Chapter Text
"Move faster!”
“I'm already pushing the button to the limit!”
“They are catching up. Use the elixir.”
"What elixir...? I used it all before hahah.”
"Momo! I'm running out of energy.”
"Alright!”
Without stopping running, he carried Yuki on his back. A pair of winged robots fluttered around, with green and magenta tints, respectively, following the boys wherever they went. Both had high-level equipment. It was clear that they had experience and had been dedicating themselves to the same game for years.
"Shit, there’s no time.”
They climbed several floors and reached the roof of a skyscraper. There was no escape. A powerful beam of light was shot from behind. The screen then turned black, and something was written on it—Game over.
“Why do you always have to waste important things in the wrong moment? We never have them when they’re needed.”
"I'll listen to you the next time, hehe.”
“That's what you always say and we haven't passed level 40 yet...let's try it one more time.”
A phone rang.
"Oh, I'm sorry, someone’s calling me.”
“Again!? Don’t leave me, Yukiii, Momo-chan is bored! Why are you always so busy? You're not Superman, are you!?”
“Who knows.”
"Uhh," although his face couldn't be seen through the screen, he was upset. "Go, Yuki. Let's play again tomorrow!!”
“Sure.”
“Seems like I’m alone again," he smiled sadly.
Yes... that virtual person was his only company.
Momo turned off the TV and lay down on the sofa. This was Momose Sunohara's day to day. A college student addicted to video games. Or so it was before he was inundated with debts. His parents' business was in bankrupt. He quit his studies because he could no longer afford them. He could only lower himself and accept the offer of an old friend: Ryo Tsukumo, the biggest titan in the industry.
How many people had fallen into his trickeries? How many would have lost their lives along the way? He was clearly not a nice person. Momo knew it. However, he desperately needed money. He wanted his sister to have a decent life. He wanted his parents to be proud of him, to recognize him. That’s why he accepted. He started working and every month, he would give a certain amount of money to his family. Unfortunately, the idea was not that well-received. Instead of being acclaimed, he was despised. No one wanted dirty money, after all. Nobody wanted any more trouble. That's how Momose Sunohara was kicked out of his own house, forced to live in a small rental apartment, barely thirty square meters.
Despite everything, something about him didn't change: he kept on sending an envelope with money every month, and he kept playing the same video game with the same person: Yuki.
If he knew what kind of person I am...he’d surely hate me.