When Reality meets Online

Chapter 3: Party

Kirito's POV...

> December 2nd, 2022 (1st floor . Tolbana)

One month has passed since the game started, and during that time, 2000 people have died though Kaneki was lucky enough to be excluded from those numbers. And yes, he is still alive and well. In fact, he's out in the fields again trying to level up.

However, not one person has cleared the 1st floor. Not even I, who was a Beta tester, have been able to reach the Boss Room. But today, a boss fight conference for the first floor will be held.

During the middle of the day, we were all called in for a meeting in a coliseum-like place. It was in ruins while some places were filled with moss though the seats were safe enough to sit on.

"Listen up! I'll be starting the conference now!" said a blue haired handsome man in the middle of the stadium in front of us. Looking at him, he was tall. Maybe about the same height as my seniors back at school. Still, I couldn't help but observe him. Oddly enough, he looks familiar.

..did I meet him somewhere before?

Anyways, as soon as he said those words, all the other players hurriedly took their seats while I sat in the nearest seat and isolated myself away from them.

Just then, when the blue haired teen was about to say something, right in the corner of my eye, I saw a glance of white hair. My eyes went wide to see him. There are no other players I know who have that kind of color.

Kaneki popped up and excused himself in front of the stadium where the blue haired boy was standing.

"Sorry, I'm late. Did I miss anything?.." he said while giving up and down breaths while resting his palm in a nearby wall. It was obvious that Kaneki ran here in a hurry, which resulted in him getting exhausted. Well, I did mention him to come to this place after he was done farming EXP in the forest.

The blue haired teen puffed his nose and crossed his arms, giving off a vibe of an angry teacher in front of his lousy student. But among those, in my surprised state, he smiled.

"Well, well, well~ looks like we have someone here who is late for this meeting. If I may ask, what's your name?"

"Kaneki..sir.." Kaneki spoke with haggard breathes between them, staring at the blue haired man before him. The said man nodded.

"I see. It's good that you are very modest and determined to be here, so I'll let you go and join in, okay?"

Kaneki bowed and slowly walked towards the stairs. The players were looking at him intently and this only made Kaneki to slightly frown.

I closed my eyes and quietly sighed. Knowing Kaneki for a month now, I'm starting to understand the small gestures he's expressing. Right now, despite the other Player's stares, Kaneki seems to be distant, almost like he was troubled with something.

Did he encounter something on the way? Maybe I'll ask him later about it..

But before Kaneki could take the first step, the blue haired man called up to him with a wave. Kaneki turns to look at him.

"Oh yeah, Kaneki was it?" he asked.

Kaneki nodded.

"If you dare get late again. I'll be sure to give you a good and painful punishment, okay?" He jokingly teased.

Kaneki, the emotionless Player I've come to know, was shaking with fear as he responded in a stuttered way. "H-Hai.." and walked up the stairs.

The players laugh out, laughing at what that punishment is about to do to Kaneki. Though some comforted him, saying that was a joke or simply told him that the blue haired was weak and that he won't be able to do such a thing. Some even told Kaneki to forget about the punishment.