Chapter 1: Introduction
Tokyo, Present Day.
"Yo, Corrigan! Hook me up with some of those sick custom swords you're always talkin' 'bout, man." I looked up from the counter of Anime Heaven, Ignis flickering on the wall behind me.
The guy stood there with a stupid grin on his face, Jersey sports cap askew, and a bag of rice crackers half-empty. Kept slurping away on one as if it was natural. "It's a Saturday, Hikaru.
"My SAO fetish? Bruh, you can't even clear the third floor of 'Alfheim Online,' and you think I'm gonna spill about my knowledge on the subject?" I began wiping down the counter. After all, everyone in Akihabara knew there was an immense difference between those like Kirito, who dared to battle through 100 levels in 'Sword Art Online,' and those who barely scraped through a few levels in its sister-game, ALO.
"Oh, relax, I get it. The dude is a legend.
I mean, Kirito? He’s practically a god in the world of SAO. And thatAsuna chick? Bought a replica of her Yggrasil costume last month, even though I knew I'd never meet her. Guess that's why they call me 'Henry Corrigan: King of the Nerds' around these parts.
Hikaru's hero-worship might be a bit much, but, hey, who am I to judge? We're all fanboys in some way or another.
In any case, It wasn't long before the daydreams of my illustrious SAO fandom were shattered by the honking of taxi horns outside Anime Heaven. New customers, great. Maybe I could impress the ladies with tales of my supposed friendship with Kirito.
(God, I wish I had met him!) Or, muse about the divine encounters I had seen between him and Asuna. (I wouldn't dare admit that my heart turned to mush...) The moments I had so acrimoniously poured over until finally--my life became stranger than any SAO beast or mythical treasure.
A staccato sequence of colors flared around my peripheral vision. When I blinked, the vibrant hues dissipated like a dream.
I was left standing unsure of what had just happened. A ripple in the universe. That's what it felt like.
An unfathomable twist of reality, and I was now back in time during the early days of the SAO beta. The streets of Tokyo teemed with tech-savvy types like myself, wide-eyed and glossy, clutching newly-released beta kits in our trembling hands. Strain of familiar ambient tunes permeated the hubbub, making my hairs stand on end.
"Welcome, Test Users!" the main stage in Akihabara square barked that Monday.
The neon signs above hummed with anticipation, casting a psychedelic glow over the ground below as theline extended around the local electronics store.
I crossed the bazaar-like square, trying to avoid eye contact with my fellow SAO enthusiasts. That strange sensation continued to linger in the air, a cosmic scent that seemed to call forth old memories. I hurried past the saunas, maid cafes, and gaming arcades until I reached the blue doors of Anime Heaven.
I had been away from my life for too long.
It was only fitting that I hurried back towards my sanctuary. As I moved, the crowd around me shifted. Before even realizing what had transpired, I felt my hand knocked aside, a bag of rice falling at my side.
"Watch where you're going, newbie!" Hikaru snarled.
As he snapped back to attention, his eyes flung open wide with bewilderment. I couldn't even muster a rebuttal as I scanned the package in his grip.