#3
The entire crowd roared back to life in the form of an endless wave of anger, screams, and disbelief. After basically being told they were having a gun held to their heads, any normal person would rightfully be in shock over this stunning revelation. It was made even more shocking that one of the developers of the game delivered this ultimatum.
"Kirito?" Haiyamoto asked.
Kirito nodded. "Klein, you're coming with us." Both He and Haiyamoto grabbed Klein by his arms; still stunned by the announcement, Klein was caught completely off guard when he suddenly found himself dragged through the crowd. Although he would've started resisting any other time, Klein was in no condition to move on his own; in a way, he was indebted to the two beta testers at that moment.
After several minutes of shuffling, the three finally made it to one of the exit arches, mostly unscathed. Soon, all three, including Klein, were bolting through the crowded Town of Beginnings until they made it to an alleyway. It looked like the coast was most certainly clear.
"Wait," Klein yelled as he held his ground at the entrance. Both Haiyamoto and Kirito stopped and turned around to confront Klein.
"What's wrong?" Kirito asked.
"You aren't having second thoughts, are you?" Haiyamoto asked.
Klein shook his head. "It's not that."
Haiyamoto tilted his head. "What is it, then?"
Klein looked back towards the town center. "Remember when I told you I waited in line to buy the game?"
"Yeah, so?" Kirito asked.
Klein grimaced. "Well, I stayed in line all night with my friends just so we could all play together on launch day. But…" Klein turned his head back to face his two new friends. "…they're probably still back in the circle, scared about what to do next. And I can't just leave them back there."
Kirito nodded. "I understand. You need to go rescue them like we did with you."
"It's cool," Haiyamoto added. "I know the feeling."
Klein managed a smile. "Thanks again, you guys. It really means a lot."
Haiyamoto was still fidgeting. "Are you gonna be ok without us to tag along with?"
"Are you kidding?" Klein replied. "I used to run a guild in the last MMO I played. I'll be fine." Just then, his eyes gleamed. "Hey, do you guys want to meet my friends? Maybe even party up with them?"
Kirito fell quiet.
"Uhhh," Haiyamoto droned.
Klein shook his hands. "W-wait. I'm not trying to force you guys into something you don't want to. There'll be other times to meet them."
Kirito nodded. "Yeah. Sorry."
"Don't sweat it," Klein replied. "You two helped me out lots today. I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you for the training you gave me."
Haiyamoto shook Klein's hand. "It was no big deal. You would've needed help sooner or later, so we were happy to help."
"I'd probably be on floor eight again in no time," Kirito started, "so yeah. It's no trouble."
The three once again stood in uneasy silence. They almost feel sad that they'll soon part ways, possible for good. But, it seemed Haiyamoto was taking it the hardest out of all of them.
I don't like this feeling, he thought. It's just all too familiar to me. But, he does need to go his own way. So…
"Let's go," Haiyamoto told Kirito. Kirito just nodded as the two began trekking backwards.
"H-hey," Klein blurted out. The two faced him once more.
"You two look better that way." Klein announced. "That younger look makes you two look like such a couple."
The duo just smiled. "And you look a thousand times better looking like a mountain bandit." And just like that, the two turned their backs on the first friend they ever made in the game. After a few yards, Haiyamoto paced backwards and sure enough, Klein was nowhere to be seen.
SAO
Haiyamoto came to a grinding halt as he and Kirito reached the edge of town.
"H-hey, what's wrong?" Kirito asked.
Haiyamoto's silver eyes looked grim. "I think this is where I get off."
"Why?" Kirito asked. "Weren't you the one excited about forming a party with me?"
"I was," Haiyamoto continued, "but Klein made me realize something."
Kirito tilted his head. "What's that?"
Haiyamoto took a breath. "It seemed obvious that Klein went back for his friend because that was what he wanted to do. And, I admit, the only reason I partied with you was for the extra protection." He shed a single tear. "The truth is I was a horrible player during the beta test, and I learned just as much from that demonstration as Klein did. But, I just didn't want to admit it because I liked the attention I got from Klein."
Kirito just stared into Haiyamoto's eyes. He wasn't sure what to think, but he needed to get out and earn quest items before the entire floor was cleared.
"W-well,"
"Just stop, man. I can manage leveling up on my own. Hell, I'll probably see you at this floor's boss in no time flat.
"I-if you say so." Kirito began to fidget. "W-well, I gotta go."
Haiyamoto smiled. "Go raise some hell, man." Kirito just nodded before he turned around and made a mad dash down the dirt path.
Haiyamoto just watched as Kirito ran further and further away.
Someday, he thought, we will meet once again. He held open his hand.
And next time, he clenched his hand closed, I'll be ready to fight along side him for sure.
Hey there, guys. Welcome to the end of the chapter. Congratulations! These first three chapters, as you could tell, were dedicated to introducing our main character, Haiyo Yamamoto, to the insane, twisted world of SAO, and there's a lot more of this hellish landscape for him to explore.
Although I've focused on placing our protagonist in the thick of the madness in the beginning, we're going to see the story take a change in perspective; not only will the story start to branch off into its own unique experience, but we'll start to see the world through only Haiyamoto's eyes.
You'll see what I mean in the next chapter; until then, thanks once again for stopping by, and enjoy the rest of your day!
-rjm324