Sword Art Online Episode 15

Return (帰還) is the fifteenth episode of the Sword Art Online anime adaptation. It aired on October 13, 2012.

Plot
Kirito and Asuna are sitting on a rocking chair outside of their home on floor 22. Kirito watches her while she sleeps on a peaceful day. But quickly, the color of the sky begins to darken, the house begins to fall apart and than disappear, leaving the rocking chair and Kirito remaining. Kirito panics as he tries to find Asuna and begins to hyperventilate. Straight away, he wakes up from the nightmare and gets out of bed to find tears in his eyes. Wiping his eyes, he says "I've turned into a complete crybaby... Asuna".

Suguha is outside having her morning pratice with her kendo while having flashbacks of all the events that happened during and after the SAO incident. She wasn't aware that Kazuto was watching her. Kazuto tosses her a water bottle and holds her sword stating that it was light. Shocking Suguha because the sword was timber bamboo and was considered heavy, she wonders what he was comparing the sword to. Kazuto challenge Suguha to a kendo. Trying to intimdate Kazuto, she ask if he could have a chance against a quarter-finalist in the middle school nationals but also question his physical state, regarding his body. He reassures her that he can and will show her his results from all the rehab he have done in the gym.

At their family's dojo, they were getting ready to begin. Suguha giggles at Kazuto's stance, but Kazuto proclaims it was his personal style. Suguha can see opening in his stance to attack, Kazuto attacks first. Eventually Suguha wins by hitting his head, but quickly regretted hitting him, asking if he was ok. Kirito tells her that she is strong and Heathcliff wouldn't stand a chance against her. Kazuto took a few steps back and swings the sword as if it was his Elucidator, confusing and concerning Suguha. Realizing what he was doing, he tells Sugha that it was old habits. Kazuto tells Suguha that if he could do Kendo again and ask if she could teach him, making Sugha happy. Suguha ask what Kazuto was doing today and Kazuto responds he will be visiting Asuna in the hospital as usual, which made Suguha upset.

While Kazuto is riding his bike to the hospital, he narrates back it has been two months since he have defeated Heathcliff. He traded information about SAO to the Ministry of Internal Affair's SAO Incident Task Force, in exchange for Asuna's whereabouts. He learns that Asuna and three hundred players have yet waken up. Many people believe it was the still-missing Kayaba behind it.

Kazuto visits Asuna who was still wearing the Nervegear, but he was not the only visitor. Yuuki Shouzo, Asuna's father and Sugou Nobuyuki came for a visit. Kazuto tells Shouzo that he was sorry for bothering him, but Shouzo encourages Kazuto to come whenever he like and it would make Asuna happy. Shouzo introduce Kazuto to Nobuyuki. Nobuyuki was overjoyed to learn that Kazuto was the hero that save everyone from SAO. Shouzo explains that Nobuyuki is a family friend's son and he wants to make it official. Shouzo is shock and ask if he was certain, since he was so young. Nobuyuki reassure him that his heart has always been set to one thing and wanting Asuna to wear the dress while she was still beautiful, surprising Kazuto. Shouzo leaves the room to attend a meeting.

Nobuyuki now showing his true colors, grabs Asuna's hair and starts to sniff it, angering Kazuto. Nobuyuki tell him, that the chat with Shouzo was Asuna's marriage to him shocking Kazuto even more. Nobuyuki informs Kazuto, that Asuna never liked kim while touching her face and that it was likely that she would reject the marriage proposal, so he is taking advantage of the situation to marry her. Kazuto grab Nobuyuki's arm tell to stop, but he pull back. Kazuto annoyed, asks if he was trying to take advantage of the fact Asuna was in a coma. Nobuyuki tell him that it was his right. Nobuyuki further explain that Argus went bankrupt and the SAO servers was entrusted to the Electronic Manufacturer Lect which the CEO was Asuna's father, and Nobuyuki working for the Full-Dive Technology Research Division lead Nobuyuki to believe he is the one who is keeping Asuna alive and thinking he can ask for a repayment. He then tells Kazuto to never come back or have any contact with Asuna's family. Before leaving, Nobuyuki tells Kazuto that the wedding is in one week and wanting to bring misery in Kazuto, he invites him the the wedding.

Back at home, Suguha tells Kazuto that the bath is ready, but he doesn't answer so she checks and finds him in the room with the heating off. Kazuto ask Suguha to leave him alone. Sugha seeing her brother upset comfort him and ask what was wrong. Kazuto begins to cry that Asuna was going somewhere far that he can't reach. Suguha knew he was upset because of Asuna and hugs Kazuto and tell him to not give up. When Kazuto falls asleep, Sugha put him into bed but also falls asleep with him.

In a flashback prior to Kazuto's 16th birthday, Kirigaya Midori tells Suguha, when Kazuto was 10 years old, he found out about his real parents. His parents died in an accident and Kazuto was Midori's nephew, making Kazuto and Sugha cousins not siblings. Sugha ask if it was the reason why he begins to play online games. But her mother tell her that it was not the reason, Kazuto was already into making machine from junk parts when he was young and believe he inherited her love of computers.

Next morning, Kazuto tries to wake up Suguha telling her that she won't have time for her morning practise if she didnt't get up. Suguha eventually gets up but gets embrassed and ran out of Kazuto's room. Kazuto now alone recalls Suguha encouragement words. Without any warning, his computer bleeping alerts to inform Kirito about and e-mail send from Agil, a mail showing a picture of a girl that looked like Asuna, which suprises Kazuto.

New Characters

 * Kirigaya Suguha
 * Kirigaya Midori
 * Yuuki Shouzou
 * Sugou Nobuyuki

Adaptation Notes

 * Adapted Sword Art Online Light Novel Volume 03

Quotes

 * "She's going to go away, somewhere I can't ever reach her.." - Kazuto
 * "You can't give up on the one you love so easily" - Suguha
 * "I won't lie to myself anymore either" - Suguha
 * "I think he inherited my love of computers.. At least mentally" - Kirigaya Midori
 * "But your heart... belongs to her alone" - Suguha