Chapter 2

Hitomi

"Oi, nee-chan!"

"Nani?" I felt a tug on my shirt. I looked down to find a fourteen-year old boy with dark hair and purple eyes just like mine look up at me.

"I'm hungry." My little brother, Taku, said flatly.

"I know. You've told me that a hundred times already." I rolled my eyes. "I'll go get you something to eat."

"If it's porridge, don't put in any green onions!" Taku called out after me.

"Hai, hai." I leaned against my cane and hobbled out of the room.

"Ne, oto-san!" I called out made my way down the stairs. "Nani?" My adoptive father, Kudo Isana, was looking through a large pile of papers. "Taku wants porridge!" I said.

"How is he?" My dad put down his papers. "Fine, for now." I replied and grabbed an apple from the kitchen. "You've stained your uniform once again." My father scolded, scanning my school uniform. I had a large stain from orange juice that I spilled earlier on the white fabric of my skirt.

"G-gomen. I'll clean it later." I took a large bite out of the apple with one hand and leaned on my cane with the other.

"Do you need help going to sch-"

"How many times do I have to tell you no?" I snapped. I immediately regretted it when my father's face fell.

"I-I'm all right." I looked down at my feet. Father just stood there for a moment, then smiled sweetly and planted a light kiss on my forehead. "Now, hurry, or you'll be late."

"Hai." I nodded and headed for the door. "Don't forget about the porridge! He wants plenty of green onions!"

School is like an occupation. Something I do to burn time. It's nothing I look forward to going to. In fact, I hated it there. School is full of such corrupted people, such a complex hierarchy when it comes to popularity, and terrible hygiene conditions.

What I hate most are the people who make fun of me and my busted hip. The complete left side of my hip was paralyzed, so I couldn't walk properly. I could even feel eyes on me right now as I walked into the school.

I'd much rather be at home in front of my computer screen. The internet was my home, where no one would laugh at me or make fun of me. I loved video games, especially virtual reality games, where I could actually walk properly and even run as I pleased. In games, I can socialize. I'm not as quiet or isolated like I am here.

Which was exactly why I was able to bear with school today

Today was finally the release of the most recent VRMMO game, Sword Art Online. I'd prepared all my data from my previous virtual reality games to transfer into the game as soon as I got my hands on it. I hacked into the game's company and pre-ordered a copy of the game for myself without getting caught, so getting the game was no problem.

I guess people would call me a hacker, though I don't prefer the term. I just use my vast knowledge on technology to get what I want. I don't believe in cheats to level up or anything. It isn't fair.

"Oh, look, well if it isn't ba-chan(old lady)!"

I gritted my teeth and walked past the group of one of my most usual group of teasers. "Ne, ba-chan! How's the Kudo residence?" One guy, Momozono Shun, snickered. "Isn't that lame? She's so rich but still has to walk around on that cane everywhere!" The girl next to him snorted.

I wanted to punch them. To kick them. To beat them up like I did with all my opponents in games. But this was the real world. I couldn't do that.

"Just bear with it." I told myself, breathing through my nostrils angrily. I continued walking, ignoring the laughs arising behind me.

"I hate it. I hate it. I hate it."

I guess I could just not go to school. That way, I wouldn't have to be dealing with all this. But I'm not a coward. In the past, I couldn't even dream of going to school. And father was the one who worked hard to get me into school. Regardless of all the suffering, I have to go to school.

It's too bad I can't truthfully say I love it, though.

"Bear with it. Bear with it. Bear with it." I repeated in my head over and over as I took my seat. "Just one day. Then I can finally play Sword Art Online."

"All right, roll call!" My teacher walked in and began reading off the list in her hands.

"Aizawa!"

"Here!"

"Andou!"

"Here!"

It wasn't until the teacher said my name five times before I actually heard her.

"Ah, sumemase" I bowed my head.

"Pay more attention, Iura." My teacher chided.

"Hai, sensei." I said, ignoring the snickering behind me like I always do.

"Just keep it low. Behave. Don't get in trouble. Don't cause trouble."

But that didn't happen.

"Iura. Please continue the next line." Sensei called on me after the previous reader sat down.

"Hai." I reached for my cane, but my hand only met empty air. "Huh?' I searched around my desk. My cane was gone.

Then it struck me. I clenched my fists and looked around. My classmates had on such innocent faces, but I could see that twinkle in their eyes.

"Don't bother. Don't bother. Don't bother."

"Iura." Sensei raised his voice.

I gripped the edge of my desk and somehow managed to haul myself up. I could feel the air intensify as everyone struggled to contain their laughter, but I could hear their voices loud and clear in my head.

"T-the wind of the day wraps around me…" I halted as I began to wobble. A few smirks were let out here and there. I regained my balance and continued as if nothing happened. "A-as my soul begins to stir-"

As soon as I loosened my grip a little, I toppled over. "Wah!" My arms went up as I fell, bringing my books and papers with me. The class couldn't hold back any longer and burst out in laughter. I could feel my face turn red, and a loud buzzing filled my ears.

"Please be more careful, Iura.' Sensei simply looked down on me over the rims of his glasses.

"H-hai."

No one helped me up. They continued on with the lesson as I spent the entire class trying to get back up onto my seat with no prevail. I ended up sitting on the floor until the bell rang. Even after class, no one came to get me.

"Great. Now what?" I groaned. I was stuck on the floor like a toddler who hadn't learned how to walk. How embarrassing.

"Oi, Hito-chi!" A boy with spiky brown hair burst into the room. "Ya here?"

"Y-Yuta!" I exclaimed.

"Yo. Found this." He held up my cane and waved it in the air like a prize. "Th-thanks." I stammered. He grinned and knelt down beside me. "Here." I hastily took it out of his hands.

"C'mon. Next class is starting soon." Yuta helped me onto my feet.

Yuta is probably the first friend I'd ever had. Unlike everyone else, he never teased me. He was always there for me and stood up for me. I wouldn't say I liked him, but he was a great friend. He was also handsome and very popular, so it was kind of odd that he'd spend time with a girl like me.

"You should take better care of that cane." Yuta said as he strode nonchalantly in front of me, hands in his pockets. "Sh-shut up." I snapped. "Why did those guys have your cane?" Yuta asked.

"I-I lost it." I lied.

"Liar."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

This was always how our quarrels went. So stupid. So childish. And so fun.

"They stole it, didn't they?" Yuta put on a sudden grave expression. I stopped in my tracks and said nothing. "Listen here, Hito-chi. If some guys ever do something like that to you ever again-" I warily stepped back as he placed his face only inches from mine. "-you let me know. I'll beat 'em all up for ya, hear me?"

"U-ummmm…" I blushed. "T-there's no need. And I told you to stop calling me Hito-chi!" I snapped. "Aw, why not?" Yuta returned to his old, playful self. "It's because you're soi cute!" "Shut up!" I whacked him on the head with my cane.

"Ow! Now you really do look like an old lady!" Yuta scowled playfully. "Tch." I continued walking.

"Yuta's such a nice person. He's so popular. Doesn't he have better friends to hang out with?"

"You busy after school today?" Yuta's voice snapped me out of my thoughts "Eh? Oh, busy." I said.

"Oh, yeah, you're buying that new game." Yuta said with little interest. He may be my friend, but we'll never get closer than we are now like this. He doesn't really care about games, which makes me reconsider him as my only friend. "What? Somewhere you wanna go?" I asked.

"Ah, no, not really." Yuta turned away awkwardly "Anyway, I'll see you tomorrow, kay?"

"Yeah, bye." He waved back at me one more time before running off towards his next class A group of people immediately walked up to him, and soon he was back in his own world, surrounded by friends.

"Wh-Who cares!" I mumbled to myself. "None of my business! Just focus on the game! The game!"

Which was exactly what I did. I mixed up my history and math homework, sang the entirely wrong song in music class, and got yelled at for spilling milk on the president's uniform. I couldn't help it. I was daydreaming.

I dashed home as fast as my little cane could carry me. I dug through piles of envelopes and small packages until I found the box I was looking for.

I darted into the house, quickly saying hi to my dad and brother. "Don't bother me!" I told both of them.

I tore the box open and lifted the shiny NerveGear from the nest of bubble wrap. Excitement bubbled in my chest as I placed it on my heat, its curved-shape fitting perfectly on my head, comfortable with its cushion lining. I briefly read over the thorough instructions that came with the set and changed into a comfortable T-shirt.

"Here I go!" I flopped down onto my bed.

At this moment, I really wished I'd said good-bye to my father and brother more thoroughly.

"LINK START!"