Misai Kotoba's Story

Misai sits on a rock and sobs quietly. Her usual upbeat personality was seemingly gone. The initial shock of the news had hit her pretty hard and she just didn't know how to deal with it. Her shoulders moved quickly up and down with her cries and she held her face in her hands, hiding her tear-stained face. Junpei, being the young man he is, goes to her side and kneels in front of her. He gently puts his hands on her shoulders. Misai does not protest, even though she feels the desire to shake any human contact off of her. However, she knows she truly needs comfort at this moment and will not turn it away. Junpei was her best friend. He had seen her at her worst, so she knew he didn't truly mind.

Junpei gently shakes her shoulders and sighs as he looks up at her from the grass.
"Misai...everything will be alright. Trust me, okay?"
Through her cries, Misai speaks, "How could someone do this?! What kind of monster would create a game like this!? If you die here, you die in real life! How could he?! How could anyone!? I don't understand Junpei-kun! I don't understand!"
Junpei sighs. He pauses for a few moments before he speaks again, choosing his words carefully, "I don't know, Misa-chan. I don't understand either. But we have to get through this. We'll do it together, okay?"
"You know I'm no good at this Junpei! I've never played a game like this before. I just thought it would be fun! Why did you talk me into this?!"
"I didn't talk you into anything! I told you about the game and that I played it and that made you want it!"
"You're right...I'm sorry Junpei...It's just, I'm so scared! What if I die? What if you die? What if we both die?! I'll never see my mom again...or my friends! And what if they pull our helmets off?!"
"They won't, okay? The GM already said that the news channels have put it out there that the helmets can't be removed. It will all be okay, Misai! I promise. I'll get us out of here. I will protect you. Neither one of us is going to die, you hear me? I swear to you." With that, Misai throws her arms around his neck and hugs him. He puts his arms around her back and pulls her in.
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Kaede smiled for the first time in what seemed like forever. She fell onto the grass and felt it beneath her with her fingers. She stared at the sky above her, a sight she had not seen in years. Tears of happiness brimmed in her eyes, though she quickly shook them away. Slowly she stood, taking in everything around her. The sights, the smells, the feelings. This was a dream come true! Never again would she have to go back to the real world. Never again would she see the home where there was so much loss, never again would she have to live in darkness. It was a miracle, just for her. How could anyone want to leave a place like this anyway? She thought, maybe, they had families and friends to return to. How foolish, she thought. Everyone leaves you at one point or another, so why even try to make nice. Why even try for companions?

The blonde girl continued to walk the grassy plains and look around, when she noticed a couple sitting by a rock, embracing. She could hear the sobs of the girl and the consoling words of the boy. She kept her distance, not wanting to associate with the drivel. Obviously, the two wanted to leave, and Kaede had no time for people like that. She was here to stay; whether she lives here or dies here. It didn't much matter to her which side she took. As long as she could escape the world she left behind, everything was wonderful. Once she got far away from the "lovebirds," she began to walk backward, viewing everything there was to see. Eventually she made it to an Inn. Taking interest in this, as she had never been inside one, she walked in, turning as she took in the interior. Suddenly, she bumped into something, no, someone. A silver-haired man in very heavy armor. Instinctively, her walls went up.
"Watch it!" she snapped.

November 7th, 2022.
Floor 1: City of Beginnings
Level: 18

He looked at the small girl screaming at him, his hand going, non-chalantly, to his sword as he stared down on her. "What do you want?" He asked looking at her. "You're the one that ran into me! You little ungrateful piece of...." He mumbled the rest as he picked her up by the collar, lifting her up. "Now listen to me here little girl, back off before I decide to duel you for your belongings." He said his eyes narrowing behind his helmet... as he hadn't removed the helmet since the time he got it. He let go of the girl. "If you want to get to the second town I'm blasting through it with some new players to help them out atleast -get out- of the first town." He said, walking down the hall way and outside of the tavern.

He walked outside, then immediatly saw the girl crying with the guy in his arms. He walked over to the two, sighed as he grabbed both and seperated each of them. He mumbled to himself about him hating god damn noobs. "He looked to the two. Alright, so I'm blasting through to the next to with new players. I'll help people get to the second town since it's much nicer then the first. I'm inviting you both to join. No smoochy-smoochy though. Not in the mood for a couple of doves screwing around in the back rear." He said sighing. "Meet me here in ten minutes if you want to go." He said, walking back into town and yelling the same sentence over and over.

After a while, he came back with a rather large body of people, all noobs with no idea what they were doing. "Alright, chat and make sure you have a partner with you. They will be your spotter. A spotter's job is to make sure their partner isn't missing." He said, then looked at the brightly colored one. "I'ma spot you. Make sure you're not in the back. After we reach the second town I don't care what you do." He said with a sigh.

Medley Takamine

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Medley was still in shock, as much as she hated her life before, she couldn't possibly live without seeing them until the 100th floor. Even the beta testers, like her, didn't even get close to the 100th floor. She knew, that it was going to take a long time. She looked into her options to see what items she had, and to see how much she had saved up by the beta testing. She saved up quite a bit, at least it's food for a whole two weeks. She had items that could be sold decently, as well. She was determined to stay alive for as long as possible, so the first stop is for armor, and then grind so she can get to the higher levels. The first boss was at least level 18, so she was determined to get to level 20 before the boss. She knew all of the areas that were best for experience, and she even had the guide that was in the inventory. She knew, that if she was going to get out alive, she was going to have to be the best.

Medley looked around the area, to see if she could team up with anybody. Sadly, most of the stronger people have already left for the second town. But she had noticed a group of people, who looked as if they were familiar with each other. She ran up to them, saying casually "Hey! Are you guys partying with each other? We should all party together! I'm Guardian. My real name is Medley, but you can call me either. Please, trust me, I'll get you to the other town in no time!" She was very confident in herself, even though she didn't tell them she was a beta-tester. She quickly added: "Besides, the grinding is great, the place that I'm going! You can't go alone at my level though. So, what do you guys say?" They looked at eachother, then looked back at Medley. I wonder what their going to say...

She was about to embark on a journey like no other, and whether she lives, or she dies is up to her.

Kaede looks around the inn for a while. She touches the wooden floors beneath her feet. Some people give her strange looks, but her harsh glare disperses their attention. After taking in everything she can inside the building she exits and walks down the streets of a marketplace. She grabs an apple, giving coin to the man and taking a bite. Surprised, she lets out a "huh" as she did not know one could taste in-game. As she continues walking, she spots a young man ahead of her. He is quite good-looking, not that it matters to her, with brown, spiky hair and blue eyes. Kaede stops next to the young man, seeing his user name is "Blade Slizer", and begins looking through the items at the stand.
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The two were separated by a large man. When he muttered about "noobs" Misai quickly jumped to Junpei's defense.
"Hey! Junpei's been playing this since it was in Beta...if anyone's a newbie, it's me!" Misai never liked when people were rude, and if he was trying to help, he was going to need to ditch the attitude.
The man spoke, "Alright, so I'm blasting through to the next to with new players. I'll help people get to the second town since it's much nicer then the first. I'm inviting you both to join. No smoochy-smoochy though. Not in the mood for a couple of doves screwing around in the back rear."
"We're not a couple, man..." Junpei said.
"Yeah! I've known Junpei for years! I was upset because this is my first time playing and...under the circumstances...well, he was just being a good friend and helping me out. Cheering me up and consoling me, you know?" Misai blushes slightly. She had never had a boyfriend before, nor did she think of Junpei as anyone but her best friend, so it was awkward.
"Anyway, we could use the help. Thanks a lot."
The man spoke again, "Meet me here in ten minutes if you want to go. And with that, he turned to leave.

After he leaves, another person approaches them.
"Hey! Are you guys partying with each other? We should all party together! I'm Guardian. My real name is Medley, but you can call me either. Please, trust me, I'll get you to the other town in no time! Besides, the grinding is great, the place that I'm going! You can't go alone at my level though. So, what do you guys say?" The girl seemed very eager to team up and get going. Misai and Junpei looked at each other, then back to Medley. Misai nodded with a smile.
"Sounds good!" She said warmly. Junpei nodded to Medley.
"Actually, we were waiting for this guy. He said he's coming back and he'll help us get to the next town. If you want to join us, I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem. Junpei's attention went behind her, "Oh, here he comes now!"

The man returned, with a fairly large group of people. It was clear that none of them knew what they were doing. It was also clear how uncomfortable the man seemed to be herding all of them like a sheepdog does his flock. When they made it to Misai, Junpei, and the newly joined Medley, he stopped and spoke.
"Alright, chat and make sure you have a partner with you. They will be your spotter. A spotter's job is to make sure their partner isn't missing." He looked to Misai, "I'ma spot you. Make sure you're not in the back. After we reach the second town I don't care what you do."
"I guess I'll spot Medley then. She just arrived. I didn't think you would mind one more player." Junpei said to the silver-haired man. Misai looked at the man as well after he said he would spot her.
"My name is Kotoba Misai. You can call me Misai if you want to, or Misa, I really don't mind." She smiles with her words.

Medley Takamine

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"Actually, we were waiting for this guy. He said he's coming back and he'll help us get to the next town. If you want to join us, I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem." Junpei's attention went behind her, "Oh, here he comes now!" Medley turned around to see a tall man, concealed by heavy armor that covered his whole body. Behind him was a large group. Is this his army? No, it can't be. They are simply too weak to be on an army with him. I guess they're just coming along with us. Medley thought to herself as she gave the man with an army a glare...

But, to Medley, he looked familliar. She didn't realize it until now... She gasped. That was a Beta-Tester! She recognise that armor, and how it completely hid his body. She actually managed to get a higher level than him in the beta testing... She didn't want to be rude, so she quickly hid her emotions, and continued to listen to what he said. "Alright, chat and make sure you have a partner with you. They will be your spotter. A spotter's job is to make sure their partner isn't missing." He looked to Misai, "I'ma spot you. Make sure you're not in the back. After we reach the second town I don't care what you do."

"I guess I'll spot Medley then. She just arrived. I didn't think you would mind one more player." Medley perkily grinned at Junpei as he said that. "I love your enthusiasm to spot me," she giggled to herself, and then added "but shouldn't you be spotting your girlfriend?" He was confused. He didn't really know what Medley was implying! "Uhm, you know... Misa? She is your girlfriend, right?" He was shocked to think that Medley thought that Misa was his girlfriend, but immediately shut it off. "I'm sorry! I didn't know that you guys weren't-" She cut herself off, only to remember something. "Oh right, I forgot!" She quickly went into her menu, and requested Misai and Junpei to be her friend, and for Junpei to be on her party. "This friend system is really great! We can track eachother, message eachother and even see each others levels! But it only gets much better from there, I don't know much about it because I don't have any friends online at the moment- well, they're dead, but it's OK because who can blame their parents for not knowing about the Nerve Gear?" She said that with pain, but she still manage to sound optimistic at the same time, but everybody could tell that she wanted to cry.

"W-we should get going soon, afterall, we do need to go before the sun sets! Mobs get stronger at night, so it's best not to night-grind unless you are at a higher level. But first, have you eaten yet? We should all go to the Inn to eat first. Nobody has a high enough cooking skill, so I guess we can't cook our own food yet. But I have enough money to pay for all three of us. The food is very cheap here, but their rabbit is a mighty meal! Oh, and their lamb chops are too good to be true! You barely notice that it's virtual food! And to think the food gets better and better every floor!" She dozed off into her own little world about food for a moment, until she went into realization. She quickly added to her long talk about food. "It's a long journey anyway, what do you guys think?" She looked away and pointed in the direction of the other town. You can barely see the bell tower that ringed on the hour. She turned back to them, looking to them with an innocent eye.

Kaede shifted through the items on the <a class="ktg6us78hf8vdu7" href="javascript:void(0)">cart</a>. She could hear how nervous the boy next to her was. Internally, it made her laugh. She would never show that outwardly, but she felt it, nonetheless. Kaede knew how intimidating she was to most people. Not so much in the real-world because of her "disability" but here she looked like quite the badass. Or at least, that's the general consensus. She could hear him clearing his throat and preparing to speak.
"Uh..." he gulped a bit. It was clear he was not used to talking to women. Kaede rolled her eyes. Well, he would have been cute...
"H-Hi..." he muttered. Kaede looked at him, raising an eyebrow. She frowned, though her blue eyes had a slight sparkle to them in the sun.
"You got a stutter?" she snapped slightly.
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"I love your enthusiasm to spot me," Medley giggled to herself, and then added "but shouldn't you be spotting your girlfriend?" Junpei was confused. Medley continued,
"Uhm, you know... Misa? She is your girlfriend, right?"
"No! No! Not at all. I've known Misai since middle <a class="ktg6us78hf8vdu7" href="javascript:void(0)">school</a>. We're really close friends, but she's not my girlfriend!"
"I'm sorry! I didn't know that you guys weren't-" Medley stopped herself, then continued, "Oh right, I forgot!" She quickly went into her menu, and requested Misai and Junpei to be her friend, and for Junpei to be on her party. "This friend system is really great! We can track each other, message each other and even see each others levels! But it only gets much better from there, I don't know much about it because I don't have any friends online at the moment- well, they're dead, but it's OK because who can blame their parents for not knowing about the Nerve Gear?"

Junpei could see that Medley was upset. He puts a hand on her shoulder consolingly.
"Everything will be fine. We will get through this." he nods.
"W-we should get going soon, afterall, we do need to go before the sun sets! Mobs get stronger at night, so it's best not to night-grind unless you are at a higher level. But first, have you eaten yet? We should all go to the Inn to eat first. Nobody has a high enough cooking skill, so I guess we can't cook our own food yet. But I have enough <a class="ktg6us78hf8vdu7" href="javascript:void(0)">money</a> to pay for all three of us. The food is very cheap here, but their rabbit is a mighty meal! Oh, and their lamb chops are too good to be true! You barely notice that it's virtual food! And to <a class="ktg6us78hf8vdu7" href="javascript:void(0)">think</a> the food gets better and better every floor." Medley trailed off, then continued, "It's a long journey anyway, what do you guys think?"
"Once we get to the next town, that sounds like a good <a class="ktg6us78hf8vdu7" href="javascript:void(0)">idea</a>." Junpei said with a smile.
"I like that idea too!" Misai agreed.

Novemer 7th, 2022
Floor 1: City of Beginnings, Horunka Forest.
Level: 18

He looked at his back, saw the Medley come with them and chuckled, instantly realizing who she was. He looked at everybody, counting their heads. "Alright. Twenty players... This an even pair... nice. So! Here is what we're gonna do." He said, expertly opening his map, sharing it to everybody. "We have to get to the second town before night fall, if not... well, i'm hoping twenty won't be reduced in half." He said, then he heard mumbling inside the ranks, some people getting scared for their lives. He sighed, waving his hands in the air to calm them down. "I'm twice the level these guys should be, so fighting won't be a problem." He said as the talking calmed down. He jumped down from the rock he was on.

"My name is Kotoba Misai. You can call me Misai if you want to, or Misa, I really don't mind." She smiles with her words. He looked at her. "Arthoren Setsuko, Grey Knight. Call me Tsuko for short." He said, his armor still blocking his appearance, typical. He kept walking, hearing the shuffle of feet behind him. He looked at her. "Sorry for having pissed you off earlier, I have an attitude and I know. Can I work on it? Not quite..." He said with a chuckle, keeping the pace. "Your friend a beta tester? Well, he doesn't seem like it. The girl that he's with though, I know her... Fun little girl. I think she was in my guild at one point..." He shrugged. "Strong fighter. By the way she looked at me, she recognized me." He said grinning behind his helmet.

Then, not far from the town... it all went to hell.

Orange players dropped all over the place... they all had a guild in common.... 'The Dark Crusade'. And it really didn't take long before chaos broke out. "AMBUSH!" He heard scream before a they all caved in. He grabbed Misai, without even thinking and ran off, throwing her behind a tree. "STAY HERE!" He ordered, running back into the chaos.

The pixels of players flew everywhere.... most of them being from the Noobs he was helping. He growled. "BASTARDS!" He yelled, jumping into the fight, his shield and sword glowing... and then he slashed. His power was obviously higher then theirs, as his sword just cleaved through their sword arms... their legs, a circle just clearing around him as people kept going at him. The Crusaders looked at him in despair, as he turned around, looking like a devil... the wings on his helmet looking like horns. Some people even cried "Hacker!" He looked around, his eyes seeming to glow red... but that was just the sun's rays getting reflected on his helmet. He battle cried, intimidating all but a few. "I am the Grey Knight!" He yelled. "Fear me!" He yelled, the groups just looked at each other.

The onslaught continued.

| Medley Takamine |

"Everything will be fine. We will get through this." he nods. Medley look at him tearfully, and then smiles. He has pretty eyes... Wait- no. We only just met! I have to break the silence... She went red in the face, and looked away to look at the entrance.
"W-we should get going soon, afterall, we do need to go before the sun sets! Mobs get stronger at night, so it's best not to night-grind unless you are at a higher level. But first, have you eaten yet? We should all go to the Inn to eat first. Nobody has a high enough cooking skill, so I guess we can't cook our own food yet. But I have enough money to pay for all three of us. The food is very cheap here, but their rabbit is a mighty meal! Oh, and their lamb chops are too good to be true! You barely notice that it's virtual food! And to think the food gets better and better every floor!" Medley trailed off, then continued, "It's a long journey anyway, what do you guys think?"
"Once we get to the next town, that sounds like a good idea." Junpei said with a smile.
"I like that idea too!" Misai agreed.

Medley posed heroically, then smiled and put her thumb up. "Well then that settles it! Misai, you should catch up to Setsuko now!" She made a shooing action, and turned over to Junpei. "And as for you, we need to go now. We wouldn't want to be the last ones at the town! You know what a switch is, right? Your confidence in the game is actually astonishing, so you have to know was a switch is. Besides, you're a beta tester, like me!" Knowing him, he would probably ask how I knew, and he did. Medley stopped in mid-sentence. "We were in the same boss battle, except you weren't in a party, so I didn't think you knew how to switch... But, we can easily fix that if you don't!" Medley grinned, and cheekily added. "We should get going now. Race you to the mob's spawn point!" Medley and Junpei quickly caught up to the noobs and was shocked at the pixels. "I am the Grey Knight!" He yelled. "Fear me!" "Setsuko! What happened?!" Medley heard his name before... She only knew it as a username until now. He also a guild member... "Setsuko. Switch. Now. I want to give these players a piece of my mind." She cracked her knuckles. Let's just say, she was eager to meet them.

To be continued...