Chapter 1

A/N: This story is my very first long term project. I am still relatively new to writing in a fictional format, so i ask that you bear with the mistakes that I will make. Some of my errors might include: A bad story, bad punctuation, bad grammar, falling in and out POV, etc. With that in mind, I do in fact encourage you to call me out on any and all mistakes that I make. I also encourage questions, comments, request, recommendations and criticism.

Disclaimer: I don't own Sword Art Online, or any of its characters. It's owned by Reki Kawahara… that's it… nothing more to it.

Shino's POV.

I sit there in class, the last class of the day, counting the seconds until the school day will end. I wasn't even paying attention to the lecture that was taking place in the class, I just couldn't wait to be out of here. It's not because I have some place to be, or that I have someone to meet, no. I don't have anything exciting to look forward to, in fact, just the opposite. I want to get home because Endou, the school bully, and her lackeys have been picking on me. Not that that in itself is unusual. I often find myself to be the victim of her exploitation, and ridicule.

As the hands of the clock crawled toward the numbers that would symbolize the end of the school day, I began to get more and more anxious. Will I be able to avoid Endou today? I thought. I let my mind wander to a place it was all too familiar with: avoiding Endou. I was so immersed in thought that I hadn't noticed that the professor's lecture had ceased, or that he had called my name.

"Miss Asada, would you please tell me, under whose leadership, were the three hundred and sixty states of Germany were unified?" The professor asked.

His back was turned to the class, and he was writing on the whiteboard.

"Huh?" I stated rather dumbly.

"Would you mind telling the class and I," He started turning around to face the class, "Under whose leadership was Germany united under?" He finished.

Something told me that he knew that my mind had strayed away from the lecture, and that's why he called on me. As much as I loved professor Kawahara, he seems to have a knack for inconveniencing us. Lucky for me, I know enough about German history to answer his question.

"The three hundred sixty city states were united under Bismarck's leadership, sir." I answer with confidence.

He looked surprised, almost like he didn't expect me to know the answer to the question. That was to be expected. He did think that I wasn't paying attention after all. In all fairness, he was right. I had long since stopped listening to his lecture in favor of fueling my anxiety by watching the clock, and planning my escape route from Endou and her goons.

"Very good Asada, although, next time, do pay attention please.", He said knowingly.

My face grew hot from embarrassment. First, I was called on in class, which is not good for my social anxiety. Then I get called out on ignoring the lecture. Not only was it embarrassing, it is humiliating. It didn't help that all the students started snickering at the comment that Mr. Kawahara made. Although I'd rather them be laughing at me than pointing fingers and whispering. Something that I have become all too familiar with. I don't think that there's been a day of school where I haven't been subject to those actions.

"Yes sir. Sorry sir." I said shakily.

His stoic face did not, in any way help my situation. It made me more nervous than anything. I didn't have to suffer through it for long because mere seconds after I responded to him he looked down to his desk and began to shuffle around some papers.

"Alright class, I have an assignment for you.", he stated after seemingly getting the papers in order.

Choruses of complaints rang out. I'm sure the whole school could hear the classes statements of "No fair!", "Ahhh man!", and my personal favorite, "THIS SUCKS!". I found the classes protests almost humorous. Or I would have, if not for my ignorance of the lecture that the assignment is undoubtable over. If anything I should be the one complaining. I've had to deal with Endou's extra ridicule today, I'm going to have to find a way home that avoids her, and now an assignment that I don't have the knowledge to complete.

"Oh come now class. It's only fifteen questions," he started. "All the answers were in my lecture. If you were taking notes you should be fine." He finished.

With that Mr. Kawahara began to pass the papers out and the class silenced their complaints. Mr. Kawahara knew full and well that the majority of the class was not taking notes. I guess it was his way of teaching us to take notes. If we all do bad on an assignment because of our lack of notes, then he thinks that we will start to take them. No one in the class had ever learned from that though. We all obstinately kept to our pattern of listening exclusively. Only a few people in the class actually took notes, regardless of what Mr. Kawahara told us.

When he finally got to my desk with the assignment that I would most likey like, I was already packed to leave. All the supplies, homework, and books that I would need tonight crammed into my school bag. All I needed was the assignment that he was handing out, then I'd be ready to bolt out of the classroom as soon as the bell rang. If I rushed I may be able to get past the street where Endou waits for me, before she gets there. That was my general plan at least. That is, until Mr. Kawahara handed me the paper and said something.

"Could you see me after class please Asada?", He asked.

I was more than a little concerned but responded "Yes sir." just the same. It's not like I could have told him no anyway.

Now I have to visit him after class, and deal with Endou on the way home. Just great. It seems that this day just keeps getting worse and worse. As I sit there, wondering why these things happen to me, Mr. Kawahara returns to his desk and sits down.

"Alright, the rest of the class is a free period. Use this time to get a head start on your homework.", He stated, while reviewing some papers.

There was only about ten minutes left in the class period and the school day. That isn't near enough to finish all the homework we were assigned today. It could definitely knock out some of it though. So I took a few of my assignments out of my bag, and set to work.

By the time the ten minutes had passed I had completed my english, and chemistry assignments. That only left me with math and European history for when I get home. Now I just had make it through my meeting with Mr. Kawahara, then I can get out of this school and into the safety of my apartment.

I stayed seated in my chair, in the back of the classroom when the bell rang. All the student practically jumped from their chairs and ran to the classroom door, but I still remained seated. I had no reason to rush. My leaving would be delayed regardless of how fast I rushed.

As the last of the students filed out of the classroom, I began to stand, and walk to Mr. Kawahara's desk. Normally when a student is called in after class, it means that said student has done something wrong, and consequences are going to be issued. All I could do is hope that it wouldn't be a detention. I have never received a detention in my entire life, despite what everyone says about me. They say things like; delinquent; psycho; monster; and worst of all, murderer, but all but one of those things are not true. When I finally stood in front of his desk, he leaned back in his chair, and look at me with an enigmatic expression. I was starting to feel anxious again, and began to fidget.

"Asada," He started, "Are you alright? Is something bugging you? You seemed kind of distant today." He finished.

His enigmatic face had turned from something that I could not read, to one of genuine concern. It caught me off guard to say the least. The way he was acting prior to the question, in no way indicated concern, and yet here he was, asking if I was alright. Not a single student or faculty member had ever asked me that before. It's probably because of the rumors that follow me around, but if that were the case Mr. Kawahara would have heard them by now. Wouldn't he also try to avoid me at all costs? It was just so confusing.

"Asada?" He repeated

I realized that I had been standing there for an awkwardly long time, with no response to his question.

"No sir. Nothing's bothering me. Just tired is all." I stated while putting on the all too familiar false smile

"Are you sure? Is another student giving you trouble?" He continued his onslaught of questions.

Images of Endou, her goons, and some of the other students who, rather than avoid me, decide to harass me flash in my mind's eye.

"Yes sir, I'm sure." I say, all the while keeping up my mask of a smile.

He looked at me skeptically, as though he knew I was lying. Realistically speaking he probably did, but if I didn't tell him he couldn't do anything about it. It was definitely tempting to report Endou for her bullying, but if I did, I know that all the other bullies would just harass me more and more. On top of that Endou would most likely weasel her way out of the punishment and just start right back up on bullying me. Turning the bullies in was just not worth it in the long run.

"Alright," He conceded tiredly "But if any of the other students ever give you trouble, tell me about it." he add commandingly.

The tone in his voice had changed to quickly that I began to question if he was bipolar. He had gone from imposing, to concerned, to tired, to commanding, and then all the way back to concerned again. He is unbelievably hard to read.

"Of course sir. I will."

His eyes narrow. I think that he could tell that I was lying to him again. "Alright, you can go home now." he said once again slipping into his enigmatic self

"Thank you sir." I said as I turned around, bag on my shoulder, and head for the door.

"Oh, and Asada,"

I stopped in the door frame, waiting for him to say what he had to say.

"I don't care what the rumors say about you. I don't care if they are true or not. You're a good kid, regardless of what others say about you, or what has happened in the past. The future is all that matters, and for us, the future is the moment that we are living." He stated rather plainly. Then he smile, "That being said, you are by far my favorite student."

His speech and compliment brought tears to my my eyes. Thank goodness I was facing away from him. The last person I wanted to see me cry was the only person that ever seemed to care. I don't want him to worry about me more than it seems he already does.

"Thank you sir." I manage to choke out before running off in the direction of the school's front gate.

It's not that I'm not glad that he cares. To the contrary, it make me feel elated, to know that anyone care. Even my mother seemed to stop caring after the incident those years ago. I never hear from her. Which is partially my fault. I never call her, but she never calls me either. It's like a double edged sword. It doesn't matter which way it swings someone is gonna get hurt.

Not once did I stop in my dead on sprint for the school gate. I ran as fast as I could until I reached my destination. Only then did I stop to rest, breath, and think. Thanks to that meeting, Endou is undoubtable already waiting for in the route I usually take. She has also probably been sitting there doing nothing for a little while, which means she is going to be a little more aggressive than usual. Add together that aggressiveness with how much she was bullying me earlier, and you have a recipe for disaster.

I stood there at the school gate pondering what to do. Option one, I could wait it out, and hope she goes home rather than waiting even longer. But the odds are she's really mad about having to wait as long as she has already and will want to take it out on someone. Option two, I could take a different route home, but the neighborhoods around here aren't the best and I risk the chance of running into another thug. Option three, take my usual route and deal with Endou, maybe even stand up to her.

Opting or option two, I started out on a different route. It would take me significantly longer to get home, and it would be getting dark soon, but I don't think that I can Handle Endou's torture today. I'd rather take my chances in the dark streets of Tokyo. Besides, there hasn't been any reports of criminal activity in the area for quite a while. That, and there are always police patrols driving around now. Overall, I think that I chose the best option available to me.

Avoiding Endou had cost me my trip to the market, which isn't really a big deal. It just meant that I was going to have to eat leftovers, not my usually home cooking. Normally I don't keep anything more than what I need in the fridge. So I find myself visiting the market almost every day. Unfortunately, the market was right around where Endou was sure to be camping, and the route I was taking now, mostly consisted of small businesses, and apartments, but sadly no markets.

As I walked further down the pavement, I started to feel suspicious of my surroundings. I felt as though I was being watched. The hair on my neck was standing on edge, and I was getting goosebumps. The only thing that kept me from panicking and breaking into a run was the warm and smooth light that remained from the sun. The comfort It offered allowed me to convince myself that It was all in my head, and that thoughts of Endou had set me on edge. With my mind set on that. I continued on my way.

Though it wasn't long after that, that I began to notice little things that didn't seem right. Almost no one was outside. I've seen only one other pedestrian in all the time I had been walking, I've seen no police patrols, and occasionally I'll hear a second set of footsteps behind me. I keep telling myself that it is my imagination, but it is so vivid. Once again I find myself scared witless, but I kept walking none the less. The footsteps only seem to solidify in my mind. In a panic I charged into the nearest alleyway in hopes of finding a shortcut home. The footsteps stop, but I don't, that is, until a silhouette appeared at the other end of the ally. I stopped in my tracks, and turned around. At the other end of the ally was another silhouette. I was trapped.