Chapter 2

She stumbled on impact.

Sachi flinched, her small petite body swayed as she hooked her fingers on the small rope and pulled it back. Her breath hitched in her throat as she released the arrow. Said make-shift arrow zoomed through the air, splitting the wind as it began to advance on the bright, blood red target. At first, Sachi hoped that she'd hit it, but that faith automatically melted away when the tip of the arrow hit the top metal handle and caused the arrow to bounce through the air and impact into a nearby marble tree.

"O-Oh," Sachi whined to herself, her shoulders sagging with disappointment.

Her eyelid shifted, half-lidded, as she poked her bottom lip out and groaned loudly. Her soft, lavender eyes flickered down to look at her small hands and sighed upon seeing the tiny red cuts and bruises from the hours Diavel had her out in the training field.

"Ah. You're getting better," Diavel spoke up, standing to the side leaning against one of the trees. His thin lips pulling into a small smile, "You at least hit something this time," he cheerfully hummed, pushing himself from the tree with his left foot and walked towards the arrow still sitting in the tree. He chuckled to himself. He could practically feel Sachi's annoyed glare. For such a small person, she sure does have a powerful glare, a glare that reminded him of his Mum's.

Sachi let out another whine, her knees shaking and her feet twisting around one and another, "W-Why? Why d-do I have to u-use bow and arrow? W-Why not my staff?" she pouted, carefully turning the wooden bow in her hand and running her thumb over the wood. It didn't look anything special, as normal as it could get.

She reaches up and wipes the sweat from her brow, "I-I'm not good with b-bow and arrow…I o-only ever used bow a-and arrow was d-during…the b-beta test," she spoke, mumbling the last few words shyly while her eyes shifted side to side.

It was almost as if she was expecting somebody to jump out from the trees. Since Kayaba announcement, creating a world for himself and using them as guinea pigs, other players hadn't taken nicely to beta testers. Sachi had even heard of a young female beta tester who had made her rank known. It hadn't ended well, as she was quickly backed into a corner, not by the monsters of the game, but by the players.

'T-They blame us…' Sachi thought sadly.

"A-And that didn't end well," she added as an afterthought. She looks at the ground briefly while nibbling her bottom lip nervously. Sachi wanted to give up so badly. She believed she wasn't getting any better! Hell, she was barely was able to holding the arrow up straight. Not just that, either; she was tried and excused. Diavel had been getting her up at the crack of dawn to train. She wasn't as strong as Diavel, but at least she was levelling up better than in the beta round. Still, it was useless. Sachi was terrified to face a monster. Even a low-levelled boar scares her.

Diavel let out an overdramatic sigh, flicking his sky blue hair over his shoulder and catching it in the air as he does so. Sachi could only stare with a eyebrow raised, her friend being flamboyant in so many ways.

"Sa-chi! I've told you," he said, flicking his hand up in the air slightly, "Despite being somewhat decent with your staff, you really are not good at close combat. You have few skills, but not nearly enough. So the best course of action is for you build up your skills as a distance fighter, rather than a close fighter."

Diavel smiled, holding up a single finger and speaking in a somewhat matter of fact tone. His bright blue eyes shifted shut and his grin widens, "The bow and arrow is such a delicate weapon! It suits you perfectly, Sachi! An elegant weapon for an elegant girl. It's a perfect man's MPG fantasy!"

'D-Diavel-kun you're the smartest p-person I know…b-but I guess even you can be a p-pervert…' Sachi thought, inhaling sharply through her nose and rolling her eyes as she took in Diavel's form once more.

She shook her head a little, "Ano, Diavel-kun? W-Why are we t-training so h-hard?" Sachi frowned as she spoke before noticing the way Diavel blinks his narrowed eyes slowly, his lips parting before pressing together into a tight line. Something was definitely up, knowing the boy for as long as she did, she could tell when he was hiding something. Her eyebrows pulled together, and she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, "W-What are you hiding from me?" she asked sternly.

Diavel's eyes skittered about, trying to avoid looking in the short girl's direction. Sachi had this cold aura around her whenever she was concerned. She was so similar to his mother that it wasn't even funny. Eventually, however, Diavel cursed himself as his eyes flickered to look at her for a brief second, which made his resolution crumble.

After a few more seconds in silence, Diavel let out a groan and he threaded his fingers through his tight, blue curls, "I was really hoping I could keep this from you until after it had been accomplished," he grumbled loudly, and Sachi frowned even deeper to herself, "…so, um, a couple of nights ago, my team found the boss door of this level."

Sachi's eyes grow wide, flaring out wide as her jaw dropped in shock.

'This level's boss?'

She felt her heart drop at the mere thought of it. Sachi hadn't been present during the beta round's first boss, but she had heard how it had gone, it had been a long and tough fight. They eventually defeated the boss, but at the same time, they had restarted many times. This time, however, there are no restarts!

"W-What? You can't be c-considering what I think y-you are…r-right?" she squealed out, swallowing a thick lump in her throat.

She remembered that a week after being trapped in SAO, Diavel had come to her and told her that he was going to gather a team and try to defeat the boss. Sachi had been so worried that she hadn't slept at all that night. She couldn't describe how she felt when he returned the next morning, looking disappointed. The dungeon, which held the boss, had been moved. The scenery had changed, which could only mean that everything they knew from their previous experience could be wrong now. Sachi went cold, pure cold.

"I'm holding a meeting later on today. Everyone who is a high enough level will be gathering in the ring-hall," Diavel explained, lowering his head as he spoke. Sachi trembled as she listened to the words, her stomach coiled and her teeth pressed into the sensitive flesh of her lip.

"We're going to come up with a strategy to defeat the boss with the help of the guide book. Even though there is a chance a few details might be wrong, it's all we've got."

Sachi sighed to herself, her heart beating harshly in her chest. She carefully pulled her own manual out, staring at the greyish cover. It was written by a beta tester, she knew was Axel, a beta tester that Diavel had fought against and hung out with Sachi every now and then. Both Diavel and she had added a few things they remembered. Sachi was snapped out of her thoughts when Diavel suddenly marched up to her and grabbed her by her shoulders. The short raven immediately snapped her head up with surprised eyes.

"You should come to the meeting. You'll see. We actually have some pretty stronger players. There's no need to worry," he spoke softly, his eyes glowing as he smiles at her, "You've progressed so much!"

With a small pout, Sachi tilted her head to the side and stared blankly to the side. She's progressed? 'Really?' She doesn't feel like it, she'd gotten any stronger than the last time she played. Sachi can't even shoot an arrow probably, so how is that progress? With a deep sigh, Sachi shook her head.

"O-Okay…I t-trust you. Just…b-be careful, okay?" she said weakly, gulping with each word.

"I will," Diavel grinned, cocky, even as he ruffled Sachi's short hair. Said girl frowned deeply and groaned to herself as her head arched to the side.

"Anyway! Back to training!" He cheered somewhat proudly, pointing a finger up in the air as he cheered with his hair shifting around his head, "Practice is everything, Sachi!"

Sachi inhaled sharply, her eyes shutting briefly as she slowly lifted her bow.

"…O-Okay…" she murmured lowly.

There really was no point in arguing with the azure haired boy. He could be quite stubborn, and once he had a thought in that rock of a head of his, he couldn't be talked out of anything. Sometimes, Sachi really questions their friendship. Sachi pushes her deep blue hair out of her face, trying to smile but it really came out as a grimace.

Turning her head, Sachi's soft, lavender eyes scans the area quietly. All the targets lined up perfectly, a few hanging from the tree branches. She hadn't hit one yet, not even on the outside of the target. Her eyes flickered down to her bow, it was quite small in her hands. Sachi wondered if maybe, one day, she could somehow gain a larger bow.

Well, first, she had to get better at aiming arrows. Sachi almost laughed to herself. That was an amusing thought, her being a good at archery. She could hardly do anything right, the only thing she was good at was cooking but that's because she had been cooking since she was young. What could she really bring to this game? She's a failure at everything.

With an uneasy frown, she realised(released) the arrow.

However, no matter how much Sachi kept pushing it out of her head, the time for the boss fight conference eventually came. The young girl shifted in her spot, hiding behind one of the many pillars within the ring of large stone steps that the players was(were) using as seats. Her eyes burned as she listened to Diavel, watching as he stood in the middle of the roman-style hall. High(,) soft grey pillars that had gentle symbols engraved within the stone (lined the hall.) The stone plates underneath her feet had a few creaks, but was mostly in good shape.

Sachi suckles her bottom lip, her eyes gazing intensely at all the players, painfully noticing there was(were) no female players within the hall. Her eyebrows pulled together and her lips pressed into a tight line. She knew most of the male players within SAO were a bit sexist, but she didn't know it was this bad. With that thought, Sachi shifted further behind the pillar all the while tugging on the soft blue hoodie-like cloak which pretty much concealed her feminine form, reaching just below her knees.

"Listen up!" Diavel bellowed out, amazingly cheerful. Sachi started on after Diavel, her heart beating loudly in her chest from anxiousness.

Diavel's narrowed eyes around all the players staring back at him. He smiles a little and claps his hands, "I'll be starting the conference now! Thank you, everyone, for responding to my invitation. My name's Diavel, and my class is…" the blue haired beta called out, placing his hand onto his hip while his other hand gently slapped his chest. His lips spreads into an even wider smile, his eyes shifts to the side thoughtfully before nodding his head to whatever he was thinking, "Informally, Knight!" he bellowed out brightly, fisting his chest proudly.

Sachi sighed to herself. She didn't even know ranks still existed in this game before. She should have known Diavel would say something as goofy as that. She tilted her head and smiled weakly, watching as the players began to tease her dear friend. Thankfully, Diavel took it all on the chin and laughed along with them.

Diavel waved his hands slowly after a while, and closed his eyes briefly. He inhales sharply, his eyes opened, and a serious expression graced his face, "Today, on the highest level of this floor, my party discovered the boss room," he finally spoke, his voice deep and firm.

Everyone gasped and leant forward to hear what the male had to say, "By defeating the floor boss and reaching the second floor. We'll be able to show everyone in Starting Town that this death game can be cleared. It's our responsibility to do so!" Diavel bellowed out, throwing his hand in the air and clenching his hand. His fingers digging into his the soft flesh of his palm.

"Don't you agree, everyone?"

Sachi hums gently under her breath, and supported her full weight on the pillar. She lowers her head and rests her cheek against the cool stone. Sachi let out a breath of relief as everyone burst into claps and whistles. So good, so far. She closed her eyes briefly and lets out a gentle hiccup. Her knees buckles underneath her and she rocks forward just a bit more. Her small button up nose wiggles and she lets out a low sneeze from the small amount of dust within the air from the area around them.

"Okay. Now, I'd like to begin discussing our battle strategy. For starters, we're going to split up into parties of six," Diavel explained without any worry on his shoulders. He arches his back and curls his hands onto his hips. He moves his weight from one foot to the other, the sun catching his blue eyes perfectly.

Her eyes shifted, with her eyebrows pulling together in confusion. Why would they need to be in parties of six? She found herself wondering and lightly scratching the back of her head through the soft blue cloak she wore. Her lips parted, and she let out tiny sound bubble up her throat.

Sachi chewed at her bottom lip, her fingers pressing much firmer into the stone, her fingertips feeling the tiny bumps underneath. Immediately Sachi felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end, the familiar sensation of eyes drilling into her small body. At first, Sachi froze on the spot, just staring at the stone across from her before finally lifting her head. Slowly, her body raised, feeling horrified.

Sitting roughly three or four rows down from Sachi herself was a male player. The boy looked to be on his own, sitting apart from the groups. Sachi's heart easily began to pound within her chest, watching as the male furiously snapped his head about before suddenly turning his head to look right at her. Sachi's eyes widen so much that the skin around her eyes burned and her lips twitched. She didn't expect anybody to look to the back, much less look at her. Sachi shuddered, feeling herself transform into jelly as narrowed, midnight eyes stared up at her, gazing up at her with an indifferent glint within those orbs. She let out a sharp and soundless gasp, quickly stumbling fully behind the pillar in embarrassment. Sachi puffed out her cheeks and reached up, her fingers gently tugging on the hood of her cloak, her knees shaking. She panted for breath, feeling as if her throat was being squeezed. Sachi leant against the pillar, her breath hitching in her throat as she sucked in as much air as possible.

Her large, lavender eyes slide shut; and Sachi held them closed for seconds. Her chest shuddered with the familiar stinging sensation, and she waited silently for the sensation to melt away sighing as it did. Her gentle eyes slid open once more as she stares at the twirling symbols of the pillar before slowly stepping to left and peeking out from the pillar from the other side.

Her fingers trembled as they pressed into the side of the stone, her eyes automatically flickering to the boy that had been staring at her. Sachi gulps, inhaling sharply and sighed in relief as she found the boy no longer looking in her direction. A pleasant hum escaped her lips and she leans her head gently against the pillar side, watching as the boy moved towards another player in a cloak, a dark crimson cloak that covered the player's whole body.

She gazed down at the boy with glassy eyes. He was a little odd looking, in her option, with incredibly thick pitch black locks that curled around his face, the little ends brushing just below his eyes. He looked to be taller than herself with high cheek bones and somewhat round midnight eyes. Sachi had to admit, she hadn't ever seen anybody with such dark eyes before.

He wore simple clothing like everyone else on the first level, the normal male starter uniform. A dark navy shit that was tucked into his deep brown pants. She deflates her shoulders slowly while her eyes flickered Diavel. He had worked hard to find all his armour, but underneath the armour, he wore the same clothing as the other males. The only different between the players were the colours, the colours that they're assigned. Everyone starts out in the colour that was assigned to them at the very beginning.

Suddenly, Sachi's ear rang with approaching footsteps. Carefully, Sachi turns her head thoughtfully and lets out a surprised cry from the fast approaching male. She had to duck to the side to avoid being pushed out the way as the player charged full-hearted towards the meeting. Sachi slowly raised from her crouching position, her eyes flicker as she looked over to the player.

She noted he was quite lanky with low shoulder-blades and dark brown hair that was smoothed into odd spikes. He wore a simple stitched grey shirt with armour plates imprinted across his body, leather straps(,) as well(,) with what looked like a sword strapped to his back. Sachi wasn't sure, and she barely had enough time to think about it before he leaped through the air. Pushing himself from each stone-step with easy.

"The name's Kibaou," he bellowed out, his body hunched over just a little. Kibaou raises his hand and thumbs his chest, his other hand curling to his hip, "There's something that I need to get off my chest. I'm positive that there are some amongst you that should be apologizing to those who've dies so fair."

Sachi froze within her spot, her hand pressing tightly against the rough edge of the stones as she stared down at Kibaou with wide eyes. Her bottom lip shuddered and parched. The man's words echoed through her head and she lets out a low gasp. Deep sadness filled her petite body, and her eyes shifted within the sockets, almost beginning to swell up with tears.

She hadn't know anybody personally who had already died, but she understood the sorrow that their families would be feeling, as she too had recently lost her beloved Grandpa just last summer. Promptly, the air around the group grew thick with a sickly sensation that just makes her throat tightens.

"Kibaou-san…" Diavel began, breathing the word out with a low sigh, "The people that you're referring to are the beta testers, correct?"

Kibaou's eyes widens before they narrowed. He launched forward a step, stomping his foot into the ground underneath him while curling his lips tightly together and speaking through clenched teeth, "Of course I am!" he hissed, his fingers digging into the palms of his hands and sending little crinkles of pain up the flesh.

"On the day that this crappy game started, the beta testers disappeared, abandoning all us beginners. They monopolized the good hunting grounds and profitable guest, prioritizing themselves over others. And afterwards, they feigned ignorance for doing so."

"Some of you are sure to be beta testers!" Kibaou finally snapped, firmly clenching his fists and shaking them. His dark eyes flash dangerously and look around the other players, "We should have them kneel in apology and hand over the money and items they've been hoarding! I cannot, and will not, entrust my life to such people!"

Her own hands tightened. Sachi let out a shaky breath that burned her throat, her lungs twisted around each other almost as if they were tied together. The beating organ within her chest rips apart while her eyes spilled out wide, the sensitive skin around the sockets stretched and twitched, "Beta testers…" she repeats slowly to herself.

'I-Is…is t-this…this all our fault? M-My fault?'

"Mind if I speak?"

A rather tall and muscled man spoke up. He lowers his arm and easily gets to his feet. He shifts down the stones, his feet making small thuds as he walked. The man had dark skin that stretched across his body, making his muscles pulse. He wore a sleeveless white and dark brown strap shirt, it sticks to his body like another layer of skin. A simply chest plate armour covered his chest with matching armour on his arms.

"My name is Agil."

"Kibaou-san, basically you're saying that the beta testers should take responsibility for the many deaths by apologizing and offering reparations because they didn't look after us new players, right?" Agil questioned calmly, his dark eyes peering down at the much smaller man. Sachi lets out a soft sound from the back of her throat, carefully pushing herself from the pillar and stepping forward bravely. She found herself desperate to hear what this man had to say, and from the sounds of it, he was a very intelligent and wise man.

Kibaou stumbled backward, he ducks his head and glares up at the other nervously, "Um…Y-Yeah."

"This is the guidebook," Agil spoke, lifting his arm, taking a small leather grey bound book from his pouch, and held it up for everyone to see. His dark eyes close briefly, "It's up for free at the item shop, after all."

The short man snorted, his nose flaring almost like a pig would, "I do!" he grunted out, looking dis-impressed with Agil, "What about it?"

Agil let out a loud sigh, his lips twitching, "The people who distributed these were former beta testers," he said firmly and turned around to face the other players, holding up the bound book.

His fingers tapped against the leather case, "Listen, this information was available to everyone, yet many players died. What I thought we'd be doing here was planning how to fight the boss using what we learned from these deaths."

Sachi swallows a thick lump in her throat. Her ears flushed as she listened to the admiring words. This man, Agil, was so confident, and Sachi had no doubt he was strong. She lets out a skittered breath of awe and wondered for a split seconds if one she could be like that. Sachi shakes her head with a small frown. What a stupid thought, she decides. There was no way she could ever be like that. She was too weak, a burden and a failure.

"Okay. May I continue?" Diavel said, almost jokingly as he looked to Kibaou, who sent him such a dirty look before throwing himself down and crossing his arms stubbornly. Diavel lets out a low sigh and shakes his head. His eye-lids twitched while he pulled out his own guidebook.

"About the boss. The truth is, the guidebook that was just mentioned had information about it in its latest version," he says, sliding his fingers through the pages and opening it. He tips his head down, his eyes looking at the glaring black words, "According to this, the boss is called Illfang the Kobold Lord. Also, he has mobs called Ruin Kobold Sentinels guarding him. His arms consist of an axe and a buckler. When the last of his four health bars becomes red, he switches to a curved sword called talwar. His attack patterns also change."

Diavel smiles wearily, as he tilts his hand to the side and closes the book. He slaps (it) into the palm of his hands before parting his lips, "That is the end of this conference. Lastly, concerning loot distribution. The money is automatically distributed, EXP goes to the party that lands the last hit, and the items belonged to whoever gets them."

"Any objections?" he bellows out, putting his guidebook away and places his hands onto the balls of his hips, "Okay, we'll leave at ten in the morning tomorrow. You're all dismissed."

Sachi leans her weight to the side. Her hands together, and she holds them in front of her lap. She blinks her eyes slowly and thoughtfully while watching with low confidence as everyone rushed around Diavel. Said blue haired male smiled widely, his eyes shining as he talked and actually befriended the other players. Unlike herself, Diavel's friend list was always growing every day. What surprised her a little was how Diavel had quickly befriended Kibaou, locking his arm around Kibaou's and bumping fists together. Sachi lets out a soft whimper,. Diavel was like the sun, always drawing people to him, and without him, and Sachi wasn't sure what she'll do. He is her best friend.

Diavel chuckles, grinning at Kibaou and adding the brunette to his friend list. He hums under his breath and turns his head, his sky-blue eyes flashing in the sun as he looks up the stone arches, his eyes searching for the smaller player. He sighed to himself, watching as Sachi turned around and exited the arena.

Diavel noticed the young raven haired girl leaving, and he was not the only one.

The sun moved across the sky, and before Sachi knew it, the sky had grown dark. Her head felt heavy as she feared what was to come in the morning. She sniffled, her nose twitching as she walked through the streets with her head down. She feels a cold bitter breeze roll past her, pushing her raven hair gently off her cherry red face. Sachi, at that moment, had her hood down. Her mind was a puddle of worry, thinking that anything could happen tomorrow. She could lose her best friend, and so many players could lose their lives. Sachi sighed to herself, pausing in step and pushing a curl out of her face tiredly. Maybe she'd just retire back to her room, back in one of the many Inn's within the town for a good rest.

Sachi lifts her head from the laughter that echoed out across from her. Her soft eyes blinked once, then twice, as she stares up the street to see it open up into a large area where players walked around. All of which were laughing and holding cups. She bet Diavel was also down there, socializing with everyone he meets. The complete opposite to herself.

At first, Sachi wondered if it was alcohol, or maybe beer? But she quickly discarded that thought. This game was for children, after all. Well, kind of, anyway. It's more likely it was pumpkin juice, as that was the only liquid, other than water, that could be gained on this level. Sachi frowned to herself and wondered if maybe beer or wine was available on higher levels.

Shaking her head, Sachi ducks her head once more and reaches back, pulling her hood back up. She tugs on her soft martial cloak, pulling it tighter around her body and let out a small hiccup. Sachi slowly walked forward, walking past an alleyway quietly until she entered the wide area and nervously looks around. Just as she thought, Diavel was snickering with other players. At least he was having fun. Sachi smiles and rolls her eyes around the spacing. Buildings lined the space with a fountain in the middle, marble trees scattered around the fountain. Lanterns hung from the branches, glowing beautifully in the night sky. It almost reminded Sachi of her home.

As soon as the thought past her mind, Sachi felt herself fall. Her chest tightened, and her stomach coil with the thoughts of her home. She remembered her house with the warm carpets and light colours, her loveable and bubbly mother and her strict father. Her bottom lip trembled, and her eyes began to sting, she automatically began to shake her head furiously.

Her breath hitching in her throat as she quickly spun on the balls of her feet, speed walking towards another street leading out of the area. She didn't want to break down in front of so many people. The thought made her hiccup with pure sadness that bared its fangs into her body. Her back arched as she almost stumbled over her feet, twirled around a house corner and almost tripped down a small staircase. Her face swiftly heated up, burning harshly, and her throat shuddered as she tried to climb down the steps. As soon as her foot hits the bottom, she shatters, falling down on the last step. Her legs arched upward, and Sachi stared point blankly ahead of herself.

Sachi took in a sharp breath through her nose and tilted her head back, looking up at the full moons above her, 'There a-are two,' she thought to herself in amusement, her lips twitching and pulling into a sad smile. Her fingers shook as she rested them on the hardened skin of her knees. Her indigo eyes shuddered while she stared at the moon, and her eyes began to blur. Her shoulder began to shake, and she tried to lock her lips together, but they flickered around one another.

She tried to breathe, her throat itching and stinging as it felt like it was closing in, almost like a hand was gripping her throat tightly and squeezing. Fiery hot tears peeked at the ends of her eyelashes, as she whines loudly and feels the fat, hot tears roll down her sensitive skin, staining her pale, round cheeks. Her head felt heavy, and she makes a deep sound from the back of her throat, hugging her arms around her knees and burying her face into them. A broken sob escaped her lips. Her teeth rips into the soft skin of her bottom lip, her fingers digging into the clothing she wore.

"Nee. It's a nice night, isn't it?"

Sachi felt a deep and freezing cold chill run down her spin. Her eyes widen, and her head shoots up while she let out a low gasp, turning to look at the one coming up next to her. Sachi immediately rubbed her eyes furiously and sized up the other, her heart dropping to her stomach as she noticed it was the creepy boy from earlier.

Sachi automatically found herself frowning shyly, wiggling on the spot and drawing her knees in close to her as a scary thought past her mind.

'D-Did he follow m-me?' she thought, suddenly feeling quite panicked at the thought.

She wasn't used to any attention from anybody. Sachi nervously eyed the boy through the shadows of her cloak, watching as the other player walks down the steps and flops down next to her.

"It's funny, isn't it? Even though there are two, the moon looks exactly like ours back home," the boy spoke calmly, and Sachi raised an eyebrow at the player. She frowned even deeper to herself and slightly taps her fingers against her knees. It wasn't an odd thing to start with, quite normal really, and it was polite to reply, wasn't it?

'Do manners still exist in the game?'

Sachi bit her bottom lip. She wasn't sure what to do. She couldn't talk to people, and she was no good at being social. In complete honesty, Sachi was known to be one of the people who would hide in the library more than anything else. Sachi feels a cool chill go up her spine, her head tilted to the side, and her eyes skittered side to side.

The other player frowns to himself, tilting his head to look at Sachi, and when he realized she wasn't going to speak a single word, he sighed deeply, "Did you get left out? I didn't see you party up with anybody," he spoke curiously, hunching himself forward just as a gentle breeze blow between them. Sachi found herself quietly observing the way his midnight hair fluttered in the air before she shook her head.

Sachi let out a soft sigh, her head dipping to look at her pale knees, "I w-wasn't l-left out," she shyly spoke shyly, her voice coming out barely above a whisper and as gentle as ever. The boy almost missed it, having to lean closer to the obvious female with narrowed eyes, hoping to see her through the shadows of her hood.

Sachi lets out a sharp breath, finding herself leaning in the opposite direction of the boy, not wanting him to get close to her. Her heart pounded harshly in her chest, so loud that she almost feared the other could hear it, "I, I'm n-not going t-to be in the b-boss fight…I-I'm too w-weak…"

"Weak?" the dark haired player repeated, his wide black eyes blinking slowly.

"What level are you?" he asked thoughtfully, eyes flickering down to the familiar arm cuff. All players started out with one, and it was normally hidden underneath another layer of clothing or armour. He noticed her assigned colour was white and almost chuckled, because his own assigned colour was black, "It can't be that bad."

"I-I'm level 1-15…" Sachi trailed off, her voice hitching as she speaks slowly. Her fingers twitches, and they slowly crossed between one and another. Her lips press tightly together, and she lets out a low whimper. She was pathetic, so weak! She couldn't even make it to the same level as Diavel and the two train mostly together!

The raven haired boy hums under his breath, and his eyes shut briefly as he tilts his head thoughtfully "It isn't that bad," he comments after a while. Turning his head fully to Sachi, his lips spreading into a small, comforting smile.

Sachi snorts, her eyebrows bouncing, and she shook her head, "N-Not that bad? W-What level are you? 18? 19? 20? 2-21?" she questioned, whimpering the words out as her fingers twisted together and, clenched together, pressed together as she spoke with a shuddering annoyance. Her shoulders rose as she spoke, and Sachi tried to utter the words bravely, but her throat tightened, and she found herself stuttering again.

"I'm level 22, actually…" he uttered out after a few seconds, a sheepish smile spreading across his face. He brushes his deep locks out of his face and glanced to the side for a split second. He sighs to himself when he hears Sachi snort at his level.

"But 15 isn't, um bad. Most players on this level aren't even past level 10, so you're doing well," he tried comfort the girl awkwardly and shifted on the step, feeling the roughness of the stone press into his backside, "What weapon do you use?"

Sachi licks her bottom lip, her teeth nipping into the sensitive skin, "I d-did use a s-spire at one point, b-but Diavel-kun is t-trying to move me o-onto bow and a-arrow…" she explained timidly, turning her head to look blankly down an alleyway when she thought, for a split second, that somebody was standing there.

She sighed to herself when a small black cat skittered in between the dumpsters. SAO sure is accurate, very realistic, she noted to herself. Reaching a slow hand out to the small furry creature, smiling briefly as the cat rubbed against its wet nose against the back of her hand. She hums as it lets out a tiny meow.

"Bow and arrow? But that isn't as strong as the spire," the other commented thoughtfully, hunching himself backward, and reaching a hand up and gently pressed his chin to his hand.

"I-I'm not g-good at combat," Sachi spoke after a while, reaching her arms back, she hums lowly as the cat pats it's tiny paws against the side of her leg before leaping onto her lap. It pats its paws repeatedly on her lap before sitting and arching its head back, meowing over and over up at Sachi. Sachi smiled, and held it gently.

"I f-freeze up when I'm f-face to face with a monster…I'm o-overcome with fear, and I c-can't even get my legs to move. T-They become jelly a-and all I can do is s-stand there…." She mumbles, trailing off with soft sigh and rubbing her finger underneath the cat's chin, "D-Diavel-kun says I s-should practice long d-distant."

The silk black haired player tilts his head back thoughtfully, his eyes flickering between the young cloaked girl and the cat, "Bow and arrow isn't as strong as the other weapons, but if you master it, level up with it., you'll be able to cause just as much damage as any weapon," he explained with a matter of fact tone.

He tilts his head and looks at Sachi, puffing his cheeks out as he noticed she wasn't going to talk anymore. His dark eyes flickered to the small cat, still meowing to Sachi. He watches the two for a few more seconds before reaching out and opening up his storage. Sachi watched as his fingers moved across the many items he possessed, and was pretty surprised that he had completed so many quests in such little time. Eventually, he found what he was looking for, and a reasonable size bun appeared in his hand.

Sachi's eyes flutter, and her eyebrows pulled together. Her lips opened as if she was about to say something, but as soon as she opened them, she closed them after having second thoughts. She silently shifts on the step, the small cat within her lap turned its wide green eyes onto the boy, noticing he now had food.

"He's hungry," the boy noted, ripping a small piece off the bun and held it out to the cat. Sachi's eyes softens, watching as the cat quickly took the offered food and leaped off her lap, rushing forward a few steps to eat the bread.

The boy sighs to himself, pushing his onyx hair off the back of his lap and leant back. He brings the bun up to his mouth and bit into it. It took a little while to snap off the bit before he chewed, "You want one?" he questioned, taking out another bun and offering it to Sachi.

Sachi stared at the bun quietly, eyeing the way the bread was split at the top before she slowly reached out with shaky fingers. Spreading her fingers around the bun, she pressed her fingertips into the bread and brought it in close to her chest.

"T-Thank you…" she murmured out timidly, noticing how stiff the bread was. Almost stale, she realizes and smiles to herself.

It almost reminded her of the bread buns back home, the ones that were available to High School students through vending machines. They was never good, always stale and never tasted good. Sachi wondered if maybe this bun tasted as bad as the ones back home, and with that thought in mind, she lifted it to her mouth and bit into the bun.

Sachi let out a sound from the back of her throat, the vile taste fill her mouth, and it took all her all her willpower to swallow, "T-Taste just like t-the ones back home…"

"Yeah. As stale and tough as they came too," the other laughed, teasingly. One again, he opens his storage up and looks through the items before taking a small pot out and placing it between the two.

"I like to put twists on it," he said, turning the bun over his hand and smiling at Sachi, "Try putting this onto it."

Sachi glanced down at the small pot. She slowly reaches a hand out and gently brushes the tip of her finger along the smoothness of the pot. She runs her finger along the top part and jumped in surprise as a glowing orb flickered at the tip, "…I-Is this…c-cream?" she wondered out loud, running the orb along the bread and blinking at the familiar substance appearing across the bun.

She tilts her head thoughtfully and glances at the boy, watching as he does the same thing before the pot between them disappeared in a clash of blue sparks, "S-Sorry. You s-shouldn't have wasted that o-on me…"

"It was my reward for quest called 'The Cow Strikes Back' from the previous town," he explained, shaking his head before he spoke. He bites into his own bun, his mouth spread out wide and taking a good mouthful of the cream and bread.

He sighs to himself from the taste, "It's an easy quest. I can tell you how to beat, if you want? Then next time, you can treat."

Sachi blinks slowly, her cheeks flushing red as she listened to the words. Next time? He wants to eat together again? She turns red from embarrassment and mutely nods her head, biting into the bun. Sachi's stomach bubbles as she her mouth fills with the delicious taste, quickly filling her mouth and she sighs from the taste.

"It's g-good," she mumbles out in surprise, slowly taking another bite and feeling her stomach growl with pleasure.

He smiles as he watches her and turns his attention forward. He takes another bit out of his bun before reaching forward and placing it onto the ground. As soon as she leant back, the same cat ran towards it and began to chew at the half-eaten roll. He makes a low yawn and stretches his arms above his head.

The male player tilts his head to the side as Sachi somewhat gracefully pushes herself up. Her knees buckled under her weight while she stepped a few steps forward, dusting the crumbs from her skirt. She crouches down next to the alley cat and gently stroke him down its backs, smiling as he purrs and turns in her hands, rubbing his head against her hands.

Eventually, Sachi pushes herself back up. She straightens herself up and spins on the balls of her feet, peering at the boy quietly. She presses her hands together in front of her lap and bows quickly to him, "T-Thank you…f-for…for the, err, h-help," she breathed out, squealing words shyly, and before he could even open his mouth to reply, Sachi spun on the balls of her feet and ran back the way she came, anxious for what the next day will bring