Starter Party

May 5th 2018

Ryuuji is currently waiting in Starfight by the edge of the Heavenly Forest. This forest was blessed by a goddess shortly after the chaos spread across the world, leaving it as the only area that is constantly lit, deterring all beasts, giving residents a permanent area of refuge.

Similar to before, Ryuuji forgot to ask what his username is, only being told he plays a rogue, and of course, Sun is late once again.

Just then, a swordsman wearing silver armor and carrying an oddly shaped sword with the username HeroHiro requests communication. Put off by the username, Ryuuji reluctantly accepts.

“Can I help you? I’m about to meet some people here.”

“Wow, so harsh! You must be Ryuuji.” he says with a laugh. “My name is Steve, nice to meet you.”

“You are?” Ryuuji moves his face closer to the computer screen to look over the character thinking he missed something, but reconfirms it is a swordsman. “Sun told me you play a rogue.”

“If you really are Sun’s friend you should know she isn’t well versed in the game.”

“That’s right, how could I forget? She even called dragons turtles.”

“Right?!” Steve gets excited just thinking about it. “Sun is a smart girl and I think it’s so cute she gets them wrong so I’ve never been able to correct her.”

I just find it annoying. Ryuuji thinks, already learning what comments to keep to himself.

Steve continues the conversation in an upbeat tone. “I was surprised that she correctly told me you’re a ninja, but maybe it helps that it’s the only one in the game.”

“Not that she heard of it before we played the other night.”

“I suppose it’s true we rarely speak about the game itself so I never brought it up. We just try to catch up whenever we can.”

The conversation turns silent and minutes pass with Sun nowhere in sight. Ryuuji feels anxious since he isn’t sure what to say. The only thing he’s been told is that he’s an American who is the same age. Steve’s Japanese sounds really good for a foreigner, but if he says that then he’s sure to hear that he did it all for Sun or something like that. An easily predictable person.

Either way, Sun is the one who suggested this meeting, so Ryuuji was hoping she would be here to properly introduce them. Steve then breaks the silence.

“While we wait, do you mind if I ask how you met? I heard you were in the same class.”

Putting aside the whole matter with his dad’s company, Ryuuji keeps his answer simple.

“We are in the same class, but met at the grocery store I work at. She lives in that same area so we end up taking the train together after school some days.”

“Then I should thank you!!”

Steve suddenly shouts with more excitement. He was so loud Ryuuji had to pull back his headset for a moment.

“Thank me for what?” Ryuuji asks.

“Sun always told me she hated taking the train, with the ride being so long and not having anyone to talk to. When living in America we just had a short bus ride to school so it was really hard for her to get used to at first. To have someone she knows on the same train, I’m sure that makes her really happy!”

Taking in everything he just said, Ryuuji focuses on just one thing, blurting out, “You mean Sun lived in America too?”

“She never told you that?”

“No...but I’ve been so focused on my own stuff that I haven’t asked anything about her.” Ryuuji reluctantly admits. “I was wondering how she made a close friend from a different country.”

Excited, Steve then continues to explain Sun’s story.

“Both of Sun’s parents are Japanese, but she was born in America. We met in school and quickly became friends, then her family moved back to Japan when we were 8. I’ll never forget how upset she was about it.” Steve tries to remember some of the words exchanged.

When Sun first told Steve she was moving, she was shouting and crying uncontrollably. He tried to think of the best words to help her calm down, but nothing seemed to work. Then, he promised to keep in touch, refusing to let the ‘stupid ocean’ get in his way. The idea of someone defeating the large ocean for her was enough to stop her tears and bring about a smile.

“The time difference made things difficult, but in the end we have yet to leave each other’s lives.” Steve’s voice calms as he ends with one last statement. “I’ll always be there for her no matter what. That will never change.”

Ryuuji is getting a better understanding about Sun, but he can’t help thinking his methods are strange. Promising to defeat the ocean? Seriously?

Just then, the hunter ‘Sunshine’ appears and requests communication. They both accept and she apologizes.

“I’m so sorry! I lost track of time.”

“You’re 15 minutes late, I think that’s a new record.” Steve says with his usual pep.

“Sun, you should know you can’t use that excuse every time. Don’t you agree?”

“But she’s so cute, I just can’t stay mad at her.” Steve says.

Bothered by his reaction, Ryuuji can’t help asking, “How is her making you wait adorable?”

“It just is.”

Ryuuji wants to respond, but is dumbfounded by his complete acceptance of all of Sun’s flaws. There has to be a limit!

Sun could only sit and listen as the exchange continued, genuinely surprised that they’re able to talk so smoothly despite just meeting.

“You two are getting along really well already. I guess you don’t need me here.”

“That’s not true. If you didn’t arrive then I’m sure Steve would tell more embarrassing stories about you.” Ryuuji readily points out.

“What did you say?” Sun’s tone instantly drops as she considers what he may have said.

While Steve tries to defend himself, Sun yells at him instead, simply by shouting his name, “Steve!!”

“She’s not so cute anymore is she?” Ryuuji asks, proud he was able to create such a reaction.

Through his headset, Steve can sense Ryuuji’s joy and Sun’s anger. With two against one, finding it futile, he gives up, “That is so not fair.”

Once Steve apologizes a few times and Sun stops yelling, he and Ryuuji discuss their spells, skills, and weapons before deciding what to do. With the idea of getting a new weapon for Sun, Ryuuji suggests they farm for materials rather than go on a quest, though he doesn’t state his reasoning. They form a party and head to the Crystalized Cavern to fight goblins for gems.

In the cave, Sun primarily stays on a ledge for support while Steve and Ryuuji fight in close combat. Sun isn’t able to hit many, but did enough when needed.

They gather gems for close to two hours, talking the entire time about various topics, which of course includes Starfight. The game was released almost 6 years ago in 2012. Steve brags that Sun and himself have been playing since shortly after the release, while Ryuuji waited until 1 year after. Despite that, their levels aren’t too far off; Ryuuji is level 74, Steve is level 82, with Sun at 42.

Since you gain experience depending on how much you contribute to the battle, it’s no surprise that Sun is nearly half Steve’s level if she just ‘cheers him on’ as she said. An idea that Ryuuji still can’t fathom.

Once they have roughly 80 gems each, except Sun who has 20, Ryuuji leads them to a welder. He knew they didn’t need so many gems, but they were all having too much fun playing and none of them wanted to stop.

In the main town of Rayna, they speak with the welder Jameson. Using 98 gems and the meel Ryuuji obtained a couple of nights ago, he forges a Myne Blade and gifts it to Sun. The handle is black, having a simple design, but the blade itself has a rainbow shimmer to it.

“Now you have a close range weapon. Every hunter should have at least one.”

Distracted by its beauty, Sun practically whispers, “It is so beautiful.”

“Right? The design is part of why I picked it out.”

With a slightly grumpy tone, Steve is less than happy with this result, “The bow I gave you is pretty too.”

“Are you jealous Ryuuji gave me something nice?” Sun is blunt in asking.

After a short pause, Steve simply says “No.”

However, knowing that isn’t true, Ryuuji goes off on him like he originally planned if they ever met, “That’s a horrible reaction! If anything you should have done something like this long ago!”

“I make sure Sun doesn’t need anything else when she plays as my support.” Steve doesn’t budge despite agreeing that Ryuuji has a valid point.

Sun breaks up the argument with laughter, finding it silly that they’re fighting about this.

“Steve, I am the one who asked Ryuuji to help make my character stronger. Playing with him made me realize I’d like to be able to do more in the game. You don’t have to worry, I still enjoy our talks more than anything, even if we only meet a couple times a month.”

Hearing Sun reconfirm how much she treasures their meetings in the game, Steve backs off, after saying once more that he wasn’t jealous. Not that either of them believe him. Seeing that it is close to 2 am in Japan, Sun lets out a yawn and says she should be getting off for the night.

“I’m glad you two get along. Playing this late was worth it, even if it was just to get a new weapon.”

“It was a lot of fun.” Ryuuji says, “We should play again sometime.”

“Except next time we’ll do a quest!” Steve suggests.

“You know it!”

They each log off one after the other, promising to play again when they can. Unlike anyone else he talked about ‘Starfight’ with, Ryuuji knows he can count on playing with both Sun and Steve in the future, giving Ryuuji something new to look forward to. Maybe this was Sun’s intention from the start, a new distraction in his chaotic life. That makes him appreciate this night all the more.

********************

Starfight Tips;;

All dungeons and quests have suggested levels for players to attempt, with the highest being the max level which at the time is 145. There is a possibility of the suggested level changing after the game is updated as a way to keep players interested.

Once a party is formed, players no longer have to request communication when they meet. It will automatically connect when the players are together on the same field unless they decide to remain silent or are already part of a different party.

Weapons can only be forged in different areas by 3 welders; Jameson, Maze, Muramasa.