Chapter Text
The moment the clock struck 1pm, the official launch for the Servers of Sword Art Online, Kazuto Kirigaya turned on his NerveGear and launched the game. In a whirlwind of pops and hums, smelling of lilacs and chocolate and vomit, tasting like orange blossoms and burnt popcorn and grass- the machine on his head calibrated the wave analysis and interception to match his specific mental patterns and fold him into this new reality.
The first step was character creation, which should have been a simple process. For one, Kazuto had the avatar data from the Beta. For another, this was a MMORPG- almost no one stuck to their original character as they learned all the tips and tricks to gaining power and fitting to the role they chose. Yet, despite or perhaps in spite of these factors Kazuto spent longer on the character creator than most. He focused on all the minute details tweaking things back and forth to make sure to create an avatar that truly fit his adopted persona. Finally satisfied with the changes he’d made, Kazuto quickly typed in his preferred screen name and finalized his build.
What Kazuto wasn’t aware of, not yet, was that he had not been undisturbed throughout this process. Suguha, his cousin, -though one he called sister to maintain the lie told by his adopted Aunt and Uncle- curious about the NerveGear tried to tickle her brother. While the device captures conscious thoughts and choices, the autonomic reactions of the body are not accounted for. Kazuto, in the moment he was finalizing his character, sneezed. And that changed everything- alongside a single mistake in typing out his chosen name for this return to the land he saw as home.
Kazuto felt his body materialize out of the air and breathed in the hot air from the city center. Sunshine glared through his closed eyes and the scent of grilled meat and sweat filled his nostrils. He opened his eyes and started toward the shops he liked in the Beta, filled with a sense that everything had changed, and that nothing would ever be the same again.
It wasn’t until the first NPC shopkeeper that Kazuto realized something was off-
“Greetings Miss! How may I be of assistance today?”
First he checked to make sure the NPC was referring to him, but there was no one else around. Then, he checked himself and found that, yes, this avatar was female. Asking for what he wanted revealed that he had a light, female sounding voice. In a daze, Kazuto paid for his items and left, having spent almost all the starting Cor.
After leaving the shop, and ignoring the NPC hawkers trying to sell him things, Kazuto found a quiet spot to sit and think. He could fill out a GM request form, asking for their assistance. They would be overloaded since it was launch day, but eventually his case would be seen. Though, they’d likely just say make a new character. Unfortunately, to handle the server strain, only one character could be created per account for the first week. So, he couldn’t just make a new avatar, not as long as he wanted to keep playing. His only choice was to stick it out for the week and deal with it. After submitting the report, Kazuto headed toward the fields outside the city to get in some early grinding and double check his skills before setting out.
The fields closest to the city were clogged with people trying out new skills and goofing around. With no interest in seeing how much attention his mistake would garner, Kazuto ducked his head and hiked for the furthest fields. During the day, all of the open hills around the Town of Beginnings counted as the same zone. The Forest was separate, as well as the areas beyond. It wasn’t until night that the fields and pathways separated into level zones the further from the city. Granted, from the furthest fields it was a long run to the safety of the city if you got in over your head, but he had little to worry about there. Picking one of the many boars from the field, Kazuto charged an opening skill and went to work.
It had to have been at least an hour, but Kazuto had tested all of his abilities and tricks from the beta. Most everything was the same or minorly tweaked in terms of damage or cooldown, but some of the tricks he figured out had been patched. He was running through the drops he’d accrued when a figure caught his eye. Whoever they were, they were clearly very new to the game. The guy was jumping around a boar in a panic, flailing with his sword without doing much at all. It was kind of pathetic really. Kazuto wasn’t normally the type to help a newbie learn the ropes, but it wasn’t like this would mean much in the long run. This character would be gone in a week and he’d be someone completely new.
“Hey, you!” he called out to the flailing swordsman.
“Hi!” the guy shouted back, turning to face Kazuto and forgetting about the boar. The boar, which promptly rammed him and trotted off. Kazuto drooped inside.
“So pathetic he didn’t generate enough threat to keep the mob engaged.”
“Damn hunk of walking bacon.” the guy grumbled as he climbed to his feet.
“Hello, my name is Klein, I’m 24, single, and look-”
“Not interested.” Kazuto growled.
Klein straightened out from his bow, “Okay then, worth a shot.” he grinned.
“I have to ask, is the patheticness an act to get chicks or are you actually trash at this game?” Kazuto asked.
“Ouch!” Klein chuckled, “I wish it was an act, but I’m really this bad. I’ve read the tutorial a dozen times, but it’s just not clicking for me. The NPCs that teach this stuff are covered up. I figured it couldn’t be that hard, so I headed all the way out here.”
“Guess today’s your lucky day.” Kazuto grumbled, “Now listen up! Sword skills in SAO are activated by motion input- do the right movement and the system picks up on it and executes the assist. Skills do better damage than straight whacking the monster, but they have a cooldown where you can’t move afterwards. Stronger skills have longer motion delay as well as cooldowns before they can be used again. Make sense?”
“Yes Ma’am.” Klein nodded.
“You should have two basic sword skills with that thing- a slash and a thrust. For the slash, start from over your shoulder and bring it down diagonal, like you’re going to touch the opposite hip. The thrust, you want the sword comfortably drawn up by your rib cage, then twist your shoulders to drive it forward and extend the arm. All the more advanced skills operate under similar conditions and functions. Some intermediate or advanced skills work by chaining additional actions on the initial movements. Try it a few times on the air.”
It takes him a few tries, but eventually Klein managed to activate a sword skill and got dragged by the motion. When the paralysis ended he fell to his feet.
“You have to anticipate the movement and work with it. Fighting it will reduce your damage and leave you open, like this.” Kazuto said, kicking Klein’s boot.
“Right, right.” Klein grumbled, climbing back to his feet and trying again.
When it seemed like he had a handle on things, Kazuto picked up a rock, “This is something the NPC teachers wouldn’t mention; anything can be used for a basic sword skill, so long as it fits the shape and size. This is one of the basic skills for throwing knives, but it works for rocks or any other small object.” Kazuto selected a boar and threw the rock. The boar’s health dropped a chunk and it squealed, wheeling around and charging them.
“You’ve got this Klein!” Kazuto shouted, stepping back to allow the swordsman to work, but close enough to step in if anything went wrong.
After Klein dispatched the boar, Kazuto continued, “Anything the right size and shape can be used- though durability matters. On the 4th floor, I-”
“I heard rumors that on the fourth floor, someone won a duel with a baguette.” he finished awkwardly.
“That’s really cool.” Klein praised, letting the admission go.
“So your name’s Kiriko?” Klein asked. It was late afternoon now, with Kazuto having stuck with Klein to do some early experience and material grinding. There were a few quests that Kirito knew the requirements for, so they could complete them the moment they got back to town.
“Ack!” Kazuto sputtered, rolling to the side and springing to his feet. “No! It’s - Oh.”
“Oh?”
“First, It’s incredibly rude to look at someone's menu without them offering. Serious faux pas. Never do that again.” Kazuto said firmly, then sighed, “It’s nothing. Yeah, I’m Kiriko.”
“I don’t know what you’re upset about, it’s a pretty name! And I’m sorry about looking at your menu- I didn’t know it was such a big deal.”
“It’s fine.” Kiriko dismissed, climbing to his feet. “We should be heading back to town before it gets dark- the mob spawns change after sunset.”
“They do? That’s kinda cool, but dangerous if you don’t know.” Klein commented.
“If you listen to the NPCs talking around the city, they’ll tell you as much. SAO isn’t like most other games- here a lot of the information and lore, even quests, are locked behind rumors and passive dialogue. If you don’t pay attention, you’ll never make it here.”
“Logout should be safe in the cities, with the safe zone and all. I think I read that if you logout in the field, your avatar will remain there while you’re away. Only in safe zones can it despawn and respawn when you log back in. There are zones out in the wild that don’t have mobs, but aren’t safe zones either. Just be careful there- I’m not sure if your avatar will stay or go.” Kiriko said.
Midway back to town, Kiriko and Klein are both teleported. When the world rematerialized, they looked around to see the main plaza of the Town of Beginnings. It was crowded already, but more and more players were being teleported in. Then, the sky started to bleed.
“Players! My name is Akihiko Kayaba, and I am your god.”
Kiriko looked around the plaza at the other players, momentary hesitation preventing him from checking his own inventory. Bright lights were erupting around the players and returning different looking people in their place. Klein was swallowed up and came back a few inches shorter, not nearly as fit, and more scruffy looking. His hair was darker, not as shiny or red.
This was his chance! Kiriko pulled out his mirror and looked at it, allowing the light to swallow him up and for him to be returned to his normal, male body.
“Yes! I’m- I’m still a girl.” he shouted, only for his joy to turn into bitter disappointment. Eyes pricking with tears, Kiriko turned and ran, shoving his way through the crowd and vanishing into the dark alleys once the barrier breaks.
“Kiriko! Kiriko! Slow down!” Klein shouted from behind him, but Kiriko didn't stop until he’s at the gates of the city.
“What- what’s the- what’s the big rush?” Klein panted, hands on his knees.
“This is a MMORPG, Klein, the most advanced and interactive in history. All of the Loot, XP, achievements, all of it is maintained in a controlled balance by the system that runs this world. There’s a cap on power in this world, and each of us are going to be chasing shares of that pie. Our HP is our life now- our skills and our wits are all that will keep us alive. Either we clear this game fast enough, or the government pulls the plug because it’s too many resources. Come with me, Klein, I was in the beta. I know the best quests, the best mobs, the best way to level and stay ahead of the curve.”
“Kiriko… I can’t. I came here with friends, and they need me to guide them and keep them alive. I know you’re scared, and I’m sure there’s more going on here than just the announcement. You sure freaked out when you used that mirror- though it doesn’t look to have done much. I’m going to stay here and help my friends, but you go ahead. I know you can survive this world. I’ll send you a friend invite in a bit, once things have calmed down. And Kiriko, if you need a friend, or anything, reach out to me, okay? You let me get too close, you’re mine to look after now too.”
“I-” He paused, debating whether to say anything, but then caved. Someone had to know- he had to say it so that someone would know. “Klein, I’m a guy. Not in a transgender way, but in the there-is-a-male-body-lying-in-my-bedroom-that-I-woke-up-in-this-morning way. I don’t know what’s going on with the mirror, or why it didn’t work on me, but I’m not a girl.”
Next thing he knew, Klein had wrapped his arms around Kiriko and was hugging him, “I’m sorry dude. I can’t imagine what it must be like for you to be stuck like this, on top of everything else going on. But I want you to promise me something- when it gets to be too much, when you can’t stand the body you’re in and it gets dark, send me a message. No matter when or where you message me.”
Klein sighed, “I had a friend. He was assigned female at birth. It got to be too much for him with his family and the world, so he- he jumped. I was one of four at his funeral. Don’t make me do that again, okay? Whatever you need, you have me. Now go!”
Klein gave him a gentle push and Kiriko gave one last grin back, eyes red from crying, then ran off into the night.
Things had gotten so complicated and hard, but it was okay. She could handle it.