Accel world, chapter one:
Third Person POV, Months before:
When the teacher left the room, a black haired boy flew across multiple desks, "That's what you get, you weak loner!" Standing up was a red haired man, smirking as he proudly shouted. His hair was put up and he wore the Umesato uniform, white shirt, blue blazer, black pants.
The boy spat out blood and simply got up. He also wore the Umesato uniform, but it was dirtied from his fall. A young girl with a navy blouse and green skirt and black stockings, finishing the uniform with black boots gasped as she saw what happened outside the classroom window. The glob of blood sailed through the air and landed in the trashcan. She watched disbelieving as the red haired man picked up the boy and slammed him against the wall.
"You think you can simply skip giving me lunch?!"
"Young lady, what are you doing?" The girl looked up at the teacher who was returning.
"I was coming back from the restroom." The teacher nodded and walked past the window. The girl snapped her head back to look inside.
The boy watched impassively at the man before he kicked up and broke the bigger man's arm. The man screamed and clutched it. Unfortunately for him, the teacher walked back in and saw the action. "ETHAN! THAT'S THE THIRD TIME! APOLOGIZE! "
She saw the boy mumble something then, "LOUDER!"
"I'm sorry for breaking your arm," he turned to the crouching man and rolled his eyes, seen only by the girl outside, "I'll fix it." There was another 'snap' and the arm was returned to its original position.
"I've been tolerant, the next time this happens, you're out, understand?"
"He attacked me first!" Ethan protested.
"NO EXCUSES! GO CLEAN UP YOUR MESS, BOY!" Ethan glared and his arm twitched. He went out the door and the girl noticed it took every inch of willpower keeping him from slamming the door.
He muttered, "Fucking asshole, I know you prefer Araya because he's a tougher fuck." Looking up, he noticed the spectator, "Enjoy the show, Vice-president Kuroyukihime-sama?" His tone was resentful and she shook her head. All he returned was a grunt.
Before moving, Kuroyukihime heard the teacher shout, "If any of you grow up, don't be like him, don't treat your children like him, and don't make them like him. That is the bane of the learning environment."
Kuroyukihime ran up to Ethan, who had his hand on the restroom door, "Just...to let you know, the teacher talked behind your back."
"I know, he does that," he turned towards the restroom, "Nobody helps me too, look at them, too afraid to say a damned word."
"How can they let that happen?" Kuroyukihime asked.
"You're asking me? Talk to the students more then, Miss. VP. I might as well give up," he walked in wiping the corner of his mouth.
"You shouldn't!' he looked back quickly before slamming the door.
Present:
I shoved my hands into my pockets, "Not like I could say it to him anyhow." I tilted my head and walked into a bathroom stall, kicked it closed, and sat down, "Direct Link..."
I appeared into a fantasy world and looked at myself, sighing. I wore a pure black trenchcoat with a hoodie under, hood up. I shook my head and made my way across the world, "Why do I even bother in this place?" It's because you have nowhere to go, Ethan, don't be an idiot. I turned and walked up some steps and saw...probably the most beautiful person my eyes have ever laid eyes on. I blinked several times and heard them call her the vice-president. I frowned, What is she doing here? I removed my hood and watched carefully, it was her. She turned her head my way and I saw her open her mouth in a gasp.
I turned around and walked down the steps, Not like I'd have a chance... I ran my way to a multistory building, feet making no sound and at the top floor, a screen went up. "Squash" and a menu popped up. I belong only here.
A racket popped up and I caught it, I breathed in, and started the game by hitting the ball in front of me, I ran around the room hitting it again, I couldn't let it touch the floor else it was a game over. No need for the real world if this is where I belong. I only need the virtual world. Just keep accelerating, and accelerating. Keep this up! And I missed. I sighed, frowning, Level 166 Score: 3,749,057.
"Gah," I threw my racket on the floor, "Didn't reach one-seventy." Looking at the scores, I noticed, "At least the score is much above my last one." I was about to press "Continue" when...
"THIS IS WHERE YOU HIDE EVERYDAY!" A cat-like avatar walked up to me, "I've been looking...THREE MILLION AND SEVEN HUNDRED-THOUSAND!?" She turned around, seeing my smile.
"Pretty high score, no?"
"WHAT YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE?! LOG OUT! NOW!" she screamed at me.
I crossed my arms, "No." I turned around and was about to start another round when Chiruyi logged out behind me with a huff. I rolled my eyes and all of a sudden, a screen showed up, "You have been forced logout."
I got up, "WHAT THE HELL!" She climbed over the stall door and it opened when I got up.
"Get out, now."
"Fine...Hey, how did you even know I was here?"
"I followed you from the roof earlier."
"So you saw..." I was forced by Araya to get him some food tomorrow. I noticed she held a basket. "What's that?"
She smiled, "Sandwiches, it's probably not the best, but I put what you like the most in them!"
She opened the lid and I growled, I don't want her pity! I raised my hand to smack it down, and as my hand flew, her eyes widened, but my hand stopped short of the basket. I can't...do it.
"Ethan?"
I roared and sprinted down the hall, "DON'T PITY ME!"
Library, Afterschool:
I'm horrible, but at the very least, I didn't ruin them, she could eat them herself. "...Full dive."
I went back into the game using the school network and went back to play "Squash" when...
"WHAT THE HELL?! 3,749,182 POINTS?! THAT'S COMPLETE BU-"
"Hello, boy." I saw Kuroyukihime.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT!" FIRST THE DAY GOES LIKE NORMAL, THEN SOME DAMN KID BEAT MY SCORE, AND BY A SMALL MARGIN! Wait...she's talking.
"-the one who got that ridiculous score during lunch?"
I looked around, "You're talking to me?"
She also did, "Well, who else?" I pulled down my hood and glared, she started for a fraction of a second, but was otherwise unfazed.
"Why?" She walked up to me and poked my chest and I shivered.
"Don't you want to 'accelerate'? To go further than...this?"
"If you mean having sex, no. I'm not interested in anyone," I turned around, "Not even you, Miss Vice-President."
She laughed and my wall broke, my anger faltered, "You're funny, you know. Please, see me tomorrow?" I had no clue as to why, but I didn't want to find out. Or did I? As she walked away, I walked along side of her until we split paths, I put up the hood and turned left, not looking back as she watched me sadly, before going right.
"You would really think I would?"
"At the lounge for the second and third years."
I grunted and turned, walking out, "Maybe. If I feel like it."
Next day:
I walked up to the lounge we agreed to meet in and I slapped myself, "Why am I doing this?" I walked in, hands in my pockets and saw her, reading papers. I walked over and stopped, then turned left, acted like I was looking for her, then started walking out. The decreased volume of the room as I left caused her to look up. I was halfway out the door when she called my name and I twitched, I probably should have gone out quicker, idiot. Well, no leaving now.
She smiled as I walked to her, "You really came!"
"Hmph."
She giggled, "Don't be like that," she held a cord and everyone stared at us and I stared at her. What she held was a "Direct Wired Transmission", connecting neurolinkers with a direct cable. The term is also "directing", directing is reserved with people with strong bonds, with a strong sense of trust...parents, siblings...lovers, I thought with hate. I snatched it and connected my neurolinker.
[Ethan-kun, sorry for calling you all the way out here. Can you neurospeak?]
[Yes. Make it quick. I still want to know what or why you have interest in me for. Are you trying to make my life more miserable than it is?]
[What do you mean?]
[Oh, right, nobody knows that I'm constantly bullied by Araya, and my parents divorced, and my mom doesn't want me]
[Lighten up a bit, boy. I have no intention of making your life worse. In fact, I want to change your world]
I rolled my eyes.
[I told you, if you mean it in that way no thank you. I'd rather find someone I'd enjoy being with]
She laughed and they looked, and noticed me glaring at her, then as I glared at them, they all looked away. Good, fear me. I'm going to be one step closer to killing Araya.
[Aye, I'm sending a software to your Neurolinker. If you accept it, then your world right now will be destroyed-]
Destroyed? Destroyed? I laughed harshly and said, "Destoryed?" I went up to her face, "My world was destroyed years ago." She frantically put up her hands to calm me as people looked curiously.
[Please, nobody can know about this...But once it is gone, it will be replaced by a much better world]
I laughed again, "Funny. It really is, senpai."
[Please, accept the application]
A popup appeared, Well, if it's dangerous, at least I can take down people with me. I took a sideglance at her, But...will she be caught up in it? I shook my head, It doesn't matter, I don't give a shit about her...Right? I pressed the accept button after a hesitation. It took ten seconds for the entire application to download.
[Done. What now? Miss Change-My-Wor-...]
A title read, Brain Burst, then "Welcome to the Accelerated World."
[Now what? I'm done]
[Ooh, so you do have the aptitude to safely downloaded it *giggle*]
[Sooner or later lady, I'm going to hope I didn't. What now?]
She looked hurt and I crossed my arms.
[So, in order to download it, you must have high-level cerebral nerve reaction speed]
[And...you are telling me a popular girl has that speed. I don't even know if I even contain it]
[Well, here's the program for proof. You seemed quick to accept it. I had a whole speech prepared to persuade you, I didn't want to waste my time]
[Sooner or later, you'll waste mine, you know that lady?]
[*sigh* What happened to you calling me senpai a few moments ago?]
[That was before I thought you became insane. Hurry up. How is this supposed to change my world? Nothing is dif-]
"THERE YOU ARE, YOU FAG! YOU THINK HANGING AROUND PEOPLE WILL SAVE YOU?!" It was Araya, and he was angry, Well of course, I didn't give him his damned lunch. That he wants because he's too poor to do that. I stepped forward, but Kuroyukihime held my arm gently.
[I'll handle it, please Ethan? I will also show you how it works]
I huffed.
[Fine. It better be good, I wanted to beat him up for the first time]
She smiled and my heart skipped a beat at that, NO! Leave her alone!
[You won't be disappointed. Listen to me, so you know how to activate it.]
"You must be Araya-kun," Kuroyukihime said kindly, "You know, Ethan-senpai said that you might have transferred to junior high from a zoo." I widened my eyes at her attempt to provoke him. It worked as perfectly as flipping a coin, unless you couldn't.
"ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE DEAD YOU LITTLE LONER!" His fist flew and mine too as I sidestepped, but my senpai shouted to me.
"Now! 'BURST-LINK!'"
"...!" I realized just as our fists were an inch away, "BURST LINK!" Then everything went blue, "Woah, the hell is this?" I tried to punch Araya's fist, but a familiar sleeve came up. "I'm wearing my trenchcoat and hoodie. Why's this?"
"I'm glad you made it, I was afraid you've continued the fight."
I turned and my mouth dropped, and frantically closed my mouth with my hands, You've already seen her! What's so surprising about her now?! She wore the dress that left half of her chest bare, held together by straps crisscrossing the front, with butterfly wings and some of her hair braided around the top of her head, "Okay, lady, tell me, what's going on?"
Kuroyukihime smiled, "Call me Yuki-senpai, please?"
I narrowed my eyes, "Don't avoid the subject." Her face fell and I felt horrible for a moment, For a moment? NONONO! You should feel bad! I crossed my arms and waited, until I slowly walked to her, my normal side screaming, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!
I hugged her, "I'm sorry...Yuki-senpai." After a moment pulled away she held my face. "I'm just not used to people actually noticing me," I smiled, it lasted a second then my smile faded, I turned around.
"Can you act like this more? Your personality now doesn't match what you acted like when you apologize."
I rolled my eyes, "Of course it doesn't."
"It also doesn't match how you look. You look kind, but you act too harsh towards others."
"I'm that way and you know the reasons why," I bluntly stated, facing her.
She let go, feeling a bit defeated. Then she pointed to the room and answered my question, "Right now, you are in the activated 'Brain Burst' program. We are 'accelerated' like I keep telling you earlier. Our consciousness are currently moving at extremely high speeds." My senpai pointed with an umbrella, "This fist is slowly moving forward, like an hour hand from a clock. Eventually, it would contact your fist, or miss."
"So, this is all happening in our heads?"
"You learn quick. That's right on target," she smiled, but I grunted. This caused her to make a, 'tsk', "I won't ever know if I could make you happy senpai."
"Hey, why am I the senpai? You're older and more popular around here as an FYI."
She came up to me and hugged me. I froze at that. She whispered, "It's because of that. You've had such a rough life, worse than mine at least. Your parents divorced, you say neither of your parents want you. You've been bullied everyday. Yet...you still carry on, head high with that attitude of yours. I won't be able to do that. That's why," she looked at me, and whispered, "I...feel as if you need more respect."
"Uh-huh," I said absent-mindedly, "If this is all happening in our heads, how are we talking right now?" This made her blink then realize I didn't listen to anything she said. She bit her lip gently then answered.
"Look under the table."
I looked, and said, "Yeah, it's polygons, what's th-Is this supposed to part of the program?" I looked up and saw her nod.
"This blue world is not what you see with your eyes, even if it is real time. Instead, all this comes from the school's social camera's from the lounge. Our brains are seeing it through neurolinkers." I looked up a was about to get up when, "It's also why there's no point in looking up that girl's skirt."
"I was not going to! I'm only trying to get up!" I retorted.
"My legs are visible though, so don't ge-" At this point I rushed up to her.
"I. Wouldn't. Care. Regardless," blinking, I swallowed, "Sorry." She patted my chest, reassuring me.
"At least you aren't perverted~"
"So...what's the true meaning of, 'accelerated'?"
"You know the principle of the operation for this right, Ethan-kun?" She patted the Neurolinker.
"Yeah...yeah? To connects to your brain cells wirelessly at quantum level to send out images, sounds, sensations, all while canceling our own senses, right?"
"Right, a quantum connection is not a physiological mechanism. Thus, no burden on the brain cells, and you get this unexpected excess...or so a certain person out there realized."
"Excess? How?" I leapt onto the table and crossed my arms.
"The base clock? Basic operating frequency of the computers?"
"Yeah...that?"
"You overclock the signal which carved up time, like a pendulum on the motherboard on a CPU. We work the same way."
"You're not fucking with me?"
She laughed and hugged me then pressed an area on my back, behind my heart, giggling, "Here." I widened my eyes as I was filled with a sensation.
"I felt...so weird then!"
"I made your clock run faster~ You understand, right?"
"My heart...drives the basic device making the speed of my thoughts."
She brightened at my answer, "Yes! If you try to stop your body, our hearts speed up. Like a race car driver. Because we need to 'accelerate' our thoughts, awareness, judgement. Or like lovers touching each other, we again, 'accelerate'" she touched me then and I nodded absently, " with each beat, the quantum sends a signal to your thoughts. So if the neurolinker captures your signal and overclocks you, your thoughts 'accelerate'. Our neurolinkers are amplifying the clock from each heartbeat by a thousand-fold!"
"A thousand-fold huh?"
A/N: Hoped you liked it! I'm halfway through the first manga, so the next chapter will finish it up, along with some of the second volume, because I want to end it at that one moment.