~~Hello, readers, I'm back with a new chapter.
I don't own anything from Sword Art Online or Code Name: Kids Next Door.
Only my original characters belong to me.~~
It was now late afternoon.
The two young siblings, Sioku and Lynn, had finally arrived at the bus stop after school.
Lynn joined Sioku by a wooden bench.
Sioku grinned competitively at her younger sister.
"Do you want to race again?" she asked.
"Of course," answered Lynn happily.
Sioku immediately bolted ahead of her younger sister.
She used the growing excitement about her birthday celebration as hyper energy to push herself forward.
The girls continued running until they reached the front porch of their house.
They could hear Trooper panting and whimpering from inside.
Sioku excitedly burst through the door before joyfully throwing her arms around Trooper.
Lynn walked inside before closing the door behind her.
The medium sized dog rested his front paws on Sioku's shoulders.
He panted happily while wagging his long, fluffy tail.
"I missed you too, Trooper," said Sioku before she kissed the top of his head.
Trooper licked her face in return.
Lynn stood silently as she watched their interaction.
She couldn't help but smile at the bond that Sioku and Trooper shared.
Their older sister Melody heard all the noise as she entered the area.
"Hello, you two, how was school today?" she greeted.
"Today was a great day! I got an A on the mile run in PE," answered Sioku with glee.
"Nice job, Sioku," praised Lynn.
"I'm proud of you, Sioku," added Melody.
Sioku grinned confidently at her sisters in response.
She then lowered Trooper to the ground.
Trooper shook off before curiously sniffing around the room.
The dog's tail lightly tapped on a few objects as he traveled.
Sioku giggled at her furry friend's behavior in amusement.
"You're so funny, Trooper," she commented.
Trooper then sat down next to Sioku.
Lynn turned to look at her oldest sister.
"I had a test in most of my classes," she said.
"That sounds like a total nightmare," replied Sioku with a sympathetic look.
A few minutes later, Kara joined her daughters in the main area.
"Hello, ladies," she greeted with a smile.
"Good afternoon, Mother," replied Sioku.
"Hi, Mom," added Lynn.
Kara then pointed at Sioku.
"Hey, birthday girl, are you ready to go get your gift from the game shop?" she asked happily.
"Of course, Mother," answered Sioku calmly while trying to maintain her composure.
She breathed deeply in order to keep herself calm.
"Sioku, what exactly are you looking for?" asked Melody.
"The device is called a NerveGear. It allows the user to dive into the virtual world," Sioku explained.
Sioku rubbed Trooper under his floppy ears as she felt a rush of hyper energy flow through her system.
The dog nuzzled her leg in return.
"That sounds like fun," replied Lynn.
Sioku nodded in agreement.
Kara joined in the conversation as a thought crossed her mind.
"Hold on, Sioku, do you have any idea how to use one of those NerveGear things?" she asked suddenly.
Sioku smiled brightly at her mother.
"Yes, Mother, the NerveGear goes on a person's head like a helmet. The player is then transported into the virtual world as their character," she explained confidently.
I've heard all about virtual reality from people at school who play video games," Melody chimed in.
Hearing those two words made Sioku perk up instantly with elation.
She almost couldn't contain the hyper energy that threatened to explode from her system.
Sioku pointed to the dog who had been patiently sitting on the floor beside her.
"Pardon me, but I need to let Trooper outside before we go. He should stay in the back yard while we're gone," she suggested.
"Good idea, Sioku," replied Melody.
"Don't forget to hang your backpack in the closet as well," added Kara.
"I'll do that first," said Sioku before quickly walking away.
Sioku slid her backpack off of her shoulders before placing the top strap on a metal hook inside the closet.
Trooper stood behind Sioku and nudged her with his cold, wet nose.
Sioku turned around and ruffled the dog's fur.
"Do you want to go outside, Trooper?" she asked excitedly.
Trooper immediately turned his head toward the kitchen's entrance.
"Ready? Go!" shouted Sioku.
Sioku playfully raced him to the back door.
Trooper panted happily as he ran beside her.
She giggled at the sound of Trooper's long nails repeatedly tapping on the hard wood floor.
Trooper stood by the back door while wagging his tail wildly against the glass.
Sioku couldn't help but laugh out loud as she approached her excited companion.
"Trooper has just as much energy as I do right now," she thought.
"Go out, Trooper," commanded Sioku as she slid the back door open.
A cool breeze blew into the kitchen.
The dog immediately took off outside while growling.
Sioku giggled as she heard Trooper bark randomly in the distance.
"Crazy dog," she commented.
Sioku closed the back door before quickly rejoining her family near the hall closet.
She then stood by a wall to catch her breath and slow her heart rate down.
"Are you ready to go, Sioku?" asked Kara.
"You know it," Sioku answered with an excited grin.
Kara carefully stepped in front of her daughters before gently opening the front door.
Sioku tapped on Lynn's shoulder.
"Hey, Lynn, I'll race you to Mom's car," she said with a joyful smile.
"Game on," replied Lynn competitively.
The two younger girls rushed out the door and raced toward the car at full speed.
They giggled while running down a dirt path.
Sioku's heart pounded rapidly in her chest as the excitement continued to grow inside her mind.
She could no longer control her hyper energy.
"I win!" hollered Sioku as she touched one of the car doors.
Lynn waved at her sister in response.
Sioku then hopped into one of the back seats.
After getting herself situated, Sioku pulled out her phone and texted her best friends in a group chat.
The message read: Ariel, Jess, my family and I are about to leave our house.
Ariel responded back: Okay, I am about to leave as well.
Jessy chimed in: I'm on my way there now.
Lynn climbed into the other back seat before she situated herself next to Sioku.
Lynn giggled as she noticed the dreamy grin on Sioku's face.
"Are you still thinking about Sword Art Online?" she asked.
Sioku froze in embarrassment as her cheeks turned bright red.
"Um… yes," she answered shyly.
"I knew it," Lynn added in a teasing manner.
"Will you cut that out? I was texting my friends," Sioku responded in a flustered tone.
Lynn giggled as she leaned back in her seat.
Sioku then looked out the window in order to quickly distract herself.
She stared in awe at the various types of plants growing in the yard.
Kara and Melody entered the car a few minutes later.
Sioku continued to look out the window as they drove away.
Their home slowly faded out of her view.
She was instantly pulled out of her thoughts when Kara spoke.
"Sioku, are any of your friends meeting us at the game shop?" asked her mother.
Sioku brushed hair away from her face.
"Yes, Jessy and Ariel will be there," she answered as calmly as possible.
"That's nice," Kara added.
Sioku shifted anxiously in her seat.
Their drive to the game shop seemed to go on forever in her mind.
Sioku gasped as a line of buildings finally came into her view.
Her heart began to race with anticipation.
Ten minutes later, Kara parked her car in the game shop's parking lot.
As soon as the car came to a complete stop, Sioku immediately hopped out.
She twirled around in a circle while enjoying the fresh air.
Her smile grew wider as she spotted a sign near the door.
Melody chuckled at the joyous expression on her younger sister's face.
"I've never seen anybody get so excited over a game system," she said to herself.
"Sioku has Trooper's energy right now," replied Lynn.
Sioku only giggled at Lynn's comment.
Kara then led her three daughters into the game shop.
To her surprise, Sioku spotted Ariel and Jessy waiting by the front counter.
"You may go visit with your friends. They can also help you find that NerveGear device. Bring it to the front counter so I can pay for it," said Kara to Sioku.
Sioku jumped up with joy in response.
"Thank you, Mother, my friends and I will meet you there. I'll be right back," she replied.
Sioku happily skipped over to where her friends were standing.
The two girls grinned with excitement as she approached them.
"Hey, birthday girl," greeted Ariel.
"Long time no see, mis healer," added Jessy.
Sioku laughed out loud in response to Jessy's nickname for her.
"Hello, lovely ladies, are you getting SAO today as well?" replied Sioku as she stood in between them.
"We sure are," answered Jessy.
Sioku rubbed the jewel on her necklace with her thumb.
"I just hope the three of us will be able to buy a NerveGear today," she said nervously.
Jessy grabbed Sioku's hand and led her to one of the shelves.
Sioku was instantly surprised by her friend's quick gesture but went along with it.
"Wait for me!" called Ariel as she ran after them.
"Have no fear, mis healer," said Jessy as she pointed to the shelf near Sioku's head.
Sioku stared up at the shelf in confusion.
Her eyes widened as soon as she spotted a box with the NerveGear inside of it.
Sioku's heart raced with pure joy.
She stood still while looking at a design on the box.
A feeling of instant relief washed over Sioku like a gentle wave.
Her dream of diving into a virtual world for real was finally about to come true.
Sioku then turned to Jessy with a concerned expression.
"Wait, are there anymore of these for you and Ariel?" she asked suddenly.
Jessy pointed to a second shelf and smiled at her friend.
"Of course, there's a whole bunch of them over here!" she cheered.
Sioku breathed a sigh of much needed relief in response.
She then picked up the box and held it close to her.
Her heart continued to race with pure happiness.
"This is all so sudden," she whispered dreamily.
After picking out their NerveGears, Jessy and Ariel rejoined Sioku.
"Let's go, mis healer," urged Jessy.
"The virtual world is waiting for us," Ariel chimed in.
Sioku's friends' voices immediately snapped the daydreaming girl out of her thoughts.
"Oh… sorry," she said anxiously.
Jessy and Ariel giggled at the sight of Sioku's flushed cheeks.
"You've been daydreaming all day," Sioku," commented Jessy.
"That's our best friend for you," replied Ariel.
The three girls then made their way back to the counter.
Sioku graciously handed the box to Kara before giving her a big hug.
"Thank you very much, Mother, this is my best birthday ever!" the girl hollered joyfully.
"You're very welcome, Sioku," Kara replied with a proud smile.
Sioku and her friends laughed out loud as they embraced each other in excitement.
Jessy then turned to Sioku with a slightly disappointed look.
"I'm sorry, Sioku, but I can't come over to your house tonight. I have to prepare myself for school tomorrow," she said.
"I have to go home too," added Ariel.
Hearing that news made Sioku feel a bit disappointed, but she refused to let it bring her down.
Sioku looked up as she thought to herself.
"That's okay, I have another idea. We could all meet up in SAO," Sioku suggested with the same joyous expression.
"Wow, Sioku, this will be brilliant! I never thought of that idea," said Jessy with a smile of her own.
"I agree with Jessy. We'll see you then," added Ariel.
Bye for now," Sioku replied as she walked away.
She then followed her mom and sisters out the door.
A slight rush of wind blew through Sioku's hair as she skipped gleefully to the car.
"I miss having her energy," said Melody to Kara.
Kara only laughed in response.
Back in the car, Sioku happily situated herself in the back seat.
Lynn sat in the seat next to her.
Sioku sighed dreamily as she stared down at the box in front of her feet.
She smiled while imagining herself diving into a virtual world for the first time.
Her heart felt light as a feather in that moment.
As they drove off, Kara turned to Sioku wearing a stern expression.
"Sioku, I'm going to warn you right now. If your grades ever start to go down because of this game, you will lose your privileges. Do you understand me?" she said firmly.
"Yes, Mother, you have my word. I won't let you down," Sioku replied with a slightly fearful expression.
Sioku decided to push her fears away and focused only on the adventure ahead of her.
She looked out the window as Kara parked her car in front of a restaurant.
As soon as the car stopped again, Sioku immediately hopped out first.
Lynn and Melody soon joined her.
Sioku sniffed the air and grinned excitedly.
"Wow, something smells fabulous!" she cheered.
"I know, right?" replied Lynn.
After locking the car, Kara led her three daughters into the building.
Sioku trembled with joy as she looked around.
The urge to let Sioku's excitement burst out of her system was becoming more difficult to resist as time passed by.
At the counter, Kara and her daughters ordered their meals.
They then found a table and settled in.
Sioku sat next to Lynn while Melody and Kara sat across from them.
Lynn turned to Sioku wearing a curious expression.
"What is your character going to do in the game?" she asked.
"She will join a guild and become their healer," Sioku answered while blushing.
Melody laughed at the sight of her youngest sister's pink cheeks.
"What are you blushing for?" she inquired.
A brief moment of silence passed between the girls.
"I can't wait to heal a swordsman on the front lines," Sioku blirted out.
The whole group fell silent at that.
They stared at Sioku with stunned expressions.
Sioku lowered her head in embarrassment.
"You don't need to fall in love just yet," Kara pointed out.
Sioku froze in place as she covered her face.
She let out a sigh of exasperation.
Lynn and Melody giggled in response.
Kara excused herself as they heard their order number being announced.
Sioku slipped into her thoughts while her sisters had a conversation.
A few minutes later, Kara returned with a tray of food and drinks in her hands.
The scent of hot food reached Sioku's nose, immediately bringing her back to reality.
Melody generously helped Kara distribute the meals.
Sioku and her family silently enjoyed their meals as they listened to the constant chattering around them.
After dinner, Kara and her daughters exited the restaurant and returned to their car.
Sioku grinned as she spotted her NerveGear still on the floor below her seat.
After situating herself, Sioku closed her eyes and drifted off into pleasant thoughts about virtual reallity.
She felt her muscles relax almost instantly.
A peaceful smile remained on her face.
Her hyper energy finally began to dissipate as they drove away.
Back at home, Sioku grabbed her NerveGear before climbing out of the car.
Lynn and Melody followed her to the front door.
Trooper's barking could be heard in the distance.
"Oh, Trooper," said Sioku with a smile.
Kara opened the door and let everyone inside.
Sioku set her box down on a nearby table.
She then turned to her mother and said, "I'm going to let Trooper inside before heading up to my room."
"Okay, Sioku, please take him with you. I'll be in the living room if you need me," Kara replied.
Without hesitation, Sioku raced toward the back door.
Trooper wagged his tail against the glass as he stared at her from outside.
Sioku burst into laughter at that.
"Come in," Sioku commanded as she slid the door open.
Trooper hurried inside and ran circles around Sioku.
Sioku ruffled the dog's fur playfully in response.
Trooper nipped at her softly.
After picking up her NerveGear, she happily led Trooper upstairs.
She giggled at Trooper's excitement as he bolted up the stairs behind her.
Sioku entered her bedroom, then gently closed the door behind her.
Trooper shook off before settling into his dog bed on the floor.
He closed his eyes and fell asleep.
After changing into pajamas, Sioku opened the box and carefully pulled her NerveGear out.
Her eyes widened as she examined the new object.
After climbing into bed, Sioku placed the NerveGear on her head and turned it on.
She scrolled through the menu on her flash drive before selecting Sword Art Online.
"Link start!" said Sioku as she pressed the play button.
She relaxed and closed her eyes.
Sioku landed in a small room with a control panel floating straight in front of her.
She stared in wonder at the buttons and screen.
Sioku decided to create an exact replica of herself in the real world.
She also chose to use an outfit similar to the one she wore to school.
Instead of jeans, she chose to wear yoga pants.
After customizing and naming her character, Sioku was automatically transported to a new area.