~~Hello everyone, this was a story that I started riding five years ago.
I decided to polish the story up and make it a crossover with Code Name: Kids Next Door.
I do not own anything from Sword Art Online or Code Name: Kids Next Door.
Only my original characters belong to me.~~
It was the morning of Sioku's fifteenth birthday.
Sioku is a 15-year-old girl with curly brown hair and blue eyes.
She woke up to the sound of her alarm clock that sat on the bedside table.
Sioku pressed the button and sighed heavily in deep thought.
The fear of not being able to purchase the new Sword Art Online game weighed heavy on her mind.
Shaking her head, Sioku decided not to let those negative thoughts get to her.
A big smile wiped across her face as she happily jumped out of bed.
Sioku quickly changed into blue jeans, a blue T-shirt, and a red fluffy sweater.
Afterward, Sioku brushed her long hair in front of a circular mirror.
She then pulled it into a high ponytail.
Before she could forget, Sioku put on her favorite necklace which was a blue jewel that hung down from a silver chain.
A female voice was heard on the other side of her bedroom door as she continued getting ready for school. "Sioku, are you awake?"
"Yes Mother," Sioku answered.
Her mother gently opened the door and then walked in.
The woman named Kara had straight red hair and brown eyes.
She wore blue tennis shoes and socks, blue jeans, a red long sleeved shirt, and a red jacket.
"Good morning Mother," Sioku joyfully greeted as she wrapped her arms around Kara.
"Happy birthday baby girl," Kara replied as she kissed Sioku's cheek.
"Thank you Mother," Sioku added while hugging her tight.
"Breakfast is waiting downstairs for you dear," Kara said before leaving the room.
"Thanks, I'll meet you downstairs in a minute," Sioku replied with a big smile.
Kara then exited Sioku's room.
Sioku put on her tennis shoes and then grabbed her book bag before heading downstairs.
Once downstairs, Sioku quickly entered the dining room.
Her sisters Melody and Lynn were already sitting down at the table.
Lynn is a 12-year-old girl with curly red hair and brown eyes.
She had on green tennis shoes, blue jeans, and a green T-shirt.
Melody is a 17-year-old girl with straight blond hair and dark green eyes.
She had on black shoes and socks, black dress pants, and a white dress shirt.
They giggled while watching videos on their phones.
"Happy birthday Sioku," they said in unison.
"Thank you," Sioku replied with a big grin.
She then sat down in a chair beside Lynn.
The wooden table was decorated with a silver tablecloth.
Dishes and silverware were neatly laid out on the table at each seat.
Sioku sniffed the air and smiled.
"Did you make pancakes Mother?" she asked happily.
Kara turned to Sioku and laughed.
"Yes honey, I sure did. I know that they are your favorite breakfast food," she answered with the same amount of happiness.
"They smell great," added Lynn.
"After preparing the plates, Kara handed one to each of her daughters.
"Thank you Mother," they all said at the same time.
"No problem girls," she replied before cleaning up her mess.
Kara then walked into the living room to sit down by herself.
The three sisters ate their food in silence.
After breakfast, Sioku washed out her dishes.
She then filled a cup with ice and water before carrying it back to her seat.
Melody and Lynn also cleaned up before going about their business.
Melody curiously turned to Sioku and asked. "What do you want for your birthday?"
Sioku suddenly stood up.
her eyes widened, and she started to blush.
"Um… I want to buy Sword Art Online," she answered while shaking with excitement.
The whole room fell silent at that.
Sioku looked as if she had just exposed a secret to her sisters.
"I've always wanted to play that game since it first came out," Lynn whispered.
Melody looked at her sister wearing a serious expression and sighed.
"Please be careful in there Sioku, I've heard that SAO could be dangerous. I don't want you to get hurt," she said with deep concern.
Sioku walked over to the sink after finishing her water.
"You don't have to worry about me Melody, I'll be just fine. Sword Art Online should be harmless," she replied with a smile.
"I hope so," Melody said quietly.
Their dog Trooper came running through the kitchen and then jumped on Sioku.
Sioku lost her balance and fell to the floor.
Trooper is a medium sized dog with long, black fur and floppy ears.
Sioku laughed out loud as Trooper pinned her down while licking her face.
She wrapped her arms around the dog.
""Okay that's enough Trooper," she said while catching her breath.
Melody hooked a leash onto Trooper's collar.
"Come on Trooper, let's go outside," she commanded before tugging on his leash.
Trooper shook off and then followed Melody out the back door.
After brushing herself off, Sioku carefully stood up.
She grabbed her book bag and then sat on a couch in the living room next to Lynn.
Sioku sighed to herself in deep thought.
Lynn put a hand on her sister's shoulder and reassured. "Don't worry Sioku, I'm sure you'll find the game today."
Lynn's reassurance pulled Sioku back to reality.
"Thank you Lynn," she replied with a small smile.
Lynn gave Sioku a nod before looking at the Tv.
Ten minutes later, Melody entered the living room with Trooper by her side.
Trooper attempted to jump on Sioku again, but Melody pulled him back by his collar.
Sioku giggled as she listened to Trooper's heavy panting.
Trooper wagged his tail against the couch as Sioku ruffled his long fur.
After unclipping his leash, Melody grabbed her backpack out of the closet.
Trooper shook off and then walked away.
Sioku couldn't help but giggle at that.
She and Lynn joined Melody by the front door.
Melody then opened the door for her sisters.
"Have a good day at school girls," said Kara.
"Thanks, we will," they replied before walking out.
The weather outside was gorgeous.
There wasn't a cloud in the sky.
Melody led her sisters to the gate.
Sioku turned to Lynn and laughed excitedly.
"I'll race you to the bus stop," she said competitively.
Lynn smiled back at her sister and replied. "Oh you're on!"
Sioku bolted passed Lynn as they ran toward the bus stop.
Without looking back, she continued running.
"I win!" Sioku hollered after stopping at the bench.
She carefully sat down while panting heavily.
Lynn slowly caught up and then sat down beside her sister.
"Wow Sioku, you look exhausted. You are a fast runner," she complemented.
Sioku pulled out her water bottle and then took a sip.
"Yeah I know, my excitement about SAO got the best of me. I'll be all right," she said breathlessly.
"I can tell," Lynn replied.
The bus arrived at the curb five minutes later.
As soon as Sioku stepped onto the bus, she walked over to where her best friend Jessy was sitting and then plopped down beside her.
Jessy is a 14-year-old girl with straight brown hair and blue eyes.
She had on pink flat shoes and a long purple dress.
Sioku's body was shaking with excitement.
Jessy stared at her friend and laughed out loud.
"I've seen that look before," she said in a playful tone.
"I'm just nervous in a good way," Sioku replied.
"Happy birthday Sioku," Jessy said happily.
Sioku smiled and then blushed.
"Oh thanks Jess, this day is already going great so far. I can't wait to meet a smoking hot swordsman tonight in SAO," Sioku replied.
Jessy stared wide eyed at her friend.
The girls heard a few kids laughing in the seat behind them.
Sioku's face turned bright red.
Feeling very embarrassed, she hid her face.
Jessy laughed at the sight of Sioku's flushed cheeks.
"Oh no… they must have heard what I said." Sioku whispered.
Jessy turned to her friend and grinned.
"Wait Sioku, you're getting SAO too?" she said happily.
Sioku slumped down in her seat and sighed heavily.
"Yes, I just hope it's still at the store. I've been worried about the game being sold out by the time I arrive at the game shop today," she answered in disappointment.
Jessy pulled out her phone and then checked the schedule on her calendar.
"I could come home with you after school today if you want. We can buy the game together," she suggested.
Sioku smiled at her best friend in relief and agreed. "That's a wonderful idea Jess, I would love that!"
There was a long period of silence between them.
Sioku grinned at Jessy as she pulled out her phone.
"Hey Jess, did you see our friend Alexa's new video on Snapchat yesterday?" she asked before laughing.
Jessy nodded and then smiled.
"Yes, I couldn't stop laughing at it. Her dog is so cute," Jessy answered.
The girls paused as they heard music coming from the front of the bus.
"O my gosh… who's playing the Pokemon theme song?" asked Jessy out loud.
Sioku burst into laughter at that.
After ten minutes, the bus arrived at school before stopping in the parking lot.
Jessy and Sioku decided to wait until the isle had cleared out.
After exiting the bus, Sioku and Jessy made their way to a large building before entering.
They walked through a long hallway in order to reach their first period class.
Sioku pulled herself back into her thoughts.
Jessy playfully threw her arms around Sioku and said out loud. "Who's excited to meet a swordsman in SAO tonight?"
Sioku jumped and let out a yelp in response.
"Don't scare me like that Jess," she said in a flustered tone.
"Sorry about that," Jessy replied.
People stared at them as they passed by.
Sioku stared at her friend and laughed nervously.
"Stop it, you're embarrassing me," she said quietly.
Jessy only giggled at that.
A few minutes later, another girl named Ariel joined Jessy and Sioku.
Ariel is a 13-year-old girl with straight black hair and brown eyes.
She had on blue tennis shoes, blue jeans, and an orange T-shirt.
"Hey Ariel," Sioku greeted quietly.
"Happy birthday Sioku," Ariel replied.
Sioku lowered her head and sighed.
Ariel looked at Sioku worried and said. "Are you okay?"
Sioku slowly nodded in response before she answered. "Yes, just lost in thought I guess."
The morning bell rang after a few minutes.
"Bye Sioku, I'll see you in English class. Stay positive," said Ariel before she walked away.
Sioku and Jessy laughed as people ran crazily through the hallways.
"They are such goof balls," Sioku said to Jessy.
Jessy only chuckled at that. "I know right?"
Sioku and Jessy were the first people to enter the classroom.
The classroom looked like a science lab.
There were tables instead of desks.
"Good morning girls," greeted the teacher with a friendly smile.
"Good morning," they replied in unison.
Sioku quietly walked over to a table in the back and then sat down.
Jessy took a seat next to her.
They pulled out their science binders and wrote down the agenda.
Sioku suddenly felt herself starting to perk up as she thought about SAO.
She tapped on Jessy's shoulder and laughed.
"Hey Jessy, when we see a swordsman, let's have a duel to determine who gets him, Sioku whispered."
Jessy smiled back at her friend and whispered back. "Oh, game on Sio."
Sioku and Jessy enjoyed the 5 minutes of silence they had to themselves.
Twenty more students entered the room in a single file line.
There were many conversations going on at once.
"Good morning class," the teacher called out.
"Good morning," replied her students.
She took a seat at her desk.
"Today is independent work day. You all will be working on your own assignment," she instructed.
Sioku hugged Jessy tightly and smiled.
"It's our lucky day Jess!" she said joyfully.
Jessy laughed as she pulled out her book.
"Heck yes it is!" she replied with the same amount of joy.
Sioku took a deep, relaxing breath. "I love days like this."
An hour had passed by as Sioku minded her own business.
Before she knew it, it was time for her second period class.
"I'll see you in math class Jess," Sioku said as she hugged her again.
"Bye Sio, remember that swordsman," Jessy replied before laughing.
Sioku just blushed in response.
As Sioku walked to her next class, she started feeling very impatient.
She felt a rush of hyper energy crash into her.
"I wish school was over already," she thought.
Sioku stopped at a drinking fountain for a quick break.
People stared at her as they walked by.
She just shook her head to suppress the anxiety.
After pulling herself together, Sioku continued walking down the hallway.
She stopped at a door at the end.
As soon as Sioku entered her English class, she was surprised by her other best friend Ariel.
The other students had already taken their seats.
Sioku joyfully ran toward the girl and hollered. "Hi Ariel, I missed you!"
Ariel hugged Sioku tightly and replied. "Hi Sioku, I missed you too!"
They walked inside and then sat down at the first table they could find.
Sioku nervously rubbed her hands together.
Sweat covered Sioku's body as her heart began to race.
Ariel looked at her friend wearing a worried expression and said. "What's wrong Sioku? You're looking a bit anxious right now."
Sioku sighed heavily while staring at the floor.
"I just hope I can buy SAO after school today," she answered.
Ariel gently pushed her long hair back as she continued. "Jessy has already told me about your plans. I'm sure you'll have a better chance because SAO's popularity went down 2 months ago."
Sioku took a deep breath in relief and said. "Thanks Ariel, I really needed that."
"Any time Sio," Ariel replied with a smile.
English was one of Sioku's favorite subjects in school.
She didn't mind the lectures because time always flew by.
The teacher stood beside a large projector.
She gave a lecture on writing sentences with propper grammar.
Sioku stayed focused on the slides while she took notes in her notebook.
A couple of girls were talking and laughing in the row behind her.
She ignored it and focused only on the lecture.
Their conversation got louder, and Sioku almost lost her focus.
She motivated herself by thinking about SAO.
Sioku had written two full pages of notes by the time class was dismissed.
Ariel and Sioku walked out of the classroom together.
Sioku was relieved to have a break.
Ariel happily turned to Sioku and asked politely. "May I please join you and Jessy at the store tonight?"
Sioku smiled at her and answered. "Yes, you sure can!"
Sioku and Ariel exited the building and then began making their way toward a set of portable classrooms.
They passed by many bushes while walking down a hill.
Jessy met Sioku and Ariel by a ramp to one of the portable classrooms.
"Hi Jess," greeted Sioku.
"Hey Girl," added Ariel.
"Hi you two," Jessy replied.
Sioku curiously turned to Ariel and asked. "Are you in the same math class as Jessy and me?"
"No, I just came out of my math class. English is up next for me," Ariel answered happily.
"You're so lucky," said Jessy with a hint of jealousy in her voice.
"Math is my worst enemy in school," Sioku added with a frown.
Sioku leaned against a wall and crossed her arms over her chest.
She let out a heavy sigh.
Jessy lightly pulled on the sleeve of Sioku's sweater and asked. "Sioku, are you all right?"
"No, I feel like this school day is just dragging by. I have a hard time waiting," Sioku answered in disappointment.
"I'm in the same boat as you Sioku," replied Ariel before laughing.
A crowd of other students entered the area.
Ariel pointed to another classroom beside them and said. "I'm going into the room next door. I'll see you ladies at lunch."
"Bye Ariel," replied Sioku.
Jessy waved at Ariel as she walked away.
After walking up the metal ramp, Sioku and Jessy entered the classroom.
They then sat down in the first row of desks.
Sioku decided to distract herself by writing down the agenda in her binder.
She then turned to Jessy as a thought crossed her mind and asked curiously. "If you get SAO today, what is your character going to be?"
"I haven't decided yet, how about you?" Jessy replied.
"My character will definitely be a healer," Sioku answered with a dreamy smile.
"I could see that happening to you in the game. The category suits your personality since you have a big heart," Jessy complemented.
"Thanks Jess, I would rather help people anyway. I'm not much of a fighter at all," Sioku said honestly.
Their conversation was suddenly interrupted when more people entered the classroom.
Many conversations were going on around them.
Once everybody was situated, the teacher revealed the assignment.
Everyone pulled out their math textbooks and began to work.
Sioku used the constant noise around her to distract herself from thinking about SAO.
It seemed to work since she didn't get hyper for a while.
Sioku turned her paper in once all of the problems had been completed.
Class was dismissed an hour later.
Sioku and Jessy exited the classroom once the isles had cleared out.
There were crowds of people everywhere.
Sioku turned to Jessy with a playful grin on her face and said competitively. "Hey Jess, I'll race you to the gym."
"Game on Sioku," Jessy replied competitively.
Sioku immediately bolted ahead of Jessy.
They raced each other down a straight path and passed a few buildings.
Sioku slowed down as soon as she spotted the gym's entrance.
"I win!" Sioku hollered.
"I'll meet you there!" Jessy hollered back.
Sioku waited patiently by the door for her friend to return.
She leaned against a wall and breathed deeply to slow her heart rate down.
Jessy caught up to her friend a few minutes later.
"Hey mis healer," she greeted playfully.
Sioku trembled with excitement as she blushed.
"Stop it Jess, you're making me impatient!" she replied in a flustered way.
Jessy only laughed at that.
"I seriously hope we run a mile in PE today," Sioku said quietly.
Jessy looked at Sioku dumbfounded as she replied. "Really? Why would you want to run a mile?"
"I have so much hyperactive energy stored up inside me. I just can't wait to release it," Sioku answered with a grin.
"I understand," Jessy replied.
"I hate running the mile," Jessy muttered.
Sioku paced back and forth while waiting to enter the gym.
She smiled as a thought of Trooper flashed through her mind.
Jessy waved as she spotted many people walking toward the gym.
She then tapped on Sioku's shoulder, startling the girl out of her thoughts.
Sioku stopped abruptly before turning around.
"What's going on?" she said suddenly.
"It's time to go inside the gym silly," Jessy answered while tugging on the hanging strap of Sioku's backpack.
Sioku giggled at her best friend's spirited nature and said. "This is one of the reasons why I love you Jess. You're a lot like me."
Jessy hugged Sioku in return.
Both girls then entered the gym behind a large crowd.
Sioku remained silent as she listened to the constant chattering around her.
At the bleachers, Sioku and Jessy sat down on the first step.
Many other students joined them.
Sioku cleared her throat and said curiously. "Hey Jessy, do you know if Ariel has the same PE class as you and me?"
Jessy thought to herself before answering. "I don't know, I haven't seen her in our class. She probably has a different teacher."
The PE teacher blew a whistle in order to get the students' attention before speaking. "Okay class, please report to the field immediately."
The conversations began again as people started to leave the bleachers.
Sioku perked up as she rose from her seat.
"I can't wait to release all of my hyper energy!" she hollered with excitement.
"Go get it mis healer," Jessy encouraged.
Sioku only blushed at that.
She and the other students then followed their teacher out of the gym.
After much walking, they stopped at an open field of fresh cut grass.
Sioku grinned as she imagined herself and Trooper playing on the field.
The teacher faced the students before blowing his whistle again. "You guys will be running one whole mile today. Please line up by the gate."
Most of the students groaned at that in disappointment.
Sioku jumped up with joy and cheered. "Yes!"
She then skipped over to the chain-link fence.
The PE teacher chuckled as she smiled down at Sioku.
"I admire your spirit," she said to her.
"Thank you very much," she replied.
All of the other students reluctantly lined up behind her.
Sioku's heart began to race with anticipation.
The excitement was clearly getting to her.
She breathed deeply to calm herself down.
"Ready? Go!" shouted the teacher.
The students immediately started running.
Sioku bolted ahead with a wide grin on her face.
The wind pushed against her back.
She imagined herself playing SAO while maintaining her quick running speed.
The happy thought of SAO helped Sioku increase the output of her hyper energy.
Sioku's heart pounded rapidly in her chest by the time she finished her first lap.
She slowed her pace down to a jog.
Jessy waved at Sioku as she caught up to her.
Sioku smiled and waved back.
"Why did you slow down mis healer? You were doing so well," Jessy started.
At the sound of that name, Sioku felt the anticipation building up inside her again.
"Jess, stop calling me that. You're making me excited," she replied before laughing.
"Convert your excitement into energy that could help you run faster," Jessy advised.
Sioku nodded before breaking into a run.
Her ponytail floated in the wind.
She gradually increased her speed at the start of her third lap.
Sweat began to cover Sioku's forehead, but she just wiped it away.
Sioku panted heavily while trying to catch her breath as quick as possible.
She slowed down at the half way mark to lessen the strain on her legs.
Sioku thought about jogging the rest of the way.
Her body was in so much pain.
"Keep going til the end mis healer! A swordsman doesn't give up, and neither should you!" hollered Jessy.
Sioku instantly perked up and grinned.
Jessy's encouraging words lit a spark of hyperactivity in her mind.
"Thank you Jess," Sioku whispered.
She ignored the pain in her legs and started bolting through her fourth lap.
Sweat dripped profusely down her face as she panted in exhaustion.
Sioku pushed through her weakness in order to finish the last lap.
Once her final lap was finished, Sioku carefully made her way toward the bench.
She could barely stand on her shaking legs.
Sioku plopped down on the bench in exhaustion.
The wind lightly blew through her hair.
Closing her eyes, Sioku slipped deep into her thoughts.
Her heart rate gradually returned to normal as she rested.
Waiting for the end of PE didn't bother Sioku since she was focused on getting her strength back.
Sioku opened her eyes when a female voice brought her back to reality.
She turned around to find Jessy standing in front of her.
"Hey future healer, what happened to you?" Jessy started in a playful manner.
"I was exhausted," Sioku answered quietly.
Sioku scanned the surrounding area in confusion and said suddenly. "Hold on Jess, where is everyone?"
"Everybody is still here. Some people haven't finished the mile yet," Jessy answered.
Sioku let out a relaxed sigh.
"That's a relief," Sioku replied with a yawn.
Jessy laughed as she stared at her friend's flushed cheeks.
"Hey Sioku, where did all of your energy go?" she asked.
I used it all up during the mile," Sioku answered while adjusting her position.
She carefully stood up and stretched her legs.
A light breeze brushed against her face.
"We should go join the others now," Jessy suggested.
"Good idea," Sioku replied.
The two girls then made their way toward the bleachers where their classmates were waiting.
They sat down on the first step.
The PE teacher walked up to Sioku with a proud smile on her face.
"Your mile time was five minutes and 30 seconds. Congratulations Sioku, you will receive an A on this activity," she said.
"Thank you very much sir," Sioku replied with a grateful smile.
Sioku joyfully threw her arms around Jessy and said. "Thank you for encouraging me to run faster back there. My grade would have gone down if you didn't do that."
"That's what best friends are for," Jessy replied as she returned the hug.
Sioku continued to relax as she watched her remaining classmates finish the mile.
Class was dismissed once everyone had finished running the mile.
It was now time for lunch.
Sioku and Jessy headed straight for the dining hall after leaving the field.
The place was already crowded by the time they arrived at the entrance.
They stopped at the back of a long line.
Many conversations were going on at once.
Jessy decided to start a conversation with Sioku as they waited. "Hey girl, how are you feeling after the mile run?"
"I'm okay," Sioku answered briefly.
Sioku grinned at Jessy as a thought crossed her mind.
"Hey Jess, I have an idea. You, Ariel, and I should all dive into SAO at my house," she said with joy.
"That sounds awesome," Jessy replied with a wide grin of her own.
To the girls' surprise, Ariel came walking toward them.
She then stood next to Sioku.
"Hello people," she greeted.
"Good afternoon," replied Sioku.
"Hi Ariel," added Jessy.
"How did your last class go?" continued Ariel.
"Sioku and I just ran the mile in PE," answered Jessy.
"That sounds rough," replied Ariel.
Sioku looked at Jessy and then back at Ariel.
"Hey Ariel, would you like to dive into SAO at my house with Jessy and me?" she asked cheerfully.
"Heck yes I do," she answered with enthusiasm.
Sioku couldn't help butt giggle at that.
"Ariel, do you know what you want your character in the game to be?" asked Jessy.
"She will definitely be a strong swordswoman," Ariel answered proudly.
"I don't doubt that," replied Sioku.
After ordering their food, Sioku and her friends sat down at a picnic table outside.
"Hey Sioku, what activities will you do in SAO?" started Jessy.
"I'll probably be healing other players while they fight on the front lines," Sioku answered with a dreamy smile.
"Typical Sioku," said Ariel with a sigh.
Sioku only grinned back.
She slipped into a pleasant train of thought.
"Hey Sioku, what is your next class?" asked Jessy.
"Unfortunately computers," Sioku answered with a frown.
Ariel stared at her friend confused as she continued. "Sioku, why don't you like computer class?"
"I don't like Type to Learn. It scares me," Sioku answered before lowering her head.
Jessy looked at Sioku dumbfounded and replied. "How does Type to Learn scare you."
"I'm afraid of the robotic voice that tells me what to do," Sioku answered with a heavy sigh.
Ariel and Jessy stared at each other in shock.
Sioku sat still as the robotic computer voice echoed in her head.
She trembled slightly while trying to redirect her mind.
Jessy tapped on Sioku's shoulder and said. "Stay with us, think about SAO."
Sioku only nodded in response.
"Sioku, imagine yourself on the front lines with a swordsman. Picture yourself healing him after he fights a monster," Jessy added.
Sioku slowly began to calm down as she took in Jessy's words.
An excited grin stretched across her face.
She felt the anticipation and happiness building up inside her once again.
"Are you okay Sioku?" asked Ariel.
Sioku let out a sigh of relief.
"Yes, I would have had a panic attack if Jessy didn't bring me back as quick as she did. Please don't worry about me," Sioku answered quietly.
Sioku then turned to Jessy and added. "Thank you for saving me. You knew exactly what to say."
"You're welcome Sioku, I had a feeling that those words would help you perk up. I know how much you want to play SAO," Jessy replied with a smile of her own.
"You should also think about SAO during computer class. It might help you stay calm," Ariel suggested.
"Good idea," Sioku briefly replied.
"The three of us will dive into SAO very soon," Jessy reminded.
"I can't wait!" Sioku shouted with glee.
"That's the spirit," replied Ariel.
They heard a bell ringing over the loud speaker.
"I'll see you two later," said Sioku before quickly walking away from the table.
"Good luck Sioku!" hollered Ariel.
She then hurried across the campus.
Many people stared at Sioku as she ran passed them.
Sioku stopped at the top of a cemented ramp.
The silence pulled Sioku back into her thoughts.
All she could think about was diving into SAO.
The teacher's arrival suddenly brought Sioku back to reality.
"Good afternoon Sioku," she greeted.
"Same to you," Sioku replied.
Sioku entered the classroom followed by the teacher.
The teacher then sat down at her desk.
Sioku sat down at the first computer before placing her backpack under the table.
She slipped into a train of thought while staring at the monitor in front of her.
Thinking about possibly diving into SAO after school seemed to distract Sioku from her fears.
The sound of many conversations quickly pulled Sioku out of her thoughts.
She turned around to see other students entering the classroom in a line.
Once everybody had been situated in their seats, the teacher took attendance.
The students were then instructed to resume Type to Learn.
Sioku let out a dejected sigh as she spotted the program's title in the menu.
"Here we go again," she whispered.
Listening to the monotonous typing tutorial caused her to shiver.
Fearful chills rapidly crawled up her spine.
She desperately took a few deep breaths in order to calm herself down.
Even though Sioku's best friends weren't in computer class with her, their encouraging words helped her stay focused on the typing lessons.
Sioku had finished 15 more lessons with perfect accuracy by the time class was dismissed.
She gladly logged out of her profile before leaving the classroom.
Slipped deep into her thoughts on the way to her next class.
Jessy met Sioku near the entrance to another portable classroom.
"Hello mis healer, how did computer class go?" she started.
"The same as always," Sioku answered with a heavy sigh.
Jessy put a hand on her friend's shoulder and continued. "Hey, that class is over now. World geography is up next, and it's also our last period."
The two girls then entered the classroom followed by a group of other students.
Sioku and Jessy sat down in a row of chairs near the door.
Sioku felt the anticipation building up inside her as she situated herself.
The muscles in her right arm began to tense up.
She gently rubbed it to ease the pressure.
"What's wrong Sioku?" asked Jessy.
"I'm just feeling a bit anxious about SAO," Sioku answered softly.
"I understand, but I advise you to stay focused. We're taking notes today," Jessy replied with a serious expression.
"That's good," Sioku said with a smile.
After taking attendance, the teacher turned on her projector.
She than began the lecture.
Sioku cleared away her thoughts about SAO in order to focus only on the lecture.
The teacher's voice was loud enough to prevent Sioku's mind from wandering.
She also stayed focused by copying the slides of notes in her notebook.
Class was dismissed an hour later.
People immediately rushed out the door.
Their energy made Sioku laugh to herself.
Sioku and Jessy collected their belongings before walking out of the classroom.
They happily raced each other down the metal ramp.
Jessy playfully spun Sioku around in a circle.
Sioku laughed out loud in response.
"Who's ready to play SAO tonight?" Jessy said with a wide grin.
"I am so ready!" Sioku hollered back.
Sioku felt as if a huge amount of weight had been lifted off her shoulders.
She let out a relaxed sigh.
The girls then made their way toward the buses.
Sioku waved at Ariel before boarding a bus.
She then sat down in a seat behind the driver.
Jessy followed suit before plopping down in the seat beside Sioku.
Jessy looked at Sioku as a thought crossed her mind.
"Hey Sioku, would you mind if I meet you at the store before coming to your house?" she asked.
"Not at all," Sioku answered happily.
Sioku and Jessy remained silent during the bus ride.
A half hour later, the bus arrived at the third stop.
Sioku gave Jessy a hug before exiting the bus.
Lynn joined Sioku by the bench.
Jessy waved at Sioku before the bus drove away.
Sioku grinned competitively at her younger sister and asked. "Do you want to race again?"
"Of course," Lynn answered.
Sioku immediately bolted ahead of her younger sister.
She used her growing excitement as hyper energy to push her forward.
The girls continued running until they reached the front porch of their house.
They could hear Trooper panting and whimpering from inside.