Many people ask, "why are my kids always playing games on their consoles?" Or "Why is my daughter always on her damn phone?"
What parents and adults don't understand is the appeal it has to kids and teens. Being able to be someone else, if not for a short period of time. Is everything to them. Either they are just bored, or they are ready to be themselves.
Rodo clicked open his game and began a few matches. He got an invite to a match from an unknown person with the username of... "Bl_ue".
He squinted in confusion and joined. The person's skin was of a teenage boy. With black hair and green eyes. The person began a vote to join a random map. Rodo accepted this invitation and the two joined the world. The person seemed to be using VR equipment since his movement matched a real person's. The arms, legs, and head.
"Do you have a VR headset too? :3" The person messaged Rodo. Rodo smiled at this random question and typed back quickly. "Yes. Just a moment."
Rodo slipped out of his chair and put the headset on. He sat back down and got his motion controls on. He sighed and went with Bl_ue to some city area.
The game, mostly being like another game Rodo played before, VRChat. This game, however, seemed to be much more realistic, when you spoke, your voice could be altered by choice, your mouth would move, although a bit wonky sometimes. And your movements and grabbing items were almost seamless.
"What are we doing here?" Rodo spoke, his voice coming through normally.
"The city has a lot to offer. Let's hang out for a bit." Bl_ue said, his voice deep. Bl_ue climbed a ladder in an alleyway and watched Rodo climb up as well. Once on the roof, Rodo looked out into the night sky. The stars glistened and gleamed and Bl_ue stared up at them smiling.
"They're beautiful." He mentioned, sitting down on the rooftop, then laying down to watch them. Rodo followed this movement, feeling a bit weird... but it felt right. To be with this guy. Almost like a refresh.
"What do you think Clak?" Bl_ue asked, looking up at Rodo's username above his head.
"Ah... just call me Rodo."
"I see. Rodo. What do you think of the stars?" Bl_ue asked, seeming to quickly move on from before, but Rodo had no answer, so he sat quietly.
Eventually, he felt something touch his hand, and upon looking over, he could see Bl_ue's hand on his own. He felt... relieved at first, but in another second, he jumped back and yelled something.
"I'm not... a faggot!" He yelled, slowly backing up.
"I'm... sorry," Bl_ue said, his hand now pulled back and his eyes quickly moved to the ground.
Rodo growled and mumbled, rushing down the ladder, he quickly logged out of the game.
***
The next day, Rodo went to school, the memory of Bl_ue still fresh in his mind. He hung out with his friends like normal and made fun of other kids as his friends would. Yet... Something kept bugging him.
***
"Now students, we will be signing up for our Junior Year Classes today. Please check your emails and clear them out." The Advisory teacher announced, looking around the room. "Clive... are you listening?"
Clive jolted upward from his conversation with his friend and put a thumbs up. "Emails... right." His attention returned to his computer.
Rodo remarked that this was the kid who returned his wallet to him a couple of days ago. While staring at him for some time, Clive looked up at him and Rodo's stare faltered. He quickly looked away and began talking to his friend again.
***
Clive listened for the bell to ring before walking with his friends out of Advisory.
"Hey, do you have any fun games you like to play, Clive?" One asked.
"Not really... I'm not much into games actually. I have to study a lot." Clive remarked, lifting up his English Textbook.
School ended that day, and Rodo checked his notifications on his phone, only to see he had received an email from someone. He read the sender's email name.
"Bl_ue"
"Blue?! How did he... get my email?" Rodo asked himself, looking around cautiously before opening the email.
"I'm sorry. Meet me on that rooftop tonight."
That's all the email said. Yet... it seemed like his original suspicion that Clive was Blue was incorrect.
***
Rodo slipped the VR headset on. He felt concerned about why he was doing this in the first place. This person was obviously gay. If he continued to talk to him... people would think lowly of him.
He climbed the ladder and Bl_ue was there, as Rodo had expected.
"What now?" Rodo asked.
"Rodo. I do apologize. I was being a bit weird last night. I was just a little tired." He said, looking down at his hand. "I assure you it will not happen again."
"Who are you? You go to my school. I know you do... but who are you?" Rodo asked, ignoring Blue's apology, he almost sounded intimidating.
"I... would rather not say... Is that alright?"
"No! Hey! I don't know who you think you are!" Rodo growled out, grabbing Bl_ue by the collar of his shirt, which just phased through Rodo's hands as a sign appeared in his line of sight in big bold letters, red circling his vision.
"No violence allowed in this world." The text announced, giving him a warning.
Bl_ue laughed, even turning a bit red.
"Are you laughing at me?!" Rodo asked, slightly embarrassed that he forgot the basic rules.
"N-no! It's just that... your expression about that message! It was funny!"
"Whatever..." Rodo said, pouting as he sat on the ledge of the building's rooftop. Bl_ue also sat nearby but gave Rodo a bunch of room, seemingly remembering what happened last time too well.
"Well... any plans for what classes you are taking next year?" Bl_ue asked.
"So you do go-... No. No, I don't. Maybe Creative Writing? Welding? I have no clue."
"I see."
***
The rest of the time was in silence. Rodo left and Bl_ue followed after. Rodo chose the classes he mentioned to Bl_ue, almost convinced that it was a good idea. The school year was over and Bl_ue rarely talked to Rodo anymore. They would sometimes play, but other than that, their friendship was at a standstill. Until the last day of summer arrived and Rodo's email buzzed.
"The rooftop. Tonight."