All that followed was a blur. When my parents got home, they found me sitting on the floor apparently suffering from a breakdown caused from extreme shock. Though conscious, I seemed unresponsive to all outside influence, and just sat there, staring into space for the rest of the evening.

During that time, an emergency crew came in to take Miku to a hospital. Emergency services across Japan were apparently given a short window to transport all 10,000 players to a long term care unit before the NerveGear would start killing players again. Later, the response unit would receive criticism for several ‘needless’ deaths as some emergency workers took the opportunity to attempt removing or disarming the NerveGears resulting in the instant deaths of the players.

Kayaba’s plan seemed so ridiculous that it was brilliant. Players in the game couldn’t log out until all 100 levels of the game had been cleared. If they died while in the game, the NerveGear would fry their brain. If someone outside attempted to remove or tamper with the NerveGear, the device would fry the player’s brains. If the NerveGear was disconnected from a network or power source for too long, the device would fry the player’s brain. If anyone attempted to hack the Sword Art Online servers, they risked frying every player’s brain simultaneously.

The threat was simple yet heavy handed. Because of this it was also nearly impossible to combat. The government wasted no time creating the Sword Art Online Case Victims Rescue Force which swiftly confiscated any remaining NerveGear units and copies of the game to prevent others from suffering the same fate, but they could do little else other than monitor the game data and attempt to console grieving families.

My parents never brought up the point that it was my copy of the game that had trapped Miku in the game of death, or even how it was thanks to me that Miku had started playing video games at all, but ever since that day, it had become harder for me to talk to them. We had started growing ever more distant. Tensions grew to the point where we could no longer visit Miku’s hospital room together. Their silent stares had become unbearable to me.

It was my fault. I knew it was. Miku should have never logged into that game that night. It was my copy. It was my choice. It was me who had convinced her to play in the first place. I knew all this, and I knew they knew it too. So why did they have to pretend like they didn’t? Why couldn’t they just say it out loud? All their false civility was killing me inside.

I couldn’t move past this. I couldn’t focus on my schoolwork. I couldn’t hang out with friends. The only thing that kept me going was the drive that had formed inside me. No matter what it took, I was going to get Miku out of that game.

I spent months researching Argus, the NerveGear, Kayaba Akihiko, and Sword Art Online looking for some chink in this invulnerable plan that I could take advantage of, but it soon became clear that there was no way to beat Kayaba from outside the game. This left only one more option for me to take.

Without my parents’ knowledge, I bought an AmuSphere. The new device created by RECT Progress Inc to replace the NerveGear and attempt to alleviate some of the bad press full dive technology was getting. From what I read, the AmuSphere used the same technology as the NerveGear though without the safety issues that had trapped the 10,000 players and risked frying their brains. If it used the same technology then maybe I could find a way to log in safely to Sword Art Online via the AmuSphere! This discovery could change the entire face of the SAO Crisis! The only problem would be getting my hands on a copy of Sword Art Online.

As far as anyone had known, all spare copies of Sword Art Online as well as all NerveGear systems not in use by Sword Art Online players had been confiscated and destroyed by the Sword Art Online Case Victims Rescue Force, but there had to have been someone who rebelled against that demand.

For weeks I searched through the darkest corners of the web looking for anyone who still had a copy. Numerous posts were clearly frauds, offering “Game USB sticks” or “Prototype development files.” But one post caught my eye sending chills through my body.

“Game disc stolen from deceased player’s NerveGear.”

I felt a knot form in my throat. Was I really willing to cross this line? My hands grew cold and clammy, and I was about to leave the website when images of Miku slowly whithering away in her hospital bed unresponsive came flooding into my mind.

With a deep breath, I clicked the “contact seller” button. It would cost almost everything I had, but to save my sister’s life, it was more than worth it.

The next few days were nerve wracking as I attempted to hide my intentions. Both my parents worked a lot, so intercepting the mail was easy enough, but if my manner changed too rapidly, they might start asking awkward questions that I didn’t want to deal with at the moment. Finally three days later, a dirty, unmarked envelope came for me.

Running to my room, I opened the envelope to find a faded, well used copy of Sword Art Online. I felt my stomach turn as I noticed some slight scorching on the disk. There was no doubt that this was the real thing.

Locking the door and turning out the lights, I removed the AmuSphere from its hiding spot under my bed, and loaded up the disk. As I pulled the goggles over my head, paranoia began to set in.

What if player data was saved to the disc? Would it instantly load up with me dead? But no. This is the AmuSphere so it couldn’t possibly kill me. But the AmusSphere was based on the same technology as the NerveGear, so what if there was another safety loophole the engineers were unaware of?

With a deep breath, I shouted out “LINK START!” Whatever was going to happen would happen. If it killed me, wouldn’t I just be paying the price for what I did to my sister?

My world was once again filled by the colourful lights and sounds as the slightly updated graphics of the AmuSphere startup sequence flashed around me. I may have lost my connection to the physical world, but I could feel my heart beginning to race as the calibration screens popped up one at a time.

“Hang on Miku!” I thought to myself. “I’m coming for you!”

Once the calibration screens had disappeared the world went dim. A sound like static rang in my ears as my vision was filled with numerous dark red error messages and warnings popping up all too fast for me to read. The next thing I knew I found myself forcibly brought back to the real world.

“What the…” I started as I looked over at the console. A disc read error flashed on the screen.

“No…” I stuttered looking at the screen. “It can’t… I just… That was the last chance that I had… Don’t do this… You can’t… JUST STOP!”

I screamed the last few words as I threw my AmuSphere against the floor where it broke into two pieces. This was the least useful thing I could have done at this point, but every last emotion I had been suppressing came bursting forth burning out my ability for rational thought. That had been my final hope. I spent every last dollar to my name to get that disc, and it was unreadable!

The fury and despair I had accumulated to this point blinded me. Before I knew it, I found myself on the main Sword Art Online forum boards. Argus had long since been shut down, but since no one could access their servers without risking the deaths of thousands of players, their websites and forum boards were still active. Starting a new topic, I wrote my post. The words poured out from my fingers even though my mind was completely blank.

“An Open Letter to Kayaba Akihiko,

Kayaba,

I have spent this past year researching everything I could about your company, your technology, and most importantly; you. It is because of this research, that I know you to be a man whose intelligence goes beyond any this world has seen before. That your plans are thorough and detailed, without even the slightest flaw from which one can take advantage of. Most importantly, it is because of this research that I know, that more than anything in this world, you value balance and fairness in your creations, and would never create a situation that you would deem as ‘cheating’ or ‘unfair’.

Over a year ago, my sister and I both bought copies of your game, but only my copy arrived. Because of this I had decided to let my sister have a quick try of the game before I played in earnest. However, as you of course know, my chance to play would never come.

That is why I am writing to you now. I am not asking for an exception to your rules, or a way to work around them. I am simply asking if you will be willing to honor the system you had created.

Please Kayaba Akihiko Sir! If you are a man who honors your agreements then please let me have access to the product I had purchased! I am willing to submit myself to whatever rules or handicaps you set in place, I care only that I have the chance to be there with my sister in the world you had created! So please! Do not let this unfairness go unanswered!”

I hit the post button unaware of what what I had even written and sat staring blankly at my screen. Notifications began popping up of people replying, telling me to die, that I was stupid, offensive, and far worse things. I could no longer register their words. I couldn’t even register my own. My mind was a complete blank, much like that day ten months ago. At some point I fell asleep

I was awoken the next day by the sound of the doorbell. Looking at the clock, my parents would still be at work, but it was too early in the morning to be receiving visitors. I tried to go back to bed thinking I had misheard something but the doorbell rang again as if proving it was very real. Reluctantly I pulled myself out of bed and headed towards the front door.

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” I yawned as I made my way down the stairs. Opening the door I was greeted by a courier.

“Priority package for a Mr Tano Makoto?” the courier replied, attempting to maintain a professional composure in spite of the current state of my appearance.

“Uh, that’s me?” I replied.

After signing the package, I was left standing at the front entrance with a large box.

“What on earth is this?” I thought, mentally running through any online purchases from the last few months.

I examined the box for any clue, but there was no company logo or return address. Simply my name, address, and priority shipping.

Grabbing a pair of scissors I cut the packing tape and opened the box. On top of the paper padding there was a typeset letter addressed to me.

“Makoto Kun;” The letter began.

“I have read your letter and apologize for the inconvenience created by the failure of our shipping department. As you have said, though life may hold its challenges, I am a strong believer that this world should be fair, and as such I would like to take this opportunity to right the wrong which has been done to you. Enclosed you will find the items you are rightfully due. My only rule, is that should you seek assistance or use any items aside from the contents of this box, you shall be instantly throwing away this final chance you have been provided.

Your words have caught my interest. I pray that you do not disappoint me now.

I thank you for your research and passion, and welcome you to my world.”

My hands began to shake as I read the signature, “Kayaba Akihiko.”

It couldn’t be…

Quickly I dug through the packaging in the box to uncover two items. The first was a disc for Sword Art Online. The second was a brand new NerveGear system.

I felt a lump catch in my throat as I held the NerveGear package in my hands. Putting on this device meant that I would be trapped like the rest of the players in Sword Art Online… but not putting it on would mean my sister would continue fighting alone. Her gaming skills had improved significantly before she logged in, but I still carried her a lot in our games. On top of that, she had always been scared of talking to other players online (not that I had been very social myself). I don’t know how she had managed to survive for almost a year, but I didn’t want her to spend another day in that world alone!

“I’m sorry mom and dad.” I cried out, as I gripped the box tighter and ran to my room.

The broken AmuSphere was still plugged into the wall. I paused for a moment wondering if I should try the Sword Art Online disc in it when Kayaba’s threat about throwing away his offer came back to me. I clumsily tore the broken AmuSphere plug out of the wall before setting up the NerveGear. I moved quickly, half in fear of my parents returning home, and half afraid of my own common sense catching up to stop me.

I inserted the Sword Art Online disc only to find that it had already been pre-downloaded to the NerveGear system.

No time to second guess myself. I thought to myself as I lay down on my bed.

Pulling the large clunky NerveGear over my head, various thoughts ran through my mind. I thought of my parents, of my school and friends. I thought of all the people who had already died, and how likely it was I wouldn’t be coming back if I said those two simple English words. I let my eyes wander to take one last look at my room. Would this be the last time I ever saw it?

Clenching my fists, I punched my bed.

“LINK START!” I shouted, with all my might. September 8th, 2023, almost a year since losing Miku; I too was about to become a prisoner of the infamous game of death.