Next Day
REAL WORLD – Tokyo, Japan
8:45 AM
Max stood in front of the bathroom mirror, adjusting his collar for the third time. He had chosen simple but presentable clothes—a dark button-up shirt, clean jeans, and his only pair of decent shoes.
Nothing fancy, but appropriate for what was essentially a government facility visit.
He heard his mother's door open and turned.
Max's breath caught.
Yuki stepped out wearing an elegant navy blue gown that he had never seen before. It was simple but alluring—fitted at the waist, flowing to just below her knees. She had styled her hair, letting it fall in soft waves around her shoulders instead of her usual ponytail. Light makeup enhanced her natural features, making her look years younger.
She looked like an actress heading to a premiere, not a nurse going to a registration facility.
"Mom, you look..." Max struggled for words. "Amazing. Where did you get that dress?"
Yuki smiled. "I've had it for years. Bought it for your father's company dinner once, never really had an occasion to wear it since." She smoothed the fabric. "I figured if we're going to be around your aunt, I should at least look presentable."
"You look more than presentable. You look beautiful."
"Flatterer." But she was pleased. "Ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
They left the apartment and took the train to the meeting point—a high-end shopping district where Keiko had insisted they rendezvous. When they arrived, Keiko and Ryota were already waiting beside a shiny black Mercedes.
Keiko wore a cream-colored designer outfit, her hair professionally styled, adorned with jewelry. But when she saw Yuki, her eyes widened slightly.
"Oh, Yuki," she said, her tone genuinely surprised. "You look lovely. I didn't know you still had that dress."
"Thought I would dress up for the occasion," Yuki said simply.
Ryota barely glanced up from his phone. He wore expensive streetwear—limited edition sneakers, designer hoodie, accessories that screamed wealth.
"Can we go? I want to get registered early so I can get back to grinding."
"Always so focused," Keiko said proudly. "That's my boy."
They all got into the Mercedes. The ride was awkward, filled with Keiko's chatter about her recent vacation to Paris and Ryota occasionally interjecting with game statistics and boasts about his guild's achievements.
Max stayed quiet, looking out the window as they approached Tokyo Big Sight convention center.
And then he saw it.
The facility was massive.
The convention center had been completely repurposed. The entire building was wrapped in banners displaying the IAOO logo and Aetheria Online imagery. Security checkpoints surrounded the perimeter, staffed by both regular security and what looked like government officials.
But what struck Max most was the crowd.
Thousands of people. Maybe tens of thousands. Lines stretched around the entire building, filled with players of all ages—teenagers, young adults, middle-aged people, even elderly players.
News crews were everywhere, cameras capturing the historic moment. Overhead, drones buzzed, filming aerial footage.
"My god," Yuki whispered. "Look at all these people."
"This is insane," Max said.
Even Keiko looked impressed. "Hiroshi mentioned the facilities would be busy, but this..."
They bypassed the main lines and the Mercedes pulled up to a VIP entrance.
"See?" Ryota said smugly. "Connections matter."
They entered through the VIP checkpoint, showing IDs and appointment confirmations. Inside, the convention center had been transformed into a massive processing facility. Hundreds of registration booths, biometric scanning stations, legal consultation areas, and trading counters filled the space.
The noise was overwhelming—thousands of conversations, announcements over loudspeakers, the hum of electronic equipment.
[WELCOME TO TOKYO AUTHORIZED TRADING HEADQUARTERS]
[IAOO-Sanctioned Facility #JPN-001]
[Please proceed to Registration Area A for new player registration]
They joined the VIP line, which was still crowded but moved much faster than the main queues visible in the distance.
Ryota pulled out his phone, clearly taking selfies with the facility in the background. "This is going on my stream. My followers are going to love this."
Max noticed his mother looking around with concern—this was far more intense than either of them had anticipated.
"Are you okay, Mom?"
"Just... processing," she said. "This really is serious, isn't it? All of this infrastructure, the government involvement..."
"It's the future," Keiko interjected. "Hiroshi says the virtual economy will surpass traditional markets within five years. Getting in early is crucial."
They were halfway through the VIP line when Max heard shouting from the main entrance area.
"Oh my god, is that—"
"It's her! It's really her!"
"Someone get a picture!"
Max turned, along with hundreds of others, to see what the commotion was about.
And his heart stopped.
Walking through the main entrance, surrounded by what looked like private security, was Yuki Takahashi—Velara.
She was beautiful. Long white-blonde hair flowing past her shoulders, those sharp gray eyes, that confident steps. She wore a striking outfit: a pink skirt that ended mid-thigh, black leggings underneath, a fitted black vest, and a long black overcoat that moved dramatically with her steps.
She looked like a model, and the crowd immediately recognized her.
"That's Takahashi Kenji's daughter!"
"The Finance Minister's daughter plays Aetheria?"
"She's in Phoenix Guild! I saw her on the rankings!"
Camera phones came out in masses. The news crews immediately redirected their attention. Security personnel moved to create space around her.
Velara scanned the crowd with those piercing eyes, clearly looking for something. Or someone.
Her gaze landed on Max.
Their eyes met across the crowded facility, and she smiled.
Then she started walking directly toward him.
"Oh shit," Max muttered.
"What?" his mother asked.
"That's... someone from my guild."
Yuki's mother's eyes widened. "The Finance Minister's daughter? That's your guild friend?"
Ryota had noticed too. "Dude, that's Takahashi Yuki. She's famous. Why is she—"