A gender-neutral Y/N is an introverted solo player who spends almost every moment they can grinding in the Fields of Aincrad.
Y/N find themselves distancing further from the people they say they're fighting to free; but what happens when those peopl...
Silica, Leafa and myself had been making our way back to Floor 76 for the lunch invite that Leafa had gotten from Silica. I was a lot easier to convince than I would have thought: to accompany the party of two back to the Floor I was so adamant that I would not return back to anytime soon.
But I suppose that the cute charm of Silica is near impossible to say no to, and she seemed close to tears as if she was expecting me to say no... I don't want to ever be the reason she cries whilst we all still remain in Aincrad. I would rather she never had to cry of course, but-
Silica: "Come on guys, come ooooooon! Why are you being so slow?! It'll be tea time by the time we finally get there!"
Leafa: "Silica! Slow down a little! You gotta understand that U/N is feeling pretty nervous right?"
Silica: "Nervous? Why would you...? We've all been friends for years, there's nothing to worry about when you're with your friends! Right...? th-That's what you taught me anyways..."
Y/N: "... i- I know, but still...-"
Leafa: "Silica is kinda right you know, hey uh... here: wanna take my hand?"
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Leafa: "It'll be easier on you if you just let yourself be led for once, right? Instead of always having to carve your own path and stuff... just uh- just let me take the lead for you this time yeah?"
Leafa had her arm outstretched, with her hand held out towards me in a friendly and non-intrusive manner... but I still couldn't help but hesitate out of my longstanding introverted tendencies of avoiding physical contact- not out of malic, but because it was such a foreign concept to me that the thought of someone offering something of the sort to me specifically could only be from a place of ill will or a prank of some kind.
However, this did not deter Leafa at all. As she instead took another step towards me and now her hand had moved from its spot just out of my personal bubble and instead she reached down to the hand hiding against my side and grabbed it within her own.
I then looked away from my now stolen away hand and towards the face of the thief who had taken it from me, and all I saw was a bright and cheerful smile: one of encouragement, of reassurance, and... of a friend I could trust.
Y/N: "th-thanks... l-Lead the way."
Silica: "hmph! Finally! Come on already! Tee-hee!"
*TELEPORT: ARC SOPHIA!*
We were now back on Floor 76, it had only been two weeks since I stormed off out of here and back to the Hollow Area, but it feels like months... it felt almost nostalgic to be back down here again, and knowing that almost all of the players on my friends list were on this specific Floor too... was both comforting and completely anxiety-inducing!
It is nice to know that they're all on this Floor together, able to support and be there for each other, but I also am currently kinda worried that one of them may be wandering around town and will spot and approach our party of three arriving from Floor 77 before I had managed to psych myself up for the incoming encounter... I still can't believe I so easily folded to Silica's request!
