Sword Art Online (4)
Sword Art Online (4)
It took quite a while to find the Kirigaya siblings... no, the two who had now become sisters.
Well, it wasn't exactly urgent, so I was satisfied just getting the report.
'She really did become a girl.'
The photo attached to the report showed Kirito, who had turned into a girl.
I had been half-doubting it even after using the 'TS Beam' item.
Now I knew for sure that the item's effect was definitely applied.
I liked it very much.
'How should I go about meeting them?'
At the very least, the original work didn't go into detail about what these two siblings were doing in the past.
Just a little bit of backstory popped up, that's all.
'No, wait a second.'
Seojun fell into thought.
Although it wasn't detailed, I felt like I had seen that they were practicing kendo with their grandfather.
But there was a problem.
I had no clue how to use this lead to get close to them.
'Even if they had a dojo, it didn't seem like it was open to the public.'
There was a dojo at their house.
However, it looked like only the Kirigaya family used it.
If so, there would be no room for me to squeeze in.
'Well, let's think about it step by step.'
Because opportunities can be created.
After that, Seojun pored over the report until it was time for his appointment with Asuna.
"Don't you want to play a game?"
One sunny afternoon.
Seojun suddenly asked the three of them.
Asuna tilted her head in confusion.
"A game?"
She had never played a game in her life.
This was largely because her mother wouldn't let her.
'Before Sword Art Online is released, the three of them need to get used to games.'
Of course, I intended to take measures to ensure they wouldn't die, but in the current situation where I didn't know if I could use that method properly, it was better to prepare in advance.
"I want to play, I want to play!"
"I want to play too."
While Asuna was deliberating, the Konno sisters raised their hands high and expressed their opinions.
Seeing that, Asuna nodded.
"Yeah, I want to try it too."
"Okay. Then come this way."
Currently, they were at Seojun's penthouse.
Since this avatar's parents were busy with work and always away on business trips, there were a total of seven people here: Seojun, Asuna, the Konno sisters, and three staff members.
Even so, it was ridiculously spacious.
"This is the game room."
He opened the door.
In the room, which was about 350 square feet, all sorts of game consoles and game packs were lined up.
Seojun chose a game that was good for the four of them to play together.
As it was the first time for the three of them to play games, he chose a cooperative game out of consideration.
"Whoa! Asuna eonni, help me!"
"Yuuki! I'm coming!"
"M-me too!"
At first, they spent some time adapting.
However, like children, the three of them adapted quickly and got insanely absorbed in the game.
Seojun, who was watching that scene, thought to himself.
'I can definitely get them used to it before Sword Art Online is released.'
I wonder if they'll be super excited when they hear the news of the release.
Seojun, who had been watching the three of them with a satisfied smile, suddenly thought of something.
'Wait, Kirito is a girl right now, isn't she? Will she even play games?'
Generally speaking, men play games more than women.
Because of that, it became a complete unknown whether Kirito, who had been TS'd into a girl, would play Sword Art Online or not.
'Hmm, it should be fine, right?'
The TS Beam only changes the gender.
That means the character's basic settings don't change at all.
If so, there's more than enough possibility that she'll love games just like when she was a boy.
Still, one cannot rely entirely on luck.
'For now, let's keep watching.'
It wouldn't be too late to take measures after something happens.
It wasn't that serious or difficult of a problem.
"Jun-gun?"
"Oh, yeah?"
"What are you thinking about so hard?"
Asuna narrowed her eyes.
She had a feeling that Seojun was thinking about another girl.
It was a woman's intuition.
And it was quite accurate.
Seojun felt an unknown chill and answered.
"It's nothing."
"Hmm, really?"
"Ahem! More than that, let's hurry up and move to the next stage."
Asuna stared intently at Seojun, who was trying to change the subject to get out of the situation.
That continued for about 3 more minutes.
Time flowed like water.
During that time, the relationship between the four became even closer, and news came that Kayaba Akihiko had been scouted for a management position as soon as he entered the Tokyo Institute of Technology's Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
He used ultra-small Solid State Material capable of higher resolution to upgrade the Electronic Coil-type BMI that Professor Shigemura had been developing, resulting in a massive advancement in the research.
'A genius is definitely a genius.'
I've seen such people in reality, too.
And the fact I learned is that nine out of ten geniuses are crazy bastards.
'This bastard is definitely a crazy bastard.'
Since he's killing thousands of people with a game, it's impossible unless he's crazy.
Well, he's starting to work on the NerveGear development now, so Sword Art Online will likely be completed before long.
'I knew Kirito was fine, too.'
Kirito was no different from the original work.
Now, she had quit kendo and was living her life obsessed with games.
How do I know, you ask?
I looked at the screen.
A game screen was displayed, and someone had sent him a whisper.
kirito: Jun, I'm going to go clear the Witch's Forest today, want to come with me?
That's right.
As you can tell from the nickname, that was indeed Kirigaya Kazuto.
I had found the game Kirito was playing, and by pretending it was a coincidence, I met her in the game and formed a connection.
The fact that the two of us were only a year apart in age played a big part in this.
I had thought about trying to lure Asuna or the Konno sisters along too, but I held off for fear that Kirito would feel burdened and the plan would go sideways.
'Anyway, those three don't really like this type of game.'
The game he was playing was a typical MMORPG.
You could say it was a bit of a Diablo-style game.
Since it was blood-splattered, it didn't suit the girls' tastes.
Still, if I had coaxed them, the three of them probably would have done it.
'Is it time to see if we can meet up?'
After sending a reply to Kirito saying 'Okay', I fell into thought.
It hadn't been that long since we met in the game, but we surprisingly hit it off so well that we were now almost best friends.
If it's this, she shouldn't have any major qualms about meeting up.
Seojun planned in his head and moved his character.
He formed a party with Kirito and headed to the Witch's Forest.
The Witch's Forest was the fifth stage in this game.
True to the name Witch's Forest, monsters from the plant, animal, and insect families, which were the witch's familiars, appeared.
Seojun chatted with Kirito.
[K-JUN]: Aren't you still lacking in level?
kirito: It's fine. I got new equipment yesterday. A level difference of 3 is nothing.
[K-JUN]: OK. Then let's go right in.
The two of them entered the Witch's Forest and cleared it quickly.
Just as Kirito said she had gotten new equipment, her attack power was quite strong.
Before long, they defeated the boss, the 'Blue Hooded Witch', and after finishing the appropriate distribution of the clear rewards, Seojun brought it up.
[K-JUN]: Come to think of it, it's been a while since we've known each other.
kirito: Well, that's true. Is it already 3 months?
[K-JUN]: So, that's why. If it's okay with you, wouldn't you like to meet up in person?
kirito: Meet up?
[K-JUN]: Yeah. I don't usually ask this, but I feel like it would be okay to meet you.
[K-JUN]: You can say no if you don't want to. No need to feel burdened.
kirito: Hey, you make it hard to refuse when you say it like that.
[K-JUN]: Is that so?
kirito: Ugh! Still, it's not a bad offer. Honestly, I wanted to see you in reality too. You're the first person I've clicked with this well.
Seojun, who saw the chat, smiled.
The permission came much easier than he had thought.
He quickly typed a reply.
[K-JUN]: That's an honor.
kirito: So where are you thinking of meeting? For reference, I live in Tokyo. Were you in Tokyo too?
[K-JUN]: That's right. Then first, shall we exchange LINE? Let's coordinate the schedule comfortably via LINE.
kirito: That sounds good.
Seojun, who succeeded in exchanging LINE with Kirito, coordinated the date and meeting place with her through LINE.
The day of the meetup arrived.
Seojun, who had finished getting ready, looked in the mirror.
"Damn, I'm handsome."
He smiled with satisfaction and headed to the meeting place.
Arriving at the meeting place in a limousine, he ordered the driver to take some free time until he contacted him, and told the bodyguard to stay out of sight.
'Is that the place?'
A small park in the city center with a clock tower.
That was where I had promised to meet Kirito.
Seojun checked the time.
'I arrived about 5 minutes early.'
He relaxed his mind and waited.
How much time had passed?
A familiar face appeared at the park entrance.
It was none other than Kirigaya Kazuto.