"Niko?" A soothing voice snapped him from his concentration that he tripped to a cascade of books. He felt he was drowning inside the pages.
A tall, long haired woman with stormy eyes scoops Niko out of the lake of books and chuckles as he sees Niko's weird pouting face.
"Sorry, did I disturb you from your work?"
"Pretty much, Megami."
Megami was his ex girlfriend from a long time back in school. She met him while Niko defended her from harassers and eventually in time, she confess her love for him. A relationship of sorts was formed but last year, they broke up because of Megami's obsession of overprotection. Still, the break up was normal and they became good friends. He even invited her one time at his house with Hiroko to hang out.
"Still working as a librarian, I see. I saw your wonderful victory at the competition. You looked good."
Niko brushes his hair from the dust. "I try. Still, it was a big disappointment. Don't believe what the television says.��
"Wait. So what did you win?" She crosses her arms.
"Imagine having a cake. And you only get a bit of the slice."
She swoops down at Niko with a tight embrace. "Oh Niko. You should have told me. I could help you. I'm your friend, after all."
Megami insisted to move out with Niko and Hirko to her estate in Tokyo, where she owns a mansion with a pool. Her life has been blessed by his family who owns a video game company. But Niko always refused. He didn't want to place a burden on her, and he always felt it was awkward to live with her. After all, their relationship turned out rocky.
"How many times do I have to tell you that I have no interest in money?"
She raises an eyebrow "Seriously? If you haven't noticed, Japan has changed the rules of currency. Many people are struggling financially. In order for you to progress, virtual reality is the new law. Besides, I have a lot of money and I don't mind helping you."
Niko gently grabs her hands. She makes a hint of flirtation. "Megami, you are like a light in the universe. But I refuse from gaining money from you or from anyone. My goal now is to take care of my sister and one day leave the Slums."
Niko's answer was, for the moment, satisfactory. She lets go of the topic and helps him move the books from the floor and place it in order.
Niko has been working as a librarian for at least two years. It was a hard work, preserving the old books of the country. He loved books and always preserved them like children. He loved to read and you could say that it's what made him attractive, especially Megami. But the role of the librarian is dwindling, each day the old books are been digitized into the Internet, and consumed by the elitist.
"Do you imagine yourself on the foots of the medieval citizens in Europe?" Megami asks as Niko brushes the dust of a smmall book of history.
His eyes twinkled. "It will be fascinating, yes. History is valuable knowledge. We could learn what our past ancestors did and prevent any errors they made to continue moving forward."
He continued. "However, I rather not. Medieval times were, how do I put, a miasma of religious turmoil and plague."
Megami laughs for a moment. "Yeah, you are right. It was terrible, indeed."
She spots a book about the Romans who she opens it and begins to read. "Hmm, this one is about Augustus."
He smiles by the sound of the name. "The man who founded the Roman Empire and him at the seat of the throne. A classical history book. It's one of my favorite books. The library makes hard work in preserving it."
Megami slides her finger around her left ear, removing parts of her hair. "That's what they called you in Empire Wars. Do you remember? It was our first virtual date."
Niko's cheeks turned pink, thinking about it when he played virtual gaming Empire Wars, an RPG game with multiple factions on an expansive world. "Yes, they called me Augustus, in that game because of the eagle flags. Good times."
"You do realize that sooner or later, this library will cease to exist. Many countries are adapting the virtual world as the second Earth we wanted. That our minds could live inside the digital world. Imagine that."
Niko sighs. He turned away from Megami and continued sliding the books. "Do you really think that spending in a virtual world is our second Earth? I lost a good portion of my life because I dedicated my life to win matches and gain virtual currency to survive in the Slums with my sister. I refuse to accept that reality."
Megami felt insulted, thinking of a long lost dream of returning back into a relationship with Niko. A dream where she could revitalize their fires of romance in a virtual world together. But know she sees a different man. A man she lost forever.
"Your visit at the library is no coincidence to me." Niko finally said. He turns and makes her say why she was at the library.
"Because I want you." Her pupil eyes grew bigger, and she bit her lips. Her beauty was enchanting to Niko. He admits he loves her, a small part of it. And yet, he is compelled to refuse. Perhaps he could have a future with her. This will liberate himself from the shackles of the Slums. After all, she has a well amount of wealth. Still…
"You told me once that I belonged to you. That no one is above us. Yet, when I wanted to hang out with my friends, you told me that you will kill yourself if a girl will even breathe my neck. You know how many times you embarrassed me in front of my friends? I'll never forget that."
She nervously bits her lips. "It's just in the past. I'm normal now. I'm here for you, Niko. I want to help."
But Niko looks at his watch, beeping of the end of his work. "I have to go, Megami. It was nice to see you."
He retreats like the wind from the library, leaving a petrified Megami with broken dreams. Maybe it was for the best for them.
On the way to Shibuya, he waits at the crossroad. Niko's mind churned back again at Otomo who screamed of betrayal. He swallows, pretending to forget his past life. The clouds gathered and a torrential rain fell once again. The streets were empty, only with a few cars passing by. He stopped around a shop to buy himself a coke with the currency he gained at the competition.
His eyes turned and saw a man standing before him. His face was crinkled and with a shady scar. He whispers a few words and buys himself a drink before leaving the shop. Niko didn't understand him, perhaps because of the loud noise the rain was making, but somehow it made him feel uneasy.
He returns back to the front gate of the house with a bag full of goods for Hiroko. His body stops moving as he gazes at the doorknob. It was broken.
Without thinking, he rushes inside in search of Hiroko. His house was a mess. The intruders destroyed most of the furniture, the TV, took their food supplies. The house was empty.
"Hiroko! Hiroko! Where are you, Hiroko?" He got desperate, believing she was hiding somehwere inside the house. She must be scared. Traumatized. He began to feel guilty of leaving her sister so alone. He could have taken care with him at the job. His mind started to work like a factory. Who did this? And why?
After opening the last door of the house, he fell on his knees as he sees at the wall, the same whispering deadly words of the man with the scar. 'You should have never refused the ChessMaster', painted in red.
Who is this Chessmaster? How did he know him? Have they met before? Are they watching him?
Indeed, he quickly scrabled in search for his cellphone, until a looming shadow struck him into his head, completely shutting down his vision and falling heavy at the floor. His breathing grew shallower as the cloaked men bullied him and kicked him.
'Augustus. The falling eagle. Birdie.' The men called him.
'The Chessmaster sends his regards.' And he blacked out.