Chapter 1 : Twining the Threads of Fate

Yokohama, Japan

Sunday, November 6, 2002, 6:35 AM

A deep voice yells into her ear. Yumi Arisagawa yawned and rubbed her eyes. She slowly opened them.

"Arisagawa, if you don't get up right now, the crowd just might stampede you right now.."

Yumi blinked against the bleariness, squinting as the light of the neon sign blinded her. Then everything came flooding back to her. She quickly scrambled up, hitting a hard figure.

OOF!

Heat rushed into her cheeks. Yumi helped the person up. "Oh, I'm sorry! Are you okay?"

"I am, but you look horrible."

Her heart lurched. It was one of her friends that came with her to the town's game store, PixelBomb. His name's Kyoko Iwashiro. Class clown and one of her bestest friends. Last week, at her birthday her mom had wrapped up a NerveGear. Then my brother presented me with a large wad of cash. I was so excited, I nearly hugged them to death. I didn't know what to blow the cash on, but I was going to find out. Then Kyoko had been talking about how he was going to get Sword Art Online. Supposedly the game was supposed to be a nearly realistic virtual world you play by putting on NerveGear. So here we are. I just hope the game lives up to it's reputation.

Yumi stifled a shriek. "What happened? Did the line move up? Did we lose our spot?"

Kyoko smirked. "Relax. Look, don't get your panties in a wad. We're moving up. And I'm pretty sure the game's still going to be there.

Yumi rolled her eyes at that second remark. Pervert.

She looked up into his eyes, noticing now how he was trying not to laugh.

"What? What's so funny?", Yumi asked. She lifted a brow at him.

Kyoko grinned. "Nothing, it's just you look like hell right now.."

"Same goes to you.", Yumi smiled and pointed at his hair. Dark orange, nearly red, hair stuck out all over the place. A strand, as if cued, fell across his eyes.

He scoffed, and failed attempting to fix it back in place. Yumi noted the very light blush that covered his cheek just then, inwardly giggling.

Kyoko looked up, noticing the glimmer in her eyes and lightly ruffled her hair.

Yumi puffed out her cheeks and glared at him. He in turn put on a dark scowl. After a short time we both laughed. "Okay, Yumi, one of us has to stay behind while the other goes to get the food. I'll go get the-"

A loud rumbling sound touched my ears. I stared at him questioningly and realized it'd been my own. I felt my face turn beet red as I stared at him, daring him to say something.

"Damn, Yumi. Not very could've just told me you were hungry... I would've given you my last energy ba-"

A girl had snuck up behind him, one hand covered over his mouth, the other hand out behind her. "Kyoko, stop screwing with Yumi.

The girl, Hoshiko held out the bag in her other hand, letting go of Kyoko to fumbling around in it. "Yumi, I got riceballs!" She smiled, flashing her whites and held one out to Yumi.

Yumi grinned gratefully at her and took one.

Sunday, November 6, 2002, 11:35 AM

They'd been in luck. The three of her friends that'd actually stayed to wait for the game (the other two bailed out) all got copies. They actually got some of the last few copies in Japan. After Yumi had gotten her skateboard and waved bye to her friends, she rode straight home, thinking of the game.