Sisters' Prayer

Sisters' Prayer is a bonus side story, written by Kawahara Reki, that was included in the limited edition version of volume nine of the DVD and Blu-Ray Disc sets for the second season of the anime. The story is about Konno Yuuki, her sister Konno Aiko and the first member of the Sleeping Knights, Merida.

Plot
The Konno twins, Yuuki and Aiko (also known as Ran), discussed Kayaba Akihiko's actions in trapping 10,000 people in Sword Art Online and the government's ongoing efforts to save the victims. The National Police Agency was going to attempt to physically break into every player's NerveGear and simultaneously destroy the batteries, thus freeing the players.

While picking herbs in Serene Garden in an effort to save up enough points to buy a house, Yuuki was able to capture a Royal Triton Stag Beetle with her bare hands. Soon afterward, a girl arrived claiming to have been hunting the beetle for the past hour, and Ran persuaded Yuuki to hand it over. Yuuki did so, realizing that the girl could keep the bug alive because she had a cage, and in exchange was allowed to name the bug, choosing the name "Roy".

The girl introduced herself as Merida, and the sisters followed suit. Shortly after introducing herself, Merida collapsed, causing the sisters to realize that she, too, suffered from an ailment.

While discussing virtual reality games and the Serene Garden, the sisters learned that Merida played another game, Sword Art Online. Merida was part of a guild during the beta test, but had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor before the game's full release, thus preventing her from taking part in it and causing her to wish that if she was going to die it should be in SAO, fighting alongside her friends. While Yuuki understood Merida's desire to give some meaning to her life, she protested and told Merida not to even think of throwing herself headlong into danger. Yuuki's words seemingly convinced Merida, who resolved to raise Roy to become a champion in a bug battling tournament.

Shortly thereafter, Merida mentioned another game, Asuka Empire, to the sisters, but in spite of their reservations - that the game involved fighting, and might cost money that the sisters hoped to donate after passing on - they agreed to join her in the game. After logging in and taking in the sights of the game, Ran chose to become a spellcaster while Yuuki chose to become a sword user, and Merida resumed being a ninja.

Before long, the sisters defeated a boss enemy and earned the ability to change to advanced classes. While talking about the sisters' impressive teamwork in combat, Yuuki accidentally admitted that she was not using an AmuSphere, forcing Ran to lie and claim that they were using modified NerveGear systems.

As the sisters' birthday approached, with Merida planning to visit them, Yuuki did her utmost to make her private living space appealing to her guest. When they saw Merida, however, they realized, much to their horror, that she had planned to use Ran's NerveGear in an attempt to dive into Sword Art Online. On Ran's suggestion the two went into Serene Garden and confronted Merida, who was trying to release Roy as she was not able give him back to Yuuki, where Merida explained her belief that the government could not save the SAO victims and her desire to make something of her life. After Ran's attempts to talk Merida out of diving into SAO failed, Yuuki challenged Merida to a duel in Asuka Empire with the hope of conveying her feelings through their fight.

Going into the duel, Yuuki realized that she was less likely to defeat Merida than her sister was, but knew this was something she could only do herself. After learning about that Merida was reluctant to fight until she understood duels as ways of conveying feelings, Yuuki fought and defeated Merida.

After the duel, Merida was impressed by Yuuki's potential. Ran then announced her desire to create a guild, starting with those whose situations were similar to theirs. This proposal resonated with Yuuki, who resolved to live her remaining life to the fullest, and Merida apologized for causing the sisters trouble on their birthday.

Back in the real world, Merida wished Yuuki and Aiko a happy birthday, and as a present broke her Sword Art Online memory card in two, eliminating any possibility of her going there.

Sword Art Online was cleared six months later, before the government's plan could be carried out.

Errors

 * In volume 7, it was stated that Yuuki was born in 2011. However, in this side story, it is implied that Yuuki was born in 2010 instead, as she was celebrating her fourteenth birthday in 2024.
 * In the lullaby "Hush, Little Baby", the word "loves" was misspelled as "lover" and the letters n and t in "don't" overlapped with each other.

Navigation
Sisters' Prayer