Yoshiki arrived home from school the next day and took a quick shower. He was not really looking forward to go to the theme park on a school night. However, if knew his friend was really needing him, so he had no choice but to go with him. He wasn't sure if it was to appease him, or just because. Yoshiki didn't think much of it. He put on his best shirt, a nice sweater and he put on his brand new sneakers his father bought for him for doing so well in school. Yoshiki was doing really well on Math and Chemistry, his favorite school subjects.
"Yoshiki? Who are you going with to the park again?" asked Yoshiki's father while he sat down reading his newspaper. Yoshiki's mother was serving dinner.
"I'm going with Takeru, a friend from school. He's insisting on going to Enchanted Forest. I don't know why he wants me to go with him, but oh well." said Yoshiki.
"I think it's nice you were invited. Perhaps a little bit of fun won't hurt." said Yoshiki's mother.
"But it is a school night though. Are you sure you can handle this Yoshiki? If it's too much, you can always reschedule with your friend." said his father.
"I want to, but Takeru is acting weird lately. He's always happy and thoughtful. Not to mention very humble. But lately, he's been sad and kinda moody." said Yoshiki.
"Maybe he's growing up and perhaps needs some company. Does he have friends at school?" asked his father.
"He used to be part of the soccer team and he did have a lot of friends. But after Enchanted Forest opened, he changed, and he dropped out of the team." said Yoshiki.
"Well what ever the reason, he wants to be friends with you. Be patient and kind around him." said his mother.
"You have your phone. In case of an emergency, contact us right away. Your mother and I will be home." said his father.
"It's just a trip to the theme park. What can go wrong?" asked Yoshiki.
Yoshiki and Takeru were on the subway, waiting for the train to stop in front of the theme park.
"How long are we going to stay at Enchanted Forest?" asked Yoshiki to Takeru, who looked excited and happier than usual.
"For a while. It's just going to be brief." said Takeru.
"Then... what do you want to do there? I really haven't been to Enchanted Forest before, and I don't know the lay out." said Yoshiki.
"There's a special reason I need you to come with me. And I'm hoping you'll be able to help me." said Takeru.
"For the girl?"asked Yoshiki with a wink.
"Yeah. For a girl." said Takeru with a soft gaze. Yoshiki then gasped.
"So there really is a girl! Then why did you invite me?! You and she could have had your time alone or something!" said Yoshiki.
"It's complicated Yoshiki. I'll tell you everything when we arrive. I promise. But you really need to trust me. I know your a good soul and I need your help." said Takeru.
"You sound as if you were going to fight in some war. Relax, it's just a girl! And besides, do I know her? Is she from School?"asked Yoshiki.
"No. She's from... you'll see." said Takeru as the boys arrived at Enchanted Forest.
The theme park was unlike anything Yoshiki has seen. It had large rides with colorful neon lights, families as far as the eyes could see, and music playing the latest pop songs from the radio. Yoshiki has been to different parks before with his family such as Disney Tokyo, Universal Studios, and of coarse, the Hello Kitty Theme park. That was his Mom's idea, not his.
Upon arriving the park, Takeru led Yoshiki to a large area of the park which was dedicated to Video Games. There was a large statue of a beautiful Anime fairy with large wings, and a fountain that was on with delicate flowers all over. And they arrived at the Dragon Quest area. It was decorated with mideival castles, fantasious looking landscape paintings and people cosplyaing as the heroes of different titles.
"The girl you like is into Video Games? Lucky you." said Yoshiki.
Takeru didn't answer. Instead, he pulled Yoshiki to a large building and inside was the large Dragon Quest attraction that was not open to the public. In fact, only Takeru, Yoshiki and a single man was inside.
"Takeru! You arrived!" said the man with a long lab coat.
"Dr. Kirigaya. I'm here." said Takeru with a smile.
Yoshiki looked at the man and his jaw dropped. "Dr. Kirigaya!? You mean THE Dr. Kirigaya!?" cried Yoshiki.
"You heard of me?" asked the doctor.
"Of course I have! You made it possible for the Dive Systems to be completely safe! And your the champion of SAO!" cried Yoshiki.
"Please kid. I'm no champion. I was just a regular player like everyone else. And the true heroes were the players who either won or lost." said Dr. Kirigaya. He was a very modest and humble man. In his youth, he was a prisoner in a terrible video game, but that is a story for another time.
"I'm ready Dr. And this is my pal, Yoshiki. He's the boy I mentioned the other day." said Takeru with a smile creeping up in his mouth.
"Your the math wiz. Nice. Then you know why you are here." said Dr. Kirigaya.
"I"m here for what exactly?" asked Yoshiki.
"He'll explain everything. Yoshiki, thank you. And I'm sorry." said Takeru. He gave Yoshiki a hug quickly, and Yoshiki was dumbfounded.
"What's all this?" asked Yoshiki.
Takeru turned around and ran towards a machine that had two pods. Dr. Kirigaya quickly ran in front of Takeru.
"Stop. I thought we were clear. You were supposed to talk to your friend about this. And where's your Uncle?" asked Dr. Kirigaya.
"He knows why I'm here. But I have no time. They need me!" cried Takeru.
"I know your desperate, but once you go through, you will never come back to this world again. You must consider this first." said Dr. Kirigaya.
"What is he talking about?" asked Yoshiki.
"Please Dr. I haven't seen them in so long! And if they are truly real, they need me!" cried Takeru, with tears coming down his eyes. Dr. Kirigaya let out a sigh and allowed Takeru to go to the machine. He pressed a few buttons, and in that instant, two light beams apppeared and Takeru vanished in the light.
"Takeru! What happened?!" cried Yoshiki.
"I take it he never told you the reason why he's here." said Dr. Kirigaya looking at the smoke from the machine and then at Yoshiki.
"He told me he was going to meet a girl. But what's going on?!" cried Yoshiki.
Just then, Takeru's uncle, Sato appeared. "Is he over there?" asked Sato.
"Yes, I'm afraid so." said Dr. Kirigaya.
"Godspeed Takeru." said Sato looking at the machine rather sadly.
"Yoshiki, you are here for a reason. A very special reason. Takeru should have told you, but you will learn the truth." said Dr. Kirigaya.
"Sumimasen young Yoshiki. I didn't know Takeru didn't say anything to you." said Sato.
"Don't be sorry guys. What's really going on?" said Yoshiki.
Dr. Kirigaya and Sato then explained to Yoshiki the truth. When Enchanted Forest opened about an year ago, a powerful new Dive Experience was opened. It was heavily based on Dragon Quest, a popular video game series. The player was to choose which entry of the series they wished to play, and Takeru was one of them. He chose Dragon Quest 5, a very special game that Takeru loved playing as a boy. When he entered the game, he played the entire story. From beginning to it's end. However, outside the game realm, a terrible hacker installed a virus within the game's software and the game was under attack. Takeru, who chose the name Luca in the game, defeated the virus with the help of a anti virus software that destroyed it. However, inside the game, "Luca" made new memories, and he had a family. Once he left the game, he believe it was all over. That is until he heard the scary truth. The hacker who hacked the game from the beginning made sure the entire program was a brand new living world full of powerful AIs that can think, have emotions, almost like a living being. In truth, this virtual world became a new reality, hidden from the rest of the world. Takeru learned of this privately by Dr. Kirigaya, who was brought on board to investigate. The company, Square Enix, had no idea that this technology was stolen by the hacker and that he saw to it the world became a living new reality. Since it was technically Takeru who defeated the virus, he was the first to know of this by Dr. Kirigaya. And Takeru promised to help with the current investigation of the Hacker's whereabouts, under one condition... that he would go back and live in that world permanately. Dr. Kirigaya protested, but in the end, he allowed it.
"...it was tough to talk about... and Sato had a hard time." said Dr. Kirigaya.
"I was not sure if it wall all real, but it's true." said Sato.
"Then... what changed your mind?" asked Yoshiki.
"I was in the death game, SAO. I was an inspector making sure the game was safe for players. But you know the rest." said Sato.
"Why is it important for Yoshiki to go back? For the girl? That can't be." said Yoshiki.
"It's complicated." said Sato.
"Then, what do you need me for?" asked Yoshiki.
"We cannot allow this technology to fall into the wrong hands. That is why we need you Yoshiki. The Hacker left his digital codes within the files of the game. I will give you special sun glasses so you can find the codes. Go into the game, find the codes, decipher them, and bring them to me. With it, we will find this hacker and arrest him." said Dr. Kirigaya.
"You want me to go into Dragon Quest?! I don't know." said Yoshiki.
"Please do this boy. You don't understand. If this Hacker has the blue prints to this world, he can do great evil and my Takeru would be caught in the crossfire, not to mention the AIs." said Sato.
"The AIs? But they are just NPCs." said Yoshiki.
"And they are brought to life to live like people. And as a matter of fact, they are people, lost in the virtual world." said Dr. Kirigaya.
"So it's like an alternate reality?" asked Yoshiki.
"Yes. A world within worlds." said Sato.
"Okay. Say I help you all. What will happen in there? What should I do?" asked Dr. Kirigaya.
"We will watch from here. Sato and I are old friends. We will manage everything from the outside. You must go and find the codes." said Dr. Kirigaya. He then grabbed a suitcase and inside were two sunglasses.
"Use this. They will come in handy." said Sato.
Yoshiki nodded. "Got it! I will find the codes and help you guys!" said Yoshiki.
As he stepped on the platform he looked at a worried Sato and a serious Dr. Kirigaya. They were both giving him a thumbs up and Yoshiki was terrified.
"What did I get myself into?" he thought.