«Nov 21, 2022 - 9:00 AM» «Aincrad - 1st Floor»

«Town of Beginnings»

The morning sun cast a warm glow over the Town of Beginnings, its cobblestone streets bustling with activity. Players and NPCs alike moved about—some setting up shop, others gathering supplies or preparing for another day of survival in this world.

It had been two weeks since the «Death Game» began.

And yet, life here... continued.

As for me, I wasn't here to buy items or run errands.

Aya, the blonde little girl I had met just an hour ago, was currently leading me toward her home and shop, where I would soon meet her father.

According to Aya, her dad had been looking for an assistant to help run their newly opened «Weapon Shop». And after hearing about my money problems, she had immediately suggested that I talk to him.

It was an unexpected offer, but one that I couldn't ignore.

And so, here I was.

It didn't take long to reach our destination. Just four minutes of walking, and we were already there.

Aya wasn't kidding when she said their home was close to the plaza.

The «Town Plaza» was the busiest area in the city—filled with shops, market stalls, and bulletin boards where players gathered for information.

Opening a Weapon Shop here was a smart move.

Aya's parents must have planned this carefully.

The shop itself was a two-story wooden «building», its design simple yet cozy. The lower floor housed the shop, while the upper floor was likely their living space.

Right beside the entrance, a wide «glass window» displayed various weapons and armor—swords, spears, and shields neatly arranged on racks inside.

I stepped closer, peering through the glass to get a better look.

Sure enough, the shop already had a solid selection—but I also noticed something else.

It looked... unfinished.

Weapons and materials were scattered across the floor, some still in crates, while others leaned against the walls, waiting to be properly displayed.

The entire room felt unorganized, as if the shop had only just opened and still needed heavy arranging.

If nothing else, I could already see why they needed help.

"Come on, Hibiki-san! Let's go inside!" Aya called excitedly.

"A-Ah. Yeah."

She pushed open the door, and we stepped inside.

I had never worked a job before.

Not in the real world. Not in any game.

And now, I was about to apply for one—an in-game job—inside a virtual death trap.

The thought made nervous energy build up in my chest.

I inhaled deeply, forcing myself to stay calm as I took in the full view of the shop.

The interior was wide and open, with weapons and armor displayed everywhere. But just like I had seen from the outside, the shop was still in its early stages.

Aya had been right. Her dad really did need help.

"But where did your dad get all of these?" I asked, scanning the room. "Is he a blacksmith or something?"

"B-Brack-smith?" Aya repeated, tilting her head before nodding. "Mm, yeah, I guess he is!"

...She didn't seem too sure about that.

Behind the front counter, I noticed a staircase leading up to the second floor, along with a side door that probably led to another room—either a kitchen or her dad's actual blacksmithing area.

"Phew... finally home," Aya sighed, placing down the «basket» she had been carrying since we met.

I glanced at it.

It was filled with «fruits» and «vegetables»—but considering this was SAO, I had no idea if they were meant for eating or something else entirely.

"Umm... Aya-chan?" I asked curiously. "What exactly are those for?"

"Hm? Oh! These are ingredients!" she replied casually.

"Ingredients?" I raised an eyebrow. "For cooking?"

Aya shook her head. "Nope! Mom needs them for something else!"

Before I could ask further, another voice spoke up from behind us.

"No, actually, those are for crafting HP Potions."

I turned to see a woman descending the stairs.

"Aya, you're back," she greeted.

"Mom!" Aya grinned, running toward her.

I watched as the woman stepped down onto the shop floor.

She had short dark hair, similar to Aya's, though hers was black instead of blonde, and a pair of blue eyes. From her avatar's appearance, she seemed to be in mid 30s.

So this was Aya's mother.

I leaned slightly toward Aya and whispered, "That's your mom?"

"Yep!" she answered proudly.

Aya's mother approached the basket, picking up one of the fruits to inspect it.

"These contain a special ingredient needed for crafting Potions," she explained. "It's not well-known because the process is... well, let's just say it's not easy."

I blinked. "Wait... You can craft Potions in this game?"

I had assumed all healing items were store-bought.

She nodded. "Yes, but only certain players can do it. These ingredients are different from normal fruits and vegetables—they're not edible. And the most annoying part?"

She lifted one with a knowing smile.

"They can't be stored in a player's inventory."

That explained a lot.

Aya had to carry them manually because the system didn't allow her to just dump them into storage.

"I guess that's for game balance," I mused. "If players could hoard unlimited Potion ingredients, it'd probably break the economy."

"Exactly," she said, smiling.

I was about to ask more when she suddenly turned her gaze toward me.

"By the way," she said. "May I ask who you are?"

I stiffened. I almost forgot why I'm here.

"I-I'm—"

"—He's Hibiki-san!" Aya cut in excitedly. "I met him earlier at the Plaza! He helped me buy the breads that Dad asked for!"

I shot Aya a quick glance—was she trying to make me sound better on purpose?!

Her mother gave me a curious look, then smiled.

"Oh? Hibiki-kun, huh? I'm Amaya, Aya's mother. Nice to meet you."

I nodded politely. "Nice to meet you too, Amaya-san."

She crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly.

"So, what brings you here today?"

I cleared my throat. "Actually—"

"—Hibiki-san came here to ask Dad if he can work here!" Aya cut in again, her voice filled with excitement.

I exhaled sharply.

Aya-chan, please! Let me talk for myself at least once!

Amaya's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Work here? Is that right, Hibiki-kun?"

"Y-Yeah... That's actually why I came here," I answered, scratching the back of my head awkwardly.

She placed a finger to her chin, thinking for a moment.

"Hmm... it's true that my husband is looking for an assistant right now," she admitted. "He was actually planning to start searching for someone later today but..."

Her voice trailed off.

Then suddenly, she looked directly at me, at my face specifically.

And for the next few seconds, she just stared.

I felt a strange chill run down my spine.

Why... was she looking at me like that?

"Aya," she said, still watching me. "Where exactly did you and Hibiki-kun meet?"

"In the Plaza!" Aya chirped. "Hibiki-san helped me buy those breads for Dad!"

Amaya hummed to herself, then muttered:

"I see... So that's how it is..."

...What?

What did she mean by that?

I suddenly felt nervous again.

"Umm... Amaya-san?" I asked hesitantly. "Is something wrong?"

For some reason, she had stared at me for several seconds before muttering something under her breath.

Her expression gave nothing away. Then, just as suddenly, she shook her head.

"No, no, it's nothing," she replied smoothly. "Hibiki-kun, just wait here. I'll go get my husband from the back."

"O-Okay."

Before leaving, she turned to her daughter.

"Aya, wait here with Hibiki-kun, alright?"

"Yesss, Mom!" Aya chimed happily.

With that, Amaya-san disappeared into the back room, leaving me alone with Aya.

I let out a slow breath, only now realizing how tense my shoulders had gotten.

"You seem a bit nervous, Hibiki-san," Aya pointed out, tilting her head.

"Aha-haha... yeah, a bit," I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck.

She grinned. "Don't worry! Mom and Dad are reeaaally nice! Just tell them you need a job, and I'm sure you'll be fine!"

I gave her a small smile.

"...I hope so, Aya-chan."

Yeah. I really hoped so.

Because this was probably my one and only chance to get a job...

A job that didn't involve fighting.

Minutes passed, but they felt like an hour.

Every second that ticked by only made my nerves worse.

I needed this job. I needed the stability it could offer.

I clenched and unclenched my fists, trying to calm my nerves.

"Don't screw it up. Don't screw it up."

...Aya let out a small snicker, clearly amused.

I glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "What?"

"Hehe~ You were muttering to yourself just now," she teased.

My face burned slightly.

Great. Now even a nine-year-old witnessed one of my embarrassing moments.

Before I could respond, the back door finally opened—and I immediately turned towards it.

Amaya-san stepped through first, and behind her...

A tall, well-built man followed, his blonde hair and emerald eyes matching Aya's.

The moment I saw him, I realized something immediately.

He wasn't Japanese. At least, not based on his avatar's appearance.

He looked to be around the same age as his wife, but his presence felt more imposing.

The moment Aya's dad saw me, his expression shifted.

"Ah. So it's really him..." he muttered in a deep, thoughtful tone.

I stiffened. That was the second time today that someone had looked at me like they recognized me.

First Amaya-san, and now the husband.

Did they... know me?

They stopped in front of the table, standing across from me and Aya.

Then, he spoke.

"Kid, you wanna work here?"

His voice was deep and firm—straight to the point.

"Uh, yes sir, I'm actually—"

"—Just call me Marco." He interrupted.

"Oh... Y-Yeah, okay. I'm Hibiki, Marco-san."

"Alright, Hibiki." His eyes locked onto mine. "So, you wanna work here?"

I swallowed hard.

This was it.

I needed to choose my words carefully.

I needed this job. I needed the money. I couldn't screw this up.

"Yeah," I said, keeping my voice steady. "I met Aya earlier, and she told me you were looking for someone to help with the shop."

I took a quick breath before continuing.

"I... really need a source of income right now, so I thought I'd at least try and apply for the job."

Marco paused, considering my words. Then he turned slightly to his daughter.

"Hmm... it's true that I was looking for an assistant. But hold on a second—how did you know about that, Aya?"

Aya froze.

"...Yeah, I already asked her the same thing earlier," Amaya-san muttered tiredly.

Aya let out a nervous laugh. "Aha-ha-ha... W-Well... I kind of overheard you talking to Mom about it last night..."

Marco exhaled loudly and palmed his forehead.

"Of course you did," he sighed. "Well... I suppose it can't be helped. This is Aya we're talking about, after all."

The little blonde next to me just giggled sheepishly while Amaya-san shook her head.

Even her own parents seemed to find her a handful.

Seriously. What a kid.

Marco sighed again before turning back to me.

"Alright," he said. "Let's move upstairs. We'll talk more there—it's more comfortable."

"Follow us, Hibiki-kun," Amaya-san added.

I nodded, and we made our way up to their main living space.

Their main room had a warm, homey atmosphere.

A wooden table sat in the center, with two couches on opposite sides. Aya and Marco sat across from me, while I took a seat on the couch next to Amaya-san.

Marco leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees.

"Alright," he said, picking up where we left off. "As you can probably tell, the shop is still a mess. There's a lot that needs to be sorted out, and I was planning to hire someone later today. So, I'll admit..."

He shot a glance at Amaya-san before turning back to me.

"I wasn't expecting Aya to bring someone here this early in the morning."

He paused, then, his gaze hardened slightly.

"But... out of all people, who would've thought it would be you."

I froze. There it was again.

That strange feeling. That sense of familiarity in his voice.

I tensed.

"Uhm... Marco-san, I'm sorry, but... I don't follow. What exactly do you mean by that?"

Amaya-san answered this time.

"The thing is... we've actually met you before, Hibiki-kun."

My body went rigid.

"H-Huh? We have?"

Marco nodded.

"Third day after the game started," he said. "On the Plaza bench. We saw you sitting there."

My breath hitched.

The Plaza bench...

The place where I sat in silence for four days, waiting for everything to end.

The place where Diavel found me.

I swallowed hard.

"O-Oh... I see..." I muttered.

Memories flooded back.

I had barely moved during those first four days.

I hadn't eaten. Slept only when my body needed to. Hadn't even spoken a word.

I was so completely frozen by fear that I ignored everything—people, voices, hunger, time itself.

I vaguely remembered that players had tried to talk to me back then. Some out of concern, others out of curiosity.

But I ignored them all.

And now... I realized that Marco-san and Amaya-san were among them.

"I..." I hesitated, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry, Marco-san, but... I can't really remem—"

"—Don't apologize," Marco interrupted gently. "It's okay if you don't remember."

Amaya gave me a small smile.

"We thought you might need help, so we both tried talking to you back then," she explained. "But you... didn't respond."

I clenched my fists.

So they really had tried. And I had ignored them completely.

I had been so lost in my own fear that I never even looked at them.

"...I was a complete mess back then," I admitted, lowering my gaze. "So I don't really remember anyone who tried to talk to me."

"It's okay," Amaya said softly. "Don't force yourself to remember. We understand."

I met her eyes briefly. She really meant it.

She wasn't saying it out of pity—she genuinely understood.

Aya, who had been quietly listening, suddenly frowned in confusion.

"Wait..." she muttered. "Is there something wrong, Hibiki-san?"

Amaya tensed slightly. "Aya—"

"It's okay, Amaya-san," I cut in.

She hesitated, then gave a small nod.

I turned to Aya.

"Aya-chan... You asked me earlier why I wasn't hunting monsters for loots, right?"

She nodded slowly. And I took a deep breath.

"The truth is... I'm afraid," I admitted. "I'm afraid of going outside."

Aya blinked. "Huh?"

I continued.

"I don't want to fight because I'm scared that if I make even one mistake..."

I clenched my hands into fists.

"...I'll die."

Aya recoiled slightly, her round emerald eyes widening.

"I..." My voice wavered, but I pushed through. "I'm afraid of dying. To the point where just imagining it drives me insane."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Marco and Amaya listened quietly, while Aya sat with her mouth slightly open, her innocence struggling to process my words.

"That's why I decided," I continued. "That I'd never go outside. That I'd just wait. Wait for someone to clear the game. Or for someone to find a way to save us."

My breath was unsteady as I talked, more to Marco-san and Amaya-san now.

"I know it's wrong," I admitted. "I know people see me as a coward. And they're not wrong. But I can't help it. I can't just throw my life away. I just... I just d-don't want to—"

"—That's enough, Hibiki."

Marco-san's voice was calm but firm.

I stopped immediately.

"You don't need to say anything else," he said. "We understand."

Amaya-san nodded.

"You've been carrying this alone for a long time, haven't you?" she asked gently.

I swallowed, feeling my chest tighten.

I hadn't realized it before...

But I wanted to open up to them.

I wanted to tell them everything.

No, it probably doesn't have to be them.

I wanted someone to listen. Anyone will do.

"I'm... I'm so sorry, Hibiki-san!"

Aya suddenly bowed her head, guilt filling her little voice.

"I shouldn't have asked! I'm really, really sorry!"

I blinked in surprise before giving her a small smile.

"It's okay, Aya-chan," I reassured her. "You didn't do anything wrong."

Marco-san exhaled softly.

"Hibiki... you're still just a kid," he said. "It's not surprising that you feel this way."

I looked at him.

"You said earlier that you know this isn't the right thing to do, right?"

I nodded slowly.

Marco leaned forward, crossing his arms as he studied me.

"Well... you're right about one thing, Hibiki," he said. "There's not a single person in this world who isn't afraid of dying."

His voice was steady, calm—but firm.

"But even so... they still choose to risk their lives. They fight because they believe it's the only way to escape this crappy game that's keeping us here."

I remained silent.

Because he was right.

And every word he said only reminded me of how pathetic I was.

Marco exhaled through his nose. "So yeah... just waiting for help to come? That's not the right choice, Hibiki. Not at all."

I swallowed hard.

"...I know," I muttered.

He shook his head. "But even if waiting isn't right, there's one thing you should remember."

Marco leaned in slightly.

"...Cherishing your own life is not, and will never be, wrong. Remember that."

My eyes widened.

I looked up at him, caught off guard by his words.

Marco's expression softened slightly.

"I understand what you're going through, Hibiki," he continued. "Trust me... I know that feeling well."

A small, tired smile crossed his lips.

"And honestly? That's the very reason why I decided to open this shop."

I blinked.

"...W-What do you mean?"

Marco-san leaned back, resting an arm on the couch.

"To clear the game. That's what that bastard told us to do if we want to get out of here, right?"

I nodded.

He let out a slow breath.

"You see... I've always wanted to help with that. But at the same time, I'm afraid. I'm afraid of dying. I'm afraid of leaving my wife and daughter here alone."

His voice was calm, but there was an undeniable weight behind his words, taking a quick glance towards Aya and Amaya-san.

"So instead of throwing myself into battle, I decided to become a blacksmith and build this shop," he explained. "That way, I could at least contribute to freeing everyone—by supporting the players who can fight—while still staying here, with my family."

I felt my mouth open slightly, but no words came out.

Marco continued.

"And looking at you, I think deep down... you feel the same way I do. But because of your fear, you've been too afraid to take a step forward."

I froze. Because he was right.

Even if I refused to fight, a part of me wanted to help somehow.

I just... I just didn't know how.

No, that isn't right. I was just too afraid to even look for one.

Marco exhaled before giving me a small smile.

"That's why, if you're willing, I want you to work here with me," he said. "That way, we're not just waiting for outside help—we're actually helping others at the same time."

He leaned forward slightly.

"So, what do you say?"

I jerked upright in my seat.

"W-Wha—... Really?!"

Marco let out a deep chuckle.

"Hahaha... What, isn't that the reason you came here in the first place?"

"Y-Yeah, but... is it really okay with you guys?" I asked, glancing between him and Amaya-san next to me.

"Of course," Marco-san nodded. "But it's only if you want to. If you've already changed your mind, that's fine too."

"NO! I m-mean... YES!" I blurted out. "I want to work here! Please!"

Amaya-san smiled warmly. "It's decided then."

I sat there for a moment, still processing everything.

I had expected them to turn me down after hearing everything I confessed.

But they didn't.

They listened. They understood.

And for the first time since this Death Game began... I felt truly grateful.

The heavy atmosphere began to fade—only for Aya to suddenly leap up from her seat.

"YAY!! Hibiki-san is gonna work here now!" she cheered.

Marco laughed. "You look even more excited than he does, Aya."

"N-No! I am excited!" I quickly insisted. "I mean, I'm just a bit... speechless, but—thank you! Thank you so much for letting me work here!"

I bowed my head slightly to show my gratitude.

Aya beamed. "Don't worry, Dad! I'm sure Hibiki-san will do a great job working here! Believe me!"

Marco grinned. "Yeah, I bet he will. But honestly, it's all thanks to you, Aya. You saved me the trouble of looking for someone by bringing him here."

He was right.

I wouldn't be here if it weren't for Aya.

I'd have to thank that kid later—I really owed her for this.

Marco suddenly crossed his arms. "Now that I think about it... Where did you two meet earlier?"

"In the Plaza, Dad!" Aya chirped. "Hibiki-san helped me buy the breads you asked for!"

She tapped through her «Menu Window», and after a few quick motions, the Sweet Buns from earlier materialized on the table.

Marco's face lit up. "Oh! Good job, Aya! I really love thi—... Wait."

His expression shifted instantly.

He turned to Aya, his voice lower, sharper.

"Did you... try to come home alone?"

Aya froze.

"W-What??" Amaya's head snapped toward her daughter, her voice laced with worry. "Anna's brother was supposed to walk you home! What happened?!"

Busted, Aya slowly shrank back into her seat.

I blinked. "...Wait, Aya-chan wasn't supposed to be alone in the Plaza earlier?"

"Of course not," Amaya sighed, rubbing her temples. "I wasn't even planning on letting her go in the first place..."

She turned to me.

"As you can see, we've been busy setting up the shop, but I really needed ingredients earlier. Aya insisted on helping, so I finally let her go with my best friend, Anna."

Amaya crossed her arms. "Anna's brother was supposed to walk Aya home afterward, so I assumed she'd be safe."

Marco's expression darkened slightly. "But it looks like that didn't happen at all."

Aya scratched her head awkwardly.

"Umm... Aunt's brother wasn't there when we got back to their house," she admitted. "And Aunt was really busy, so... I just went home alone. I know the way, anyway! And that's when I met Hibiki-san!"

So she really wasn't supposed to be alone.

That finally cleared up my worry about her being in the Town Plaza by herself.

"But still, Aya," Amaya sighed, kneeling beside her daughter. "You should have waited. You know how dangerous this world is."

"I know, Mom... I'm sorry..." Aya muttered.

Marco exhaled before giving me a serious look.

"Hibiki, this is actually another reason why I wanted to hire someone," he said. "I need someone to watch over Aya while we work. She can be a bit... uncontrollable sometimes."

"Wha—?! Dad, I am not uncontrollable!" Aya pouted.

Marco simply patted her head playfully.

I let out a small chuckle.

"Aha-haha... It's okay. You can leave her to me, Marco-san," I said.

As I watched Marco and Aya interact, something inside me stirred.

I found myself thinking about my own childhood—about how close I was to my mom when I was little.

She always played with me whenever I wanted. She was always there.

And seeing Aya and Marco-san like this...

It made me happy.

But at the same time...

It made me feel lonely.

"Must be nice to have a family... at a time like this."

I hadn't meant to say it out loud.

But Amaya heard me. And she smiled.

"What are you talking about, Hibiki-kun?" she said warmly. "From now on, you're part of this family too."

I froze.

"...H-Huh?"

Marco grinned. "She's right, Hibiki. You're working here with us now. Well, that makes you family, right?"

My heart raced as their words sank in.

This warmth—this comfort—was something I had been longing for since this hell started.

And now, I finally had it... again.

.

.

I clenched my fists and took a deep breath.

"Yes! I'll do my best!"