POV: Kayoko
"Link Start!"
I stand in a black room, the login room and a pop up hovers in front of me that asks for my name. Without hesitation, I type in 'Kira' as a substitute for my real name. I decided on Kira because it wasn't too far from my real name but was close enough that it wouldn't feel weird when people called be that.
I press the circle to confirm my name and a few other pop ups appear, explaining the mechanics of the game, but I just brush those aside. I already know how to play.
And finally, after too many pop ups, it asks me where I want to spawn of the first level and I pick the main plaza as it is the closest to the meeting place me and Kyozo decided.
Then I am dropped into the bustle of the plaza. In the centre stands a fountain and around it, shops and stalls advertise everything from swords to healing potions. Players crowd around each one, interested in the product on display, some even burning through their automatic given coins.
From the main plaza, several streets lead off and I take the one to my right, having to dodge eager players running about. It doesn't take me long to reach our meeting place out of the gaggle of people.
I deliberately choose a place that wouldn't be too crowded so that we wouldn't lose each other. I also choose the sector of the main city that was the closest to the fields as it is the most important for Kyozo to learn the basic skills to get ahead of the other players.
Our meeting spot is a tree that curls around a lamp post and next to it, in between the sprawling roots, a bench stands. And next to that bench stands a boy with his hands shaped in to an X.
Kyozo.
He hasn't changed any major features, unlike me. He still has his copper hair sticking up in a familiar fashion. I guess the only thing different is what he is wearing. Which for Sword Art Online, is very simple. Something you could wear on the real world.
A tan jacket is worn over a white t shirt and black jeans. Belts wrap around his torso like the ones strapped around mine and boots similar to mine on his feet.
He looks kinda stupid standing there behind the bench with his hand in an X. I smile. Maybe playing this game with him won't be bad after all.
I stroll up to him and when I am about a metre away, I make an X with my hands like him.
"Kayoko?" He tilted his head, questioning.
"That's Kira to you, Kyozo."
"Call me Kyo then." his infamous smile on his face.
*
So we gonna get some weapons?" Kyo asks as we stroll down the streets of the town of beginnings. It is loud from the hum of people's voices and the pounding of boots against the hard beige stone that echoed through the narrow streets.
"I don't know but what I do is that we, well more specifically, you need to practice our, I mean your skills."
"What!" Kyo's body droops with disappointment, "Why can't I be like you already?"
"Because you weren't in the beta." I say quietly, avoiding attention but then say louder "You are lucky you have me, really."
"I think you have a loose definition of lucky." Kyo's eyes seems to catch on of the swords on display as he stops to examine the item. Among the land of swords stored on a velvet purple cloth, Kyo's eyes pick the flashiest one.
It is curved like an s, the handle wrapped in leather and the sword metal is coloured gold with a glowing blue jem set in the middle.
"You know, you probably won't even be able to lift that, or afford it."
He raises his eyebrows.
"Just trust me on this."
I point to the simple flat sliver blade, priced as the second cheapest, a simple leather bow and arrow set and three small but sharp throwing blades. "Can we have these please."
"You sure know what you are doing Missy." A guy around 18 comes up to me and grabs my hand midway through pointing "You didn't happen to be in the beta test, did you?"
"No, I just happened to read the instruction manual, something clearly beneath you it seems." I say as smoothly and as coldly as I can, wrenching my hand away.
Kyo snorts at the man's shocked expression and I return to buying the weapons me and Kyo will need. The vender hands me the items and we half the price of them.
The we leave the town behind and head for the fields, were the grass lands sprawl before us and the waterfalls reflect light into perfect little rainbows. A few other players dot that landscape, those who know that the most important thing to do first is to get a sense of the game.
*
"Ok Kyo, listen carefully, I would rather not explain again." I warn. Kyozo's concentration only lasts about 5 minutes in a good situation so I have to explain this quickly.
"What is important is you initial motion input, if you are able to do it right then you activate a sword skill and the system with make sure the hit connects."
"Right..." Kyo sounds unsure but he swings the sword anyway but it doesn't hit the boar and he is sent flying a couple of feet instead.
This has happened too many times to count a this point so I sigh. Maybe swords aren't his thing. I think hard.
"Maybe we could try archery? And if that doesn't work I guess there is always knife throwing." I suggest.
Kyo looks crestfallen. In a heavily sword oriented game, heck it is even in the title, I guess if you can't master swords you are a bit screwed.
"Just focus on activating the sword skill, then the system will take care of it." I repeat myself for about the a hundredth time.
I raise my sword, until it vibrates in my hand and I can see the blue glow out of the corner of my eye, then I swing at the boar. My body moves on its own and I slash the side of the blue beast then jump back as it charges past me and towards Kyo.
"Kyozo, look out!" I call, running to slash the boar again. But it shatters until blue crystals as Kyo activates his sword skill and throws his sword like a spear at the boar.
"That's Ryo to you, Kira." Kyo pretends to look offended.
"Maybe we should try blade throwing then." I laugh as the white notification counts the amount of experience we get.
*
The sun mixes in swirls of yellow, orange and pink by the time we are done. I laugh as I fold myself onto the grass beside Kyo. It is almost time to log out, but I find myself wanting to stay in the game longer.
"So what do you want to do next time?" I ask Kyo as we both watch the sun set over the first level of SAO.
"I don't know, maybe try out Archery, level up, find a girlfriend." He jokes, at least I hope.
"I don't think you will find anyone here, how about Saki?" I say with a slight bitter tone.
"You jealous?" He teases me, poking me in the stomach.
"Hell no, to be honest, I would pity the unlucky girl." I wack him in the back of the head with my hand "And ow that hurt by the way!"
"She says after hitting me harder." he mumbles under his breath.
"I heard that."
Kyozo stands up, offering his hand to me. I take it, intending to stand up, but half way, Kyo let's go of my hand and I fall back down into the grass. My friend bursts out into laughter as I stand up on my own.
He is taller than me when we stand face to face so I decide to even it up a bit. I punch him in the gut.
"Ow!" He doubles over. "That hurt as well you know!"
"Please, this is a game, you don't feel pain, idiot!"
"Yeah but in my heart I do!" he complains
"Get over it." I yell but then smile.
"You are such a Tsundere, Kayoko."
"I am not! And it is K-i-r-a." I spell the letters out.
"Sorry, Kira." He emphasises the name. "I have to log out ok, I promised my parents I wouldn't dive for long" He swipes two fingers in the air and his menu appears.
"Umm... I probably sound like a complete idiot, but where is the log out button?"
"First, you don't sound like a complete idiot, you are a complete idiot and second, it is he-" I trail off as my finger hovers over the log out button.
But the thing is, it isn't there
*
