Klein(SAO)x Reader

Chapter Three

Waking up from my dreams, I sit up and rub the sleep from my eyes. Drowsily fixing myself a bowl of cereal, I gobble that down quickly, feeling as if I hadn't eaten in forever. It's been about a year since I started with the beta, not really knowing why it had taken that long. Klein and I had met up almost every day a few months ago, accompanied by Kirito. We had finally reached floor ten, but right when the boss's health dropped to ten percent, it had used a powerful attack, sent me flying into one of the pillars surrounding the room, and wiped out my health. Klein and Kirito couldn't help since we were the only three in there, and they couldn't be distracted, so I died sitting there. And I felt the pain, too, as if I were actually there. 

Dismissing the thought with a yawn, I turn on the TV and watch the news. Suddenly, a different screen pops up, and a woman starts explaining how the full game of Sword Art Online has been released immediately. I pause from my cereal, my head whipping up. My eyes widen, and I check the clock. It being around Christmas time, I'm able to play whenever I want within these three weeks the agency has given me, so I scramble over to my bed, pulling my headgear over my eyes, and yelling out the signal words, and the program starts up. I anxiously wait as I log in, and smile in relief when I open my eyes to a virtual world. 

Though, instead of being on floor nine, I check my map and see I'm on floor one, with no items except my Destiny's Story, which has the same stats and all. I notice my navy cloak has disappeared, and my level has been reset from twenty-nine to one. 

Huh? Maybe it's because I died, or those items might've just been for the beta.

I scan my surroundings and find my way through to the plaza. A thought tears across my mind, and I rapidly finger through my inventory, tapping the 'contacts' section. I sigh in relief when I see Klein and Kirito's names on the list. I tap Klein's name, and a small circle spins for a moment. Then, a message box pops up before I can type anything, and I tap the box to see who it's from. I see Klein's name attached to it, and I open it. 

Hey, you on? If so, I'm in the central marketplace. 

-Klein :)

I smile, then navigate my way through the busy streets, sometimes shoving my way past the thousands of players gathered around stalls. I find my way to the central marketplace, and observe the many faces for Klein's. Spotting him, I walk over to him, confusion being the more dominant expression.

"Hi, Klein! Do you have all your levels and items? When I logged on, I saw that my level dropped, but I still have my sword and sword skill." I tap his shoulder, and he jumps, spinning around.

"Oh, hey, Skylar! Long time no see! Actually, I don't have anything, either. That was probably just for the beta, though." He grins, then scans the marketplace. "I messaged Kirito, and he said he's on his way. So, what do you feel about having to start over?" 

"Um....I'm honestly a bit disappointed, but then again, we're going to do better since we know the attack patterns of the bosses and monsters, and we'll know where all the good spots for hunting and quests are. So, I guess overall, I'm excited." I point out with a small smile. After a few minutes of discussing our thoughts, Klein and I nearly jump ten feet when a finger taps our shoulders.

"Hey, guys." Kirito pats my shoulder from behind me, relieving my pounding heart just a bit. I put a hand over my heart as I catch my breath, and turn around with a small twinge of annoyance.

"You couldn't have said 'hi' instead of scaring me?" I snap, rubbing my forehead to soothe a headache that had suddenly popped up. 

"S-sorry! I thought you would just turn around!" He stutters defensively, waving his hands in front of his face. I calm down, resting my hands on my hips.