Aoi sat on the floor of her room, leaning against the side of her bed.
The room was quiet, lit only by the soft glow of the lamp on her desk. The TV was already on, showing the console's main menu.
She picked up the controller.
Took a deep breath.
And pressed start.
The screen shifted to the account selection.
Aoi chose hers.
She navigated through the menu until she reached an icon she knew by heart.
Eternal Aegis Online.
She selected it.
The opening theme began to play — an epic melody, layered with soft choirs and instruments that evoked a distant fantasy world.
The character selection screen appeared.
She moved the cursor.
Then stopped.
"Play as: Hiro."
Aoi hesitated for a moment.
Then confirmed.
Yes.
The game world slowly loaded.
And when the character appeared — a warrior clad in dark armor, with steady eyes and hair resembling her father's — Aoi's eyes shimmered softly.
She smiled.
"Sorry it took me a while to come back… Hiro."
A message popped up in the party chat.
Hina (Madousaki):"We've got a new member in Eternal Aegis!"
Right after:
Madousaki:"Assassin class. Takejiru!"
Replies came in quickly.
PrinceJohn:"Wow."
SoumaKey:"New member."
Hiro:"Welcome."
A few seconds later:
Takejiru:"Please take care of me."
SoumaKey:"You're 10 levels above us."
Madousaki:"And I'm 7 levels below most of you."
Takejiru:"There's a demon village. Strong enemies… but doable."
PrinceJohn:"One thing at a time. Let's defeat the Orc King first."
A few seconds later:
Takejiru:"Alright. Let's go."
He sent an emoji of a ninja tripping over a wall.
Aoi let out a small laugh.
"Takeo's gonna help in battle… and with the jokes."
On the screen, the five characters stood before a massive stone door.
The entrance to the Orc King's chamber.
Torches burned along the pillars.
The music grew heavier.
Takejiru stood still for a moment.
His avatar slowly turned toward Hiro.
As if watching him.
Aoi typed:
Hiro:"Let's go, Takejiru. This way."
At that moment—
Her phone vibrated.
She looked.
It was a message from Takeo.
"Why that character, Hiro?"
Aoi frowned slightly.
Another message appeared:
"He looks like your dad?"
Her hand froze over the phone.
She didn't reply immediately.
The room was silent.
The TV light illuminated her face.
Then she typed:
"I made him look like that… to be strong in the game."
Sent.
Silence.
Takeo didn't respond.
Back in the game, a new message appeared:
PrinceJohn:"Hey, warrior. Why are you standing still?"
Aoi set her phone aside.
Grabbed the controller.
"Let's go."
The door burst open.
The Orc King appeared.
A massive creature — grotesque muscles, enormous fangs, and armor made of bones.
It roared.
The battle began.
Aoi charged first.
Hiro unleashed three special attacks in a row.
A burst of blue light and steel.
Her mana dropped instantly.
PrinceJohn:"What are you doing, Hiro?!"
Madousaki cast a spell.
A green aura wrapped around Hiro.
Mana restored.
SoumaKey:"I'm holding him!"
The Orc King slammed against SoumaKey's shield.
Each impact shook the ground.
Then—
Takejiru appeared behind it.
Fast.
Precise.
His blades sliced through the monster's tendons.
The Orc roared in pain.
PrinceJohn raised his staff.
"Red Lightning."
A massive spell formed.
A beam of condensed fire and lightning.
It pierced through the Orc King.
Silence.
The screen flashed.
ENEMY DEFEATED
In chat:
SoumaKey:"Whoa! I gained four levels!"
Madousaki:"I gained eight!"
Takejiru:"One level… I'm 55 now."
Aoi checked.
Madousaki — 47Others — 50
Hiro:"We're almost balanced."
SoumaKey sent a thumbs-up bear emoji.
Then:
Takejiru:"Demon village?"
Aoi glanced at the clock.
21:22
She thought.
Just one more…
Everyone agreed.
The music shifted.
Darker.
The Demon Village appeared.
Black stone houses.
Green flames.
Creatures wandering the streets.
The battle began.
Magic.
Blades.
Shadows.
But near the end—
An assassin demon emerged from the darkness.
A swift strike.
Madousaki fell.
PrinceJohn:"Everyone close to me!"
They rushed together.
A barrier of light surrounded them.
SoumaKey:"I'm out of revive potions."
Hiro:"Used mine on SoumaKey."
Takejiru:"Used mine on myself."
Silence.
Then:
PrinceJohn:"I've got one left. I'll use it and we retreat."
The screen flickered.
Madousaki revived.
The group pulled back.
Demons chased them.
But they managed to escape.
Only ten strong enemies remained in the village.
While retreating, Aoi said:
"When we come back… we can take those ten easily."
Takejiru:"No."
"We're doing it all again."
PrinceJohn:"Yeah. We need to get stronger."
Aoi looked at the clock.
23:38
She froze.
Then typed:
Hiro:"I need to sleep. It's late."
Silence.
Then:
SoumaKey:"Didn't even notice the time."
Madousaki:"Same!"
Hiro:"See you tomorrow."
Takejiru:"I like you guys."
"Really."
Aoi smiled.
She stared at the screen for a few seconds.
Then turned off the console.
The room fell silent again.
She murmured softly:
"Thanks for today… again, Dad."
And went to sleep.
The next morning.
Aoi stood in front of the mirror.
She lifted a strand of her hair.
Frowned.
"Damn… I've got dark circles."
In the school hallway—
Mio and Hina walked side by side, yawning.
Aoi suddenly appeared.
"Good morning, sleepyheads."
Mio glanced at her.
"Look who's talking."
She pointed.
"You've got dark circles too."
Aoi panicked.
"You can see them?!"
Mio laughed.
"I'm kidding!"
"Mio!"
Hina added:
"She stayed up watching you guys play yesterday."
Mio shrugged.
"I tried to understand… but sometimes it feels kinda boring."
Aoi replied:
"The fun is in playing."
Mio thought for a moment.
"Maybe…"
Just then, Yamada appeared with Ren.
"Morning."
"Morning," they replied.
Hina whispered:
"He looks normal today."
Mio glanced at him briefly.
Then looked away.
Aoi changed the subject:
"So, what did you think of Takejiru?"
Hina smiled.
"Perfect!"
"Finally someone to clear enemies fast."
Mio laughed.
"You were excited yesterday."
"Your mom told you to keep it down."
Hina giggled.
"Hehe."
Aoi looked around.
"Shall we go in?"
Mio noticed.
"Huh… we're the only ones here."
They entered.
Mio walked past Yamada, who was laughing with Ren.
She sat down.
Watched him.
He seems fine…
"Hina called out:
"Aoi—are you going to the beach this weekend?"
"I am."
"My family is going too!"
"Hoshizuna Beach!"
Aoi's eyes widened.
"Seriously?!"
Hina nearly jumped.
"This is going to be amazing!"
Mio spoke up:
"Aoi…"
"Yeah?"
She hesitated.
"…Can I go with you?"
Silence.
Then, more quietly:
"I don't want to stay home with my dad."
Aoi answered carefully:
"Are you sure…?"
Mio cut her off:
"Please."
She looked away.
"I'll visit my mom at the hospital first."
Hina looked at Aoi and gave a small nod.
Aoi sighed.
"Well…"
"I'll talk to my mom."
She smiled.
"But I think it'll be okay."
Mio smiled faintly.
"It'll be nice."
Aoi kept looking at her.
Thinking:
…Her family must be complicated.