Reality's Blade

Chapter 1: Legerdemain

He sat there staring out the window, and I stared at him feeling my heart pounding in my chest. I cursed my own feelings, Kazehiro hadn't been out with anyone the whole time he'd been at school, there was no way he'd go out with me. I wished my feelings would just go away so I wouldn't have to deal with feeling so giddy every time I saw him.

The classroom was quiet as the bored students sat listening or daydreaming, the room dimmed and brightened as clouds masked the sun then continued on their way. Every now and then light would stream through the mass of leaves on the trees and illuminate Kazehiro as if he were some chosen angel.

The bell rang for break time. The life returned to the student's expressions as freedom embraced them, the teacher tried in vain to explain about a homework but the excited chatter had already started to drown him out.

Thank goodness, that last hour had dragged. I collected my bag and headed to the toilet, needing to pee from the beginning of the lesson hadn't helped my concentration.

"Hey, did you hear that rumour?"

"Which one?" Two girls were chatting in front of the mirror.

"I heard that Kazehiro is gay!" One giggled.

I wasn't normally one for gossip but I couldn't help but hold my breath.

No. He can't be. He isn't!

"What? Seriously? I don't think so."

Of course he isn't!

"Yeah, Shota saw him with a guy from Tatsuyama High! They were sharing food. It totally looked like a date."

"I guess that explains why he doesn't seem to like any of the girls. I heard he rejected Tachibana the other week..." They wandered out the door. Silence descended as the door banged shut against the oblivious babble in the corridor.

My hands were trembling. I could feel a cold sickness in my stomach.

He can't be... Surely not. But.. He could be. I guess.. But..

It wasn't a truth I wanted to believe. I wouldn't let myself believe. If he was dating another guy there really was no chance for me.

The rest of the day was a blur. I felt sick, I couldn't look at anyone. I felt stupid, as if everyone would know my feelings and what a fool I was for having them for a guy I could never have. Through the lessons I would steal glances at his back, as if it might tell me some hidden truth, but with each search my heart squeezed painfully and sank even further. I raced home, the last place I wanted to be was school, so close to the unattainable Kazehiro.

I burst through my front door.

"Mum I'm going to do homework, call me when dinner is ready!"

I stormed straight up the stairs two at a time to my room and threw my bag on the floor, scattering it's contents. I didn't care. I didn't care anymore. It didn't matter. I booted up my console and launched the visor. Escaping the world and all it's problems, and Kazehiro, was only moments away. I lay down on my bed and put the visor on.

Game Starting. Load previous game save?

Yes.

I was transported into the world of Legerdemain, into my other world, my other body, my other existence, and away from the problems of life. Almost. The pain in my chest was still raging.

In Legerdemain I was a low-level swordsman, only level 30. I wasn't very good at fighting, nor did my sword skills leave much to be desired, but that wasn't why I was there. I got to be someone I couldn't normally be. I was a man. I had blonde hair that was long on top so it flopped to one side, with shaven sides. I was average male height, but it was still taller than my normal body. I had chosen to be a man so I wouldn't be seen as a damsel in distress, a small fragile girl trying to wield a weapon out of her league.