A/N: This time round, i'm trying for a first person perspective, and i've never done it before. Don't complain. I know that in first person persepctive it is suppose to be in present tense... but i'm still too used to writing in third person, so it is hard for me... I got the idea after Haruhi, but i don't think i can call it copying, since i've read other stories that have the same concept.

"----" represents the changing of worlds. From off-line to on-line.

Disclaimer: Just in case, i do not own Haruhi or their method of writing.

Welcome to the World

Amazing. Simply amazing. Well, if i could use another word to describe this game, i would use it, only after checking it up to make sure i can use it in its appropriate context. Checking my own character, i was surprised by how well the character can react to my commands. It was almost as if i am really in the game itself. Sure, the controller was made to allow such complex movements, and together with the headset, it really was as if i was my own character, leaving my real body behind. I took a few quick minutes to get to know the basic controls and menu choices. A few other players noticed my situation and gave some quick pointers. There are certainly quite a number of good-natured people in this game. Quite the opposite from rumours that I've heard. When my friends decided to play this game (and forcefully 'persuaded' me to join), i decided to check up on the game. According to many, there has been quite a number of changes since the first version of the game. Now, the number of PKers, or player killers, has increased dramatically. Also, the weird story behind the many incidents in the game just a few months ago made me worry. But those strange events were also what caused my friends to be interested. I personally had no wish to end up like those players, even though they all recovered. I know that quite a number of my classmates play this game, even though they should be studying. Well, I've already set aside a timetable, which is rather flexible, which allows me to study and play this game. I thanked the player who taught me how to use the chaos gate, a portal or some sort, and decided to log out for now. In truth, my friends and i had all agreed to only start playing the next day. I bought my set early, and started playing just to get an advantage over them. It's not as if i was the competitive type. It was just that my friends were the sort of people who saw me as a person who was good at most things. I've already told them that i wasn't good at games, but they somehow did not believe me. Oh well. So, to try not being a dead weight to them tomorrow, i have to get a feel for the game. Even if i never went off into a 'field', at least i know some bits. For now, I'm hungry.

----

Taking off my headset, i turned to my desktop. Checking my mail, i found nothing new besides CC corp's 'welcome' mails. One of them was the license agreement. It was pretty long. I never read the entire thing, but simply a few lines, before giving up. I got up, and took a moment to look around my own room. Book stacks placed almost everywhere, i had to wonder if it was time to do some cleaning. Just then, the doorbell rang. I glanced over to the clock. It was about that time. My neighbour, Mrs. Takanashi, often came over around this time, giving me a pot of left overs from her dinner. I keep telling her that i can manage to cook myself, but she still insists. Nobody else was home, so i had to answer the door. After her usual questions on my personal hygiene, she left. Sometimes, i wonder if i really look that irresponsible. I took the pot to the kitchen, and open it to check on its contents. Beef stew. It seems like the Takanashi family love to eat stew and curry. It was often what i got from her. Some days, when the Takanashi's are out, i would go over to the local supermarket to shop for instant noodles. Since its stew, i might as well make rice. Once the rice was cooking in the rice cooker, i checked the fridge for a drink. That was when i realized that i had failed to buy a very essential food item. As for what that item is, well, I'm not too sure what it is exactly, but it taste like heaven and is rather cheap. Introduced by my guardian, Onogishi oji-san. He visits once a week, making sure i have everything well in order. And he also talks a lot about his business that he and his friend had been partners in. I only heard of Onogishi oji-san's friend a couple of times, but from the descriptions, i think he's a very respectable man. Well, more respectable than most of the guys i know. I went back up to my room, got dressed in a plain long sleeved t-shirt and baggy jeans, pulling my coat from the closest, and heading back down to the main door. Stepping out, i immediately tucked my hands into my coat's pocket. It was certainly cold around this time. I remembered to lock the door, and headed out the main gate.

I took a look once more at my house. Fairly large and modern. I had always wondered, what was my dad thinking when he divorced my mother before i was born, yet still send money monthly? Legally, this house is under his name, and i also still hold onto his surname. But he never ever comes to visit. No letters, no phone calls. All i have to remember him, is a single photo of him with my mom before she past away, and his name. Turning back to the task at hand, i headed off to the nearest grocery store. It has been eight years since my mother past away due to an illness that the doctors never really explained properly to me. Onogishi oji-san also never told me, even today, he only says it was due to stress, before he goes on another one of his long winded speeches on how i should learn to have fun more often than studying. Well, it isn't my fault that i am not too good with technological games. I prefer chess, but i still do play some games, just not as much as others. I prefer to read and write. Gaming is never really a focus for me. But wait a minute. Almost everyone in my class plays some sort of computer game every single day, including the girls. Am i freak? No no, i can't think like that. But by everyone's standard, i am sort of weird. My sense of fashion is not right, as clearly stated by Onogishi oji-san countless times, and i tend to read lots of books. Somehow, i even ended up as class president. What, can't someone who loves to read not be labelled as a responsible person? I can't even clean my own room right! But i do clean the rest of the house. My room just stays messy since by the time i reach my room to clean, i would be too tired to continue cleaning. My bed is a very nice salvation for rest. Maybe Onogishi oji-san may volunteer to clean it for me, since he seems to be that sort of person. The nearest grocery store was just around the corner. Nothing special, just one very simple store. Nothing complicated. Stepping in, i let the warmth of the store warm my hands. The clerk was absent at the moment, but maybe he'll be back. I quickly browsed through the aisles, and found what i was looking for, a jar of strange brown substance. It had always struck me as odd how strange food can sometimes taste to great. Since I'm here, i might as well get something to drink. A bottle of juice. That would be nice. Heading over to the counter, i spotted the store clerk, though it was certainly someone i didn't want to see at this moment.

"Hm? Ah, inchou!"

That boy sniggered, taking a long look at my dress sense. Well, sorry to be such a fashion oddity.

"... Stop calling me that. We're not at school."

I sighed, setting the items i grabbed from the shelves onto the counter. I had brought out my wallet, not really want to converse with him.

"Why not? It certainly suits you, and it is who you are, after all."

He smirked. His usual evil smirk. Actually, it has changed over the past few months. I wonder what happened. He used to be very unsociable, hardly talking to anyone else in class. Now, he starts conversation with some other students. Well, I've known him longer than most of our classmates do. He works part time here, and it just so happens that i frequent this store since i live so close to it. Usually, it would be up to me to help him with school work. He never takes down any notes, leaving me to help him. A task that is deemed the moment i became class president? Actually, it was more like he asked me for my notes one time when he was absent. It was the time i realized that he lived close to the store he worked at, meaning he lives close to me. It was also the very first time he talked to me. But his attitude in the beginning was not very friendly, to say the least. Still, if he wanted to learn, who was i to stop him? I've never really seen his house, only know that it is nearby. He comes over to my place every time there is a test to study. He really is hopeless. But he is improving. Maybe this is how a mother feels after watching her child go off to do wonders. Okay, maybe this guy isn't going off to do wonders, but it is the same, basically at some point.

"Is that all?"

He asked, scanning my items. The total was less than i expected it to be.

"Yeah, here."

I passed him a single bill, and watched him as he took my change out from the registry.

"... Say, inchou."

"I said stop calling me that. I'm not inchou or anything outside of school."

"... Well, anyway-"

You aren't listening to me! Never mind, he never does. He rarely calls me by my name anyway.

"-i was wondering if i could go over to your place tomorrow evening."

"Tomorrow? What for?"

I asked, but already had a hunch on what the nature of his request is.

"I need to copy your notes, and most likely your homework."

I knew it. There cannot be anything else. But wait, tomorrow... i have to meet the others on-line. That game is going to ruin my life sooner or later, i know it.

"... I'm actually busy tomorrow evening. Why not come over after school?"

"Alright. I'll wait for you by the school gates tomorrow for you to finish your work."

"Sure."

I smiled to him, picking up my bag of groceries. I took a pause. I just remembered that i have a lot of stew.

"Ne, Misaki-kun."

"Yes, inchou?"

"... Are you hungry?"

Draining my drink, i set the glass down onto the table. I looked at Misaki-kun. He seemed to enjoy the meal. Well, it is a free meal. From what i hear, Misaki's father runs a large company, but is never home. I don't know what happened to his mother, but Misaki-kun seems to live by himself. I wonder what he normally eats that would make him smile and look so satisfied like this. Sure, the Takanashi's are good at making stew and curry, which may explain why they make it almost every single day.

"... Ne, Misaki-kun."

"Hm?"

"What do you normally eat?"

It was such a normal question, but the way he stared at me, it was like i just asked him for his three sizes. I didn't ask! More like, i don't want to know! Hey! Stop looking away and blushing! You're creeping me out! It's not some big secret, is it?

"I er... cook for myself, or go out to eat."

Misaki-kun answered. Oh? That is quite a normal answer, isn't it?

"I see, i see... wait, you cook?"

I never thought that Misaki-kun could cook. Sure, his character had changed considerably over the past few months, but still, he didn't look the type to don an apron and cook something.

"Nothing special. Just rice, miso soup, some meat and vegetables."

Misaki-kun seems to have recovered his composure. You know you can't just say what you said to me and look like you're a hero. You usually never see a hero posing after a victory and declare his favourite food like he had just claimed a new land for himself.

"Hmm... Well, that's good. I was afraid that you wouldn't be eating right."

I replied, pouring myself another glass of juice. Misaki-kun still hadn't touched his drink. Oh well. Wait, now that i think of it. If Misaki-kun cooks, wouldn't that make me the one who isn't eating right? I mean, I've become so independent on the Takanashi's that when they go out, i eat instant noodles? That's not good. I have to make a mental note to cook the next time the Takanashi's leave.

"Of course i eat right, if not, how can i live long?"

Misaki-kun stated in a 'isn't-that-obvious' tone. His old personality is coming back. By the way he says it, i don't have much time to live. That's isn't nice. I plan to grow old, surrounded by books in an old shack somewhere up North.

"Besides, i believe that people who cannot cook at least a simple dish, are considered a failure in life."

Ouch. Those words hit my head like a fifty ton weight crashing down from the heavens. Maybe like a sword stabbing my chest. Me? A failure? No! I will not accept this! Wait, i can cook. But I've not touched the cooking equipment for such a long time, that i think I've gone rusty, not my frying pans or pots, me. Maybe i should go cook something for bento tomorrow. Usually i just go over to the school's cafeteria, but maybe making a bento isn't so bad once in a while.

"Misaki-kun, where do you normally go during lunch breaks?"

"Why ask?"

"Just curious."

I never see him in class or in the cafeteria, so i figured he was somewhere else. He eats bento as well, then i have a comrade to join tomorrow.

"... I usually go to the roof. Don't tell me you're going to complain to the teachers?"

"Do i look like that kind of person? I thought you should know me better than that, Misaki-kun."

Maybe he doesn't know me all that well, but at least he should know that much about since.

"... True, if based on your personality, you don't really seem like the inchou type, but you work hard, so you are the only candidate. In fact, i think you know just about everyone's dirty secret in class, don't you?"

Misaki-kun narrowed his eyes at me. What, do i have something on my face? And just where did you hear that? I don't know everyone's dirty secret! In fact, i don't know anything about the other classmates besides their basic information since i work constantly with administration stuff for the class. But that's all! I swear! I'm not some voyeur or anything! No! I'm not implying anything! And what do you mean by based on my personality? Just how do you see me as?

"Well, if you want to join me tomorrow, I'm not going to stop you."

I'm not going to let you stop me anyway. If i had to force my way to the roof, then so be it. I'll ram through all walls and barriers, drive a bulldozer if i had to.

"... Do you eat a bento, Misaki-kun?"

"Hmm? No, i usually just buy something from the cafeteria to eat up on the roof. Don't tell me you plan on cooking one for me."

Misaki-kun seem to think this as a joke. Well, it isn't.

"I don't see why not. Who knows, you may just buy some rubbish and call it food. What, you don't trust i can cook?"

I need to work on being able to wake up early though.

"Oh, i do trust you... it's just..."

Misaki-kun looked away, his face turning red. Red? Wait, just what is he thinking?

"... Misaki-kun, what were you thinking about? When i said that i was going to cook for you a bento?"

"Ah! Well... erm... Well, if you make a bento for me, well... it would... er... won't it be troublesome?"

"How so?"

Besides waking up early in the morning, i personally did not see any problem with it.

"... Won't you be... embarrassed?"

"... huh?"

I sat back, rubbing my chin in thought. Just what was this boy thinking? Why would i be embarrassed about making bento? It was just food. Then the thought struck me. Ah, so that was what he was thinking about. I couldn't hide the smirk that was on my face.

"Oh? Is the mighty Misaki shy?"

"That isn't the problem!"

He suddenly shouted. Well, it wasn't surprising for me. I had many classmates shout at my face before. Misaki was probably the one who was the most delinquent one among all of them. But like i said, he was starting to open up only just a couple of months ago. Was it, two? Three months ago? Just last year, he was sulking like it was the end of the world. He often skipped classes during that time, leaving no note to explain his disappearance. Some say they spotted him heading to the hospital. Maybe his mother was there? But i never really did found out. I know he lives alone, and his father is never home, but where on Earth did his mother disappear to? I went over to the hospital one day to ask for a patient with the surname of Misaki, no such patient. I didn't know Misaki-kun's mother's maiden name, so i gave up. I've tried to ask Misaki-kun before, but he would always brush me off. Either by telling me to mind my own business, or ignore me completely. Still, when it came to exams, i would still give him my notes to copy.

I sometimes gave him tuition, but he was pretty smart himself, only lazy and never in class. Well, at least now he is being more active in class. Watching him having healthy conversations with other students has a nice feeling to me. Maybe i was just glad that our class could get together closer. Ack, if i keep thinking like this, I'm sure to be nominated to be class president again. Wait, back to the current situation. I realize that I'm prone to day dream during times like these, and to Misaki-kun, i must have been staring at him after he shouted at me. He sat back down, and looked another direction, face beet red. Sighing, i got up, picking up the plates, and bringing them to the sink in the kitchen. Back to what he said. I turned the tap on, and let the water run in the sink, soaking the dishes in it. Taking the rubber band that was around my wrist, i tied my hair up into a tail. It has been a while since i had it cut, and it was all the way to my hip. Sometimes it gets irritating.

"... Misaki-kun, you know, for once i feel as though i am of some use to someone."

"Huh?"

"You see, although i am the class president, what i am doing is not for everyone's personal happiness. After seeing you start to open up to the rest of the class, it seems as though i feel like i too, can do something to make others happy. I do not why it is so, and i do not know why you suddenly began to be more active in class, but you know, it makes me feel glad."

"... inchou, you-"

"It isn't that i am responsible for your actions, but i feel like i should be proud of something."

"... You sound like a mother."

"Heh, maybe i am. So, will you eat my bento?"

I turned to him, and found that he was standing right behind me. He brought the rest of the stew to the kitchen. Misaki-kun still had a red blush to him. He's so cute whenever he blushes or flusters like that. Ah, but i don't really like him in that way. It's just that... hmm, actually, Misaki-kun is actually very good looking, now that i think of it. No wonder so many girls keep chasing after him. I had always thought that it was because they were those sort of girls who like 'wild' boys. Misaki-kun certainly has that characteristic to him.

"... Sure. I'll eat it."

"Good. Oh, just leave that on the counter. I'll do the rest."

"Huh? But i should help-"

"No no, just leave it to me. You're my guest."

"Oh... alright then."

"Misaki-kun-"

"You still call me that, huh?"

"... You still call me inchou when we're not in school."

"... True."

Misaki-kun smiled. Maybe I'll call him after his first name... this time.

"... Ryou-kun, what do you want to eat tomorrow?"

I watched him go from my door. A bento, huh? Sure, i know of what it represents, but it doesn't bother me. Actually, Misaki-kun is very much like a brother to me. The two of us were in the same class ever since elementary school, and there was a time when he was completely absent for a very long time. Come to think of it, when we entered high school, he suddenly nominated me to be class president. Where did that come from? After his figure disappeared into the night, i closed the front door and locked it. I headed up to my room, and turned my computer on. Maybe i should log into the game to check out the fields. Wait, a new mail? Clicking it, i saw that it was one of my friends. Rather, a kidnapper of my freedom. Yu-chan. Ara, Yu-chan... oh well. That poor girl seems to be distraught. Let's see... oh? Ara, poor girl. She got rejected. She worked so hard to pick up the courage to ask that boy out. All i can do is offer my condolences. Wait... she wants ME? to give advice? Is she nuts? I have no clue what-so-ever on love! Why does everyone turn to me like i am some sage who attained twelve different enlightenments all at once? You want advice? Go ask your mother! You have one, right? Go ask her! Speaking of advices, i know i get a lot of questions from both boys and girls on different types of problems, but a lot of them also happen to be on relationships. Do i really look like that sort of person who knows it all? Sure, i can give you a textbook definition, with my own opinion, but it isn't worth even a yen. Ah, now that i think of it, Misaki-kun did have a lot of fans who did pester me for his information. Apparently somebody saw Misaki approach me for questions on a certain homework. That was... a few months ago. Because of that, i received some very threatening letters from probably those fan girls. That boy can bring trouble even when he's not on the scene. Well, though most of the confusion over my relationship with Misaki-kun were cleared, i still receive one or two a week.

Luckily, it isn't known that Misaki-kun comes over to my house often, or else i don't know what would happen. Anyway, back to the mail. Yu-chan is really upset. I can't offer her any advice, so i gave some cheering up. Hopefully it works. If it doesn't... well, one less person to deal with tomorrow. Speaking of which, i mailed to my other friends about tomorrow's plan. As expected, all of them are on-line and gave their reply almost immediately. So far, none of them have started, and all sound so hyped about it. Discounting Yu-chan and myself, there are seven. So nine in total, huh? That is one crazy group. From what i found out, the maximum number of members for a party is three. So three groups of three? I wouldn't want to be paired with Yu-chan. Though excited she may be, she is almost completely, one hundred percent, absolutely a computer ditz. She even has problems replying my mail. I know she's on-line, but it can take her five hours to reply a single sentence. I'm hoping for a pairing with either Jun-kun, Hitomi, or Mido-kun. Those three are very good at gaming. If i remember correctly, Mido-kun and Jun-kun have both played the previous version of this game before. As to the reason why they didn't play the second version earlier? No clue. They wouldn't say. Hitomi is rather good with games, but she's always playing shooters or adventure games. I dare say she plays dating sims. But she's always good at those games. When convincing me, she told me that she has never played an RPG game before. Well, good to know.

Hmm... I was thinking of inviting Misaki-kun to play as well. Who knows, maybe a little on-line adventure could make him into a better person. But i scrapped that idea. He seems really busy with his part time job, and he needs more time to study for exams than i do. But what about these eight fellows? They need time to study as well. Ah well, i don't really give a damn about them. They did force me to play after all. Why should i help them? I glanced over at the clock. Well, looks like i don't have time to play on one field after all. Those eight fellow kidnappers of my freedom were discussing their plan of action for tomorrow, but since we'll see each other in class, i have no reason to listen. They may complain about me being a spoil-sport, but i have a matter to attend to tomorrow morning, making bento after all is going to be a stressful thing... when was the last time i cooked?

A/N: I've purposely left the main character's name unknown at this point. Just like Haruhi, where the main character is only known by a nickname. 'Inchou' is class representative. 'Bento' is lunch box... in japan, making bento is a sign of close affection, for a girl to give a guy. Just to let you know in case you're living in a hole or something.