***INTRO***


Well, one way or another he was experiencing SAO, legally or not. And Yuji could not be happier. He was out in the west field, a fairy distance away from the starting city. 

A mob of boars surrounded him, and he hurriedly slashed as fast as he could to defeat each one. This was his play style, quite dangerous. Though he had battle healing already quite high at his low level because of how often his HP went into the red, he had to pay attention and use an potion every now and then to bring his health up.

Suddenly, his grinding had come to a stop as he found himself teleported into the beginning city. He listened to Kayaba speak, becoming a bit distraught about this new detail he had added into the game. Sure, he spent a lot of time with MMOs but he didn't want to LIVE in them.

Yuji quickly calmed down, mostly unfazed now by Kayaba's talk. "Man, this guy must not get out much. Or he just doesn't get people..honestly, to say things like this without bating an eye, read the atmosphere dude." Yuji said, trying to laugh off the whole thing as just a minor inconvenience.

He had a family that cared about him, and a different life outside MMOs with responsibilities he had to attend to. Yuji sighed, and used the mirror in his inventory. He blinked, as it had changed him into his real self.

"Well, I guess at least some part of the real world's with me. Though, I have to wonder about food, using the bathroom, muscle cramps.." Yuji thought about everything that would pose a problem in the long term that would get in the way of extended play in SAO.

It was good to get up and exercise, but having this nerve gear forcefully kept on him wouldn't grant him that. "If we spent all our time in MMOs, even in the year 2020 our bodies would problem devolve into something less then human. That's the unrealistic part people who want to spend all their time in an MMO world need to get. Besides, what a crappy world it'd be, where everyone just laid around with a headset constantly connected to them, getting as skinny as the dead.." Yuji said to no in particular.

When Kayaba left, Yuji pushed out of the scared crowd. "I feel sorry for everyone. It'd be sadistic to say it's their fault, or they should have expected this..but, I need to be strong now. We all do." Yuji clenched his fist as he made his way through town back towards the west field. "This is a game. So for now on, I have to treat it like one." Yuji kept walking.

A couple of minutes later he was already in the field, grinding. "I accept your challenge Kayaba! so, make it interesting!" Yuji exclaimed, cutting through a boar.

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**SEVEN MONTHS LATER**

Yuji sighed. "Man, what an utterly depressing place. Floors like this remind you YOU'RE STUCK IN AN ONLINE GAME AGAINST YOUR WILL AND CAN'T LOG OUT AT YOUR OWN LEISURE!!" Yuji yelled, drawing the ire of some nearby players. 

Mourningwood Fort was truly a miserable place, just as they said. Yuji had tried to tackle the Field Boss alone, but even Mr. Black Hell known for his suicidal fighting style and disregard for common sense when it came to tactics, couldn't take it alone. He'd taken on tons of mobs alone before.

But the Boss was a pain in the ass, and had almost killed him. He had healed, and farmed the nearby mobs, but even then he couldn't take it on. That was what irritated him. 

A dank depressing place with a really strong Boss. Why had he come so early, anyway? he didn't remember the reason. It was two days until the raid meeting anyway.

Being a mega-completionist, he had explored every area in the fortress, talked to all the NPCs who were an utter buzzkill to interact with, and explored every other area he could. The very few players who were here would probably either avoid him, or be out farming for levels.

"Probably should've joined a guild.." Yuji muttered, and noticed a piece of paper on the ground. Picking it up and reading it, it was a recruitment flyer of some sort for the Braziers, that scouting guild that was almost completely wiped out. 

"I guess I could join them.." Yuji pondered. The thought that Hawke was a killer never occurred to him, as he fancied he good enough to take care of himself. He pocketed the paper, continuing to ponder the idea as he departed the fortress.