After waiting a few minutes in the entrance, only the silence and they were at home. She took off her shoes quickly and went up to her room just as fast, realizing she had forgotten her bag. How important ? She would find it the next day, anyway.
The girl opened the door wide on her room, looking inside while standing on the landing for a moment. The shutters were closed, everything was tidy and the bed was done. Nothing was lying on the ground, everything was in order, in its place. Was that why no one was talking to him at school ? Maybe she was feeling too strict, right ?
Sasaki came in and shut the door behind her, and quickly sat down at her desk, turning on her computer. If there was one thing that comforted her in those moments, it was good internet. This wonderful invention that allowed her to be who she wanted, to talk to the people she wanted, when she wanted to. And at least people on the internet loved her for who she really was.
Sasaki clicked on the messaging app she was using to talk to many of her friends. It was class time, so many were not connected, but there was one who was there day and night. He was out of school and was three years older than her, so he spent his time behind video games. She used to play with him, and she spoke to him often when she was feeling bad.
"Hi Omuge, how are you ?" Sasaki tapped her question on the keyboard at an impressive speed. Given the time she had spent on the computer during her life, it was pretty normal to write so fast.
"Hey Sasaki, you're never connected that early !" The answer was not long to come. At any time of day or night, he was always answering her quickly.
"Yes, I skipped classes ! It's not good, but never mind."
"Are you still bullied by those idiots ?"
The girl removed her hands from the keyboard before taking a deep breath. He was one of the only ones to know as much about who she was in reality. Usually she did not talk about her problems to others, and especially not on the internet. But sometimes she wanted him to be right next to her to reassure her, even if she did not know what he looked like or where he lived.
"Yeah, well, it's okay, don't worry. Do you want to play something ? Because I have time to farm on a game !"
"Why not, by the way, a much anticipated game came out today. Would you like to start it together ?"
"Why not, what's the game ?"
"It's called Alveola Online, it's a MMORPG. You have to buy it to start playing it, but it does not cost a lot of money you'll see, and it looks like it's super immersive ! And everything is so well coded that it's almost like in reality ! It looks really amazing."
Sasaki smiled as she saw her friend so excited about playing a game. Playing a little would not hurt her, she needed to take care of her mind and forget about the reality... She searched on internet for the name of the game and bought it immediately.
"Only 10$, it's not super expensive for a MMORPG... I hope it won't be too much Pay to Win at least..." The schoolgirl murmured softly, folding her legs against her chest to settle more comfortably.
"It's good, I bought the game ! Is it VR ?" She started the installation by sending a message back to Omuge. Fortunately she had a helmet hanging on her desk. She was not too fan of virtual reality in normal times, but...
"Yes, it seems that it used a rather special projection method that gives your brain the illusion of being in the game. It's revolutionary, I can't wait to test it. "
"I'm installing the game and I'm yours !" She quickly looked at the size of the game, and almost choked on her own. 578Go ? Was it a joke ? How could a game be so heavy ? Sasaki quickly erased a few heavy files that were no longer used to free up space. Fortunately with the connection she had at home, the 578Go were downloaded in minutes.
"Come on, let's play ! See you again in game !" The girl sent a last message to her friend, without getting the almost immediate answer she was used to receiving. He must have been playing, he looked so impatient...
She grabbed her helmet and put it on her eyes, before clicking the "Start" button that was at the bottom of the launcher. Immediately, a series of strange images and flashes dazzled her by hurting her eyes. She felt like falling back, was that normal ? Was the game buggy ?
After a few seconds of these unpleasant flashes, she began to see shapes around her. Large white walls, all marble, supported by pillars here and there. The floor was also immaculate white, and she was almost afraid of dirtying it by lying on it. Lying ? She was sitting a minute earlier !
And then something was strange... She saw her limbs move ! She could move her whole body, not just her head as in other games. Omuge was right, the game was really immersive... She did not know how such a feat was possible, but it was amazing.
Sasaki got up quickly, and looked behind her. A large mirror covered a whole wall of the room, and she saw herself inside. She saw herself, in the same appearance as in reality. How was it possible, too ?
"Hey hey, don't panic ! For the moment you look exactly like in real life, but it's to change that you're here." A charming man with long hair and light pink eyes appeared in a smoke explosion right next to her, which startled her.
"Are you crazy ? Who are you ? Do you have to scare me like that from the beginning ?" Was he a player ? Or an NPC ? No sign allowed her to know, his name was not displayed above his head as in other MMORPGs...
"Don't worry, you're not in danger ! I just want to make a wonderful first impression ! I'm Makh. Makh Lerky, God of Creation ! And I'm here to help you create your Avatar, Sasaki. Unless you want to look the same as in real life? "
The girl froze for a moment hearing the words of the eccentrically dressed man, wearing a flashy shirt and shiny trousers with ornaments here and there. For a God, he had a particular appearance... But there was something that bothered her even more in his speech.