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The first of what I hoped to be many had started to slowly trickle in after a long hour of continuous monotony. A shrill gasping noise from the right had us snapping our necks upwards in alarm. Collapsing in a pile was a team of three - two guys and a girl - shrouded in a thick coating of webs, meeting our startled gazes with expressions none too dissimilar to our own.

Once the shock had subsided, we went out our way to welcome them with as much warmth as we could muster, as awkward and stiff as it was. Ayako, in particular, took no trouble showering them with gratitude and cheer, her paralyzing fear all but forgotten in the face of meeting new people.

“Welcome to the guild!” She proclaimed, donning the most boisterous of smiles, leaving Jin and I standing rigidly behind her overwhelming charm, taking each of their hands into her own and shaking them with a fervor that could rival a chipmunk on speed.

And that soon became routine for the next oncoming group of people that came our way. Corridor was gradually cramping up with players arriving at the dozens, that didn’t impede Ayako however, slithering her way through the countless many, making it her utmost priority to greet each and everyone that funneled in.

None of them don’t look too troubled by it, in fact, they looked outright relieved and happy to be given such a greeting. No complaints on my end either, I’d be more than content letting Ayako handle all the PR. She’d excel at it better than most anyway.

For Jin’s part, a wave and a nod were more than enough for him, eventually, he sunk out of sight to coop up in the least populated section available to him. Don’t blame him, I doubt many desired to even look his way, why would they? He is still partly to blame by all accounts, at least according to the general consensus.

Speaking of general consensus, a vocal few that recognized me took no qualms in having their snide remarks of me be easily discernible from a distance. Some dirty looks here and there as well but fortunately, none dared a direct confrontation or any type of physical altercation. Seems they too aren’t as keen on starting a scene as I am to finding myself in one.

Seeing as Ayako had her hands full, scurrying like a mouse from one end of the corridor to the next, I decided to take a page out of Jin’s book and made myself scarce and as luck would have it, I bumped into him, his gaze scouring, leaning against a wall in seclusion.

I approached him, assessing the rowdy crowd that just kept on coming. “Seems your hypothesis from before wasn’t exactly accurate.”

He folded his arms, following my gaze. “I count 63 players. Got some level 11s, 12s… highest one I saw was a 14. But the majority are averaging a 7. There are some heavy sword users, some daggers, shield and spears users, also 8 archers walking around the place including Ayako. A good variety.”

“It’s a big number,” I looked at him. “But is it big enough?”

He gave a small pause. “Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“Those egg sacs we saw from before could just simply be for aesthetic purposes or it could be an entirely new boss mechanic that I don’t know about. Either way, it means Sukuinote is able to change how the boss works. So any knowledge I have of the boss wouldn’t work in this new redesign. For all I know, the boss could be overpowered as all hell and that’s worrying me right now.”

More uncertainty, more what-if scenarios rife with concern, I should start expecting it by now, talking to him. It’s all his good for, really.

Whatever the case, I took it all in stride. “Well, nothing like a good dose of healthy paranoia to start off the day, am I right?”

Jin’s stare bordered on grueling, meeting mine, stone-faced. “Take me seriously.”

“I am,” I said lightly. “Do me a favor and not tell anyone else this, all right?”

He scoffed, rolling his eyes. “Tell who?”

I smiled at him. “That’s the spirit.”

Then from the bustling crowd, I felt something catch my eye in the horde of mingling faces. Towering above the rest, a tall lanky figure slowly approaches the center, cautiously steering his way through so as to not bump into the ever-growing mob.

His scouring brown eyes were slightly obscured by the long black fringes of his hair, despite it, I managed to draw his sight towards us with a wave of my hand.

Expression slackening with a smile of recognition, he squirmed his way past countless bodies and faces, reaching us finally with a wave of his own.

The stress and the toll were starting to show on his face. The dark, puffy rings that formed around his weary eyes made into prominence the absolute fatigue his expression was exuding with a misty-eyed gaze that seemed to stare at me without seeing.

Still, the resolve never left. Tayuma still with the same look of determination permanently engraved beneath all the exhaustion.

He grinned, nudging his head at me. “Well, well, well, what’s a pretty bird like you doing in a place like this?”

I responded in kind. “Just going along with the flow, I guess.”

“I see… you liking where it’s taking you?”

“That remains to be seen.”

A slow understanding nod, retaining that grin of his, as his eyes shifted to the fellow still leaning against the wall.

“Ah, and I see you’ve brought a friend as well,” He said in an exaggerated manner, then noticed that he was missing a hand. “Well… most of a friend, anyway. What happened to you?”

“NPCs,” Jin answered dully. “How many did you bring with you?”

Tayuma rose a finger to a scene at the other end of the hall. Ayako’s illustrious smile, dazzling the latest bunch to have arrived, greeted with arms wide open, frenetically waving in welcome.

“That one’s mine,” Tayuma said. “40 people out of 102 ain’t bad, wouldn’t you say?”

“Where are the rest?” I asked.

“Either too low health to continue or still on the fence about the whole thing. They, I left with second in command back in our usual spot.”

I noticed Jin’s eyes veering to the new arrivals, surveying in a focused silence that wordlessly conveyed for no distraction from its task.

So I went ahead and distracted him. “What, you still not satisfied with the turnout?”

“Just making sure there’s enough.”

“It’s enough,” I placed a hand on his shoulder. “Jin, it’s a bonafide guild we have here, we did it.”

“Yes… yes, I suppose,” He laxed the grip on his severed hand, conceding a deep sigh. “You might be right.”

Tayuma looked from me to Jin, clasping his hands together. “Right, so when do we get this over with?”

“Soon as we can,” I replied, deflecting the inquiry to Jin with a shift of my gaze. “Which is…?”

A wave of his hand, relinquishing away all authority. “Your guild. Your rules.”

“Your funeral, then,” I said, my arm shooting to the air in an attempt of signaling Ayako our way. “I’m starting now.”

A hop, skip, and a jump later, Ayako came upon our little gathering bringing along a new spring in her step and with an enthusiastic spirit that was somewhat contagious.

“What’s up?” She said, the sparkle in her eyes meeting each and every one of us.

“Firstly,” I began, motioning to the man at the side of me. “Tayuma.”

Tayuma brandished his arm out faster than anyone could see. “Nice to meet you. I’m - I’m the Tayuma!”

Clearly even he could not resist getting a little star-struck at the chance of meeting the ever admirable Ayako.

“Pleasure’s all mine,” She responded, reciprocating his gesture. “Ah, you’re the one Sora mentioned! You belonged to that big group over there, right?”

“Yes ma’am, that’s me!” He exclaimed, bursting into an unnecessary salute. “At your service.”

“Save your services, I’m just the mascot over here,” She nudged her chin at my direction. “Pledge your undying loyalty to him, he’s the evil mastermind behind this whole thing after all. Speaking of which, did you need something?”

I nodded. “We’re starting now.”

Ayako eyelids gave a sudden flinch, clearly taken aback. “Oh… that soon, huh?”

“Early bird catches the worm as they say - or, spider… in this case.”

“Alrighty then,” She sighed, her bright smile inverting to a frown. “You gonna give a speech first or…?”

“A speech?” I let out a chuckle. “None from me, no. Certainly one from you, though.”

The very second the words left from my mouth, there went her cheery demeanor vanishing in an instant. A helpless flail of her lips along with a hoarse groaning escaping to the sky left Tayuma visibly flabbergasted at the abrupt change in her attitude.

“Come on, Sora,” She whined, her eyes lamenting at the prospect of it. “Another one, really - didn’t the first one do its job? Just look at them! They’re practically itching for a fight over there, do they look like they need another stupid speech from me?”

“Well…” I drew my eyes to the side, contemplating. “At least let them know, would you? Spread the word. Wouldn’t wanna catch them off guard with a surprise boss fight, would we now?”

She tilted her head, “And that’s my job because…?”

“Guild mascot, aren’t you?” I said quietly.

Her arms flew to the air with a huff, “Mascot, you say? I think you mispronounced glorified secretary, Guild Leader, you wanna try that one again?”

“Nah, I think I got it right the first time,” I said, grinning away at her glowering. “You just gonna stand there, Ms. Secreta - I mean - Ms. Guild Mascot? I’m counting on you here.”

“Alright, alright…” She relented, her feet dragging to the ground, a miserable shamble across the web-ridden floor, exhaling loudly an irritable sigh. “Mr. Chicken Shit don't do so good socializing by himself. I’ll take care of it.”

“Attagirl.”