Kirito's POV...

December 2nd, 20xx (1st floor . Tolbana)

One month has pass since the game started, and during that time, 2000 people have died, although Kaneki was lucky enough to be excluded on those numbers and yes, he is still alive and well. In fact, he's out in the fields again, trying to level up.

However not one person has cleared the 1st floor. Not even I, who was a beta tester, have been able to reach the boss room. But today, a boss fight conference for the first floor will be held.

During the middle of the day, we were all called in for a meeting in a coliseum like place. It was in ruins and some places are field with moss, although the seats are safe enough to seat on.

"Listen up! I'll be starting the conference now!" said a blue haired handsome man, in the middle of the stadium in front of us. But, looking at him, I think he is about 1.8 feet tall, and was in his senior years. Anyways, as soon as he said those words, all the other players hurriedly took their seats while I sat in the nearest seat and isolated myself away from them.

Just then, when the blue haired teen was about to say something, right in the corner of my eye, I saw a glance of white hair. My eyes was wide to see him, there are no other players I know who has that kind of color. It was Kaneki, and he popped up and excused himself in front of the stadium, where the blue haired boy was standing. "Sorry I'm late! Did I miss anything?" he said while giving up and down breaths and rest his palm in a nearby wall. It was obvious that Kaneki was in a hurry, which resulted to him getting exhausted. The blue haired teen puffed his nose and cross his arms, giving of a vibe of a angry teacher in front of a lousy student. But among those, in my surprised state, he smiled.

"Well well well~ looks like we have someone who is late for this meeting..if I may ask what's your name?"

"K-Kaneki sir.." he said in a respectful manner yet a haggard breathes between them, staring at the blue haired man before him.

"I see..its good that your very modest and determined to be here so I'll let you go and join in, okay?"

"Thank you sir" he bowed and slowly walked up the stairs, towards me. The players were looking at him intently and this made Kaneki with an embarrassed frown in his features, although he seem nervous of some kind. But before Kaneki could take the first step, the blue haired man called up to him with a wave, I saw Kaneki turn to look at him.

"Oh yeah..Kaneki was it?" He asked and Kaneki nodded.

"If you dare get late again. I'll be sure to give you a good and painful punishment, okay?" He smiled, Kaneki was shaking with fear and he responded in a stuttered way. "H-Hai.." and walked up the stairs.

The players laugh out, laughing of what that punishment his about to do to Kaneki. Though some comforted him, saying that was a joke or was simply that he was weak and that he wont be able to do such a thing and forget about the punishment, Kaneki rubbed his nape in embarrassed although he smile with a nervous look on his face. But, I can tell that he has become popular with the other players.

After the comments that was spreading around the stadium, Kaneki finally made his way towards me and sat next to me. He sighed, as he finally sat comfortably.

"Wow..that was alot of pressure.." he muttered and I cant help but smile right at him. No matter how of a beginner he is, he seem quite a honest and innocent guy. But, remembering how he saved me from that wolf, it was the complete opposite of his innocence today. That serious facial expression, that murderous feeling and that predatory like senses. Even till now, I cant forget that monstrous aura he has that time. It was a sight of a monster which held no mercy to its prey. But, this is Kaneki were talking about here, its not like he's a monster or something?

"Thank you, everyone, for responding to my invitation. My name's Diabel, and my class is..

Informally, Knight!" he announced, but after those words he said, other players laughed out, once again. "There's no class system, you know?" one of them said, as others just laughed along, but soon after that humorous joke, everyone quiet down as the blue haired boy, name Diabel, coughed himself and gave out his real intentions.

"Today, on the highest level of this floor, my party discovered the Boss room!" he said with a serious look on his face yet the latter was that he was confident enough to say this to us. We were all surprised except for Kaneki, who had his two fingers in his chin and his eyes staring blankly at the floor. He seemed to be in deep thoughts. Must be because he doesn't know what a 'Boss room' is. Oh well, cant blame him.

"By defeating the floor boss and reaching the 2nd 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! Don't you agree everyone?" he then asked, eyeing at everyone.

Thinking thoughts of what he said, others begins to discussed their own one another, giving each a cautious look. After seconds of discussing to this, one clap was heard till finally others begins to acknowledge his confidence, causing all of them to give out an applause. Kaneki just act in flow and clapped along. I even heard others whistling in a congratulating tone, leaving only me who didn't gave much an effort to this but, that doesn't mean i don't like it, in fact, I like this guy already. I like his humor the most. It gives of a sense to enjoy like we all did when it is just a game, leaving all the knowledge we had about this life and death situation.

"Okay. Now, I'd like to begin discussing our battle strategy. For starters, we're going to split up into parties of six.." I was struck in shock when he said this. This strategy he announced..that wont be enough to kill it..

The floor boss can't be defeated with simple parties..we'll need to assemble multiple parties to form a Raid Group!

Out of my panic thoughts, I was brought back by Kaneki's words, "Umm Kirito..what will we do now?"he asked, his eyes filled with curiosity. When I finally regain back, I saw all players finding each a player to form their own group of six, leaving me and Kaneki left out in the group, till a group of five came towards us. They asked if Kaneki can join them, well, they asked for my permission though, I don't know how to respond to them.

"Gomen" Kaneki apologized, I was surprised by his words. "I've already been partnered with Kirito and I don't want to waste our one month of trust of getting to know each better.." Now that you've mention it, we've been each other during that one month of teaching him the basics of the game, and now that I've said this to myself, I feel insecure if Kaneki did join them.

Once his words, soon reached the five group, they bid their goodbyes and left us once again in search of a new player. Thinking thoughts of what to do next, right in the corner of my eye, I noticed a red hood player, who seemed to have isolated from the others. With a courageous feeling, I quickly nudge myself to get closer, Kaneki, seeing what I'm doing, he stayed on our seats and gave out a thumbs up. I smiled, giving a nod and continue on what I was doing. Once I got closer till finally next to him or her, I

gave out my first approached. "Did you get left out?" This was the only thing I can say instead of the usual introduction routine.

"I wasn't left out." The voice answered with a soft and matured tone. But it sounded famine. Then that means, this person is a girl."The others seem to be friends already, so I didn't want to join them"

"So your a solo player? " I asked, "How about partying with me and Kaneki over there?" I said pointing at the white haired teen who was reading a book we bought two days ago, he finds it so interesting that's he's humming away as he flip each a page. The red hood looked at me, as if asking a action of 'why?' Although I wonder if she can actually see me with the hood covering her face.

"He said that the boss can't be fought alone, right? It'll just be for this once.." I slightly said with a begging tone, waiting for her response. Thinking for a second, she soon nodded.

With a swish, I clicked along the icons then added her to my party. However, in order for her to be a group with us, she has to answer yes or no in the white box that was in front of her. A notice whether she'll join or not.

She quickly accept and her name was on my left vision. Below both me and Kaneki's name and HP, her name was Asuna.

So she is a girl-

"All right!" shouted Diabel, "are you guys done partying?" He announced as everyone was back on their seats with their groups seating next to one another. Kaneki did the same and sat with us but as soon as he sat down, he gave a questionable look and I know exactly what that face means. "Partying?" ask Kaneki, I sighed. Here comes another believable question. I've always been wondering if he's doing this on purpose?

"We aren't doing any much of what a party would do? All we did was group ourselves.." he questioned, looking at us with an eager look.

"Is he a beginner?" Asuna asked me. I shook my head. "No. He is a complete newbie. He doesn't know any RPG games in his whole life. I doubt that he has even played computer games before. So telling you this, this is his first time playing one"

"Really?"

"Well sorry for being a complete newbie to you.." Kaneki answered with his arms crossed while giving an embarrassed look, but has an annoyed tone in his words. "I was raised to love books okay?" Both me and Asuna slightly chuckled by his words. But Kaneki failed to protest to this. He just said the truth and he can't deny it.

Back again to Diabel's announcement, "Now-" but before he can say a thing, another voice cut him off. "Hold it!" Someone shouted. We turned to look behind us, as we saw a silhouette of a man. Since the sun is behind him, his face was very blurry to see. I looked at him in question. Who is this man?