Mash-up Anime World: Creating the SCP Foundation to Contain Anomalies

The girl gazing up at the fireworks looked especially adorable under the flickering bursts of light.

However, there was a slight furrow between Asuna's brows, as if something was weighing on her mind.

Haruto approached her slowly.

Asuna was completely focused on the fireworks overhead and didn't notice someone approaching.

A flicker of Haruto's face passed through her mind.

A wave of melancholy rose within her.

For a girl in the midst of adolescence, Haruto's entrance into her life had left such a vivid impression that she couldn't help but think of him often, even though they had only just met.

The fireworks, though beautiful, appeared somewhat bleak in Asuna's eyes—perhaps because of her restless thoughts.

'If only he were here…'

That thought slipped through Asuna's mind before she even realized it. She then caught herself, slightly shocked at her own lovestruck sentiment.

"Did something troubling happen at Shuchiin?"

The sudden voice beside her startled Asuna.

It was too close—definitely outside the bounds of polite distance.

She instinctively stepped back, though something about the voice felt familiar.

"Haruto-senpai?! What are you doing here?!"

Seeing Haruto, Asuna blurted out in surprise.

When something you've been hoping for suddenly appears before your eyes, it always feels especially magical.

Haruto smiled.

"Of course I came to check out the festival. You too, right, Asuna?"

Asuna nodded, realizing belatedly that her question had been kind of silly.

A faint blush colored her pale cheeks.

Clearing her throat awkwardly to hide her embarrassment, she quickly tried to shift the topic.

"Um, senpai, you asked if something happened at Shuchiin. Why do you ask?"

At her question, Haruto reached out and gently tapped the center of her forehead.

"Because you looked a little troubled earlier—like something was bothering you."

Asuna's mind instantly returned to her earlier thoughts.

Her face turned red like steam rising from a kettle. Because she had been feeling down about not being able to run into someone…

…and that someone had now said he noticed.

"I'm doing really well at Shuchiin, no need to worry, senpai. The other students are kind…"

As if giving a report, Asuna began telling Haruto about her experiences at Shuchiin.

He listened quietly, nodding and smiling from time to time.

Although Shuchiin was known for its exclusivity and how it naturally isolated students not from elite families, Asuna had nothing to fear. With Haruto's recommendation and Kaguya looking after her, she could enjoy a good campus life.

"By the way, senpai… why don't you come to Shuchiin to attend classes?"

Asuna asked softly at the end.

Haruto rubbed his forehead helplessly.

"Honestly, I would love to attend classes there… but I'm swamped with affairs and just can't be in two places at once."

A lie, of course!

Haruto simply didn't want to attend school.

Even if he did go to Shuchiin, he'd just hang around the student council room, slacking off.

But in Asuna's mind, she immediately pictured him being bogged down by important business or political matters.

She nodded in understanding.

Her own father was always busy, after all.

For someone like Haruto , whose status far exceeded even Yuuki Shouzou's, having a packed schedule was perfectly reasonable.

Asuna let out a small sigh.

If possible, she still hoped to experience a school life alongside Izumi.

Noticing her sigh, Haruto suddenly said:

"But even so, for Asuna's sake, I'll try to make time and visit Shuchiin when I can."

Asuna's eyes widened.

As a sheltered young lady, she had never experienced such sweet-talking.

Her heart fluttered sweetly, and she couldn't hide the smile on her face.

As they chatted, the fireworks gradually came to an end.

"Well, see you back at Shuchiin. If anything troubles you, or you just feel like talking, just message me on LINE."

"If it's you, Asuna—even if you ramble on, I'll always listen carefully. Bye!"

With that, Haruto dashed off.

He still had a bunch of troublesome girls to deal with.

If he didn't get back soon, who knew what chaos might break out?

Asuna nodded shyly.

It was only their second time meeting.

And yet… Haruto's presence was already lingering in her heart.

If she had to put it into words—

—it was like whenever she wanted to share something, the first person who came to mind was always Haruto.

After Haruto left, it took a while for Asuna to snap out of it.

The Yuuki family car was already waiting.

Unlike when she came, her footsteps on the way home were light and cheerful.

Back at the Yuuki residence, after a bath, Asuna lay on her bed and picked up her phone.

She opened the chat with Haruto.

She wanted to send something—but every time she typed, it felt awkward.

She edited, deleted, rewrote… and in the end, sent nothing.

Her fair little feet kicked at the mattress, making soft "thud thud" sounds.

Just as Asuna was hesitating, he messaged first.

Haruto: Home safe?

Asuna: Yup yup! Made it back safely!

Haruto: Good to hear. Rest early, okay? Staying up late is the enemy of every young girl!

Asuna: You too, senpai!

Haruto: Good night.

Asuna: Good night!

Hugging her phone, Asuna stared at the screen for a while longer before falling asleep with a smile.

Because of the holiday season, schools had extended their break periods.

And the public launch of SAO (Sword Art Online) had been scheduled precisely for the holiday window—for maximum hype, of course.

There were 10,000 open slots for the game.

Since the closed beta hadn't been under NDA, the buzz around SAO was off the charts.

Even though the beta only allowed partial immersion, it still blew every other game out of the water.

It was practically another world—who wouldn't want to try living in a fantasy realm?

As a result, when the public test launched, the number of people lining up to buy headsets skyrocketed tenfold.

Even waiting in line for three days and nights straight wouldn't be enough.

Unfortunately, those lining up had no idea that the device they were so desperate to buy...

…was actually the brainchild of a mad genius who had completely lost it.

Though Asuna had visited the NERvGear company for a tour…

…she actually wasn't a big gamer.

The Yuuki family's upbringing was strict. Asuna had to study a wide range of skills and attend countless extracurricular classes.

So, when she finally had some free time during this rare break…

…she found herself at a loss for what to do.

She wanted to invite Haruto out, but that felt too much like a date. Things were moving too fast, and she felt too shy.

While wandering around, she passed by her brother's room—and spotted a game headset on his desk.

It was the SAO beta headset.

Naturally, as shareholders, the Yuuki family had the right to claim one.

But her brother was out today on business.

Asuna entered the room, picked up the headset, and studied it in her hands.

Recalling what she'd seen during the NERvGear tour…

…even Asuna, who wasn't into games, started feeling curious.

"Well… I've got nothing else to do. Maybe I'll give it a try?"

With that thought, Asuna returned to her room carrying the headset.

She linked the device, lay down, and placed the headset over her head.

"Link start!"

As the familiar startup cue echoed, light particles danced before her eyes. The game began loading.

Since the servers weren't open yet, she entered the character creation screen.

With no prior experience in creating avatars, Asuna chose to model her character after herself.

"Please name your character…"

A naming window popped up.

Asuna thought for a moment.

"Guess I'll just use my initials—everyone probably does that."

She typed in: Asuna.

With confirmation, her character was created!

Meanwhile, at NERvGear headquarters…

A massive illusionary tower was being projected.

It was the Aincrad Fantasy Tower—the life's dream of Kayaba Akihiko since childhood.

Now, that tower had finally taken form under his hand.

Only one step remained.

Though he had received outside help, true artificial intelligence still hadn't been achieved.

So, to make Aincrad a truly real world…

…he needed people inside.

People who wouldn't just treat it like a game and play casually.

People who would become part of Aincrad itself—only then would it be a real world.

And for that, Kayaba Akihiko would stop at nothing.

Ten thousand people would be trapped inside SAO.

If they died in the game, they would die in real life.

That was a real world.

At that moment, Kayaba himself wore a headset.

He knew that once Aincrad was complete, he would have no place in this world.

But he didn't care.

He was going to his world.

As the electric current surged through his brain…

Kayaba Akihiko's consciousness was uploaded to the SAO server.

He and Aincrad became one.