Chapter Text
The distant noise of TV buzzing is heard as it engulfs the toxic air. The air is so thick of code that you feel like the world might just end right here and now. But, this is only the beginning of a new story.
REALITY
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Lain, wake up. Are you ready to face yourself? Lain wakes up from her school desk with a gasp and a tremble of her voice. She was not expecting such an abrupt wake up call from…who? Looking around, Lain seems to find no one but her classmates and teacher around her in their separate desks. Confused and exhausted from junior high school already was not a good start to the school year, Lain noted to herself. Back to the topic at hand, Lain thought to herself about what she had just heard. “These voices are getting even worse…” Lain murmurs to herself quietly. This isn’t her first time around these voices, they have been appearing for a couple weeks now since her eighth grade year started. The only questions about these voices that Lain doesn’t understand is who is communicating with her and why.
The school bell rings, the school day is over when it started a few hours ago, or so that is what Lain thinks. The brown banged girl stands up from her desk, putting all her school supplies away in her backpack hastily but neatly. She sighs an exhaled breath of relief since school is over for the day and leaves the classroom. As Lain walks through the hallway of the school she begins to think and study the movements of the other students passing by or standing with their friends. “Friends…” She whispers her thoughts to herself.
Although Lain was not a popular kid in her class, she wasn’t unpopular either. Sure she kept her thoughts and opinions to herself and is an antisocial person but she wasn’t entirely scared to talk to others when needed. Confrontation is not Lain’s speciality, but when being around people her age, it got harder to open up in her little shell. Lain, only being 14 years old, has not lived a full human life and has not experienced everything that life offers to her, but still being at a young age is harder than it looks. Overall, friends were not easy to make for Lain as reserved as she is.
Lain shakes her head to stop herself from overthinking as she is at her school locker, doing her daily routine of checking her locker and putting on her outdoor shoes. Lazily walking out of school and not paying much attention to her surroundings, she runs into the back of a fellow student. Losing her balance, Lain starts to fall when whoosh, speed of light reflexes catch Lain by the waist. Lain groggily opens her eyes at her unexpected encounter and sees…a girl with dark brown hair, looks about the same age as Lain but also a fellow student in some of her classes. “Oh my god! Are you okay!?” The fellow girl speaks to her dazed classmate in a worried tone of voice. Gently, the girl stands Lain upright and makes sure she doesn’t fall again. “A-Ah! I’m sorry!” She says, apologizing to her classmate. Letting go of Lain before answering she replies,“It’s no problem at all! Are you sure you’re not hurt?”
The question lingers in Lain’s mind. Hurt? Well of course she isn’t hurt but dazed and tired would be more of the answer to her question. Lain stares blankly at the other student before realizing she hasn’t answered the students question. “Oh! I’m not hurt…” Lain replies shyly and quickly looks away from the girl to make the encounter less awkward from her excessive eye contact. “That’s good to hear.” The taller girl sighs in relief, afraid to hurt her smaller classmate.
“Wait…aren’t you Lain Iwakura from homeroom 8-2?” The smaller girl looks at her classmate in surprise and replies with a simple head nod. “It’s nice to meet you Lain! I’m Alice Mizuki!” Alice replies excitedly with a glowing smile. “H-How do you know my name…?” Lain asks in a shaky tone of voice. “Uh well…not to sound creepy or anything but I’ve been keeping a watch on you since we started school this year. I’m not trying to be a creep!” Alice laughs nervously and continues. “But I notice when someone sits alone by themselves in homeroom. It's almost like no one takes it seriously enough-”
Footsteps are heard approaching the two classmates, interrupting their conversation. “Alice, who is this?” A stern voice from another student clashes out, making both of the girls jump slightly. “U-Um Reika? This is Lain Iwakura, from our homeroom class.” Lain looks back and forth between the two girls, noticing Alice is much shyer from the popular girl's sternness. “Hm…” Reika observes Lain and smirks slightly. “Hello Lain Iwakura, names Reika Yamamoto.” she says plainly, Lain replies with a gentle but nervous grin and nod to be polite.
Reika averts her sight to Alice and smiles more brightly. “Alice, are you still going to Club Cyberia tonight?” “Yes, of course I’ll be there! I wouldn’t miss it if you and Juri are going!” “Good, see you then Alice!” Reika waves goodbye to Alice, ignoring Lain completely. Lain stares at Reika walking away and eventually zones out of reality. She is soon snapped back to her reality when she feels a hand touch her shoulder. Realizing that Alice is trying to get her attention, she quickly averts her dazed expression to the taller girl.
“You alright Lain? You kind of zoned out a bit there…” Lain nods her head quickly at Alice, hoping the other girl got the message. “So…um…did you want to go to Club Cyberia with us? I bet Reika wouldn’t mind! It’ll be fun and you can get to know more people!” Alice rubs the back of her neck nervously while chuckling softly. Lain’s eyes glow bright in surprise at the unexpected offer. “S-Sure! Though I don’t get out much so it will be different for me…” The smaller girl shrinks smaller as if she overshared a personal secret. “Great! And don’t worry, I’ll be there with you so I’ll help you with meeting others and having fun overall!”
A big smile is shown on Alice’s face in excitement of making a new friend. “You know where the club’s at right? I can give you the address real quick after we exchange numbers!” Talking hurriedly but happily, Alice quickly but gently writes her number on Lain’s hand. Before Lain could even speak, Alice was already on the run home. “See you later Lain! It was nice to meet you!” As the girl is running away she is looking behind herself at Lain with a big grin. “See you later…” Lain smiles happily at the moment of a new blossoming friendship.
to Be continued…