Elsewhere...

"How much further?..."

A vertical cylinder.

A spiral staircase.

Walls that seemed to light up with the midday sun, shining with white light, as if I was ascending to heaven with every step. I half-expect to hear the choirs of angels as I climb higher.

"Almost there…"

With each step up the stairs, I feel my strength fading, my body wanting to give out, my legs aching and tempting me to stop. I keep eyes on the path ahead, never stopping, never giving in. Not when I was so close this time after failing each and every time.

I don't know what's waiting for me at the top, or why I set my heart to finding out the answer, all I know is that I want to reach that peak, maybe to prove to myself that I was able to do it.

I didn't question why, nor did I stop to ask why I was so committed to the labor, only knowing that I had to know the answer, that it was the only thing that mattered. I couldn't think of anything else, and I didn't question myself at all.

I walk the steps with my throat dry and my bones aching, yet my eyes burn with an undying flame, a determination to reach the truth, the resolve to fulfill my purpose and complete whatever this self-imposed destiny was. I feel my fingers trace the column around which the stars wrapped, stroking its smooth surface as I rise higher and higher.

"How long… How long have I been walking?..."

I give no answer, for I know not the answer.

"What awaits me?... At the end of the road?..."

It is because I do not know that I continue on this road.

"Will I ever see it… The highest peak?..."

It is because I yearn to be answered that I never look back down the millions of flights I have already climbed.

"How long… Will it last?..."

And yet…

I blink.

All it takes is one moment, and I hear it. Stone and metal coming apart, crumbling into nothing. I look behind me, and I see the steps I slaved away to conquer, falling apart into the void below. My heart quickens and I feel my fear return.

It's happening again, to steal my hope away, to ensure I never reach the end.

"No… not yet… NOT YET! NOT WHEN I'M SO CLOSE!"

I hear myself yell out as he try to climb higher, sprinting like a mad dog, hoping to outrun the falling stairs behind me, giving way to the endless sky. I look up amidst desperate gasps and I see the light waiting for me at the end of the stairs, teasing me with its tantalizing beauty like a moth to a lamp.

It's more beautiful every time I see it again, and each time it makes me more determined to reach it and find what I've wished for all my life. I run, urging my aching body to carry me just a little further, scream at my muscles to keep moving, just enough to maybe touch it.

But alas…

The ground gives way beneath my feet, and I feel my body submit to gravity, weightlessly plummeting through the void of an endless sky as the winds envelop my entire body, filling my ears with their howl as the summit I have sought for so long shrinks in sight as I fall further and further down.

Strangely… I feel no fear, I feel no anger. Only disappointment as I hear myself sigh, the light filling my eyes as I brace for the end.

"Tomorrow… is another day…"

Just like that, the dream ends.

Toto Institute of Technology (Student Dormitories), August 2nd, 2014

"Akihiko? Akihiko!"

I'm tired.

That's the only thought ringing in my head as I try desperately to keep my eyes closed, to return to the veil of my dream. I don't want to return. I don't want to wake up. I aimlessly grasp for the edge of my covers, yanking them over my cheeks as I tighten my eyelids, trying to block out the light that threatened to break past the slivers.

"Earth to Akihiko! Wake up! This is your last warning!"

The voice nagging at my ears gets louder and louder every time it repeats itself, and I can only groan, wishing for it to stop so I can surrender to my sleep once more. Oh, how I wished it so. Oh, to return to the bliss of the dark.

"You really want me to do it again?"

No, please, no… Just a few more minutes. Let me go back and relive the world of my dreams in peace and quiet-

Ah.

It's cold. He pulled the covers off again.

Drat. Now it's impossible to stay asleep.

Without a warm blanket over my body and the cold air washing over my skin, I groan as I weakly open my eyes to allow the morning light inside. The light is blinding for a slip-second before the familiar sight of my dorm room comes into a blurred, but clear picture. Rubbing my eyes in one hand, I groan once more as I blink to sift out the dirt in my eyes.

"About time! I've got half the mind to leave you to waste away in your bed from now on!"

Ah, right. I know this voice.

Turning to my bedside I see the figure of a man standing there with crossed arms, shaking his head in exasperation before adjusting the spectacles on his face. Ah, if it isn't my longtime brother in the labs, my oh-so-lovable roommate.

"Sugou… How long did it take this time?" I manage a chuckle, which increases in volume when I hear the sound of his ground through his fingers on his face. Ah, that never gets old.

"Ten minutes. You're getting soft. At least I didn't give up on you to sleep through a whole day like those last two times." Sugou mutters, as I feel another laugh bubbling from my throat.

"Aw, I'm touched by your praise, I really am. You know I can't miss out on a huge event with the boys! I'd sacrifice my whole night to get front seats to the update!"

Sugou sighs as he looks at me with an expression of exasperation. "A game, huh? I swear, it's always the same reason. Every time you sink into one of your games, you're up all night and I have to wake your lazy ass up!"

"And I'd do it a million times over, thank you very much!" I laugh again, as I kick my feet off the bed and lumber over to the closet on my side of the room. Picking out a set of clothes and toiletries, I make my way over to the shower as I hear Sugou speaking again.

"By the way, hope all that gaming didn't distract you from our work this week. Man, wouldn't it be embarrassing if you, computer prodigy Akihiko Kayaba, failed the trimester because you procrastinated? Professor Shigemura wouldn't be glad to hear that, would he?" He smirks, as I sigh. Obviously, as a freshman this was much more of a problem. Dark flashbacks of sleepless nights fill my mind of tearing my hair out in stress and my brain fried from energy drinks.

"No, he wouldn't. Of course I know that. That's why I did it all the night before. See? I'm learning! I keep these things in mind! You ought to have more faith in me, my friend."

I smirk back as I brush my teeth, watching from the corner of my eye at the sink as Sugou walks over to me with a raised eyebrow. "I do, I really do. Still, I can't help but doubt you as you sleep the day away like an elderly sloth. Besides, we've got that peer review for our final paper! Don't tell me you're gonna miss out on that! I certainly wouldn't let you, dammit."

"Well, good thing I got you as my alarm clock, huh? Besides, I got it covered! It'll turn out great! Just you wait, it'll blow your mind!" I grin as I strut off to the showers with a towel over my back.

Before I enter, I pause as I turn to my roommate once again.

"Hey, Sugou-"

He sighs as he sends a snide grin my way. "Yes, I remembered to stock up on soap. You owe me ¥2,000."

My turn to sigh as I place my hand on the door. "Yeah, yeah."

Toto Institute of Technology (Electrical and Electronic Engineering), August 2nd, 2014

Class is the same as always.

In a way, it's calming and therapeutic.

I listen to the professor drone on at the podium in the front of the room, gesturing to the projected screen at intervals. At my seat, I have my nose in my laptop, filling in my paper and looking it over. Around me, I see my classmates doing the same thing, listening to the professor's lecture, or just doing their own thing.

"-and with the rise of more advanced technology in the industry, one can expect computers to take over an increasing amount of menial tasks for us, and the world will undoubtedly adapt to the paradigm shift. You, aspiring innovators in the field of engineering, you will be at the forefront of this shifting landscape, and this class is here to prepare you for the frontlines."

Professor Shigemura continues on, and I nod. Taking his words to mind, I lazily tap my fingers on my keyboard to fill in some sticky notes. Looking out of the corner of my eye, I spot Sugou jotting down notes in his book, humming as he listens to the lecture. He's not having any trouble, and he won't any time soon.

Higa's on his laptop. He's got an earphone in one ear, but it seems he's listening too. Wouldn't peg him for a slacker. He's a laid back guy, but I know better than to write him off. We at the labs wouldn't be the same without him.

"Alright, as you're all aware, your draft is due today for peer review, so I'd like to get that underway as soon as we can. Remember, the feedback you share here will be instrumental to your final paper, so be sure to be thorough in this step of your process. Take time to read through your peers' work and give them advice. Without further ado, get going."

I hear Shigemura call out, causing a good amount of students to leave their seats and find classmates to pair up with. I groan under my breath as I remain firmly in my seat, trying not to look up from my laptop and draw attention.

This is the one part that I'd rather not deal with. Not that I don't want people reading my work, but talking to people is just an entire hurdle in of itself that I'd rather avoid entirely. I didn't come to this university to make small talk with total strangers or awkwardly attempt at making friends. That drivel's a waste of time anyway when Sugou and the guys at the lab suffice well enough. Why go through the trouble when I know I'll fail either way?

Besides, it's always been easier for me behind the screen. None of the real consequences, none of the physical matters, no identity or face to tie you down. It's simply easier to let yourself go when you're hiding behind a mask in a world where nobody knows who you are. That's the beauty of the online world. A place I can feel free to be me, without the baggage of real life over my back.

I look out the corner of my eye and spot Sugou sauntering his way over to my desk, his laptop under his arm. I smirk under my breath as I imagine him reading through my paper and getting blown away like I told him this morning, his face twisting in surprise. Oh, what a sight it would be.

It would, but then I see Higa grabbing him by the arm and dragging him away. Sugou's face contorts into one of confusion as he turns my way. Suddenly his expression changes into a smirk as he goes with Higa. I raise my eyebrows. What's up with that?

These thoughts are interrupted as I hear someone approaching me.

"Hey, there. Hope I'm not intruding on anything."

It's a voice I'm not familiar with, and piques my curiosity. It's feminine and casual, and I take notice as she takes a seat and drags it closer to mine.

I look up at her face. Her features are soft, her hair dark and short, cut over her collar. Her right bangs held up by a pin, providing a full view of her cheeks, decorated with faint freckles. Her shining eyes stare into mine as a smile curves onto her lips.

Needless to say, this is a feeling I can't say I'm familiar with when it comes to first impressions.

"H-hi."

I curse inwardly as I hear myself stutter out a greeting, if I could even call it that. The woman sits herself down as she sets her things on the desk, tools, book, and laptop, and all I can do is watch awkwardly, hoping I didn't start things off too haphazardly.

She turns my way and raises an eyebrow with a curious expression, as if I'd grown a third eye on my forehead. Did I have something on my face? Was I making a weird expression? God, I hope not. I'd sooner die than embarrass myself this way.

"What's up with you, Kayaba? You alright?"

She knows my name.

That's the first thing that shoots to the front of my thoughts as my eyes widen. How does she know me? Do I know her from somewhere? What's more, I just spent the past minute reflecting on how much of a loner I've always been! Is this karma? Wouldn't be the first time.

"Wait, have we met?"

I ask her, curious and eager to know, a bit nervous if I'm being honest. Don't think I can be blamed for that when saying that to a pretty girl like her. With that, she lets out a sigh and looks me in the eye once again.

"Don't you remember? I work in the Shigemura Lab. I thought you'd at least recognize me." She says, and I nod in reply.

I suppose it isn't too far of a stretch that she knows my name from the lab. Even if I'd rather not bother getting acquainted with the other students, I wouldn't put it past the others to at least know my name. Guess people are just that way sometimes.

"O-oh, right. Sorry, e-er…"

I trail off at the end, as a pit forms in my throat. I feel shame, because her name is a complete blank for me. This is it. Death would be preferable at this rate. I watch as she blinks and lets out another sigh.

"Rinko. Rinko Kojirou. Remember that for me, alright? I swear, at the rate you're going, I won't let you off easy the next time."

Rinko Kojirou… That name I repeat in my mind several times. Glad to have that over with.

"G-got it. Akihiko. Akihiko Kayaba. Nice to meet you."

I get my own introduction out of the way, and I see that smile return to her face. With that, I feel some satisfaction creep into my heart as I let a small smirk make its way onto mine.

"Alright, now we're getting somewhere. Now then, let's have a read, shall we?"

She reaches out and gestures with her hand. I nod as we swap our laptops, taking a look at each other's papers.

I open her document and skim through it, humming as I read through her paper. Rinko wrote about the development of technology to aid in the medical field. She discusses how virtual technology can be used to replace anaesthetics and return senses to the disabled, all concepts that seem easy to understand, but I'd never thought of before. Her writing is great, no questions about it. Her words flow seamlessly like water in a stream, and sway the mind to ease into her points. The research is well-implemented and documented, and I can't help but nod in affirmation. It's quite impressive, I think as I continue reading through her paper.

I look beside me at Rinko reading through my own paper, and her eyes skim through the words, her gaze shifting with an enthused sparkle in her orbs. I can't say why, but something draws me to that shine. For a moment, I can't keep my gaze away as I feel content to simply watch her read through my work with a happy smile on her face.

"You done over there? Or would you like to stare a few more minutes?"

I gasp under my breath as I hear Rinko's voice. Looking at her face, I spot a particularly smug grin. Oh god, she caught me staring. I feel like I want to die inside. Please take me, gods. I'm ready to go now. This woman's gonna be the death of me.

Pushing those thoughts aside, I let out a chuckle at an admittedly funny turn of events. "A few minutes, huh? Man, what am I gonna do with you? Yeah, I'm just about wrapped up here. What about you?"

I manage a smile as Rinko looks my way with a giggle, before turning the screen of my laptop to face me. "Yep, same here. I gotta say, what you've got here's quite the page-turner. Let's start from the beginning, shall we?"

All I can do is just nod as Rinko smiles. "Sure."

"With the advancement of video games in the entertainment industry, escapism becomes a more appealing prospect by the year. Imagine a world entirely different from our own, built by human hands, within a human machine, where possibility is limitless. A place where entirely different lives can be led, where dreams can be made real, only gated by the push of a single button. This is the theory of true virtual reality, a feat in electronic engineering I hope to attain." She reads, and I feel a swell of pride bubbling inside me.

"Overall, not much in the way of critique I can give for your formatting and citation. You got that down nicely. But still, this is quite the theme you decided on. True virtual reality, huh?" Rinko asks, her head nodding up and down in contemplation, her eyes still sparkling with that curious shine that never fails to draw my gaze.

"Yes, that's it. Imagine a world like Tron, where someone could physically enter the world of a video game, control an avatar like their own bodies, fight monsters and complete quests with a sword and shield in hand. Be a hero. Wouldn't that be insane?" I ask, my passion leaking through as I watch Rinko listen with baited breath. It feels good to be speaking this freely for once about this interest of mine with someone if I'm being honest.

"Man, that'd be something else, huh? Can't begin to imagine just what you'll do with that, especially with your work in the lab. We're all hoping to go far with our projects, but this takes ambitious to a whole new level if you ask me. You think you're gonna see it through to the end?" Rinko laughs, as I feel more pride swell in my heart.

"Hell yeah, I am. I'm gonna make this dream of mine come true if it's the last thing I do. With some heads together from the labs and some years under our belts, I'm hoping to create a fully interactable world, and the rig that lets people maneuver within it. I don't care how long it takes, only that I can make it happen." I mutter, smiling all the while.

I dreamed about that castle ever since I was a child, and I knew from that moment on that I wanted to create a world that I could escape to. If I couldn't reach the top of that castle in the sky in my dreams, I would make it with my own two hands, brick by brick so I can scale it myself. It's all that mattered to me, it's the one drive that fuels me to keep going.

"That's something, alright. Well, hope you make it there sometime." Rinko giggles, as I can only watch with only one thought in mind.

"It's fun… talking with her. Hope we meet again."

Odaiba, Tokyo (Joypolis), September 21, 2014

The arcade is just as alive as I remember.

It's unbearably loud, crowds are everywhere, and children are running rampant. On paper, it's everything I'd say I hated about leaving my room, and yet it somehow feels like home. It always has.

The blinding lights, the sounds of alarms and games going off, people just having a good time, I can't get enough, and I feel like I could stay here forever.

Oh, I wish that were so.

"So, quite a spot for a first date, huh?"

I blink as the voice calls out from beside me, and I turn to face her. Rinko's smiling face greets me, and I pause a moment to take it all in. She's dressed nicely, just as she does in class, but I can tell from a closer angle and eye that she's cleaned up a bit for the date. Along her face, I can see faint traces of makeup, and a flowery scent of perfume enters my nose when she leans her head a little closer.

Her hair seems to glisten more than I remember, and I can't help but feel my eyes drawn back to her own. Even among all the bright lights of the arcade, I still let my eyes rest on the brightest in her orbs.

It's been over a month since we've gotten truly acquainted with one another, and Sugou's been bugging me about it ever since he noticed our newfound friendship. Teasing me in the dorm room, asking me if I'd ever ask her out. Smug bastard.

Joke's on him, she asked first, so I wouldn't have to spend another two months hesitating! So there!

Man, what am I saying? I can already feel a laugh bubbling up from my throat.

"What can I say? First thing that came to mind at "fun". Not too bad, huh?"

I grin wider as I hear her tinkling giggle ring out amidst the chaos of the arcade. "Not bad indeed. Not really surprised you'd wanna come here, given your interests. You come here often as a kid, Akihiko?"

I pause to process her question for a second as we walk amongst the crowds, tickets in hand to enter the indoor theme park as the noise and bustle of the crowds encircle the two of us. Yet, despite that, my mind is clear. It's as if we're in our own little world as I sigh, giving my answer.

"I came here, yeah. Not often, though. My parents would rather have me spending my weekends studying and doing homework. Didn't stop me from begging them to take me here every odd weekend, though." I chuckle as I reminisce of older days, of days I spent with my parents at home, going to school, worrying about my grades and all that. Days behind me, but days I remember fondly regardless.

"And look how that turned out. You've got promise in class and a passion to match. So then, why don't we go right now? We're burning daylight over here!"

With that, she takes my hand and drags the both of us over to the arcade, laughing merrily all the while. All the while, I can only grin and sigh beside myself as I watch this woman smiling and willing to spend this day with me.

Perhaps I could get used to this.

We begin at the front desk, where we receive our cards to play, and before I know it, she's grabbed my hand again and we end up venturing into the huge facility, weaving through the massive crowd of people to make it to the first machine.

Next thing I know, my anxiety fades away and I'm having the time of my life. We begin at a racing game, both of us taking our seats as we swipe our cards and pick our vehicles. Both our cars are at the starting line and I turn beside me to look at her one more time.

Her smile's shining through like it's always had. She looks and me and I spot a hint of mischief in her eyes, a spirited fire in her eyes, clearly excited for the game. With a snide grin on her face, I can only hum with a chuckle under my breath as I crack my neck, both my hands on the wheel, waiting for the match to begin.

It's a close game. Sometimes we were neck and neck. For a brief moment, she pulls ahead of me all while I hear her cheerful laugh ring out from the machine beside me. Nonetheless, she doesn't know this game like I do. She hadn't come to the arcade as much as I had, played these games and sat on these machines to the extent I have.

I know these roads, I know how to handle the wheel, I know just how to swerve into every little corner. It's all the advantage I need.

When it's all set and done, I let a smug grin creep onto my face as I face Rinko, who's slumped over in her chair from exhaustion.

"Well, you came close, but you've got a long way to go, rookie." I joke as I watch her face scrunch up with an eyebrow raised at the sound of my voice.

Her eyes are tired, but I can see behind them. That valiant spark inside them, the spirited flame within hadn't died. Slowly, but surely, her lips curl up as she lets out a loud, unrefined guffaw as she slaps a hand over her forehead. "HA! You think I'm a rookie? You haven't seen anything yet! What's the next one! I'll beat you yet!"

Oh, she wasn't done, not by a long shot. It was gonna be a long day here at the arcade, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

"Ha, it's on now!"

The next game was her choice. We made it to the enclosed booth, and were faced with a pair of gun models mounted on rails, facing a large screen. Swiping our cards, we mounted our posts and got to work. The game was simple enough, a multi-stage shooter where one had to fire an endless stream of bullets at approaching enemies to rack up points.

The boss would appear at the end of each chapter, and targets would appear to deal damage and cancel an incoming attack. Wash, rinse, repeat, and we brought it down. Once we were done with the first chapter, we had our points racked up, and much to my surprise, I see Rinko's score was slightly higher.

"Alright, what's up with that? Didn't think there was anything I messed up with. How come your score beat mine?" I asked, confused.

This was strange. I thought for sure I'd come here more often and played these games more frequently than her. Was there something I missed? Did she actually know something I didn't? These mounting questions only intensified my burning curiosity.

She takes one look at my face and her face morphs into the smuggest grin I've ever seen out of her.

"Let me guess. You've only played these kinds of games all by yourself, huh?"

I can feel my face burning red with a flush as embarrassment fills my entire body. She did not just go there. I can only flinch as her grin intensifies as she tries to hold back an obnoxious laugh. The only thing I can do is turn away awkwardly, trying not to make eye contact. Anything but that.

"Y-yeah. What about it?"

I'm stuttering again. I can hear her laugh before it actually rings through the air, echoing off the walls of the enclosed booth of the machine. Oh gods, I want to fall over and die.

"This game gives you more points if you aim for the monsters that attack your partner or line up your shots with them. All you've been doing is shooting the ones that get close. Who's the rookie now?"

Oohh… that does make sense. I nod as I let a laugh creep out of my throat, letting my hand reach behind my neck to scratch a sudden itch as red lingers on my cheeks.

"Haha… the more you learn, huh? Working together as a team to beat the game, huh?… Well, not like I had a lot of people come over here to play with me." I laugh as Rinko lightly punches my shoulder, catching my attention.

"Well, honored to be your partner, partner. Now then, the rest of these bosses aren't gonna die on their own, are they?" Rinko laughs as she turns back to the screen, the cutscene for the next stage playing.

With a sigh, I smash my palm down on the start button, the game starting up again as I wrap my fingers around the triggers.

"Let's go!"

The rest of the day blurs past with fond memories as me and Rinko explore the arcade up and down, stopping at machine after machine as we play game after game. We hitch a few seats on some rides and all of a sudden I'm remembering going on these same rides as a kid. It's been a long and wild day and I'm enjoying every second of it.

One minute, I'm at the claw machine with Rinko and snag a plush toy that she agrees to take home. Many swipes of a card were lost to that machine and it was worth every last yen. Next thing I know, I'm on the ticket machines. One is the ball drop, pushing a button to let a small ball fall into one of several holes, each labeled with a certain reward. Curse my rotten luck, I barely get over ten tickets in two tries. Cue Rinko laughing and trying herself, landing the jackpot after a third try.

The hours go by and I can spot the sun out the door dipping below the horizon. The crowd has been diminished by half, and the chatter and commotion in the air have somewhat quieted. I turn to Rinko as we continue walking through the arcade, looking for the next game. We're sweating buckets after a long day, and her forehead is glistening. I feel a chill run down my neck and I remove my jacket. Rather not collapse until I get back home, especially not in front of her.

"Tuckered out already?"

She's asking in a teasing tone, but Rinko's making no attempt to hide her own tiredness. I sigh with a laugh as I turn to look her way.

"Look who's talking. Good for one more game?"

Her face brightens as she starts turning her head to look all around the arcade for anything that catches her eye. After a moment, her eyes lock onto a certain machine and starts taking my hand and dragging me along with her, and all I am able to do is follow closely behind her.

"So, how about it? Down for a match?"

I scan the machine up and down. A screen showing music videos and two sets of panels of arrows all facing up, down, left, and right. Behind them, two sets of handlebars. Ah. Of course.

"DDR? Sure. Anytime you're ready, let's do it!"

I crack my knuckles with a grin on my face as we both take our places on the platform, swiping our card on the machine and watching the game come to life. Amidst bright colors and music blaring, we are greeted with the track selection screen, boasting a wide roster of songs and numbers.

Scrolling through, I spot a whole bunch of songs, some Japanese songs, some western. Some old, others new. Original mixes, the occasional trending pop song, and a handful of old classics. Man, those take me back. Scratching my head in indecision, I turn to Rinko for the upteenth time as she turns my way in return.

"So, what'll we be doing tonight? Why don't you decide?"

Rinko cocks her head to the side and lets a small smile appear on her face as she turns to the screen, using the d-pad on the machine to sift through the catalog and make her choice. Her eyes scan the different songs until her eyes brighten on one particular choice.

"This one. Can't go wrong with this, especially today!"

Slamming her hand down on the start button, she saunters back to the platform as a familiar, funky tune plays over the speaker.

Ah.

September by Earth, Wind and Fire.

"I love this song…"

"Well, well. That makes two of us!"

I blink as I hear her reply to what I thought was an internal comment. Guess I was thinking out loud. Still, kinda surprised she likes this music like I do. One more interest to share in, and I'm happy to hear that. The interlude plays through and the arrows appear on the screen, both of us ready as we grip the bars behind us.

My eyes are locked to the screen as I move my feet to the rhythm of the song. The song's not as fast as others, but I still feel the sweat building off my back, as my body tires after a long and exhausting day. Still, the upbeat tune of Earth, Wind and Fire keeps a smile on my face as I dance like it's New Year's Eve.

Turning to check in on my date, Rinko's doing reasonably well, but she looks considerably more tense than I am. Her movements are rigid as her eyes are firmly affixed onto the screen. She whines under her breath as she misses an arrow ever so slightly and her footwork flinches a bit at the sight. Ah, I see what's going on.

It's decided. I've got this in the bag, and the chorus is kicking in again.

I let loose and let the song fill my mind. I'm lost in the rhythm and for a moment, out the corner of my eye, I spot Rinko staring at me. Her eyes are wide and full of surprise. It's a look I hadn't seen on her, and one that lets another smile come onto my face as the next verse plays.

After the song ends, our individual scores are tallied and no surprise, my score is has a good leg over Rinko's. The woman in question is leaning against the handrails behind her, huffing gulps of air like she'd been running a marathon in the Olympics. Her forehead is glistening with sweat and she weakly looks up at me with a defeated sigh, all while smiling like she'd always been.

With that, I suppose it's been a long enough day for a good time.

About half an hour and one stop at the vending machine later, Rinko and I left the arcade and got on the train from Odaiba and back to the city. Exhausted from a long day, we opted to take a couple of seats beside each other, myself looking out the window at the night view of the waterfront and the city lights in the distance.

I remember the lights of the castle in my dreams, that iron fortress in the sky. The heavenly staircase the end of which I yearn more than anything to reach. Could I recreate that in a video game? An entirely digital castle where people could live, people could fight, people could climb, just like I did through the nights?

Wouldn't that be something? Wouldn't that be beautiful?

Still… a memory returns to me, a moment I remember from our date at the arcade.

"You sure know how to dance…"

I blink out of my thoughts as I feel a weight pressing against my shoulder. I smile as I put a hand over Rinko's shoulder, holding her close as she rests her head against my arm. Her breaths are faint and tired, her whole body emanating a soft warmth. Her eyes shift up to mine as her lips curl up into a small smile of her own as she speaks.

I chuckle as I look out the window one more time.

"Like I said, I love that song. The trick is to time your movements with your ears first, your eyes second. That's why I pulled ahead. It's like dancing, you learn the moves and keep in time with the rhythm."

She pauses for a second, staring into my eyes as she lets out a soft laugh, a laugh that never ceases to build warmth within me as she leans into me.

"Well then, Mr. Expert. Promise me… you'll take your girlfriend dancing some day. For real…"

I feel that warmth build to my cheeks as I process her words. They echo in my mind as I lay my eyes on her smile one more time, radiating kindness and affection. Feelings I hadn't felt before rise to the surface as I hear my heartbeat in my ears.

That memory returns to me, as the scene replays in my mind.

"Haha… the more you learn, huh? Working together as a team to beat the game, huh?… Well, not like I had a lot of people come over here to play with me."

This dream of mine, I've faced it all by myself for all my life. Never sharing it with anyone, never revealing it to the world. My personal, lifelong dream. Doomed to fade away with the morning light, every day.

Perhaps this wasn't something I could do alone.

After all, I finally have a partner to share it with, and all I can think of is how happy I am.

"I-I'll keep it in mind. Promise."

Tokyo National Museum (Toyokan Asian Gallery), June 2nd, 2015

"Been a while since I've been here."

"Really now? Fossil like you'd fit right in, wouldn't you say?"

"Shut up, Higa."

"At least try to chill out now that we're finally done with classes, you guys."

"Bold of you to assume we're ever done."

"That's just you, Akihiko. Workaholic through and through. No wonder you never hang out with anyone besides us. You'd never leave the labs or your room if it wasn't for me."

"Duly noted, Sugou, duly noted."

"What am I then? Chopped liver?"

"Haha, sorry Rinko…"

It's been almost a year since that first date and the weeks float by like fleeting dreams.

Sugou and I work in and out of the labs and from time to time, shoot the breeze with Higa and Rinko. Speaking of her, we've really gotten to know each other better. We've been meeting up more in the labs and in class, helping each other with work.

After a while, I've started to follow through with that dream of mine. My resolve is clear and I know exactly what I'm going to do. In the labs, me and the others are going through with our own projects, and I've decided to start laying out the foundations for a true, completely virtual world.

It's been a long several months of backbreaking, hard work, but it's the strangest thing.

For every step I take, the less clear the path ahead is.

Doubts rise in my mind. Who would be willing to entertain this idea? How long will it take? Is the capability even within reach?

I've begun work on the engine, but it's a monumental task. Just the sheer scope of my vision makes me sweat buckets. Collecting data for the world, writing code for the system I'm creating to support the engine. It all weighs on me when I begin to sit down and work at my computer, the lingering poisonous doubt whispering in the back of my mind, asking if this is truly within my reach.

Nevertheless, I'm pushing on. Just as I always have.

"You alright there? You're not looking so hot."

I shake my head as yet again, I'm pulled from my own head as Higa taps my shoulder. His bespectacled face blinks twice as he looks at me with a strange expression, like I'd grown a second head. Coughing under my arm to clear the air, I take a moment to recall my surroundings and smile with a reply.

"I'm fine. Just a little… caught up in my thoughts. So, where are we headed? Haven't been here before."

Higa gives me a small grin and motions for us to follow him, venturing off through one of the wings of the building, as the rest of us trail behind. Sugou has his face in his phone, adjusting his glasses from time to time as he grunts in annoyance at the loud noise of the moving crowd. Suppose that wasn't too much of a surprise. He's never struck me as a historian, he's always been more of a businessman in my eyes, much more than any of us at the lab. Surely, we would be lost without his help. I know I'd be beside myself if he wasn't my friend.

Rinko, as always, holds a special place in my circle of trust. She'd made this past set of months an absolute joy despite the work I've put on myself. Her work in of itself is exemplary and envisions a better future for those in need. In stark contrast to my admittedly selfish wish, hers is undoubtedly selfless. I promised that I'd lend her a hand and stick with her like she did me, and for once, I'm making good on that promise. After all, it's the least I can do for someone like her.

Right now, it's the end of sophomore year and summer break's just getting started. Not like I've stopped going to the labs. I need all the time I can get. That aside, we've all agreed to meet up and spend a little time as a group out to celebrate the end of the year. As for why we decided to go to the museum, it wasn't an immediate decision.

Higa wanted to go to Odaiba, Sugou to Ginza, Rinko to Shibuya, and me, Akiba. Needless to say, we all had our own preferences as a motley bunch. Not that these were hills any of us would be willing to die on. That being said, Sugou proposed a compromise, to pick a place we'd all be happy with. With a new exhibit opening up and none of us opposed to the notion, we agreed to visit the National Museum to kick off our summer break.

The day is high and the energy of the crowd is soaring. People are flooding in and out of the hallways like rushing rapids, and we're trying to keep our eyes ahead and on each other, trying not to get lost or lose one another. The four of us eventually move in and weave through, making our way to the exhibits through the lobby and up the stairs to the second floor.

Once I climb the stairs, however, I feel something.

A strange sensation that grips all my senses at once, and none of them all the same.

All of a sudden, the roar of the crowd dulls in my ears, and I feel a heat rising from inside me. It doesn't feel like it's coming from any particular region, but everything all at once.

It's silent, and yet it's as if something's calling my name, beckoning me closer. Whatever it is, I can tell it's near.

Looking back at the others, I watch as they walk off towards the Indian section, filled with Gandhara sculptures, reliefs and statues. However, I'm certain the source of this sensation isn't coming from inside the room, but down the hallway.

So, I walk with caution, drawn to the feeling as it grows stronger and stronger with every step I take.

Before I know it, I've wandered into a small room that pulses to the brim with this strange energy. Pieces of wall decorated with hieroglyphs and symmetrical sculptures fill the area. I can tell immediately where I am: The Egyptian exhibit. The air is quiet and the visitors are gaping in wonder at the sandstone monuments and busts. Despite all that, I'm sweating buckets. Something about this room feels… off.

My head is pounding like a war drum, and I can feel my hands shaking. I can't tell why… until I look ahead.

There it is.

It's beautiful. Hidden behind a glass case, it sits. Untouched. Undisturbed.

A wooden reflex bow, accompanied by an ornate, intricately engraved arrow. The shaft is wooden and sleek, but the head is more beautifully crafted than any other I've ever seen. The metal shines in the light and glares in my direction from across the room.

I can tell from a glance that this is the definite source of this strange sensation I'm feeling in the air. It's… calling to me. Pulling at me like gravity.

My brain again and again insists that this is impossible, that this object is inanimate, that it's a figment of my imagination or sleep deprivation.

No.

I can feel it. From the depths of my soul, it's tugging at me, urging me to get closer and approach.

I can't for the life of me explain how this is happening, but I don't hesitate to cautiously take the first steps toward the ancient relic.

It's warm. Inviting. Every step I take, my heart feels at home, like the pieces of the puzzle are fitting together more and more. The sounds of the crowd are completely drowned out from my ears, my gasping breaths are thunder in my ears, the rain, the sweat on my back. I can feel my heart pounding in my brain. My mind is screaming two things at once, that I should keep getting closer, and that I am staring danger in the eye.

Before long, I'm standing barely an arm's length away from the glass display. Not daring to take another step. The arrow sits there, radiating that mysterious aura that's more powerful than ever now that I'm this close.

Doubt rises within me. I think of the work I still have to do. The people I came here with. I think of her.

Maybe I should turn back-

"Ambition. Passion. Fighting spirit."

Words form within my soul. Thoughts shoot to the forefront of my mind.

"You seek to achieve the impossible?"

For a moment, I forget to breathe, as my mind is completely clear.

"If you do… step forth. Unlock the power of the soul. And STAND."

No more doubt.

No more hesitation.

I take the leap, and feel the glass against my palm.

*CRASH*

The first thing to shock my senses is the piercing noise of glass shattering, followed by the pain.

A sharp, visceral pain radiates from my chest, and I begin to panic, certainly not helped by the sudden reaction of the people around me, looking my way, or rather in the direction of the noise. They look at me in confusion, then shock and horror. Some gasp, others are walking up to me, and I can see it in their eyes. They don't know how to react or respond to whatever happened.

This is when I decide to look down and raise my hands to my chest.

I see the arrow, somehow embedded deep in the center of my chest, feeling its tip whiffing against my increasingly erratic heartbeat. My hands are shaking like a washing machine as I reach for the arrow's shaft, and I start feeling the blood seeping from my wound and into my shirt, creating an expanding pool of red, accompanied by a cool dampness against my skin.

My breathing gets more hurried as I feel the foul taste of iron rising from my throat. My vision blurs. My hearing blocks out the panicked questions of the crowd that's gathered around me.

Asking if I'm alright, asking how this happened.

I try to let out an answer, and all that comes out is a hacking cough, bringing with it blood-red spittle as pain shocks my entire body with the sudden and violent reaction.

This is when I realize my legs are no longer supporting my own weight, as gravity takes me, sending my body crashing down to the ground as I can only brace for my head to slam against the floor. The pain returns for a massive encore, as I can only gasp out, too weak to even scream. For a moment, I lie there, feeling my consciousness slip away, the lights of the ceiling filling my vision.

"Akihiko?! AKIHIKO!"

"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!"

"I'LL CALL AN AMBULANCE!"

I faintly hear Rinko, Sugou, and Higa's voices, echoing inside my skull as my grip on reality is blurring by the second, my sight fading to darkness. However, despite all this, despite the pain, one thought circulates through my head, repeating itself over and over.

"You won't die. This is just the beginning."

Toto Institute of Technology (Student Dormitories), June 6th, 2015

It's morning once again.

I rub my eyes as the sun enters my eyes, and it's as bright and disorienting as ever, rays of light seeping in from the window to greet my day. However, the songs of birds and the bustle of the city outside are the least of my thoughts right now.

I think back to my stay at the hospital, and what led me there.

The sequence of events remains fresh in my mind, as if it happened only a minute ago. How could I forget the pain, after all?

The arrow… flew right into my chest the second I touched the glass. Struck me dead center in my chest, piercing my ribcage. From what I hear, Sugou called the ambulance and I was taken to the ER in Eiju General. I still don't know how it was possible, only that I know it was real.

There was no denying the strange aura that arrow possessed. It was as if a voice in my head was calling out to me then. Like the arrow itself was summoning me to approach. It defies all logic, and yet that pain I felt was undeniably real. The blood over my hands, the agony of my bones being pierced through. It was all real, and yet I can't in any way explain how.

Despite all that, I know for a fact that something's changed. Not just what happened, but within me. Like before, nothing I put to mind or say can explain it. All I know is a strange feeling bubbling from within that's surfaced since that day.

Putting it aside, I still need answers.

I need to know what that arrow was. Where it came from. Explain in any way what happened to me.

I walk over to my desk and turn on my computer. My mind is swirling with questions, and I need them answered. I search for news of the incident, hoping to find answers. The arrow's origins and where it is now.

The first thing I spot when I look up the news are headlines summarizing the incident. My injury, my admission to the hospital, and from what I'm seeing, they're drawing it up as an attempted suicide. They assumed I'd broken the glass case and plunged the arrow into my chest with my own hands. At least, that's the story being circulated around the news.

This isn't getting me anywhere, so I try digging. Nothing about where this arrow is now. I look into the records of the exhibits on the museum's official page. Strangely enough, I can't find anything. The exhibits on the page all detail exactly what's being displayed and has been in recent documentation, but for some reason, I can't find anything on this arrow.

It's almost as if any information on this arrow's been completely erased or buried.

Holding my forehead in my palms, I groan in frustration as I massage my temples. I won't get any answers, not like this.

Still…

I need to know.

It's all that matters.

I need answers.

My eyes shift to a glint of sunlight reflected in my irises. I spot a small object on my desk. Roughly the size of my thumb, it's a metallic prism with a USB connector at its end. I pick it up, and trace my fingers along its surface.

I don't remember buying anything like this.

Is it Sugou's? Wouldn't put it beside him to get something that looks this fancy.

And yet… the more my fingers trace this thumb drive's surface, the more I'm certain of it.

It's the same feeling. The same strange sensation I felt when I encountered the arrow. Whatever this object was, it holds a power similar to that mysterious arrow. I can't prove anything I'm putting to mind, all I can really say is that my intuition is screaming that this is true. That this thing is my way forward.

Without a moment's hesitation, I plug it into my computer.

Then it happens.

I heave over my desk as my head pounds and pulses, uncountable streams of information rushing their way into my mind en masse like a flash flood. All of a sudden, my brain starts screaming and howling in pain as my skull feels like it's ready to burst at the seams.

I force open tear-wet eyes as I look at my computer screen. Everything's moving at a lightning pace, tabs from my browsers opening, closing, and changing in and out before I can even process anything. My computer's not capable of this speed. It's just not possible. And yet… everything that's flashing on screen is vividly recreated in my mind.

Some way… somehow… I see every page that blinks in and out of the screen before it even appears.

Stop…

Stop.

STOP!

As soon as I scream out, I feel something else. In the corner of my mind, I see the key. Fighting the pain, I reach out inside and grab what I can only describe as mental reins, and I pull, as if mounting a war chariot.

Suddenly, the flow of information moves with my thoughts.

I growl as my teeth grit, and my head starts to level out. Then, the turbulent ocean of information gives way to a calm current, one I can ride and direct. A single name comes into my brain.

The Speedwagon Foundation.

I search for answers, where the arrow is, and this name comes to the forefront of my thoughts as I sift through the ocean of data pooling in my mind and on the screen in front of me.

I look through the history of the site, and undoubtedly, I see a spot where the bow and arrow are supposed to be, containing the info on the exhibit. Or at least, where it should be. For some reason, I can't uncover anything, or recover any of the data. Whoever did this covered their tracks and did it well. Digging more through the data led me to this name, and I can't help but raise an eyebrow.

Why would this stream lead me to a humanitarian NGO like the Speedwagon Foundation?

Deciding to dig some more, I search for more information on Ancient Egyptian arrows, searching for anything that resembles what I saw back at the museum. Surely there had to be more, more people like me who had experienced the same bizarre encounters.

Sure enough, I find them, strange occurrences of attempted suicides or homicides involving a strange and ancient arrow, but any and all further details are locked behind a shut door, so to speak. All leading to the same name, the same people.

Why these people want to hide this information, the truth, my answers, I do not know. All I know is that to get my answers, I'll have to find them with these people.

I need to start digging in their records, finding out what they know.

I come to a stop at a wall, blocking me off, and grit my teeth. I need a key to get through this wall, to pick the lock. Makes sense that a huge organization like the Speedwagon Foundation would need security, but something as tight as this? What could they be hiding that would need this much effort to lock the door?

Do they want to keep this hidden that badly?

If that's the case, then my resolve is clear.

No lock can keep me out.

Not when I hold every key in the palm of my hand.

It isn't even hard, and I'm genuinely shocked. A mere, effortless thought is all it takes to sift through the wall and weave my way in. The lock unravels itself on my command and all of a sudden, my answers are laid bare before me.

The more I read, the more I understand. The truth behind these arrows, the power they hold, and just how long these incidents date back.

I read of ancient relics that grant certain individuals an otherworldly power, power that defies the laws of the world and makes the impossible come true. Arrows that date back thousands of years, yet only surfaced within the past several decades in incidents recorded in detail here.

I read of bizarre occurrences across Asia and Egypt, of an arrow's work resulting in mysterious occurrences and disappearances. I read of a shadowy cabal surfacing in Italy. Finally, the very same arrow that pierced me in the museum, my own incident recorded and documented amongst their archives.

So they're holding these arrows amongst themselves and collecting them… For what reason? The power they hold? What stake does this organization hold in this and why are they doing it? I still need more answers.

I read more about the history of the organization, and I realize, this goes deeper than anything I could have imagined. All the way back to the organization's founder. I read about the surfacing of a mysterious power in England, rambling about "vampires" and a "stone mask."

I marvel at the documentation of a struggle across Central Europe, occurring half a century ago. The resurfacing of the stone masks and vampires, at the end of founder Robert E.O. Speedwagon's long life.

I gape in amazement at the first records of this mysterious power I've been yearning so long to know of from barely a decade ago. Of a networked collection of individuals, all serving under one man the organization was prepared to put an end to at any cost, funneling resources and information towards a group of individuals traveling along a massive odyssey from Japan to Egypt.

All three incidents mention the same name.

Joestar.

A family who'd worked closely with the Speedwagon Foundation from before its very inception. A family who'd actively participated in these incidents and worked to resolve them. A noble family, bearing valiant souls and radiant courage.

Jonathan, the last of the family's noble roots in England.

Joseph, the oldest surviving member, a multimillionaire real estate tycoon living in New York.

Jotaro Kujo, a Japanese man studying marine biology, and yet I see his name appear in countless reports made recently. Whoever he is, he's deep in their affairs, even today.

Lastly, several other members of the bloodline under watch by the organization, of differing nationalities and origin. I read of a rising bud in Italy and a young boy living here in Japan.

What draws me in further, is the mention of the hidden power of the arrows, the ability to bestow upon their victims the power they dubbed…

…a Stand.

The physical manifestation of the fighting spirit, as they phrased it. A power granted to those that survived these arrows, and allowed them to wield power that was not of this world, power unique to them and only them.

A power hidden by the world, because it is invisible to those who do not possess it.

It all comes together and clicks into place. This is the reason, the name of the new power I hold.

It will be my path forward.

Argus Headquarters (Server Room), March 15th, 2019

It's been four years since I first received Wonderful World from that Arrow at the museum.

Since that day and since all my revelations, I've gained a solid grasp on my Stand.

The Stand takes the form of that tiny thumb drive I found that morning. I can summon it into being any time I desire, and it can change its shape to insert into any device, from my phone to my computer, no matter what model. Once connected, my mind has complete control over any and all data that flows through the device, from everything the device contains to every scrap of data within the depths of the internet.

Everything the online world has to offer is within the palm of my hand, available for me the instant I wish it so. Nothing like the powerful spirits I hear from the reports of the Speedwagon Foundation, but in this day and age, I can't deny just how much power I hold with this Stand.

If I wanted to, I would deface an entire MMORPG into whatever I pleased, I could infiltrate government records and steal priceless classified data that any nation could pay me fortunes for. Hell, if I really felt like it, I'd never have to worry about money ever again since my bank account numbers could rise and fall if I willed it so. If I really felt like ruining everything, I could kill the entire internet. Shut it down forever and watch the world burn. In a world where everything is online, I am god and king.

Still, that's not my goal. That's never been my concern.

With this power, I gained confidence and a path forward. Progress on the project sped up significantly since then, and I've put my Stand to great use. Wonderful World not only has the power to manipulate, but to create. With it, I have the power to sculpt the castle from my dreams with my bare hands.

And that's exactly what I've been doing these past couple years at Argus.

With worry over the digital work done and buried, I shifted all my focus to developing the virtual reality rig, and I was able to complete the first prototype before I graduated. Thanks to the efforts of my friends at the labs, the first NerveGear was created.

With the release of my first trial run for the rig, I'd caught the attention of several companies, and made it to Argus. Here, I'm moving forward at a lightning pace as Chief Creative Director, working tirelessly to polish every aspect of the final project, an undertaking of unimaginable scale, and I'm so close.

I hold the helmet-like device in my hands and look it over. It's both the product of our hard work and my ticket to make my dream a reality, and I'm closer than I've ever been before.

"They said you'd be here, all by your lonesome."

Hearing that pleasant voice never gets old.

I wouldn't have gone this far without her or anyone from the labs. Higa's helped me with the programming for the engine and designing for the NerveGear, Sugou's the one who got our project in the eyes of the public, making deals with companies and selling our ambitions to those that could make them happen. Even the professor himself assumed a position on the board of directors.

Rinko…

She's been working with me the whole time. The conception of the NerveGear. Collecting data for the project at Argus. Staying on top of every stage of development with me. I can't stress enough just how invaluable her support's been all this time.

"What gave me away?"

She smiles again with a laugh under her lips, a reply I can't for the life of me tire of.

"You kidding? All this time we've been going out and you think I still don't know you? They had a whole bunch of guesses as to where you've been hiding. I nailed my first try! Figures you'd be surrounded by your life's work. Still feels like yesterday you pitched this idea in that essay five years ago." Rinko grins my way as she wanders into the server room, taking her seat across me on a pile of cardboard boxes.

"Time really flies, huh? Really makes you think, especially after everything…"

I'm spending a lot of time here doing just that. Figuring myself out. The world I'm crafting as my master work.

"Definitely… Crazy to think we've gotten this far. Still, would you rather be thinking with some company?" Rinko asks, flashing me a certain look as I cock my head in response, pausing for a second before grinning myself.

"This your way of saying you got free time?"

She returns with a smile of her own, sly and knowing. Oh, we're definitely on the same wavelength this time.

"See, you're the same. You know me. So… where you wanna go?"

A bunch of thoughts circle in my head. First, thoughts on where I want to take her tonight. Some nice place to eat? A walk around the city? Our first date at the arcade?

I turn down to my hands and scan my eyes over the NerveGear I'm holding. That's when my grin starts to grow. Yeah, time for a little change of pace.

I hold up the helmet and raise it to her. She looks at me quizzically, then shifts her eyes to the NerveGear. Her eyes then widen in understanding and she nods, her mouth forms an "O". Taking it in her hands, I smile as I retrieve an identical-looking helmet beside my seat.

"See you there."

Seed_Alpha (Field) March 15th, 2019

Endless possibility.

An entire world crafted by my own hands.

This is the fruit of my labor.

Years of hard work, accumulated and dedicated to this entire world I see around me.

I stroke the grass below me, the stretch of vegetation spanning the horizon, nothing but a large, empty field. The beginning and end of it all. Grass as far as the eye can see, blowing in the breeze under a blanket of stars above my head.

I smile as I direct the breeze, willing it to billow, causing the grass under my feet to dance.

It feels real, looks real, in all but truth. A world indistinguishable from reality was not my aim, but rather one that could offer a form of difference from that of what was already here from the beginning. Needless to say, I'm proud of myself.

What I'm most proud of, however, lies in the skies above my head.

It moves to eclipse the moon over my head, covering the fields with its massive shadow.

There it is…

Have you ever seen a more beautiful sight?

A massive, cylindrical castle built of iron and steel, floating like a planet orbiting the sun.

Its structure is basic and unpolished, sections of the exterior missing and unfinished. This is the very object of my ambition, the destination I've wanted to reach for as long as I could remember. It wouldn't take long now, not at all. Oh, the day it would finally be ready… The day I can lay my hands down and marvel at what I've accomplished… It's closer than it's ever been before.

A flash of light interrupts my line of thought as I stare ahead, greeting her as she looks around, gaping in wonder at the world around her.

Her hands move down to stroke the blades of grass as she stares with her mouth hanging open, then turns to me as I grin back at her.

I raise my hand, and a small butterfly flutters into being, resting on my finger, wings shimmering a bright sapphire blue. I laugh as Rinko can't help but gape in amazement at my display.

"You're getting better and better every day, I swear. All the things you could do with that power, and you choose to make a video game of all things. You really are something else, Akihiko." Rinko giggles, as I laugh with her.

Of course she'd know about my ability and be among the first to do so. Who else would I trust more, after all?

"I've been thinking a lot… about us. About our journey here." I mutter to her as she listens, approaching closer and closer with that gentle smile of hers.

"Oh? Have you?"

"I… just wanted to say… I haven't thanked you enough for sticking with me to the end. Sugou… Higa… I'm grateful to you all, but… I'll never go wrong with you, Rinko."

For the first time, I feel like I'm not using my head when I'm speaking. For once, my heart's forming my words, weaving them as I pour it out to her amidst this empty field under the stars.

I look up at her, and Rinko's whole face is flushed. Her hands rest over her heart as she smiles all the same, choking out a giggle as she steps closer and closer until we're an arm's length apart.

"So… what now?"

I smile as I raise my open hand to hers, my Stand activating as I begin to dig for something I saved for this occassion.

Suddenly, a song starts to play, over and around, up in the air, and right in our ears.

"Viva la Vida?" She asks, cocking her head to the side, shifting her eyes from my hand to my own gaze.

My mind flashes for an instant, back to that first date, the first time we met, to all the fun she's put me through, and every beautiful, fleeting moment we've shared in between to now.

I know now, I'm not turning back anymore. I'm not alone. After all…

"I promised to take you dancing one day, didn't I?"

She gasps as she places her palms over her mouth, as I let out an amused laugh myself, my smile openly shown in full. Her smile gives way to a joyous, chiming laugh that renders my heart alight, as she takes my hand in hers and moves forward.

Her lips smash against mine as we hold one another in this empty field, my face filling with warmth as I take a brief second to process exactly what's happening. Before long, I'm consumed in the moment, sinking into her warmth and embracing her body against mine.

The night then goes on, the pair of us dancing in a field alone under the stars, as the world plays symphony plays for just the two of us, fireflies gathering along the grass as flowers bloom.

In that moment, I finally feel whole.

Somewhere outside Tokyo, April 5th, 2024

It's done.

It's finally over.

The game I'd slaved the entire latter half of my life to making a reality had been released.

Sword Art Online became a national phenomenon, sweeping the entire gaming community in a heartbeat. Copies of the game and the NerveGear sold out almost instantly, and I was almost ready for the final stage of my ultimate ambition.

Beta testers praised the game overwhelmingly, and I was on top of the world.

However… not without cost.

Higa drifted away from the project and joined the military, to pursue his own ambitions and wishes. I personally saw him off, a hug and a pat on the back, and he was off. However, I left on good terms compared to… him.

Sugou… he's been gone for a while now.

From the beginning of research and through the entire journey, I'd always noticed his mind was focused on a different track than mine. He ultimately held different ambitions, and made his disagreements with my path ahead very clear after an argument only a couple years ago.

It was the roughest part of the whole journey. I planted my feet and made my stance clear, but so had he. He walked away, storming out of the office, that was the last I ever saw him or heard from him.

My best friend.

Gone in the wind, without even a goodbye.

It's been a long couple years afterward, finishing everything and overseeing the game's official launch, a momentous day that capped off years and years of work and dreams. Oh, what a day it was.

The players all pouring in one by one, into a completed, shining castle floating in the sky, ready to receive its inhabitants, waiting to be cleared and conquered.

Thus, the death game finally began, and I became the most wanted man in Japan.

The first to die, the first to crack, the first to rise, the first to inspire.

Men and women, fished from the drab fog of everyday life and rising to become legends and heroes.

I finally spot them, the hidden gems wielding the power of the soul, ascending to conquer and achieve greatness.

The heroes who use the power to lead the charge to victory, and the villains who use their power to inspire fear and terror.

Finally, myself among them.

The Knights end up a fine and worthy assembly of warriors, giving way for the shining stars I've been keeping my eye on for the longest time. The duo who would save countless lives and become living legends among the thousands fighting for their lives.

They would match up to me in the arena, join me in battle, and see right through me at the very end.

I remember laughing, overjoyed that these heroes would rise to the occasion and be everything I'd hoped for and more.

Now…

"What're you doing, up so early? Go back to bed already…"

I turn to the face that looks up from her pillow, staring at me in the eye. Her hair is messy and unruly from waking up, her eyes barely open as she shifts a dazed gaze towards me. Her bright skin glints against the sunlight peeking in from the window, hitting her body at just the right angle to make it shine under the covers.

I still remember her face when she found me here alone.

She was shocked.

Betrayed.

Crying out to me in confusion and anger.

How could I blame her?

The love of my life, finding out I'd used everything we've built together to endanger the lives of 10,000 people in a death game. I didn't have to ask to know why she was here. I didn't need to see the knife to know she'd wanted to end it right there. I couldn't justify myself, nor could I explain why so many lives were lost by my hand and I did nothing to save them.

I remember apologizing, tears running down my own eyes as I broke down before her.

I didn't deserve her forgiveness.

I didn't deserve her kindness.

I never deserved her love.

Despite that… she chose to stay. She held me in her arms, and that was where we stayed.

She took care of me as I dove in the game. Ensuring I was fed and rested. She'd gather supplies to get us through the long two years, and divert the authorities' attention away from me. I don't know what pushed her to stay, but I'd never felt more grateful for someone else's company in my entire life.

When I wasn't diving, we made time with each other. Exploring the woods. Small talk. Dancing the nights away like we did before. Indulging in each other's company through the cold of night.

She'd wake up with that bedhead, and we'd take turns making our meals. She'd greet me every time I departed from Aincrad, wish me luck as I returned, and I never thought I'd ever choose to leave the castle of my dreams for anything else.

On the day I was unmasked by Josuke Higashikata and Kazuto Kirigaya, I was no longer tethered to the game. Not until they were ready to face me once again. So… I returned.

I made time with Rinko, and the months went by as we glowed in each other's presence. Days spent happily sharing fleeting moments. Nights embroiled in passion and warmth. Mornings like this, I almost forget I'm a wanted man. I almost forget I'm waiting for the day the champions of Sword Art Online rise to challenge Heathcliff once again for their freedom. Moments where it feels like the time's standing still. Like everything's alright in the world.

These moments… I yearn to last forever.

However…

"Akihiko…?"

I rise to my feet and slowly walk over to the NerveGear, charging and lying beside the bed, right next to an IV stand. I pick it up with both my hands and stare at the blinking light just above the frontal ridge. Then, I feel it. I remember.

"They're almost here."

Rinko doesn't process what I say initially, but her expression of confusion then contorts into wide eyes as she removes the covers and retrieves a loose shirt lying beside the bed.

"No… Y-you're sure?"

Her question is delivered with fear, with worry. She knows what I'm talking about, and exactly what it means.

"The clearing teams are battling the Floor Boss on Floor 99. Within a few hours, they'll reach the Ruby Palace."

I don't need to be in Aincrad to know this. With my Stand, I'm completely aware of everything that happens in my castle. Regardless, I turn to her and try to manage a smile.

"I-I'm sorry, but…"

Her face twists into one of sorrow as she walks up to me, but doesn't act further, because she has no idea how to react.

"N-no…"

"This is… goodbye, Rinko…"

"No."

She has her hands on my shoulders, but she's barely clinging on. Her head's leaning against my chest as I can hear her sniffling under her hair. My heart twists at the sight, but I don't say anything as she begins to speak again.

"It doesn't have to be this way. Why don't we run away somewhere? Where no one can find us? At least… A-at least we'd be together!"

She's crying now. I can hear her tears tapping against the floor as she lets out whimpers and grips me tighter, holding me closer to her, as if she's afraid I'll slip out of her embrace and never be in her arms ever again.

Images flash in my mind.

A log cabin in the woods.

Isolated from everyone and everything.

I see children running around the house, laughing and playing.

Finally, I see her, bathing in the sunlight. Gazing at me with all the love in the world.

I feel my own eyes watering up as I choke out a sob of my own. After everything I've resolved to do, all I've prepared myself to pull through with, saying goodbye to her is still the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life.

"Rinko… I've still got a part to play."

She looks up at me with reddened eyes as I sigh.

"I'm the final boss. The final hurdle. If I'm not there to see them off, then all they'd fought so hard for, all they'd risked along the way would be worth nothing. Besides… the mastermind of Sword Art Online has to take the fall. The dream I've fought so hard to make reality is already accomplished. And my life's work will be remembered for the tragedy I caused."

"T-then why…" She stammers, as I stroke her hair, causing her to look into my eyes as I smile gently.

"Because you still have a whole life ahead of you."

She gasps with wide eyes, and I continue.

"Everything we made together still has a future. You still have a future. I've reached a dead end, but you can still carry our legacy to make a better world! That's what I loved about you. I've spent my whole life chasing a selfish dream, but you've been nothing but selfless as long as I've known you!"

No words. She continues to stare at me, surprised and shocked with leaking eyes. With that, I press my head against hers, holding her head in my hands as we share in our feelings.

"So please… keep going. Make your own dreams come true with everything we've created. I'll be right behind you the whole way."

She's crying again, and she leans into me, sobbing all the while.

"I… I will. I promise…"

It's a long morning as Rinko packs up her things and gets dressed. I give her everything I've researched with her these past ten years, all the data flowing into her possession as I make the final preparations for the penultimate stage of this entire journey.

Within an hour, she's ready to leave as she has her things packed and loaded into the car outside. I turn to face the door, and she stands there, her back facing me as she prepares to walk away.

My mind journeys off to old memories.

I remember our first meeting.

I remember our first date.

I remember waking up to her sleeping against my bed at the hospital.

I remember when we danced the night away in each other's arms.

I can't let her go. Not just yet. I still need to talk to her… one last time.

"Rinko!"

She turns back to the house as I run outside, looking my way as I place my hands on her shoulders.

"This isn't goodbye. I'll see you again one day, in the digital sea."

She looks into my eyes as I look into hers likewise, marveling at the way they shine in the sun. With that, I gather my resolve and smile once more for her.

"In the meantime… wait for me, will you?"

Tears return to her face as she smiles, wrapping her arms around my torso and pulling me close. I pause, unsure how to respond, before I shed a tear of my own and return the gesture, embracing her body in my arms.

"One dance… That's what you owe me. When we meet again, take me out to dance again. Promise?"

Smiling as I let her go, I watch as she drives out of the woods and back into the city, but not before letting her hear my final reply.

"I'll remember. I promise."

Aincrad, Sword Art Online (Floor 100, Ruby Palace) April 5th, 2024

I open my eyes as I return once more to the castle of my dreams.

It's strange…

I thought I'd be more satisfied now that I stand at the top.

I hold my weapon in my gloved hands, gazing down at the crimson armor of Heathcliff. This castle has taken thousands of lives, raised legendary heroes and villains, and brought the power of the Stand to reality.

Everything I'd done my whole life has led to this moment, and I don't know what to feel.

I sit at the entrance to the Ruby Palace, my back resting against the massive gate, looking around me, at the wonder of the 100th Floor.

This is the only area I'd agreed with Argus to never touch or see for myself until the right moment. I'd handed all development for this small town to the others, because what'd be the point of climbing for the top if I'd have to imagine it for myself? I've never made it here no matter how many times my dreams took me here, and now that I sit here, I can't help but feel… empty.

Birds fly over an endless sky, as the edge of the city walls give way to the endless sky of Aincrad. Small houses dot the landscape, sitting humbly. Without a doubt, the survivors are there, preparing for the final battle.

Finally, I look ahead. Surrounding the Ruby Palace is a vast, beautiful garden. Colorful bushes line the path to the gates, and a small canal marks the edge of the Palace borders. Butterflies dance in the air and the wind smells of a myriad of flowery scents.

Undoubtedly, it's beautiful. A fitting stage for the curtain call.

With that, I open the gates and walk inside, looking around me at the vast interior of the Palace. Despite the name, the Palace holds no rooms apart from the massive chamber that makes up the center, hollow all the way to the top of the highest spire.

I take my place at the center of the vast arena and smile.

This is it.

This is where it ends.

Everything has been leading up to this.

I look ahead and watch as they open the gate and advance towards me.

I see the boy who rose from his solitude, grasping the two swords on his back with a determined expression on his face as his long, black coat billows in the breeze.

I see the warrior descended from the stars, his eyes piercing and hardened after a long and weathered journey. The huge weapon on his back shifts with every step he takes as he walks forward, his resolve and fighting spirit clear for all to see.

The stage is set.

My dream has reached its final stage.

The champions have reached the final trial.

And all I can think of is…

"What a wonderful world…"

Up next: The Final Battle!

Hey, guys. This took longer than I thought and I know that's pretty much all I end up with these days, but do understand that this was a special case, because I've never written anything like this before. Making a chapter entirely from Kayaba's point of view from events I can hardly reference was very strange, to say the least.

I always knew it was going to be long, and I always knew I wanted to make this one special. It's the beginning of it all, and I didn't want to waste that opportunity. So please understand that this needed time on my part, and I'm praying it paid off. Some of this felt like a drag to set up, if I wanted to, maybe I could have added an entire 2,000 more words developing Akihiko and Sugou's friendship, but I didn't want to drag this on. Maybe I'll reference it in Fairy Dance.

For one, his character in of itself has little to it compared to others, even in SAO. As you can tell, a LOT of things were done and changed here, and I hope it worked. For one, I put a huge emphasis on his relationship with Rinko Kojirou and I think I made it work. Hope I didn't make it too cheesy, but hey, I wanted to make this good, especially since this also sets up Fairy Dance and Alicization. As much as we all hate Sugou, myself included, I wanted to change things a little and again, I hope it worked out. I have half a month before my classes start back up again, and I hope I can wrap up the Aincrad arc before the year is over.

A few more things: Yes, Joypolis is a real place in Tokyo and China. It's a chain of indoor theme parks complete with rides, attractions, and SEGA merch. I also vaguely remember going to one of these places. Arcades are my childhood home and you cannot in any way convince me that they are irrelevant today.

In canon, Kayaba was already in a top spot in Argus when he was in university. I changed things a little, and I hope it worked out.

Also yes, the Tokyo National Museum has an Egyptian exhibit and has displayed mummies. Look it up.

Also the Arrow. Yes. In a roundabout way, this whole SAO incident still ties back to DIO thanks to unfortunate (or fortunate) circumstance and a very motivated genius. Truly, this was what you call a pro gamer move.

Finally. STONE OCEAN IS OUT! Oh lord, it was great. Jolyne is awesome, Hermes is hilarious, the OP and ED alike are bangers, and best of all, Foo Fighters is still and always will be Best Plankton™. Can't wait for the rest of it to come out, and in the meantime, again, hope I can wrap this up before the year ends!

As always, I'm always eager to hear your thoughts on this latest chapter, please don't hesitate to review and leave your suggestions. Follow if you want to keep track of my updates, and I'll see you in the next one. Deuces.

Sentinel Slice: Oh, one of the aspects of DiU I love is the casual Stand use for everyday life. Probably a big sign that I'm gonna love Jojolion.

Aurum79: Hey, you know, Persona songs sound really cool! Besides, it's inspired by JoJo! It's all connected, I tell you! Thanks for reading my fic, dude! It's great to have someone creating along with me!