Aincrad Standard Time, 18:30. Alleyway near the Town Square in Town Of Beginning...

After getting out of the crowd, they both find themselves some quiet place to settle things down, she is sitting on the bench while Lai asks her with his concern.

Lai: Are you feeling better, Koharu?

She replies back..

Koharu: Yeah... Sorry that I freaked out. I should have kept calm.

Lai: You're not the only one who's panicking.. I was freaking out as well before I had the thought of finding you.

Her smile cracks up a bit from her cries..

Koharu: Hehe.. Thanks..

He asks her about Kirito and Klein..

Lai: Where are they? Did they get out of the crowd as well?

Koharu: They did.. But I was too afraid to move in the crowd and I couldn't leave you alone.. So I decided to wait for you to come.

Lai: Thanks, Koharu..

She smiles at him as she wipes her tears..

Koharu: Anyway, I'm glad your avatar didn't change..

Lai: Yeah.. I used the avatar creation based on my appearances in real life. That's why..

Koharu: Me too..

Then, she stands out, goes into his side and buries her face in his chest. He pats on her head to soothe her.

???: Aww, how touchin'.

They both break the hug and turn to look at mysterious figure, sitting atop of the side of the stairs.

Lai: And who are you?

She casually smiles and waves her hand at them..

Argo: My name is Argo! Nice to meetcha! What happened there sure was pretty crazy, huh? And relax, I won't bite. Much.

Koharu: So are we really trapped in here for sure?

Argo: Yep! He just stated the truth so we gotta do what he told us to. And what's your name?

Koharu: Oh sorry.. My name is Koharu.

Lai: And Lai..

Argo: That's more like it!

Koharu: So what are we supposed to do now? Will someone save us from the outside?

Argo: Nah, I don't think so. If someone could've fixed this, they'd done it by now.

She raises her hand as a peace sign.

Argo: So two choices. Wait for help that won't come or take action! Take your pick!

Lai: ...

Then, a thought flash in his mind.. With the image of Koharu's terrified cry.

Koharu: *sobs* We.. Can never go home..

But then, an image of the player who just got stomped to his death in his witness..

Player: Ahhhh!!!

As he comes back from his thoughts.. He decides to fight. He chuckles with confidence.

Lai: Isn't that obvious? Of course, I won't hide!

Argo: That's the spirit right there!

Lai: So what do I do?

Argo: Simple, first. You're gonna need something.

Koharu: Money?

Argo: Bingo, that's right! You need to buy or buff your equipment! And I know there's some easy quests with a good payout, interested?

Lai: Yeah!

Argo: Before you do that! Just remember, don't let your guard down! Especially when both of you are back in Level 1!

Lai: Huh!?

He looks up to his health bar.. Only just found out that he's back in Level 1, with 250 Max HP.

Koharu: Ehh!? He even resets our levels!

Argo: So you two up for this?

Koharu: Uhm... ! O-okay! As long as Lai's with me!

Argo: What about you?

Lai: Of course I won't! It's part of the game, isn't it!?

Argo: You forgot the "death" in this game, once your HP drops zero, you're a real goner.

Lai: Oh yeah.. That's why we have to make it out alive.

Argo: And there's one thing. I heard that Ki-boy is heading to the Horunka Village alone after splitting with another guy called "Klein".

Lai: Eh? How did you know?

Argo: I'm watching you four training at Origin Plains. So I thought you must have know about them.

She sighs as she feels relief..

Koharu: At least Klein's fine.. But Kirito went alone to the next village.. Will he be okay?

She smiles in confident.

Argo: Of course he will! He made it out to there once when he's just level 1!

Lai: Damn.. He already made a move, huh?

Argo: Yep. But it's too late for you two so make sure to get some sleep for the quest! See ya later!

She walks away from them..

Koharu: Let's find an inn to stay for tonight!

Lai: Yeah, I guess that's what we can do tonight..

They both search for an inn to stay in for tomorrow.. Lai books a room with two separate beds for them with only 250 cols price.

Timeskip... Aincrad Standard Time 21:00..

After things settled down, they both are about to get into sleep once Lai switches off the light.

Lai: Good night, Koharu..

Koharu: Good night too, Lai.

Aincrad Standard Time 21:30..

In the middle of the first night, it's not been easy for them to sleep in ease after knowing the fact that they all trapped in a Virtual World with a death game..

Koharu: Hey Lai..

Lai: Hm?

Koharu: I wonder.. Do you afraid that your parents would get worried?

Lai: Well.. Yeah, just a bit.. But this is one of my reasons why I should stay alive till we beat 100 Floor.

She chuckles happily..

Koharu: I'm glad you thought in that way..

Lai: What about you?

Koharu: My parents would still be working oversea today. I guess they won't find out for a while..

Lai: So you're living alone as well?

Koharu: Yeah.. I'm trying to be independent one in the real world. But I guess I can't do that in here of course.. It's because it's filled with dangers out there..

Lai: You have me by your side. We're gonna make it out alive.

Koharu: Yeah, that's what I have always thought. And keep it in my mind all the time. As long as you're with me.

Lai: Thanks..

Koharu: I should be the one to say thanks. For bringing me with you! ^^

Lai: Two is better than one. And I need you as well.

Koharu: So.. Should we take the quest about what Argo said?

Lai: Well, I guess it's the only way we can do in order to get Exp and Cols. Maybe the NPCs might got better equipment for us as reward!

Koharu: Yeah, we should try it out!

Lai: I'll stock on some healing potions for the two of us tomorrow!

Koharu: Great! But I wonder about something else.

Lai: What is it?

Koharu: If we stucked on here. What's gonna happen to our bodies in real life?

Lai: Uhm... I haven't.. Think about that yet.. Maybe they will send our bodies to the hospital?

Koharu: Maybe, with still our NerveGear on! ^^

Lai: Yeah! *Chuckle* That's funny to imagine that!

Koharu: Alright, this should be ease our mind for the sleep. Good night, Lai.

Lai: Yeah. Thanks, and good night too, Koharu.

They both fall asleep, with their mind filled with ease..

December 7th, Monday. Aincrad Standard Time 08:00 in Merchant District.

In the morning, both of them are checking the bulletin board for available quest.

Koharu: Uhm... What should we pick? All seems are needed to collect or hunting monsters in order to complete the quest..

Lai: Nothing's easy such as just running errands in this world.. Maybe we should stick to the boars..

Argo: Maybe you don't have to!

Koharu: Huh?

She just notices Argo was sneaking behind her. She got shocked by her.

Koharu: Eekk!! Why did you sneak behind us!?

Argo: Hehe! Well, I just kinda liked it! Anyway, about the quest...

Lai: What is it?

Argo: Wait a minute, before I say that.. I need something before I can spit it out to you.

Then, her fingers make an money gesture that is obvious for two of them..

Lai: Really? -_-

Argo: Yup, that's how business works in this world!

Koharu: So what should we do, Lai? We don't have enough col for that.. We need to buy some healing potions to stock on our supplies.

Argo: Alright, it's okay that you both don't have enough col! Maybe you two can help me for collecting the monster data and info for me.

Lai: Info about monsters?

Argo: It's simple! Only you need to do is to defeat the mobs. Once you grind enough, the monster data should written in a book and the book will store inside your storage. Then, you can give it to other players!

Lai: Oh, sounds great!

Koharu: So, what's the quest that you're talking about?

Argo: Oh, you should take on the {Primo Fang} quest from a NPC called Fang Fanatic. He tells you to get some Fangs from the Dire Wolf. And I want its data and info so it's a win-win situation for us! What do you think?

After hearing the request from Argo, he reconsiders that..

Lai: Hmm....

As he looks around, he notices something unusual..

Lai: Wait a minute.. There are much less players around here.

Argo: Oh yeah! Most of them were headed to the Tolbana. Now there's less players around here.

Koharu: Maybe they're off to the Plains to do some leveling?

Argo: Well, maybe! Why don't you two take a look on them while hunting down the Dire Wolves?

Koharu: Hm.. Okay..

Lai: You okay, Koharu?

Koharu: Yeah.. I hope they all are okay.. Anyway, we should buy some healing potions.

Lai: You think you can handle it?

She grins..

Koharu: Mhm! I'm better than the last time during the beta! Remember?

Lai: Yeah, I think I can put my faith on you.

Koharu: You bet! I'll be your reliable partner in no time!

Argo: Just get back to work, will ya? *Sweatdropped*

Koharu: Oh sorry! ^^"

Lai spends most of his cols buying potions while Koharu tries to look up for better equipments for them. As they all prepared, Lai and Koharu set off to the Quest Plains for the {Primo Fang} quest.

Argo: Don't die on me! I hate to feel bad for other people sacrificing themselves on me!

Timeskip...

*Klang!* *Cut!* *Wolf cries* *Fragments Burst!*

Lai: *Huff!* *Huff!*

*Slice!* *Fragments Burst!*

Koharu: Yeah! I'm hanging on it!

Lai: This place is clear! Let's go over there and split up a bit!

Koharu: Okay!

As they move up to where the wolves are spawned. They both saw something very terrifying..

Player: Yeaargh!!!!!!

Male Player: No! Get away from me!!!

Female Player: Kiyaaaaa!!!!!

*Chomp!* *Player screaming* *Fragments Burst!*

Most of the players had already there before them, but they all getting slaughtered by the mobs. Few of the players just got their body sliced in half or lost their head by the Wolf's bite before they disappear into millions of fragments. They both got terrified but Lai notices Koharu's been paralyzed by that so he rushes to there without any hesitations to save the players. He slashes one and another by their head. Giving a 800 HP healing potion each for the injured players.

Lai: Get out of here! Now!

Player: Phew! I'm saved!!

*Slice!* *Hack!* *Fragments Burst!*

Lai: Get to the Safe Zone! I got this!

Female Player: Thanks for rescuing me!

As he saves more of them, he quick turns back to Koharu who is still got terrified with her hand holding on her mouth by what she had witnessed that she doesn't want at all. Then, a Dire Wolf is behind her.

Lai: Watch out!

Dire Wolf: *Growls!*

Koharu: Uwahhhh!

A sword struck on the Wolf's head. Then, Lai grabs her hand and runs away from the Wolf packs together..

In Horunka Woods...

After they both escape from the mobs, Lai bows down a bit as he used up all his stamina from the battle and the running.

Lai: *Huff!* Huff!* *Cough!* We barely.. Made it out!

Koharu: *Sniffs!*

Lai: Huh?

Koharu: *Sobs!* Did.. Those players.. D-die.. For real? But there wasn't any blood... There wasn't any blood...

He silents for a while as he was uncertain.. But he replies to her to soothe her..

Lai: I guess we have to assume so..

Then, he starts clenching his teeth..

Lai: (I know this is The World we have to live now.. But.. That's not how someone should have to die!)

Then, he sits down with Koharu and grabs her hands..

Lai: Let's get stronger. Let's live, and beat this thing! Together!

Koharu: But... I'm just slowing you down...

Suddenly, he hugs her, catching her off guard completely as she just got surprised by his action..

Lai: No, you're not. You're doing great on yourself so you'll be way stronger in no time. Besides, you're the someone I need, and the only one I can trust here...

Her heart flings a bit..

Koharu: Really?

He stands out and reaches his hand to her.. She could tell that he's fighting back his fear as she looks through his eyes. Then, she accepts him..

Koharu: Well, okay... Watch out! Cause I'll be stronger than you someday!

Lai: *chuckle* That's the spirit..!

Koharu's POV

He's always there.. For me.. Despite the danger we both in.. He's never abandon me alone. So..

"We'll get stronger.. Together!"

Timeskip...

Ever since that quest, Lai and Koharu fought side by side, clearing all sorts of quests, regardless of the payout's worthy or not. And slowly, they both grew stronger, along with their upgraded equipments. Until..

Aincrad Standard Time, 12:00 in Merchant District..

Koharu: I think we both got stronger!

Lai: Indeed, our efforts sure had paid off..

Koharu: But our stats are just numbers, I don't really feel the strength in me. I still feel helpless tho.

Lai: Maybe we should test it on some stronger mobs?

Koharu: I don't know.. Maybe we should stick back on grinding more on the Flower Nepenthes in Horunka Woods?

Lai: Okay, if you insist.

Miyurin: Hold it right there! You two! With gear like that, you must be quite the warriors!

Koharu: Huh?

Lai: Wait, that voice..!

Then, It was Miyurin and Ulrik who approaches to them. Instead with couple avatars, those two are now became just some punk kids after the reset. A very skinny one and overweight guy.

Lai: Oh.. Them.. -_-

Koharu: Oh, uhh.. Do you need something?

Miyurin: Yeah I uhh... Ahem! I'm Miyurin! Just your regular ol' town dweller.

Ulrik: And I'm Ulrik. Me and him are partners, I guess. Nice to meet ya. Truth is, I got a little something to ask. Think you could maybe, you know. Help us out a tad with a little quest?

Miyurin: It's just a quest to deliver a letter to an NPC, but it keeps sending us here there and everywhere. A real pain-in-the-butt fetch quest. It doesn't even offer that great of a payout either, so almost everyone has skipped it.

Ulrik: But once we pass a certain threshold, we'll unlock another quest and THAT will give us some better rewards.

Miyurin: The quest itself is a piece of cake. Just picking up drops. The problem is..

Lai: Can't find the drops I assume?

Miyurin: Uhh.. Yes! The first place is in Origin Plains, place we can easily handle.

Ulrik: But the other item. It only drops in Quest Plains.

Miyurin: We can't go there! We'd be toast with this paper-thin armor!

Koharu: So that's why you two ask us?

Miyurin: Yeah.. No one seems to be interested, though.

Lai: Let me guess, the quests in this town aren't effective anymore?

Miyurin: How do you know that?

Lai: Well, obviously the quests around here is for pure beginners tho. But most of the players just wanted to go out there and hunt for themselves. That's what typical players would do.

Miyurin: Yes, they said "The quests in this town are for wimps!" "You wanna level up? Go hunt monsters and move on to the next town for better rewards, punks!"

Lai: What!?

Koharu: How can they say that!? We had been doing quests around here and we're both are doing perfectly fine here!

Lai: I guess they're just deperately try to get strong. That's the tradition of the game and that's why we saw so many players grinding at the Quest Plains.

Koharu: But most of them are ended up dying tho.. And the rest of them had escaped to the Tolbana..

Lai: They're all just idiots.. Well, we just gotta mind our business..

Koharu: But.. I feel they're all feeling helpless tho. Just like me..

Lai: ...

He sighs a bit as he feels to agree that..

Lai: Yeah, I heard you. That's why I need you to stay with me.

Koharu: But you saved some other players. So I think you've gotten stronger ever since that.

Lai: Well you too, Koharu! You're not falling over your feet anymore.

She pouts..

Koharu: Geez.. Now it's not the time to crack a joke!

Lai: Well, I have to snap you out of it. ^^

Miyurin: Aww!! Now I miss my girly avatar!

Ulrik: *sigh* Miyurin. You're acting up girly again.. Anyway, anyone whose ever played a game knows grinding monster battles is best to level. But here, we're talking real life and death.

Miyurin: And what's gonna happen to us now that we're trapped inside this game? How long are we really gonna last? Oh, uh... Sorry 'bout that. Putting a damper on the mood and all.

Ulrik: But sitting around dwelling ain't gonna change anything, so let's just forget about it! We gotta be more upbeat than that. Although this is what I wish I could say, but it's kinda hard to get over...

As she feels the safety with him, she comforts the kids with confident grin.

Koharu: I know just how you feel.. Somewhere deep down inside me, I know I'm still just waiting for someone to rescue us. But if we just leave it to that, we'll never get anywhere, right?

Miyurin: Yep. No matter how crummy it gets. We still gotta make the most of it!

Ulrik: So we've all gotta work together! And on that note then... You think you guys might wanna help? We can all split the reward, whaddya say?

Koharu: Lai! These two seem like good people. What do you think?

He nods without a second thought..

Lai: All right! We can handle that!

Ulrik: Oh thank goodness! Alright, get me five Wolf Claws from-!

Lai: Here it is.

He just takes out some Wolf Claws which Lai had saved some from their grind just as Ulrik said.

Miyurin: No way!

Ulrik: Woah! Thanks! You really saved us!

Miyurin: I'll go grab our rewards. Just wait here!

He leaves for a while to the NPC..

Koharu: That was easy! ^^"

He winks at her..

Lai: At least we helped them out.

Koharu: *chuckle* Yeah! It kinda feels great!

As Miyurin reports the quest, all contributed players get the same amount of 1350 Exp points. He soon comes back and share the cols reward with the four of them..

Miyurin: Okie dokie! Here's our lovely little reward! Oh I'm so happy I could gonna burst, Miyurin!

Both of them try to hold their laugh from his act..

Koharu and Lai: Pfft!!

Ulrik: Mi-chan.. No one's gonna fall for that act with that avatar.

Miyurin: Gah, sorry.. Okay guys, come reap the rewards of my.. Man, it's harder to drop the girly avatar act than I thought.

Lai: It won't be too long for you.

Miyurin: Anyway! Thanks a bunch! This might sound like an exaggeration, but you guys helped me find some confidence.

*Acquire 150 cols from the quest*

Ulrik: You know, I've played a lot of games. And I always thought I was just like the heroes in them! Thought I had it in me.

Koharu: Don't say that..

Ulrik: But I guess I was wrong. Now that it's all so real, I've lost all the fight in me. I've been just pecking at battles right outside town, running back when I lose HP...

Miyurin: We should have been able to go to Quest Plains ourselves. But the thought of it was so frightening.. You two though, you're something.

Koharu and Lai: ?

They both look at each other before she asks back..

Koharu: What do you mean?

Miyurin: You could have turned us away. But you went right out of it without any hesitations.

Lai: I don't know.. I just sorta feel that's the right way..

Ulrik: We really need to try harder, too. Just..... While staying alive.

Miyurin: Thanks for your help before. What are you two up to now?

Ulrik: If you uhh.. Don't have any plans, would you wanna join us and..

A three horned head guy just came out of nowhere to them..

???: NOPE! You stick around with those scaredy cat newbs and lemme tell ya kid, you ain't ever gonna make it outta this place.

Koharu: Huh?

Lai: !?

Miyurin: How rude! We've been getting ready to leave ourselves, you know!

???: Yup, big words, eh? You gonna stroll right on out now, then?

Miyurin: Now...?

He rudely cuts in and asks the other two of them..

Kibaou: Forget the casuals. The name's Kibaou. Got something to talk with you lot about.

His sudden and rudely presence had already make Lai unpleasant. Koharu asks curiously.

Koharu: With us...?

Kibaou: You two seem in better shape than these babies just wasting time in town. I'll give it to ya straight. I want you to team up with me for a little something.

Koharu: Such as?

Kibaou: I'm gathering up folk with grit to take on the boss and move off this floor.

Lai: You're planning to fight the floor boss?

Kibaou: Not planning, kid. We're gonna do it. What I need right now is to level up all our stats. Right out I have everyone out picking up quests around town.

He retorts back..

Ulrik: After you turned us down flat, telling us the rewards weren't good enough...?

Kibaou: You dense or something? I'm talking high rate of return here. Only the best quests. I'm not out here just mulling around like you idiots, without a plan or anything.

He starts shaking as he afraids..

Ulrik: Well.. I..

Lai: That's enough! Everyone's doing what they can here!

Kibaou: To do what, exactly?

Lai: To-!

Koharu: To stay alive and help each other out. That should be everyone's priorities.

Kibaou: That's easy for you two to say.

Lai: Look, do you have any idea-!

He got cut off by Koharu, who's holding his hand and shakes her head, telling him to stop.

Kibaou: Got any problems?

Koharu: We're fine. We just gotta stay alive.

Kibaou: Righto. We gotta stay alive, shoot out to the top, and get out of this garbage game. We've got just one thing we gotta focus on. Shooting for the top no matter what. That, and gathering the funds we need.

Koharu: You mean...

Kibaou: Once we start harder quest, some of them need all kinds of drops. It'd be a pain to do them alone, but if we assign the right people to each drop, we can cut back on time and trouble. Everyone gets their fair share of rewards. Can't argue with that, right? So whaddya say?

Lai: ...Do we have any choices? Guess I'll take it anyway..

Kibaou: The Little Nepenthes in Rivalry Plains should drop Mark Of Courage. Go and get three for-!

Lai: Don't bother..

Kibaou: Eh?

He throws the bag to Kibaou which contains three Mark Of Courage just what he asked for.

Miyurin: WHAT!?

Ulrik: They both got it already!?

Kibaou: Color me surprised! You're already got the goods! This should do it. Alright then, here's your cut. I'm not gonna draw up a receipt, but it's all there.

*Acquire 5000 cols from Kibaou.*

Ulrik: That's.. A lot of cash... You really weren't kidding, huh?

Kibaou: Stop sitting there eyeing it and go level up to join us. We still got some room for ya.

Ulrik: You've got quotas and stuff, right? No thanks. I'm not sure we wanna rush anyway.

Then, they both leave.

Kibaou: That's what I get for even trying. How 'bout you lot? You ready to join me in taking on that boss?

Koharu: I... I can't decide. You're probably right, Kibaou. With things as they are, we need to work together. I agree.. But still, I don't just want to abandon anyone below our level. Even Lai doesn't want that too..

Kibaou: Bunch o' newbs, huh? Fine, whatever. You're still better than that lot who just care about making themselves stronger.

Lai: Wha-?

Kibaou: Leveling up solo ain't gonna cut it. But dragging around scaredy cat isn't either. Both will get you crushed before level 100.

Koharu: Then what do you want us to do?

Kibaou: Simply simple, we just need players ready to commit, and ready to work together. That's what I say..

Koharu: ...

Kibaou: You lemme know if you feel ready. Really, I hope it's before we take on the boss. Wouldn't mind having you there.

He takes his leave after that..

Miyurin: I guess even spiky head has his own goals and reasons, huh...

Ulrik: Is that enough to get us moving though? I hear some group of jerks are holding up the best farming spots. They're probably Kibaou's gang, too. Working with them isn't really my style.

Miyurin: Shoulda said that while he was still here, then. I guess we just gotta stick to our ways.

Then, both of them leave as well. Following their own ways.

Koharu: Your ways, huh.. Thinking for yourselves, not just following someone else.. Lai?

Lai: Hm?

Koharu: Remember what I told you about being an independent one? Because I'll start trying to think ahead for myself a bit, too.

Lai: ...Yeah, you said that already..

He feels a bit disappointed on her opinion.. She notices that..

Koharu: Something's wrong, Lai? I can tell that you don't really agree with that..

Lai: No, it just hard to manage ourselves if we both split up and go our own ways.

Koharu: Yeah, but right now I'm just so worried about surviving, I haven't really given it much thought. But I'll have to mull it over at some point. But..

She smiles out to him..

Koharu: I promise I won't forget you, and until then I hope you don't mind me hanging around with you.

Lai: *chuckle* You better be. It's a promise!

Koharu: Yeah!

End Of Chapter...