Sword Art Online Begins: The Huaxian Boy Who Inherited the Kendo Dojo!

2022, Japan, Tokyo.

A new-generation consumer terminal called NERvGear, developed by the major electronic machinery manufacturer ARGUS, was finally released to the public.

This made full-dive virtual reality accessible for ordinary online games.

Sword Art Online, abbreviated as SAO, was the first large-scale VRMMO to make use of this advanced technology.

A certain Black-Haired Boy had just walked out of a department store, holding an unopened NERvGear consumer terminal. Just as he was about to head home and try it out, the phone in his pocket suddenly rang.

"Seiya, you managed to get your hands on a NERvGear headset today, right?"

Seiya had barely answered the call when an anxious male voice came through from the other end.

Judging by his voice alone, it was easy to tell that the caller was about the same age as Seiya. They were probably both middle school students.

"I originally had no chance of buying one, but that salesgirl happened to be an upperclassman from our school working part-time.

She pulled some strings for me because I was her cute junior.

And she was even polite enough to slip me a little note with her contact information, saying I could call her if there was anything I didn't understand.

I have to say, big companies really are different. Even their part-time staff provide such attentive service."

Hearing his friend's words, Kazuto Kirigaya on the other end of the call could not help rolling his eyes.

Because you were her junior? Because of a big company's service? She gave you that note because she liked your face!

Although Kazuto was speechless at the special treatment Seiya received, he was not particularly surprised.

After all, he had seen far too many things like this around Seiya over the years.

Seiya's full name was Wenren Seiya. It sounded like a very Japanese name, yet he was actually from Huaxia.

Kazuto had once asked why Seiya's name was like that, and Seiya explained that Wenren was a compound surname.

In the ancient East, sheng meant sacred and beautiful, while zai was a modal particle.

Seiya's parents had died in an accident when he was very young, and he had been raised by his grandfather. Not long ago, however, his grandfather had passed away as well.

Seiya's family ran a Kendo Dojo, and both Kazuto Kirigaya and Nao Kirigaya were students there.

However, Kazuto had given up kendo when he was seven because he found it boring.

Seiya and Nao, on the other hand, had both persevered, and Seiya had perfectly inherited the Wenren Sword Style.

When he was still a first-year middle school student, he had entered the National Kendo Championship and defeated many second- and third-year students who were one or two years older than him, ultimately becoming the national champion.

Having grown up together, Kazuto, Nao, and Seiya could be considered Childhood Friends.

Setting aside Kazuto and Nao's somewhat strained sibling relationship, Seiya got along quite well with both Kazuto and Nao.

There was no need to mention Kazuto, who shared Seiya's interests. As for Nao Kirigaya, she practically worshipped Seiya as an idol.

After all, winning the National Kendo Championship as a first-year middle school student made Seiya seem, to Nao—a girl who loved kendo—as though he had been born for the sword.

Though he was still a middle school student, Nao knew that Brother Seiya had already reached the level of Menkyo Kaiden in the Wenren Sword Style.

Even at his current age, if he participated in a Kendo Championship for high school students, he would be fully capable of achieving an excellent ranking.

Since Grandpa Wenren's death, the dojo had closed down. But if Seiya could achieve good results in high school kendo competitions, coupled with his Menkyo Kaiden level, he would be entirely qualified to inherit the Kendo Dojo.

He was handsome, a Kendo Championship winner at such a young age, and exceptionally talented in academics as well. Without even thinking about it, anyone could tell how popular Seiya was at school.

That was also why Kazuto was not surprised in the slightest by Seiya's special treatment.

Other than his lovestruck little sister, Seiya had never lacked admirers from childhood to adulthood.

Having such an outstanding friend was both Kazuto's fortune and misfortune.

The fortunate part was that Seiya was fiercely loyal. Whenever Kazuto needed help, Seiya truly stepped in, and there were very few things he could not handle.

The unfortunate part was that having such a friend put immense pressure on him. In fact, Kazuto Kirigaya's greatest role at school these days was delivering messages or love letters to Seiya for other people.

The reason he had given up kendo at seven was not solely because he found it boring. It was also because the pressure had been too great.

They were both practicing swordsmanship, were the same age, and were both boys, yet Seiya's progress had been astonishingly rapid.

Meanwhile, Kazuto could only bully Nao in sparring. That made him feel as though he might not have any talent for kendo, so he decisively chose to quit.

Of course, although Seiya excelled in every aspect, that did not mean Kazuto Kirigaya was completely useless.

After giving up kendo, Kazuto unexpectedly discovered that he had a talent for gaming.

Moreover, only while playing games could Kazuto avoid being utterly crushed by Seiya. He could even win more often than he lost.

The boy had already liked games, and now he had found the one area where he could defeat his friend. Naturally, he became even more engrossed in them.

SAO was the first large-scale VRMMO released through NERvGear.

As a game, it had received unprecedented attention. Kazuto Kirigaya, being a gaming enthusiast, naturally could not possibly be uninterested.

Not only was he interested, but he had also been lucky enough to be selected as a closed beta player, becoming one of SAO's first users.

With SAO's open beta about to begin, NERvGear had become exceptionally sought-after. Kazuto, as a closed beta player, naturally had nothing to worry about, but it would not do if Seiya, his best friend, failed to get a virtual reality headset.

As a "closed beta player," Kazuto had already experienced SAO's appeal. In that world, perhaps he could really defeat Seiya through swordsmanship.

He was already skilled at games, and this time he would be entering the open beta as a "closed beta player." Even if the game had mainstream classes like swordsmen, he should not be unable to beat Seiya, right?

In short, Kazuto had been worried that Seiya would fail to get a headset. On one hand, he was worried about losing his only friend to play games with.

On the other hand, he wanted to show off in front of Seiya!

That was right. His friend was too outstanding, and Kazuto Kirigaya felt a great deal of pressure as well. Previously, he could only regain a little dignity through games.

This time, no matter what, he had to win one back in a field Seiya excelled in—even if it was only in a game!