Chapter 3

"Alright, alright, I'm just joking with you, don't take it too seriously.

We are childhood sweethearts who grew up together; how could I not know what kind of person you are?

Did Auntie make cupcakes again? It just so happens that I went to the department store today and haven't eaten anything yet."

Because it was the latest release, the NERvGear terminal device was quite sought after; in order to play a death game with the "Kirito-kun," Shengzai had gone to queue up early in the morning.

Opening the dojo's main gate, Suguha, who was behind Shengzai, followed in quite naturally and changed into her own slippers at the entrance.

Shengzai's house is a two-story building; the large flat floor downstairs is the sword technique dojo, while the second floor is where Shengzai lives and sleeps.

The layout of the sword technique dojo downstairs is very simple; bamboo swords are placed on the wooden racks for two years, and in the center of the hall are two huge calligraphy works, respectively "Wenren" and "Perseverance."

In the past, at this time, there should have been quite a few people coming to the dojo to practice sword techniques, but ever since Shengzai's grandfather passed away, the dojo has been temporarily closed.

Now, the only people who still often practice sword techniques in this dojo are Shengzai and Suguha beside him.

"Shengzai brother, have you ever thought about reopening the dojo? This should also be Grandpa Wenren's wish, right?"

Looking at the empty and quiet dojo, a look of loneliness appeared on Suguha's face.

She really loves kendo and also likes this place that carried most of her childhood, so she doesn't want the Wenren family's dojo to decline just like that.

"To reopen the dojo, at the very least, I have to be an adult before I can have the qualifications to operate it.

And I have a lot of things to be busy with now; even if I wanted to reopen the dojo, I'm afraid I'd have the heart but not the strength."

Reopening the family's sword technique dojo was indeed one of Shengzai's original plans.

After all, opening a dojo these days is still quite profitable, especially since this is Japan, which advocates Bushido, and kendo is quite popular here.

But the past is the past, and now is now; originally, Shengzai thought he was just an ordinary transmigrator.

But now that he has a cheat, being satisfied with just opening a dojo would be too shameful for the transmigrator army.

"Hmph, is the 'many things to be busy with' that Shengzai brother mentioned referring to this kind of thing?"

Suguha Kirigaya had naturally noticed the NERvGear packaging box that Shengzai was holding in his hand long ago.

Although Suguha rarely pays attention to things like games, NERvGear's full-dive technology, as an epoch-making product, she had naturally seen it in the news.

"It must have been my brother who asked you to buy it again, really, it's one thing for him to lose his ambition in play, but I didn't expect him to drag you, Shengzai brother, into the water too.

When I go back, I will definitely give him a good talking to!

You are a kendo genius, Shengzai brother, and Grandpa Wenren had high hopes for you; you must not degenerate."

Hearing what the girl said, Shengzai couldn't help but feel ashamed.

Even though the girl is one year younger than him and Kazuto Kirigaya, they have always been the ones being lectured most of the time.

And after coming to Shengzai's house, Suguha acted as naturally as if she had returned to her own home, not only putting the cupcakes she brought into a plate but also directly brewing the matching buckwheat tea.

To put it bluntly, Suguha probably knows where the daily necessities in Shengzai's house are placed better than he, the owner, does.

Watching Shengzai wolf down the cupcakes, Suguha Kirigaya rested her chin on her hands, looking at Shengzai with a happy face.

"So Shengzai brother hasn't eaten anything today, and got up early in the morning, just to buy this thing?

Shengzai brother is like this, and my brother is like this; I really don't know, is this kind of game really that fun?"

Looking at the NERvGear that Shengzai placed on the table, to be honest, Suguha Kirigaya was not very happy.

Because ever since the dojo closed, Shengzai has had very little time to accompany her to practice sword techniques, and if he plays this NERvGear in the future, then the time to accompany her will be even less.

It's all the fault of that trashy brother Kazuto; it's one thing for him to lose his ambition in play, but he also had to let the excellent Shengzai brother degenerate together.

"Actually, it's not just for playing games; according to Kazuto, the SAO released this time is a full-dive game.

Which means that in the game, the character can be completely synchronized with our consciousness.

And according to Kazuto, this is a game where swords are the mainstream; kendo masters in reality can also perform excellently in the game.

I'm not thinking that since there are no suitable opponents in reality anyway, it's better to go into the game to find strong enemies.

In the game, no one will care if I am a middle schooler, and I can also train my consciousness and reaction ability, so I agreed to Kazuto's invitation."

Hearing Shengzai's words, Suguha suddenly showed a look of sudden realization.

Sure enough, she knew that Shengzai brother was different from her useless brother; it's the same playing games, her brother is just purely for fun, but Shengzai brother is indeed to take kendo a step further; there is a decisive difference between the two!

"Since that's the case, then I won't say anything; by the way, is this NERvGear civilian device still in stock at the department store?"

The girl who was originally quite resistant to NERvGear, after hearing Shengzai's explanation, suddenly became interested in the so-called SAO again.

And thinking about it carefully, if she also plays this SAO, then wouldn't the time she spends with Shengzai brother every day not decrease, but instead become even more!

As soon as she thought of this, Suguha's heart couldn't help but heat up.

"Right now, it should be very difficult to buy; and the open beta time for SAO is tonight, Suguha, you..."

"Shengzai brother, I have something to do, so I'll go first; after you finish the cake, just wait for me to wash the dishes."

Before Shengzai finished speaking, the girl in front of him had already left in a hurry.

And looking at Suguha's departing back, Shengzai also let out a big sigh.

Shengzai knows exactly what Suguha wants to do, but to be honest, he doesn't want the other party to follow them into SAO; after all, this is life-threatening.

However, thinking that NERvGear is so sought after now, and today is the open beta time for SAO, Suguha shouldn't be able to grab a full-dive device at this time, Shengzai couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

That night, Kazuto Kirigaya even specifically called, worried that Shengzai would stand him up or wouldn't know how to use the full-dive device.

And after hanging up the "Kirito-kun's" phone, Suguha's call followed closely, and she regretfully told Shengzai that she hadn't been able to buy a NERvGear device.

But she had already entrusted a friend, guaranteeing that she would definitely be able to enter the game with Shengzai and the others in two days.

"FullDive———!"

After linking the device, accompanied by an electronic sound, Shengzai's consciousness instantly entered the virtual game!

(End of chapter)