'Monday,' awoken with the sound of the street roaring to life, a one-room apartment not far off to the student dorms. A singular carton box, a window barred by metal. A yellow lightbulb around which twirled a fly. The odor of rotten food came from out the window that gave onto an alley with plenty of trashcans. Boiled on the stove were some tea courtesy of Cherry. 'University is over, a heavy pressure has been lifted. Elise was moved to Celle's Laboratory. Hopefully, her Morpit factor is treated. My life is now in the hands of people I don't know. My job is to work my way into winning 10 matches. I need to kill ten people. No time to turn, I've not the option,' hands-on the SCHD, notifications from Gian's tournament. 'Quadrum's Legion won yet another Gian's tournament. I missed the feed because of work. Whatever, another record was broken. The highlight of the whole event was a 1 verse 4 with Pheelo as the sole survivor. Forced to defend a bomb site, he killed one after the other, 0.125, 0.125, 0.126, and 0.124. Four killed of record-breaking reaction time. I can't believe it,' poured onto a plastic cup, he sat facing the door. '0.124, that guy isn't human. The final score was 3-2 in favor of Quadrum's Legion.'
"I best get to work," hands through the backpack, working two part-times was dropped to only working the Boycott Electrical.
Headphones on, bag strapped tight, he jogged to work. Forty-five minutes cut into twenty-five, "-good morning ma'am."
"Good morning Sayer," voiced Dimia with a frown. Her forehead crinkled as if wanting to ask something.
"I'll get ready right away," moved to the back, Rodger stood without a shirt.
"Morning there, Sayer," a courteous welcome for the boy seemed in a better mood.
"Good morning to you too," jumped into the work uniform, "-I'll be on my way," he bowed to then clean and prepare the shop.
Time continued till afternoon. Throughout the day, something felt amiss, '-Ma'am looks suspicious, even Rodger, what are they up too?' he wondered and returned gentle smiles. 'Do they know about my involvement in the D-game?' crossed, the heart sank deeply with the throat closing in on itself. Nervousness and anxiety, kept inside, it didn't influence his work.
"Excuse me," at around 12:43, the door opened to a girl accompanied by an old man. The duo seemed of rich stature. No stars that meant the two were humans. Mounting the counter, "-welcome to Boycott Electrical, how may I help?" said Sayer courteously.
"Hello, I was wondering if you had this…" eyes met, freckle cheeks, and rosy lips, she slowed to then return as if nothing happened, "-this, and this."
List in hand, narrowing his eyes to gaze both at the list and the lady, he turned, '-what is Cherry doing here?' paying no heed, he moved to the back in search of the required item. Scanned through the shop's inventory, no result came through.
"Ma'am," turning the corner into where Dimia sat, "-I can't seem to find the generator listed on here."
"Come here," she gestured with blinders giving into the shop closed, "-that is peculiar," she stood, "-that model has been out of production for quite a while now." Mumbled to herself, she moved to a stash of antique items. "Found it," she said triumphantly with a smile that soon turned into a frown upon staring Sayer. "Here," said coldly, she sat to return to work.
'Did I miss something?' he thought and stepped out with the item in hand.
"That will cost 21,000 bits."
"Here," paid with a card, Cherry averted his gaze throughout the sale.
"Thank you and come again," packed, the old man took the package to then vanish into the ecstatic city.
'Why did she act as if she didn't know me. Whatever,' sighed, '-I bet the awkward encounter we had on the highway has caused more bad than good. I frankly don't care anymore. Whatever happens, I saved my sister's life and gave up my own. The day isn't far when death by D-game comes. Getting attached to this life of mine won't do any good.'
"Sayer," called a few minutes later, Rodger came to mount the counter, "-the lady wants to talk to you. I have no idea what happened, but she seems angrier than usual," a pat on the back had him walked into her office.
"You asked for me?"
"Yes," she turned from her desk, screens floating around returned to her hub, "-I went to visit Elise a few days ago. You know, when on the day you became worried. I knew that it had to do with her," stood menacingly, "-I come to find out that Elise isn't at the hospital any longer. I fought hard to get information, still, they didn't leave me with much. I'm speaking to you as Aunt Dimia, as your father's sister. Could you tell me what happened?"
"I'm sorry Aunt Dimia," head bowed, "-you've done a lot for me and Elise after the accident. If it wasn't for you, I doubt that I might have gotten my head straight. The truth is, Elise's Morpit factor grew out of control. In her condition, if the surgery failed – the only other option remained was to have her admitted to Celle's laboratory."
"Wait, wait, wait," interjected with fingers on her forehead, "-don't speak so fast. Elise's Morpit factor grew out of control, and you chose to tell me this now?"
"Yes," he returned her glare with a genuine smile, "-350,000 by the end of August."
"That much," she stumbled, "-to have her admitted at Celle's laboratory," frowned, "-I know damn well that you don't have that kind of money laying around. What happened to Elise, did she…" thinking of the worse, she sat in anticipation of the news. "Why didn't you tell me, I could have given you the funds, are we not family?"
"Auntie Dimia," stood firm, "-we are related but not family. Your family name is Fleur whilst mine is Asce. It was my problem to deal with – that is why I choose to not have you involved."
"Are you serious?" she glared, "-are you going to say that us having different family names matters?"
"It does," sharp and direct, "-Aunt Dimia, you've done more than enough for us siblings. About Elise, she's well and being treated at Celle's laboratory. I sold our house, the only memory I've left of my parents. I gave up all I cherish to have my sister saved. It's a matter of time until she wakes. I'll never have my sister face danger alone, even if she decides to remain asleep, I'll be by her side until I die. That's the promise I made, I promised to be her family," sincere without an ounce of doubt, she listened.
"You've grown," turned to her computer, "-you knew about Boycott's financial trouble. Always smarter than you let on and always caring for others. I'm disappointed that Elise's condition grew so bad. What will you do now?"
"Work, I suppose. I've found something that I'm good at. I'll give it a go for a while until I get my degree."
"And the house, what happened?"
"I got a pretty nice apartment not far from the dormitory. It's around 2000 bits each month."
"Well then, it's nearly time for you to leave. I'll see you tomorrow," unable to read how she felt, the door closed with Rodger not that far.
"Eavesdropping isn't very gentlemanly," said as a joke, he laughed.
"I know," he shrugged, "-blame it on curiosity."
Backpack on, "-I'll be off." Stood with half a smile, Dimia waved slowly, her hands seemed as if trying to lift a weight.
'I lied to keep auntie from preying.' Gazed atop to the overpass, '-still can't get enough of how popular Roxette is,' down the pavement towards the flat, the SCHD kept on vibrating with notifications. The ID was of Cherry, she had sent multiple messages.
"Didn't realize you worked at an electric shop."
"I guess."
"Anything else I should know?"
"I'm hungry, why did you message me, is there another match I have to prepare for?"
"Do I need a reason to message my slave?"
"I guess not."
"Good, the next match is in two days, time 20:00. I'll send a team to your apartment."
"Alright."
[Commence Virtualization?] sat at home with the SCHD plugged into the wall, [YES] Spiraled into the virtual world, 'I'm here,' awake with black gloves, '-there are more people than before,' the hub had a notice displayed across.
[Quadrum's Legion Celebratory event]
'I forgot about that,' stood with the head wandering across the players, '-the celebratory event. An honor given to the champion, they get to choose and implement any activity they wish,' moved closer, (One versus One event. Fight your way to the top young players of Manticore, what awaits is the honor to go one on one against the champions.)
[Countdown till start -00:01:30]
'One hour thirty minutes until the event starts.'
[Registration Fee: 200 VB]
'Should I waste 200 Bits on an event,' stood with the interface toggled, '-the winner of the tournament gets to either take the cash prize of 40,000 bits or fight a pro-manticore player. I doubt anyone to challenge a pro, the money is reason enough.'
"If you can make an impression against the pro, there might be the chance of them scouting you. Can't you understand, that's the whole point of this event," came from a girl dressed in a skimpy outfit, she stood in the middle of a rough-looking group.
"I understand, but still," eyes locked, "-ay, is that not the scrub?" said a tall man with orange hair.
"I remember that guy," laughed another with a well-built body.
"Scrub?" turned the girl, "-Sayer!"
"H-hey," flustered, he averted her gaze.
"I see that you're thinking of joining the event," she moved closer, "-what class are you going for?"
"W-what do you mean by class?"
"Isn't it obvious," she came even closer to use his interface, "-it's divided into Sniper and Rifler."
"I see," opposed to watching the interface, the attention was on her.
"The screen is over here," she turned with a squint.
"Jenifer, do you know him?" the cavalry soon arrived in stride.
"Yeah, he's a friend."
"Boyfriend?" asked the tall-man with a clenched fist.
"No, nothing like that," she giggled, "-just someone who I know from school, that's all."
"I see," gestured muscle-head with '-get closer and your dead,' mumbled underneath his breath.
"What class are you going for?"
"Rifler,' she smiled, "-you?"
"I don't think I'll participate," ashamed, the interface closed.
"Seriously?" said with a disappointed sigh, "-here I thought you were a gamer. Isn't being challenged the whole point of staying in this world?"
'A challenge,' giving some thought to the matter, "-I'll play." [Player-One, Registration Completed. Class: Sniper. The weapon of choice: DLS-40]
"The DLS-40," said Jenifer with narrowed eyes, "-isn't that gun obsolete now that the 7X3T is out. Have you seen Henry IV use it, the shots that are hit is unbelievable? I thought you were rifle type, what's your reaction?"
"Personal best is 0.128."
"0.128," she took a step back, "-don't flatter yourself," quick to pull out her interface, "-here, try this," a reaction test. [0.330, 0.460, 0.588, 0.716]
"No way you have 0.128," laughed the orange hair man, "-that's pro-level talent. Don't even joke about that."
"I guess I overestimated my time," giving a nervous chuckle. "It was a pleasure to see you well, miss Jenifer," waved, Sayer toggled to practice mode.
[Friends Currently Online: Player One] [Status: Training]
"Can you believe that guy?"
"Lying to have 0.128, what kind of an idiot is he?"
'A 0.130 exact difference between the reaction test. Was that intentional or pure luck,' baffled, her mind wandered around what had happened.
Inside a private lobby with pro-level bots, '-my goal is to at least kill 4 bots. If I'm to snipe, my SCHD isn't that responsive. I can expect to have a few milliseconds of delay. Hardware does matter in this situation. I'll have to rely on the gun as opposed to my reaction. Speed isn't heavily needed on Hallway. The perfect map for a standoff against snipers.'