill them in a safe zone. It didn’t matter in the long run!”

“And why was that, Miss Midoriya?” Nedzu spoke up this time, his calm but curious tone making it clear he was deeply invested in the story.

“Uh, well… because I figured it out after Yolko faked her death right in front of us,” Izumi replied, much calmer now as she relayed the events.

“Yeah,” Asuna added, frowning at the memory. “She was really trying to pin a lot of that on Schmitt. Like, she wanted us to pressure him, and, honestly, we fell for it pretty hard.”

Izumi sighed, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. “I mean, I would’ve believed it, too, if my quirk didn’t turn me into a hardcore gamer. It’s also why I picked up the hobby of watching streamers. Schmitt, or PieceofSchmitt on streaming platforms, wasn’t smart enough to pull off a sneak PK or be our mysterious murderer breaking the game’s rules.”

Chapter Text

Patient Name: Izumi Midoriya
Age: 17
Gender: Female
Blood Type: O+
Eye Color: Green
Hair Color: Green/Black
Date of Birth: July 15, XXXX
Quirk: System (Refer to patient’s files for detailed quirk analysis)

Presenting Conditions:

• Severe protein-energy malnutrition

• Sarcopenia with marked skeletal muscle atrophy

• Microcytic hypochromic anemia (severe iron-deficiency anemia)

• Persistent essential hypertension

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Survivor syndrome with associated psychogenic comorbidities

• Major depressive disorder (MDD)

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Clinical History:
Izumi Midoriya is a survivor of the SAO disaster, a catastrophic event involving prolonged entrapment in a virtual environment engineered by the late S-class quirkless Villain, Akihiko Kayaba. Upon her extraction from the virtual system, the patient was discovered to have been in a comatose state for an extended duration exceeding two years.

During this period, the patient exhibited severe protein-energy malnutrition, resulting in approximately 50% reduction in lean body mass. Sarcopenia and skeletal muscle atrophy were noted, contributing to her compromised physical state. Persistent essential hypertension was identified, likely secondary to chronic hyperactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis due to prolonged exposure to acute and sustained psychological stressors.

The patient additionally presented with microcytic hypochromic anemia, likely exacerbated by metabolic demands associated with ongoing medical treatments for gender dysphoria, administered during her comatose state. Hemodynamic stabilization and organ preservation were achieved through the strategic application of quirk-assisted therapeutic modalities.

Interventions and Treatments:

• Tissue Regeneration Therapy:

• Twelve applications of quirk-mediated [Heal], administered monthly by Dr. Shuzenji over a one-year period, facilitating cellular regeneration and systemic stabilization.

• Skeletal Remineralization:

• Twenty quirk-assisted applications of [Calcium Manipulation] by Dr. Naoshi to address osteopenia and promote bone density restoration.

• Gender Dysphoria Management:

• Quirk-assisted gender reassignment surgery executed by Dr. Beian, supported by the Wild Wild Pussycats, encompassing reconstructive and endocrinological therapies.

• Hematological Rehabilitation:

• Twenty-one quirk-mediated applications of [Haemokinesis] by Pro Hero Vlad King, targeting hematopoiesis and restoring erythropoietic function to mitigate severe anemia.

Quirk Registration

Quirk Registry Analysis

Name: Izuku Midoriya
Quirk Name: System
Quirk Type: Reality-Warping, Accumulation-Based Emitter
Classification: Keter
Evaluator: Dr. Kyudai Garaki
Registry File ID: SYS-XX-1021

Functional Overview:

The quirk System represents a highly advanced and potentially dangerous reality-warping ability, combining elements of cognitive enhancement and digital simulation. Upon activation, the user’s neural architecture temporarily shifts to function akin to a computational framework. This is signaled by the appearance of green luminescence in the user’s eyes. The quirk’s functionality hinges on three primary mechanisms:

• Data Integration:
  The user can copy and store data from video games, software, or other interactive digital programs. This data is encoded into the user’s anomalous cerebral lobe, which acts as a repository for quirk-specific functions.

• Simulation Execution:
  Stored data can be "run" within the user's perception. The user visualizes themselves performing the simulated feats, and the quirk enables temporary execution of these abilities.

• Virtual Object Generation:
  Objects or tools from the simulated environment can be manifested in the real world, retaining their original in-game or programmatic properties during activation.

Capabilities and Mechanisms:

1. Cognitive and Visual Enhancement:

• The user experiences a moderate boost in intelligence and cognitive speed during activation.

• Enhanced optical processing is facilitated by an improved optical lobe and visual processing adaptation, which allow for rapid data intake and real-time analysis of complex visual patterns.

• The user can process and interpret simulated environments at an advanced level, enabling seamless integration of real-world and simulated data streams

2. Data Storage and Execution:

• The user’s quirk allows for seamless data integration from digital systems.

• Simulated feats are restricted to those the user can visualize and perceive as within their capability.

3. Materialization of Objects:

• Virtual objects from simulations are created with exact fidelity, including functionality dictated by their simulated parameters.

• Generated items are tangible and can be used as tools, weapons, or aids, but only within the simulation’s rules.

Limitations and Risks:

• Perception Dependency:

• Generated materials cease to function if removed from the user’s direct perception. Once outside perception, they degrade into mundane replicas devoid of quirk-derived properties.

• Energy Requirements:

• Prolonged use imposes severe metabolic demands, necessitating high caloric and nutritional intake to sustain activity.

• Excessive activation can result in cognitive fatigue, physical exhaustion, and temporary lapses in memory.

• Simulation Restrictions:

• Feats simulated by the user are limited to their belief in their own ability to perform them. Overconfidence may lead to overexertion, while doubt could hinder execution.

Physiological Observations:

• Neurological Adaptation: Advanced imaging reveals the presence of the Systemic Cortex, an additional cerebral lobe unique to the user. This lobe is hypothesized to function as a quirk-specific data storage and simulation hub, supporting reality-warping capabilities.

• Optical Enhancement: The user’s optical lobe demonstrates significant adaptation, including hyperactive neural connections with the visual cortex. This enhancement enables rapid visual processing and precise analysis of both real-world and simulated data.

• Visual Processing Adaptation: Augmented visual acuity allows the user to perceive intricate details in digital environments, aiding in the seamless execution of quirk-related tasks. This adaptation also supports faster reaction times and improved spatial awareness.

• Metabolic Strain: Sustained use of the quirk places high demands on the user’s metabolic and neural systems. Adequate caloric and nutritional intake is critical to prevent quirk overuse syndrome, which may manifest as cognitive dysfunction, visual fatigue, or temporary memory loss.

Classification and Potential:

Given its immense versatility and potentially destructive applications, System is classified as Keter within the Quirk Registry. Proper training, regulation, and monitoring are necessary to ensure the quirk is not exploited for unintended purposes. Its capacity for simulation and materialization offers vast utility but poses equally significant risks if mishandled.

Evaluator’s Notes:

The quirk System is a groundbreaking manifestation of reality-warping capabilities with substantial applications in both combat and utility. However, its dependency on the user’s perception and significant physiological costs make it a double-edged sword. With structured training, dietary support, and proper psychological conditioning, the user could harness this quirk’s immense potential while minimizing its inherent risks.

Evaluated and documented by:
Dr. Kyudai Garaki. MD
Quirk Development Specialist

After listening to the story the two girls were recounting, Nedzu couldn’t suppress his curiosity and immediately voiced the question forming in his mind. “Miss Midoriya, I must say, you strike me as far more intelligent than your story suggests. I find it quite perplexing that it took witnessing a second instance of someone faking their death for you to realize that the deaths were staged.”

“Well, uh…” Izumi stammered, her face quickly turning crimson. “I, um… I was staring at Asuna the first time… and, uh… admiring her… So I didn’t notice the color of the death polygons wasn’t right.” Her embarrassed voice barely rose above a whisper before devolving into a soft whine.

“Wait. You’re telling me that checking out your girlfriend’s ass was more important than, oh, I don’t know, investigating a murder that literally defied logic?” Rikku interjected, indignant. “What happened to my smart sister?”

“Look, I can’t help it, okay?” Izumi snapped, her voice rising defensively. “My brain was stuck on ‘pretty girl cuddled with me for hours’ mode.”

“Kami dammit, Izu. You’re so hopelessly gay I don’t know whether to laugh at you or be embarrassed that we’re related,” Rikku retorted, pretending to be offended.

“Rude,” Izumi muttered dismissively.

Asuna began giggling uncontrollably at the banter between her girlfriend and Rikku. Once she managed to calm down, she decided to share an embarrassing admission of her own to divert some of the attention away from Izumi. “I mean, to be fair, I spent most of our investigation time checking you out too, Midori. That’s probably why I was so convinced Schmitt was the murderer.”

“I didn’t think so,” Izumi replied, her tone shifting as she delved into the details of the story. “That’s why I asked Tomo-chan to investigate Grimlock while we were setting up Yolko and Caynze’s trap. It’s also why we were prepared for Dusty’s ambush.”

“Yeah,” Asuna added pensively. “It scares me to think what might have happened if Argo hadn’t warned us that the game’s top villain was planning to kill all three of them. It’s so tragic that Grimlock hired villains to kill his friends and his wife.”

Inspector Naomasa decided to interrupt their trip down memory lane with a pertinent question. “Excuse me, ladies, but for the record, could you provide the player handle of the villain you’re referring to? And, if possible, his real name?”

“Dust2Death,” Izumi replied coldly, her expression hardening. “Moniker: The Prince of Hell. Real name… probably Shigaraki. He claimed to be my older brother and said that our father bought him the game.”

Asuna shivered, adding more context to the villain’s profile. “He bragged about being a PKer and claimed he could destroy as he liked in that world, too.”

“All for One…” Yagi muttered through gritted teeth before his anger surged. Without warning, he bulked up into his All Might form, his towering presence unmistakable. Rage burned in his eyes as the realization hit him. “That bastard trained his own son to be a murderer. And he probably had plans to do the same to his daughters.” 

“ALL MIGHT!” shouted the startled voices of the game designer and the three young women in unison.

With the exclamation of his hero name Yagi had realized he had activated his Quirk in his rage and revealed to the people present in this room his secret. 

It took a while to explain everything and calm everyone down, but eventually, All Might, or Toshinori Yagi managed to recount the full story. Six years ago, he was engaged in a fatal battle where he took what should have been a lethal blow to the gut. The injury left him in an emaciated state, not from malnutrition but due to the damage to his stomach and subsequent surgeries.

“Young Izumi, I can assure you,” Toshinori said, his voice steady despite the weight of his words. “My recommendation to any program will hold firm. I, too, have taken a life or so I thought. Until this very moment, I believed I had killed the Demon of the Underworld, known to us only as All for One.”

“I can heal you,” Izumi said softly after listening to his story, glancing at Naomasa to confirm he wasn’t recording. “In Aincrad, healing crystals could restore lost limbs and heal major wounds. Even though our bodies were data and would regenerate over time, we could speed up the process with a healing potion or a crystal.”

“Baby, I know he’s your hero… but you can’t use your quirk until you’ve fully recovered, even if your father did this,” Inko replied calmly, her tone filled with maternal concern.

“So, if Dad’s a Demon King, huh? I guess my Sylvian Princess moniker in ALO isn’t too far off,” Rikku remarked, folding her arms.

“What, Richan? Decided to just turn into my big sister while I was trapped in a game?” Izumi quipped, a teasing grin on her face. “I mean, studying heroes and playing games? You’re starting to sound like me.”

“Shut up,” Rikku said, her cheeks flushing. “My big sister is a hero. Is it so bad to want to be like her a little bit?”

“This is illogical. We were here for an interview. Please continue your story,” Aizawa interjected, his sharp tone cutting through the conversation. “How did you uncover that Grimlock hired villains?”

“Oh, Tomo-chan helped us,” Izumi replied casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

We find our two protagonists in the middle of Marten, on the 57th floor, strategizing their plan after sending Schmitt to the Divine Dragon’s Alliance guild base.

“What are we waiting for, Izumi? ...No, I’m still gonna call you Midori. That felt weird,” Asuna said, blushing slightly after using Izumi’s real name.

“Her,” Izumi replied, pointing to the cloaked woman sitting on a bench. However, upon seeing her face, her identity was immediately clear. It wasn’t just her deep brown eyes or chestnut hair. it was the red whisker-like face paint that gave her away.

As soon as the girls approached, Izumi took the initiative. “Lightning Flash, Asuna, meet one of my best friends, and the best information broker in Aincrad Argo, the Rat,” Izumi gestured toward the cloaked woman.

“Argo, this is Asuna. We’re working on the mysterious deaths in the Safe Zones. I’ll tell you everything if you can track down and keep spies on a player named Grimlock.”

“Oh, how adorable! Izzy-Kuro brought a pretty girl to have a little heart-to-heart with lil’ ol’ me about the Safe Zone murders!” Argo smirked, her whisker-like markings twitching as she leaned in, her tone dripping with playful mischief. “What’s the deal? Trying to impress her with your big investigative skills, huh? Or maybe you’re just looking for an excuse to spend more time together? Either way, you strike a hard bargain track a guy for info? Let me guess, he’s at the center of all this, isn’t he?”

“Yeah. He’s behind it. But it’s all bullshit. They found a glitch—if you teleport when an item breaks, it looks like you died. The only difference is the color of the polygons. Players break green; these murders broke blue,” Izumi explained.

“Oh, figured it out all by yourself, huh, Izzy-Kuro?” Argo smirked, her tone a mix of playful teasing and genuine curiosity. “Not bad, not bad. Yeah, that tracks. So, what’s the big brain think? These guys got some grand, evil plan cooking, or are they just winging it like amateurs?”

“I think Grimlock is planning something,” Izumi said pensively. “These murders were too elaborate. Yolko told us about a former guild they were all in, with a player named Schmitt. They’re probably gonna try to get him alone, and then I think Grimlock will hire the same killers who took out their former guildmaster to kill all three of them.”

“Okay, what the hell is that accusation, Midori?” Asuna said, indignant.

“Simple. You said it yourself, Asuna. Married players share an inventory. Griselda was gonna sell the item to Argo. I know this without asking, because everyone knows if you want to discreetly trade rare items, you go through Argo. Her and Chargebolt are my best friends, and most players aren’t willing to risk attacking her because it’s a well-known fact,” Izumi said, her voice steady and resolute. There was no playfulness now, just a cold, unwavering certainty. Her eyes, sharp with focus, conveyed more than just protectiveness. There was a quiet pride in her tone, a fierce acknowledgment of the trust and strength she had in Argo.

Argo grinned, tapping her fingers together as she leaned back slightly. “Heh, well, you’re not wrong, Izzy-Kuro. Griselda was gonna sell me the item,” she said with a wink, her whisker-like markings twitching. “But let’s not make it sound too shady. You know me if I’m gonna handle something rare, it’s always for a very good reason. And hey, I’ve got a reputation to keep, right?”

Her teasing expression softened slightly, the warmth of gratitude in her gaze unmistakable. “But I do appreciate the backup, kid. No one’s gonna mess with me when I’ve got you watching my back.”

“It was that night, Asuna managed to track down Yolko and Caynze to a field on the nineteenth floor, while I followed Schmitt to the same field. There, we met up with Tomo-chan. She told us that Grimlock had hired Laughing Coffin to ambush the three of them,” Izumi said, her tone deadly serious.

“Yeah, and little hero-girl here rushed to the three in the field, while Argo and I captured Grimlock,” Asuna said, making a joke at her girlfriend’s expense.

“My body moved on its own. It was then that I ran into PoH and prevented three deaths,” Izumi said coldly.

“Damn and here I was hoping to destroy a couple weaklings without getting the Attention of the Front lines, Let alone my Little brother..?” spoke a confused raspy voice that when it spoke was unsettling to those around him

This voice left a dark figure cloaked in menacing armor that seemed to consume the light around him. His black plating, jagged and uneven, clung to his lean frame like a second skin, a chaotic mess of sharp angles and deep scars. The armor looked as though it had been forged in the fires of madness itself—each piece a reflection of some long-forgotten battle, yet each still radiating a sense of lethal purpose. Crimson lines cut through the dark metal, as if to symbolize the bloodshed he had left in his wake. Every part of his attire suggested that he was no ordinary warrior, but something far darker—a force waiting to be unleashed.

A black cloak hung loosely from his shoulders, its edges frayed and torn, as though it had seen countless battles. It shifted erratically with his every movement, as if even the cloak itself couldn’t keep up with his unstable energy. The hood was pushed back, revealing a face that was unnervingly pale, its skin stretched tight over hollow cheeks. His eyes, wide and unblinking, glimmered with a cold, manic intensity almost too intense, as if they were staring into something that didn’t exist in the world. There was no warmth in them, only the kind of madness that only a few could truly understand, a twisted desire for chaos and destruction.

His hands, exposed and trembling with barely contained rage, were the most unsettling feature. His fingers, long and sharp, twitched erratically, as if every touch he made could undo the very fabric of reality. His fingerless gloves were tattered, barely functional, but they did nothing to hide the unsettling power that pulsed through his hands. The way he flexed them, almost as if anticipating the damage he could cause, gave off an unmistakable sense of unease, like a predator toying with its prey before the final strike.

His boots were worn and scuffed, their soles thick from years of walking down paths stained with blood and ruin. Every step he took echoed with a heavy certainty, like a ticking clock, reminding everyone in his presence that something catastrophic was coming.

He stood there, too still for comfort, his body trembling with barely contained energy. There was a feral edge to his posture, an almost animalistic tension in the way he waited, as though any moment he might lash out unpredictably. It wasn’t just his armor or his appearance that inspired fear it was the palpable sense of volatility that surrounded him. He wasn’t just a stranger; he was a loose cannon, a walking disaster, on the edge of losing whatever thin thread of sanity he had left. And in that madness, there was a terrifying kind of power, something that felt like it could tear everything around him apart with a single snap

“No… Even I’m not that much of an asshole.” The Prince of Hell chuckled darkly. “Heh, seems like Sensei doesn’t even know his own kid’s gender. Girl, right? Iz-u-ku ?” He asked, immediately recognizing Izumi. He had always known that Sensei’s child was the Beater, from the moment he got her description: long green curly hair, a master strategist, with a snarky attitude.

With a single glance, he noticed just how much she resembled Sensei. But there was one detail that didn’t fit. Sensei’s kid was supposed to be a boy, yet here stood a girl. Still, there was something in the way she reacted to the name. Izuku. Her deadname. He was aware of the gaming faux pas he was committing, but he couldn’t resist the subtle satisfaction of throwing it out there.

“My name is Midori. And yours? Leader of Laughing Coffin?” Izumi paused before continuing, her voice sharp. “And yes, I am a girl. Do people really think the Beater is a boy?”

“Ah! Well, I’m called the Prince of Hell , but it's Dust to Death , little sister. Most of the NPCs in this game, pretending to be bumbling noobs, think the Beater and the Blackswordswoman aren’t the same. But I knew, I knew Sensei’s kid would end up with the same kind of moniker as me.” Dust2Death said, his voice dripping with manic delight, raspy and unsettling.

Another man, wearing a bag over his head with glowing red eyes, spoke out toward Dust. “Boss, I believe we should cut this meeting short. I doubt even The Beater would be dumb enough to come here alone. Doesn’t she usually hang around with the Pro-heroes?”

Dust clicked his tongue at the man before preparing to leave them to kill later. “Believe me, little sister, this isn’t game over. I refuse to not destroy anything I want. Whether it’s in this world or the other one, I’ll kill anyone I don’t like.”

“How? Dad’s been missing for years, and you talk as if you know him. How?” Izumi couldn’t help it she had to know how he was so familiar with her, with her father, enough to even know her deadname.

“Sensei helped me get into the game,” Dust replied, his voice cool as he turned his back. "He said it was a reward. The Pro he killed to get it for me had something he’d been looking for, for a while." Laughing Coffin then made their escape

"After that, with Tomo-chan’s help, we imprisoned Grimlock and got his sob story," Izumi began, her voice somber. "He told us how his wife had changed when given the chance to live out her dream. In Aincrad, she was a hero, something she had failed to achieve when she was dropped from U.A. He had Dusty kill her, then took the rare item for himself as a memento of his wife the business major who dealt with pros, but never truly acted like one."

Izumi’s tone remained solemn as she continued, the weight of Grimlock's actions still lingering. "It was a tragic story. I couldn’t imagine loving someone like that, only to find out I didn’t love the truest version of themself.”

Asuna’s gaze softened, her eyes misting as she processed what Izumi had said. “It really was sad. I can’t imagine what it must have been like, loving someone only to discover they were living a lie or perhaps, just a version of themselves they couldn’t even accept. To not love the real them…”

Izumi turned toward Asuna, a warmth in her eyes. “Like I said back then, Asuna. If I were to fall in love with someone, like I have with you, and then found out there was a whole other side to you, something I never knew about, something that felt like a different person I’d consider myself lucky. I’d get to fall in love all over again.”

A flustered smile tugged at Izumi’s lips. “Like now. I’m excited to fall in love with Asuna Yuuki, as well as the Princess of the Yuuki family. Not just love Asuna, the Lightning Flash, like I’ve already found myself doing.”

Asuna’s heart swelled with adoration as she listened, overwhelmed by the sincerity of Izumi’s words. She agreed. She, too, was eager to fall deeper in love with Izumi, not just the hero or the gamer, but the person she had come to know in both worlds. The battle-worn warrior and the caring soul behind it.

Asuna couldn’t help herself. She leaned in, curling into Izumi as they shared their first kiss in the real world. The kiss was soft, full of promise, as if everything before had led them to this very moment. Asuna’s hand found Izumi’s, fingers lacing together, sealing their connection. They both pulled away, breathless, their faces flushed with the raw emotion of the moment.

"That was… perfect," Asuna whispered, her voice trembling with newfound certainty.

Izumi smiled softly, her heart still racing. “Yeah, it really was.”

Chapter Text

Patient Name: Asuna Yuuki
Age: 18
Blood Type: AB+
Gender: Female
Eye Color: Hazel
Hair Color: Brown
Date of Birth: 09/30/XXXX
Quirk: Ice Age (See Registration for detailed description and limitations)

Persisting Conditions:

• Severe Malnutrition

• Sarcopenia (Significant skeletal muscle mass loss)

• Anemia (Microcytic, secondary to nutritional deficiency)

• Hypertension (Stress-induced)

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Chronic Hypothermia (Quirk-associated metabolic disturbance)

Clinical History

Case Summary:
Asuna Yuuki is a documented survivor of the Sword Art Online (SAO) incident, a catastrophic event involving the entrapment of participants in a simulated virtual environment engineered by the deceased S-class quirkless villain, Akihiko Kayaba.

Clinical Complications During Coma:
The patient was comatose for approximately two years, during which profound physiological deconditioning occurred. Severe malnutrition led to a loss exceeding 50% of baseline body mass, resulting in cachexia and sarcopenia. The prolonged immobilization further exacerbated muscle wasting and metabolic dysregulation.

Quirk-Related Manifestations:
Ms. Yuuki’s cryokinesis ability (Ice Age) caused a sustained reduction in her core and peripheral body temperatures during her comatose state. These critically low temperatures likely triggered a cascade of physiological stress responses, contributing to:

• Chronic Hypothermia: Persistent metabolic suppression.

• Anemia: Diminished erythropoiesis due to nutrient malabsorption and altered thermoregulatory demands.

Hypertension and Psychological Sequelae:
Elevated blood pressure is attributed to a prolonged hyperadrenergic state induced by the high-stress environment within SAO. Ms. Yuuki held a leadership role in organized efforts to clear the virtual game, further compounding her stress load. Following her emergence, symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been observed, including intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, and difficulty adapting to post-reintegration life.

Prognosis and Recommendations:

• Immediate and ongoing nutritional rehabilitation to address caloric deficits, micronutrient depletion, and anemia.

• Gradual physical therapy for sarcopenia to restore muscular strength and endurance.

• Cardiovascular monitoring and stress management interventions to mitigate hypertension.

• Psychological therapy focused on trauma recovery and reintegration support.

• Quirk-specific metabolic assessments to optimize thermoregulatory stability and prevent recurrent hypothermic episodes.

Conclusion:
Ms. Yuuki's medical history underscores the complexity of post-coma rehabilitation in quirked individuals subjected to prolonged, high-stress environments. Comprehensive multidisciplinary care is paramount for her recovery and return to baseline function.

-Dr. Chiyo Shuzenji, MD, PHD

Quirk Registry Analysis

Name of Quirk: Ice Age
Quirk Classification: Emitter
Quirk Holder: [Asuna Yuuki]
Evaluator: Dr. Hideki Matsuo, Quirk Specialist and Registry Analyst
Classification: Euclid

Overview:

"Ice Age" is an elemental emitter-type quirk characterized by the ability to manipulate and generate ice and water. The quirk enables the user to control ambient moisture for cryokinesis (ice manipulation) and hydrokinesis (water manipulation). Additionally, the user can create water directly from their own hydration reserves, although this carries inherent risks.

Physiological Mechanism:

• Cryokinesis:

• The quirk facilitates rapid reduction of molecular kinetic energy, resulting in the freezing of moisture from ambient air or accessible water sources. This ability extends to shaping solid ice into various constructs.

• Hydrokinesis:

• The user can telekinetically manipulate water, including moving, shaping, and increasing its velocity to create offensive or defensive techniques.

• Temperature Regulation:

• The quirk naturally reduces the user’s core body temperature. When activated, it generates a localized temperature drop that affects the surrounding environment. This requires significant physiological energy and mental focus.

Strengths and Applications:

• Combat Utility: Enables offensive capabilities through projectiles (e.g., icicles), melee constructs (e.g., swords, shields), and defensive barriers.

• Environmental Adaptability: The user can freeze water to create paths, bridges, or obstacles and manipulate liquid water for rescue or environmental control.

• Fire Countermeasures: Particularly effective against fire and heat-based quirks, making it valuable in tactical situations.

Weaknesses and Risks:

• Environmental Dependency:

• Hydrokinesis is limited in arid or low-humidity environments, where moisture availability is minimal.

• Physiological Strain:

• Overuse of the quirk can result in severe dehydration, hypothermia, or frostbite due to sustained exposure to low temperatures.

• Vulnerability to Heat:

• Fire and heat-based quirks can neutralize ice-based constructs and reduce the effectiveness of the quirk.

• Energy-Intensive:

• Large-scale or complex manipulations rapidly drain stamina, necessitating caution in prolonged engagements.

Medical Considerations:

• Core Temperature Regulation:

• The user exhibits a naturally low body temperature baseline, which is further exacerbated during quirk activation. Extended use may cause hypothermic symptoms, requiring medical oversight.

• Hydration Requirements:

• Quirk activation depletes the body’s hydration levels at a high rate. Users are advised to maintain increased fluid intake before and after activation to prevent dehydration.

• Circulatory Effects:

• The vasoconstriction induced by prolonged quirk use may lead to reduced blood flow, posing a risk of frostbite in extremities.

• Psychological Impact:

• The ability to alter environments dramatically and inflict severe damage can lead to psychological stress, particularly in high-stakes scenarios.

Final Assessment:

"Ice Age" is a highly versatile and formidable quirk with significant potential in both combat and utility applications. However, its physiological demands and environmental dependencies necessitate strict management and ongoing medical oversight. Proper training and resource management are essential for the user to harness the full capabilities of this quirk safely and effectively.

Signed,
Dr. Hideki Matsuo
Quirk Specialist and Registry Analyst

“Well, not to break up this special moment between you girls, but I believe we were discussing how you killed those Laughing Coffin villains and which ones,” Yagi, or All Might, asked pensively, his tone both awkward and pointed.

Izumi and Asuna immediately pulled away from each other, both faces flushing bright red. Asuna tucked her hair behind her ear, avoiding eye contact, while Izumi stammered out a reply.

“I-I don’t,” Izumi managed, clearly flustered, before turning to address the detective in a desperate bid to shift the focus. “Detective-san, I believe when this interview started, I was instructed to recount all relevant events that led to my survival in Sword Art Online , in chronological order. Correct?”

“That is correct, Midoriya-san,” Detective Tsukauchi responded with a knowing smile but chose not to comment further. “Is there a reason you’re asking for clarification?”

“I should explain the reason I survived that fight first,” Izumi said, her voice regaining some steadiness as she avoided looking at Asuna. She paused to collect her thoughts. “It’s when I met Asuna’s blacksmiths, who will also be my primary support technicians when I become a hero: Lizbeth and Meikhinist.”

Asuna, still blushing, leaned slightly toward Izumi and murmured, and  Izumi gave her a sheepish smile, the tips of her ears still red.

“As usual, Midoriya-san, please provide the real names of any new players you mention in your story, provided you know them,” Tsukauchi said, his professional tone indicating he was ready to move on.

“Rika Shinozaki and Mei Hatsume,” Izumi said quickly, eager to stay on topic. “They are aspiring inventors who used their talents in the game to craft weapons and armor.”

With that, Izumi began recounting the story of meeting them in their shop, her embarrassment finally fading as she immersed herself in the memory.

“Hey, Zumi, this is the place your girlfriend mentioned, right?” an electric-blond teen asked, a teasing grin plastered across his face. He nudged the viridian-haired trans girl beside him, his tone light but playful. Denki was decked out in an open jacket with electric blue trim and a matching lightning bolt design across the back. His shirt was covered by a light armor half-plate, and his color palette-matching clawed gloves completed the look. A twin-pronged spear shaped like a lightning rod rested on his back, and when drawn, sparks of electricity arced between the prongs.

“She’s not my girlfriend, Denki,” Izumi replied quickly, her cheeks heating up. She mumbled “yet” under her breath, just quiet enough for him to miss it. “And why do you care, anyway? Why are you even here?”

Denki smirked, his golden eyes glinting with mischief. “Well, for one, because you’d get lost without me. And two, Suna said they make magic weapons. I need a new sword, ya know? I mean, I like my spear, but there’s a reason people call me Static Berserker cuz I keep chucking the damn thing mid-fight.” He shrugged, throwing his hands up in mock exasperation.

Izumi rolled her eyes, but the corners of her mouth twitched upward. “You do have a talent for losing track of your gear. Maybe you should start tying it to your wrist or something.”

Denki let out a laugh, his voice echoing down the cobblestone street. “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, Zumi. At least I don’t need a tracking system just to find my way to a quest marker.”

The two punk-looking players continued walking through the bustling town of Lindarth  on the 48th floor. Their destination was a player house adorned with a large water wheel, its rhythmic turning accompanied by the sound of rushing water.

“So… why are you so obsessed with lightning-enchanted weapons anyway?” Izumi asked, genuinely curious.

Denki stopped in his tracks, a spark of realization flashing across his face. “Oh, shit, Zumi. Did I seriously never tell you? How have we been best friends for almost two years, and I’ve never brought up my quirk?”

Izumi looked at him incredulously, arms crossed. “Denki, talking about our quirks is literally banned in Aincrad. You know that.”

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” Denki replied with a sheepish grin, scratching the back of his head. “But since we’re, ya know, breaking the rules anyway…” He trailed off. “My quirk’s called Electrification. I can produce electricity and shoot it all over, but I can’t aim it worth crap. That’s why I like lightning enchantments—they feel familiar, ya know?”

Izumi glanced over at him, her expression shifting from amusement to a more serious curiosity. “I see. Guess that’s why you’ve been so fixated on it.”

Denki’s grin returned, brighter than before. “Yeah, makes sense, right? I feel like I’m in control when I use it.”

Izumi nodded slightly, her eyes glinting with understanding. “That’s cool. I get it now.”

Denki chuckled. “Thanks, Zumi. That almost sounded heartfelt. Almost.”

“Don’t get used to it,” Izumi shot back with a smirk. “You know, I never actually told you about my quirk either.”

“Oh? What’s yours called?” Denki asked, his curiosity piqued.

“It’s called System. It’s the whole reason I logged into SAO in the first place,” Izumi said, her lips curling into a devilish smile. “But I’m not giving you all the details. You’ll just have to figure it out for yourself. Gotta give you something to look forward to when we escape.”

Denki let out a laugh, slinging an arm over her shoulders as they continued toward their destination. “You’re lucky I like a challenge, Zumi. Now let’s go meet your not-girlfriend’s blacksmiths and see if they can hook me up with a sword that doesn’t betray me mid-fight.”

Izumi rolled her eyes but smiled. “You’re annoying.”

“And you love me for it,” Denki shot back, his tone warm with the kind of teasing only a best friend could pull off.

It wasn’t long before the duo entered the blacksmiths’ shop. They were greeted by an empty storeroom with a floor covered in various weapons and armor, all enchanted and of high quality.

“So, where is this master blacksmith your not-girlfriend mentioned?” Denki asked after letting out a loud whistle.

“You said it yourself, Bolt. These girls are master blacksmiths. They’re probably in the forge,” Izumi responded absentmindedly as she scanned the room, idly admiring the weapons on display.

“If I were anything like my girlfriend, you’d be correct. Meika will be out in a second. My name’s Lisbeth. welcome to our shop. How can I help you?” spoke a pink-haired woman with cerulean eyes. She was dressed in a red, traditional waitress/maid outfit.

{Normally, I wouldn’t put a note in the middle of a chapter. However, I’ve read the SAO source material, and Liz has blue eyes in the light novels, not the red she has in the anime.}

“Oh, Midori’s not-girlfriend told us you two are Aincrad’s best blacksmiths. She also mentioned you can make enchanted gear like Ashley’s, but, you know, heavier. Not like the leather cloak Midori’s wearing—more like the metal I’ve got on,” Chargebolt said, his trademark flirtatious grin plastered across his face. He couldn’t control the impulse, even though he knew the pink-haired woman was a lesbian. Denki Kaminari was a proud pansexual man, and flirting with attractive people was second nature to him.

“Her not-girlfriend?” Lisbeth asked just before another pink-haired blur of chaotic energy tackled her from the back room.

“DID I JUST HEAR THE BLACK SWORDSWOMAN CAME TO OUR SHOP?!” screamed a pink-haired woman with dreadlocks and crosshairs for pupils in her green eyes. She burst into the room, exuding the chaotic energy of a whirlwind. Her attire was equal parts functional and bold: a pair of well-worn alchemist goggles perched atop her head, a snug, oil-streaked tank top that highlighted her toned build, and a sturdy work jacket hanging open over her shoulders. Her blacksmith’s garb was completed with reinforced, flame-resistant trousers tucked into heavy-duty black boots, their steel toes scratched and scuffed from all her hard work in the forge.

Lisbeth immediately covered her girlfriend’s mouth with a practiced ease, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush. “Meikinist. Please use my username in front of clients,” she said with a mix of gentle exasperation and amusement. Then, with a small sigh, she added, “And I’m not certain. The blond only called her Midori.”

Despite her scolding tone, the affection in Lisbeth’s eyes was unmistakable. Her hand lingered briefly on Meikinist’s shoulder, a subtle but tender gesture that seemed to say you’re impossible, but you’re mine .

Meikinist’s eyes sparkled with unapologetic mischief as she straightened up, grinning like she’d been caught doing something she didn’t regret in the slightest. “Yes, ma’am!” she chirped, offering an exaggerated salute. Then, turning her attention to the newcomers, she said with boundless enthusiasm, “Hello, potential clients! I’m Meikinist!”

She then proceeded to spell out her name and Lisbeth’s name as she pointed to herself and her partner. “She’s my partner and future co-founder of our support company when we escape. I’d tell you the name of it, but...” She glanced at Lisbeth and finished, “I’ve been advised not to reveal it until you and the others clear the game, Blackswordwoman Midori, and Static Berserker Chargebolt.”

“Oh, wow~ Mido, she knows who we are! Is it just us, or is the entire assault team famous enough to be known by Aincrad’s best smiths?” Chargebolt said with his infamous flirtatious grin.

“Black Swordswoman Midori, Lightning Flash Asuna, Static Berserker Chargebolt, Red Samurai Klein, Crimson the Unbreakable, Holy Shield Heathcliff, Agil the Chocolate Axe, and Silent Shadow Loki are all known as the best players in the game,” Meikinist stated matter-of-factly.

“First, yes, I am The Blackswordswoman, Midori,” she began. “I’m also known as the most talented solo player on the Assault Team. My early reputation, my time as a beta tester, and my current level of ninety-five, second only to Heathcliff, have earned me that recognition. Additionally, I am called the Beater of the Frontlines.” Izumi’s tone carried a hint of pride, even when she mentioned the title that often made others turn away from her.

She continued, her voice steady but edged with resignation. “If my reputation precedes me and you’d rather not do business with me, that’s fine. The jacket Ashley made for me and the Elucidator have served me well enough. I came here hoping to commission a pair of custom boots and a new sword, something magical, equal to or stronger than the Elucidator but with similar stat requirements. Also, if possible, I’d like to request an upgrade for my current equipment.” Her expression softened into something forlorn, as if she had already braced herself for rejection.

Lisbeth broke the silence with a soft question. “Who recommended you to us?”

“Asuna,” Izumi replied, glancing briefly at her best friend, who was silently watching her with a knowing look. “She told me you’re the best when it comes to this stuff”

Unaware of the subtle shift in Lisbeth’s expression, Izumi missed how the smith’s gaze lingered on her earrings: beautiful, intricate pieces strikingly similar to the ones Asuna wore when she visited the shop earlier in the week.

.
“Ooh, ooh, I know how to make that badass sword baby,  Liz, Liz! You should totally take the job,” Meikinist chimed in, her excitement bubbling over. “Also, what level do you want your armor babies upgraded to? And do you trust us to work on that pretty jacket baby, Miss Ashley made you? Wait, scratch that I don’t care. Only the best for the Heroes of Aincrad!”

That last phrase hit both Chargebolt and Midori hard. They murmured it in unison, as though the words carried a sacred weight. “Heroes of Aincrad.”

Lisbeth noticed their stunned expressions and quickly stepped in before Meikinist’s enthusiasm could completely overwhelm them. “It’s what us civilian players call you all of you leading the Assault Team. Aside from teaming up with the pros, the KoB, the HDA, and especially the Beater of the Frontlines, we think of you as heroes.

“Midori,” Lisbeth continued, her voice softening, “some still call you a cheater. But for those of us who understand gaming, we see it differently. The player who’s ‘cheating’ is the one dedicating everything to saving us by beating SAO. Over time, the meaning of your title changed. You’re no longer the ‘Cheating Beta Tester.’ You’re the player who will beat SAO.”

Chargebolt didn’t need to look at Midori to know how she would react. She was his best friend, and he knew how much this revelation would mean to her. Swiftly, he wrapped her in a hug, pressing her face into his chestplate to muffle the sound of her sobs. He knew these weren’t cries of sorrow but of relief and happiness.

“I do have one condition, though, Midori,” Lisbeth said firmly. She didn’t wait for the crying girl to compose herself before continuing. “Ask my best friend out. Asuna is head over heels for you don’t lead her on.”

Denki Kaminari hesitated, knowing what he was about to say would break trust and violate the unspoken bro-code. But he also knew it was the only way to push Izumi forward. “She accepts,” he said simply.

Izumi froze, her lips moving absently, her thoughts spilling out as absentminded mumbling.

“…I didn’t ask her out yet because I know I love her… It can’t be like last time. Not like Uravity. Asuna can’t die… Not her. She’s strong… She won’t die because the world hates her, right? Lisbeth said she loves me back. She’s strong, just like me. Maybe this time, it’ll be different…

“…Am I even worthy of her love? Are we already together? We hang out so much… They feel like dates. Were those dates? Maybe we’re already dating. We trust each other with our real names. We share secrets… Maybe if I call our next meetup a date, and she doesn’t make it weird… Maybe then I’ll know.”

Meikinist, the only one who caught her mumbling, glanced at Izumi with tears glistening in her crosshair-shaped eyes. She said nothing, simply letting the moment wash over her.

Izumi barely registered what Denki had said to Lisbeth or how the party was splitting up. She only vaguely noted their assignments: she and Lisbeth would face a dragon miniboss on one of the upper floors, while Denki would team up with Meikinist for material grinding. 

“You didn’t think we were dating back then, Midori?” Asuna asked, her eyes wide with surprise and confusion.

“I didn’t want to lose you… like I lost Uravity.” Izumi’s voice softened, her usual guardedness falling away as she took a deep breath. This room was safe it was filled with family, Asuna’s brother, and three of her favorite heroes. Here, she could afford to be vulnerable. “I love you, Asuna Yuuki, and that scares the living hell out of me. I’ve known I loved you since April, and that was even more terrifying. Loving someone in Aincrad felt like a death sentence.” She paused, then decided to end on a grim, self-deprecating joke. “I mean, my love does have a one hundred percent death rate.”

Asuna caught the meaning behind her words and leaned into the joke, deciding a little teasing might lighten the mood. “Pretty sure Bolt never died.”

Izumi giggled, appreciating the humor. “Yeah, you’re right. Denki’s still alive. Let’s hope he stays that way for a good, long time.”

“Okay, okay, Sis,” Rikku interrupted, practically bouncing with excitement. “What did you and Lisbeth do to get the materials you needed?” Her enthusiasm was palpable, and who could blame her? She was listening to a firsthand account of the Savior of Aincrad’s adventures. Any gamer worth their salt would be thrilled to hear the legendary Midori’s story, especially a fourteen-year-old girl hearing her big sister’s epic tales of courage, adventure,  and danger.

“Oh, I fought a dragon,” Izumi said casually.

Rikku’s eyes widened even further, her expression an open invitation for more details. Seeing her sister’s eager anticipation, Izumi smiled and leaned forward slightly.

“Okay, okay, here’s how it went...”

Two very much underdressed women were scaling a snowy mountain. What made them underdressed? One wore a red frilly dress with short sleeves that billowed slightly in the wind, while the other sported a black skirt with knee-high boots, neither remotely suited for the icy terrain.

Lisbeth shivered violently, her teeth nearly chattering from the biting cold. “Why the hell is this mountain so cold?” she grumbled, arms hugging herself in a futile attempt to conserve warmth.

Izumi, not realizing the irony in her words, snapped back. “It’s probably because you’re not wearing pants or, I don’t know, a jacket.”

Lisbeth stopped, shooting her companion a withering glare. “ You aren’t wearing pants either! How are you not freezing?”

“I’m not cold,” Izumi muttered defensively, her cheeks flushing a deep red as embarrassment crept over her. Her fingers worked quickly through her menu, eyes averted to avoid Lisbeth’s pointed stare.

Lisbeth opened her mouth to fire back another retort, but before she could get a word in, a fur-lined black coat materialized out of thin air. The coat, accented with green trim, hovered for only a moment before Izumi tossed it at her.

“Here,” Izumi said curtly, her tone just a bit too casual. “It’s no pants, but at least it’s a jacket.”

Lisbeth caught it and immediately slipped it on, savoring the warmth as the fur lining hugged her chilled skin. 

It took only an hour or two of fending off trash mobs before Midori and Lisbeth reached the peak of the mountain: the boss room.

The space was stunning: a vast, snowy plateau dotted with jagged, blade-like crystals. At the far end, a towering pillar of icy blue formations jutted skyward, forming a miniature mountain of their own. The light refracted off the crystalline surfaces, painting the frost-covered ground in a kaleidoscope of cool hues.

Lisbeth gasped, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the breathtaking scenery. Midori, however, remained unimpressed, her gaze fixed warily ahead.

Lost in awe, Lisbeth stopped thinking and started wandering, her instincts dulled by the beauty of the place. Before she could stray too far, Midori grabbed her firmly by the hood of her fur-lined coat and yanked her backward.

“Hey!” Lisbeth protested as she spun around to glare at her companion. “What’s your problem?”

Midori’s eyes narrowed, her irritation barely masked. “Oh, my Kami am I the only one in this entire fucking game who understands how AGGRO works?” she snapped, her voice sharp with exasperation. “Seriously, Lisbeth. I’m level ninety-five. You just told me how high-level this dragon is. Unless you think you’re stronger than me, which you’re not. you don’t just wander around in a boss room.”

The frustration in her tone broke through her usual composed facade. Swearing was a habit Midori rarely indulged in, but Aincrad had been dragging it out of her more and more.

Lisbeth froze, her face falling as the rebuke hit home. Her eyes grew distant, shadowed by old memories. She had lost her guild once before. Material farming gone wrong, a misstep by a craftswoman, and the others had died defending her. Now, she had nearly done the same again. But this time, it wasn’t just anyone at risk. It was Midori.

It was Asuna’s girlfriend.

“Sorry,” she whispered, the word heavy with guilt and regret.

Midori sighed, the tension in her shoulders easing just a bit. “Okay, strategy time,” she said, her tone crisp. “You hide in the crystal forest surrounding the summit. I’ll take on the dragon.”

Lisbeth’s head snapped up, alarm flashing across her face. “You can’t be serious-”

“ DO AS I TELL YOU! ” Midori’s voice cracked like a whip, her frustration boiling over. The words echoed between them, a sharp command that stunned Lisbeth into silence.

Realizing she had shouted, Midori softened immediately, forcing a smile that was far too cheerful. “Okay, okay, let’s just forget I yelled,” she said, her tone suddenly playful and coaxing. “You go ahead and hide from the big scary monster while Big Sis Midori kills it for you, okay? Okay! ”

Lisbeth stared at her, half annoyed, half bemused. “You’re insane.”

“ Faas Ru Maar! ”

The roar shattered the sky like a divine hammer, a deep, earth-shaking bellow that seemed to rend the very fabric of the storm-tossed heavens. The sound didn’t just fill the air it crushed it, sending shockwaves that howled across the mountain peak and churned the snow into a blinding, swirling tempest.

The blast of force nearly ripped the two adventurers from their feet. Lisbeth staggered backward, heart hammering in her chest. She barely managed to dive behind a cluster of jagged crystal spires, her breath coming in sharp, frantic gasps as her fingers dug into the frozen ground.

Midori stood alone in the open, unmoved by the fury of the storm. She drew Elucidator with a sound like steel slicing through ice, her black blade gleaming darkly against the crystalline inferno that raged around her.

Then, it emerged.

A hulking shadow darkened the storm-laden sky, growing larger with each powerful wingbeat. The wind roared as if in pain, bending to the sheer might of its descent.

From the stormy heavens, the dragon materialized.

It was a leviathan of ice and fury, a crystalline colossus whose wings stretched like massive, serrated sails of frozen death. Its scales were jagged and brilliant, each one catching and refracting light in a cascade of lethal beauty glittering like diamonds cut with murderous precision. Its elongated snout bore rows of razor-sharp teeth, and its blood-red eyes burned like molten rubies, smoldering with ancient, destructive rage.

It fixed its hellish gaze on Midori.

She didn’t move.

Her eyes narrowed, a dry, humorless smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth.

“Oh, come on,” she muttered, her voice barely more than a whisper. “Seriously, Kayaba?”

This dragon was another mockery of the pre-quirk classics, a living reference plucked straight from The Elder Scrolls . The icy scales. The Dovahzul roar. Even the oversized, frost-wreathed wings.

Her mind flicked to the lesser dragon she’d already butchered to craft her cloak.

This would be no different.

The beast roared again, a blast of pure winter fury surging from its maw—a swirling torrent of frost and razor-sharp ice. The storm seemed to gather around it, feeding the devastating onslaught hurtling toward her.

Midori didn’t blink.

Her cloak snapped in the wind as she surged forward.

The icy breath slammed into her like a tidal wave, freezing everything in its path, but her blade moved with lethal precision. A sharp, arcing slash tore through the torrent, cleaving the attack in two. The frigid blast shattered into a cascade of harmless shards that scattered into the air, twinkling like fragments of fallen stars.

Lisbeth, crouched behind the crystals, felt her breath catch in her throat. She had seen top players before but nothing like this.

Midori’s health bar didn’t so much as flicker.

The dragon recoiled, then snarled. It beat its wings once, a single, thunderous movement that propelled it forward with terrifying speed. Its claws, massive and serrated like curved blades, shot toward her in a brutal swipe.

Midori sprang to meet it head-on.

Her boots scraped against the ground as she parried with a deafening clang, sparks flying as steel met enchanted crystal. The impact sent tremors through the mountain, but she held firm. Without hesitation, she twisted her body and slashed upward, carving a deep, jagged line across the dragon’s chest.

The beast roared in fury and snapped its jaws at her a cavernous maw of icy death.

She smirked, twisting in midair to plant a solid kick to its snout, using the force to vault higher. The dragon’s head snapped backward as she soared above it, her blade poised for the kill.

Her eyes gleamed with deadly resolve.

Time slowed.

With an acrobat’s grace, she spun, angling Elucidator perfectly. Her blade sliced through the dragon’s left forelimb in a single, vicious stroke. The severed limb fell like a glacier collapsing into the sea, smashing into the ground with a thunderous crash that sent fissures snaking outward.

The dragon screamed, a guttural bellow of agony.

Midori landed lightly atop a crystal pillar, her breathing steady. She twirled her blade once, its dark edge glinting in the storm.

Below, Lisbeth couldn’t hold back her impatience.

“What are you doing ? Stop playing around and kill it already!”

Her words were the spark that ignited the storm.

The dragon’s glowing eyes flashed brighter than before, its code activating as it sensed the presence of a high-level blacksmith. With a spine-rattling roar, it reared back and beat its wings furiously, summoning a devastating cyclone of icy wind.

The gust struck like a giant’s fist.

Lisbeth’s scream was lost in the storm as the wind hurled her from her hiding place. She tumbled end-over-end, her body weightless as a leaf caught in a tempest.

She soared toward the edge of the summit.

Over the gaping abyss of a bottomless chasm.

Midori’s blood ran cold.

“LIZ!”

The moment stretched into eternity as she launched herself from the crystal pillar. The sheer force of her leap shattered it into a thousand pieces. Her body hurtled through the air, her arms outstretched, eyes locked on her falling friend.

Wind screamed in her ears as she reached

And caught Lisbeth’s hand.

Her grip was iron.

Twisting her body in midair, she wrapped herself around Lisbeth, using her own body to shield her from the deadly impact.

Together, they plummeted into the abyss.

“Oh wow!” Rikku gasped, her eyes sparkling with wonder. “Zumi, you sounded so cool !” The usual playful facade slipped away, leaving her completely enthralled. Who could blame her? Her sister had fought a dragon. In Aincrad . With how vividly Izumi described her battles, Rikku could almost see it as if she had been there herself.

Koichiro Yuuki, the developer of Alfheim Online , leaned back with a bemused expression. “He really did that? Seriously? Everyone in game design knows about Bethesda’s buggy classics, but to outright rip off their iconic boss enemies?”

“Oh, absolutely!” Izumi grinned, her eyes lighting up with the passion of a true gaming nerd. “There were bipedal monsters that looked like Fallout ’s Deathclaws. Every dragon spoke fluent Dovahzul . And don’t even get me started on the weapons, some of them were straight-up references to Daedric artifacts!”

As her words tumbled out, her enthusiasm was palpable.

Koichiro shook his head, chuckling. “The audacity…”

“How did you escape the chasm, young Izumi?” Yagi asked, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity.

Rikku practically bounced in her seat. “Ooh! Did you guys teleport out or something?”

Izumi’s expression softened, a shadow of the memory flickering in her eyes. “No,” she said quietly. “It was a crystal trap. Certain floors and boss rooms had dampening fields that disabled crystal effects. Teleport crystals didn’t work if you were flagged as being in combat with a boss monster.”

The room grew still for a moment as the weight of her words settled in.

Asuna, snuggled comfortably against Midori, looked up with a teasing smile. “Oh, Midori~,” she purred. “Go on. Tell them about the time in the pit.”

Izumi groaned but couldn’t suppress a small smile. “Fine. But please…” she sighed, her gaze dropping for a heartbeat. “Don’t tell Liz-chan what we talked about down there. It’s… personal.”

She let herself sink into the memory, the dark abyss of the chasm pulling her back into the moment she could never forget.

Izumi blinked as her vision cleared, cold seeping into her back from the mound of snow she lay upon. A weight pressed against her stomach, warm and familiar, the heat of another body radiating through her.

She sighed.

“Midori?” Lisbeth’s soft, trembling voice broke the silence.

“Oh wow, look at that.” Midori’s voice was laced with biting sarcasm. “We’re not dead. Amazing. Now… mind getting off?”

Lisbeth scrambled upright with a start, her cheeks flushing red as she clambered away from her green-haired savior. A flick of Izumi’s wrist sent a health potion flying toward her, which Lisbeth caught on pure reflex.

“Drink,” Izumi muttered flatly, already downing her own.

The pink-haired blacksmith obeyed, swallowing the bitter liquid before wiping her mouth.

“Ugh.” Midori grimaced. “I should have had its aggro. Why’d it target swap to you?” Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Liz, remind me what exactly were the conditions for this material spawn?”

Lisbeth pulled the bottle away from her lips. “A party with at least one player over level eighty to trigger the dragon fight,” she recited, “and one player with Master Rank Blacksmithing to trigger the item spawn.”

Midori clicked her tongue and began pawing through the snow. “Thought so.”

Lisbeth watched her for a moment before curiosity got the better of her. “Care to explain, Midori?”

Izumi’s eyes sparkled with dawning revelation. “This isn’t just some random pit. It’s the dragon’s den. The ingots we’re after? They’re made from what it eats those crystals from the summit. We’re still considered in combat, so we can’t teleport out. But when it returns…” Her smirk turned sharp. “I’ll ride it out of here and kill it.”

Lisbeth blinked. “Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

“Cool. You’re terrifying.”

They dug in earnest after that, scraping through the snow to reveal the gleaming ingots beneath. Each find made their exhaustion grow heavier, but the shimmering metal drove them on. Hours passed as they gathered more than enough for Izumi’s weapon and upgrades, along with a healthy surplus.

When they could no longer deny their fatigue, Lisbeth stretched with a groan. “Dragons are nocturnal hunters, Midori. Let’s sleep and wait for it to return.”

A warm lamp flickered between them as they nestled into sleeping bags. Shadows danced on the icy walls while silence wrapped around the den.

Izumi’s voice broke the stillness. “Hey, Liz?”

“Hmm?”

“Why’d you come with me? Excluding the obvious reason. You and Meka seem like the type to stay in your shop all day, not… out here. Dragon-hunting.”

The question hung between them. Lisbeth’s shoulders stiffened, her gaze lowering. After a long pause, she spoke, deciding that Asuna’s oblivious girlfriend was trustworthy enough with her life story.

“Meka’s… always been an inventor,” she murmured. “She bought SAO to study Kayaba’s tech. But me? I joined to play a game with someone I had feelings for.” She drew a deep, shuddering breath. “We started leveling our crafting skills. Everything was fine… until Argo sold my guild info about a rare material drop. One that I could forge with. Our leader wanted a weapon. But we didn’t have Trap Detection.” Her voice cracked. “We got caught. Everyone else died… protecting me. Only Meka and I made it out.”

“I’m sorry,” Izumi whispered, her voice cracking under the weight of Lisbeth’s heartbreaking story. Her mind drifted to the faces of her own lost comrades, the memory of the Moonlit Black Cats casting a long, sorrowful shadow over her thoughts.

The silence between them stretched, thick with shared grief.

“Midori?” Lisbeth’s soft, tentative voice broke the stillness. She bit her lip before pressing forward with a bold question.

“Yeah?” Izumi’s reply trembled slightly, raw emotion still tugging at her heart.

“Why do you think you and Asuna aren’t together?” Lisbeth’s words came carefully, yet her tone carried a knowing edge. “She’s head over heels for you. You know that, right?”

Izumi flinched as if struck. A bitter, humorless laugh escaped her lips.

“Because I’m too scared.”

The words hung in the air, fragile but heavy with truth. Tears welled in her eyes as she met Lisbeth’s gaze, a decision forming to return the trust that had just been shared.

“I wasn’t always a solo player,” Izumi began, her voice soft and unsteady. “I joined a low-level guild once. My plan was to train them and bring them into the frontlines. They were kind, hopeful… Some of them even wanted to be heroes in the real world.” Her lips quivered. “I… I fell in love with one of them. Her name was Uravity. She was from the countryside, had the sweetest accent. I trusted them with two of my biggest secrets.” Her throat tightened. “But not my title. Or my level. They didn’t know I was the Beater of the Frontlines , or that I was twice their level.”

She clenched her fists.

“One day, a simple item-farming trip… It should have been routine. But we got caught in a trap. I wasn’t fast enough to save any of them.” Her voice broke completely. “Uravity’s last words to me… She told me she felt the same.”

The memory crushed her. Her breath hitched as she stared into the flickering light.

“I’m terrified, Liz. Terrified that if Asuna and I become official, she’ll die in my arms just like Uravity did.”

Lisbeth’s heart ached at the vulnerability laid bare before her. She reached out, her hand resting firmly on Izumi’s shoulder.

“She won’t,” Lisbeth said with quiet conviction. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t. I’ll craft the best gear Aincrad’s ever seen for both of you. Whatever it takes to keep you safe.”

A weak, grateful smile twitched at the corner of Izumi’s lips.

“Liz… can I trust you with the other reason I’m scared to tell her?”

“Of course.” Lisbeth’s eyes were steady. “Whatever it is, I’m here.”

Izumi inhaled sharply. Her hands shook slightly, but she forced herself to speak.

“I’m trans, Liz. I’m terrified to love someone in this world, someone who doesn’t know who I really am. What if it’s all… limited to this place?”

The confession hung between them, raw and exposed. Izumi braced herself, waiting for the worst.

Instead, Lisbeth grinned, her eyes gleaming with fierce loyalty.

“Midori… She’s not going to care. She loves you. And I only met you today, but I know who you are. You’re Midori, the Black Swordswoman. The most badass girl in SAO. ”

The warmth in Lisbeth’s voice shattered the last of Izumi’s fear, filling the den with a newfound, unspoken bond.

A quiet stillness settled between them, thick and suffocating. The chill of the snowy pit pressed into Izumi’s bones, but it wasn’t the cold that made her shiver. The flickering lamplight cast wavering shadows across the cavern walls, fragile like the thoughts swirling in her mind.

Izumi stared at the light, her breath shallow. Her heartbeat echoed in her ears louder, heavier as if counting down to an inevitable end. A decision formed in the pit of her stomach, gnawing at her insides, clawing its way to the surface.

She closed her eyes.

“Hey, Liz…” Her voice was soft, too soft, trembling just enough to betray her.

Lisbeth’s head tilted, a frown knitting her brow as she turned toward her friend. “Yeah?”

Izumi swallowed, the motion painful, her mouth dry as sand. Her chest felt too tight, her words scraping like glass against her throat. “Did Asuna ever tell you about the tradition we have on the assault team? The Tradition of Trust?”

Lisbeth’s eyes narrowed with concern. “Yeah,” she answered carefully, her voice quieter now. “The one where the Clearers share their real names… just in case something goes wrong.” She paused. “Why are you—”

“Izumi.” The name fell from her lips in a rush, as if holding it back any longer would break her apart. Her smile was a fragile, bitter thing, curling painfully at the corners. “Izumi Midoriya.” Her voice cracked, and she laughed—a hollow, empty sound that hurt more than silence. “Just in case I don’t make it…”

“Midori-” Lisbeth reached for her, alarmed, but Izumi pressed on.

“I have a little sister, Liz. And a mom. They’re waiting for me back home.” Her fingers clenched in her lap, nails digging into her palms as her eyes glistened. “If… if I don’t get the chance… you have to tell them. Tell them I thought about them every single day I was here.” Her breath hitched. “Every day I survived, it was for them. Every time I fought, I told myself I had to keep going… for them.” Her words spilled faster, her voice breaking apart. “But if I don’t… if this is it… they need to know…”

A sharp, aching silence followed.

Lisbeth’s heart wrenched. She sucked in a breath, trying to force words past the lump in her throat, but all she managed was a whisper. “Rika Shinozaki.”

Izumi’s eyes lifted, full of sorrow and something close to shame.

When we do make it out, you come find me. I’ll be waiting. Because if you don’t survive…” Her voice broke, but she steadied it, resolve hardening. Her fingers wrapped around her friend’s trembling hand, gripping tight. “If you don’t make it, then the rest of us won’t make it, either. You have to survive. Do you hear me? You have to.”

Izumi’s lip quivered, her resolve crumbling as her tears finally fell.

They stared at each other for a moment that stretched infinitely, a bond forged in sorrow and trust, unspoken fears and fragile hope.

Slowly, they shifted into their sleeping bags. The darkness felt less cold, the pit less deep, as their hands found each other’s once more grasping, holding tight, as if by sheer will they could keep the world from falling apart.

That night, they fell asleep hand in hand, carrying the weight of each other’s truths

The two were jolted awake as the first light of dawn crept into the pit. Their preparations were swift and deliberate, the chill of the snowy cavern gnawing at their resolve. Izumi silently strapped on a second blade, her face set with grim determination. They knew the dragon would return, and a deafening roar soon confirmed it.

The Crystal Dragon, healed and emboldened from a night of hunting, swept into its lair with the ferocity of a storm. The light glinted off its razor-sharp crystalline hide as it reared, jaws wide to devour the prey it had drawn into its nest.

But Izumi was ready.

She was no ordinary player. Her unique skill, [Dual Wielding], was a manifestation of her reflexes, the fastest in the game a skill unknowingly honed by how her quirk had rewritten her neural pathways. Her eyes glowed a toxic green, an eerie fire that burned with predatory focus.

In a single, fluid motion, she scooped Liz into a one-armed fireman’s carry, her body a blur of speed. With a forceful leap, she launched up the cavern wall, boots finding impossible traction as she ascended like a streak of lightning. At the apex of her climb, she twisted midair and drove her sword between the dragon’s massive wings.

The beast shrieked, twisting violently, its immense body hurtling skyward as it tore free from the cavern’s confines. High above the world, icy winds screamed around them. Izumi adjusted her grip, allowing Liz to cling to her back, arms tight around her shoulders. Freed from her burden, she now wielded both blades with deadly grace.

With a flourish, she ripped Elucidator from the dragon’s back and spun into a vicious slash, her second blade following in a blinding arc. Crystal shards exploded like jagged stars. Kicking off its hide, she twisted into a midair somersault, her momentum carrying them just above the beast’s soaring leap.

Twenty-two strikes rained down, each blow delivered with lethal precision. Her eyes burned with green fire, calculating every angle, exploiting every weakness. As the dragon writhed beneath her assault, she hurled her offhand blade in a deadly arc straight into its left eye. The dragon howled, its roar shaking the heavens as it flailed in agony.

Izumi and Liz landed on the tip of a towering crystal spire, their breathing ragged. Below them, The dragon crashed onto the mountain’s summit, writhing in torment. Izumi’s eyes burned with fierce determination as she kicked off into a plunging strike, ripping the discarded blade from its eye in a spray of shards and severing its right wing and forearm in one savage motion.

As her feet found solid ground, Liz disentangled herself from Izumi’s back, her wide eyes filled with awe and exhilaration.

Izumi’s grip tightened on her blades. With a flourish, she twirled them, her dexterity and speed unmatched now that she was free to move without a passenger. She dashed toward the crippled dragon, her feet a blur as she closed the distance in a heartbeat.

“ Starburst Stream! ”

The ground cracked beneath her as she propelled herself skyward. Her swords moved as extensions of her soul, blurs of black and blue light.

The first strike shattered the dragon’s icy breath as it coiled in its throat. Sparks of frost and steel ignited like a burst of falling stars. One strike. Two. Four. Eight. Every blow hammered into the dragon’s unbreakable scales, chipping away its defenses in a relentless storm.

The beast reared, breath gathering again, but she gave no reprieve. Twisting midair, her dual blades carved through its hide in a flurry of flashing arcs. Each movement was a masterstroke, each strike faster than breath.

The final slashes came in a crescendo of force. Seventh. Eighth. Ninth. The air cracked and howled as the combined power of Starburst Stream exploded against the dragon’s chest.

With a cry of triumph, she brought her blades down in a final cross-slash, and the world detonated in a storm of crystal shards. The dragon roared its last as its body shattered into a cascade of glowing particles.

As silence fell, Izumi landed gracefully, her breath heaving, her swords still singing with residual energy. Above her, the sky cleared as peace however brief claimed its victory

< Congratulations: X’rphan The Ainceint White Wyrm, has been defeated.> 

<4,500 Cor received.> 

<15 Crystal Dragon Scales received.> 

< Large Crystal Dragon Skin received.> 

<Crystal Dragon Egg received.> 

“Midori, did you just…? So, that’s what you need a second sword for,” Liz said in awe, still processing the incredible display she had just witnessed.

“Yeah,” Izumi replied, finally catching her breath. She unequipped her offhand blade. “Last year, on the anniversary of the game, I was granted a unique skill for my reaction time. It's called Dual Wielding . I don’t flaunt it, though, because I already get enough hate. I know Klien, Loki, and Heathcliff also have unique skills.”

“Mind telling me the prerequisites for it?” Liz asked playfully, a teasing smile on her lips.

“Near-instant reaction time and being ambidextrous, according to the skill description,” Izumi said thoughtfully.”

Lisbeth let out a small whistle, clearly impressed. She then reached for Izumi's now-free hand. “Well, let’s get out of here.” After a brief pause, she pulled out a teleport crystal, calling out, “Teleport Lindarth,” and in an instant, they were enveloped in a glowing white light.

Aizawa noticed only one detail about Izumi’s story and decided to call it out. “You were illogical. One should use any and all skills at their disposal to survive.”

“And she did!” Asuna interjected, defending her girlfriend. “Izumi revealed the skill to everyone as a means to solo the Seventy-fourth floor boss and save the lives of idiots. I’m more surprised that she chose to use it against the dragon.”

“I used it a lot when I was solo,” Izumi explained, her tone growing serious. “But I chose not to when I was part of the raid teams. I didn’t want to die. People hated me, Eraserhead. If I revealed that I also had a unique skill, they would have killed me to be ‘fair’ to the other players.”

Izumi noticed the confused looks she was receiving and decided to clarify. “Unique skills are, as the name implies, unique. Only one player can have a skill at a time. Asuna was faster than me, she easily could’ve gotten the skill. I got it because I was best suited when the skills were released.”

Inko, curious about her daughter’s life, decided to ask a more personal question. “How did Denki and Meikhinist react to you two not getting back until early this morning, sweetie?”

Izumi flashed a playful smirk, turning to her now-blushing girlfriend. “Oh, they weren’t the only ones who reacted…”

It was a short walk to Lisbeth’s blacksmith shop, one the two made in casual discussion, only to be interrupted by a pink-haired woman with dreadlocks tackling the other pink-haired woman.

“Rika! You’re okay! I was so worried!” the pink-haired craftswoman cried, holding her girlfriend tightly.

“I’m okay, Mei. I was with the best player in the game. You should have seen her. She was amazing when she killed the dragon. She showed me a skill I’ve never seen before,” Liz said with a smile. “I missed you too.”

“Don’t do that to me again! I don’t know what I’d do without you!” Meikhinist sobbed, her voice trembling.

“I love you too, Mei.” Liz said, lifting Mei’s head gently to plant a soft kiss on her lips.

Chargebolt, deciding to give the two pink-haired women their moment, walked up to his best friend. “So you used it, didn’t ya?”

“I had no choice, Denks. We got trapped in a pit, and…” Izumi trailed off, beginning to tell the story of her fight against X’rphan.

“Yeah, if I had your sick unique skill, I would’ve used it then too.” Denki paused, noticing that Izumi’s story had caught the attention of both girls. “So, we should get that gear we came for?”

It didn’t take long before Izumi and Denki were dressed in their casual wear, and the crafters got to work making their new weapons and upgrading their original gear. Well, except for Izumi’s cloak—Meikhinist had claimed she wouldn’t disrespect Ashley by working on someone else's “baby.”

Izumi was dressed in a black V-cut shirt, a black frilly skirt with green lining, and a pair of red athletic shoes.

Denki wore a yellow T-shirt with black trim, black slacks with yellow electric patterns stitched into the sides, and a pair of black tennis shoes. 

“I never asked, but why the red shoes?” Denki asked casually as he waited.

“Oh! I had Ashley make them for me. They remind me of home. My sister got me a similar pair when I came out to my family. I wear them all the time,” Izumi replied with a smile.

Only after she finished speaking did Liz open the door to their forge and invite the two inside.

Chargebolt’s new outfit was a subtle yet notable upgrade from his previous attire, retaining much of his signature style but with a few modern touches. However, it was his new sword that truly caught the eye. The one-handed short sword gleamed with a fierce brilliance, its blade crackling with sparks of electricity that flickered with each movement. The blade itself was forged from deep, obsidian-black metal, giving it an ominous yet sleek appearance. Running down its length were intricate crystal-blue lightning bolt designs, their edges glowing faintly as though infused with the raw power of storms themselves. These bolts seemed almost alive, crackling with energy, ready to unleash a surge of force at a moment’s notice.

The hand guard was a striking feature, crafted from the rare metal that Izumi and Liz had painstakingly gathered. It had a smooth, polished surface that shimmered subtly in the light, and its design was both protective and stylish, curving slightly to provide a firm grip. The handle was wrapped in dragon leather, its dark, textured surface providing both comfort and a secure hold, with the warmth of the material contrasting against the cold, metallic blade.

At the pommel, the sword was crowned with a sculpted lightning bolt, sharp and angular, as though the weapon itself was a conduit for the storm’s fury. The pommel’s design added a dynamic sense of power and aggression to the sword, making it clear that this was a weapon meant to strike with speed and force.

Izumi’s outfit, fully kitted out and maxed for improvements like Chargebolt, was now at +50, with a bit of a redesign. Izumi was no longer wearing a skirt. Instead, she wore black skinny jeans with tattered patterns that tucked neatly into her knee-high boots. She maintained her multi-belt aesthetic and toxic green trim.

Her sword, however, was a graceful one-handed straight sword that exuded an aura of purity and strength. Its blade was slender and elongated, with a faint translucent quality that gave it an ethereal, almost ghostly appearance. The blade itself was soft, pale white, but the translucent nature of the material allowed light to pass through it in a way that created subtle shifts in color, making it look as though the blade was always in motion, even when still. While slender, the blade was sturdy and sharp, offering a perfect balance between precision and power. Its edges were finely honed, and the sword’s overall appearance was sleek yet practical, designed for swift, graceful strikes.

The grip of the blade was made of smooth, polished silver, lending it a refined, almost regal aesthetic. There was a slight tinge of blue to the silver, giving the sword an added layer of mystical energy. The grip was carefully crafted to fit perfectly in the wielder's hand, allowing for both a firm and comfortable hold during combat. The guard of the sword was simple but elegant—a subtle, cross-shaped design that complemented the blade's overall aesthetic without detracting from its delicate beauty. The guard was made from the same silvery material as the hilt, with a polished finish that enhanced its shine.

At the pommel, a small, circular emblem rested, its smooth surface reflecting light in a soft glow. The pommel’s design was simple, yet it brought a sense of balance and completeness to the weapon.

“We didn’t name the weapons,” Liz said with a smile. “Figured their wielders should do it.”

“Storm’s Edge,” Denki said as he sheathed his new weapon.

“Dark Repulser,” Izumi murmured, her gaze fixed on the blade. “I mean, doesn’t it look like it repulses the darkness?”

“God, you’re such a chunni, Zumi!” Denki said, laughing.

Just as the two named their new weapons, the door to the forge was forcefully flung open with a loud bang.

“LIZ! You’re safe! Where were you?” Asuna called out, leaping toward her friend and wrapping her in a tight embrace.

“I was with her. Gathering rare materials,” Liz replied, a knowing smirk crossing her face. Based on Asuna’s reaction, she hadn’t even noticed her girlfriend standing there.

“Hi, Asuna!” Izumi said sheepishly, nervously raising her hand in greeting.

“Mi-do-ri?” Asuna said slowly, processing the fact that Liz had spent the day with the woman she loved.

“...”
“...”
“...”

Time seemed to stand still in the forge as Asuna processed Izumi’s presence. Though only seconds passed, it felt like an eternity. And then, without warning, Izumi found herself caught in one of Asuna’s infamous death hugs.

“I... uh... I missed you... Asuna,” Izumi said, her voice small and pensively uncertain.

“Where were you guys?” Asuna asked, her face flushing slightly.

“Oh, nothing. I just solo’d X’rphan while carrying Liz on my back. To get her to make me a cool new sword,” Izumi answered nonchalantly.

Once again, Asuna was left speechless. This time, it wasn’t from embarrassment, but from pure shock. She had been worried sick about possibly losing her best friend, only to discover that her near-suicidal girlfriend had been off fighting field bosses while carrying her friend like a backpack.

Asuna made a decision in that moment, a decision she wasn’t entirely sure about. She knew she and Izumi were a thing, but with Izumi’s loner personality and nervousness, maybe Izumi hadn’t fully realized it, too. Well, not for much longer.

Asuna lifted her head slightly to meet Izumi’s gaze, her heart racing. And without hesitation, she pressed her lips softly onto Izumi’s. She let out a quiet, contented sigh when Izumi returned the kiss, the tension between them finally dissolving.

“I see, so that’s what you meant,” the nurse said with a soft smile.

“Yeah, it’s because of the talk Liz-chan and I had. I decided to stop rejecting my feelings for Asuna. Fortunately, it was the same day Asuna decided to kiss me,” Izumi replied, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

Yagi, sensing the conversation had strayed, decided it was time to steer things back on track.

“I assume the upgraded gear is what helped you survive the battle with Laughing Coffin?” he asked.

“Oh, definitely!” Izumi said, nodding. “Dusty was super strong. It’s surprising, but the entire guild was on par with the Assault Team.”

Chapter Text

Patient Report
Name : Rika Shinozaki
Age : 17
Blood Type : O-negative
Gender : Female
Hair Color : Brown
Eye Color : Brown
Date of Birth : 05/18/XXXX
Quirk : Armory (Refer to Quirk Registry for detailed description of abilities and limitations)

Diagnoses and Persisting Medical Conditions :

• Severe malnutrition (Body Mass Index < 15 kg/m²; chronic caloric deficiency with associated micronutrient deficits)

• Sarcopenia (Marked loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength)

• Microcytic anemia (Iron-deficiency anemia due to prolonged malnutrition)

• Hypertension, stress-induced (Intermittent elevations in blood pressure exceeding 140/90 mmHg)

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (Intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, avoidance behaviors linked to SAO trauma)

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) (Prolonged low mood, anhedonia, cognitive dysfunction)

• Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) (Severe emotional distress triggered by separation from trusted individuals)

Case Summary :
Ms. Shinozaki is one of the 6,147 survivors of the Sword Art Online (SAO) Disaster, where her consciousness was trapped in a death game for nearly two years. Upon awakening, she exhibited profound physical atrophy and a complex psychological dependence on a small, trusted network of individuals.

She displays hyper attachment to the following figures:

• Mei Hatsume (romantic partner)

• Izumi Midoriya (close friend and fellow survivor)

• Asuna Yuuki (intimate friend and fellow survivor)

• Andrew Gilbert Mills, Denki Kaminari, and Ayano Keiko (peer survivors providing emotional support)

Significantly, she accepts medical care only from Chief Nursing Officer Inko Midoriya and Pro Hero Dr. Shuzenji (Recovery Girl). A working hypothesis suggests that her trust in Inko Midoriya stems primarily from the latter’s role as Izumi Midoriya’s mother, a direct extension of her attachment to Izumi. This association may serve as a psychological anchor that mitigates her separation anxiety and reinforces feelings of safety. The strength of this bond should be evaluated further to inform future care planning.

Treatment Plan and Interventions :

• Nutritional Rehabilitation

• Caloric Repletion Protocol with high-protein enteral supplements transitioning to balanced meals.

• Micronutrient supplementation targeting iron, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies.

• Physical Rehabilitation

• Resistance and cardiovascular therapy with neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES).

• Anemia Management

• Ferrous sulfate with vitamin C for enhanced iron absorption.

• Psychiatric and Behavioral Therapy

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy for trauma-related symptoms.

• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) for mood stabilization.

• Attachment and Trust-Building Strategies

• Regular sessions with Mei Hatsume and Izumi Midoriya to strengthen coping mechanisms.

• Exploration of broadened care relationships to reduce reliance on a limited caregiver pool.

Monitoring and Follow-Up :

• Biweekly psychiatric sessions.

• Quarterly physical health assessments.

• Annual reassessment of caregiver attachment and trust dynamics.

• Weekly quirk-assisted physical therapy sessions with certified quirk therapists.

Quirk Regisrty

Quirk Registry Analysis

Name: Rika Shinozaki
Quirk Name: Armory
Quirk Type: Emitter
Classification: Euclid
Evaluator: Dr. Tsubasa Arashi
Registry File ID: ARM-E-4179

Functional Overview:

The quirk Armory grants the user the ability to summon and equip specific clothing, light armor, and small tools from a personal storage space. This allows for rapid adjustments of gear in certain circumstances, though the user is limited by both quantity and weight. This quirk is primarily suited for niche tactical applications, though it suffers from significant limitations that reduce its overall utility in prolonged or high-intensity combat.

Capabilities:

1. Limited Extradimensional Storage:

• The storage space can only hold a maximum of 5 items at any given time.
• Only small, lightweight objects such as light armor, simple tools, and standard clothing can be stored. The storage space cannot hold anything heavier than 60 kilograms in total mass, and objects larger than a typical sword or basic armor piece cannot be stored.
• Items must be manually stored in the dimension prior to use.

2. Instantaneous Summoning:

• Summoning stored items can be completed within 2 seconds, provided the user has clear intent and concentration. However, this time is increased if the user is under stress or experiencing fatigue.

3. Situational Flexibility:

• The quirk allows the user to adjust their equipment quickly, but only as long as the appropriate items have been pre-stored. This does not allow for spontaneous or creative solutions, as the user is restricted to the gear stored in the dimension.

Physiological Enhancements:

1. Enhanced Spatial Awareness:
• The user exhibits slightly improved spatial reasoning, aiding them in recalling stored items. However, this ability is relatively basic and does not extend beyond managing a small inventory of objects.
2. Mild Reflex Improvement:
• The quirk provides a slight boost to reflexes when equipping gear, but this effect is not enough to drastically improve combat performance. It is more of a quick gear adaptation than a combat-based enhancement.

Limitations:

1. Storage Capacity and Object Limits:

• The storage dimension can hold a maximum of 5 items, with a combined weight limit of 60 kilograms. Objects that exceed this limit or are too large (e.g., shields, heavy armor) cannot be stored.
• Only basic items such as clothing, small armor pieces, and basic tools can be stored. Larger, more complex objects like weapons, advanced gadgets, or multi-piece armor sets cannot be accommodated.

2. Energy Demands:

• Summoning items is not without cost. Each use drains a moderate amount of the user’s physical stamina, and excessive use without rest can lead to fatigue and muscle exhaustion. The quirk is not sustainable over extended periods, and frequent use can leave the user physically drained.

3. Focus and Mental State:

• The user’s mental clarity plays a significant role in the quirk’s performance. Stress or mental overload can lead to improper summoning (e.g., summoning the wrong item) or total failure of the ability. If the user is tired or mentally fatigued, the quirk’s reliability suffers.

4. Preparation Dependent:

• Items must be pre-stored in the dimension, meaning the quirk cannot generate objects spontaneously. If the user fails to prepare and store the appropriate items in advance, the quirk is rendered ineffective for that situation. This heavily limits the utility of the quirk in fast-paced, unpredictable environments.

5. Physical Restriction:

• The user cannot summon items during heavy physical exertion, such as while running or in combat. Attempting to summon while in motion is likely to cause delays or summon failures.

Risks and Observations:

1. Dimensional Instability:
• While unlikely, overloading the storage dimension with too many items or exceeding the weight limit may result in temporary glitches or a failure to retrieve the desired object. This could result in losing an item from storage or the summoning of incorrect gear.
2. Physical Strain:
• As noted, repeated use of the quirk can lead to physical muscle exhaustion, especially in prolonged combat scenarios. While the quirk does not exert the user to the extent of physical injuries, metabolic stress over time can cause decreased overall stamina and physical performance.
3. Combat Vulnerability:
• Summoning items requires a short period of stillness. Combatants are vulnerable during this time, especially when trying to equip or swap gear in the middle of a fight. This time window increases under stress, leaving the user open to counterattacks.

Scientific Considerations:

• The Armory quirk appears to function through a spatial manipulation mechanism, albeit with extremely limited storage capabilities. The physical limitations of the quirk reflect an inherent constraint in its dimensional manipulation.
• Neuroimaging has revealed heightened activity in the parietal and temporal lobes, likely correlating with the user’s enhanced spatial reasoning. However, this enhanced ability does not extend to other aspects of cognition, meaning it is specifically tied to the user’s interaction with their storage dimension.

Classification Rationale:

The Armory quirk is classified as Euclid due to its constrained storage capacity, reliance on preparation, and the necessity of mental clarity for proper functionality. Although it has situational utility, it lacks flexibility in chaotic or unpredictable environments, making it less effective in high-stakes combat scenarios.

Evaluator’s Notes:

The Armory quirk’s capabilities are limited by both storage constraints and energy demands, which diminish its overall usefulness in prolonged conflict. While tactical adaptability can be a significant advantage in prepared scenarios, users must manage both their physical and mental stamina carefully. Additionally, proper preparation is essential for effective use, and a lack of appropriate gear can drastically hinder the quirk’s efficiency.

Evaluated and documented by:
Dr. Tsubasa Arashi
Quirk Analysis Specialist

“So, we can safely assume that the upgrades provided by the inspiring support technicians are the reason you managed to survive this inevitable confrontation with the villain organization you’ve referred to as Laughing Coffin?” Nedzu inquired in his usual chipper tone.

“Yeah, that and all the upgrades Ashley made just before the conflict,” Izumi replied, a crestfallen smile tugging at her lips.

“Excuse me, Miss Midoriya,” the detective interjected, leaning forward slightly. “You’ve mentioned the name Ashley several times. Could you clarify who she truly is?”

Izumi glanced at her mother, an embarrassed look flickering across her face. Taking a deep breath, she finally admitted, “Don’t tell Uncle Masaru.” She paused to gather her courage before continuing. “Ashley is Auntie Kiho.”

Both Inko and Rikku gasped in surprise, though their expressions quickly shifted to recognition. They were well aware that one of Inko’s old college classmates and best friends had been trapped in SAO as well. Their shock was broken by the detective’s need for clarification.

“Kiho Aodamo,” Izumi elaborated. “She went to U.A. with Uncle Masaru, Auntie Mitsuki, and Mom. Later, she became Uncle Masaru’s rival in the fashion industry. She’s credited as one of the best hero costume designers of her generation.”

Inko nodded, a fond smile on her face. “That’s right. Kiho was brilliant. She designed some of the most iconic costumes of our time.”

“For the record, Nurse Midoriya,” the detective asked, now clearly intrigued, “what did you and the others you mentioned study at U.A.?”

“I earned my medical degree under Dr. Shuzenji. Masaru and Mitsuki pursued business degrees. If my daughter attends U.A., it wouldn’t be her first time walking those halls,” Inko said with a proud smile. “Isn’t that why you’re so invested, Dean Nedzu?”

Izumi tilted her head curiously. “Wait, you went to U.A. after I was born? Mom, how old was I when you graduated? And how old was Rikku?”

“You were five, sweetie, and your sister was still a baby,” Inko explained gently. “I didn’t know who Hisashi truly was back then. He never asked about my schooling. To me, he was just a boyfriend I spent time with during my university days. But I was blessed with you two wonderful girls, and that’s all that mattered.”

“Ever since U.A. transitioned into a university thirty years ago, we’ve maintained a daycare program to support our adult students with children,” Nedzu said with an educator’s tone. “As for your question, Miss Midoriya, U.A. protects its own.”

Returning to the topic at hand,Yagi interupted. “Now, to bring us back on track, Izumi-shoujo, please tell us the events leading up to and during your raid on the villain organization Laughing Coffin.”

Izumi nodded, exhaling slowly. “It started with a meeting in August. Heathcliff called together only the most trusted members of the Assault Team. By trusted, I mean those he was certain weren’t villains. The attendees included myself, Asuna, the Pro-Heroes, Klein, Crimson, Loki, Joker, Scintiller, Schmitt, and a dozen members from both the Holy Dragon Alliance and the Knights of the Blood Oath.

“We all swore that anything we saw during the meeting and the raid would remain a secret. I’m only willing to provide full details if none of the involved parties face consequences,” Izumi said firmly, locking eyes with the detective.

“All other player names will be redacted from the official report and recording, as per your request,” Detective Naomasa replied, his tone serious.

“I give my word as the Number One Pro Hero: none of you will face punishment for your actions that day,” Yagi added, his voice resolute.

“My staff and I will not take action against any of the SAO survivors,” Nedzu assured her.

“Kid, in underground heroics, we know when to keep our mouths shut and when to look the other way,” Aizawa said dryly, his expression neutral but supportive.

“Come on, sis. I’m not going to say a word—promise,” Rikku said with a grin, though she quickly tempered it with a solemn, “I promise.”

“Can’t. You said two people I care about were involved, so my lips are sealed,” Koichiro said firmly.

“Doctor-patient confidentiality, sweetheart,” Inko said with a soft smile. “Anything you say to me, even when I’m in uniform, stays in this room.”

Izumi looked around, reassured by their promises. “Okay… so…” she began.

A large group of players had gathered within the guild base of the Knights of the Blood oath (K.o.B.). Not all in attendance were members of the guild, but the air was tense with anticipation.

The chatter came to an abrupt halt when Heathcliff stepped forward, his voice calm but commanding. “Laughing Coffin has gone unchecked for far too long,” he began.

Asuna, Midori, and Midnight moved to the front of the gathering. Asuna’s gaze swept across the assembled players, her eyes filled with quiet determination.

“Before we continue,” Midori spoke, her voice solemn, “this is a voluntary mission to fight Laughing Coffin. Aside from Heathcliff and myself, participation is optional. If you do not wish to join, now is your chance to leave. The only non-combatant in this room should be Heathcliff.”

A player from the crowd scoffed loudly. “Why doesn’t the boss get a choice? And why are we stuck with you?”

Asuna flinched. She knew her girlfriend was disliked, but hearing the open hostility still stung. Midnight’s discomfort was evident, but Midori remained composed, her expression tinged with sadness. Heathcliff, on the other hand, looked apologetic.

“Because I can die,” Midori answered flatly. Her eyes held no anger, only a weary acceptance. “If I die, no one will miss me. Like it or not, Heathcliff and I are the highest-level players in the game. Only one of us can risk their life fighting Laughing Coffin, and the choice is simple, we can’t afford to lose Heathcliff. I am expendable.”

Silence filled the room.

Heathcliff’s eyes softened. “Midori is only seventeen,” he said quietly. “Seventeen. And she speaks of dying like it’s nothing.” His gaze swept over the crowd. “I’ve never seen someone so willing to sacrifice herself for people who show her nothing but hatred.”

Izumi’s words hung heavily, but she knew they weren’t entirely true. The subtle reactions around her betrayed the emotions her statement had stirred Nemuri, Emi, Keigo, Ryoutarou, Eijiro, Denki, Yuga, Hitoshi, and Neito all showed traces of grief and disbelief. She could feel Asuna’s grip tighten painfully on her hand. Yet, despite the silent protests, no one voiced opposition. The grim reality was undeniable: the Beater was a more acceptable sacrifice than the leader of K.o.B.

“If you are not equally prepared to die,” Heathcliff’s voice hardened, “then leave. Now.”

The room stirred. One by one, players began to leave. In the end, nearly two dozen members of K.o.B. remained, along with a dozen and a half players from the Holy Dragon Alliance, the entirety of Fuurinkazan, the Pro-Hero players, and Midori’s closest friends.

“Now,” Midnight began, her tone steady, “let’s move forward. Keep in mind that this mission is strictly confidential . Everything shared here must remain a secret. Midori, would you care to start by briefing us on their leader?”

Midori took a deep breath, stepping forward. “Dust2Death or ‘Dusty,’ as he’s called. He’s known as the Prince of Hell. He isn’t just a villain in this world. He’s either the son or student of a villain who specializes in killing heroes. That’s something he told me himself.” Her tone darkened. “He claims to be my big brother. He claims that my father, whom I haven’t seen in almost a decade, is his ‘Sensei.’ He told me all of this after admitting he logged in after murdering the Pro Hero who was supposed to play this game.”

“Dusty is unhinged, vicious, and insane. He fights with a cleaver. Survivors of Laughing Coffin raids say they only escaped because he got bored. He also possesses a unique skill that bypasses armor defense and deals true damage.”

Outrage erupted in the room at her words. Cries of “That’s unfair!” and “How can a PKer have a unique skill?” filled the air.

Midori walked calmly through the crowd until she reached Klein. Without hesitation, she grabbed him by the arm and pulled him to the front.

“So, it’s unfair that the bad guys have one unique skill?” Midori asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Poor us. I guess we can never win.” She turned to face the crowd, her eyes blazing with determination. “Guess what? We have two unique skills in this very raid.”

She gestured to Klein. “Battoujutsu. Prerequisites: completion of the Katana skill tree and the One-Handed Long Sword skill tree. Klein has maxed out both, reaching level one-twenty.”

With a swift motion, she opened her menu and equipped her sword. “And this is Dual Wielding. Prerequisites: near-instant reaction time, ambidexterity, and completion of One-Handed Long Sword, Short Sword, and the Martial Arts Extra Skill. I don’t use it in boss fights because enough people hate me already. If they knew about this skill, half of them would try to kill me for it. We don’t need the Assault Team turning into Red Players over my ambidexterity.”

Her words silenced the room.

Heathcliff eventually spoke, his voice calm but firm. “The use of Dual Wielding will remain confidential. However, we do request that you use it when necessary, especially in critical boss fights.”

Midori nodded, her expression resolute. “If the need arises, I will.”

And with that, the meeting continued.

They swiftly transitioned into discussions about key members of Laughing Coffin, starting with Red-Eyed XaXa. His penchant for dual-wielding curved daggers and his reputation for deadly precision were well-documented. His most notorious skill, Phantom Step , allowed him to blur his movements, making him nearly impossible to track in combat. Players who had survived encounters with him described the experience as fighting a shadow every step echoed from multiple directions, confusing even the most skilled warriors.

Next was Johnny Black, infamous for his mastery of poisons. His signature attack, Nightshade Fang , could paralyze opponents with a single strike, leaving them defenseless as he delivered the final blow. His underhanded tactics and ruthless cunning made him one of the most feared assassins in Aincrad. His ability to craft toxins with ingredients found in the field meant that even common items could become lethal in his hands.

Finally, they discussed Morte, a former clearer who had turned rogue. Known for his deceptive nature and unparalleled skill in psychological manipulation, Morte had earned his place in Laughing Coffin as a master strategist. His use of large weapons, particularly scythes, combined with his signature skill Reaper’s Touch , allowed him to drain health from his enemies while simultaneously restoring his own.

For every name discussed, Midori, Heathcliff, and the other leaders outlined known abilities, preferred tactics, and potential countermeasures. They analyzed every detail of these killers, from their combat patterns to their likely ambush points. Even players without monikers but with a reputation for brutality were scrutinized, ensuring no surprise would go unaccounted for.

The air grew heavier with each revelation. The danger became undeniable, and the true scale of the mission loomed like a storm cloud over the assembled players.

“You all have the choice to walk away,” Heathcliff reminded them once more. “But if you stay, understand the cost. No one will think less of you for choosing to protect your own life.”

Midori stood silently, her eyes scanning the faces of those around her. She saw fear. She saw resolve. And she saw the bonds that had formed in the fires of survival.

No one moved.

“We’re in this together,” Klein said firmly, placing a hand on Midori’s shoulder. “No one fights alone.”

A murmur of agreement rippled through the room, growing into a unified determination that burned brighter than the shadows of fear.

Midori clenched her fists, a small smile tugging at her lips. “Then let’s end this.”

With plans finalized and roles assigned, the raid to dismantle Laughing Coffin began.

“We thought we were prepared. We were naive. What should have been a simple capture-and-arrest raid quickly became a bloodbath… No, it was a blood-stained nightmare.” Izumi released a shaky breath, her voice trembling as she clarified. “Ten, ten heroes, even if they didn’t carry the title outside, they were heroes. We lost them in that battle. And as for the villains… Twenty of them refused to surrender. We had no choice but to use lethal force to subdue them. Of those twenty… Two fell by my own blades.”

The room fell into a heavy silence, the weight of her confession hanging thick in the air.

“Kid,” Aizawa’s voice cut through, calm but firm. “You’re not the only one here who’s taken a life. And no, I don’t mean Asuna.” His dark eyes softened just slightly. “I’ve killed during arrests too. Sometimes, villains leave you no other option.”

His words carried no judgment, only the unvarnished truth of the job. It was rare, it was grim, but it was real.

Izumi blinked, surprised by the unexpected comfort. Tears streamed down her face, but a small, grateful smile broke through her anguish. “Thank you, Eraserhead,” she whispered, the words trembling with raw emotion. Deep down, she knew she would never forgive herself, not for Rosalia, not for the members of Laughing Coffin. The memory of Kayaba’s death, however, was different. That one didn’t haunt her. His death was necessary. His death freed them all.

Detective Naomasa’s voice was steady and compassionate. “Please give us a full account of the raid on Laughing Coffin’s base. If it becomes too difficult, take your time. No one is rushing you.”

Izumi took a deep breath, her heart pounding as the memories began to resurface. “Schmitt… believe it or not, he led the raid…”

“Eyes up, everyone. We’re closing in on the location that was leaked to us.” Schmitt’s voice cut through the tense silence, prompting the entire raid team to shift into defensive positions.

Izumi released her girlfriend’s hand, the warmth of Asuna’s touch slipping away as she reached for her blades. The Elucidator and Dark Repulser felt heavier in her grasp than ever before: an odd sensation for weapons she had long since mastered. A dark weight settled in her chest, a premonition she couldn’t shake. This raid wouldn’t be simple. Dusty wasn’t the type to surrender quietly.

Her eyes swept over her companions, noting every subtle sign of tension. Ingenium’s rigid posture and Ms. Joke’s unusually focused demeanor stood out immediately. Loki and Edgeshot, the raid’s ninjas, maintained loose, coiled stances: ready to strike from the shadows at a moment’s notice. The samurai of Fuurinkazan braced themselves defensively, their katana steady in hand.

But it was the expression in Asuna’s eyes that made Izumi pause the fierce, determined glint that spoke of unrelenting resolve. It was a side of her she seldom saw, and it sent a chill down her spine.

Then there were the faces that worried her most. Hawks, usually calm and confident, held an edge of tension in his body, and Midnight’s eyes flashed with an unspoken concern. Even more disquieting was Joker. His trembling hands barely kept a grip on his longsword, his usual bravado stripped away.

Schmitt, always one to break the tension with a joke, chuckled. “Maybe if we’re lucky, the PKers will just give up without a fight,” he said with a grin. His attempt at humor was followed by a reassuring nod. “We’re stronger, better trained, and higher level than they are. We’ve got this.”

And then…

All hell broke loose.
The cavern loomed ahead, dark and ominous. Tendrils of mist curled around jagged stones as the raid team approached the entrance, their weapons gleaming under the faint light filtering through cracks in the rocky ceiling. The air was heavy with the smell of damp earth and something more sinister—iron and decay.

Schmitt raised a hand, signaling a halt. His voice, usually brimming with bravado, was low and sharp. “We go in fast and hard. Formation three. Watch your corners, and don’t get separated.”

As Schmitt’s voice echoed off the cavern walls, the raid team surged forward. Izumi dashed ahead, her boots thudding against the rocky ground. Dusty’s wicked grin hovered in her mind as her grip tightened on Elucidator and Dark Repulser . Every sense was heightened her heart thundered in her chest, her breathing sharp and measured. She had fought Laughing Coffin before, but this time was different. This time, it was war.

With a swift hand motion from Schmitt, the team surged forward into the cavern.

The first ambush came like a thunderclap.

The ground erupted in a cloud of smoke and traps. Metal spikes shot upward, forcing the raid members to dodge or deflect. Loki, the swift ninja, vanished into the shadows, while Edgeshot spun away, throwing shuriken that clanged against hidden blades. Ingenium and Ms. Joke threw themselves in front of the charge, their combined efforts shielding the team. Sparks flew as metal clashed against Ingenium’s shield, the force reverberating through his frame. Ms. Joke’s whip snapped like a living thing, wrapping around a spike and yanking it free before it could embed in a teammate.

 A high-pitched laugh echoed from the darkness mocking, cruel.

“Welcome, heroes! We've been expecting you,” a voice jeered.

From the gloom, Laughing Coffin players appeared clad in black and red, their faces twisted with malevolent glee. Dust2Death led them, his cleaver resting on his shoulder, the massive weapon stained with old blood. His eyes, bright with madness, locked onto Izumi.

“Well, well… my little sister comes to play.” His voice was a purr, and the words struck her like a blow.

Izumi lunged forward without thinking. Her blades flashed, but Dusty deflected with ease, sparks flying as steel met steel. He countered with a savage swing of his cleaver, and she barely twisted aside in time.

Their weapons met with a deafening clang. Sparks burst into the air as her twin swords pressed against his monstrous cleaver. Dusty grunted, a wild grin stretching his face as he pushed back with raw strength, forcing Izumi into a backflip to evade his follow-up swing that gouged a deep scar into the stone floor.

All around them, chaos reigned.

Klein roared as he drove his katana into a Laughing Coffin assassin’s chest. “Watch your flanks!” he barked, pivoting on his heel to deflect a second strike. The assassin’s dagger glided toward his neck, but he parried with expert precision, slamming his elbow into his foe’s face.

Klein and the samurai of Fuurinkazan moved as a single entity, their blades creating a deadly symphony. One samurai unleashed a downward slash, splitting a dagger-wielder’s weapon in two before delivering a fatal blow. Another blocked a strike with his sheath, drawing his katana in one fluid motion to decapitate his opponent.

Asuna was a whirlwind of silver and fury. Her rapier, Lambent Light , moved with breathtaking speed, each thrust and parry a blur. She faced off against Red-Eyed XaXa, their blades meeting with a ferocity that sent shockwaves through the cavern.

XaXa sneered. “You’ve improved, Flash , but you’ll need more than speed to beat me!” He unleashed a flurry of twin-blade strikes, the air screaming with every slash.

Asuna’s eyes burned with resolve. She parried high, deflected low, then twisted into a spin that brought her blade to his side. XaXa barely evaded, his grin faltering as she drove him back step by step.

Loki darted through the melee, his kunai flashing as he targeted the vulnerable backs of Laughing Coffin members. A rogue turned, slashing wildly, but the ninja vanished in a puff of smoke, reappearing behind his foe to plunge a dagger deep into their neck.

Edgeshot wasn’t far behind, his lithe frame moving like quicksilver. His hands blurred as he sent shuriken spinning into exposed throats, then darted forward.

Hawks, moved with fluid precision as he darted through the chaos. His twin daggers gleamed under the light, the blades razor-sharp and perfectly balanced. “Eyes up, Dusty!” he taunted, tossing the first dagger with expert accuracy. It flew through the air, aimed directly for Dust2Death’s cleaver-wielding hand.

Dust2Death snarled, spinning his massive cleaver in a wild arc, knocking the dagger out of the air before charging toward Izumi. His weapon came down with brutal force, aiming to cleave her in two. Izumi raised Elucidator to block, feeling the crushing weight tremble up her arms. She gritted her teeth and sidestepped, her free hand drawing Dark Repulser to lash out in a horizontal slash.

The cleaver collided with her blade mid-swing, sending sparks flying as they locked together, their sheer force pushing against each other.

“You’re just like him,” Dusty hissed. “Afraid. Weak.”

Izumi’s eyes burned with defiance. “I’m not afraid of you!” She twisted her wrists, disengaging with a flourish, and struck upward with Elucidator , aiming for his throat.

He ducked, and his cleaver slammed toward her midsection. She leapt back just as Asuna appeared at her side, her rapier driving Dusty away with a rapid series of thrusts.

More Laughing Coffin members swarmed from hidden tunnels, blades flashing, eyes wild with the thrill of bloodlust. Ms. Joke weaved through the enemies, her rapid movements confusing and disorienting them long enough for Ingenium to strike.

Midnight cracked her whip, snaring a masked player by the ankle and yanking hard. “Sweet dreams,” she whispered as he collapsed into unconsciousness.

Johnny Black surged toward the raid’s flank, poison daggers gleaming. He swiped at Joker, who blocked with his longsword. Joker shivered as their weapons met, but he held firm, twisting his blade to disarm the poison-wielder. “Not today,” Joker muttered, slashing upward and sending Johnny reeling.

“Push them back!” Schmitt bellowed, his axe cleaving through a PKer’s sword. “Break their line!”

Izumi felt the weight of every swing, the burden of every choice. Her blades moved like lightning, cutting through flesh and steel alike. The air grew thick the haunting cries of the fallen.

Dust2Death loomed again, his eyes glinting with sadistic joy.

“Let’s finish this,” he growled, charging.

Izumi braced herself, knowing the fight was far from over.

The roar of battle drowned out all but the pounding of Izumi’s heart. Dust2Death had slipped through her fingers, and his absence left a dangerous emptiness a predator retreating to strike again. Her instincts screamed at her to stay vigilant, to not let her guard down. Yet, as the chaos swirled, her focus wavered, drawn to a silver blur moving faster than her mind could process.

Asuna!

Her name left Izumi’s lips in a breathless whisper as she witnessed her beloved cut down an enemy with brutal efficiency. The gleam of her rapier, Lambent Light , shone like a beacon. Each strike in her signature Star Splash combo was precise and deadly, punctuated by the hollow thud of a body falling to the ground, followed by the sharp ring of particles dissolving into nothingness.

Then the scream.

It wasn’t a sound of triumph, but a heart-wrenching cry of despair that chilled Izumi to her core. Asuna crumpled to her knees, her rapier slipping from her fingers. She trembled violently, clutching her arms as though the very weight of her actions threatened to break her.

The battlefield contracted in Izumi’s vision one singular point of focus, one moment where nothing else existed but her .

Izumi surged forward, blades flashing as she cut down an attacker trying to capitalize on Asuna’s vulnerability. She met him mid-swing, Dark Repulser driving the blow aside with a furious clang before she thrust Elucidator deep into his chest. The man's eyes widened, a silent gasp escaping his lips before he exploded into pixels.

“Stay back!” a familiar voice roared beside her.

Chargebolt stood protectively over Asuna, electricity coursing up his arms and into the long spear he wielded. His eyes blazed with fierce determination as he drove his weapon into a rushing foe, electricity arcing from the spearhead in a brilliant cascade that reduced the player to a shattering heap.

“Not on my watch!” he snarled as his spear crackled with renewed power, warning any others who dared approach.

Izumi twisted around just in time to block another strike, but before her blade could connect, her enemy disintegrated. For a moment, confusion clouded her mind until she noticed the crimson blur beside her.

Crimson.

The young swordsman lowered his tanto, the weapon still trembling in his grip. His eyes were wide, pupils dilated as he stared at the pixels floating through the air. His lips moved, but no words came. His first kill.

Izumi's heart clenched painfully. I know that look.

“Keep your guard up, Crimson!” she barked, snapping him from his daze.

Her words came just in time. Another foe lunged forward, and she struck without hesitation. Elucidator drove through her target’s chest, the familiar resistance of a fatal blow sending a shiver through her arm. She pulled free with a grunt, the body dissolving into a flicker of green.

The battlefield was a nightmare of blood and sorrow. Everywhere she turned, she saw comrades forced into grim acts of survival.

Loki stood with kunai loosely gripped, his eyes wide with disbelief. His breathing was ragged, and his entire body trembled as he looked down at his hands. His kill had been a reflex, a defensive strike that pierced the throat of a rogue aiming to skewer him.

Midnight’s whip cracked through the air with a sharp, final snap. The end of her weapon tangled around a fallen player’s neck, his body convulsing before shattering. She stood still for a long moment, her chest heaving as she slowly lowered her weapon, staring into the space where her opponent had been with an expression that spoke of regret.

Ingenium planted his shield into the ground with a force that shook the earth. A Laughing Coffin member crumpled beneath it, rolling helplessly before tumbling into the abyss of a shattered ledge. His face twisted with grim resolve, every action heavy with understanding. He had been trained for this, but no amount of preparation could soften the truth of taking a life.

Schmitt roared from the center of the formation, his axe cleaving into another assassin. “Hold the line! Don’t let them scatter!” he bellowed. His orders carried through the cavern, keeping the raid team from splintering.

The battle had soon ended, but there was no celebration. The cavernous hideout, now eerily silent, held only the echoes of the brutal clash. The victorious assault team stood among the shimmering remains of fallen enemies and allies alike.

A somber weight hung in the air.

Though they had won, it felt like a hollow triumph. Ten comrades-heroes-had fallen, lives snuffed out far too soon. For many of the survivors, a different wound had opened within. They had crossed a line that could never be uncrossed: they had taken lives to survive.

Izumi felt the ache of it in her bones as she scanned the faces of her friends. Crimson clutched his tanto like it might slip away and take his composure with it. Loki sat on the ground, staring blankly at the kunai resting in his lap. Chargebolt leaned against a rock wall, his spear lowered, the crackling electricity gone as though his very soul had dimmed.

Her heart twisted painfully.

But it wasn’t until she turned and found Asuna that her breath caught.

The auburn-haired swordswoman knelt where she had fallen, her rapier discarded on the ground, her eyes fixed on a single spot where her foe had vanished. Her body trembled, her hands clutching herself as though trying to hold together pieces of a heart that had shattered.

Without hesitation, Izumi rushed to her.

Dropping to her knees, she gripped Asuna’s shoulders firmly, her voice trembling with urgency. “ Asuna! Look at me! ”

The touch broke through the fog of her despair. Asuna’s wide, tear-filled eyes met hers. Her lips quivered as she whispered, “I… I killed him. I killed him.”

“I know, baby. I know.” Izumi’s heart ached with every word. She pressed her forehead against Asuna’s, her voice soft and filled with the deepest love. “You did what you had to. We all did.”

Asuna gasped, shaking her head as fresh tears spilled down her cheeks. “But-”

“No.” Izumi’s voice, though gentle, carried an unyielding strength. “No buts . We have to live with today, all of us. Look at me.”

Asuna’s eyes, glassy and filled with pain, slowly lifted to meet hers.

In that moment, Izumi made a decision born not of logic but of love. She couldn’t offer Asuna absolution; no words could erase the weight of what they had done. But she could give her something else: the promise that she wouldn’t face it alone.

Her hands cradled Asuna’s face, her thumbs brushing away the tears that wouldn’t stop falling. Her gaze, steady and full of tenderness, held Asuna’s with unwavering resolve.

“Thank you,” Izumi whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “You saved my life Asuna.”

Asuna’s breath hitched, her eyes widening in shock and recognition.

Before doubt or regret could steal the moment away, Izumi leaned forward and kissed her.

It wasn’t a kiss of passion but one of connection, an anchor in a storm, a quiet but fierce declaration that whatever burdens lay ahead, they would bear them together. Their lips pressed softly, trembling with unspoken truths and shared pain. The warmth of it, the simple touch of love amid the carnage, was a spark of humanity in a world that had forced them to become warriors.

When they pulled apart, Asuna’s breathing was ragged, but something in her eyes had shifted. The anguish was still there, but it was tempered by the glimmer of hope and the knowledge that she wasn’t alone.

“I’m here,” Izumi murmured, pressing a hand over Asuna’s heart. “I’ll always be here.”

And for the first time since the battle had begun, Asuna allowed herself to believe it.

“That day stayed with all of us,” Izumi whispered as she clutched the ice-cold hand of her girlfriend.

Unintentionally, her words triggered a panic attack in Asuna. The reminder of her own trauma caused her breathing to quicken, her chest heaving with invisible weight.

The temperature in the hospital room began to drop.

Aizawa’s sharp instincts kicked in as the chill seeped into his bones. His dark hair lifted, and his eyes glowed fiercely with a golden hue. The freezing air immediately ceased its descent.

“Yuuki!” he barked, his commanding voice cutting through the fog of panic. “Breathe, kid. You’re freezing us all out.”

Izumi’s eyes widened, and she quickly moved Asuna’s trembling hand to her chest. She began to breathe deeply, exaggerating the rhythm to guide her girlfriend. Despite being just as shaken by the story she had recounted, she shoved her own emotions aside. Asuna came first.

“You’re okay,” Izumi murmured softly, her tone unwavering as she maintained the calming pattern.

The warmth of her touch and her steady breathing, coupled with the strange but relieving emptiness caused by her quirk being erased, slowly helped Asuna regain control. The tremors subsided, and the panic ebbed away, leaving only the ghost of fear behind.

“Better?” Izumi asked gently, still holding Asuna’s hand to her heart.

Asuna nodded weakly, her breathing even but her eyes haunted.

“So, their leader escaped.” Yagi broke the heavy silence, his expression grave. “A leader who most likely blames you for the fall of his gang of killers.”

He pulled out his phone as he spoke, his fingers already dialing a number.

Izumi gave a slow, reluctant nod.

With that silent confirmation, Yagi began a phone call. “Hello, Madam President? Yes, this is regarding the SAO disaster... While interviewing the survivor who defeated the game, we learned something urgent.”

He paused, listening intently.

“Yes, ma’am. We need a hero protection detail assigned to the hospital where the survivors are being treated. No, ma’am, it’s possible my nemesis is still alive.” His voice grew harder, more determined. “Yes, he had agents trapped in the game as well... Yes, ma’am. Extra protection measures, please. I’ll send you a list of the players involved.”

He rattled off each username Izumi provided before finally ending the call.

Meanwhile, Aizawa quietly typed out a message to his fiancée. His thoughts drifted briefly to his own responsibility as a father. His phone vibrated as he made a decision.

He turned back to Izumi. “Forgive me, kid. It’s irrational, I know, but I’d feel better being part of the protection detail for Hitoshi.”

After a brief exchange with Yagi to hand off their principal, Nedzu, Aizawa gave a curt nod and departed, his mind already focused on his next priority protecting his son.

Chapter Text

Medical Report

Patient Information:
Name: Carina Hosaka Tomo
Age: 19 years
Blood Type: AB+
Gender: Female
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Date of Birth: 06/05/XXXX
Quirk: Mystic Eyes (Refer to Quirk Registration for detailed description)

Diagnoses and Persisting Medical Conditions:

• Severe Malnutrition

• Body mass index (BMI) < 15 kg/m², indicating chronic caloric deficiency with associated micronutrient deficiencies.

• Sarcopenia

• Significant reduction in skeletal muscle mass and strength, consistent with prolonged nutritional deprivation.

• Microcytic Anemia

• Iron-deficiency anemia secondary to extended periods of malnutrition.

• Stress-Induced Hypertension

• Episodic elevations in blood pressure exceeding 140/90 mmHg, correlating with acute stress episodes.

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Symptoms include intrusive recollections, hypervigilance, and persistent hyperarousal, following trauma.

• Paranoid Personality Disorder (PPD)

• Manifested by pervasive distrust and suspicion of others. The condition appears to have developed secondary to PTSD-related trauma, characterized by significant interpersonal mistrust.

Case Summary:

Miss Carina Hosaka Tomo is a documented survivor of the Sword Art Online incident, an event with profound psychological and physical consequences. She is one of the few non-Pro-Hero survivors who participated as a beta tester for the virtual environment of Aincrad. Within this digital setting, she reportedly held notable prominence among the survivor community.

Her experiences during the Sword Art Online incident have precipitated severe psychological sequelae, including a pronounced form of paranoia typically observed in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders. However, her condition is more accurately classified as Paranoid Personality Disorder, hypothesized to be a derivative complication of her PTSD. This diagnosis is supported by her marked distrust toward medical personnel.

Miss Tomo has explicitly limited her trust in healthcare providers to Chief Nursing Officer Inko Midoriya, attributing her confidence to a personal connection: "Izzy-Kuro's ma' can be trusted, not kill me." This reference to "Izzy" likely pertains to Izumi Midoriya, a fellow survivor and beta tester of Sword Art Online and the daughter of Chief Nursing Officer Midoriya. Given her reliance on this relationship, continued care by Nurse Midoriya is recommended to maintain patient cooperation and treatment adherence.

Recommendations and Care Plan:

• Nutritional Rehabilitation:

• Initiate a carefully monitored refeeding protocol to address malnutrition and prevent refeeding syndrome.

• Supplementation with essential vitamins and minerals, including iron for anemia correction.

• Physical Rehabilitation:

• Implement a graded physical therapy program to mitigate sarcopenia and restore muscle strength.

• Psychological Support:

• Continue trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to manage PTSD symptoms.

• Consider pharmacological intervention for anxiety and hyperarousal, as appropriate.

• Trust-Building Strategies:

• Maintain consistent care under Chief Nursing Officer Midoriya to foster patient cooperation.

• Avoid unnecessary personnel changes and implement clear, predictable routines.

• Monitoring for Hypertension:

• Regular blood pressure checks with stress-reduction techniques incorporated into daily routines.

Prognosis:

Prognosis is contingent upon adherence to the recommended multidisciplinary treatment plan. While psychological recovery may be protracted, a supportive, stable therapeutic environment will enhance outcomes

Signed,
Chiyo Shuzenji, MD, PhD (Recovery Girl)

Quirk Registry Analysis

Name: Carina Hosako Tomo
Quirk Name: Mystic Eyes
Quirk Type: Mutation (Sensory Enhancement and Emotional Perception)
Classification: Euclid
Evaluator: Dr. Yukihiro Kirigaya
Registry File ID: CT-ME-0321

Functional Overview

The Mystic Eyes quirk grants Carina Hosaka Tomo advanced sensory capabilities, emotional insight, and mild cognitive enhancements. By leveraging unique ocular and neural mutations, the quirk enables the user to perceive dimensions of reality beyond normal human capacity. These abilities include clairvoyance , retrocognition , and emotional visualization , making this quirk an exceptional tool for analysis, strategy, and interpersonal understanding.

Core Abilities

• Clairvoyance

• The user can observe distant objects, individuals, or events in real time, unaffected by physical obstructions.

• Effective range: 5 kilometers under optimal conditions.

• Retrocognition

• Grants the ability to reconstruct vivid details of past events tied to a specific object or location.

• Maximum temporal depth: 10 years for events with strong emotional or situational significance.

• Emotion Perception

• The user perceives emotional states as distinct, colored auras surrounding individuals.

• Emotional intensity and nuance are clearly identifiable, even in crowded environments or when individuals attempt to mask their feelings.

• Spatial Awareness

• Provides advanced situational awareness by integrating enhanced visual input with spatial memory. This ability aids in navigation, combat, and reconnaissance.

• Cognitive Boost (Mild Intelligence Enhancement)

• A mutation in the frontal lobe provides a mild increase in cognitive efficiency, enhancing analytical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making during quirk activation.

Physiological Basis

The Mystic Eyes quirk is the result of significant ocular and neurological adaptations:

• Ocular Enhancements

• Advanced Retina: Specialized photoreceptive cells capable of detecting subtle variations in light, enabling detailed perception at long distances and under low-light conditions.

• Iris Adaptations: Displays dynamic coloration corresponding to quirk activation states (e.g., gold for retrocognition, blue for clairvoyance, violet for emotion perception).

• Neurocognitive Adaptations

• Enhanced Optical Lobes: Increased neural density in the occipital lobes enables high-speed processing of visual data, improving clarity and precision during quirk activation.

• Frontal Lobe Augmentation: Anomalous growth in the frontal lobes enhances cognitive abilities, particularly in logic, memory recall, and strategic thinking.

• Limbic Integration: Improved connectivity between the limbic system and visual cortex facilitates accurate emotional perception.

• Perceptual Imprint Processing

• A unique neural structure allows the user to store and analyze sensory imprints associated with objects or locations, enabling retrocognition.

Limitations and Drawbacks

• Energy Demands

• Prolonged use of any ability requires significant metabolic energy. Overuse leads to fatigue, blurred vision, and temporary migraines.

• Clairvoyance Limitations

• Limited by environmental interference such as electromagnetic fields or dense materials. Range and clarity diminish under adverse conditions.

• Retrocognition Limitations

• Event reconstruction is contingent on the strength of emotional or temporal imprints. Mundane or insignificant occurrences are challenging to discern.

• Clarity decreases when examining events older than 10 years or with weak contextual ties.

• Emotion Perception Limitations

• While accurate, this ability may be overwhelmed in densely populated areas or by individuals with extreme emotional volatility.

• Physical Weakness

• Sustained use of enhanced abilities causes temporary motor impairments, such as tremors or disorientation.

• Cognitive Overload

• Simultaneous use of multiple abilities increases the risk of sensory overload, resulting in disorientation or hallucinations.

Risks and Observations

• Psychological Strain

• Regular exposure to intense emotional auras and reconstructed events may contribute to anxiety, emotional fatigue, or paranoia.

• Privacy Concerns

• The ability to perceive emotions and reconstruct past events raises ethical concerns regarding privacy and consent.

• Dependence Risk

• Overreliance on enhanced sensory and cognitive abilities may erode the user’s capacity to navigate situations without them.

• Cognitive Side Effects

• The frontal lobe enhancement, while beneficial, may lead to symptoms such as over-analysis, obsessive thought patterns, or mental fatigue after prolonged use.

Classification Rationale

The Mystic Eyes quirk is classified as Euclid due to its powerful but controlled abilities. While its capabilities are significant, the operational limits, potential for overload, and psychological risks ensure that the quirk remains manageable under proper training and oversight.

Evaluator’s Notes

Carina  Hosaka Tomo’s Mystic Eyes quirk demonstrates extraordinary potential in investigative, strategic, and reconnaissance applications. However, disciplined use and regular psychological evaluations are necessary to mitigate risks associated with mental strain and dependency. Further study into the neural and ocular adaptations may provide insights into advanced quirk training techniques.

Evaluator: Dr. Yukihiro Kirigaya

“Okay, girls, can we talk about your lives in Sword Art Online ? You tell many stories about combat, but even the greatest heroes know to rest once in a while. I assume you took days off to simply rest and relax,” Yagi said in a calm tone, attempting to unwind after the revelations of the day so far.

“Well, there is the story about the Ragu-Rabbit. We can talk about that,” Asuna said with a smile.

“Oh yeah! That was a great time. I remember getting the idea to invite our friends to enjoy a meal with us. After that, we stayed in a party until the end of the game, didn’t we?” Izumi asked happily as she began to reminisce, feeling a wave of nostalgia for her friends.

“When we can all walk again, we should do that again at Agil’s bar or something,” Asuna suggested, noticing the look on Izumi’s face.

“Yeah, we should! Anyway, I guess that’s a good enough story, right, All Might?”

“That is acceptable, yes.” All Might replied. 

We find our green-haired protagonist deep in the woods, engaged in a late night farming session. She had finally resolved to level up her Cooking skill, not solely because her girlfriend had recently mastered it (a skill she also possessed in real life), but also because completing her Alchemy skill required mastery of Cooking. Determined and focused, she hunted high level prey animals for rare crafting materials. That’s when she stumbled upon it.

<Item Drop List>
«Ragout Rabbit Meat x1»

A Ragout Rabbit, an S class prey monster. She had dispatched it almost absentmindedly, tossing a senbon at a pale green rabbit as a joke. To her surprise, the needle found its mark.

Grinning mischievously, she thought about cooking it just to tease Asuna by telling her she had fed her one of her “brothers.” Recently, their friends had started calling her a “green bunny” due to her vibrant green hair and bouncy, energetic personality. However, the Ragout Rabbit was no ordinary monster. This S class ingredient was something only Asuna could cook properly to unlock its full flavor and potential.

Still brimming with energy, Izumi decided to keep farming in the same field a bit longer. If luck was on her side, she might find another Ragout Rabbit or two. With enough meat, she could host a lavish dinner for her entire friend group, a perfect feast to share a rare triumph in Aincrad.

"Seriously, Midori?" Asuna asked, exasperated. "You only killed the second-rarest monster... for a joke?"

"I take no blame for that!" Izumi said indignantly. "You guys started calling me a 'Green Bunny' because when I got comfortable with everyone, I stopped being sarcastic all the time."

"It's because you're cute, like a bunny!" Asuna said defensively.

Izumi clicked her tongue in mock irritation.

"How many did you get, Sis?" Rikku asked, deciding to change the subject.

"Four. And about fifty regular rabbits, plus a whole bunch of other ingredients that would be great for a stew," Izumi replied casually with a wave of her hand.

Realizing there wouldn’t be any more interruptions, Izumi decided to continue her story from when she met up with Agil.

In a remote shop on the 50th floor, Izumi stood with a cloaked woman with light brown hair and a large man of African descent.

“Seriously, guys, I don’t know if I should sell these or not,” she said. “Asuna’s been tied up with her guild’s new movement restrictions, and without her, my plans are shot.”

"Ya know, Izzy-kuro, her guild kinda has the right idea, yeah? I get the whole solo act and all, but ain’t there still a psycho loose from that lil’ raid y’all pulled on those PKers?" Argo spoke, her voice tinged with uncharacteristic concern.

I’m not worried about him, Argo. Dusty calls me his little sister. Even most psychopaths don’t mess with their ridiculously overpowered little sisters.” Izumi waved off Argo’s worry with a casual flick of her hand.

“Why does he call you his sister, Midori?” The large man, Agil, spoke up, his deep voice curious.

“Turns out my dad’s some kind of supervillain, and when he ditched my sister and me, Dusty was left to raise me.” Izumi’s tone was serious, her expression calm.

"Izzy-kuro, don’t take this the wrong way, but how the hell do ya even know that? He could be, I dunno, lyin’. Psycho types ain’t exactly the most reputable sources, ya know." Argo said, her usual playful tone only slightly masking the twinge of concern in her voice.

“He called me Izuku,” Izumi said evenly. She trusted these two. Argo and Agil were among the few who knew she was transgender.

Argo’s eyes shot wide open, her playful smirk vanishing in an instant. “He… fucken … what? ” she growled, her voice dripping with uncharacteristic fury.

Her hands clenched into fists as a dark scowl twisted her features. “Tch. Figures. Fitting for a psycho to be a damn bigot, too.”

“Actually, no, he’s not,” Izumi replied with a small chuckle. “He was just confused. Said it was sad his Sensei didn’t know his own kid’s gender. Not that I’m defending him, he is the founder of Laughing Coffin.” Her eyes softened. “But thanks for getting mad for me, Tomo-chan.”

Agil smiled. “Well, at least we don’t have to add ‘transphobic’ to the man’s list of crimes. Still a sick bastard. I’m just glad he’s been quiet since you guys took them out.”

“So he ain’t technically transphobic? So what. Bastard had no right usin’ that name.” Argo’s voice was low but fierce, her eyes narrowing with deadly seriousness. “It’s not okay, Izumi. Not by a long shot.” 

It was just after this that Asuna entered the shop, hoping to surprise her girlfriend and share the plans to map the dungeon on the 74th floor.

Completely unaware of the conversation taking place, Asuna approached from behind and tapped her girlfriend on the shoulder. Izumi, focused elsewhere and facing away from the entrance, didn’t notice her—or the black-haired bodyguard quietly trailing behind.

Izumi jumped, startled. “Asuna! Kami, you scared me… WAIT, ASUNA!”

““Oi, Aa-chan, who’s the creepy guy lurkin’ behind ya?” Argo inquired, her trademark smirk returning as her eyes flicked toward the figure. “Friend of yours, or should I be worryin’ about gettin’ my claws dirty?”

“Hi, Midori, Agil, Argo. Sorry if I startled you.” Asuna smiled politely before continuing. “I came to let Midori know about the dungeon raid planned for later this week. And no, Argo-chan, it’s okay. This is Kuradeel, my bodyguard. Heathcliff decided that everyone who participated in the Laughing Coffin raid needs to have someone with them at all times.” Asuna explained, completely unfazed by the situation.

She then turned to Kuradeel and dismissed him. “You can head back to the guild hall. Report that I’ll be spending the rest of the day with The Black Swordswoman, Midori.”

“Actually, more than just me, Asuna.” Midori grinned, clearly excited. “I got a rare cooking material. Figured you and I could cook it up and have a bunch of our friends over for a fun gathering. These two included.”

Midori’s voice held a bright tone, a sharp contrast to the tension that had been building. She hadn’t been able to spend any real quality time with Asuna that wasn’t related to clearing the game in over a month, and she missed the random days off they used to enjoy.

“Lady Asuna, I cannot in good conscience leave you alone with this Beater!” The long-haired, older member of K.O.B. said, his face twisted in disapproval.

However, his words didn’t have the effect he expected. Asuna’s expression darkened, her body stiffening with barely contained rage. Argo, ever protective, had already equipped her claws, and Agil, well, Agil was reaching for his axe.

No one, not since the Laughing Coffin raid, dared to refer to Midori as the "Beater" with such disdain.

“Aa-chan, get him the hell outta here… NOW ,” Argo snapped, her playful tone gone, replaced by a sharp edge as she slid into a ready stance. “Or else the one and only info-broker’s gonna go red for a good while.”

She shot a glare at the figure, her eyes cold with warning. “That guy? Total liability. Can’t trust him. ”

“Look at the ruffians she surrounds herself with. Seriously, Lady Asuna, the Beater cannot be trusted,” Kuradeel sneered, doubling down.

“ENOUGH, Kuradeel!” Asuna’s voice rang out, sharp and furious. “Your uncalled-for remarks make you unfit for the role of bodyguard. Midori was at the raid, hell, she’s the only reason I survived it. I suggest you do as you were told and report to the commander.”

Her hand gripped her rapier so tightly that her knuckles turned white, but she didn’t even notice as her anger boiled over.

The group watched silently as Kuradeel scoffed and finally left.

By now, Izumi was the only one whose hands weren’t on a weapon. Instead, she was calmly messaging the leader of the Knights of the Blood. She had a strong feeling Kuradeel wouldn’t follow orders and decided to inform Heathcliff herself.

{Message: Heathcliff.}

Midori:
Hey! So I’m borrowing your Second in command for a few days. She let me know about the planned raid, I’ll return her then Kay!

Heathcliff:
That is Fine Midori. Inform Asuna, that she may dismiss Kuradeel. 

Midori.
Oh she already has! told him to report into you about her choice, however he threw a fit. Said “the beater can't be trusted” Figured I’d let you know, since you had me add you after the 50th floor raid. 

Heathcliff:
Thank you, Black Swordswoman. My subordinate will be reprimanded accordingly. I assure you that no such incident will occur again.

Midori:
Cool! Thanks. Guy seriously needed to chill. I thought you put an end to the whole beater nonsense in august. 

Heathcliff
My Apologies Midori. It is not lost on me that you took upon that horrid moniker to protect the beta testers. I personally believe that name has worn out its welcome. 

Midori:
Welp, count yourself as one of the few players with a brain Heathcliff. 

Heathcliff:
I shall see you and Miss Asuna in a few days, stay safe Black Swordswoman. 

Midori:
You as well Holy Shield. 

“Midori? Who are you messaging?” Agil asked, noticing that the only one not on edge was the young trans woman.

“The Holy Shield,” Izumi replied absentmindedly.

“Why did you message the commander?” Asuna asked, a bit shocked.

“Better question, Izzy-kuro, why the hell do you have Heathcliff’s contact info?” Argo asked, one eyebrow raised and a sly grin creeping across her face. “What kinda secret dealings you not tellin’ me about, huh?”

"Nothing like that, Tomo-chan," Izumi said, her expression a mix of confusion and calm. "Heathcliff had all the Assault Team leaders friend each other to coordinate raids."

"Then why’d he send me to tell you?" Asuna asked, her brow furrowing as she mirrored Izumi’s confusion. "He could’ve just messaged you directly."

Izumi’s face softened into a gentle smile, the kind that warmed her features and brightened her eyes. "He knows we’re dating, Asuna. He probably sent you to find me so we could spend a little more time together."

Her eyes finally met Asuna’s, and in that moment, something shifted. The sharp, snarky Midori faded away, leaving only Izumi Midoriya

“Soo~ dinner, huh?” Argo drawled with a teasing grin. “Who all’s gonna be there, Izzy?”

“Well, the four of us, obviously. Klein, Crimson, Silica, Liz, Meikhinist, Loki, Chagebolt, Joker, Scintiller, and hopefully Midnight and Ms. Joke. The question is where, though.” Izumi placed a hand on her chin, tapping her finger against her bottom lip thoughtfully.

“Well, we could always do it at my place,” Asuna offered. “I think I’m the only one with a fully set-up kitchen in my player home.”

“Aight, so it’s at Aa-chan’s place, and Izzy-kuro’s playin’ host, huh?” Argo smirked, a mischievous glint in her eye. “This oughta be interestin’.

“We were lucky no one was busy that day, right, Midori?” Asuna asked sweetly. “With the pros going back to work after they’re healed, do you think they’ll have time to do it again?”

“The connections you’ve made with Miss Kayama and her lovely wife are ones I believe should be nurtured,” Dean Nedzu spoke up in his usual chipper tone. “As their employer, I need only the date to ensure they are free.” He seemed genuinely sincere as he made the promise. “Now, I’m quite curious about how this little house party of yours went. Please, continue.”

“Well, no one arrived until we finished making the rabbit stew. Honestly, cooking in SAO was boring, way too simple and nothing like how we do it in real life,” Izumi said almost solemnly as she began recounting the tale of the house party.

The last to enter were the Pro Heroes, and after they arrived, Midori and Asuna decided it was time to serve the bowls of stew.

“Alright, before we dive into all this stew goodness,” Argo called out, her voice ringing with mischief, “can we all just agree on one thing? We’re friends here, so let’s leave the Player-names behind and stick to the real ones, yeah?” She shot a playful look at Izumi. “And Izzy-kuro, I’m seriously gonna start chargein’ you extra if you keep up with the Tomo-chan crap. You hear me?”

“Fine!” Izumi sighed dramatically, clearly giving in. “Fine, Carina-chan. Happy? Everyone give their preferred names for when we’re like this. I’ll start. My name is Izumi,” she said with a shrug, her usual nonchalant attitude taking over.

“Eijiro,” Crimson called out confidently, standing tall with a slight grin, his voice steady and strong, as if his name held some weight.

“Just call me Ryo,” Klein said with a grin, a bit of his usual carefree energy shining through. He flashed a playful smile, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly comfortable in the moment.

“Uhm…” Silica said, her voice soft and uncertain. She pressed her fingers together nervously, a small blush coloring her cheeks as she muttered, “My name is Keiko Ayano,” her eyes darting down to the floor briefly.

“Mei Hatsume, future Co-CEO of Hatsume Industries,” the overly excitable crafter said with enthusiasm, almost bouncing on her feet. “My partner’s name is Rika,” she added proudly, her voice filled with energy and excitement as she spoke about her partner.

“Mon nom est Yuga,” Scintiller spoke in a very flamboyant manner, his accent exaggerated, striking a dramatic pose as if he were announcing himself to an audience. His tone was theatrical, drawing attention to his presence in an almost exaggerated fashion.

“Well, I guess I’ll grace you with my glorious given name: Neito,” Joker said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He smirked, puffing out his chest in a playful, self-important manner, as if he were delivering a royal proclamation.

“My name is Hitoshi,” Loki said, his voice quiet and reflective. He gazed off into the distance, his brows furrowed slightly, as if the act of giving his name carried some deeper thought or significance for him.

“Oh, sick. We’re finally giving out our names. Guess you guys can call me Denki then,” Chargebolt said, his usual flirtatious smirk appearing on his face as he leaned casually against the wall. His tone was lighthearted and playful, as if he were ready to charm anyone within earshot.

“Given names, right?” Agil asked, his voice calm but with a slight edge of curiosity. He looked around at the group and, after a thoughtful pause, added, “Well, my name is Andrew,” giving a small smile, his arms crossed in a relaxed but confident manner.

 “Aight, see? Not that hard,” Argo said, flipping her hair back with a flourish and giving her usual mischievous smirk. “My name’s Carina, or Hosaka. Either one works, take your pick.” She leaned back slightly, clearly pleased with herself. “See? Told ya, ain't that hard.” 

Midnight, her expression calm but thoughtful, decided to speak up next. “Well, as a professor, I’m very public about my name, but feel free to call me Nemuri.” She gestured toward her wife, her movements graceful and assured. “As for my wife…” She looked at Ms. Joke with a soft smile. “Her name is Emi.”

“Uhm…” Asuna said softly, her voice hesitant as she shifted her weight slightly. “Before I tell you guys, just know that SAO was my first ever video game.” She paused, looking down for a moment, gathering her thoughts. “I only logged in because my big brother was off on a business trip.” Her tone was a mix of vulnerability and honesty, revealing a part of her past she hadn’t shared with many.

“Oh, c’mon, Aa-chan,” Argo said with a raised eyebrow and a smirk. “What, you gonna tell us your real name is actually Asuna? That’d be a real plot twist, wouldn’t it?” She leaned back, her tone light but with a hint of playful sarcasm.

Asuna’s whole face lit up with a blush, her eyes darting away for a moment as she spoke softly. “It asked for my name, so I put my name in…” Her voice trailed off, as if embarrassed by the simplicity of it, her cheeks still flushed.

Izumi, noticing her girlfriend's discomfort, decided to spare her the embarrassment. “Her name is Asuna, yes,” she said with a light chuckle, giving Asuna a reassuring smile. “We all did it at some point. I mean, look how original the pros were. They all just used their hero code names.” Izumi’s tone was teasing, but warm, clearly trying to lighten Asuna’s mood.

It was after this that the group fell into easy, mindless chatter, laughter and conversation flowing freely as they shared the meal. The tension from earlier melted away, replaced by a rare sense of peace and camaraderie. Each player savored the warm reprieve from the harsh, unforgiving environment where they had spent nearly two long years of their lives. 

“Honestly, it was fun. After a few hours, everyone left. It was just Asuna and me together…” Izumi’s voice softened, a bashful blush creeping onto her cheeks. She glanced away, the corners of her mouth tugging into a shy smile. “It was also the night that started something I don’t think I could do without.”

“I don’t like sleeping without you either, Midori,” Asuna said without hesitation, her words effortlessly breaking the vague mystery Izumi had tried to hide behind.

“Oh, the two of you slept together that night?” Rikku interjected with a mischievous grin, her eyebrows wiggling suggestively as she leaned forward, clearly aiming for an innuendo.

“We haven’t had sex!” Izumi blurted out, her voice rising an octave as her face turned a deep red. “I was scared to, okay? In SAO, my body wasn’t the same as it was in the real world, and I didn’t know if Mom would sign off on any surgeries… Yeah, my body’s similar now to what I had in SAO, but I didn’t know that.” Her voice wavered slightly, raw vulnerability slipping through as she confessed her fear.

“You know, Midori… that was the same night you actually told me you were trans,” Asuna said with a tender smile, her eyes brimming with warmth. “It was kinda cute, though. You seemed so scared to tell me, despite the fact that Dusty outed you within hearing range of me.”

Izumi’s expression flickered between nervousness and fondness. “I mean… you heard what I told Liz, right? I…” She trailed off, her words faltering as she struggled to continue.

Asuna reached for her hand, squeezing it gently. “Yeah… I get it. We basically never talked about our real lives until that day, though. That’s why it was such a big deal for me.”

Her voice held an unmistakable note of adoration, each word filled with genuine affection. Everyone could hear it, the deep love she felt for Izumi resonating in her tone like a melody, clear and pure. The room grew quieter as the depth of their connection became palpable, a shared moment of intimacy that needed no further explanation.

"So, I assume that story was simply a prelude to inform us about those you grew close to in Aincrad?" the detective spoke, questioning its relevance while understanding it was meant to answer Izumi’s mother.

"Yes... and no. This story leads to the reason I joined the Knights of the Blood Oath," Izumi replied, her tone heavy with dejection.

"May we hear your reasoning, Izumi-shoujo?" Yagi asked with genuine curiosity. The infamous solo player of Sword Art Online joining the guild led by Kayaba was an unexpected twist for him.

"It all started after we caught the creep outside Asuna's home and called two male players to meet us at the gate to the seventy-fourth floor. Asuna and I had planned to map the labyrinth leading to the boss room that day," Izumi began, launching into her story.

The two girls emerged from the teleport plaza on the seventy-fourth floor. Leaping out and landing just before two of Midori’s best friends in the game, Loki and Chargebolt. Seizing the moment, Asuna decided to play the damsel in distress, calling out, "Save us from this creep!" before darting behind the boys. All four of them knew it was mostly an act. If Heathcliff had been there, the top five players of Sword Art Online would have been gathered in one place.

It was at that exact moment Kuradeel appeared, his face twisted with irritation as he berated Asuna. "Lady Asuna, I insist that you stop this foolishness. It’s impossible for me to protect you if you continue running away from me."

"Hey, Skeletor! The green bunny already told us your boss relieved you of your duties," came the deep, melodic voice of the Insomniac Ninja. Loki’s words immediately drew the older man’s attention, ignoring Midori’s indignant "Hey!" at the use of her nickname.

"What did you just call me?" Kuradeel snarled, his left eyebrow twitching with barely restrained fury.

"Not a fan of that one?" Loki smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief. "I thought it was clever. You look like Benjamin Button had sex with an old catcher’s mitt. Seriously, how do you stretch ten centimeters of skin over a thirty-centimeter skull and not tear it?"

Loki’s devilish grin widened as he took in Kuradeel’s enraged expression. This was his element, riling people up with sharp words. "Word of advice, Halloweentown reject: stop treating your boss like a toddler playing in traffic."

"ENOUGH!" Kuradeel bellowed, his face flushed with anger. "I wouldn’t have to if she didn’t insist on sharing a bed with that wench !" He jabbed a finger toward Midori, hatred and frustration oozing from every syllable.

"He... h-he watched us sleep." Asuna’s voice trembled, her bravado vanishing as genuine terror took hold.

Midori’s expression darkened instantly. She had been content to let Loki mock Kuradeel into oblivion, but this was different. Until now, she had only known of the man watching the house from outside. The fact that he was aware of their sleeping arrangements meant he had broken into the player home, something only a true stalker would know. Most players didn’t even realize Midori and Asuna were in a relationship.

"Heathcliff dismissed you," Midori said, her voice low and deadly. "I messaged him myself. I told him I was partnering with Asuna until the raid. We’ll be grinding together. You. Are. Not. Needed. Leave."

When Izumi’s eyes lifted to meet Kuradeel’s, they glowed red with a crimson fire.

Asuna could feel the rage radiating from her girlfriend and decided to try pacifying Izumi by dismissing Kuradeel and ordering him to return to base, where Heathcliff would deal with him. However, Kuradeel had other plans.

"I demand a battle. The winner gets Asuna," Kuradeel declared smugly, sending a duel request to Midori.

Midori raised an eyebrow, a slow smirk forming. "Oh, look at you, Necrofeel the MisogyKnight. Out here performing magic in an MMO without any spells. Turning young women into trophies, how cute. Here I thought I was the cheater."

Her tone sharpened as her eyes narrowed. "I am not fighting for Asuna’s honor. No, I am going to humiliate you purely because your outdated, perverted, misogynistic self needs to be knocked down a peg by a teenage girl. Do me a favor, though, and try not to get turned on by this ass-kicking, freak."

With that, Midori accepted the duel request.

 [Duel]

[Kuradeel lvl 81] <VS> [Midori lvl 100] 

(5)

(4)

(3)

(2)

(1)

Kuradeel assumed a standard two-handed longsword stance, gripping his [Tyrant Dragon] , a heavily decorated black steel longsword with a golden, wing-shaped handguard. This was his first mistake. He relied entirely on the system to fight, something Midori noticed instantly. Her glowing red eyes locked onto his blade as she moved fluidly, formulating her strategy. Unlike her tense opponent, she remained relaxed, loosely holding her [Elucidator] . Midori had no intention of simply winning; she was here to humiliate him.

She had not spent two years leveling to one hundred by following the Cardinal System alone. With her background in Kendo, she had mastered the English longsword, wielding it with skill beyond what the game dictated.

The moment the timer hit zero, Kuradeel activated the dash skill <Avalanche>, flicking his sword over his head as he charged at her. Midori crouched in anticipation. As the heavy two-handed blade came down, she swung her own sword upward, using her overwhelming strength to immediately parry the blow. The impact disarmed Kuradeel, sending his weapon flying to the side, and in a fluid motion, she slashed him across his chest.

"Go get your blade," Midori said, her voice dripping with venom as she shifted into a casual stance. "We aren’t done."

Her words sent a shiver through the crowd of onlookers who had gathered around the duel.

"It was a fluke! You didn’t even use a sword skill!" Kuradeel spat, diving for his weapon and preparing to repeat the same attack.

Midori clicked her tongue in disgust. "Boring." Her cold rage simmered as she moved faster this time, parrying with such force that his sword shattered in an instant.

"Party-City reject, I suggest you forfeit-" Loki began, but the green-haired woman cut him off.

"Shut up, Loki," she snapped without breaking her gaze from Kuradeel. "He can draw another blade. I am not done ripping the wings off this butterfly."

She locked eyes with the cowering man once more. "Go ahead, creep. Draw another blade. This time, give me a real challenge." Her voice, filled with fury, sounded nearly unhinged.

"You asked for it," Kuradeel growled as he equipped a one-handed dagger identical in design to his sword. He lunged at her, but Midori reacted faster, severing his hand with a single swipe. His health bar dropped into the yellow, ending the duel, and she finished by kicking him to the ground.

"You cheating bitch!" Kuradeel howled. "I’ll kill—"

"SHUT THE HELL UP!" Midori roared, her voice like a blade cutting through the air. Her anger boiled over.

"First, you ignored your orders to leave my girlfriend alone. Then, you spied on us while we rested on one of the few precious days we had to relax together! And when four clearers gather to do our jobs , you have the audacity to demand that I hand over my party member so she can what? Be your little trophy? Congratulations, you pissed off the highest-level unaffiliated player in this entire game! Then, in your arrogance, you challenged me : the Black Swordswoman to a duel, thinking you could stand on my level. Get out of my sight before my cursor turns red."

Izumi’s furious rant poured out with unrestrained rage, her crimson eyes blazing. Asuna stepped in front of her, breaking her line of sight. When Izumi’s eyes met her girlfriend’s, they softened, returning to their usual emerald green.

"Kuradeel. Return to base. The commander has already been notified of your shameful actions. I had better not see your face again before the next raid," Asuna said, her voice calm but commanding, leaving no room for argument.

Kuradeel paled as he noticed a message from Heathcliff waiting for him, the final blow to his arrogance. He turned and slunk away without another word.

"After that came the real reason I was forced to join a top guild," Izumi said pensively, her tone heavy as if she wasn’t mentally prepared to revisit the memory.

"And why was that, Izumi-shoujo?" inquired the Number One Pro Hero, his voice calm but curious.

"She soloed a Floor Guardian," Asuna answered without a moment of hesitation.

Rikku’s eyes widened in shock. "Okay, Nee-chan. You are officially terrifying. First, the way you dealt with that creeper was both inspirational and terrifying. Then, in the same day, you just casually decide to kill a Floor Boss?"

"It wasn’t a choice," Izumi replied, her voice quieter now. "I guess I should explain. It was after lunch in the dungeon that everything went to hell. We ended up running into the Aincrad Liberation Army... and Fuurinkazan."

Izumi had just handed off the map data leading up to the boss room to the Aincrad Liberation Army. She was resting with her party and Fuurinkazan when they all heard it: a loud, blood-curdling scream followed by the thunderous roar of the boss.

“Shit, shit, shit! Everyone, we need to get there now and see if we can help them escape! Guess this just turned into a boss scouting mission,” Midori called out urgently. She and Asuna sprang into action, quickly joined by the two boys they had dragged into this and, moments later, by Klein, Crimson, and their guild.

By the time they reached the boss room, chaos was already unfolding. The sight that greeted them was grim, and it was Klein who voiced the obvious question as the group hesitated at the threshold.

“Why the hell haven’t you guys used your teleport crystals?” he shouted, frustration evident in his tone.

“Klein, the room is red! It’s a crystal trap, and you can’t teleport during combat!” Midori snapped back, barely managing to keep her rage in check.

Her fury simmered as she assessed the situation. These players clearly had a death wish, and it was driving her insane. First, they had sacrificed half their members during the twenty-fifth-floor boss fight. Then they had lost more during their reckless attempt to scout the thirtieth-floor boss. Now, they were here again, unprepared, claiming that ten people had already died in this raid.

Midori clenched her fists, her anger building. She was tired of watching players die needlessly.

And then it happened.

Kobatz, a man in his mid-thirties with Hispanic-Japanese features, was flung out of the boss room and landed heavily before the stunned group of clearers. His helmet was shattered, revealing his horrified face. The group could only watch in horror as realization dawned in his brown eyes just before his body dissolved into a cascade of green, pixelated glass.

A cry of "DAMN IT! " escaped Izumi's lips as her body moved on its own. Her mind raced with frantic thoughts. Why the hell am I doing this? Why am I equipping my second blade? Why am I parrying an attack from the boss? Her actions felt disconnected, instinctual, like someone else was pulling the strings.

She didn’t register that her eyes had shifted to a red hue, nor did she notice her allies working to clear out the Liberation Army. She wasn’t even aware of why she cared so much.

These idiots were suicidal. That much was clear. Unlike these idiots she had a reason to survive, a reason to beat this game.

She missed her sister. She missed her mom. She wanted to grow old with Asuna. She wanted a family of her own someday.

So why was she risking all of that for this?

" Why am I doing this? " she muttered, the words slipping from her lips without conscious thought. She wasn’t aware she had spoken aloud. She wasn’t aware of anything until Asuna parried an attack she hadn’t been fast enough to block.

That was when Izumi finally took stock of the chaos around her.

Holding her up and forcing a health potion into her hands was her best friend, Denki Kaminari. Nearby, her girlfriend and two of her samurai allies, Klein and Crimson were holding off the boss with all they had. Loki stood at a distance, tossing throwing daggers at the monster, his aim seemingly random but effective in keeping its attention divided.

<The Gleam-Eyes> 

Gleam Eyes was a towering, five-meter-tall figure of terror, a navy-blue demonic Minotaur whose very presence radiated dread. Its goat-like head bore a pair of massive, spiraling ram horns that jutted out like weapons themselves, their ebony sheen glinting menacingly in the dim light of the boss chamber. Its hulking frame was packed with taut, corded muscles, every movement betraying the sheer destructive force it held in reserve.

The creature’s crimson eyes burned with a malevolent glow, a hellish light that seemed to pierce through the hearts of those who dared to face it. They were filled with an unsettling mix of intelligence and bloodlust, promising an agonizing demise to anyone caught in its gaze.

In its massive hands, it wielded a long, cleaver-like Zanbato a blade so immense it seemed impossible for any being to lift, let alone swing with such deadly precision. The weapon’s pitch-black surface appeared to drink in the surrounding light, amplifying its ominous presence.

Finally finishing the health potion Denki had provided, Izumi felt clarity wash over her. She knew what she had to do. At some point, while not fully conscious of her actions, she had equipped her secondary weapon, the [Dark Repulser] . Now that her head was clear, she devised a plan.

With the six players still standing and taking on the boss, she realized victory was within reach. She was strong enough. With a little help, she was sure they could take out the boss’s two remaining health bars.

“Wait... how did its health get so low? It had five bars when we started,” Midori muttered, unaware she was thinking aloud.

“Izu, you did that,” Chargebolt said, exhaling deeply as he finally let go of her. “You were in a blind rage against that thing.”

His words made her pause, but he wasn’t done.

“We were scared, you know. One second, you’re standing there, and the next, you’re rushing in, equipping your secret weapon, and taking out half the boss’s health. You were insane. I’m going to help, but they need to switch out soon.”

As if to punctuate his statement, Denki hurled his spear like a javelin, striking the boss square in the left pectoral. The impact staggered the monster just long enough for Asuna and Klein to retreat to safety.

But the tank Crimson was still holding firm. He stood his ground, bracing against the massive zanbato as it crashed against his small shield. The force was enormous, but Crimson didn’t falter.

With that final exchange, the boss’s health bar dipped into the red, signaling its last phase.

“Eiji! Switch!” Izumi’s voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding as she surged forward, her twin blades gleaming like molten silver under the dim, flickering light of the boss chamber. With a single, forceful strike, she deflected the massive blade aimed at Crimson, the sheer force of the clash ringing like a thunderclap.

Sliding into position, Izumi became a blur of deadly precision, her every movement an intricate weave of offense and defense. Her blades danced in a flurry of sparks and steel, striking with lethal intent. Each slash was deliberate, her attacks calculated to exploit every opening. The boss—a towering, crimson-eyed demon encased in jagged obsidian armor—roared in frustration as its counterattacks were effortlessly parried. Izumi’s glowing red eyes never left the enemy, her gaze locked on its rapidly depleting health bar, the once-intimidating gauge now flashing ominously in the red.

As the demon staggered, its roars growing more desperate, Izumi made her decision.

“STARDUST STREAM!” she bellowed, her voice reverberating through the cavernous chamber.

The room seemed to tremble as she launched into her signature 16-hit combo. Her form blurred, her strikes an unrelenting storm of steel and light. Each blow landed with devastating precision, the demon’s armor cracking and shattering under the relentless onslaught. Slashes of ethereal blue light painted streaks across the air as Izumi twisted and spun, her footwork so fluid it appeared almost supernatural. Her allies watched in stunned silence, their own weapons lowered as they bore witness to the sheer artistry of her attack.

Despite the sparks flying from the demon’s retaliatory strikes, Izumi pressed on, ignoring the damage she sustained. Pain was a distant echo; her focus was absolute. The boss staggered back, each hit carving away at its strength, until it dropped to its knees, its massive frame trembling under the weight of her fury.

And still, she wasn’t finished.

With a ferocious cry, Izumi transitioned seamlessly into a Skill Connect, her movements flowing with an almost inhuman grace. Vaulting into the air, she twisted mid-flight, her silhouette framed against the dim glow of the room. She spun like a whirlwind, her momentum driving her heel downward with pinpoint accuracy.

Her foot struck Chargebolt’s spear, still embedded in the demon’s chest. The force of her kick sent the weapon tearing through the demon’s core, shattering its spectral heart in a brilliant explosion of crimson light.

The demon froze, its blood-red eyes widening in shock as cracks spiderwebbed across its body. With an earsplitting roar that shook the walls, it disintegrated into a cascade of particles , leaving behind a deafening silence.

Izumi landed lightly, her blades at her sides as her chest heaved with exertion. Around her, the room was still except for the sound of her ragged breathing. All the onlookers, and her allies stared at her, their faces a mixture of awe and disbelief. The weight of what they had just witnessed hung heavy in the air.

Izumi failed to notice one critical detail about her actions: her HP had dwindled down to the last sliver. One more strike, even the faintest misstep, would have spelled her death.

But, as always, her ever-vigilant girlfriend was there for her.

As Izumi's legs gave out beneath her, she fell backward, only to land securely in Asuna's arms. The warmth of her embrace was the only thing keeping Izumi grounded as the adrenaline finally began to fade.

<Congratulations: The Gleam eyes has been Defeated>
<Floor 75 is now accessible> 

<Last Attack Bonus: Skill: Vanity is its own Reward> 

[Vanity is its own Reward: When fighting without a party . All Stats are multiplied based on the number of people witnessing the combat. .2x per person] 

it only took a moment for Izumi’s delirious state to bring out something she never thought she’d say aloud, not in SAO, at least. In her hazy mind, the truth became clear: she loved Asuna more deeply than she had ever realized. She wanted to marry her, to grow old with her.

“Asuna!” she gasped, her voice filled with urgency.

“Midori, please, rest. You almost died,” Asuna said softly, trying to calm her, brushing strands of hair from her face.

But Izumi wasn’t listening. Her eyes, glassy with exhaustion, locked onto Asuna’s as she spoke with quiet intensity, “Marry me.”

Asuna’s eyes widened, caught off guard by the suddenness of the question.

“I don’t just mean in Aincrad. Asuna… I want to spend my life with you. Please… Marry me. I’ll ask you again when we escape. I love you, Asuna Yuuki, will you… marry me?”

Tears welled in Izumi’s eyes, but there was a smile on her face, her heart racing. She knew it was probably the wrong moment, but the adrenaline coursing through her gave her the courage to speak her truth. She couldn’t let another moment pass without Asuna knowing how she really felt.

Asuna’s breath caught in her throat. A soft smile tugged at her lips as tears filled her own eyes. “Sure…” she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. “Sure, Izumi Midoriya… I’ll happily marry you. Both here and in the real world..”

“Baby, did you seriously propose after killing that demon?!” Inko exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement. Happy tears welled in her eyes.

Izumi blushed, scratching the back of her head. “Yeah, I’d do it again… but a hospital isn’t exactly the ideal place to propose, and I kind of need my quirk to do it the way I want.”

Inko chuckled, wiping her tears away, clearly overwhelmed with joy.

Toshinori, still processing the story, raised an eyebrow. “So, killing the demon was the reason you were forced to join the same guild as Yuuki-shoujo?” he asked, sounding a bit confused.

Izumi nodded, her gaze thoughtful. “Yeah… Well, I single-handedly took out a boss and got another unique skill in the process. The skill, Vanity is its Own Reward , was broken, and it required me to fight outside Asuna’s party for the final battle. It didn’t help that after that, we went on a two-week vacation that lasted until the sixth.”

Izumi’s words hung in the air, resonating with everyone in the room. They also brought a pang of sadness to Asuna’s eyes, as she was the only one who truly knew what they had lost during their brief honeymoon.

The Dean of Education for U.A. University was the first to catch the significance of the date. Today was the fourteenth of November, and with their vacation lasting two weeks, that meant the boss fight had taken place only thirty days ago.

Yagi Realized the implications of Izumi’s new skill, Vanity is its Own Reward , had yet to be fully experimented with. But now, it wasn’t just a relic from Aincrad; it was part of her Quirk. A power-up that would not only help her in future battles, but also in her quest to become a hero in this world, just as she had in Aincrad.

Chapter Text

Medical Report

Patient Information:

Name: Ryoutarou Tsuboi
Age: 25
Blood Type: B-
Gender: Male
Hair Color: Auburn
Eye Color: Brown
Date of Birth: 11/28/XXXX
Quirk: Reinforcement (Refer to Quirk Registration for comprehensive physiological and biochemical analysis)

Diagnoses and Persisting Medical Conditions:

• Severe Malnutrition (Body Mass Index < 15 kg/m²; chronic caloric deficiency with concurrent micronutrient deficits, including suspected hypovitaminosis and electrolyte imbalances)

• Sarcopenia (Marked atrophy of skeletal muscle mass with associated reduction in muscular strength, likely secondary to prolonged undernutrition and disuse atrophy)

• Microcytic Anemia (Iron-deficiency anemia, characterized by hypochromic, microcytic erythrocytes; likely secondary to chronic malnutrition)

• Hypertension, Stress-Induced (Intermittent elevations in systolic and diastolic blood pressure exceeding 140/90 mmHg, associated with psychological distress and autonomic dysregulation)

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (DSM-5 criteria met; persistent intrusive memories, hyperarousal, avoidance behaviors, and emotional dysregulation linked to SAO trauma)

• Comorbid Insomnia (Chronic sleep-onset and sleep-maintenance insomnia, likely exacerbated by hypervigilance and autonomic hyperactivity secondary to PTSD)
  
  

Case Summary:

Mr. Ryoutarou Tsuboi is a 25-year-old male, identified as one of approximately six thousand survivors of the Sword Art Online (SAO) incident. The patient self-reports involvement as a "clearer" during the event, a claim corroborated by his psychological profile, which exhibits pronounced features of Survivor’s Guilt: a psychological phenomenon frequently observed in individuals who endure mass-casualty incidents while others perish.

Upon initial psychiatric evaluation, the patient demonstrated significant distress related to his experiences in SAO, manifesting as hyperarousal, intrusive recollections, and avoidance behaviors. Notably, symptoms of combat-related PTSD are present, paralleling those observed in military personnel with exposure to prolonged combat scenarios. His baseline blood pressure is persistently elevated at 130/90 mmHg , indicative of autonomic dysregulation linked to chronic psychological stress.

A pivotal moment in the patient's therapeutic process occurred when Chief Nursing Officer Inko Midoriya disclosed that her daughter, Izumi Midoriya, was also an SAO survivor. Her direct expression of gratitude toward Mr. Tsuboi for his role in the survival of her child appeared to catalyze a modest improvement in the patient’s emotional resilience, though residual symptoms of survivor’s guilt persist.

Mr. Tsuboi exhibits difficulty forming social connections outside of individuals with shared SAO experiences, further complicating his reintegration into standard societal frameworks. At the patient's request, his case was referred to his late father’s primary care physician for continuity of care. Given U.A.’s vested interest in SAO survivor rehabilitation, I have assumed responsibility for his treatment regimen.

Treatment Considerations:

• Nutritional Rehabilitation: Supervised refeeding protocol to correct caloric and micronutrient deficiencies, with close monitoring for refeeding syndrome.
  
  

• Physical Therapy: Targeted resistance training to counteract sarcopenia and restore muscle function.
  
  

• Psychiatric Intervention: Combination of trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) and pharmacologic support (e.g., SSRIs for PTSD symptoms; Prazosin for nightmares and sleep disturbances).
  
  

• Cardiovascular Monitoring: Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and lifestyle modification to mitigate hypertensive risk factors.
  
  

Attending Physician:
Dr. Chiyo Shuzenji, M.D., Ph.D.

Quirk Registry Analysis

Name: Ryoutarou Tsuboi
Quirk Name: Reinforcement
Quirk Type: Emitter
Classification: Safe
Evaluator: Dr. Eiko Hoshida
Registry File ID: RT-RT-0132

Functional Overview:

The Reinforcement quirk enables the user to enhance the physical properties of any object they touch by reinforcing or hardening its material composition. This quirk allows Ryoutarou Tsuboi to alter the durability, strength, and resilience of both organic and inorganic materials, effectively making them more resistant to damage. The ability functions only through direct physical contact and does not apply to materials that are not in the user's line of touch. The effects of the quirk are limited by the user’s focus, stamina, and the inherent properties of the material being reinforced.

The hardened state of an object can vary in strength depending on the intensity and duration of the touch, with more prolonged contact resulting in greater reinforcement. The reinforced state lasts for a limited time and gradually returns to its original form after a period of exposure to environmental factors. This quirk is highly useful for creating temporary shields, reinforcing structures, or increasing the effectiveness of weapons and tools during combat.

Capabilities:

1. Material Hardening and Reinforcement:

• Ryoutarou can harden or reinforce any object he touches, making it more resistant to impact, heat, or general wear and tear. This can include:
• Strengthening weapons, tools, or armor for use in combat or heavy-duty tasks.
• Increasing the durability of walls, barricades, or structures for defensive purposes.
• Reinforcing fragile objects, such as glass or ceramics, to prevent them from breaking under pressure.

2. Temporary Reinforcement of Organic and Inorganic Materials:

• The quirk can affect a wide range of materials, including metals, wood, stone, plastics, fabric, and biological tissue. When reinforcing biological tissue, it can be used to temporarily improve the durability of skin or muscle fibers, making the user more resistant to damage in physical confrontations. However, this is temporary and cannot be sustained indefinitely.

3. Scalable Application:

• The user can adjust the intensity and extent of the reinforcement, allowing for both large-scale and targeted reinforcement. For example, Ryoutarou can reinforce a large shield or focus on key areas of a weapon or structure (e.g., reinforcing only the edges of a shield for greater protection).

4. Durability Enhancement:

• The reinforced objects have increased strength, able to withstand greater force or impact without failing or breaking. This enhancement can also improve resilience against specific environmental conditions (e.g., reinforcing metal to withstand heat or cold).

Physiological Enhancements:

1. Neurocognitive Functioning:
• The quirk is regulated by Ryoutarou’s nervous system, requiring a precise neural command to initiate and maintain the reinforcement. His brain's motor cortex and sensory regions are highly activated when reinforcing materials, optimizing his ability to perceive and enhance materials in real-time.
2. Muscle Response and Coordination:
• The physical manifestation of the quirk requires Ryoutarou’s musculoskeletal system to adapt in order to handle the concentrated focus needed for material reinforcement. His hands and fingers are particularly sensitive to the feeling of the materials they come into contact with, providing feedback to fine-tune the hardening process.

Limitations:

1. Range Limitation (Direct Contact Required):

• The quirk only works on materials that are directly in contact with Ryoutarou's skin. This limitation means that he cannot affect materials from a distance or through indirect contact (e.g., through clothing or armor). The user must physically touch the material for reinforcement to occur.

2. Temporary Reinforcement:

• The reinforced state of materials is temporary, and the duration of the enhancement depends on several factors, such as:
• The intensity and duration of Ryoutarou's contact with the object.
• The type of material being reinforced, as organic materials (such as skin or muscle) have a shorter reinforced duration than inorganic materials.
• Organic reinforcement (e.g., skin or muscles) lasts for 5-10 minutes, while inorganic materials (e.g., metal or wood) can last up to 30 minutes before returning to their original state.

3. Physical Strain and Focus:

• Prolonged or excessive use of the quirk can cause significant physical strain on Ryoutarou's muscles and nervous system. This can lead to fatigue and diminished effectiveness in reinforcing objects. The longer the contact and higher the intensity, the greater the mental and physical exhaustion.
• The quirk requires constant focus from the user. If the user's focus is interrupted or disrupted, the reinforcement will begin to fade rapidly. Additionally, using the quirk on large or complex materials may also reduce its effectiveness over time.

4. Limited Reinforcement Capacity:

• While the quirk can be applied to various materials, its strength is limited by the type of material being reinforced. Softer materials like fabric or wood can be reinforced to a moderate degree but will still break under extreme pressure or force. More durable materials like metals or stone will be significantly reinforced but can only reach a certain threshold before the quirk can no longer provide further enhancement.

5. Environmental Impact on Reinforced Materials:

• Reinforced materials will gradually lose their enhanced properties over time due to exposure to environmental factors such as moisture, temperature changes, or external forces. This decay can accelerate depending on the conditions, and the reinforced objects may lose their enhanced properties faster under extreme conditions (e.g., high heat or corrosive environments).

6. No Structural Transformation:

• Ryoutarou’s quirk only reinforces the physical properties of an object. It does not change its shape or composition. For example, he cannot reinforce an object to become denser or transform it into a completely different material (e.g., turning wood into metal).

7. Limited by User's Endurance:

• The more Ryoutarou reinforces objects, the more mental and physical energy he expends. As his endurance decreases, the quirk’s effectiveness diminishes. Overuse can lead to severe muscle fatigue and decreased concentration, making the quirk unusable until he has had adequate rest.

Scientific Considerations:

• Neuroplasticity and Focus: Ryoutarou’s brain exhibits a high degree of neuroplasticity, allowing for the fine-tuning of the quirk. This enables him to focus his mental energy on specific materials with precision. However, the neural pathways responsible for this process are highly sensitive to overuse, leading to cognitive fatigue with extended use.
• Muscle and Bone Adaptation: Prolonged use of the quirk also causes increased muscle tension in Ryoutarou’s arms and hands, as well as subtle modifications to his skeletal structure to facilitate better grip and pressure application.

Risks and Observations:

• Physical Overload: Repeated use of the quirk can result in muscle strain and cognitive overload. These effects can impair the user’s performance and may lead to temporary immobility or severe discomfort during the recovery phase.
• Environmental Hazards: Materials reinforced for too long in hazardous environments (such as high temperatures or corrosive areas) can degrade quicker than anticipated, leading to the failure of the reinforced object at an inopportune time.

Classification Rationale:

The Reinforcement quirk is classified as Safe because, although it is highly useful in reinforcing materials for short periods, its effects are constrained by several limitations, including the user’s physical endurance, the temporary nature of the reinforcement, and the need for direct contact. As a result, it poses no significant long-term risk to the user or others when used within proper limits.

Evaluator’s Notes:

Ryoutarou’s Reinforcement quirk provides substantial tactical advantages in both offensive and defensive scenarios. Its versatility in reinforcing objects, from weapons to structures, makes it a potent tool in combat and construction. However, it requires careful management of the user’s energy levels to prevent overuse and ensure that the quirk remains effective in high-pressure situations.

Evaluated and documented by:

Dr. Eiko Hoshida

“I think we should start with the wedding, then,” Izumi said, directing her gaze at the detective to ensure that discussing her wedding day was allowed in this meeting. “We got married at the start of the week, and after that, I had to duel Kayaba to take Asuna on a honeymoon. If I won, Asuna and I could leave together. However, I lost, and the punishment was joining Asuna under the Knights of the Blood Oath.”

“Oh! I get to hear the story of my baby’s wedding!” Inko exclaimed, eagerly taking the decision away from the professionals in the room.

“Well, it started with the two of us separately commissioning a dress from Auntie Kiho,” Izumi trailed off, beginning the story of her wedding.

Midori was exhausted. Honestly, it wasn’t the first time she had gone to her aunt for a custom job, but the woman was ridiculous. Seriously, regardless of how real SAO was for everyone stuck in the game, it was still a game. Fourteen hours of Ashley testing designs, deciding on what types of outfits to make, keeping her and Asuna in separate changing rooms, doting on her like she was a little kid. Oh, and the fact that she revealed to her girlfriend that she, Ashley, had known her since she was in diapers. She even told Asuna about her huge All Might fangirlism.

Then, to top it all off, she sent her and Asuna on separate material farming runs on the higher floors for the dress materials.

The trio, because yes, Ashley had decided as Midori’s aunt that she would play the role of both dressmaker and mother, had settled on taking inspiration from the game’s Victorian-era aesthetic and going for a Western wedding. Midori was indifferent to the decision because she was more concerned about what her and Asuna’s real wedding would be like when they finally escaped. That was something she knew would be far more exhausting, especially with the inclusion of Auntie Mitsuki, her mother, sister, and of course, Ashley.

The worst part of all this was that Midori wasn’t even close to being done with the setup. She was still on Floor 48, having just delivered her dress materials, and was now headed to speak with Lisbeth and Meikhnist to commission the quintessential accessory. She had already decided that, if possible, her and Asuna’s wedding bands would have some kind of beneficial stats, and the only blacksmiths she trusted for such a job were those two.

This time, she was prepared. Unlike with her aunt, she had already collected high-grade metals, one black and one white, along with rare gems she’d been tipped off to by Argo, for the blacksmith couple to turn into wedding bands. For Asuna, she had a pair of beautiful ruby-like crystals and a diamond from a rare cave on the 70th floor. For her own ring, she had a pair of emerald-colored crystals and her own copy of the diamond.

Honestly, Izumi hadn't realized how long she'd been lost in thought as she approached Liz and Meika’s forge. It surprised her when she finally snapped out of her musings to find herself already standing before the door of her friend’s shop. She took a deep breath, paused to compose herself, and tried to hype herself up for the request she was about to make.

“Hey, Black Swordswoman!” called the energetic voice of the Meikhinist. “What brings you to the forge? Got any new babies you want us to make?” she asked, already brimming with excitement at the thought of crafting something new.

“Actually, is Rika here, Mei?” Izumi asked timidly. It was a side of her that rarely surfaced in Aincrad, but she couldn’t help it. Liz was Asuna’s best friend in the game, and Izumi was about to ask her to play one of the biggest roles in their wedding.

“What do you need, Zumi?” came the cocky voice of Aincrad’s self-proclaimed best blacksmith.

Izumi avoided speaking, knowing that her childhood nervous tic of stuttering would only make this harder. Instead, she opened her inventory and sent Liz a trade request. The offered items were all the materials needed for her and Asuna’s wedding rings. Alongside them, she held out a handwritten note with the designs she had in mind.

“C-ca-can y-yo-you g-guys m-m-ma-make j-je-jew-jewelry?” she finally asked, her voice trembling.

Liz couldn’t help but laugh a little. The famed Black Swordsman, one of fewer than twenty surviving beta testers, was stuttering while asking her crafter friends for accessories. Her laugh quickly faded, however, replaced by a quiet gasp as she opened the note and saw what it contained.

Midori was asking for ornate rings made of onyx and silver, each one styled to match the gear of its wearer. An engraving was to be placed inside each ring: on the silver one, it read “Izumi Midoriya <3,” and on the black ring, “Asuna Yuuki <3.”

Midori was asking her to make her and Asuna’s wedding rings.

“Hey, Rika? What’s going on? What kind of baby does Swordswoman-chan want us to make?” Meikhinist asked. She then snatched the paper from her shell-shocked girlfriend’s hands and made a curious noise as she read it.

“Oh, I see. You want your wedding ring-babies to be practical for front-liners, huh? This will be easy, right Rika?” she added with a casual grin, rousing Liz with the question.

“R-Right,” Liz said, quickly shaking off her surprise. She replaced her stunned look with her usual arrogance and plastered a cocky smirk on her lips.

“Th-Thanks, guys… It, uh... it had to be you who made them,” Izumi said, her voice still a little unsteady. She then tried to calm herself down and began explaining how her quirk worked, and how the rings would be able to come with them into the real world once they finally escaped.

She also noticed how excited Mei got at the idea of inventing what she called “weapon-babies” for Izumi to use when she became a hero in the real world, just like she already was in Aincrad.

Inko was deeply touched, hearing how her daughter’s anxiety hadn’t simply disappeared in the hellscape of SAO. This simple story about how she and her girlfriend, or fiancée, or maybe even wife, had set up and prepared their wedding stirred something tender in her heart.

“That’s so sweet, girls. You know, Izumi, you were right. Mitsi, Kiho, and I are going to be much, much more overbearing when you two officially get married,” Inko said with a cheeky smile, clearly enjoying the way both girls blushed and wore matching expressions of horror.

“Well, I guess that means it’s on to the wedding itself, right?” Izumi said, before beginning the tale of her glorious wedding day.

Izumi found herself both disappointed and amazed by some of the game’s design choices, like a wedding quest whose only requirement was to “prove your devotion.” All she and Asuna had to do was present the rings that Rika and Mei had made for them.

Regardless of her feelings about the quest, Izumi was even more nervous about the guest list. She had invited the entire Assault Team, including every living beta tester. Though she had grown a bond with many of them, it was usually a distant one. Being the only solo player among the front-liners made the whole thing feel even more nerve-wracking.

She was especially unsettled when Ashley left her in the care of Midnight to help her get dressed, while she went to assist Asuna. It wasn’t that she didn’t care for the dominatrix-themed heroine and her wife—both had become mother figures to her during her time trapped in Aincrad. Her issue was with the fact that SAO was still a game. She didn’t actually need help getting ready. It was just a simple equipment change.

However, the dress itself was, by far, the highlight of Ashley’s antics.

Her gown was a vision of elegance, touched with bold contrast. It was a flowing creation in gentle teal that seemed to catch and soften the light with every movement. The bodice was finely tailored and sculpted to her form with graceful asymmetry. One shoulder remained bare, while the other was covered by a delicate sleeve of sheer fabric that clung like mist. Subtle seams and folded pleats hugged her waist, drawing the eye inward before the skirt billowed outward in a dramatic flourish.

The skirt was layered with tier upon tier of soft teal fabric falling in gentle waves. Each layer was trimmed in dark grey, nearly black frills that added richness and depth to the design. These ruffled edges gave the dress a sense of shadowed dimension, like the softness of dusk settling at the edge of twilight. The hem rose slightly on one side, offering a glimpse of the matching shoes beneath. The heels were made of soft satin teal, with ankle straps decorated by tiny black roses and flowing ribbons.

The dress carried the spirit of both romance and strength. It was beautiful, almost dreamlike, yet beneath its soft shimmer was a quiet defiance. There was a sense of resilience stitched into every seam, a feeling that beneath the silk, there might just be steel.

“You look beautiful, sweetheart,” called the teasing voice of the purple-haired Pro Hero.

The affirmation from one of her favorite heroes was what truly struck her. For a brief moment, Izumi’s eyes shimmered with tears she refused to shed. For the first time in her life, she felt like a princess.

“I feel like I should be wearing a crown,” Izumi joked, trying to keep herself from being overcome by her emotions.

Izumi found herself quickly thrust into a hallway where she quickly met up with Asuna before the girls would enter the hall together, a moment that had completely mentally shut down Izumi. 

Asuna was gorgeous in her flowing white wedding gown, designed with both elegance and fantasy flair. The bodice is form-fitting and structured, with gold trimming that outlines the neckline and sleeves. A large pink ribbon is tied around her waist, its tails flowing gracefully along the skirt. A white rose ornament sits at the center of the ribbon, adding a soft, romantic touch.

The skirt is full and layered, edged with golden ruffles that add contrast and energy to the overall look. The inner lining of the skirt is slightly visible as it flares, suggesting movement and depth. Her footwear is a pair of simple white heels, peeking out from beneath the hem of the gown.

Asuna’s long auburn hair flowing freely behind her, with a delicate flower crown resting on her head, completing the bridal look.

Suddenly, everything became real. Izumi realized she had made a mistake earlier. She had been treating the wedding like it was just another quest in an RPG. But this wasn’t a quest. This was real. She was truly marrying Asuna, right here, right now. She tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. They were caught in her throat, lost in the overwhelming emotion of the moment.

Asuna wasn’t doing much better. She too was completely captivated by the sight of her bride. But unlike Izumi, it wasn’t just Izumi’s appearance that made everything feel real. It was the feeling itself. Without speaking, Asuna reached out her hand, silently asking Izumi to take it so they could walk forward together.

Midnight and Ashley stepped forward and opened the doors to the grand hall, revealing the two stunned girls to their gathered friends and allies. In that moment, joy spread across the room, as many members of the Assault Team smiled at the sight of the soon-to-be newlyweds.

Ashley, noticing how enraptured the girls were with each other, gently stepped behind them and placed a hand on each of their shoulders.

“I know I’m good, girls, but you have an audience,” she whispered with a teasing smile. Her soft words and kind gesture brought both girls back to the present.

“Thank you, Auntie Kiho. Thank you, Miss Kayama,” Izumi whispered, finally finding her voice. She took Asuna’s hand as Midnight handed them each a beautiful bouquet of roses. The flowers were in rich shades of red, white, black, and teal.

The girls looked out at the gathered crowd, filled with people who had taken a day away from clearing the game just to celebrate their love. Slowly, they began their walk down the aisle.

As they walked, Izumi took special note of the faces around them. Argo wore her usual sly smirk. Crimson was crying manly tears. Chargebolt was bawling like a baby. Lizbeth gave them a confident, cocky grin. Meikhinist nearly vibrated with excitement, and Klein, wolf whistling causing both girls to blush.

At the end of the aisle stood Commander Heathcliff, waiting at the altar. When the girls had first announced their plan to marry, he told them he had taken a Knight’s Oath quest that made him an official priest within the game. That way, they could complete the ceremony properly, without relying on an NPC.

An eternity passed in just a few seconds. Izumi could feel the sunshine of a smile on her face, and the anticipation in Asuna’s grip as they reached the altar.

“Hello, ladies,” called the dignified voice of the Commander. “Are we ready?”

“Yes,”

“Ready, Commander.”

The girls spoke their affirmations as they separated slightly, holding their bouquets between them.

“Welcome, everyone,” Heathcliff began. “Though this is a game, these two beautiful young warriors asked for my assistance to make this feel more real.” He paused, allowing the two young women to step forward and approach the altar to receive their rings.

“Lightning Flash Asuna, Lieutenant Commander of the Knights of the Blood Oath, do you agree to love, cherish, and hold Miss Midori for the rest of your days?”

“In Aincrad and the real world, I do,” Asuna replied sweetly.

“Black Swordswoman Midori, do you agree to love, cherish, and hold Lieutenant Commander Asuna for the rest of your days?”

“Regardless of Aincrad or reality, I will marry you and love you again and again. I do,” Izumi answered, her voice filled with unwavering conviction.

“Please exchange rings,” the Commander said softly, a gentle smile touching his lips.

Asuna and Izumi carefully placed the rings on each other’s fingers. A sudden glow radiated from both bands, and a menu appeared between them, asking if they would like to confirm their marriage.

“Ladies,” Heathcliff said, watching as they both accepted the prompt, “you may kiss your bride.”

The two looked deeply into each other’s eyes. Slowly, almost instinctively, their faces drew closer and closer, until their lips met in a kiss that was both gentle and passionate. It lasted only a moment, but for the two of them, it felt like a lifetime.

Inko was in tears, though not from sadness. Her daughter possessed an eidetic memory thanks to her Quirk, and the way she described events painted the scene so vividly that it felt as if everyone had been there themselves.

“Oh! That’s what you meant, Nee-chan,” Rikku said, as if a lightbulb had gone off in her head.

“About needing her Quirk to propose?” Koichiro asked, trying to make sure he understood correctly.

“Yeah. When I had Liz and Meika make the rings, I did it knowing how my Quirk works. When I proposed to Asuna after defeating Gleam-Eyes, I was proposing for real, not just in the game,” Izumi explained. She paused and coughed, her voice starting to wear out. Her mother quickly handed her a glass of water.

“Like I said during the wedding,” Asuna added with a soft smile, “I knew Izumi wanted to be with me after we escaped Aincrad. I accepted, knowing I was accepting a real proposal.”

Then she looked at her fiancée with a teasing grin. “I just didn’t realize you weren’t fully convinced the wedding was real until we were walking down the aisle.”

Izumi took a sip of water and gathered herself. “I knew I wanted to marry you. But to me, a wedding didn’t feel real without my mom. So my brain treated it like part of a quest, just another step in the process of proposing to you.”

“Aww, sweetie. I love you too,” Inko said, with tears welling in her eyes again.

“It does concern me, Miss Midoriya,” the detective said carefully, “that you mentioned Heathcliff officiated the ceremony. Is that correct?”

“Yes. Unfortunately, Akihiko Kayaba was the one who ordained our wedding. We weren’t aware of it at the time,” Izumi said, her voice carrying a hint of bitterness.

“Well,” the rodent chimera replied thoughtfully, “perhaps it is not such a bad thing. Mrs. Midoriya and Mrs. Yuuki, the late Mr. Kayaba was actually ordained to conduct both Shinto and Catholic weddings. Once Mrs. Kayama confirms the ceremony, it would simply be a matter of paperwork to have you two officially recognized as married.”

“I want another ceremony,” Izumi said without hesitation. The situation did work in their favor. If Asuna’s parents turned out to be homophobic, they were already legally married.

“One with our families involved,” she added with more warmth.

“Izumi-shoujo,” the number one hero prompted gently, “please continue your story. You mentioned that after your wedding, you were forced to join Asuna-shoujo’s guild?”

“Yeah,” Asuna said with a laugh, “she got her butt kicked by The Commander.”

“Only because he cheated,” Izumi muttered, her pride still slightly wounded. “Fine… So, like any newlyweds, we asked for a leave of absence to go on a honeymoon.”

She trailed off, into her next story.

We find the girls in a large conference room with wide, open windows that filled the space with natural light. The conference table was shaped like a semi-circle, a playful reference to the Knights of the Round’s iconic round table. The room had carpeted red flooring, pearl white walls, and furniture matching the guild’s official colors. Hanging on every wall were large red flags emblazoned with the Knights of the Blood O ath (K.o.B.) symbol in white, with the guild's acronym printed neatly beneath each crest.

“We are here today to formally request that Asuna be taken off the active duty roster and be allowed a two-week leave of absence,” Midori said, clutching her wife’s hand tightly. It had only been a day since their wedding, and the newlyweds wanted time to be together.

“No,” came the curt response from Heathcliff.

“Excuse me, Commander? I just got married. I want to spend time with my wife. According to guild policy, any member is allowed to take up to two weeks off for rest and recovery,” Asuna said, her tone sharp with indignation.

“I cannot have you girls off the front lines right now. Plain and simple,” Heathcliff replied. “With your recent successful boss raid, it would not look good for morale if I allowed you to take time off, Asuna. We already bent the rules by allowing Midori to marry you despite not being a member of the guild.”

“Sir, I understand that the three of us are currently the only players at level one hundred or higher. Surely allowing Asuna and me a single week alone isn’t going to impact morale that much,” Izumi responded, her tone unwavering.

“That is correct. However, I propose a challenge.” Heathcliff paused, his fingers clasped together in front of his face as he leaned forward in his throne-like chair. “A duel. Aincrad’s Black-Clad Swordswoman, Midori of the Twin Blade, versus Aincrad’s Holy Shield, Knight Commander Heathcliff of the Knights of the Blood Oath. If Midori wins, I grant your request. If I win, Midori joins the K.o.B.”

“I don’t plan on losing,” Midori replied. “But I have conditions.”

She straightened her posture before continuing.

“First, the only white I’ll wear is if I wear a cloak similar to Nautilus. My guild uniform, if I join, will be my regular gear with the green trim changed to red. My inner shirt will be the standard issue guild tunic.”

She paused before continuing again.

“Second, we publicize the duel. Sell tickets if you want and put the funds toward your guild coffers. I don’t care.”

She held Heathcliff’s gaze.

“Third, if I join, I work directly under Asuna.”

“Acceptable,” Heathcliff responded without hesitation. “Arrangements can be made. Tomorrow, at noon. Inform the Rat to spread the news. Her payment will be made from the guild coffers as per standard procedure.”

“Honestly, Kayaba slipped up during our battle. This was late October, and it told me Knight Commander Heathcliff, SAO’s top player, was Akihiko Kayaba,” Izumi said as her eyes began to glow a toxic emerald, signaling an unconscious activation of her Quirk.

“Izumi!” Inko’s stern voice startled Izumi from her rage.

“Zumi-nee, you had your Quirk active,” Riku said to his sister, noticing her eyes slowly losing their glow.

“My health... I didn’t realize how bad off I was.” Izumi knew she was weak, but when her mother pulled her out of her haze, she got a look at her menu.

| [Home]  HP: 15%
|  [Select]  SP: 5%
|  [Start]      

“Whatever do you mean, Izumi-shoujo?” Yagi asked, genuinely concerned about the girl.

“I got mad thinking about Kayaba’s underhanded chuuni roleplay. Then I saw it. My Quirk doesn’t register my state as normal. It gave me a warning that I was injured and exhausted,” Izumi explained, bewildered by how her Quirk was registering her atrophy. It also meant that she might be able to heal herself using her SAO save.

“Can you explain?” the detective asked softly, trying to coax her back to her story.

“To be the final boss of Aincrad, Heathcliff decided he had to betray the hero. The hero in his story, he decided, was the player who received the Dual Wield skill... me. And to make his betrayal work, he needed me in the K.o.B.,” Izumi said softly, leading into the explanation of the battle.

Midori found herself standing across from Commander Heathcliff in the town of Collinia’s coliseum, on the seventy-fifth floor of Aincrad.

“Didn’t think this many people would show up,” Midori spoke casually, noticing the activation of her new skill.

“You told me to make a spectacle out of it,” replied the Commander stoically as he began to draw his weapon.

“Fine, fine. With your stern face, I can’t just use my usual method of snarky one-liners to throw you off your game now, can I? Not like there’s much to make fun of you for, old man,” Izumi said, smirking as she placed her hands on her weapons. The duel request had already been sent.

[Request Duel: Heathcliff Lvl ???]
[Y] / [N]

 [Duel]

[Midori lvl 107] <VS> [Heathcliff lvl ¹̸̔͒̇̾̈́1̸͉̰̫͇̩́̅̉͌̆2̵͎̠̮̮͋̒̌⁰̶̣̘̯̮̺̝̊ͅ0̴̰͋] 

(5) 

“The Commander is tough. I’m going to have to really strategize if I want to beat him. What’s with his level? Is that how it appears if it’s set to private?” 

(4)

“Head in the game, Izumi. He’s a master tank with a unique skill that lets him switch his offensive stats with his defensive ones mid-swing. However, the weakness of all tanks...” 

(3)

“He’s slow. Volley attacks, faster and faster. With my higher AGI stat, I can pull it off.” 

(2)

“Give him no time to think. Force an opening. Use my strongest sword skill.”

(1)

“Then drive home the victory with Starburst’s final strike.” 

Izumi was immediately on the offensive, swinging faster and faster with one-handed strikes, alternating between each hand. However, Heathcliff left no openings from behind his shield. He even capitalized on Izumi’s wariness of his blade hand by striking her with a massive blow using his shield.

“His shield! He can use it as a weapon?” Izumi was caught off guard. Heathcliff used a tower shield shaped like a traditional fantasy kite shield.

The blow sent Midori flying a good five feet before she rolled across the ground, using the momentum to recover. Not a second too soon, because Kayaba was already closing in.

“Shit, he’s fast. Faster than I predicted.” Izumi parried with the Dark Repulser , only to have her Elucidator blocked by his shield.

The volley continued for a solid thirty seconds. Izumi was fast, faster than Heathcliff, but not fast enough to break through his defense. They each blocked or parried nearly a hundred strikes before Midori finally managed to land a glancing blow across the commander’s face.

This was her opening. She immediately activated the sword skill [Starburst Stream], only to watch in growing frustration as slash after slash was parried or blocked. Finally, one of her strikes knocked his shield away.

“Checkmate. Now for the sixteenth hit. Going for an overhead swing instead of a Vorpal Strike this time. ”

T̸̫̎i̸̯͌m̶̳̍e̵̚͜ ̷̰́f̵̞̿r̴̺͠ȏ̵ͅz̷̢͗e̸̓͜ ̷̩̈ï̸̠n̶̙̏ ̵̥͆t̶̤̑h̴͈͆a̵̯̐t̶̖̀ ̶̙͑í̵̻n̸̜͊s̸͖̈́t̵̹̑ạ̶͑n̵̯̕t̶̟̂.̷̻̂ ̵̦͂ą̶͋s̵̼͌ ̶͓̕s̵̫̀ų̷̒d̶̼̏ḓ̷̇ê̸͍n̸̼̓ľ̸͉y̷̙̆ ̶̛̭C̶̦͘o̷̡͋m̴͚̕m̷͉̉a̶̮̐n̵̙͋d̷̗̐ë̴̳́r̴͔͆ ̷͉̓H̷̻͠ẻ̶͍ȁ̴̤t̸̮̆ḧ̸̭́ĉ̴͚l̸̦̐i̸̡͘f̵̖̉f̶̤͝ ̸͖̍w̶̡̑à̷̤s̶̩̔ ̷̫̀a̷͚̅ḇ̶̀l̸̫̒e̵͖͠ ̸̼̐t̷̰̿o̷͚͘ ̴̯͂m̸͍̋o̵̹͘v̵̳̏e̶̜͑ ̴̦͛h̷̺̐i̵͕͛s̶̻͘ ̵̲̌ș̴̆h̴̜̉i̶̻̽e̴̛͜l̶͉̅d̷̢̏ ̷̡͛b̴̟̅a̷͙͠č̶̮k̵̜͠ ̴̤̓i̴̪͝n̶͖̏t̴͙̋ỏ̶̟ ̴̩̀ä̸̳́ ̵̘́p̵͈͗o̵̤̓s̸̨͝i̴͙͂t̴̛̖í̴͈o̵̭͗n̸̨̒ ̷̤̏t̶͇͋o̴̝͆ ̶̡̑b̵͖̆ḻ̵̈́ǫ̵͂c̸̛̳k̸̠̆ ̸̯͊M̸͓͝i̶̛̹d̸͎͝o̶̦̚r̶͉̈́i̶̩͑'̷̬͆s̸͘͜ ̸̙̐f̶̤̓î̴̞n̸͗ͅi̸̻͗s̶͈͛h̸̳̋ỉ̸̻ñ̷̢g̶̜̊ ̶̢͝s̴͚̓ẗ̴̢́r̴͔̀í̶̗k̸̫͘e̸̗͐ ̵̫̔

Heathcliff’s shield arm moved back into position so quickly it looked as if the shield had teleported. He blocked Midori’s final strike.

“How? That’s impossible,” Midori muttered, stunned.

Despite her stat boost from [Vanity Is Its Own Reward] , which made her faster and stronger than Heathcliff, he had still managed to stop her. That block meant he had won. Midori now had to wait out the skill’s cooldown. She couldn’t move for three seconds.

Before the stun wore off, Heathcliff struck her with a single use of [Slant] , knocking her flat and claiming victory.

[Victory: Heathcliff: 4:02] 

“His final block is how I figured out his identity as Akihiko Kayaba,” Izumi said solemnly.

“Forgive me for questioning this, but how did you figure out that Kayaba was the player Heathcliff, just from his incredible feat?” asked the Dean of Education at United Alliance University.

“All players with quirks that improve intelligence or vision had a form of FNC. I was no exception,” Izumi stated calmly.

“You had a Full Dive Non-Conformity, Izumi, and you never told anyone?” Asuna asked, sounding almost outraged.

“Yes. For me, it wasn’t hindering. My perception was perfect. It’s how I could see his level as a weird glitchy text instead of question marks, and how I noticed time froze when I thought back on the moment his shield teleported back to block me. He cheated. He paused the game, moved into position to block, and took his win. Vanity Is Its Own Reward was tripling my stats at the time. I was effectively level three hundred and twenty, yet he beat me. In games that use a level system, it’s practically unfair. Get to a high enough level, and you’re basically a god. I was stronger than him, and I was a better fighter than him. He won because he was an admin,” Izumi spoke passionately.

“Forgive me for asking this, Izumi-shoujo. How did you end up defeating Kayaba to clear the game?” asked Toshinori Yagi.

“He disabled System Assist, and I fought him using my real-life sword skills. I guess training in kendo paid off,” Izumi said, then paused briefly before continuing. “But I’ll get to that. There are still a few more stories about how I made it to the seventy-fifth floor boss room.”

Chapter Text

Medical Report
Patient Information:

• Name: Keiko Ayano 

• Age: 15 years

• Sex: Female

• Blood Type: B-

• Hair Color: Brown

• Eye Color: Brown

• Date of Birth: 10/04/XXXX

• Quirk: Elemental Manifestation (See Quirk Registry for complete classification and description)
  
  

Diagnoses and Active Medical Conditions:

• Severe Protein-Calorie Malnutrition

• BMI < 15 kg/m², consistent with chronic caloric and nutrient deficiency.

• Clinical features include generalized muscle wasting and fatigue.
  
  

• Sarcopenia

• Marked loss of skeletal muscle mass and function associated with prolonged nutritional insufficiency.
  
  

• Microcytic Hypochromic Anemia

• Laboratory-confirmed iron-deficiency anemia, likely secondary to chronic malnutrition.

• Peripheral smear demonstrates microcytosis and hypochromia.
  
  

• Intermittent (Stress-Related) Hypertension

• Episodic blood pressure elevations (>140/90 mmHg) temporally associated with acute psychological distress.
  
  

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Diagnostic features include recurrent intrusive recollections, exaggerated startle response, persistent hyperarousal, and emotional dysregulation following exposure to traumatic events during the SAO incident.
  
  

• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

• Symptoms include anhedonia, pervasive sadness, social withdrawal, psychomotor retardation, and recurrent expressions of hopelessness.
  
  

Clinical Summary:

Keiko Ayano is a 15-year-old female and documented survivor of the Sword Art Online (SAO) incident. She presents with multifactorial medical and psychological sequelae consistent with prolonged trauma exposure and severe malnutrition. Of particular note is the patient's profound emotional distress surrounding the in-game loss of a pet creature referred to as “Pina,” with which she appears to have formed a significant attachment, serving as an emotional support figure during captivity.

The patient demonstrates symptoms of hero idealization directed toward individuals known collectively as “The Clearers,” with repeated reference to a figure named “Midori.” She has exhibited marked resistance to communication and treatment with most healthcare staff, responding predominantly with crying and vocalized pleas for “Pina.”

It is notable that the patient exhibited visible and sustained behavioral improvement following a private, undocumented interaction with Izumi. The exact nature of the exchange remains unknown; however, post-interaction observations reveal a measurable decrease in depressive episodes and increased cooperation with medical personnel.

Chief Nursing Officer
Inko Midoriya

Quirk Registry

Name: Keiko Ayano
Quirk Name: Elemental Manifestation
Quirk Type: Emitter/Summoner
Classification: Keter
Evaluator: Dr. Tsubasa Yamaka, Quirk Research Institute

Quirk Description

Elemental Manifestation allows the user to summon seven distinct elemental constructs, each embodying a specific elemental domain. These constructs appear as vividly tangible, semi-autonomous extensions of the user’s will, displaying striking designs unique to their elemental nature. Each construct enables Keiko to manipulate its respective element with incredible precision and dynamic adaptability.

The constructs’ power scales with Keiko’s stamina, mental focus, and emotional state, reaching extraordinary levels under high-stress conditions. Constructs can range from small, agile forms for surgical precision to massive, overwhelming entities for widespread impact. While the constructs themselves are not sentient, they react fluidly to Keiko’s intentions, acting as if they are extensions of her body and mind.

Keiko can summon only one construct at a time, with brief cooldown periods when switching between entities. Simultaneous summoning or prolonged use of powerful abilities is restricted by physical and mental stamina.

Manifestations and Abilities 

Pina (Teal Crystalline Dragon - Wind Elemental):

• Appearance: A majestic dragon formed of translucent teal crystals with aerodynamic wings that shimmer in sunlight, leaving a faint trail of glowing particles as it moves.
• Abilities:
• Aerokinesis: Generates wind currents for both offensive and defensive purposes, including slicing wind blades, tornadoes, and bursts capable of deflecting projectiles.
• Healing Winds: Accelerates cellular regeneration for superficial injuries, stabilizes critical conditions, and temporarily boosts physical stamina for allies.
• Wind Propulsion: Provides enhanced mobility, including levitation and short bursts of flight for herself and allies.
• Sound Manipulation: By controlling air vibrations, Pina can enhance or suppress sound waves, creating deafening bursts or eerie silences.
• Limitations: Healing effectiveness diminishes with severe internal injuries or ailments, and large-scale aerokinesis is draining.

Zinogre (White Wolf with Unicorn Horn - Storm Elemental):

• Appearance: A sleek, glowing wolf with a luminous coat crackling with electrical arcs. Its jagged unicorn horn radiates storm energy.
• Abilities:
• Electrokinesis: Directs powerful lightning strikes with precision, electrifies surfaces, and creates electric barriers or stunning shocks.
• Localized Storms: Generates thunderstorms with rain, thunder, and wind, capable of disorienting enemies or extinguishing fires.
• Magnetic Manipulation: Limited control over metallic objects through electromagnetic fields.
• Energy Amplification: Temporarily enhances the physical abilities of allies by infusing them with electrical energy, improving speed and reflexes.
• Limitations: High power usage causes muscular strain, and storm generation is limited to small areas.

Droplet (Cartoonish Teardrop - Water Elemental):

• Appearance: A playful, semi-transparent teardrop figure with an iridescent surface that ripples like water.
• Abilities:
• Hydrokinesis: Shapes, manipulates, and projects water, including creating whips, shields, and pressurized jets capable of cutting through solid materials.
• Cryokinesis: Freezes water into ice constructs such as walls, weapons, or traps.
• Moisture Absorption: Extracts water from the air or nearby sources, expanding its arsenal in arid environments.
• Aquatic Mobility: Enhances movement in water, enabling rapid swimming or creating aquatic pathways for allies.
• Limitations: Requires significant water availability for large-scale abilities, and prolonged use can dehydrate the user.

Luna (Blue Chibi Lunastra - Fire Elemental):

• Appearance: A small, fiery dragon with a glowing blue mane and ember-like eyes. Flames flicker constantly along its body.
• Abilities:
• Pyrokinesis: Generates flames of varying intensity, from controlled heat for cauterization to explosive fireballs capable of causing widespread destruction.
• Thermal Manipulation: Controls heat levels in the environment, melting or evaporating obstacles.
• Plasma Generation: Briefly converts flames into plasma for highly destructive, focused attacks.
• Fire Aura: Encases Keiko in a protective flame that burns enemies on contact but remains harmless to allies.
• Limitations: Prolonged use risks overheating and dehydration, and plasma generation is extremely draining.

Kurama (Chibi Nine-Tailed Fox - Psychic Elemental):

• Appearance: A radiant, nine-tailed fox with an ethereal glow. Each tail pulses faintly with psychic energy.
• Abilities:
• Illusions: Creates highly detailed illusions to disorient enemies or mask allies’ movements.
• Emotional Influence: Calms or incites strong emotions in others, potentially disrupting enemy coordination or boosting ally morale.
• Sensory Manipulation: Temporarily enhances or suppresses specific senses (e.g., sight, hearing).
• Telepathic Link: Establishes a mental connection with allies for silent communication.
• Limitations: Strong-willed targets may resist its effects, and complex illusions require sustained focus.

Willow (Chibi Treant - Nature Elemental):

• Appearance: A small, animated tree-like figure with vibrant green leaves that emit a calming glow.
• Abilities:
• Phytokinesis: Accelerates plant growth, creates barriers of vines or roots, and summons vegetation to entangle enemies.
• Natural Healing: Enhances recovery for allies, treating injuries and alleviating fatigue.
• Toxin Purification: Neutralizes environmental toxins or poisons within a limited radius.
• Photosynthesis Boost: Temporarily empowers allies by harnessing sunlight and converting it into energy.
• Limitations: Requires nearby vegetation for maximum effectiveness, and healing is less effective in low-light conditions.

Gaia (White Snake - Earth Elemental):

• Appearance: A sleek, sinuous snake with gemstone-like scales that shimmer with a pearlescent glow.
• Abilities:
• Geokinesis: Manipulates stone, soil, and minerals to create walls, projectiles, or structures.
• Seismic Control: Generates small localized tremors to destabilize enemies or reshape terrain.
• Crystal Formation: Grows crystalline structures for defense or offense, including sharp spikes or reflective shields.
• Mineral Infusion: Temporarily enhances allies’ physical durability by encasing them in protective mineral layers.
• Limitations: Large-scale terrain alteration is highly taxing, and seismic effects are ineffective on non-solid surfaces.

Physical and Cognitive Adaptations

• Enhanced Neurological Function: Greater frontal lobe connectivity allows simultaneous multitasking and heightened strategic planning.
• Advanced Ocular Adaptations: Enhanced visual acuity for tracking multiple constructs and perceiving elemental flows.
• Cognitive Boost: Improved problem-solving and adaptive thinking for complex battle scenarios.

Limitations and Risks

• Energy Dependency: Constructs rely on Keiko’s stamina and physical condition. Overuse leads to extreme exhaustion and dehydration.
• Elemental Exclusivity: Only one construct can be summoned at a time. Switching between constructs has a cooldown period.
• Emotional Instability: Emotional distress may destabilize constructs, reducing their power or control.
• Environmental Constraints: Some constructs (e.g., Droplet, Willow) are less effective in unfavorable environments.

Object Class and Containment Considerations

Classified as Keter due to its versatility and destructive potential, Elemental Manifestation poses significant risks in untrained hands. Proper training, emotional health management, and environmental awareness are essential for safe use.

Evaluator’s Note

Keiko Ayano exhibits remarkable potential and creativity in using her quirk. Continued focus on stamina development and stress management will enhance her ability to safely and effectively wield her constructs. Her aptitude for both support and offense roles makes her a valuable asset in any high-stakes environment.

– Dr. Tsubasa Yamaka
Quirk Research and Registry Specialist

“I kind of want to talk about the happiest and most traumatizing part of our time in Aincrad,” Izumi said, giving an extremely haunted look toward Asuna. “Our honeymoon.”

“Forgive me for misunderstanding. I was under the impression that you didn’t get that honeymoon,” Dean Nezu said, intrigued.

“Oh, we did. It just took us nearly dying and Izumi killing a guy to get it,” Asuna said with a hint of depression in her tone.

“Yeah, I don’t really regret killing Kuradeel. Bastard set a trap to avenge Laughing Coffin. Apparently, I killed his boyfriend or something, who was a member,” Izumi said in a voice lacking any emotion.

“For the purposes of our investigation into the SAO incident, I would prefer you tell that story first, Mrs. Midoriya,” directed the detective.

“What’s to tell? He ambushed me on my guild introduction quest, and I killed him...” Izumi stared at the faces of her interrogators and family and sighed deeply. “Fine” 

Midori, already uncomfortable with her new outfit, was walking to meet up with Godfree, a tall, powerfully built man with the kind of presence that naturally drew attention. His most striking feature was his hair, a thick mane of shaggy orange curls that tumbled just past his ears, wild and untamed despite his otherwise disciplined demeanor. The unruly curls gave him a rugged, lion-like appearance.

Framing his strong jaw was a thick, bushy beard of the same fiery orange hue, full and dense, lending him a commanding, rugged look. The beard seemed almost like a mane itself, amplifying his lion-like aura and underscoring his experience and strength.

Clad in the signature white and crimson uniform of his guild, with polished armor shining on his chest and shoulders, Godfree carried himself like a seasoned warrior. His piercing blue eyes were sharp and alert, reflecting both the wisdom gained from countless battles and the steadfast loyalty of a true knight.

Godfree was the leader of the front-line fighters in the K.o.B., thanks to his battle strategy and charisma.

Izumi picked at her white cloak. She had modified her outfit. Well, "replaced" was a better word. The Black-Clad Swordswoman wouldn’t dare be seen in anything that lacked black. She wore a black trench coat with red highlights, and the symbol of the guild was on her collar, cuffs, and the white belt that held her cloak. The cloak also bore the guild insignia. Clipped to the back of her belt, barely covering the emblem, were her weapons: the Elucidator and Dark Repulser .

Izumi’s clothes beneath her coat and cloak consisted of a white dress with red trim. The skirt of the dress fell just above her knees. The dress included small silver armor plating with the guild emblem at her neck and waist, though the plating looked more like decorative buckles than actual armor.

Midori’s greaves were no longer her standard black knee-high boots but instead proper silver greaves, with red leather visible at the joints.

As Midori reached the gate where Godfree was waiting, he stepped aside to reveal Kuradeel, who looked visibly disgusted at the presence of the trans girl.

"Oh, you have got to be kidding me," Izumi said. "Seriously, Godfree? You’re making me party with the melted troll doll?"

"If we’re going to be in the same guild, I figured the two of you should bury the hatchet, so to speak," Godfree replied sternly.

"I’m not apologizing," Kuradeel and Midori said in unison.

"I agree to work with him and nothing more," Midori added. And honestly, that was the end of their agreement.

"After that, Godfree took our crystals, the ones we carried, not the ones in our inventory, and we cleared the dungeon on the fifty-fifth floor," Izumi paused. "It was when we stopped midday to take a break, because Skeletor and Godfree couldn't keep up with me, that he made his move."

"I feel like I can actually contribute to this part. First, after Kuradeel and Midori’s duel, the Commander and I decided to put him on supply duty. This also meant he was in charge of packing the supplies used in mat farms, like the quest Midori was on with them."

"Okay, so that explains how he poisoned our drinks with a paralytic poison, but how did you get there so quickly, Asuna?" Izumi asked, almost as an offhanded thought.

Asuna, for her part, turned as red as a tomato. "I was following you from the beginning."

"I have never been so happy to be dating a stalker in my life," Izumi said softly. Then, before anyone could cut in, she began telling the story of Kuradeel’s demise.

Okay seriously, Izumi didn’t know what gods she had pissed off to end up in this situation.

First: She logs into SAO.
Second: She spends damn near every day in isolation because she was a Beta Tester.
Third: She ends up even more isolated because she’s actually fucking competent, which clearly made her a cheater.
Fourth: She discovers her sexuality in one of the most traumatic ways a girl possibly can.
Fifth: Her third friend in the game turns out to hate her bullied her because she was coming to terms with being gay for her.
Sixth: It turns out she has an older brother who is probably a supervillain both in and outside the game.
Seventh: Holy Shit! Her dad is probably also a serial killer.
Eighth: She is almost certain the guild she was forced to join, the same one her wife is part of, is run by Akihiko Kayaba.
Ninth: She’s stuck on a material farming quest with two older, heavily armored men who are just letting her carry them .
And finally, she is almost certain the water she drank was laced with a paralytic poison, and now Kuradeel is stabbing her in her very much nonexistent virtual womb.

Kuradeel had just finished killing Godfree and was on some megalomaniacal rant. Right before plunging his blade into Midori’s lower abdomen, he decided to vent.

"You know, I just killed an innocent bystander because of you," his voice tinged with madness, as if he were imitating someone.

"Seriously, Kuato? Going to kill two people because I humiliated you? Honestly, that’s just sad," Midori said in a pained but mocking voice.

"I killed Godfree because he was annoying. I’m killing you for a much worse sin," Kuradeel replied eerily, his tone low and filled with twisted conviction. Unequipping his gloves, he revealed the tattoo of Laughing Coffin on his arm.

Midori’s heart sank. She knew exactly what that meant. She had two tattoos herself. The blue crescent moon with black cat ears and a tail on her left thigh, and the red cross on her right shoulder. These were guild-identifying marks, automatically applied by the game itself. If a player joined a guild and was not removed, the symbol would appear, and stay on their body. This confirmed it. Kuradeel was a member of Laughing Coffin.

"You killed my precious Haku-kun," Kuradeel snarled. Then he stabbed her leg, the blade landing disturbingly close to her Moonlight Black Cats mark. "You enjoyed it, didn’t you?"

Kuradeel began laughing. "You’re just like me, aren’t you, Midori? The prince called you his little sister. He bragged about how he would make a monster out of you one day." Another stab came, this time into her mark representing the Knights of the Blood Oath.

"How did it feel, huh? When you brutally beheaded my beloved?" Kuradeel asked, his voice manic and barely understandable through his laughter.

"Come on, Princess. Tell me." Another stab. "How..." and another, "did..." and another, "it feel?"

Midori began laughing. "You are a fool, Kuradeel. I didn’t enjoy killing those players in the raid. I did it to protect Asuna. Go ahead, kill me. Enjoy your twenty minutes of vengeance. Just remember, you … report…  to…  my…  wife."

Before Kuradeel could land the final blow, he was suddenly pierced six times by a rapier and sent flying into the cavern wall.

"Oh my god, Izu! Please, please, oh thank god I made it in time!" Asuna cried as she rushed in, pulling out two healing crystals. "Heal!"

"Excuse me, love," Asuna said coldly once she was sure Izumi was safe. "Allow your darling wife to take out the trash."

With that, Asuna began methodically stabbing Kuradeel until he dropped to his knees.

"Please, have mercy!" Kuradeel cried out, begging for his life.

"You know what? Fine. I’ll let the commander decide what happens to you," Asuna said as she turned back to check on her wife.

"Suna, look out!" Midori screamed, diving in front of Asuna just as Kuradeel attempted a cowardly backstab. The blade severed her left forearm, and in a blind rage, with her eyes glowing crimson, Midori struck.

She plunged her remaining hand into his chest, activating the martial arts skill that allowed for lethal unarmed attacks. Even though it was a virtual body, she squeezed as if she were crushing his heart.

"Good job, Princess. You murdered me," Kuradeel said with a final, twisted grin before shattering into green, pixelated shards.

“Oh my god, Izumi! My baby!” Inko immediately began hugging her daughter. “That was heartbreaking to listen to!”

After Inko got her emotional outburst out of her system, Izumi returned to telling her story.

“After that, Asuna and I demanded leave due to mental health reasons and bought a log cabin on the twenty-second floor, where we spent the majority of our days leading up to the end of Sword Art Online,” Izumi said, a tone of depressed longing in her voice.

“Forgive me, but that sounds peaceful. Please tell us how that could be the most traumatic time for both of you?” It was Toshinori who asked the question this time.

“We met and lost the one girl I could say without a shadow of a doubt we love more than anything else in this world,” Asuna spoke up, allowing Izumi to explain in only three words.

“Our daughter Yui,” Izumi said, her voice filled with heartbreak.

zumi allowed the silence to permeate the room, audibly hearing her mother and sister’s hearts break, and feeling the silent sobs of Asuna against her.

“Yui, or MHCP001-Yui, was a fully sentient artificial intelligence that took on the appearance of a five-year-old girl. Shortly after we met her, we met MHCP002-Strea, an AI similar to Yui, who took on the appearance of a young woman about our age. These living AIs’ programs were saved as items both inside my NerveGear and in my Quirk.”

Izumi paused, having a sudden realization.

“Koichiro-san, you said you wanted me to play ALO, correct?”

“I would be honored if my game could make you a hero in real life, Izumi-chan,” Asuna’s older brother spoke fondly.

“If at all possible, I want you to port the items saved in my NerveGear onto my character when I log into ALO,” Izumi said.

“That’s no problem, Izumi. Please, tell me why?”

“My Quirk. I plan on bringing our daughter and our friend to life.” Izumi paused, then decided to cut off any cries of astonishment. “Please, let me tell you all about our short time with them.”

Izumi barely overheard Asuna talking: “…gether forever.” It was the only piece she caught as she felt a warm, soft weight pressed against her.

She struggled to open her eyes, but after a moment, Izumi, and yes, right now she was simply Izumi and not the black-clad swordswoman Midori, finally managed to. When she did, it took only a moment to register that she was looking directly into her wife’s eyes.

“Aaah!” Asuna cried out in shock and embarrassment before jumping away from her wife. “G-good morning, Izu.” Asuna’s voice betrayed her flustered state, and her face showed the slightest hint of a blush.

“Good morning, Suna,” Izumi murmured groggily, still in the early stages of waking up.

“D-did you hear what I said?” Asuna asked in a shaky voice that clearly showed how nervous she was.

“No, no I didn’t, Suna. What’d ya say?” Izumi ended her sentence with a yawn.

“Oh, nothing,” Asuna said, her voice pitched up an octave, waving her hand as if to dismiss the question, something Izumi had no issue with.

“Anyway, wanna go have some fun today?” Asuna asked, her voice oddly chipper.

“I mean, didn’t we have fun yesterday and the day before?” Izumi replied. She was half teasing Asuna, but also wanted to relax and enjoy their vacation. It was then that Izumi remembered the rumor she had overheard, the myth of the Haunted Woods.

“Are you saying you don’t want to have fun with me?” Asuna pouted adorably.

“Well, I mean… I do want to relax with you sometimes, but I may have an idea,” Izumi said, wondering if investigating ghost stories was something Asuna would consider fun.

The two were quick to get dressed, though Izumi refused to tell Asuna what she had planned. Asuna wore a bright yellow sweater with a tan pencil skirt and brown flats.

Izumi, keeping up Midori’s edgy cool girl aesthetic, wore black flats with green and black striped knee-high socks, a black pleated skirt with green stripes accenting the hem, and a black oversized hoodie with green patches seemingly stitched in.

If Asuna’s or Midori’s outfits didn’t quite match the aesthetic of the game, it was purely because artisans like Ashley were actually given free rein when crafting basic clothing.

Izumi led Asuna by the hand all the way from their cabin home to the large lake that made up a good portion of the Twenty-Second Floor. They were walking on a wooden path that resembled a typical dock. It was around this point that Asuna had an idea to mess with her introverted punk wife.

“Hey Izu, if you won’t tell me where we’re going, why don’t you carry me?” Asuna asked, her innocent request revealing a flash of teenaged immaturity.

“Really, Asuna?” Izumi said, exasperated.

“Oh, c’mon. With your strength stats, I’d be lighter than a feather,” Asuna replied in a sheepish tone.

Izumi honestly didn’t need much convincing. She ducked behind Asuna and lifted her up onto her shoulders, enjoying the playful, childish sounds she made.

“Wooaah, hehehe, yeaaaay!” Asuna’s joy was immeasurable. “Okay, giddy-up, horsey!” she giggled.

Asuna’s playful demand was met with Izumi using the full power of Midori’s AGI stat and dashing down the path toward the forest.

Oh wow, you two are adorable,” Inko interrupted the story.

“I’d call them cringy. I mean seriously, Izu-nee, did you actually describe your outfit as ‘fitting a cool girl aesthetic’?” Rikku questioned.

“I think punk girls look cool, okay? And my whole thing was being the depressed loner,” Izumi said sheepishly before she began to continue.

“Well, when we got to the edge of the forest, I told Asuna about the rumor…” Izumi trailed off into the story.

“The story goes, about a week ago, around the time I was fighting the commander, there was a carpenter who came out into this forest and saw a strange white figure aimlessly walking toward trees before it suddenly vanished,” Izumi explained to Asuna, who was freaking out because she could see a white figure in the distance.

“I wanna get down now,” Asuna called out as she performed a back handstand to hide behind Izumi. After thoroughly cowering behind her wife, Asuna used the Detection skill to try to see the “ghost” better.

“Everything okay, Suna?” Izumi asked, just now noticing the girl in the distance. Izumi then activated the Detection skill herself, getting a clearer look at the girl.

“Izumi… what is that?” Asuna asked, right as the girl or ghost collapsed.

“That’s not a ghost. I think it’s a person. Maybe a player,” Izumi said as she ran off to check on the girl. Asuna was hot on her heels, purely due to Izumi’s deduction.

It took less than a minute for the two to reach the unconscious child. A child she was, the girl in white looked no more than five or six.

As Izumi picked her up to inspect her, she cataloged every detail: the girl’s young age, her straight black hair, the pinkish-white dress she was wearing, and the lack of a cursor over her head.

“I think she’s a player, Asuna. There was no quest marker or warning for touching her, but there’s something weird. She has no cursor,” Midori said, cradling the little girl to her body.

“That is weird,” Asuna agreed.

“Let’s take her back to the cabin. Suna, I’m scared. Why is a girl barely old enough to have her Quirk playing this game alone?” Izumi’s voice was filled with anxiety.

“After that, we took her home and waited for her to wake up. When she did, she told us her name was Yui, and, well, she basically adopted us as her parents,” Izumi said, a hint of fondness in her tone. She was no longer sad when she remembered what her abilities had allowed her to do. However, silent tears were now tracking down Asuna’s face.

“She called us ‘Izu’ and ‘Auna’ until Asuna told her to call us whatever made her comfortable. She called Asuna ‘Mommy,’ and me ‘Momma.’ It was so adorable, neither of us had the heart to correct her. It only took two days of bonding with her before I really began to see her as my own daughter.” Izumi smiled softly at the memories of Yui.

“For me, it was about the same,” Asuna added, her tone nearly unrecognizable. “When you two fell asleep on the couch, I started imagining our own little family once we escaped. I thought that if we could really adopt Yui, that would be amazing.”

“It was around that time we got a message from Argo-chan. She had met a mid-level player named Strea, who was also like Yui. Believing it might be a glitch, we agreed to meet up that same day, right before we took Yui to the first-floor orphanage to see if anyone knew her,” Izumi said as she continued the story.

Argo’s friend was a taller girl with lavender hair that reached the base of her neck, with two long strands on either side of her head that went down to the top of her breasts. She had two freckles on her left breast, visible within her cleavage. Her eyes were red-violet. Strea wore a lilac-colored, strapless dress with a black piece of fabric running across her chest and down to her stomach, beneath an intricate coat. This coat consisted of violet and plum-shaded components that reached the hem of her dress but also left certain areas open, exposing the dress beneath. Over that, she wore a collar in the same violet shade as her coat, outlined in lavender, with a red jewel securing it in place. It appeared that the components extending over her detached black sleeves were connected to this collar. These components covered the sleeves almost entirely, except at the wrist and hand where they joined to her finger. She wore plum-colored stockings etched with whorls. They extended beneath the dress and were connected by a triangular piece. She carried a large purple bastard sword with silver edges.

“Oi oi, Izzy-Kuro, Aa-chan! Ya gotta hear this, Rea-chan’s got some freaky no-cursor glitch goin’ on, nyahaha~ Ain’t that wild?” Argo called out, meeting with the two women and child… wait, child without a cursor.

“HOLY. FREAKIN’. HELL. You two don’t waste time, huh?! Tie the knot and BAM insta-kid?! Nyahaha~ Izzy, what the hell you feedin’ Aa-chan, turbo romance juice?! And the brat’s cursorless too?! Is that like... a family bug now?! What kinda broken love-hack you two runnin’?!” Argo’s playful voice was clearly fucking with them, but luckily Izumi spoke fluent Argo.

“We found her in the woods, Tomo-chan. She and…. Rea?” Izumi paused, waiting for Strea to introduce herself.

“My name’s Strea. Don’t ask me anything else… can’t remember, other than I’m level Seventy Five.” Strea introduced, and wasn't that concerning. Strea’s voice was bubbly and happy despite her circumstances.

“So Strea, and her lack of a cursor and memories. Maybe that's the glitch. Like, you lose the cursor and your memories of the real world.” Izumi began pondering and muttering. “Imeanthat’stheonlyconnectionbetweenthetwotheybothcantrememberanythingaboutthemselvesandhavelosttheircursorscouldthehospitalstheywereinhavelostpowerforlongenoughthatitglitchedthenervegearandhadaweirdfeedbackmaybeweshouldtakeStreawithustothetownofbeggingsandaskaround.”

Argo, speaking fluent Midori mutterstorm, responded with a laugh, “Man, that’s so you, Izzy-kuro. Somethin’ gets weird and suddenly you’re spitballin’ ten theories, five backup plans, and a doomsday scenario all in, like, half a second! Nyahaha~”

Izumi, still locked in her head and muttering more and more incoherently, was unresponsive to Argo’s taunts, leaving Asuna to introduce everyone.

“Hi Strea, I’m Asuna. The little girl holding my hand is Yui, and the mumbling conspiracy theorist is my wife Midori.” Asuna’s voice held found irritation at Izumi 

“Not a conspiracy theorist. I am trying to figure out the glitch. Speaking of, we were going to check the town of beginnings, see if the Children's Care Center has ever heard of her. Care to join us Girl, and Rat?” Izumi said, intentionally making a cheeky remark towards Argo.

“If you’re diggin’ into some freaky glitch, Izzy-Kuro, you’re gonna need Aincrad’s top-tier info broker and lucky you, I just so happen to be available~” Argo responded, while Strea simply nodded her head.

“After that the four of us went off to meet a player named Sasha, who ran the in-game orphanage. I should explain a bit about that.” Izumi paused, noticing the question before it was asked.

“Aincrad’s Children’s Care Center was a place run by two female players named Sasha and Prism, and a male player by the name of Jack Frost. The three of them set up a shelter for any player under the age of thirteen to relax and feel safe. The kids were to never leave the first floor, and only grind with Sasha, Prism, or a member of the Aincrad Liberation Front. That was the name the ALA switched to when a player named Thinker took over due to Kibaou’s incompetence that led to what we all called the Massacre of Twenty-five.” Izumi’s infodump about the center was told in an analytical voice; it was clear she held little investment in it.

“I do have a few questions about this orphanage,” Nezu piped up, beginning to ask a few questions.

“Go ahead,” Izumi replied.

“Well first, how many children were residents?”

“Twenty-three,” Izumi responded.

“How did they receive funding?”

“Every guild donated a fifth of their earnings to the Care Center,” Asuna replied calmly.

“What can you tell us about the three in charge?”

“Sasha was a woman studying to become a teacher. She has brown hair and green eyes. Prism was a girl our age who wants to become a pro hero. She has chartreuse hair and multicolored eyes. Jack Frost was a beta tester who is studying to become a doctor. Jack Frost was also the in-game name of Natsuo Todoroki,” Izumi answered without missing a beat.

“Thank you, Mrs. Midoriya.” Nezu bowed in gratitude at the girls humoring his curiosity. “Please continue with your story. I presume because the two were AIs no one knew them.”

“That’s correct. However, immediately following the meeting with Sasha, we were met up with by a player named Yulier, who told us how her husband had been trapped by Kibaou’s faction of the Liberation Front who still used the old name of Aincrad Liberation Army. So Argo, Strea, Yulier, Yui, Asuna, and I went to the dungeon where the worst thing that could have happened happened to us.”

 Yulier was a woman with long silver hair that she kept tied up in a ponytail, dressed in tights and the ALF’s uniform of a long green overcoat, wielding a whip at her side. She noticed her beloved, Thinker, standing in some weird kind of room.
Strea paused when she noticed the room, her memories returning. Shit, that was an admin console room.
Argo believed something was fishy about the hall only five feet before the room and had immediately grabbed the little girl in a way to defend her.
Yui was oblivious to what was going on.
“Hey, wait, Yulier, it's probably trapped,” Asuna called out.
Izumi immediately drew both her blades as the dark hallway began to light up with an ominous purple hue. Shit, this was a boss room.

The Fatal Scythe: ????
Unknown.
Unknown
Error 

“That's not good. ARGO, STREA, take Yui to the room Thinker’s in, NOW!!” Midori called out as she and Asuna blocked a swing from what could best be described as the literal Grim Reaper’s scythe.
The Fatal Scythe was a giant skeleton with no legs, garbed in an eerie black cloak that held a blood-red interior. It was carrying a massive black scythe whose edge was coated in a red liquid.
Argo complied, while Strea did not—something she almost lost her life for in defiance.
“Strea, I can’t see its levels, meaning it’s over one-twenty. It’s too strong for you. Asuna and I will hold it off while you all teleport out.”
Just then, Midori and Asuna were flung into the ceiling, losing three-quarters of their health in the process.
Yui couldn't take it. Her memories returning, as she touched a black rock in the room she and Argo were in. Seeing the ALF members instantly teleport away, she activated admin control and walked out, stopping the killing blow from killing her adopted moms or her technical sister.

<Immortal Object>

A purple box designating Yui as an Immortal Object appeared. Slowly after the box appeared, she began to levitate into the air.
“Immortal…” Izumi began.
“Object?” Asuna finished.
At this point, Yui was floating at eye level with the avatar of death, as she reached out her hand and a torrent of flame appeared, slowly shaping itself into a red, serrated, one-handed sword that was over 150 cm in length. The blade began erupting in flame as Yui made a circular motion with the weapon. Then, with the use of the Vorpal Strike skill, Yui erased the boss monster. Yes, erased , as the blade was known as [Object Eraser] .
With a flourished ball of flame, the Fatal Scythe and the Object Eraser disappeared. And with that, Yui and Strea could feel their time being numbered, as the Cardinal System would be able to find them and would more than likely delete them.
“I guess I owe everyone an explanation,” Yui said as she led the girls back into the side room, better known as an Admin Access Room.
Once they arrived in the room, Yui hopped up on the black box—or the admin console—and began her tale.
“I’m sorry for deceiving you all,” Yui began, only to be interrupted by Asuna.
“Yui, sweetie, what is going on?” Asuna asked, her voice desperate.
“Mental Health Care Program 001. Designation: Yui. Sentient AI, made by Akihiko Kayaba on August first, the year before SAO was released. Made to monitor and maintain the mental health of all players of SAO. My job was to monitor, then counsel players to keep mental states from deteriorating. It is also why I was given the form of a six-year-old girl, as Kayaba believed in the healing properties of children…” Yui’s analytical voice was cut off as she was explaining.
“A few weeks before the release of the beta, Mental Health Care Program 002, Object Designation: Strea, was created. This program was supposed to pose as a player and help players with the despair of near-unbeatable bosses. Due to a sin reward being finally achieved, glitches in our programming allowed us to escape our confinement through this very console, a few short weeks ago,” Strea cut in, explaining her own circumstances, her voice somber.
“I don't care,” Izumi said. “Yui, Strea, what do you want to do?”
Yui began crying. “I want to be your real daughter. I want to live with you, and I want to love you. You are my mommies.”
“I honestly want to go on adventures with the three of you. I wanted to be your friend. Unfortunately, this console was activated again. It won’t be long before Cardinal erases us,” Strea said, as she and Yui—who was now hugging Asuna in tears—began glowing.
“Nah, fuck that!” Izumi called out. Then she began furiously typing away at the console.

pgsql

Object ID: MHCP001: Yui → Pendant  

Object ID: Yui’s Heart  

[Yui’s Heart: Activate this item to restore Object ID MHCP001]

Save object to console of player Midori.  

Real name: Midoriya, Izuku  

Console Location: Musutafu General Hospital: Heroics Ward

Backup file location to console of player Asuna.  

Real name: Yuuki, Asuna  

Console Location: Musutafu General Hospital

Object ID: MHCP002: Strea → Bracelet  

Object ID: Strea’s Soul  

[Strea’s Soul: Activate this item to restore Object ID MHCP002]

Save object to console of player Midori.  

Real name: Midoriya, Izuku  

Console Location: Musutafu General Hospital: Heroics Ward

Backup file location to console of player Argo.  

Real name: Tomo, Hosaka  

Console Location: Musutafu General Hospital

Create backup of all newly created files to Musutafu General Hospital servers  

Under account: Midoriya Inko  

File folder named: Do not delete, Mom. I love you. – Izumi

“Okay, now to find out if my theory is right,” Izumi said, using her last few moments in the console to research one piece of information. She knew she only had a matter of seconds; creating the objects and hacking into the hospital took the majority of the estimated five minutes she had.

Player ID Search: Heathcliff
Results: Heathcliff, Guild: Knights of the Blood Oath

Before she could confirm the player she was searching, she felt an electric shock—and actually felt it. Static replaced her vision as she was forcefully ejected from the console. However, she herself was wearing the jewelry.
“I did it. I saved them. Their program files are all saved to our NerveGears as encrypted files. We can revive them in another game or as AIs,” Izumi said before she passed out.

““I always wondered what that file was, baby. To think you were simply just leaving your daughter with her grandma.” Inko was in full tears. She tried to speak again but began bawling in hysterics.

“Nee-chan…” Rikku had no other words. Her sister had experienced hell in her last few days before the raid. She simply walked over and wrapped herself around her big sister. Izumi was even more of a hero to her now than she had been before.

“Imouto,” Kouichiro said as he placed an arm on his sister, an action that led to Asuna falling into him and holding on to him for dear life as she wept silently.

“Two days later was the Seventy-Fifth Floor boss, and the day I killed Akihiko Kayaba and beat Sword Art Online,” Izumi said solemnly, while her sister wept on her, and she looked as if she was barely suppressing her own tears.

Chapter Text

Patient Report

Name: Andrew Gilbert Mills.
Age: 29
Blood Type: O-
Gender: Male
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Black
Ethnicity: African-American
Date of Birth: 03/09/XXXX
Quirk Status:  N/A 

Diagnoses and Persisting Medical Conditions:

• Severe Malnutrition

• Body mass index (BMI) < 15 kg/m², indicating chronic caloric deficiency with associated micronutrient deficiencies.

• Sarcopenia

• Significant reduction in skeletal muscle mass and strength, consistent with prolonged nutritional deprivation.

• Stress-Induced Hypertension

• Episodic elevations in blood pressure exceeding 140/90 mmHg, correlating with acute stress episodes.

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Symptoms include intrusive recollections, hypervigilance, and persistent hyperarousal, following trauma.

Clinical Summary:

Mr. Andrew Mills is a 29-year-old male and documented survivor of the Sword Art Online (SAO) incident. The patient reports that he functioned primarily in a non-combatant, support-based role within the game’s economy as a merchant. He expresses regret for not participating more actively in game-clearing efforts and has verbalized emotional distress over witnessing what he described as “a young girl sacrificing everything” during the final battle. This memory appears to contribute significantly to his PTSD symptomatology.

Mr. Mills has been highly cooperative with clinical staff and has voiced only two primary concerns: the health status of survivors Asuna Yuuki and Izumi Midoriya. He expressed a desire to attend their memorial services, should either have succumbed to their injuries.

The patient’s physical and psychological recovery showed marked improvement following a personal expression of gratitude by Chief Nursing Officer Inko Midoriya, in recognition of his contributions to her daughter’s well-being. Arrangements for a future visit between Mr. Mills and Ms. Midoriya were discussed, contingent on both parties’ recovery status.

Despite lacking a Quirk, Mr. Mills demonstrates the most favorable physiological recovery trajectory among SAO survivors. His resilience and engagement with treatment are notable.

Recommendations and Care Plan:

Nutritional Rehabilitation:

• Initiate a medically supervised refeeding protocol to address starvation-related complications and prevent refeeding syndrome.
  
  

• Administer oral or parenteral micronutrient supplementation as indicated (iron, B-complex vitamins, zinc, etc.).
  
  

Physical Rehabilitation:

• Begin a structured and progressive physical therapy regimen focused on restoring muscle mass, strength, and functional mobility.
  
  

Psychological Support:

• Continued trauma-informed counseling with a licensed therapist to address unresolved grief, survivor’s guilt, and PTSD-related symptoms.
  
  

• Group therapy with other SAO survivors may provide peer-based emotional support.
  
  

Evaluator’s Note:
“Honestly, some of the diagnostic concerns brought up by other departments appear to stem from confusion over the patient’s Quirkless status. Let me be perfectly clear: he is not genetically aberrant—he is simply a Quirkless human being. This distinction matters.”

Signed,
Dr. Chiyo Shuzenji, MD, PhD
  Recovery Specialist (Recovery Girl)

Quirk Registry

Name: Andrew Gilbert Mills
Classification: N/A
Evaluator: Dr. Sarah Whitaker, Ph.D. (Quirk Sciences, American Institute of Metahuman Biology)
Registry File ID: AG-MQ-0001

Functional Overview

Andrew Gilbert Mills has been formally assessed as Quirkless , meaning he possesses no detectable quirk factor or metahuman abilities. This status is confirmed through genetic screening and physiological analysis, which revealed no presence of the Quirk Gene (QF-01) or its associated regulatory markers.

Despite the lack of a quirk, Mills demonstrates exceptional physical and cognitive attributes.

Evaluator’s Notes

Andrew Gilbert Mills demonstrates the resilience, intelligence, and determination necessary to thrive in a society where quirks dominate the social and professional landscape. While his lack of a quirk presents inherent limitations, his ingenuity has allowed him to excel beyond expectations. Continued development of physical conditioning and reliance on technological tools will further enhance his capabilities.

Evaluator: Dr. Sarah Whitaker, Ph.D

“Honestly, the boss fight before I battled Kayaba was a blur. I know I got a new coat called the Necro Coat, and that fourteen people died. But I think the adrenaline made that fight a complete blur,” Izumi said softly.

“I remember both of us almost dying like five times,” Asuna said.

“I also remember that our ten scouts died before we all entered, the day before. The Skull Reaper was the first boss we entered completely blind. It was a giant skeletal centipede, with each leg being a scythe, and the glowing eyes scared the hell out of me,” Izumi said. Her voice held confusion and fear.

“Sweetie, I think the reason you can't remember the fight clearly is because you went into cardiac arrest. We… we almost lost you,” Inko said, her voice choked up from remembering the day she almost lost her daughter.

“I see. That would…” Izumi placed her finger to her lip as she began muttering, “imeanifIwashavingaheartattackmyquirkwouldnthavebeenabletoactivateandwouldnthavebeenrecordingsomymemorywouldbethesameasanyoneelsesinastressfulsituationbuthowcomeicanrememberthefightwithKayba.”

“Izu-nee!!!” Rikku said, slapping her sister. “You were muttering again.”

“Good analysis, Mrs. Midoriya. If your quirk is reliant on your physical and mental states, it is likely you were unable to record events as clearly as you did with the rest of the story. It is good to know one’s limitations,” Nezu said with a chaotic grin.

Nezu’s grin was unknown to Izumi because it was for thoughts he was not yet ready to announce.

“That is fine, Mrs. Midoriya. If you could, please tell us about your confrontation with Akihiko Kayaba,” the detective directed the conversation to the battle everyone was eagerly awaiting.

“Well, I was already deeply suspicious of him, but then I noticed his health bar. Heathcliff was still in the green, and that wasn't possible. So I attacked him.”

<Immortal Object> 

“Immortal Object??” Asuna said, remembering her deceased adopted daughter.

“What is going on, Commander?” Asuna asked, her voice wavering with the nerves, wanting to be wrong.

“Actually, sweetie, I can answer that,” Midori stated. Her voice was cold. “From day one, I had only one question I couldn't figure out. Where was he? Where was he while we suffered in this world? Then it hit me. I was so stupid to think otherwise. It's basic psychology. It’s so basic that any kid would be able to tell you it. Nothing is more boring than watching someone else play an RPG.”

Midori paused to let everyone linger on her answer before she dropped the bomb. “The reason the Commander’s HP never drops into the yellow? That's simple. He's protected by the system. Ain't that right, Akihiko Kayaba?”

“Just for my curiosity's sake, mind telling me how you figured it out, Izumi Midoriya?” Kayaba said, casually dropping the girl’s real name in a quid pro quo of her revealing his.

“Honestly? Our duel,” Midori said, her voice calm despite the circumstances. “When you turned the tables on me and won, you paused the game to move your shield into place. I noticed it because you made the mistake of not placing Quirk cancelers into the NerveGear.”

A screen appeared before Kayaba, and he began reading. “Player name: Midori. Real name: Izumi Midoriya. Legally changed on December fifth of last year. Born Izuku Midoriya. Quirk: System. A quirk that allows her to warp reality to match any known system she is familiar with. Alongside that, it gives her increased perception and a photographic memory. You are right, I should have placed some form of quirk suppressors in the NerveGear for players like you. Forgive me for the oversight. You see, I myself am Quirkless.”

“What, a little girl too much for one of the world's smartest scientists? Or is telling all my personal information just confirming you’re Akihiko Kayaba?” Midori slipped on her mask of arrogance once again.

“Yes, Izumi Midoriya, I am Akihiko Kayaba. World-renowned Quirkless neurologist, biotechnical engineer, and developer of SAO & NerveGear,” he chuckled. “And fitting my new title in the real world of S-Class Villain, I am the final boss of SAO.”

“So the game’s strongest player becomes the final boss? Kinda cliché, isn’t it? Then again, you said it yourself—you’re a villain,” Midori snarked back.

“I actually like that angle,” Kayaba said before his voice turned introspective. “I always knew it would be you who faced me at the end though, Midoriya. Dual Wielding is a unique skill, given only to the player with the fastest reaction time. You were always supposed to be Aincrad's little hero, who rose up to fight the Demon King.” He began chuckling almost maniacally into his next few words. “But you, you exceeded my expectations. I guess these little twists and turns are what make MMORPGs so thrilling to play. Who would believe the little girl from U.A.'s backyard would be the best this game has to offer, and not any of the many pro heroes. Huh, Midoriya?”

“Our loyalty. Our friendship. You USED US!” a K.O.B. member shouted as he attacked Kayaba.

“No, you idiot! Don’t!!!” Ingenium shouted, just as Kayaba flicked his hand and suddenly began tapping on the screen before him, paralyzing everyone but Midori.

“Izu…” Asuna said as she fell into Midori’s arms.

“What’s the plan now, Kayaba? Gonna kill all of us and cover it up?” Midori accused.

“Heavens no. I am going to head to the Ruby Palace and await you all there. Shouldn’t be long. However, Izumi Midoriya, as a reward for discovering my secret, I will give you a choice: defeat me now and clear SAO twenty-five floors early, or lead them to me at the top,” Kayaba said with the air of authority in his voice.

“Don’t do it, Izu. Please. I don’t trust this,” Asuna said, and her words caused Izumi to think about the last two years—remembering every death, every painful memory.

“I have to,” is all Izumi said before she placed her wife down and began walking toward Kayaba.

As Izumi was within dueling distance, she began her speech, deciding that if Kayaba was going to so blatantly use real names, she would too—but to make it personal.

“Andrew, thank you for helping all the players level up and stay alive.” Izumi’s words caused Agil to gain a shocked look that he was first. “I know you act like the money is all you care about, but you’ve been one of the greatest heroes to all of us.”

“Ryo. I have always regretted never joining your guild. Honestly, it would have been a lot of fun. I’m sorry I ditched you that day two years ago.”

“Gods damnit, Izumi. I won’t accept your apology. Want to apologize? You need to buy me dinner on the other side.” Klein’s eyes were bawling, and he was fighting against the paralysis.

“Hitoshi. You were one of the first people I learned to trust in this world. I know when you get out, you’ll become a great hero.”

Loki screamed, “No! No, you don’t get to give this suicidal-ass goodbye. You’ll be right there with me!”

“Tensei… in so many ways, I always felt like you were a big brother to me. When you get out, do the one thing we’ve both wanted to do this whole time and hold your little sibling.”

Ingenium called out to her in response, “You too, kid. Hold your sister just as tight as I plan to hold my brother.”

“Auntie Nem, you were like a mother to me in this world. I know I never told you, but I love you.”

Izumi's words made Midnight and Miss Joke begin to cry.

“I love you too, kiddo,” Midnight choked out between her sobs. She knew what Izumi was doing, and it was breaking her heart.

“Emi… no, Auntie Emi. I want you to know the reason most of us could even smile on the front lines is because of you. I love you.”

“I…” Miss Joke was sobbing so hard words were escaping her, but she couldn’t not let this girl know she was loved. “Love… you… too.”

“Keigo, I never did tell you, did I? Before I logged in, you were my second favorite hero… After playing this game, I can probably say I am now Hawks’ biggest fan.”

“Then live for me, kid. Beat this bastard and meet me on the other side,” Hawks said.

“Eijiro.” Izumi smiled brightly. “Mina’s a lucky girl. I wish I could have known her.”

“Then I’ll introduce her to you when you win,” Crimson called out.

“Denki… oh, sweet Denki. You’ve been my best friend since the first floor. In so many ways, you’ve become like a brother to me… I love you, man.”

Izumi made sure to make eye contact with him when she said she loved him.

“I love you too. So you better not die.” Chargebolt said, just before he began bawling.

Then Izumi had the hardest one to say goodbye to.

“Asuna,” she said, only her name, before making direct eye contact. “There are not enough words or enough time to tell you just how deeply I love you. If anything happens and I lose, please, please keep fighting for me.”

“No. I won't! You better win! I refuse to live without you, Izumi Midoriya. I love you too much,” Asuna called out, bawling her eyes out.

“I love you too, Asuna Yuuki,” Izumi said before she turned to face Kayaba.

“You done?” Kayaba said in a bored tone.

Inko was in tears hearing Izumi’s tale.
“You didn't think you’d win, did you?”
“No,” Izumi said curtly before she began her tale again.

Midori didn’t answer Kayaba. She began swinging as soon as he disabled his immortality. She wasn't using sword skills; she was using dual-wielding fencing techniques, something Kayaba wasn't equipped to deal with properly. He was immediately on the back foot. His parrying was all system assisted, making his movements almost predictable.

Their dance of swords was fast and consistent. Midori was obviously the better duelist, but Kayaba was the better player. Then Kayaba did something no one expected. He was able to disarm her off-hand. A mistake he didn’t know he made. If only Asuna also knew Izumi was better at Kendo than she was at using two blades.

Unable to block Kayaba’s follow-up to disarming her, Izumi backstepped, only for Asuna to jump in front of Kayaba’s blade.

“NO!!!” Izumi screamed as Asuna shattered, leaving behind her rapier.

“Revive Asuna!” Klein called out, as he too broke the paralysis. Little did anyone know, the revival item wasn't instant. It required acceptance from the player who died. It simply stopped the timer that would kill her in the real world.

Izumi didn’t hear Klein, however, and was distraught. She began lazily swinging Asuna’s rapier at Kayaba, before Kayaba stabbed her with his longsword. Then it registered. She had asked Asuna to fight for her; she needed to do the same.

Izumi’s eyes began glowing a bloody crimson as she resisted her own death, a feature she was unaware of in SAO called Second Wind . When a player's determination to win is strong enough, the game allows them to keep fighting in the negatives.

“NO!! TODAY YOU DIE, KAYABA!!!” Izumi screamed as she thrust the Elucidator into Kayaba’s chest, right where his virtual heart would have been.

Kayaba smirked. “Congratulations, Izumi Midoriya. You cleared SAO,” he said, as the two of them shattered.

8 days before present day. 

Izumi Midoriya opened her eyes to see only white. Her body felt weak, her head heavy. Her movements were forced as she sat up. She removed the NerveGear from her head. She did it. She beat SAO.

“A… su…na,” Izumi whispered as she forced her frail legs over the side of the bed. She barely took notice of the white-haired teen sleeping in the hospital chair beside her.

“Ri…kku?” she questioned, her voice hoarse, as she began to move frantically. Tears filled her eyes. Izumi grabbed the IV stand, using it as a crutch, and began trying to get up. The effort took a full minute. All the while, her little sister slept peacefully.

Once Izumi was fully standing, she was able to take stock of her physical body. It didn’t feel that different from SAO. It didn’t feel that different, which meant her mom must have gotten her the surgery while she was diving.

Izumi then felt something odd. A foreign sensation of wetness crawled down her leg. She had a thought about what it might be, but she ignored it. If she was right, it meant her mother hadn’t just gotten her the surgery, but had found the doctor that Tiger went to. The one capable of changing a person on a biological level. She was biologically female.

Find Asuna first. Revel in how awesome of a mom I have second, Izumi thought.

She began walking, her monitoring pads slowly tearing off as she moved. The alarms began to sound, waking Rikku.

Izumi paid no attention to them as she stepped out of the hospital room and walked straight into her mother.

“Izumi? IZU, BABY, you’re alive!” Inko cried out, stopping her. Rikku and an older woman who had been behind Inko rushed forward to get Izumi back into bed.

It took a few moments for Inko to retrieve proper sanitary cloths and reconnect her daughter to the monitors. Then the old doctor spoke.

“That was reckless. You need to let me examine you before deciding you're healthy enough to move,” the woman said firmly.

“I need to find Asuna,” Izumi said, her voice quiet but determined. The name made Inko pause. She recognized it.

“I don’t care, dearie. Your health comes first, before you start worrying about your girlfriend,” the older woman said. Her words agitated Izumi, who now finally got a clear look at her.

“You’re the Youthful Heroine... Recovery Girl?” Izumi asked, her voice uncertain.

“That I am. But for you, dearie, you can call me Dr. Shuzenji. I’m your physician,” Recovery Girl replied.

“Where is Asuna? The game’s records said she was in this hospital,” Izumi asked. She was only willing to comply right now because her doctor was Recovery Girl herself.

Now knowing where she had heard the name before, Inko finally spoke up. “Asuna? Asuna Yuuki? She’s one of my patients, sweetheart. She woke up asking for a Midori. I should have known she was looking for you. She’s been awake for about twenty minutes.”

Present Day

“Thank you, Mrs. Midoriya. We will be taking our leave. If you're wondering who your hero guard will be while you recover, I can only assume your family will be here soon,” Detective Naomasa Tsukauchi said, bowing as he, Yagi, and Nezu took their leave to file the report of the Hero of Aincrad.

It took half an hour before two blonde women and a woman with blonde and navy blue hair came running in.

The blonde with chin-length hair covering one of her eyes wrapped herself around Inko. “Inko, darling, I heard little Izumi woke up.”

“Yeah, she did, Ryuko dear. A week ago,” Inko replied, melting into the blonde's embrace.

“Seriously, Inks, you couldn’t tell us our little girl was up this whole time? How ya doing, kiddo?” It was the other blonde who spoke. This one had short, ashy blonde hair and deep red eyes. She was objectively gorgeous and looked to be around the same age as Izumi and Asuna. Izumi and Rikku, however, knew she was actually a year older than their mom.

“Auntie Mitsuki? You’re here... How's Kacchan?” Izumi asked, shocking Asuna and Koichiro.

“No, no, we ain’t talkin’ ‘bout the brat. We’re talkin’ ‘bout you. Two years in a coma, and I see a pretty lady on your arm. Mind talkin’?”

“Asuna. Asuna Yuuki, ma’am. Question, are you Mitsuki Bakugo? The famous fashion designer and model? Also, did Midori call you Auntie?” Asuna asked, completely stunned by the woman present. She was unaware of the two pro heroes in the room, especially because one had been quiet.

“Yeah, that’s me. I’ve known the brat since she was in diapers, so of course she calls me Auntie,” Mitsuki boasted in response before the quiet person finally stepped forward.

“Izumi Midoriya.” Her voice was stern before she broke into tears and wrapped her arms around the girls. “I met with my boss on the way in. He said you were a hero. You saved everyone from the SAO disaster.”

“Auntie Anan, please. I’m not as much of a hero as you guys think,” Izumi said, crying as she hugged back.

“Okay, care to introduce everyone?” Koichiro asked.

Inko decided that it was up to her to handle introductions.

“Koichiro Yuuki, game designer of Alfheim Online . Asuna Yuuki, SAO survivor and apparently my daughter-in-law. Mitsuki Bakugo, fashion designer and my best friend. Anan Kurose, my kouhai from U.A.U., better known as Pro Hero Thirteen. And Ryuko Tatsuma, my girlfriend and Pro Hero Ryukyu.”

“Asuna and I got married a few weeks ago in SAO. Apparently, Kayaba was legally ordained, so our wedding is legally recognized. Auntie Nemuri, Auntie Emi, and Auntie Kiho oversaw it. That’s two Pro Heroes and a respected Support technician. Don’t worry though, we planned to get remarried in this world,” Izumi explained, before the last thing her mom said registered in her mind.

“Mom... when were you gonna tell me Ryukyu is my new mom?” Izumi asked with a pout.

“Surprise,” Inko said.

Two Weeks Later.

“Recovery is going amazing, sweetie. With any luck, you girls will be out of this hospital before December. But first, you have a guest,” Inko said. Her girlfriend and kouhai were still sitting in the hospital room, now dressed in costume.

In the past two weeks, many people had come through their room: heroes, detectives, and even Asuna’s parents, who expressed their approval of the girls’ union. They also met the little brother of Ingenium and the Iida family, who came to thank them for saving Tensei.

Izumi had also managed to meet up with all of her friends from SAO, with the help of a wheelchair. All except one.

A familiar, broad-shouldered African-American man stepped into the room. He wore a loose white button-up shirt and black jeans.

“Agil!” Izumi cried out.

“Hey, kids,” Agil replied in a calm voice. “I had to see for myself that you were okay before I could leave. They discharged me today, and no matter how much Nurse Midoriya told me you were fine... I watched you die for me, kid.”

“I’m fine, Agil. Look at me. I still can’t walk, but my Quirk says my stamina is back up to fifty percent, and my health is over thirty now. That means it won’t be much longer,” she said, smiling brightly.

“Must be nice having your Quirks back, huh?” Agil asked. There was no bitterness or resentment in his voice, just a genuine question.

“What do you mean, Agil?” Asuna asked, looking up at him.

“Guess I never told you. I don’t have a Quirk. Never did. It’s actually more common in America, where I’m from. Didn’t stop me from opening my own bar, and my wife never judged me for it.”

Izumi’s eyes lit up. She had been a late bloomer herself, not activating her Quirk until she was eight years old. “Oh wow! I’ve never met someone without a Quirk. You looked so strong in SAO. Does that mean all those muscles came just from hard work?”

Agil smiled. He had always known his SAO friends wouldn't judge him, but it felt good to see Izumi genuinely excited by the idea that his strength came from effort alone.

“Yeah, Midori. They did.”

Chapter Text

Patient Report

Patient Information:

• Name: Aizawa, Hitoshi

• Age: 18 years

• Sex: Male

• Blood Type: AB

• Hair Color: Indigo

• Eye Color: Purple

• Date of Birth: 06/01/XXXX

• Quirk: Brainwashing (Refer to official Quirk Registration Database for full capabilities, limitations, and ethical considerations)
  
  

Diagnoses and Active Medical Conditions:

• Severe Protein-Calorie Malnutrition

• Body Mass Index (BMI) < 15 kg/m²

• Associated with prolonged caloric deficiency and multiple micronutrient deficiencies (suspected hypovitaminosis and electrolyte imbalances including hyponatremia and hypokalemia).
  
  

• Sarcopenia

• Marked atrophy of skeletal muscle mass and strength, secondary to prolonged nutritional deprivation and physical inactivity.
  
  

• Microcytic Hypochromic Anemia

• Likely iron-deficiency anemia, confirmed via CBC and peripheral blood smear findings.

• Associated with chronic undernutrition and insufficient dietary iron intake during confinement.
  
  

• Intermittent Hypertension

• Episodic elevations in systolic/diastolic blood pressure (>140/90 mmHg), typically triggered by acute psychological stress or autonomic dysregulation.
  
  

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Meets full DSM-5 diagnostic criteria.

• Symptoms include persistent intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, avoidance behavior, nightmares, exaggerated startle response, and emotional dysregulation stemming from trauma experienced during the Sword Art Online (SAO) incident.
  
  

• Comorbid Insomnia (Chronic Onset and Maintenance Type)

• Persistent difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep.

• Likely multifactorial in etiology: pre-existing sleep disturbances compounded by trauma-related hyperarousal and fear-based avoidance of unconsciousness.
  
  

Clinical Summary:

Hitoshi Aizawa is an 18-year-old male and one of the approximately 6,000 survivors of the SAO disaster, a two-year mass-casualty incident orchestrated by the S-class villain Dr. Akihiko Kayaba. The patient reports having participated actively in the game’s clearing efforts and claims presence at the final confrontation with Kayaba. Wearable telemetry data, including heart rate variability and stress biometrics, corroborate his account, demonstrating acute sympathetic arousal consistent with high-risk combat exposure.

Mr. Aizawa exhibits significant psychological distress surrounding the conclusion of the event. He expresses a recurring fear that his current reality may be a dream or illusion, driven by unresolved grief surrounding the death of a close friend. He questions the legitimacy of Kayaba’s defeat, citing disbelief that his friend “could have sacrificed herself to end the game.” This persistent uncertainty contributes to his heightened state of arousal and chronic insomnia. According to collateral history provided by the patient’s adoptive father, sleep disturbances predate the SAO incident, suggesting an underlying vulnerability exacerbated by recent trauma.

Notably, the patient has demonstrated measurable psychological stabilization following peer-based therapeutic interaction during a group physical rehabilitation session. Engagement with fellow SAO survivors, specifically Izumi Midoriya, Eijiro Kirishima, Denki Kaminari, and Asuna Yuuki, resulted in improved affect, increased verbal responsiveness, and reduced avoidance behavior.

Recommendations and Care Plan:

Nutritional and Metabolic Care:

• Initiate gradual refeeding protocol to minimize risk of refeeding syndrome.

• Oral iron supplementation to address iron-deficiency anemia.

• Multivitamin and mineral support, with lab-guided monitoring of electrolytes.
  
  

Physical Rehabilitation:

• Implement structured physical therapy program focused on muscle reconditioning, functional mobility, and endurance.
  
  

Psychological and Psychiatric Intervention:

• Ongoing trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with a focus on exposure-based and cognitive restructuring strategies.

• Evaluate for adjunctive pharmacotherapy (e.g., SSRIs) for PTSD symptom management, particularly intrusive thoughts and sleep disturbances.

• Consider short-term sleep aids under psychiatric supervision to mitigate insomnia and prevent sleep deprivation–related exacerbations.
  
  

Peer Support & Integration:

• Encourage participation in survivor group therapy sessions.

• Facilitate further supervised interactions with known survivor support peers to reinforce grounding in reality and social safety.
  
  

Signed,
Dr. Renji Takamura, MD
Attending Physician, Department of Trauma Psychiatry
Musutafu General Hospital

Izumi was struggling. Seriously, she had been awake for nearly three whole weeks and had only seen a few of her friends from SAO. Not to mention, her legs were not strong enough to hold her body up. Honestly, it was humiliating.

"From hero to crippled. Can this get any worse?" she said self-critically. She was just happy her mother was not legally allowed to be her primary nurse. Honestly, that would have been even worse for her.

"Midoriya-san, please do not feel discouraged. Your time in SAO did a lot to your body," said a young blonde woman with black eyes. Her hair was tied back in a tight bun, and she was slightly taller than Izumi. She was dressed in light blue scrubs. This was Nurse Tanaka, the primary physical therapy nurse practitioner at Musutafu General.

"I know, Tanaka-san. I know. It's just so frustrating. I was so strong in SAO, and if Mom would let me use my quirk, I could heal my muscle damage, probably everything wrong with me if I am honest," Izumi said in a dejected tone.

"Midoriya-sama and Shuzenji-sama know what is best for you right now, Midoriya-san," Tanaka said gently.

"Okay, no. Enough of that. If you are going to be calling Mom by our family name, please call me Izumi, Tanaka-san," Izumi said, her voice sounding almost exhausted. She was seriously tired of telling all the doctors and nurses to be more casual with her.

"That is understandable, Izumi-san. Now let us get back to building your leg strength," Tanaka said before helping Izumi up and guiding her to grip the bars to help her walk.

At that moment, a few more nurses led a handful of people into the rehabilitation room.

"Midori?" a masculine voice called out. It was followed by the sound of three more male voices and a soft feminine chuckle.

Izumi turned her head and saw them. The first one who called out to her was a man around her and Asuna’s age with unkempt lavender hair. Behind him were a blond, a redhead, and a man with black hair, along with a group of pro heroes. Her Auntie Anan stood at the door.

"Loki," she said, pausing to notice that the other three men were Klein, Crimson, and Denki. "Klein, Crimson, Bolt." Izumi began crying slightly. This was the first time she was seeing each of them. But Denki... Denki was her best friend, and she had not seen him in nearly a month.

Without realizing it, the mental block that had been preventing her from walking disappeared. She had something to run to.

Izumi did not just walk. She stumbled, but unassisted, she ran and fell onto the wheelchair containing her best friend. Then she noticed her wife was the one laughing at them.

"Denki, I missed you," she said as she and all the boys began crying.

Denki, with almost no strength, placed his closed fist on top of her head. He was trying to hit her, but he did not have the strength.

"You died," he said through his tears. "Do not ever scare me like that again."

"No promises," Izumi replied, chuckling.

"Congratulations, Izumi-san," Nurse Tanaka said, catching her attention. "Looks like you just needed a push, a reason to be able to walk on your own again."

The blonde nurse’s words made Izumi realize she had done it. She had crossed the entire distance of the rehabilitation room. Without asking, Izumi immediately activated her quirk.

HP: 35%
SP: 55%

Izumi then noticed her select screen for her quirk was available again.

Select Save
Animal Crossing: Unavailable
Baldur’s Gate: Unavailable
Cyberpunk 2077: Unavailable
Final Fantasy XI Online: Unavailable
Final Fantasy XIV Online: Unavailable
Dark Souls: Unavailable
Dark Souls II: Unavailable
Dark Souls III: Unavailable
Skyrim: Unavailable 
Sword Art Online: Midori LvL 110
Oblivion: Unavailable
… Deleting inaccessible data …

Select Save
Sword Art Online: Midori LvL 110

"Izumi Midoriya, don't you dare," Anan called out to her, noticing her glowing eyes. "You need to wait until Inko-senpai or Recovery Girl approves the use of your quirk."

"I wasn't gonna. I was checking to see what changed about my status," Izumi said defensively, before taking a crutch that was handed to her by another pro hero.

"Thanks, Aizawa-san," Izumi said, noticing the man who passed her the crutch was Hitoshi’s pro hero escort, Eraserhead. This allowed her to get off of Denki and stand mostly stable.

"Congrats, Zumi," Asuna said, bringing everyone's attention to her.

"Asuna! It worked! Thank the gods," Klein shouted, his voice filled with relief. "I used the revival item on you, but you didn’t come back before Midori killed Kayaba."

"Thank you for saving my life, Klein," Asuna replied, her tone sincere and grateful in response to his confession.

The group spent the next hour or so catching up, sharing stories and laughter while continuing their physical therapy together.

Later that Same day: 

Asuna and Izumi were back in their hospital room, just chatting and scrolling their phones, when a diminutive old woman walked in.

"Hello dearie, I hear you made great strides in your physical recovery today," spoke the old doctor, known famously as Recovery Girl.

"Yes, Dr. Shuzenji, I did," Izumi said as she slowly got up from her bed to show her doctor she was capable of walking.

"Congratulations dearie," Recovery Girl said as she began setting up some equipment. "Now, your nurses and your mother tell me you keep expressing a desire to use your quirk. Care to explain?"

"My quirk allows me to rewrite my own reality and force the world to follow the rules of systems I’m familiar with. In SAO, I had around three hundred different recovery items. My quirk saves the data of a recent physical state, and if I lock that data into memory, I can keep loading the items I had and use them to heal myself and other survivors. I want to restore myself, Argo, the Assault Team, and All Might."

She said the last part quietly, but it was enough to catch Chiyo’s attention.

"Show me," Recovery Girl said, now genuinely curious. "And explain how it could heal all of you better than my own quirk."

"Our bodies are deteriorated. In SAO, a health potion could restore even lost limbs. My quirk currently sees my body at less than half health, meaning it recognizes all the malnutrition and muscle loss as damage that can be healed using a recovery item," Izumi explained with a smile. She believed it would work, and her eyes began glowing a toxic green.

Select Save
Sword Art Online: Midori Level 110
Activating

Izumi was instantly engulfed in a glowing white light. When it faded, she stood dressed as Midori again, now with three swords equipped. Two were on her back, and on her side was Lambent Light, Asuna’s rapier. She felt it immediately. Her safe zone regeneration was activating. She looked at Asuna and saw a floating health bar beside her. It was low yellow. Recovery Girl also had a visible bar that wasn’t full. Then Izumi checked her own health. It was extremely low.

Opening her menu, she produced five major health potions. She tossed one to Recovery Girl and handed two to Asuna.

"Drink. If you have any pain, it should start to fade."

She drank the two she had kept for herself. All three of them were surrounded by a glowing green aura. Recovery Girl blinked as the ache in her back disappeared completely. Then she looked at the two girls. They didn’t just look better. They looked completely revitalized.

"Now turn off your quirk. I want to see if the effects last," Recovery Girl said.

"Actually, can you call Eraserhead? I want to try something else."

Recovery Girl took out her phone. Within minutes, Aizawa appeared in the doorway.

"Yes?"

Izumi, now dressed in her casual SAO outfit, waved at him. "Erase my quirk."

Aizawa activated his quirk and looked at her. The glow in Izumi’s eyes vanished. She still felt great. Asuna still looked healthy. Recovery Girl still felt like a new woman.

"It works," Izumi said, laughing.

"Dearie, explain why Aizawa was needed," Recovery Girl asked, her tone calm but heavy with expectation.

"I was actually worried about you, Dr. Shuzenji. Health potions have a regeneration effect. If the healing was only temporary, whatever was hurting you would have come back when my quirk was erased. But you still feel fine, right? That means it was real. Now it’ll only start hurting again the way it normally would after a few hours."

Over the following two weeks, Izumi met with every member of the Assault Team and healed them one by one.

There were a few notable reactions to her healing though. 

Musutafu General Hospital: Heroics Wing

“Okay Izumi, this is the room where Midnight and Miss Joke are,” Inko said to her daughter, who was dressed in her casual clothes from SAO due to being considered in full health after healing herself and Asuna. She was joined by her sister, who was also dressed casually, wearing Izumi’s teal-green hoodie with All Might’s logo on the left side of her chest, a black tank top, and black tights. Asuna was wearing a white jacket with a pink turtleneck visible underneath, a plaid red skirt, and dark grey leggings. The girls were also joined by Pro Hero Thirteen, who was dressed in her astronaut-inspired hero costume.

“Okay, time for Auntie Nem and Auntie Emi to get back to work,” she said with a soft smile.

When they entered, they noticed that Emi and Nemuri were currently being spoken to by Nezu and a cowboy wearing a gas mask.

“Excuse us,” Inko spoke as the door opened. “Mrs. Kayama, Mrs. Fukukado, we have a proposition for you.”

Nemuri couldn’t hear a word. Her kids had just entered her hospital room, the kids she was completely convinced had died a month ago, standing with a white-haired girl who looked a lot like Izumi and the nurse who Nemuri could swear was Izumi’s big sister.

“I...zu...mi... A...su...na?”

Emi was quicker to accept than her wife. “You girls did it, huh? Saved all of our lives and somehow managed to keep yours.”

“Hello again, girls. Nurse Midoriya,” Nezu said with a gentle wave. “What is this proposition you have for these two recovering heroes?”

“My quirk can bring the items I had in SAO to reality, and they work like they did in the game, including health potions,” Izumi said calmly.

Nemuri didn’t care. She forced herself out of her hospital bed and walked over to Izumi, hugging her.

“Oh, Izumi, my sweet girl...” Nemuri began crying. This was the best medicine for her, seeing her surrogate daughters alive.

“I can heal you, Nemi. Please let me,” Izumi said, returning the hug.

“So we drink another health potion like we did in Aincrad, and we’re back to being professors and heroes again?” Emi asked. She was crying, but she wasn’t as healthy as her wife and couldn’t get up to hug the girls like she wanted.

“Uhh, Izu-nee, are you forgetting something? Or someone?” Rikku said, trying not to be too jealous that her sister was being hugged by one of her favorite pro heroes.

“Auntie Nemuri, Auntie Emi, meet Rikku Midoriya, my little sister, and Inko Midoriya, my mom. I assume you guys already know Auntie Anan, so...” Izumi said, breaking away from Nemuri’s hug. She made sure to gesture to each person as she spoke.

“Thank you for keeping my daughter safe,” Inko said with a bow.

“Uhm, hi... uhm... I’m Rikku. You guys are some of my favorite heroes,” Rikku said nervously.

“Please raise your head, Miss Midoriya. Izumi is my hero,” Nemuri said softly, still disbelieving that this woman was Izumi’s mother.

“So I kinda need your verbal consent to use my quirk on you,” Izumi said, trying to get back to the reason for her visit.

“Of course,” both Emi and Nemuri said at the same time.

After that, Izumi healed both of them using a single health potion each, and then spent some time with them just talking. Rikku left the room with two signed posters she had brought in with her.

Later that Day 

“This is the room of Eijiro Kirishima.” This time, Izumi was only joined by Thirteen. It was a random nurse who led them to his room.

“Okay, so Crimson is next.” Izumi knocked on the door, only for it to be opened by a woman her age with pink skin and curly pink hair.

This pink-skinned woman was wearing a black crop top with the word Acid in English on it, in a pink shade darker than her skin. She was also wearing regular dark jeans and a bunch of bracelets.

“Hi, who are you?”

“Izumi Midoriya. I’m here to help Crim– I mean Eij– um, Kirishima-san.”

“Oh cool, you must be Midori! Eiji told me so much about you. I’m Mina, his girlfriend.” The now-named Mina turned her head and called out to Eijiro. “Hey babe, Midori’s here to see you. Why didn’t you tell me she was such a cutie?”

“Let her in, Mina,” Eijiro shouted back, causing Mina to escort Thirteen and Izumi into the room.

In the room, there wasn’t a hero present like Izumi expected, but she was also aware that Fatgum was assigned to this section of the hospital, so she assumed that not everyone got a personal pro hero escort while in their rooms. Inside, there were two women present, one of whom looked like Eijiro, and the other was a redhead who resembled a female Crimson Riot. His sister, maybe?

Mina, noticing Izumi staring at the women, decided to explain. “Those are Eiji’s parents: Maori Kirishima and Yuna Kirishima.” Maori looked like an older female Eijiro, with long spiky hair. She had a visible shark mutation that only affected her jaw with its sharp teeth. Her wife, Yuna, had long, spiky red hair that spiked downward like Eijiro’s.

“I can heal you using items from SAO with my quirk… you can be recovered in a few minutes,” Izumi said softly to Eijiro. “Um, I don’t know if you’re eighteen yet, so if not, I need either your or one of your moms’ permission. My mom is the head nurse of the hospital, so I have permission to use my quirk on patients; I just need consent.”

After getting consent from both of Eijiro’s mothers, she healed him by handing him a health potion.

Izumi then spent the next hour getting to know Mina and telling fun stories of their time in SAO, including:

“You know, Ei, it’s funny. The first person I came out to turns out to have two moms,” Izumi said offhandedly.

“Wait, came out? Are you gay, Midori?” Mina asked, deciding to just start using Izumi’s IGN like her boyfriend.

“Huh? Did Ei not tell you? Yeah, I’m gay. Got married to my girlfriend in the game. Oh, turns out it was legally binding because Kayaba had a marriage license or something. By the way, you guys should take my number. The four of you are definitely invited to my and Asuna’s real wedding too. Actually, Mina, if you want, you can bring your family too,” Izumi said with a smile, right before handing her phone to Eijiro.

Her phone was passed around to the moms and Mina, followed by thanks and congratulations from the Kirishimas before Izumi decided it was time to leave. Mina, however, stopped her in the hallway.

“Hey, Midori? I wanted to personally thank you,” Mina said, bowing to her.

“For saving Crimson? No need. He was my friend in the game and was there the day I fought Kayaba,” Izumi said placatingly.

“No, for saving Mikio, my little brother.” Mina raised her head from the bow. “See, Eiji and I got our NerveGears and we planned to play together. Waited in line for a day with his cousin Ryou and his friends. However, I forgot to tell my mom what I was doing that day, and she grounded me. And my baby brother decided if I couldn’t play, he would check it out.”

“You want to find the players who went by Prism, Sasha, and Jack Frost. I can give you their descriptions, but I only know Frost’s real name. He was Natsuo Todoroki. They ran a children’s care center and took care of all the kids who played. I’d rather not take credit for keeping Mikio safe. However, if you take me to his room, I can heal him.”

Izumi was quickly led to Mina’s brother after the girl told the Kirishimas she was going to see him. Before they could enter, Mina had a few questions for the girl.

“Hey, Midori, can I ask you something?” Mina said softly.

“Yeah, go ahead, Mina,” Izumi replied.

“First, what's up with the escort? Is that Pro Hero Thirteen?” Mina then decided to ask her second, more important question. “Also, why? Why heal Mikio? You don’t have to, and you told Eiji that you were only healing Assault Team players.”

“Yes, that’s Thirteen. She’s friends with my mom and has known me since I was like three. My mom had me while she was at university, my sister too, so there are a few pro heroes and retired pros that love me like I’m their niece or granddaughter because they had to watch me when my mom was in class or working with Recovery Girl. As for why I’m helping Mikio: you. I’m a big sister too, and if something happened to Rikku, I’d do anything to help her. And if someone offered to heal her up, then I’d be ecstatic. And you are important to one of the people who saved my life hundreds of times, so I’m doing it because it would make you feel better, and that would make Eijiro happy.”

Izumi finished her speech right as they approached Mina’s little brother’s room.

“He’s in here and… Midori, thank you,” Mina said again, bowing.

Izumi knocked on the door and a deep male voice responded, telling them to come in.

Inside was a dark-skinned man with curly black hair and ram horns coming out of his head. He was well built and towered over Izumi at 220 cm. He was standing at the foot of the bed of a child who looked like a younger Mina, except he shared a skin tone with the man.

“Hey sweetheart, who’s the friend?” he asked in his deep, nearly intimidating voice.

“Izumi Midoriya, sir, but your son would know me as the Black-Clad Swordswoman, or the Hero of Aincrad. I have a proposition for you and your son, if the two of you are willing.” Izumi’s eyes were glowing a toxic green, and she was reaching into her pocket.

“Go on, young lady,” Mr. Ashido said calmly as he looked at her. This woman had saved his son and was seemingly friends with his daughter; he could at least hear her out.

“Mikio, I assume you know what this is?” she said as she pulled out a health potion from SAO. “My quirk allows me to replicate items I used in video games. So don't be scared. If your dad agrees, you can drink this, and just like in SAO, you’ll be all better after a few minutes.”

“Why do you need my approval, young lady?” Mr. Ashido asked.

“I’m using my quirk to heal your son with an item that can cause trauma due to his time in Aincrad,” Izumi said, her tone serious.

“And what exactly is your quirk?” the man asked, his voice also carrying a serious edge. “And not the version you told my son, the real thing.”

“System. I can warp my own reality and influence this one to follow the rules of any system I am deeply familiar with. I spent two years in SAO alone, fighting to save everyone, and killed Akihiko Kayaba in order to free everyone. My quirk makes a save of my last time in a game and I can load it, allowing me to use the items I possessed at the last time of playing.” Izumi decided to leave out the part where she also got the stats and abilities of those saves as well.

“Go ahead, son. If you want to drink that healing drink, you may.” Mr. Ashido accepted Izumi’s offer to heal him.

It took only a few minutes for Mikio to be healed, and Izumi decided it was best she leave. Before she could, however, she was stopped by Mr. Ashido bowing to her and thanking her for saving his son.

Musutafu General Hospital Heroics Wing: one day later. 

“Seriously, Rikku, you plan on coming with me to every hero I heal?” Izumi was with her sister, and this time with Ryukyu, who was dressed in her hero outfit. Izumi’s outfit was different today in honor of who she was coming to meet. She was wearing an Ingenium hoodie, a white and blue jacket designed to look like Ingenium’s hero costume. She also wore a blue knee-length pleated skirt, black tights, and her red high-tops.

“Izu-nee, it’s Ingenium. Of course I came. And yes, I’m coming when you heal Hawks tomorrow too,” Rikku said, wearing her school uniform with her red blazer on.

“Ugh, fine.” Izumi knocked twice on the door before opening it. Inside, she was met by a boy her age in a school uniform belonging to Somei Private Academy, and Tensei was lying in his hospital bed.

“Yo, Izumi. Glad to see you alive, kiddo,” Tensei called out, then chuckled at her attire. “Didn’t expect the Black Swordswoman to ever be caught dead in white. I’m flattered.”

“Hey, Nii-san,” Izumi said jokingly. “Mind if I ask, are you Tenya? Tensei told me a lot about you in SAO. Also, this is Rikku. She's a huge fan.”

Tenya adjusted his glasses and chopped his hand a few times as he spoke. “Yes, I am Tenya Iida, and I’d prefer it if you weren’t so formal with me. I don’t even know your name.”

“Tenya, that’s Izumi Midoriya. Hero of Aincrad. The Black-Clad Swordswoman Midori. But my question is, why are you here?” Tensei said with a playful tone.

“Catch,” Izumi said casually as her eyes began emitting a toxic green glow. She summoned a healing crystal into her hand and tossed it to Tensei.

“My quirk lets me use my powers and items from Aincrad. You know what to do. Japan needs Ingenium back.”

“Heal,” Tensei said as he crushed the crystal in his hands and immediately began feeling a lot better. “Thanks, Midori.”

“Yeah, well, you're welcome. Also, mind signing my jacket and giving my sis an autograph? Would be nice,” Izumi said as Tensei got up from bed and hugged the girl.

“Fine, but only because you survived that,” Tensei said, and proceeded to give the girls their autographs before they went on their way.

Later that day.

After dropping her now signed Ingenium jacket off in her mother's office, and now dressed in a simple black tank top, she was being led to a patient her mother had decided was next on the list.

"So Mom, do I even get to know who I am healing?"

"You'll see, Izu baby. She needs your help in more ways than one," Inko responded as they approached the door.

Inko knocked. It was rhythmic and deliberate. One knock, followed by two soft rapid knocks, and finally a louder knock.

"Come in, Nurse Midoriya."
Izumi froze. She had never heard that voice sound so broken.

"Carina-chan, I brought someone special for you," Inko replied as she opened the door.

"No, no other doctors. Only you. Izzy-Kuro trusts you, so I do too," came the broken, terrified voice of Carina.

"No, not medical, Carina-chan. I brought my daughter," Inko spoke softly as she revealed Izumi behind her.

"Argo," Izumi said softly. "Sorry it took me so long to see you."

"Izzy-Kuro?" Argo's eyes suddenly gained light and life. "You actually went and killed the big bad himself, huh? Kayaba, freakin' Kayaba. What's next, gonna punch God too?"

"Never change, Argo. Never change," Izumi said. "I got a deal for you. Did I ever tell you my quirk?"

"Ohhh, let me guess. It's connected to the real reason you ended up in Kayaba's murder circus, huh? So what's the catch, Izzy-Kuro? Some kind of secret pact with the system? Nyahaha." Argo was clearly intrigued but had to find a way to mess with Izumi.

"Kinda. That's its name. I have my powers from SAO, including these." Izumi produced a health potion. "It works just like the game. Drink it, wait an hour, and all damage to your body is gone." Izumi's eyes were glowing a toxic green the whole time she talked to Argo.

"Can't believe I'm saying this without demanding payment, but thank you, Izzy-Kuro. For taking down Kayaba and, you know, saving my sorry butt."
Argo took the potion and downed it without questioning it.

The two then spoke for the next hour, and Izumi noted a solid increase in Argo's general mood the longer she spent with her. But soon she was on her way.

The Next Day

Izumi was dressed this time in a black pilot's jacket over a Hawks graphic tee and a pair of black skinny jeans. What she wouldn't be telling anyone was that everything but the shirt had been bought in the last twenty-four hours. Tensei was right; it felt weird wearing anything other than black now, and honestly, she hadn’t owned enough of it before.

Rikku was in her school uniform again and was just genuinely happy to be there. Hawks was the hero who was nearly every teenage girl’s celebrity crush, and she was no exception.

"Ready to meet Keigo, imouto?" Izumi asked before she knocked on the door.

Rikku couldn’t talk. She was way too excited. She even squeaked when Hawks told them to come in.

Keigo was sitting in his bed, eating a bucket of fried chicken because he refused to eat the hospital food. His crimson wings were limply resting behind him.

"You know, two years ago I’d be fangirling like my imouto. Now it's just weird to see you with your wings again," Izumi joked as she entered the room.

"Midori? You survived? That's amazing. And I assume your sister is the stammering girl behind you?" Hawks said almost too calmly. However, the twitching of his wings and the look in his eyes showed his true feelings.

"Catch," Izumi said as her eyes began to glow. She tossed a health crystal to Hawks. "Time to get back to work, Hawks. If you're wondering, my quirk lets me replicate the items from games I've played. It costs the nutrients in my blood, but you're worth it."

"Heal," Hawks said as he crushed the crystal.
"Thanks, kid," he added as he quickly stood up and walked over, ruffling both girls' hair before he decided to check himself out.

"Izu-nee, he patted my head," Rikku said as the pro left.

"Heh. Okay, I'm gonna go heal Auntie Kiho. I'll see you when you get home from school."

25 Minutes Later 

Knock knock knock.

Izumi walked into the room to see two blonde women arguing and a blonde male her age scowling in the corner.

Mitsuki Bakugo was busy yelling at Kiho Aodamo for even playing SAO in the first place.

"So? I wanted ideas for hero costumes. Are you seriously upset that I played the game and got to help out little Izumi?" Kiho, or Ashley as she was known in the game, responded to Mitsuki’s scolding. Ashley’s normal pixie-cut blonde hair with lavender bangs had grown out just past her chest and now showed that the lavender was actually dyed.

"Is this a bad time, Auntie?" Izumi asked, cutting off their arguing.

"Izumi!"
"Brat!"
"Tch."

Those were the responses from the room's occupants.

"Good to see you too, Auntie Mitsuki, Auntie Kiho," Izumi said cheerfully to both women, but her tone quickly turned cold when she looked at Katsuki Bakugo. "Bakugo."

"The hell? Two years in a shitty coma and you finally drop that 'Kacchan' shit?" Katsuki shouted, only to be instantly slapped by his mother.

"Nope," Izumi replied, popping the "p" sound. "The name Kacchan killed itself, like you told me to do before Auntie Kiho and I logged into SAO, Baka-go."

She ignored the dumbfounded looks everyone gave her and turned to Kiho.

"Anyway, Auntie, you know how my quirk works, right?"

"Uh, yeah, I do... Can we go back to Katsuki telling you to commit suicide?"

"Nope. Don't care about it. Just like I don't care about him. Now, healing crystal? Want one?" Izumi activated her quirk. This time, she was fully garbed in the Dreadwyrm Cloak and carried the Elucidator, Dark Repulser, and Lambent Light. In her hand, however, was the healing crystal.

"Uh, sure?" Kiho was completely floored by Izumi’s admission.

"Cool. Heal," Izumi said, crushing the crystal into glowing particles that surrounded Kiho. Within a few seconds, she looked as healthy as she had in the game, just with longer hair.

"Stupid freaking nerd," Katsuki began, his hands crackling with explosions, but he was cut off by a glare from Izumi’s toxic green glowing eyes.

"What? You told me to. Upset I survived? Too bad. Not only did I survive SAO, I thrived. Want to call my quirk useless again? I have the power of the black-clad swordswoman, the hero of Aincrad who beat the whole game. I could probably take on All Might with my current strength and win. I killed Kayaba, the strongest player in the game and that world's god."

Before it could go further, Mitsuki stepped between them.

"Alright, brats, calm down. Katsuki, I am disappointed with you. Honestly, I am downright pissed at you. But a hospital is no place for a fight."

"I'll kill you, Deku," Katsuki muttered angrily as he stormed out of the room.

Izumi was clearly hurt at the use of "Deku." She knew the history behind it, and so did Katsuki. It was an alternate reading of her deadname, one he had twisted. The other kids took it to mean "defenseless Izuku," and Katsuki had dropped it after she came out as trans.

"Kill a god, then you can threaten me," Izumi said as he left the room.

"Okay, well, I had a plan, but I doubt you'll want to now. Kiho can help, but I wanted to do a modeling shoot with SAO survivors. I wanted you and Asuna to be the front page," Mitsuki said, her voice dejected.

"Sounds fun, Auntie. Can I have your phone?" Izumi asked, instantly lighting a fire in Mitsuki’s eyes.

Mitsuki handed over her phone, and Izumi typed in a few numbers.

"That’s the number to contact the Yuukis. Asuna’s parents are apparently loaded, so see if they want to help. That’s Nezu’s number, and the number for Hawks’ manager. That should be everyone you need," she said, handing it back.

"You’re really okay with this? After what Katsuki said to you?" Mitsuki asked, her voice pained.

"Yeah, why wouldn’t I be? Auntie, I still love you. I actually still love Katsuki too. I just kinda hate him for what he said the day I logged into SAO, and now for calling me Deku again. But I decided not to care anymore."

Izumi turned to leave.

"I’ll leave you two to argue. I gotta meet Recovery Girl for something."

4 hours later outside U.A.U. 

Izumi waved at the camera on the front gate as Mister Yagi, or All Might in his civilian form, walked up. Izumi was now in her casual attire from SAO, her eyes still glowing a toxic green.

"Oh my god, Yagi-san," Izumi said, actually freaking out. One look at the color of the health bar on Yagi told her his condition: red.

"Well, hello, Midoriya-shoujo. You have a meeting with myself and Dr. Shuzenji. Please follow me," Yagi said. His voice was choked, and Izumi wanted nothing more than to heal him.

It only took them ten minutes to arrive at Recovery Girl’s office at U.A.U.

"Okay, Mrs. Midoriya, you said your quirk could heal Yagi?" the diminutive doctor asked.

"Yeah, I think. Well, first I need to see a picture of Mr. Yagi before his injury. And no, not as All Might."

Yagi handed the girl his phone, showing her a picture of him with another blonde man and a blonde girl about Izumi’s age.

"Mind if I ask why?" he said after she looked at the photo deeply.

"My quirk warps reality, Yagi-san. I could heal you, restore your organs maybe, but if I don’t know what your default state looks like, my quirk can’t reshape your body using the guidelines of SAO’s healing crystals. My quirk already registers that you are poisoned, bleeding, and weakened. These are status effects I can heal using items from SAO. As for your general health, my quirk says you are about to die, like I was when I woke up from SAO."

"How do you get this information, Midoriya-san?" spoke a squeaky voice that appeared from one of the vents.

Izumi placed her hands at about chest height of All Might.

"In SAO, everything had a health bar right about here. It has symbols for status effects and affiliations. Also, the bar itself is a gauge on someone’s total health. My quirk rewrites my reality to follow the rules of the game I am actively using. I can only have three systems active at any given time and can choose the three out of a total of ten saves. I also apparently can lock systems in place to keep them available for my quirk. I only found that out like yesterday."

"Well, I’d like to see how this healing works on a patient as bad off as Yagi," Recovery Girl said, encouraging Izumi to get moving.

"Okay, Yagi-san, I need you to drink all three of these," Izumi said, pulling out antidotes and status effect clearers. "While you do that, I need you, Dr. Shuzenji, to crush these crystals. Don't worry, it's very brittle. I will as well, while thinking of a healthy Yagi. Then say 'Heal, All Might.' Okay?" Izumi explained as she prepared everything to heal Yagi.

As Yagi began to drink the third potion, Recovery Girl followed directions and crushed a crystal in each hand, one green and one red.

"Heal, All Might."

"Heal," Izumi said as Toshinori slowly started to fill out his baggy suit. His sclera turned white, his cheeks filled out, and though his hair was still a mess and hanging down, he looked fit again. It was clear this man could be All Might, not like the Yagi from before.

"Thank you, Midoriya-shoujo. I have an offer for you if you’re willing," Yagi said, his voice filled with strength.

"Okay? You know you don’t have to give me anything for healing you," Izumi said, her voice filled with confusion.

"Oh, but my girl, I’d like you to become my successor," Yagi said with a laugh.

"Okay, but what do you mean?" Izumi asked as she pondered his words.

"I deem you worthy. I would like you to inherit my quirk."

"What? Inherit? Like how my father steals them?" Izumi was completely floored.

"No, but yes. My quirk’s true name is One For All. It’s the antithesis of your father’s quirk. Originally, he had a brother who he forced a stockpiling quirk onto. But your uncle had a quirk that allowed him to give his quirk to another, and thus One For All was born. One person accumulates its power and passes it on to the next. Eight people have held this sacred torch. And you, my girl, I want to be the ninth," Yagi said as he postured and pleaded his case.

"No," Izumi said calmly. "Forgive me, Yagi-san. I am honored, but no. My quirk warps reality. I would become a literal goddess with your power on top of what I already have. If I’m being honest, Yagi-san, you should give it to someone quirkless who wants to be a hero."

Izumi then, noticing how shocked and dumbfounded everyone was, took her leave with a bow.

Chapter Text

Patient Report

Patient Information:

• Name: Nemuri Kayama 

• Age: 34

• Sex: Female

• Blood Type: A+

• Hair Color:  Purple

• Eye Color: Blue

• Date of Birth: 03/09/XXXX

• Quirk: Somnambulist (See quirk registration for more details.)

Diagnoses and Active Medical Conditions:

• Severe Protein-Calorie Malnutrition

• Body Mass Index (BMI) < 15 kg/m²

• Associated with prolonged caloric deficiency and multiple micronutrient deficiencies (suspected hypovitaminosis and electrolyte imbalances including hyponatremia and hypokalemia).
  
  

• Sarcopenia

• Marked atrophy of skeletal muscle mass and strength, secondary to prolonged nutritional deprivation and physical inactivity.
  
  

• Microcytic Hypochromic Anemia

• Likely iron-deficiency anemia, confirmed via CBC and peripheral blood smear findings.

• Associated with chronic undernutrition and insufficient dietary iron intake during confinement.
  
  

• Intermittent Hypertension

• Episodic elevations in systolic/diastolic blood pressure (>140/90 mmHg), typically triggered by acute psychological stress or autonomic dysregulation.
  
  

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Meets full DSM-5 diagnostic criteria.

• Symptoms include persistent intrusive thoughts, hypervigilance, avoidance behavior, nightmares, exaggerated startle response, and emotional dysregulation stemming from trauma experienced during the Sword Art Online (SAO) incident.
  
  

Case Summary. 

Mrs Kayama, is a prohero, and a survivor of the SAO Disaster. As such different protocols will be taken into account when reviewing her case. Please seek Director Nezu of United Alliance University Agency for the full review of her case summary. 

Signed
Chief Nursing Officer, Inko Midoriya

File Restriction Access: Granted – Nezu
Subject: Nemuri Kayama – Pro Hero Codename: Midnight
Incident: Sword Art Online (SAO) Mass Casualty Event

Summary:
Nemuri Kayama, codename Midnight, is confirmed as a survivor of the Sword Art Online incident: an event in which approximately 3,947 individuals perished following the actions of S-class supervillain Akihiko Kayaba (aliases: Heathcliff, formerly Digital King). Kayaba utilized the NerveGear immersive neural interface to forcibly detain approximately 10,000 individuals within a virtual environment of his creation, known as Aincrad.

At the time of the incident, Midnight was participating in the official launch of SAO as part of U.A.U.’s technology outreach initiative, coordinated in partnership with I-Island, which had provided research and development support for the NerveGear system. The objective was to publicly endorse advancements in simulated reality technology. Kayama volunteered to serve as U.A.U.’s representative, engaging in live gameplay during the launch event.

During the SAO confinement, Midnight assumed the role of one of approximately 300 players actively engaged in floor-clearing operations to progress the game toward completion. She was present among the final 100 players during the decisive confrontation resulting in Kayaba’s termination. The fatal engagement was executed by civilian player Izumi Midoriya; corroborating evidence from medical evaluations and post-event investigation confirms Midnight’s account as accurate.

Medical Status:
Upon release from SAO, Midnight presented with severe disuse atrophy, protein-calorie malnutrition, and other sequelae consistent with prolonged immobilization and metabolic inactivity secondary to two years of continuous neural interface engagement. This period of enforced physical stasis produced systemic muscle wasting, decreased bone mineral density, and generalized cardiovascular deconditioning. Psychological assessment noted significant frustration regarding her extended inpatient recovery period.

Disposition:
Subject continues physical rehabilitation and psychological support services as per Pro Hero Medical Corps protocol. Monitoring will continue until full operational fitness is re-established.

SAO Task Force report
Signed
HPSC Agent, Sejirou Kikuoka 

Izumi was sitting in a room covered in posters of various pro-heroes. An elaborate desk held three monitors and a custom-built PC designed with a shape and color scheme reminiscent of All Might. In the room, there were three distinct shelves. One was filled with handwritten notebooks and various textbooks on a wide range of subjects. Another was nearly packed with different game boxes. On the final shelf sat only two laptops, a handmade pair of yellow, slit-lensed goggles, and a NerveGear.

She was sitting on her bed dressed in pajamas: an old oversized “Put Your Hands Up: Radio” shirt and athletic shorts with the All Might logo emblazoned on the front corner. Spread out on her bed were her new AmuSphere and an assortment of games:

Shangri-La Frontier
Alfheim Online
New World Online
Gun Gale Online
Elder Tales

These were some of the new VRMMOs she was considering playing to add versatility to her quirk. She still needed to wait a few days before starting Alfheim, but she had already decided it would be her first choice. She desperately wanted her daughter to be able to spend Christmas with her, and she knew that if she started playing any of the other games now, she would not have enough time to invest in ALO with her auntie’s photo shoot, her online schooling to catch up in order to attend U.A.U. on time, and her required therapy appointments.

Izumi also found herself idly thinking about how surprisingly easy it had been to convince the Yuukis and apparently the Yaoyorozus to sponsor her auntie’s SAO survivor inspired photo shoot. Mitsuki had only proposed the idea the week before, and yet they had already designed and nearly finished production on an entire new clothing line, with enough pieces ready to start the shoot any day now.

Around this time, Izumi’s phone began ringing. “Speak of the devil and she shall appear,” Izumi mused when she saw the caller ID: Mitsuki Bakugo.

“Hey, brat. Thanks to Kiho and your in-laws, we are already ready to shoot. I told your ma’ yesterday. Inksy should be getting home soon to take you and that girl of yours to the shoot location,” the voice on the phone said.

“So that is why Mom told me not to get too busy today? Okay, Auntie. See you soon,” Izumi replied before getting dressed in something casual, knowing she would be forced into an outfit upon arrival at the shoot. She slipped on a black zip-up hoodie with the All Might logo in yellow on the chest, a black tank top, black sweats, and her red high-top sneakers.

When Izumi caught sight of herself in the mirror, she grinned. She was cute even in the most casual of casual wear. It was a great feeling for her. Before SAO, she had hated her appearance. Now, the only thing she disliked was that, likely due to her coma, her breasts were the smallest in her family, somewhere between a B-cup and C-cup depending on the bra sizing. Dislike being the keyword, though. Izumi saw her smaller chest as a battle scar, one from both her transition and her time in SAO.

Izumi arrived with her mother, sister, and the pro-hero Ryukyu at a studio in Tokyo. The atmosphere was filled with a celebratory energy, and she quickly noticed Midnight, Ms. Joke, Hawks, Edgeshot, EraserHead, and Lady Nagant chatting around one of the snack tables. Her eyes then landed on her in-laws, Shouzou, Kyouko, and even her brother-in-law Koichiro, who were speaking with Auntie Kiho, Auntie Mitsuki, Uncle Masaru, and a beautiful woman with long, wavy black hair, a very large chest, an elegant white fur coat over a stunning purple dress, and a pair of orange-tinted aviators.

Although Izumi had never met her, she immediately recognized the woman as Japan’s richest woman, Koruri Yaoyorozu.

Shouzou was an older man with short brown hair, dressed in a three-piece suit. Kyouko wore a red blazer over a black top, paired with red dress pants, her short dyed-brown hair parted neatly to frame her face. Koichiro was dressed in a white dress shirt and black dress pants. Uncle Masaru, whose short brown hair was styled similarly to his wife’s, wore a jade-green polo shirt tucked neatly into black slacks. Kiho and Mitsuki, however, stood out from the otherwise formal group, dressed in casual wear.

Izumi did not see Hitoshi or Asuna anywhere, so she followed her group toward the event’s orchestrators, causing the conversation to pause.

“Hey, brats,” Mitsuki greeted warmly, walking over to hug both of her pseudo-nieces.

“Hey, Auntie,” Rikku said, melting into the hug.

“Hey, Auntie… Okay, I know Mom and Dad,” Izumi said with a cheeky smile, gesturing toward the Yuukis. “Auntie Kiho, Uncle Masaru, but who is the woman you are talking to?”

“Koruri Yaoyorozu. I am a close friend of Kyouko, and you must be Izumi Midoriya, Hero of Aincrad,” the elegant woman replied, offering her hand to Izumi in a delicate, almost regal manner.

Izumi took her hand with a gentle, royal handshake. “Yeah, I am Izumi Midoriya. The white-haired girl is my sister, Rikku, and the other green-haired woman is my mother,” she began to introduce everyone, only for Koruri to cut her off.

“Nurse Emerald, I am well aware of all registered pro-heroines in Japan, young lady. Even if said heroine never bothered to get more than her provisional license,” Koruri said casually, before directing her gaze to Inko.

“Inko Midoriya, Yaoyorozu-san,” Inko replied, her tone polite but edged with mild annoyance at having her pro-hero name revealed to her daughters. “I only ever got licensed to be a support medic, like my mentor, Dr. Shuzenji. Can I assume that also means my partner needs no introduction?”

As they spoke, Izumi finally spotted her. In the middle of the conversation, she started walking toward a punch bowl where Hitoshi was chatting with Asuna. She did not care if it was rude, she missed her wife.

“Asuna!” Izumi exclaimed, launching herself at the woman. She wrapped her arms around her, taking a deep, calming breath as she held her close. Thanks to Asuna’s nature as a cryomancer, Izumi did not notice the heat of the woman’s blush against her skin.

Her affection only ended when she heard two voices laughing at her. One was clearly Hitoshi, and she could have ignored that, but when she looked up, she saw her sister had joined in.

“Hey, Izu-nee? Remember the last time Auntie Mitsuki dragged us to one of these?” Rikku asked with feigned innocence.

“Yeah,” Izumi said dejectedly as she was drawn into a memory.

4 years prior  TW: Dysphoria

Thirteen-year-old Izuku Midoriya tugged at the hem of his black tee, wishing it hung a little longer. The distressed jeans clung in ways that felt wrong, and the bomber jacket only seemed to box in his frame. He shifted from foot to foot, shoulders slightly hunched, as though he could make himself smaller. His hair, a messy crown of evergreen curls tipped with white, caught the light when he moved, though he pretended not to notice.

Beside him, Katsuki Bakugo wore almost the same thing. His jacket was deep ruby red, open over a skull-print tank top. The sharp lines of the fabric sat on him like they had been made for his body, radiating the easy confidence Izuku could never quite copy.

Across the room, Rikku spun under the camera flashes, her emerald sundress blooming like a flower around her knees. The skirt flared effortlessly with every turn, dark ribbon trim catching the light. A wide straw hat framed her smile in shade, giving each playful tilt of her head the perfect kind of mystery. She moved with light, certain steps, claiming the space around her without hesitation.

Izuku’s eyes lingered too long. Rikku looked beautiful in a way he could not explain, though something deep in his chest tugged painfully. It was not the sharp, restless envy he felt toward Katsuki’s strength. This was softer, quieter, like an ache wrapped in longing for what he did not know.

When Rikku’s turn ended, she skipped toward him, her dress swaying and her sandals tapping against the floor. Without warning, she wrapped her arms around him with a happy squeal.

“Onii-san! Did you see me? Wasn’t I super cute?”

Her voice was warm and light, and it seemed to settle in his chest, filling some empty space. He gave her a small, genuine smile, though it faltered at the edges.

“Yeah… you looked really pretty. Maybe Masaru-ojisan will let you keep that dress if you ask.”

Rikku’s grin widened. She spun once more, as if already picturing herself wearing it home. Izuku’s gaze followed her, his fingers tightening slightly on the hem of his own shirt. For a moment, the thought of how it might feel to wear something like that, soft fabric swaying with each step, flickered through his mind. He pushed it away before it could settle, not realizing it would return again and again.

“Izu-nee? … Izu-nee? … Izumi? … Nee-chan?” Rikku shook Izumi gently, trying to pull her out of her trance.

“Yeah, sorry. That dress they had you in was adorable, by the way,” Izumi said, confirming she had been lost in the memory of their last shoot for their aunt.

“Yeah, you were so awkward back then, Izumi. You think Kat’s here today?” Rikku teased, playing along with her sister’s trip down memory lane.

“Sadly, yes. I am almost certain Baka-go is here,” Izumi replied, lowering her head.

“Ooh, bad blood with the model’s son? There’s a story there, Midori, and I’m curious,” Hitoshi said, his tone almost mocking.

“He’s an egotistical, Endeavor-wannabe. He thought my quirk was worthless and bullied me for it for years. Boy’s got a standard overpowered, perfect-for-heroics emitter quirk,” Izumi spat out, as if the words left a bad taste in her mouth.

“Forgive me for this, Midori, but is he stupid? Your quirk is a reality warper that makes video games real. You literally healed the entire assault team in, what, two or three weeks? Using items from SAO? If that’s not overpowered, then nothing is,” Hitoshi said, clearly baffled at the Bakugo heir’s opinion.

Izumi gave him a deadpan look. “My quirk requires I make the game character I’m playing look like my true self. Meaning I had to… ugh… sort out the whole ‘me’ thing.” She clutched handfuls of her long, curly hair and sighed in frustration. “It’s just… fine. Ugh.”

4 Years ago

Izuku was honestly frustrated with his quirk. It just didn’t work no matter how much he tried. He was done. Katsuki had blown up his notebooks again, his classmates were still calling him “Deku” like it was the most original insult in the world, and here he was, just trying to play a game to relax. But even now, the same frustration followed him, his quirk telling him yet again that the conditions were not met.

The MMORPG he was playing had just released a new expansion with a new race. The only catch was that this race only allowed female characters. Still, the race was based on bunny girls, and Izuku had recently become a huge fan of Mirko, the newest heroine to break into the top ten.

He was already level 70 in multiple jobs: White Mage, Monk, Paladin, Red Mage, and Machinist, so he figured if his quirk would not work no matter what, why not have a little fun? He used a Fantasia item to change his character into a Viera. He based her loosely on Mirko but gave her his signature dark green hair. Then he decided to try the new Gunbreaker class. He liked playing tanks but had never really enjoyed the Warrior or Dark Knight job paths.

The shock hit when he finally logged off.

Final Fantasy XIV: Conditions Met
Load Save: Midori Kyuu: Level 71 Gunbreaker

That was impossible. Kyuu looked nothing like him. His quirk doctor had said his ability only worked when his in-game character looked exactly like how he envisioned himself. So far, it had only ever worked in Animal Crossing , back before he had even known what the gender symbols meant.

Izuku spent the next two months running test after test. Demi-human races? No luck. Support tech classes? Nope. He even searched for other games that let him play as a rabbit-person. Nothing. Until he tried the other Final Fantasy Online game. Playing as a Mithra, a female cat-person race, his quirk worked again.

His stomach dropped.

This could not be possible. His mind spiraled uncontrollably. It was a coincidence. Maybe he was tired. Maybe it was stress. But then the chaos took hold. His breath hitched, shallow and rapid. The room spun, walls closing in. Heat flushed his face. Sweat beaded on his forehead. His heartbeat hammered, deafening in his ears, drowning out reason.

No, no, no. This could not be right. Maybe he was not doing something correctly. Maybe he had not fully become the character he was trying to play. Maybe there was some hidden rule he did not understand. Maybe her his mind was not focused enough to trigger the quirk properly.

His chest tightened painfully. She He gasped for air but felt like it was slipping through her his fingers. His vision blurred, spots dancing before his eyes.

Thoughts fractured. I’m fine. It’s nothing. Breathe. Calm down . But the words were hollow, echoing in the silence of her panic.

She He thought back to every time he had looked longingly at the girls in his school, the strange pang in his chest when his sister wore something cute, the warmth that came with imagining herself himself in those clothes instead.

“I can’t be.”

His voice cracked. Tears stung behind clenched eyelids. The weight of it pressed down hard, suffocating.

No, it was not true. It could not be. But the truth hammered relentlessly inside her him, unyielding. Her His quirk only worked when the game let her him play a female character. Which meant it only worked when the game reflected something she he had unknowingly buried deep for years.

Izuku Midoriya was born in the wrong body. His quirk had been trying to tell him, ever since he was a little kid, that deep down he was meant to be her.

Izumi only told those present an abridged version of the memory.

“That’s why Baka-go believed my quirk to be weak. Its activation restrictions had to make me realize I was a girl long before I could use it, and by that time I was already thirteen. I started transitioning a few months later when I couldn’t deny it anymore. I actually told my mom on my fourteenth birthday,” Izumi said, bowing her head to show her vulnerability.

“Oh yeah, Mom took it so well. She got Izumi on all these different medications and into therapy,” Rikku said thoughtfully.

“The bullying at school got worse, so badly that the only positive thing was that Baka-go didn’t call me a broken, useless wooden doll anymore.” A single tear fell down Izumi’s face.

Asuna shifted closer, wrapping her arm securely around Izumi’s shoulders, her voice soft but laced with worry. “What happened, Izu? Why did they treat you even worse?”

“They thought it was for attention. Only Baka-go and Yubito-san knew I even had a quirk, one they thought was weak. I refused to use my powers. I mean, imagine it: I had the Thu’um, the power of a voice that could cause tremors in the sky. I had the powers of the Warrior of Light, a person known for killing gods. My quirk’s biggest drawback is control. Until SAO, I hadn’t played a game that let me dial back the power output of an ability. I could have killed everyone if I had shown them I wasn’t Quirkless Deku.” Izumi looked angrier than she did sad as she explained why she had been bullied her whole life.

“Katsuki got worse though. The day of SAO’s launch, he found out my quirk wasn’t as worthless as he thought. After, he told me to kill myself.”

Asuna froze, her fingers tightening protectively on Izumi’s arm. 

2 years ago.  November 5th

“Okay, class, you are all first years in high school, so it’s time we start thinking about what you want to do with your lives,” the teacher said, holding a stack of career aptitude tests. “However, these are completely useless, since I know all of you want to try the hero route.”

He tossed the papers into the air. The class erupted, everyone except Izumi and Katsuki showing off their quirks.

“Seriously, Teach, don’t lump me in with this bunch of extras. They would be lucky to end up as sidekicks to some D-lister. Me? I am the real deal. I have the power and the charisma to make it to Number One. I will be even better than All Might. It all starts with U.A.U.”

Bakugo leaned back in his chair, feet resting on the desk. His uniform hung loosely, styled like a delinquent, and his gaze swept over the class as if daring anyone to challenge him.

Izumi, in her mono-black uniform with a skirt and red tights, let out a quiet snicker. “More like the next Endeavor,” she muttered under her breath. Always so loud, always so sure. He really thinks the world bends around him.

“Oh? Got something to say, Izumi?” Katsuki’s voice carried an edge, making her name sound sharp. Sparks flickered around his hand, teasing the air with the promise of an explosion.

Does he ever stop trying to make me squirm? The sparks meant nothing to her, yet her eyes glowed toxic green. “No, Kacchan. Let’s just get on with class.”

Her classmates did not notice. They started mocking her.

“Seriously, Bakugo, why do you give that quirkless pervert any attention?” one girl said.

“That quirkless Deku isn’t worth your time, Bakugo,” another added, unaware of the flinch it caused Bakugo, Izumi, and Yubito.

“Seriously, Katsuki, just ignore her,” Yubito said. Long brown hair fell past his shoulders. His uniform matched Katsuki’s delinquent style, but his calm tone set him apart. He was also the only other classmate who did not call Izumi “Deku” or misgender her.

“Seriously, Bakugo, just ignore Deku. It is not like he will amount to anything,” Kannagi said. Flames curled around her fingers as she spoke. Her long red hair flickered in the light, reflecting her quirk’s heat.

After the teacher calmed the class, school returned to normal. Everyone completed the assignment that had started the chaos.

Izumi wrote on her sheet: “U.A.U, Heroics and Support.” Even if she could not become a hero, she could design support equipment or program games like her idol, Akihiko Kayaba. Her handwriting was precise, careful, a mirror of her thought process. Maybe one day I will leave them all behind. Make my own path. No hero titles needed.

When class ended, nearly everyone left. Only Katsuki, his lackeys, Izumi, and Bakugo’s girlfriend—the redheaded fire quirk user—remained.

“Hey, Izumi!” Bakugo called, his voice softer than usual. “You going to try for UA?”

“Yeah… if I can’t be a hero, I can at least be support,” she said, startled by his tone. That tone… almost normal. Almost human.

“Don’t,” he said, calm but firm. “I am going to be the only one from this school who gets into UA. That is not ego. I am just that much better than everyone here. Especially you.” He motioned for his group to start leaving, a silent command they obeyed without question.

He really believes that, doesn’t he? The world owes him nothing.

“But if you still want to be a hero, I have advice. Want a useful quirk? Take a swan dive off the school roof and pray for one in your next life.”

The school shook violently, walls trembling as if alive.

“Fuus,” Izumi whispered, her voice carrying the power that made the ground tremble. She switched to SAO without hesitation.

Dashing forward with a single Vorpal Strike, she appeared, Anneal Blade only inches from Katsuki’s face.

“I choose not to use my powers to kill you. Maybe I should? Can’t be a hero? Should I be a villain with all the mystical powers of RPG characters?” Her toxic-malachite eyes locked on his ruby-red ones, the weight of her stare pressing in. He thinks he is untouchable. Let’s see how he reacts to someone who really is.

“No, that is your job, Baka-go,” she said, stepping past his group, heart hammering.

She did not know this would be the last time she would see any of them for the next two years.

Izumi didn't share memories, She simply told them that she had threatened Katsuki with her Anneal Blade and had started calling him by her new insulting nickname.

She then noticed Katsuki moving begrudgingly, helping the staff set up the shoot. It was then that she was approached by Mitsuki.

“Aizawa-san, Yuuki-chan, and little Izu, time to get into the changing rooms. We’re about ready to do the shoot,” Mitsuki said calmly, a gentle smile on her face.

“You can call me Asuna, Mrs. Bakugo. You are my wife’s aunt. Also, I use my given name in SAO, so I’m pretty sure more people will know me as that,” Asuna said as she followed Mitsuki into the changing rooms.

The shoot would last about nine hours a day for the next four days. Izumi and Asuna, along with the SAO pros, were present for every session. At the end of it, they got to leave with a collection of clothes that matched their SAO colors.

A Few Days Later. 

Izumi’s phone rang, snapping her out of a trance from playing a game on her PC, Final Fantasy XIV.

“Hello,” Izumi said, neglecting to check the caller ID.

“Hello, Izumi,” Koichiro said softly from the other side of the line.

“Hello, Koichiro-san. What is this call about?” Izumi asked calmly.

“It’s done. After you logged in the other day, I placed the items you gave me onto the Sylph Digitas. I’m just surprised you didn’t reuse your old name in ALO. I also transferred data from the character Midori on SAO. Your avatar should look a lot more like you now and may even possess some stats. Remember, ALO is not a level system. It is a stat-based system.”

“Thanks, Koichiro-san. Get ready in two weeks. You get to meet your niece.”

“Oh, so should I keep a secret from Asuna? That is two days before Christmas.”

“Please,” Izumi said softly, ending the call.

Afterwards, she set up everything to dive into ALO, but decided to walk over to her sister’s room first. Rikku was not home from school yet, so Izumi left a note and stuck it to her door:

“Log into ALO. See ya soon, Sis.”

When Izumi returned to her room, she laid down on her bed with her atmosphere on.

“Link Start.”