Mitsuki helps me put on the gold chain from his drawer around my neck with my ring. He closes his eyes and holds onto the ring as it melts into a pendant. I wince a little at the sight.
"Don't worry, think of this like magic or holographic imaging."
I exhale slowly as I watch my lovely gold ring melt.
"Are you allergic to anything?" Mitsuki asks me.
"Nothing food wise, but a random fact of mine is that I'm allergic to nickel."
"Interesting, so you have a jewelry allergy. Don't worry, the necklace I gave you is supposed to be gold."
"Why do you have a random gold chain in your drawers?"
"It used to be- it used to belong to me. It's complicated."
"So you just hide jewelry in clothes?"
"It's not that. I just.. Couldn't bear to look at it again."
Mitsuki leads me to the kitchen and starts cracking eggs and bacon into a pan.
"Can you spread cinnamon butter on some bread for me? We're going to toast some on a pan. The cinnamon butter is in the fridge."
I reach into the fridge and grab a small tin and open it.
"How many slices of bread would you like?"
"Do two for me."
I start spreading the brown cream onto four slices of bread.
"Anyway, after we finish eating, try taking off the headgear like normal. The world we both know is different. From now on, we will have to live like two worlds as one. The real world we know is no longer how we knew it. The reality we know is now a part of the simulation, some aspects like our senses can be connected to our original world." Mitsuki says to me.
He grabs the buttered bread and fries them on a separate pan.
"Woah, that's a lot of info. Can you break it down some more for me? How are things different now?"
"Here, your plate," Mitsuki gives me a plate of steaming scrambled eggs and bacon with cinnamon toast. He places cups of orange juice on the table.
I sit on one end of the small, brown table and Mitsuki joins me then we begin to eat.
I take a bite.
"This is such a simple meal, but I enjoy it. Thanks for cooking," I tell him.
"No problem. I love cooking."
"So, can you explain things a little more?"
Mitsuki sighs a little,"Let's talk after we eat. We don't have much time until the events start, so eat up."
-After a while-
We both finish our meals and Mitsuki looks at me then looks away.
"I know I'm still a stranger to you, but I hope you'll come to trust me because our lives depend on each other to get through what we might go through."
"I don't know how this game or world simulation works and you're my only lead besides Aeris. But I don't even know how to contact her whenever I want."
"Please, trust me. You don't have to completely trust me right now, but know that whatever you experience in your reality, things will be perceived a little differently. Try eating food at home after taking off the gear. Imagine it and physically move your body as though you were getting off the game."
"You mean like just get off normally?"
"What you see might seem normal to you, but eventually you'll start to realize the differences. The simulation works through brain waves, so, quite literally, you and I will be living in the gaming world and reality world at the same time."
"I'll try I guess. Be right back."
"Go lay down in the bed across from my room."
"Thanks."
"Don't forget to put one of your mementos on the nightstand. We've already found your magic memento so no worries. I'll watch over your body while you're gone."
"So for you, my body is still here?"
"Uh, we're not completely sure, but based on my experiences, I have assumptions. Just go on."
"So, we're experimenting?"
"Yeah, I guess you can say that."
"I'm.. a little scared since you told me the world is different for us now."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you but we really should get a move on before we end up getting swooped into events."
"Okay, I understand. I'll wake up I guess?"
"Yes. I'll be here when you come back."
I take a breath as we walk to the bedroom across Mitsuki's room. I place my phone on the nightstand as he watches me lay down in the bed and close my eyes.
I take another slow breath and imagine waking up in my bedroom.
I visualize the golden moon night light on my night stand and my blanket of constellations on the bed.
I wake up in my room and place my hands on my headgear until-
"Don't take off the headgear!" I heard Mitsuki say.
"Wha? But don't I need to take it off?"
"No. It's your life line now."
"How? And how are we still able to talk?"
"Like I said, the game runs on brainwaves, the signals from our brains. Just eat and let's see what happens. The fact that we can still conversate, means that the game is still active while you interact with the world."
"So, there's still a connection for us to talk like a phone call?"
I grab a breakfast burrito in the fridge and heat it in the microwave.
"Yeah, I can see what you see on your end."
"How?"
"I- this is a theory but I think our brainwaves met in sync since last night. I think we made some kind of a connection and so the simulation amplified our connection to allow me to see and feel what you did."
"So you saw that I-"
"That you got ready for bed"
"That's.. Kinda embarrassing knowing I was watched. That's too..much" I sigh and blush.
Beep. I took out the burrito and blow on it before taking a bite.
"Can't you like close your eyes when I do stuff?"
"Um, it's something I didn't really know until now either. But basically I think we share senses."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I can feel how warm that burrito is even though I'm not there. I can taste what you're tasting too."
"Well, that's kinda crazy. Like telepathy or body possession?"
"Uh, I guess kinda like that."
Vrrrr. My phone vibrates.
It's Mom.