Honeysuckle

Note: This chapter and any future chapters will take place after the end of the GU timeline after AIDA and Cubia are defeated.
Also, Ryou=real-world Haseo
Shino is Shino in both the game and real life, so in real life she is real-world Shino

Haseo logged out of “The World” and became Ryou, the 17- year old teen. After Ovan’s sacrifice, AIDA was defeated and with the help of the Epitaph Users, so was Cubia. Only one thing could make him happier then he already was, and that was the awakening of Shino.

Ryou left his house and went to the hospital where Shino had been laying for months. He went straight to Shino’s room because by this time, the hospital staff knew him quite well. Inside, he saw Shino’s parents with tears of joy in their eyes and a sight that Ryou had been working so hard to see for many months.
“Shino!” he shouted as he entered the room. He went straight to her and gave her a big hug. Shino stared strangely at him.
“Um… Who are you?” Shino asked, wondering why a stranger was hugging her.

Haseo blushed and let Shino go, remembering that she had not met his real self yet. “My name is Ryou”, he said, introducing himself. “I’m the one who plays Haseo”
“Haseo?” Shino said, her memory still a bit foggy from being in a coma so long. Then she remembered.
“Haseo!” She shouted with joy and wrapped her arms around Ryou. “I haven’t seen you for so long, it’s so good to see you again. “ She broke down crying in joy. Ryou patted her on the back while continuing the hug. He smiled. “Everything is ok now”. He said soothingly.

“How long has it been?” Shino asked, her tears slowing. “About a year” Ryou said. “But everything is right in “The World” and you are awake once again.”
“I’m so happy” Shino said smiling. “I wake up and there you are” She leaned over to Ryou and kissed him on the lips, forgetting that her parents were behind her.

Haseo returned the kiss. It felt even nicer then the kisses he had received online. He felt wonderful.
“Our first offline kiss” he said quietly to Shino. Shino nodded. Behind them, Shino’s mother cleared her throat. “Is there something you two aren’t telling us?”
Both Haseo and Shino looked at her and blushed. “Well…” Shino trailed off “We’re, well we’re in a relationship” she finished choosing not to give details on how far they had actually gone in that relationship.

“Is that so?” Shino’s mother replied. “It all makes sense now. I just couldn’t understand why he would visit you every day for hours on end. He always brought you flowers and talked to you.” She smiled “He even cried”
“What?!” Ryou protested. “I didn’t-“ Shino giggled. “You cried? That’s so unlike you, Haseo, I mean, Ryou”
“But I’m telling you-“ Haseo said continuing to try to deny it. Shino laughed. “It’s ok. I’m touched that you stayed with me so much.” She turned to her parents. “Can Ryou and I have a moment to ourselves?”

“Ah, I suppose,” said her mother, looking at Ryou. “He seems trustworthy enough” Ryou blushed at the comment thinking of what he had already done with Shino. Shino blushed too, having the same thought. When Shino’s parents left, Shino turned to Haseo. “And they don’t even know we’ve already made love” she said, smiling at Ryou.

“Yeah” Ryou agreed. “Remember that time we did it in the Cathedral?” Shino blushed and then laughed. “Yeah, Tabby nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw us! Embarrassing!” Ryou and Shino laughed at the memory. It had been one of their most daring lovemaking sessions and sadly one of their last. Ryou was glad that Shino could be happy so quickly after waking up from her coma.

Shino stopped laughing and then asked a question that had been on her mind. “Why did you stay with me so often in the hospital? I’m sure I didn’t have much to say”.
Ryou became serious. “I love you, Shino and I want to always be with you even in your darkest times. I wanted to make sure you were doing well and do whatever I could to help you.” Ryou let a few tears fall down his face. “When you became comatose… I- I fell apart. Visiting you was the only thing I could do to make myself even remotely happy.”

Shino listened with sadness at how her condition had affected him. She gave him a big hug. “Cheer up” she whispered in his ear. “I’m here now aren’t I? Everything will be all right.” She kissed Ryou on the cheek.
“I love you, Shino” Ryou said, embarrassed a little by his tears. He wiped them away.
“I love you too, Ryou” Shino said. “But please, stop crying. It depresses me. Everything is back to normal and I’m awake, so we can explore “The World” just like we used to.”

Ryou smiled and kissed her. “Never tell anybody I know about this.” He said playfully. “I would never hear the end of it”
Shino kissed him back and said just as playfully, “Ah so I can’t tell the entire “World” about Haseo’s soft side? You seemed quite soft when you were making love to me in the cathedral.”
Ryou blushed and then laughed. A few seconds later he and Shino heard the muffled voices of her parents calling for her.

“I have to go now”, Shino said. “It was certainly nice meeting the real you today”
“Same here” Ryou replied. “E-mail me when you start playing “The World” again. It would my heart good to see my favorite Cleric walking again.”
“I will” Shino said, smiling at the one she loved. They shared one last kiss and then walked out together holding hands. “Bye, Shino” he said “see you later!”
“Bye Ryou” Shino replied “Hope to see you soon” Ryou withdrew is hand and left the hospital with a smile. That night, all worry about anything was gone from Ryou and he had one of the best night sleeps in a long time.