Inside the lakeside villa, in a newly tidied room.
On the neatly made bed, Yui lay quietly, a soft cyan quilt draped over her unconscious small figure. Asuna, seeing Yui's frail and vulnerable state, seemed to have her maternal instincts triggered. She sat right beside the bed, gazing at the little girl with deep concern, making Morin feel a slight twinge of jealousy.
"Asuna, did you notice something?"
Morin looked at Asuna, slightly at a loss for words, then shifted his gaze to the unconscious girl, his tone carrying a trace of puzzlement. "This little one not only lacks the player indicator but also does not have any mark of an NPC or monster. It is really strange."
"This... really? Then what is her identity?"
Asuna, who had been considering whether to use healing items or special potions, paused, her expression stiffening. Realizing the seriousness, she leaned in to observe Yui carefully, then turned back to Morin in surprise.
After spending over a year and a half trapped inside SAO, Asuna had gained a thorough understanding of the system. Every player, NPC, and even monsters had their unique identification marks. The few unfortunate children who had entered SAO at the start were all kept safely in the logistics departments organized by the allied guilds. In fact, real-world teachers who had been trapped alongside them had even started classes for them in the Town of Beginnings, ensuring they were relatively well cared for.
Therefore, when Morin had mentioned back in the forest that Yui was not a player, Asuna had not thought about those young players at all. But now, seeing for herself that Yui neither had a player mark nor the designation of NPC or monster, she felt completely at a loss.
"She should be some special kind of NPC. Maybe... a system error in SAO."
Morin did not immediately reveal the full truth, choosing instead to offer a vague explanation.
Asuna rolled her eyes at Morin's half-hearted answer, about to retort when she suddenly stopped.
"A special NPC is possible... but what do you mean, a system error? Morin, I am telling you..."
Her words halted midway, her eyes flickering nervously to the little girl.
On the bed, the unconscious Yui furrowed her brows. Her tiny face looked exceptionally pale, and her little hands tightly gripped the bedsheet as though caught in a nightmare.
Before either of them could speak again, Yui's small body trembled lightly. After a moment of twitching eyelids, she slowly opened her eyes. Her large, bright eyes reflected confusion and fear as she looked at the two figures in front of her.
"Little one, you are awake."
Asuna quickly rose from her chair and sat at the edge of the bed, gently helping Yui sit up and holding her carefully in her arms.
"Are you alright? Do you feel any pain?" she asked softly, brushing a strand of hair away from Yui's forehead.
Yui blinked a few times, tilted her head, and thought for a moment before shaking it slowly. "No... no..." she said, her voice faint and shaky.
"What is your name?"
Seeing that Yui seemed to be doing alright, Asuna asked in the gentlest voice she could manage, worried that even the slightest pressure might scare the child.
"My name... name..."
Yui nestled herself deeper into Asuna's arms, then glanced at Morin's smiling face and Asuna's worried one. She lowered her head, thinking hard, her small hands clenching Asuna's clothes. After a few long seconds, she lifted her head, her voice clear though uncertain.
"I... Yu... Yui... my name is Yui!"
"Yui, do you remember who you are? Or why you were alone in the woods?"
Morin stepped closer, giving Asuna a small gesture to let him handle it, and spoke to Yui with as much warmth and patience as he could.
"I am... who am I... why was I in the woods..."
Yui's little face scrunched up painfully as she tried to recall, but her memories remained a fog, bringing only distress.
"Enough, Yui. Do not force yourself to remember."
Asuna interrupted quickly, seeing the tears welling up in Yui's eyes. She pulled Yui back into a protective hug, glaring at Morin briefly before turning back to comfort the child.
"You can just relax for now. That big dummy is called Morin, you can call him Big Brother Morin. And me, you can call Big Sister Asuna, alright?"
"Mo... Ana... Big Sister..."
Unexpectedly, Yui struggled with the pronunciation but then, with a slight pout and great effort, called out, "Mom... ma..."
The room fell silent.
Morin watched Asuna's face freeze in utter shock. He chuckled softly and shook his head before leaning down and repeating gently, "Yui, it is Morin and Asuna."
"Ana... Big Sister..."
Yui tried again, her voice sweet and trembling.
"That is right. Big Sister Asuna. Good girl."
Asuna encouraged her with a smile and continued gently correcting her.
The comical scene of Asuna teaching Yui how to pronounce their names filled the room with a warmth that even Morin did not have the heart to interrupt. Instead, he simply watched with an amused smile.
"Alright, Yui, just call us however you like."
Several minutes later, after many attempts, Asuna finally surrendered, stroking Yui's soft hair tenderly.
Hearing those words, Yui leaned into Asuna, feeling the warmth and kindness enveloping her. Her small voice, clearer this time, rang out.
"Mommy..."
The single word made Asuna's entire body freeze.
Her cheeks flushed a deep crimson, but when she met Yui's shining gaze filled with innocent trust, a feeling of indescribable joy blossomed in her heart. She pulled Yui closer, her arms tightening around the girl.
Deep down, Asuna had always dreamed of one day marrying Morin and having a daughter as adorable as Yui.
Just as Asuna was still lost in her complicated emotions, Morin's teasing voice interrupted.
"If Yui calls you Mommy, then what should she call me?"
Asuna turned to him, only to find Morin standing beside her with a bright smile. His hand gently gripped hers as he looked down at Yui with a soft gaze.
Yui hesitated, her eyes moving between the two of them. Then, she looked up at Morin and called out shyly, "Dad... Daddy..."
Hearing that, both Asuna and Morin were caught off guard.
Morin smiled even more warmly, and without thinking, he took Yui's tiny hand into his own and also held Asuna's tightly.
"Yui, if you call us Daddy and Mommy, then you are really our daughter now, alright?"
Yui's small body swayed slightly. Then, with her biggest, brightest smile yet, she nodded firmly.
"Mmm... Yui knows... Daddy... Mommy..."
"Good girl, Yui," Asuna whispered, voice trembling slightly.
Tears prickled at the corners of Asuna's eyes as she hugged Yui tightly to her chest. The child had truly become a part of them. Asuna felt a deep sense of fulfillment and happiness she had never experienced before.
From that moment on, the way Yui and Asuna spoke to each other naturally evolved into that of mother and daughter. Their conversation flowed with warmth and laughter, filling the room with a pure, tender atmosphere.
Morin stood back, watching the scene with mixed feelings. Yui had truly become their daughter.
A strange thought crossed his mind and he could not help but chuckle inwardly.
Somehow, he had stolen Kirito's wife and daughter.
Well, it was not like Kirito knew about it.
So he would not mind... probably.
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Need More Chapters
Every 500 Power Stones
1 Bonus chapter.
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