For Turtle.

Disclaimer: I do not own Aoharu x Kikanjuu.

…

The release of 'Survival Game' prompted the beginning of virtual reality gaming in the general community. Subject to peer pressure, Tachibana Hotaru had succumbed to the increasing popularity of the game and the 'VR' console gear. Initially, Tachibana was sceptical of the safety of the game but was overall indifferent to those who had become addicted or enjoyed the gameplay. But hey, Tachibana wanted to experience what life could offer. Staying up to date with everyone whilst being the Student Council President was usually lower on one's priority list. But with great persuasion by the one and only, Kanae, Tachibana was coaxed into playing 'Survival Game.'

Despite the expense of the console, Tachibana had grabbed a hold of the virtual reality gear (mainly due to the fact Kanae just happened to have a spare console.) Survival Game, the most demanded, popular and accessible game, would be the most enjoyable game any beginner to the gaming world would play. The general gist of the game is for the player to play against other players in seemingly magical yet realistic battles. Of course, like many other games, there is a story to the game and missions or jobs. Like many other games, Survival Game is able to bought online and then uploaded onto the virtual reality console. To enter the game, the player would find a comfortable position, preferably laying down, and then equip a head set and then switch it on.

The head set would automatically send the player's consciousness into the gaming world where hundreds and thousands of other players would congregate and enjoy the game together.

Now. Shall we begin the game?

…

Welcome to Survival Game. Is this the first time playing?

"Yes."

Please enter name.

"Tachibana."

Sorry, this name has been taken.

"Hah? But Tachibana is Tachibana… Then what about, 'Tachibana123?'"

Sorry, this name has been taken.

"…"

Random name has been selected. Are you sure you would like a randomised name?

"Yes."

Your name is Firefly. Confirm?

Tachibana groaned at the fact it was in English. It wasn't her best subject after all. "Faii-ahrr-faii?" Giving it little thought she confirmed the name. She wanted more action and adventure, not get stuck with being picky about names. Without paying any attention, most of her physical looks were randomized for the game and was given a random class.

Would you like a tutorial?

"No." She was already getting fiddly from her excitement. Come on, she just wanted to play! Not waste her time on useless things. Well, it was her mistake for the skipping the tutorial. She's a beginner either way.

Enjoy your game play.

A bright flash of light engulfed her vision, blinding her for a few moments before she was returned to her senses. She took in her surroundings and scrutinised the environment. It really felt like real life, but there was that whole 'lack' of feeling. Not physical touch feeling, nor anything like the wind, but she felt as if there was a lack of what real life was like. She looked down at her body, noticing the change of clothes into what was, the beginner gear. Then she noticed how she seemed to be set a build larger. She never remembered having toned leg and arm muscles. She also noticed how her hair just happened to be swept behind her ears but the length was not past her ears.

Rustling the newfound assets, her hair was spikier. Although it retained her natural hair colour, it was different. It wouldn't be that much of a bother, considering that it was just a game. Just a game, as they all say. She strolled down the beginner town road and noticed the looks of admiration from other players. They all had customized their character to whatever they wanted their character to look like. Most had just arrived in game, just like Tachibana, but a fair few had already been equipped with newly bought armour and weapons. That's when she realised that she had no idea how to obtain such items or access them.

She walked up the closest player, a girl, and asked for some help.

"How do you access items and stuff?" she asked. She couldn't refer to herself as Tachibana, since she wasn't called that in game. And referring to herself as Firefly was a no-no considering how she couldn't even say it properly. The girl's face flushed a dangerous shade of pinkish red. Perhaps it was just the lighting? But wasn't this a game? It was pretty advanced for a virtual reality game, Tachibana noted. The girl's reply came out in stutters.

"U-um. Y-you can s-say sh-show inventory, or m-menu. Or just h-hold out y-your hand and f-flick it any direction." Processing the reply word by word, Tachibana followed the girl's instructions and proceeded by saying 'Show menu.' A semi-transparent window appeared just in front of her and displayed her details and settings.

Funnily enough, there were sound options. There were various others just as the real life time (and game time), configuration, help, pain percentage and, of course, the logout button. That's when she noticed her little avatar image. She sure looked… handsome. It was the best way to put it. And there was also the fact that she 100% looked a guy to other people's general standards. A small detail that we should stress on. But Tachibana being Tachibana, honestly didn't really care. It's just a game.

"Thank you," she said as she waved goodbye to the love struck girl and continued down the road.

Accounting the visuals the game provided, she received a friend request by Pink Witch. It was Kanae. Accepting the friend request, Tachibana was then sent a private message by her stating that she'd meet up with Tachibana at the entrance of the item shop in the town.

Taking her time, Tachibana made her way towards the planned meeting spot. Something alerted her as she felt the sudden presence of something or someone behind her. A swift move of her arm, slammed her fist into the poor brick wall as it almost made contact with a (terrified) blond haired man.

Instantly seeing her mistake, Tachibana withdrew her fist and apologised. The man laughed nervously.

"Hey, it's fine. But you sure have some crazy strength. Are you Berserker class?" he asked. The question left Tachibana confused. She quickly took at a look at her character profile, stating what class she was at the top, just below her name.

"Yes."

"Sweet! I've been looking for a beginner Berserker class to join my party. Do you want to join?" A puppy. That's what Tachibana saw him as.

"Tachi- I'm still trying to learn the ropes and I gotta meet up with a friend," Tachibana said, as she twisted her body towards the direction of the item shop.

"Wait a sec… Here a friend request." Tachibana raised an eyebrow at the blond man. He didn't seem like he'd be one of those PK people. She heard Kanae talking about an issue with PK or Player Killing. Survival Game was often riddled with PK problems. Survival Game had technically been out for about 1 and a half years, but only recently did it become fully accessible to those who wanted to play the game.

Pine Hill would like to be your friend.

It was an English name and so Tachibana decided not to say it out loud in means of not embarrassing herself. She accepted the friend request and quickly sped off when 'Pine Hill' was about to greet 'Firefly' properly. Well, it's not like that was going to be the last time they'd meet.

…

"What took you so long?" asked Kanae. She was already decked out in her gear, having played the game longer than Tachibana has. She was of a mage class, the Summoner. Basically, as Kanae explained, she specifically chose the class merely because she disliked doing the work and would rather work on supporting people or having spirits do the fighting for her as she supplied them mana. It's not like Kanae was the physical type either way.

Kanae gave Tachibana a good look from head to toe and then toe to head. She then gave a low whistle.

"Looking good aren't we?"

"Tachibana didn't choose to look like this." She noticed the flowery fragrance around Kanae. Perhaps it was just the location.

"I know, I know, it's kinda like you to just choose random. But you got quite the looks. And your class is just as suiting to you," said Kanae. "Also, it's better for you to call yourself Firefly instead of your real name. It'll be a big fuss if the privacy terms are violated. So call me Pink Witch if we're not alone."

"Okay."

"Now, let's get you some gear." The pair entered the item shop, which sold both potions and weapons of variety along with other miscellaneous items. Unlike most games, characters do not start off with a weapon, only beginner clothing, 5 small HP potions, 5 small MP potions, a random bonus statistic point and a personalized special skill or affinity. For Tachibana, she managed to get a bonus stat point in agility and her special skill/affinity was yet to be discovered.

Statistic Points:

Power: 13

Agility: 15+1

Defence: 5

Physical Affinity: 12

Magic Affinity: 4

Gun Affinity: 3

?: 19

There are additional skills and statistics, but those 6 were the main in the game. As a generalisation, Tachibana has greater talent for strength and speed play. Although, her defence is low and she had little to work with guns and magic (which are two out of the main ways to fight in the game.) Guns, magic and swords (or blades of sorts) are the 3 main ways to fight in Survival Game. It was originally made for only gun use, but games like Cou*ter St*ke, C*ll of D*ty and B*ttlefi*ld, continue to dominate the most popular FPS (first person shooter) games. 'Survival Game' was made to appeal to more audiences and lure people into the more reality based fantasies. Something like that just to keep everyone (or at least the majority of people) happy.

A few shrieks rang out the shop when people laid eyes on 'Pink Witch.' Kanae had managed to give herself quite the name in the game, considering her good looks, she truly was an enchantress to many (both female and male and anyone in between.) She earned the title of the Lurer, bringing people towards her with a strange sweet fragrance in the air. In Survival Game, there are such things as ranks and titles in which all players are able to obtain with some work and effort. They also bring extra attributes and add to statistic points even when unequipped. High ranked titles may allow the player to access an extra skill or ability and so on. Overall, the higher you are in ranks, and the rarer title you have, the more popular and well-known you are in game. That itself, is a high esteem to have in the gaming community.

"So if I remember correctly, you start off with 1000 crystals right?"

"Is that the currency?" Kanae gave Tachibana a good hard stare.

"You didn't go through the tutorial, right?" A silence from the blonde was a good enough answer to Kanae. She sighed deftly. "Oh well. As you know crystals are currency. There are such things has large crystals, which are worth 100 crystals each and there are other types of crystals above that, but that's all I've discovered." Tachibana listened carefully, taking the information into her memory. Sure, it was a game, but she liked to learn things she was new to. It was that sort of curiosity that humans possessed being humans.

The two had managed to settle on buying a long shiv for Tachibana to play favourites to her agility and Berserker class. Costing 250 crystals, she was left with 750 crystals.

"Since you don't have good defence, get some armour." Tachibana was a bit unsure.

"But moving freely will be better for me. Armour will drag me down."

"Fine. We'll get light armour for waist up." A disgruntled reply of a 'Sure' confirmed the purchase. The light armour, costing 600 crystals, left Tachibana with 150 crystals. The armour was thin but protected the chest and back. The rest was mainly a loose but thick material which wrapped around the player's arms and legs, allowing more freedom and at least some protection.

"Now we're all set!" exclaimed Kanae. Getting Tachibana to play the game was already a chore. Aiding her through the game would simply add onto her increasing list of priorities and worries. The fact that Tachibana looked extremely handsome as a male in the game was a bonus. She could also fend Kanae off the annoying or just plain weird people who wanted to get close to her.

"So what do we do?"

"Usually players travel in parties, so with other people, or go solo. It's an open world. But the main event in the game is actually Survival Games where you play with a team and try to defeat the other team. Some survival games require the player to deplete a player's HP to a certain point, others require them to make one hit and then they're out."

The two chatted away as they exited the shop and made their way to the exit of the town. There, they met the blond man that Tachibana had ran into earlier.

"You're here Firefly! You've got the Pink Witch with you as well," he said with a wink to Kanae.

"Kan- Pink Witch, you know this person?"

"Yeah, he's known for his looks." A love struck expression appeared on Kanae's face. 'Pine Hill' was quite the looker.

"Are you sure he's not deceiving you?"

"He's just friendly. He's not bad like some people. Besides, it's surprising the two of you know each other." Tachibana furrowed her eyebrows. Her instincts told her that the blond was not hiding anything but one could never be too sure. Mischief danced in Kanae's eyes as she thought of the next course of action. Giving 'Firefly' a shove forward, she let 'Pine Hill' catch Tachibana as she fell. Then, Kanae sped off, yelling something about enjoying the game with other people.

The two blonds were left alone and both equally flustered as emerald green eyes met sparkling blue eyes. They'd better get used to these situations or they would constantly be in trouble in the future. Not like they'd know that. ; )

…

I hope you enjoyed reading!

Zaira Swift.