Sword Art Online Material Edition 12

16.8 is the 12th Material Edition of the Sword Art Online series, and is a direct sequel to 16.7. Kawahara Reki published it under his pen name, Kunori Fumio. It was sold at COMITIA 108, on May 5, 2014. It is the third chapter in the Forest Home series and is equivalent to Sugary Days 3.

Part 1
The story continue immediately after the events of 16.7 with Kirito thinking about the accuracy of the five sense in Aincrad before entering the bath where Asuna is waiting. Asuna had acquired a rare herb earlier that, along with giving a 3-hour poison immunity buff, made the bath feel like a hot spring. They then discuss how their bath feels much more realistic than any other bath they had taken in Aincrad. Deep in thought after multiple theories had been debunked by Asuna, Kirito stretches his legs, accidentally brushing something soft, which he later finds out is Asuna's leg. Intrigued, Kirito continues rubbing it with his feet and eventually reaches for it with his right hand.