The quiet sound of pages turning echoed softly throughout the school library.
Sunlight filtered through the large windows, casting warm golden light across rows of bookshelves.
At the far corner of the library—
a girl sat quietly alone.
Akari.
Long silver-white hair rested neatly over her shoulders while her pale violet eyes remained focused on the textbook in front of her.
Unlike Rio—
Akari was calm.
Reserved.
The type of person who rarely caused trouble.
Rarely asked for things.
Rarely complained.
Even now—
while students outside laughed and talked loudly—
Akari simply continued writing notes silently into her notebook.
Then—
a cheerful voice suddenly interrupted the silence.
"Akariiiii~"
Akari looked up.
A girl with bright pink hair waved enthusiastically while walking between the bookshelves.
Her crimson eyes sparkled with energy completely opposite to Akari's quiet personality.
"…Memory."
Memory smiled brightly as she dropped into the seat beside her.
"Still studying during lunch break?"
Akari closed her notebook calmly.
"…Somebody has to."
Memory puffed her cheeks.
"Rude."
Akari smiled faintly.
The two had been best friends for years.
If Akari was silence—
then Memory was chaos.
The type of girl who somehow had endless energy no matter the situation.
Memory leaned forward excitedly.
"So."
Akari blinked.
"…So?"
"Have you played Evermount yet?"
Akari immediately froze slightly.
"…No."
Memory looked shocked.
"Wait seriously?!"
"The whole school is talking about it!"
"I even heard some college students skipped classes because of the Floor 2 update!"
Akari looked away slightly.
"…I know."
Memory tilted her head.
"Then why not play?"
Akari hesitated.
"…It's expensive."
The excitement in Memory's expression softened slightly.
She knew Akari's family situation.
Akari's mother worked constantly.
Rio also worked part-time before.
Money was always tight in their household.
Memory rubbed the back of her head awkwardly.
"…Right."
Silence briefly filled the table.
Then Memory suddenly smiled again.
"Well!"
"You should still try asking!"
Akari blinked.
"…Ask?"
Memory nodded repeatedly.
"Yeah!"
"You literally never ask for anything!"
"If it's you asking, I'm sure your mom would listen."
Akari looked uncertain.
"…Maybe."
Memory then leaned closer dramatically.
"Besides…"
"I already bought the game."
Akari blinked.
"You did?"
Memory proudly puffed her chest.
"Of course."
"I'm planning to become the strongest mage in Evermount."
Akari stared quietly.
"…That sounds impossible."
Memory gasped.
"YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT ME."
Akari laughed softly.
A tiny laugh.
But genuine.
Memory pointed dramatically toward her.
"There!"
"You laughed!"
"My mission is complete."
Akari shook her head slightly.
Then looked down at her notebook.
"…I did save some allowance money."
Memory immediately grabbed both of Akari's hands.
"THEN ASK."
Akari looked overwhelmed.
"…You're very forceful."
"Because I want to play with my best friend."
Memory smiled warmly.
"And honestly?"
"I think you'd really like the game."
Akari looked thoughtful.
Evermount.
The game everyone talked about.
Even Rio had been spending nearly all her time inside it lately.
Though…
Akari still didn't fully understand why.
She slowly nodded.
"…Okay."
"I'll try asking."
Memory cheered loudly enough that several students glanced over.
"YES."
Akari immediately covered her mouth.
"…Quiet."
Memory whispered dramatically.
"Sorry."
After school—
Akari returned home quietly.
The familiar scent of dinner drifted through the house.
She removed her shoes slowly near the entrance.
"…I'm home."
Her mother's voice echoed from the kitchen.
"Welcome back, Akari."
Akari hesitated briefly.
Then slowly walked toward the kitchen.
Her mother stood near the stove preparing dinner while humming softly.
Akari watched silently for a moment.
Then finally spoke.
"…Mom."
Her mother looked surprised immediately.
"Yes?"
Akari fidgeted slightly.
"…Can I ask for something?"
That alone caused her mother to blink.
Because Akari almost never asked for anything.
Ever.
Not clothes.
Not games.
Not expensive school items.
Nothing.
"…Of course."
Akari looked down slightly.
"…I wanted to buy Evermount."
"And…"
"…a VR headset."
Silence.
Then surprisingly—
her mother smiled.
"Ara."
Akari looked nervous.
"…If we can't afford it then it's okay."
"I still have allowance savings so I can help—"
Before she could finish—
her mother walked over and handed her an envelope.
Akari blinked.
"…Eh?"
She slowly opened it.
Her eyes widened instantly.
"…T-This is too much."
There was far more money inside than needed.
Enough for the headset.
The game.
And still extra remaining.
Akari looked up immediately.
"…Mom."
"Where did you get this?"
Her expression turned worried.
"…You didn't overwork yourself again, right?"
Her mother immediately laughed softly.
"No no."
"Actually…"
She smiled warmly.
"Ryota has been helping us lately."
Akari froze.
"…Ryota?"
Her mother nodded.
"He's been giving me around fifty thousand yen every week."
Akari's eyes widened completely.
"…F-Fifty thousand?!"
"That's way too much!"
Her mother laughed again.
"He insisted."
"He said it was for helping him stay here."
Akari stood speechless.
Suddenly—
a lot of things made sense.
The better food lately.
The more relaxed atmosphere at home.
Her mother not looking as exhausted anymore.
Then her mother smiled teasingly.
"Rio really found herself a wonderful boyfriend."
Her mother laughed warmly.
"Actually…"
"Ryota told me not to tell Rio he was helping financially."
Akari froze again.
"…He did?"
Her mother nodded.
"He said he didn't want her worrying about it."
A strange silence filled Akari's mind.
Ryota—
the quiet boy always following Rio around—
was secretly supporting their family financially without wanting recognition.
Akari slowly looked down at the envelope in her hands.
"…Why would he do that?"
Her mother smiled softly.
"Because he cares."
That answer somehow felt painfully simple.
A few minutes later—
Akari quietly left the house again.
The evening streets glowed beneath orange sunset light.
People walked past laughing while advertisements for Evermount played across massive electronic billboards.
Floor 2 Update Released.
Floor 3 Confirmed.
The World Expands Again.
Akari held the envelope carefully while walking toward the electronics district.
But her thoughts weren't on the game anymore.
Instead—
they were focused on Ryota.
The quiet boy who sat at their dinner table.
The one Rio constantly yelled at.
The one who secretly gave away money every week.
Without saying anything.
Without expecting anything back.
Akari slowly tightened her grip on the envelope.
"…Seriously…"
"…What kind of person are you?"
Meanwhile—
far away—
inside the deserts of Evermount—
Ryota suddenly sneezed violently.
Sayanaki looked at him.
"…You dying?"
Ryota rubbed his nose.
"…I suddenly feel like somebody insulted me emotionally."
Rio laughed.
"That's oddly specific."
And somewhere back in the real world—
Akari quietly entered the game shop.
Still speechless.
The evening sky had already darkened by the time Akari returned home.
A large shopping bag rested carefully in her arms while another smaller bag hung from her wrist.
Inside them—
the Evermount game package and a brand-new VR headset.
Akari slowly entered the house.
"…I'm home."
Her mother peeked from the kitchen with a warm smile.
"Welcome back."
Akari carefully removed her shoes and carried the bags upstairs toward her room.
Once inside—
she gently placed everything onto her desk.
The headset box reflected the room's soft lighting.
For a moment—
Akari simply stared at it quietly.
Evermount.
The game everyone talked about.
The game Rio spent nearly every waking hour inside.
The game Ryota played too.
A strange feeling settled in her chest.
Excitement.
Nervousness.
Curiosity.
Then—
knock knock.
Akari looked toward the door.
"…Come in."
The door slowly opened.
Her mother entered while carrying another envelope.
Akari blinked.
"…Mom?"
Her mother walked over and placed the envelope beside the VR headset.
Akari immediately noticed it was money again.
Her eyes widened.
"…Why are you giving me more?"
Her mother smiled softly.
"Well…"
"You're starting the game later than everyone else."
"So I figured having some extra money for in-game purchases might help."
Akari froze for a second.
Then immediately shook her head.
"…No."
Her mother blinked slightly.
Akari gently pushed the envelope back.
"I don't want it."
"…I want to get stronger myself."
For a moment—
her mother looked genuinely surprised.
Then suddenly laughed softly.
"…You really are Rio's sister."
Akari blinked.
"…Eh?"
Her mother smiled warmly.
"That stubborn look just now…"
"It was exactly the same as your sister."
Akari looked away slightly.
"…I'm not stubborn."
"You absolutely are."
Akari pouted quietly.
Her mother laughed again before patting her head gently.
"Alright."
"If you ever need anything, just ask."
She began walking toward the door.
Then Akari quietly spoke.
"…Sis really found herself a good man huh…"
Her mother paused.
Akari looked down slightly.
"…Just like dad."
Silence briefly filled the room.
Then her mother smiled softly.
"She did."
"At first…"
"I was honestly worried."
Akari looked up slightly.
Her mother leaned lightly against the doorway.
"Your sister has always been ambitious."
"Too ambitious sometimes."
"She rushes into things without thinking."
"She hides her worries."
"And she acts strong even when she's struggling."
Akari quietly listened.
Her mother then smiled warmly.
"But Ryota…"
"He balances her out."
"He's calm."
"Kind."
"And he quietly supports people without expecting praise."
Akari thought about the weekly money again.
Fifty thousand yen.
Every week.
Quietly.
Without even wanting Rio to know.
Her mother crossed her arms thoughtfully.
"Honestly…"
"There's nothing left for me to complain about anymore."
Akari blinked.
"…That much?"
Her mother nodded seriously.
"At this point I've basically accepted him already."
Then suddenly—
her expression turned thoughtful.
"…Though I do hope those two wait a little."
Akari tilted her head.
"Wait?"
Her mother sighed dramatically.
"I want your sister to at least graduate before having kids."
Akari froze.
"…EH?!"
Her mother continued rambling casually.
"But then again…"
"You know your sister."
"She's very ambitious."
"And they do spend almost all day together in her room…"
Akari's face turned bright red instantly.
"M-Mom?!"
Her mother gasped lightly.
"Oh dear."
"…What if they already—"
"MOMMMMM!!"
Akari immediately shoved her mother toward the door while completely red.
"We are NOT talking about this!"
Her mother laughed helplessly while being pushed outside.
"Alright alright!"
"I'm sorry!"
The door closed.
Silence.
Akari slowly turned around.
Then buried her face into her pillow from embarrassment.
"…Why is my family like this…"
A few moments later—
her phone vibrated.
Memory:
DID YOU BUY IT?!?!
Akari slowly lifted her head.
Then typed back.
Akari:
Yeah.
Almost instantly—
Memory called her.
Akari answered reluctantly.
The moment the call connected—
Memory screamed loud enough to nearly destroy her ears.
"AKARIIIIIIIIIIIII!!"
Akari pulled the phone away slightly.
"…You're loud."
"I'M JUST HAPPY."
Memory sounded genuinely excited.
"Wait wait wait—"
"How did you afford it?!"
"I was literally about to lend you money!"
Akari blinked.
"…You were?"
"OF COURSE."
"We're best friends."
Akari smiled faintly.
Then quietly replied.
"…My sister's boyfriend has been helping our family financially lately."
Silence.
Then—
Memory screamed again.
"YOUR SISTER HAS A BOYFRIEND?!"
Akari immediately regretted answering.
"…Yes."
"WAIT."
"THE SCARY PRETTY SILVER-HAIRED SISTER?!"
"…That description feels rude somehow."
Memory sounded completely shocked.
"She actually dates people?!"
Akari sighed.
"…Apparently."
Memory suddenly sounded dramatic.
"Now I'm curious."
"What kind of guy can survive your sister?"
Akari thought for a moment.
Then quietly answered.
"…A very kind one."
For some reason—
that answer felt strangely correct.
Memory immediately switched topics again.
"ANYWAY."
"SET IT UP."
"We're playing tonight."
Akari looked toward the VR headset again.
"…Okay."
An hour later—
the setup was complete.
The room lights dimmed softly.
Akari carefully placed the headset on.
Meanwhile—
Memory was already inside voice chat excitedly rambling nonstop.
"AKARI HURRY."
"I ALREADY MADE MY CHARACTER."
"What class are you gonna choose?"
Akari adjusted the headset slowly.
"…I don't know yet."
"You should totally become a mage with me."
"…You only want someone to carry you."
"Correct."
Akari laughed quietly.
Then—
the Evermount logo appeared before her eyes.
A massive world of light unfolded endlessly before her.
And slowly—
Akari whispered softly to herself.
"…So this is the world Rio and Ryota see…"
The login sequence began.