[SAO.H] - Part 1,

*NOTE* The cover image goes to it's rightful owner, I only added a small part. I'm sorry if this bugs you, but I hope it's temporary
====================================================================================================================={Osume Makoto's Personal File}

Gender - Male, Age - 16, Hair - Snowy, Eyes - Forest Green
Affiliation - High school student; second year

{Access Denied! Further contents are blocked off by administrative powers!}

"It worked..." The man sighed, letting his head fall to the desk.
"At least now, he'll be safe from the worst..." His eyes slowly closed, followed by a few snores.

[Furoi High School - Class 2-B]

"Jeez, that geezer never seems to shut up!" Takasea yawned as he hit his head against the desk lightly.
"Well, he is a teacher." Makoto reminded him, looking out the window next to him.
"That doesn't mean he has lecture us about morals when were doing nothing!" He complained, continuing to hit his head against the wooden desk.
"Knowing you, you should be thanking him." Makoto remarked, chuckling.
"Oi! That's just not right!" Takasea yelled, however stopped knowing that he wouldn't be able to win an argument against him.
"You two never change." A girl walked into the classroom, commenting on the two arguing.
"You haven't left yet, Shizue-san?" Makoto glanced behind him.
"Club stuff." She replied, taking a seat next to him.
"You changed your hair again?" Takasea asked, noticing her new look. Her cinnamon hair fell down to the middle point of her back in a straight fashion. She had a couple of bangs that slightly covered her navy blue eyes.
"I think I like this the best." She answered, moving a part of her hair away from her eye.
"What do you think, Makoto?" Takasea turned to him, waiting for his answer. "Looks good to me." He responded.
"That's it?" "Is a simple compliment bad?" Makoto asked, hearing Takasea sigh in the background.

The bell rang again, signaling the end of club activities. The dense flood of students made it almost impossible for people in the back to get out, and were usually left in the deserted building until they reached the front. Makoto, however, used the backdoor, which no one seemed to use. The door led out to a large, open field, adorned with many flowers of different varieties. A great place to relax. Makoto lied down among the flowers, looking up at the sky as the cool breeze pushed his snowy hair, medium length hair away from his eyes.

"You always come here, don't you?" Shizue asked, sitting on the ground next to him.
"It's quiet." He replied, shielding his eyes from the sun's rays.
"Figured you say something simple like that." She sighed, watching the horizon. The peaceful bliss was interrupted by a loud pinging noise, coming from Takasea's phone.

"Dude-" Makoto looked over at him, giving him a slight death stare.
"What? It's not my fault!" He yelled, checking the email he had received. He seemed to stare at it for a few minutes, before getting his bearings back.
"Well, are you going to tell us?" Shizue asked, waving her hand in front of his face to get his attention.
"Sorry- I just was surprised is all." He blinked a couple of times, still slightly shocked. Makoto sat up as the three of them looked at his phone.

"Argus' Game Designer, Akihiko Kayaba, disappears after the release of the long awaited VRMMO, Sword Art Online." Makoto read allowed.

"So what?" Shizue asked, not seeing the significance.
"He was the one who created the NerveGear, right? He was also the designer of Sword Art Online." Makoto told her from what he had heard around the school and news.
"So, he just disappeared after it's launch?" Takasea asked.
"Seems like it, but why though?" Makoto began to think.
"You got anything?" Shizue asked the mastermind of their group.
"Not anything specific. The logical thing to say would be that he didn't want to have to deal with the fame." He replied.
"But, what if the game failed?" She questioned.
"I don't think that's gonna happen. Those beta testers have been on the news saying how awesome the game is, but no live video." Takasea answered.
"That's odd." Makoto said as he searched the internet on his phone.
"What?"
"All the data on him is restricted." "Seriously?"
"Look." Makoto turned his phone, showing them what he was talking about.

{Access Denied! Further contents are blocked off by administrative powers!}

The phone began to vibrate. A phone call? Makoto repositioned his phone in his hand, tapping the "accept" button.

"What's up?" He asked the caller.
"Did you order a package?" asked the caller.
"No, why?" Makoto answered confusingly.
"There's one on the doorstep for you."
"Who's it from?"
"Anonymous."
"Tell her I'll be taking the next train there."
"That's not for another hour, you know."
"I know, there's something I need to do."
"She'll get angry."
"Cover for me."
"Being your older sister is tough sometimes."
"Quit complaining."
"I'm hanging up." The screen on the phone flashed on, reading the words "CALL ENDED."

"What are you going to do?" Shizue asked him as he stood up.
"I have a feeling that game is trouble." Makoto stated, looking up at the sky, the wind blowing the hair away from his eyes again. She had a confused look on her face.
"Look, even if he wanted to escape the press, there's no way he could have done so without leaving something behind-" He tried to explain, "I bet you he disappeared before the game actually launched, not yesterday when it did."
"Why do you say that?" Shizue questioned him. It was almost like he was being interrogated.
"Just a hunch- Anyways, I'll catch you later." He began to walk off, waving to his friends behind him.
"He worries me." Shizue bit her lip.
"Just let him go." Takasea returned to his phone, searching through his emails.

[Outside City Department Store]

The streets were outrageously packed. Cars were stuck in crowds of people, who all seemed to rush to the department store. Makoto knew exactly why as well. Everyone was rushing to get the latest hardware to play the new VRMMO. Virtual reality massive multiplayer online game, huh? It sounded fishy to him. But, it also sounded like other people's safe havens. When you think about it, you can go online, act like someone else, have a few laughs and it's all good. You can make yourself look different, and your personality online may be the complete opposite from your one in reality. He had heard a multitude of stories that explained people who would use online games as a way to vent their anger with themselves or the world around them. It was as if they had their own punching bag with everyone's faces on them.

The department store was, as expected, full to the brim. Customers were even flooding out the door. The helmet sitting on the display rack caught his eye. It had a slick, yet old look to it, with various electrical appliances on the inside of the helmet. A sheet of black glass came down from the forehead guard to cover the eyes, as well as guards to cover the ears and sides of the head. Imprinted on the forehead in game-like writing, were the words, "NerveGear." The helmet that was able to transport the minds of humans into a realm of fantasy. It manipulates your central nervous system, making you unable to move while linked and inside the game. It keeps a scan of your physical body including height and body type. Your face is scanned as well. Your heart rate is monitored along with that. The internal battery keeps the helmet and game running even if there is a power outage. But, what happens when it runs out? Are you booted from the game, or what? Makoto would rather not find out. Next to the helmet, was the box it came in. He remembered his conversation with his sister.

"Did you order a package?" "No, why?" "There's one on the doorstep for you." He recalled. He quickly pulled out his phone, dialing a number. A few rings.

"What?" She asked in a not caring tone.
"How big was that box that was for me?" Makoto said with a hurried tone.
"Why does it matter?" "Just tell me."
"I'd say big enough to fit a helmet in."
"Alright, thanks." "Hey, wait-!" Makoto hit the end button, pocketing his phone.

"Could it be, that-?" He asked himself. Did someone send him a NerveGear? He didn't have something he would need a helmet for besides his old rusted bike, but why would someone send him a helmet he would never use? It was the only logical answer. The NerveGear seemed as big as a motorcycle helmet, maybe smaller. There's only one way to find out. He turned in the direction towards the station. He pushed himself through the crowds of people, granting him lots of death glares and complaints. The station was about five minutes away, but with this traffic, it may take ten. Luckily, the crowds were thinning out. The sun was setting, giving the sky an elegant blend of the red-orange sunset sky, along with the mid-afternoon blue tint. The clouds looked black from the sun. But, he didn't want to waste anymore time.

Makoto made his way to the station, boarding just in time. Trying to catch his breath, he noticed that the train car he was in, along with the ones up in front and behind his were nearly empty. Figures. No one is going to miss the sale that is going on. He took a seat on one of the blue padded booth-like seats, peering out the window. The clouds were gathering. It seemed as if it were going to rain. "I need to get back, and fast." He whispered to himself as the train came to a stop. The next stop was his.

The doors slid open. Disregarding the voice that was announcing the name of the stop, he bolted out. It would take about five or so minutes to get back to his house if he were running. Trickles of water fell onto his black dress shirt. The rain began to grow dense, but he was able to make out his house before it got worse. He got onto the veranda, lucky to not be completely drenched. The box was still sitting next to the door. It had no tag, but a note taped to the side. He snatched it into his hands, walking into the house.

[Osume Residence]

"I'm home!" Makoto shouted to what he thought was an empty house.
"Do you know what time it is?" His mother's voice came from the kitchen. He was in for a lecture.
"Yeah, sorry, the rides home from the city were packed, so I had to take a late one." He slightly laughed, placing the box on the stairs. He stepped into the kitchen, receiving a glare from his sister who was standing at the counter on her phone. "Tch." He scowled slightly, knowing that she did nothing to help him.
"Well, did you get that box?" His mother asked him. He nodded, pointing to the box on the stairs.
"I don't know who it's from." Makoto shrugged as he admitted the box was also a surprise to him.
"You better go see what's in it." She told him with a demanding-like tone.
"You're not going to lecture me?" He questioned with a laugh.
"Do you want me to?" She had an amused look on her face.
"N-no! I'll g-get going now!" Makoto retreated up the stairs. The only thing that could scare him, was his own mother.

Makoto sighed in relief, as he didn't receive one of his mother's famous ten-hour long lectures. Well, that's an exaggeration, but that's what it felt like. He placed the box on his desk, pulling a pair of scissors out of the top drawer. He carefully cut the tape off the top, causing the two flaps to shoot open. He unfolded the other two, which revealed a gray, metal-textured helmet. It was as he expected. He pulled the helmet out, connected to it was a cord and what seemed to be a box to insert the game. Connected to the helmet, was a note.

-What's your choice?-

"What's my choice?" Makoto thought to himself, as he looked inside the box. There were two other objects. One was another box, covered with black tissue paper. The note tapped onto it read, "Yes." The other object was a metal hammer with a long red and black rubber handle. Connected to the middle of the handle was another piece of paper, reading, "No." Makoto pulled the two objects out. He had two options. One was to play the game, or the other was to use the hammer to destroy the helmet. At least, that's what it seemed like.

"Time to see what game this is-!" As he ripped off the paper, he gasped as he read the title. "Sword Art Online..." On the front, it was written in blue letters, with an oddly shaped castle that appeared suspended in the sky. He looked at the box, and then the hammer, and then the helmet. It felt as if the sender were urging him to choose "yes."

"I don't think I really have a choice." He whispered to himself, picking up the helmet. Inside was a small manual. Quickly skimming through, he learned the directions to use the NerveGear.

Makoto plugged the helmet into it's repsective outlet. He opened the game box, taking out the cartridge and placing it in the game slot. He looked into the glass on the helmet, as his face was reflected. He was hesitating. Should he really do this? Was it really a good idea to do this? Well, he could try it and if he didn't like it, just not use it again. He placed the helmet on his head lying down on his bed. Makoto regained his composure. All he had to do, was say what the manual told him to do. A few deep breaths as his eyes closed.

"Link start!" He felt as if his body became paralyzed when he finished saying it. His vision became white, as numerous 3D lines of different colors came rushing at him.

Boxes appeared, all containing a different sense. They turned green, displaying an "OK" mark next to each of them. A blue electronic box appeared.

Gender - Male.

Name - _

A name? A username. It responded to his thoughts, filling it in for him.

Gender - Male

Name - Makoto

The "OK" button lit up, as his vision turned gray. In bold black letters, it read-

Welcome to Sword Art Online!
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