Chapter Text
November 6th - 2022
“I’m sorry… you want me to what?”
“To shut up. Stop feeling sad. And put on this helmet.”
“I just came upstairs and this is how you start the conversation?”
“Hey! You’re the one that came to visit because your parents suck! So, let me help you!”
“And putting on this helmet will help me, how?”
“Ugh! I forget how much of a country bumpkin you are Ren.”
Ren Amamiya.
The leader of the once infamous Phantom Thieves of Heart. 2021 could best have been described as both the best and worst year of Ren’s life up to that point. A year that started with being arrested for a false assault claim, being forced to move away from his hometown of Inaba to Tokyo for an entire year, and suffering hardship after hardship because of a situation far out of his control. However, it was also the year he would meet those who he would see as his true family. The joys of letting loose in another dimension, the freedom to be themselves and not worry about others judging them, the laughs they shared, the tears they shedded together.
Most people wouldn’t consider people they had only known for a year to be family. But that saying about how fighting for your life with strangers can suddenly make you best friends turned out to be true.
Unfortunately, once the year ended, Ren had to return home.
The Thieves returned during the summer of 2022. But once that issue was solved, everyone went about enjoying their lives.
They texted nearly daily, and Ren made sure to come back up to Tokyo as much as possible… for more reasons than just visiting his friends.
This was one of those weekends.
Ren had just needed to get away from home for a couple days. Taking advantage of a sudden three day weekend. He had spent nearly the entire time in Leblanc, working behind the counter just as he had done during his stay there. On the final full day of his visit, Futaba had dragged him out of the store and over to her room for something she said would “make him forget his shitty problems.”
The two ex-thieves currently sat in the Hermit’s. The younger member turned towards her computer and began to search for something in a browser.
Ren meanwhile was holding an odd dark blue helmet. It looked like a helmet a pilot would wear. He could see bits of machinery on the inside part of the helmet, and there was even a visor. On the forehead of the object were the words “NVG” and “NERVEGEAR” in black blocky text. Ren noted that some of the letters were very slightly smudged, and painted on both sides of the helmet was the Alibaba icon. He could tell instantly it was likely painted on by Yusuke.
“Here we go!” Announced Futaba.
Ren looked towards the screens and saw multiple articles and videos playing.
He raised an eyebrow, “What am I looking at?”
Futaba rolled her eyes, “You really need to pay attention to the internet more. This, our dear cat-like leader, is the NerveGear! A revolutionary piece of technology, a full-dive virtual reality headset! It uses high-density microwave transceivers to access the wearer’s brain to simulate each of the five senses. While you are in a game, you can see, touch, taste, hear, and even smell everything around you. What’s even better is that while in a game, your physical body doesn’t move at all- well, except for essential organs. It’s like falling asleep and being in a super lucid dream. This is done thanks to faint electromagnetic waves that-”
Ren held up a hand, “Okay okay, slow down there sis. All of this is going way over my head.”
“Ugh! To dumb it down for you simpletons. It’s a game system that literally puts you in the game. Whatever happens in there, you feel it just as you would irl. Food, smells, you name it.”
“And this is supposed to help me, how, exactly?”
“To escape reality for a bit! And most importantly… to be Joker again in a sense.”
At that, Ren’s interest peaked.
“Alright alright I’ll try it. How do you even have one of these already? I mean, some of the paint is smudged, and you even got Yusuke to paint your logo on it.”
“Mwehehe~” The Hermit let out her trademark gremlin laugh as she pushed up her glasses. “That is because you are looking at one of the lucky 1,000 people who beta tested the game and the system!”
“When did that happen?”
Futaba shrugged, “About a month before you came up this summer. The beta was only a month long, so by the time you got here the beta was over, hence why I didn’t bring it on our trip. And good thing too, with everything that happened, I would rather something bad not happen to it.”
Ren smirked, “Yet you still brought a portable version of your entire PC set up?”
“Not important!”
The two laughed softly. It was a moment a lot of the Thieves still make fun of Futaba for. When the group had finished packing their RV for the trip, Futaba was the last to arrive… with a cart filled with all of her PC set up. The group spent around an hour trying to help the Hermit set it up.
Ren looked back towards the computer screen, a live news video showed a group of people holding up their own Nerve Gear, but also a copy of a video game. Now that Ren looked more closely, it looked like every photo or video displayed the headset, as well as a video game. “So, you beta tested the system, and a game? I’m guessing that whatever this game is, also released with the Nerve Gear?”
“Yep!” Futaba reached towards her desk and handed Ren a game case.
The design on it showed an armored knight riding atop a horse looking out over a cliff side. In the sky was a massive castle shaped like a teardrop.
“‘Sword Art Online’?”
Futaba immediately pulled up several more web pages, showing off in game images, “It’s a fantasy MMORPG! It takes place in the floating castle, Aincrad. It has 100 floors in total, each with unique layouts and themes. What makes this game unique when compared to other MMORPG’s, well besides it being the first ever Fulldive-VRMMORPG, is that there are no classes or races to choose from. Players build their class based on their stats, skills, and gear they find. Want to be a chivalrous knight? Easy. Perhaps a wandering Samurai? Requires a bit of grinding, but sure! Or even a dashing rogue? You can do it!”
Ren had to admit, this did sound interesting. Explore a fantasy world, slay monsters, explore dungeons… it would finally be his chance to be Joker again.
“Let’s do this,” Ren smiled.
Futaba pumped her fist into the air, “YES! I knew you would be down! I already made you a character, an account, and paid your subscription fee.”
The country-boy’s eyes widened, “Wait what?”
“Yeah! It was super easy. Anyone can use anyone else's Nerve Gear as long as you have an account.”
“But shouldn’t I be the one to actually make it?”
Futaba gave him a deadpan look, “You and I both know you would just use the same username and password you use for literally everything.” Ren became sheepish at this mention. “I swear, I need to get all of you idiots password protection services for Christmas. As for your character, I just designed it to look like something I know you would enjoy: edgy, cool, and pretty. As for the subscription, I’m just doing what I’ve been doing for most minor purchases like that.”
“Stealing from millionaires and shitty CEO’s?”
“Got it in one.”
The two laughed once again. Once it calmed down, Ren stared at the helmet, “So… now what?”
Futaba rolled over to the bed, “Put the helmet on, lay down on your back, and once I have it all powered on, all you need to do is say the magic words: Link Start!”
The ex-leader did as instructed. He slid the Nerve Gear onto his head, noting that it was surprisingly comfortable. He began to lay back onto Futaba’s bed before stopping halfway, “Are you sure that you don’t want to play? I mean, this is your stuff. Plus, what if Boss needs help at Leblanc? Or if Morgana needs food? Or if-”
Futaba cut him off by making an X with her arms. “Nope! Don’t worry about a thing! I already cleared the rest of the day with Dad. I’ll be at the shop to help him while you get to sit back and relax. And if the little monster cat needs anything, I’ll be there! I’ll also keep your phone on me just in case anyone calls or texts you. So stop worrying and escape reality for a bit!”
Ren sighed, “Fine fine. I guess then I’ll see you in a bit?”
Futaba nodded. She helped turn on the Nerve Gear, an LED on the side of the helmet lit up green, and Ren could hear a faint whirring sound of a fan powering on in the helmet.” “Oh!” Futaba spoke up, “It is day one of the official release, so there are going to be a lot of people. So, try to make some friends while you’re at it!”
Ren let out a laugh, “Yes ‘mother.’”
“See you in a bit!” Futaba waved goodbye before leaving the room.
Ren laid fully back on the bed and closed his eyes. For some reason, he felt extremely nervous, the same feeling he would get right before an ambush. Taking a deep breath, his nerves calmed.
“Link… Start!”