Sword Art Online: Another Reality

R/N: So, I'm convinced to post the first chapter of the fic I've written.

Depending on the reactions from y'all, I'll know whether to continue or simply drop and scrap the idea.

Someone spurred me on this idea, so I decided to try it out.

Second chapter is being written, depending on the reactions, I'll either continue or drop.

Without further ado:

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Chapter 1: Living in a strange world only to be isekai'ed into another,

See... I always thought I was weird.

[Time until otherworld transfer: 00 days: 00 hours: 30 minutes: 49 seconds]

For a long time, I've seen this futuristic hologram-like screen in front of me.

According to what I've gathered, only I can see it.

"Miyamoto-kun, you look dashing today~ Kya."

"Haha, you flatter me."

First of all, this world is strange—not in a normal way. Maybe it's just me.

However, for a long time, I've always felt like I don't belong here.

It's like my memories are mixed up, though I'm not really sure.

If I had to describe it, I'd say this world feels like something out of a manga.

Especially with this panel in front of me that reads like this.

[Time until otherworld transfer: 00 days: 00 hours: 30 minutes: 24 seconds]

Or am I overthinking things?

I don't think so.

But of course, I was diagnosed by several psychiatrists as a schizophrenic patient when I reported it to them.

At some point, I even began to wonder if I was really schizophrenic.

Heck. I even went to a hypnotist who told me that whenever I feel like I'm overthinking things, I should just start chanting:

'It's all a delusion; it's my delusion.'

Or maybe I've had it wrong all along, and I'm actually the sane one while everyone else is insane.

Am I saying my parents in this world are insane?

Yes.

Because of this, I've always avoided interactions with others.

I mean, on my first day of high school, I introduced myself like this:

"Hello everybody, my name's Haise Sasaki. A schizophrenic patient, pleased to meet you."

I did that on purpose because I wanted to avoid people. This humble me is what you'd call a typical social loser.

Actually, I don't consider myself that way; I do plenty of things in my free time alone.

Exercise, going out—alone, watching the latest trending movies and anime, and a bunch of other things.

I can say I'm the only one who truly knows myself. It's just... This world is too weird.

[Time until otherworld transfer: 00 days: 00 hours: 03 minutes: 23 seconds]

With another sigh, I now look up from my desk, looking towards the entrance to my class.

Standing there was a guy, surrounded by girls. "By the way, Miyamoto-kun, what are your plans after this?"

"Hm...? Let me think."

Miyamoto Naoki.

He's the... you know, that one popular guy who always gets the b*tches.

And by b*tches, do I mean my classmates?

You're right?

He's the typical popular kid: blonde hair, tall, athletic, handsome—an all-round perfect dude.

The stereotype. "Eh... I don't think I'll be free."

"Ah~ No problem, Miyamoto-kun."

But there's something off about him—something I just can't put my finger on.

In contrast, there's the lonely, unpopular kid in the class. — Yes, yes, that's me.

Well, there are actually two of us, but we don't really relate much.

We do talk occasionally, but even he looks at me with the same judgemental gaze. However, I'm not as hopeless as you might think.

You'd be surprised if I told you I know the two coolest girls in our class.

By the way, one of them... her family runs a dojo, and back then, during middle school, I joined her family's dōjō.

While I didn't relate much to them, we did have moments where we'd greet each other—at least they greet me, unlike the other guys, who they'd just ignore.

Okay, enough yapping.

"Hey, Nakatani-kun."

I turned to the other unpopular guy, giving him a serious, deadpan look.

"I want you to get ready. We're going to be transported to another world soon."

With a matter-of-fact tone, I said those words to him, mirroring his somewhat lifeless gaze.

"Huh?"

He was stunned by my words, giving me a judgemental gaze, but I ignored him.

[Time until otherworld transfer: 00 days: 00 hours: 00 minutes: 23 seconds]

It's no surprise he doesn't believe me. "Don't worry, I don't expect you to believe it right away."

Everything will be revealed soon enough.

God, I'd be embarrassed if this turns out to be a joke.

[Time until otherworld transfer: 00 days: 00 hours: 00 minutes: 03 seconds]

[02 Seconds]

[01 Second]

"Kya! What's happening?"

"Everybody, calm down."

Everyone stood up in shock as a glowing circle appeared beneath our feet.

The girls—the simps—clung to Miyamoto, while the rest just tried to run.

As for me, I leaned back in my chair, clutching my bag tightly.

I had long prepared for this.

Survival knife, poison, a Glock with a few bullets, deadly chemicals that can corrode metal—yes.

I was overly prepared.

How heavy is my bag? Heavy enough, but I can carry it with ease.

"Kya!"

The light would then intensify before, seconds later, it would soon dim.

Looking around, our surroundings had definitely changed.

We found ourselves in what looked like an underground chamber, with light filtering through a door that seemed to lead outside.

Cautiously, I looked around to see several robed men standing with their hands together.

'Mages?'

Then, looking even higher, I saw what appeared to be the king.

Yes... it's all starting to come back to me. This cliche scene I've seen a lot in mangas.

There'd certainly be this black sheep—

[Haise Sasaki Lv. 1]

[Special ability: Assassin, Analysis]

[Favored ability: Accelerated Processing (+), Traveller (Locked)]

[Traits: Delusional. Schizophrenic patient. Believes he doesn't belong to his current world. Has a few screws loose. How does a freaking high schooler have a gun? +99]

—Okay, seems like I'd be saved from being the black sheep.

Special ability, assassin? Well, not what I was expecting, but yeah, that's fine with me.

"Ahh...! It has been a success!!"

I looked up to see a regally dressed man with a crown atop his head.

The king of this kingdom that summoned us, I presume.

I can just predict what would happen next at this point.

"Eh?" I ignored the panic of my classmate—Nakatani, who looked in horror at the king.

Now that I look at it, the chair I was sitting on traveled to this world with me?

"Welcome... Welcome, Heroes," the king exclaimed with a grin and a pleased expression.

However, .... In contrast to that:

"What!? What the hell is this?!"

"Why are we here?! Weren't we...?"

Naturally, while I remained calm and composed, the rest of the class was in a full-blown panic.

In their frantic state, they didn't notice the cold, calculating eyes of the people—ministers standing behind the king.

'Interesting.'

[Analysis.]

Without hesitation, I used my analysis skill on them.

[Name: Unidentified]

[Status: King. Puppet]

Most of the names remained unidentified. Was it because my skill proficiency was lacking?

No.

I'd say it's because they're just background characters. Irrelevant to the plotline.

How do I know?

The "Puppet" status confirms this. No?

"Guys! Calm down!"

Bringing me out of my thoughts was the hero—Miyamoto, of course.

"For now, we need to understand the situation we're in. Calm down first, then let's talk to these people."

As expected of the hero, at this point, I think he's earned that title, no?

[Name: Miyamoto Naoki]

[Status: Heroic Strength]

[Traits: Fake Hero. Faker. Chick Magnet. Black and white insanity. Arrogant. Glory Seeker. Attention Whore +9]

There were plenty of other traits packed in there, which now completely change the way I see him.

So, in the end, he's just an attention seeker and a poser, huh? Good to know.'

I always had a feeling.

At some point, I noticed several gazes on me.

"What?" I replied simply, still reclining in my chair.

I saw the king and some of his guards looking at me.

"Hero Miyamoto, who is he?" the king asked while shifting his gaze between me and Miyamoto.

I assumed my calmness must seem unreal to them, right?

'Why am I not surprised nor nervous like the rest of them?' They might think.

After seeing a blue holographic screen follow me around for ten years and realising I was living in a supposedly unreal world.

You could say I became numb to it all.

As a result, I have now perfected a strong, stony poker face.

But hey, I still have my teenage hormones.

"Don't mind him, he's... just a delusional—ahem, strange person." Miyamoto shrugged me off with a smile, and several classmates joined in.

"Haise-kun has always been weird."

Yeah, I know.

"He's probably secretly an otaku."

That I am.

"Look at his calm attitude. I bet he's shivering in his chair."

Nope, not doing that.

Their expressions varied—some even looked at me with disgust; take, for example, Onizuka, the violent, delinquent-looking high schooler.

However— "Fuu."

I leaned back further, ignoring most of the class, as the king began introducing them to their skills.

"Uhm, Haise-kun, how did you—"

Approaching me is unpopular kid number 2.

I simply glanced over at him, bringing my index finger close to my lips.

"—Hush now, Nakatani. I was always the weird one, right? Let's leave it at that, no?"

Now that I look at him. Why don't I.....

[Nakatani Yuto]

[Special Powers: Absorption (Sealed)]

[Traits: Future Hero of Demons. "I can copy your power" ahh ability. Dark is not always Evil. +10]

I squinted at his status.

Future Hero of Demons?

Against the one—no, actually multiple—races the empire is against? 'Interesting.'

—Yes, I was also listening to the bullshit the king was saying about their empire being against demons and beast kin and what not.

Sniff! Sniff!

Can you smell that? "That's the smell of plot."

I muttered under my breath. And correct me if I'm wrong, did the screen just leak the future to me?

Forget it; no point in overthinking it.

Anyway... I turned back to Nakatani.

"Listen, your special ability is currently sealed. Prepare to be the black sheep of the class."

After coming to my own conclusion, I said this, then shifted my gaze away from him.

"W-wait, what do you mean my—"

"—Hush, again." I looked at him groggily. "Do you want to bet?"

I stared at him until he shivered, then subconsciously stepped back.

"Good. Now, just carry on." I shooed him away, refocusing on the other people in the kingdom.

CRACK!

CRUMBLE!

As I refocused, my attention was immediately drawn to Miyamoto, who was crouching down, holding a sword in his hand.

The pillar behind him had been cut clean through. "Woah! G-Good job, hero."

As expected of a hero. I guess even a fake like him is still something, somewhat impressive, huh?

"You got it, Naoki! He's elite no matter where he goes."

"Haha, don't make fun of me, Akane."

[Akane Sajo]

[Special Power: Observation Sight (Locked)]

[Traits: Manipulative Bitch. Obfuscating Stupidity.]

[Extra Note: Akane Sajo is a blonde-haired girl who gives off Gyaru vibes.]

Ah, yes, this bitch. How could I forget about her? She's always been way too adept at reading the room.

No—it's beyond that. And now, give her an analysis skill like mine?

She could basically become an Aizen—

"Weird. Aizen... that name just came to me naturally, but I don't remember anyone named that."

I muttered, holding my forehead as a brief wave of discomfort hit.

It was like I was trying to recall something, however, the more I did this, the more pain I felt.

Hence, I stopped. After a few seconds, it subsided.

'Might just be me being a schizo all again. I'm not delusional, I'm not delusional.'

Anyways...

"What was that?"

"Incompetent."

"You're gonna be the first to die."

"Wimpy! Hahaha!" I noticed several classmates—Nakatani among them—looking at him with cold eyes.

Yes, they were giving him the usual MC treatment, except for a few—four in total, including me.

I saw Nakatani glance at me nervously as I let a small smile slip.

As I did so. I suddenly heard a voice calling out to me.

"Hey, Haise-kun, by the way, what kind of skills do you have?"

I saw her, that girl approaching. 'Tsk. That bitch, Akane—she did this on purpose.' I thought.

She approached me with a grin. The damn bitch had probably already seen my status.

The moment she spoke, I noticed everyone turn their attention to me, including my two crushes—Nagisa and Saya.

Even Miyamoto, the king, and basically everyone else in the room were looking at me.

"Haah."

With a sigh, I reached into my bag, and as I did, I activated my favored skill. [Accelerated Processing (+)].

If it wasn't already clear to you what accelerated processing is. Let me put it in simple terms.

QTE or Time Slow.

At the very least, that's what the description infers to me. However, there could be other interpretations.

One could be that my body is currently moving extremely fast, making everything else appear slow.

But that doesn't matter.

As I used it, I could feel the mental toll it was taking on my body—it would only last a little over three seconds.

With this in mind, I quickly pulled out my survival knife.

Using the special skill [Assassin], I appeared behind her.

In quick motion, I held my knife close to her neck as I felt time slowly returned to normal. "Are you satisfied?"

"W-what?"

"Huh?"

"How did he get behind her?" Similar murmurs along those lines could be heard from the background.

I removed the knife from her neck and calmly placed it back in my bag. Then I turned my attention to the king.

"Your Majesty," I said, bowing slightly. "If it's not too much to ask, may I be shown to my quarters?"

I enquired with a fake smile that didn't quite suit me.

"A-ah... yes. Yes! Knights, take him to his quarters," the king ordered, clearly unsettled. Two knights hurried over to me. "Please, this way."

As I followed them, I glanced back to see Miyamoto glaring at me as if I were his enemy.

Seeing his face, I frowned slightly.

'Ah, that's right, I could use this too...' I thought, allowing a somewhat sadistic smile to cross my face.