"Brother! You embarrassed me in front of my new friends." Nalia was only a little bit annoyed at her brother but she didn't want to let him get away with being rude.
"Friends? You mean that guy. Don't trust people in a game so easy Nalia."
"What trust?" She rolls her eyes at her overprotective brother. "We did some quests. Not like I invited him over to our house." Nalia sighs loudly. "I am also friends with the NPCs, Tilly and Rinai."
"The NPCs?" He looked at her like she'd lost her mind.
"Yeah, they are really interesting. Check out the bracers Tilly made for me." She pulled him over to her computer where the game was still in standby mode and pulled up her character display.
"There isn't a blacksmith in starter village and the weapon shop has very low-level stuff. How did you get these?" He had taken over the controls to get a better look.
"I told you, from my friend Tilly. She has her own forge. Blacksmithing is her hobby." Nalia stated proudly. Her new friends are great and she wants her brother to think so too.
"Her hobby? What nonsense has that guy been feeding you?"
"You're such a pessimist." She waves her hands at him dismissively. "Look at all my vids of starter village. It's really amazing how the NPCs actually are when you pay attention."
Her brother went from being determined to expose the trick to being impressed. Soon the two were laughing about the museum.
"You have to take me around that place next time sis. I want to meet these NPCs myself."
~~~
After Nalia had logged off, Afira was thinking about what her brother had said.
A date.
I want to have one. He thought as he looked at Rinai. What could I ask him to do though? Maybe I should log off and look up popular date locations in Dawn of Reason.
Afira was lost in these sort of thoughts and at the same time so was Rinai.
They both reached a decision, turned to each other and simultaneously started talking.
"Afira, would you-"
"Rinai, I'll-"
"Ah sorry, sorry go ahead," Afira said.
"Afira, if you have time I'd like to take you somewhere."
Rinai looked so determined and serious Afira immediately agreed thinking Rinai had something very important. I can plan a date later, he decided and followed Rinai out of the tavern.
Rinai casually took Afira's hand in his own and lead the way to an area of starter village Afira had never noticed before.
This was like turning down an alleyway and discovering a previously unknown world. Afira felt like he'd been spirited away at this moment as he gazed around in dumbfounded wonder.
The soft golden light of sunset lit the area. A wide, intricately designed stone footpath stretched out far in front of them, edged with shops and stalls. Brightly colored paper lanterns hung from small, ornate ginkgo trees lining each side of the street.
How can there be any place in Starter Village that I have never seen? Afira wondered somewhat shocked. "This..is it newly added in a recent update?"
Rinai shook his head slightly. "No, only NPC's can notice the entrance."
I see. So that's why he held my hand. Though he's still holding it, not that I mind. A faint blush colored Afira's cheeks.
"Welcome to the NPC district. If you'd be ok with it, I'd like to take you to a particular shop first and buy a set of district clothes to change into," Rinai said.
Afira's eyes lit up. "Definitely!"
Looking around, Afira noticed most of the NPCs in the area wearing a hanfu. A special area specific clothing item! He'd heard of areas that had this feature but he hadn't been able to get any sets as there was usually a high-level quest needing a whole party of players to access the clothes.
As they walked along hand in hand, Rinai explained a bit about this little district.
"It was just empty space originally. But some NPCs started to come here from time to time to have a break from the game. Soon we all started to bring items into it and make it more comfortable. Once Gramma Nina developed her skills with coding, the place got a makeover and became a sort of resort town and shopping district for us NPCs."
The two paused in front of a little stall that appeared to be selling unusual potions. Rinai released Afira's hand and chose two sea green bottles.
"Any NPC can set up a shop, house, or just create an area to relax at," Rinai said as he handed some coins to a large-eyed child sitting in the stall.
He passed one of the bottles to Afira and opened his own, taking a small drink. Afira looked at the bottle in his hand curiously. It was very different from most potions.
"This is called Exsea, it refreshes your mind. It's the most popular drink in the district."
The bottle was small, only a few sips and it was gone. It felt cool and light as he drank it and the taste was delicious. The bottle itself was lovely to look at too. After he finished the drink, Afira placed it in his inventory with the thought, it will be a good memento.
"Gramma Nina is the unofficial mayor and district planner. When someone wants to add something they go to her with their idea and she codes it into the space for them as long as it's reasonable."
They reached the shop for hanfu. Rinai switched into his own from his inventory instantly, sparing Afira from physically changing in front of him this time. Then he walked through the shop briefly, picking pieces out for Afira.
Afira tried on what Rinai suggested. It was all perfect so he left it on and went to the shopkeeper to pay. "It's already been paid for sir. Welcome to the district."
Well, I guess that's ok, Rinai did bring me in here and chose the clothes. So I won't make a big deal of insisting on paying myself. Next chance, I'll pay.
The two walked from shop to shop, trying snacks and buying accessories Afira had never heard of before. Every time they got anything, Rinai paid while Afira was distracted. He started to feel embarrassed.
"Umm Rinai, sorry you're paying for everything. Please let me pay for some things too."
"Nope. I invited you out to play so I will be the one to pay during our date."
Afira stared blankly for a bit, slowly blinking several times. Contrary to his slow physical reaction, his mind and heart were racing. So, he wasn't the only one wanting to have a date?
As he stared, he realized the colors of their clothes were matching. Rinai's inner was red like Afira's outer robe and Afira's inner robe matched Rinai's white. They both had the same black belt with a subtle red and white thread edging.
Matching couple outfits! Afira was afraid his brain would short out. This was already such a great date. Had Rinai been planning it for a while?
After a few hours, they had seen most of the stalls and shared one of each type of snack.
The 'sunset' lighting effect suddenly changed to 'summer crescent moon' complete with a warm breeze rustling through the trees and a sky full of stars.
"Thank you for the date, Rinai. I've had a fun time. Next time, I'll ask you to accompany me, ok?"
Afira was nervous, the end of a date was always awkward. Should I kiss him, wait for a kiss, set the next date now? His stomach felt sour from the worries passing through his thoughts. Afira's fingers were twisting in the fabric of his robe and he looked around at anything but Rinai as he bit his lower lip.
"Afira." Rinai's voice was low and soft. Rinai reached for Afira's hands and untangled them from his robe. "Are you nervous?"
"No!" Afira jumped slightly and looked directly into Rinai's eyes, then quickly looked away, blushing lightly. "Umm well, yeah a bit."
"I would love to go on another date with you Afira. I'm really glad you had fun with me. Honestly, I was jealous when that guy implied you were on a date with Nalia."
Afira looked back up quickly, eyes widened. "She is a good girl and very pretty, but she is lacking in something important to me. I'm gay and she isn't a he. Even if she was a man, I actually already have someone I like." He blushes more deeply as he pulls Rinai's hand. Rinai steps closer, one of his hands rising to Afira's neck as he leans forward and pecks Afira's lips.
Rinai moves back a few centimeters, close enough for their breaths to mingle. "I have someone I like too."
He closes the small distance pressing and catching Afira's lower lip with his own. Afira responds to Rinai's movement, opening his lips slightly and placing his hand on Rinai's chest. Rinai's hand moves to the back of Afira's neck as he flicks his tongue against Afira's lower lip.
At this moment Afira's racing heart exceeds the safety settings of the game and he is forcibly logged out.
Afira blinks several times. "Ahhhhhg. What the hell? Stupid game, stupid safety features!" Afira yells and rages for a few moments then gets very quiet as he touches his finger to his lips. "....He really likes me too..."
A text lights up his phone and Afira quickly grabs it.
[See you soon Afira. (｡♥‿♥｡) Don't get too worried about the logoff.]
[I'm sorry! I didn't want to leave, really.]
[I believe you. I'll look forward to our next date. Maybe with practice, you won't log off as easily. Let's work hard! (づ￣ ³￣)づ ]
Afira's can feel his face get hot from how furiously he is blushing now. He rolls back and forth holding his phone, unsure of how to respond to that.
[Thanks again, Rinai. The date was amazing. I'll see you tomorrow.] Afira quickly thought of something else and sent another text right away. [Oh, umm the kiss was even more amazing. (／≧ω＼) Goodnight.]
[Goodnight Afira, sleep well.]