Finally Afterlife Undreamt

„One more, please!“, Houta hands his empty plate to Shino.

„I should charge per meal.“

„Oh boo-hoo, you're not getting payed enough as is!“

Yuki swings Firestorm in a series of complex movements. The axe's whooshes are loud, but not louder than Houta and Shino's bickering.

„Magic system yada yada, and yet you are here!“, Shino says.

„Not for the lack of trying.“

„And what is that supposed to mean?“

„Did you guys notice the moon shines differently the night of the update?“

Houta and Shino look at Yuki, dumbfounded. They mutter stuff like „of course“ and „don't be silly“, but then look at each other and shrug.

„It's brighter the night of the big update. Like now.“ Yuki joins their teammates and sits down. The moon is still moving.

„The Maker shall set everything right.“, Shino prays. Yuki is holding Firestorm in his lap, but looking up at the moon.

„Would I understand all this Maker stuff if I had read the memo before I came here?“

„No“, Houta replies quickly. „Somehow the word spread. I got bits of information from all around and all the players claimed they heard it from a third party. So I couldn't tell you who started it. That's why I think it's all bull.“

Shino looks up at the moon. „I've talked to players who met The Maker in person. Well, so to speak. In... avatar?“

„Well, who's to say they weren't lying?“, Houta is persistent.

„But why does she keep changing things all the time?“, Yuki asks THE question.

„What do you mean why, this is a freaking beta test, you monkey!“

Shino looks at Yuki, but remains silent. The moon stops.

* * *

Houta opens his eyes. They're rounder and have more details. He's instantly wide awake prompted by the visual differences around him. He quietly taps Shino's shoulder. She has a similar reaction upon seeing her surroundings, but seems happier. Houta moves away and motions for her to follow him until they're far enough not to wake Yuki up with their conversation.

„I've known Yuki for years.“, Houta says and pauses. Shino nods, staring at his beautiful eyes. „Why are you looking at me like that?“

„I – I can't look away, they're just so big and wonderful.“, Shino confesses. Houta blushes, trying not to stare at the two big changes in Shino's appearance.

„What-what I'm trying to say! Is... Yuki's being weird. He has always been weird, but ever since he got here... You noticed, too! He's... saying those things...“

„Oh my dear Houta, have you never been in love?“

„I –“

„You wouldn't be able to hate as much as you do if you had never loved.“

It's too early in the morning for Houta to handle big words. „Yuki did this. He made this update happen.“

Shino starts laughing, even harder when she sees Houta's serious and angry face. She starts walking away, still laughing quietly.

„Hey, we're not done!“

„What do you want from me?“, Shino stops laughing.

„Well, you seem to... know a lot... sometimes even more than I do...What's your take on this? Do you think Yuki can affect the updates with what he says? Or anyone else, for that matter?“

„Interesting. Well, you've been treating whatever I say about The Maker as my own concoction even though I never gave you any reason to doubt my words. I don't care enough to prove you wrong. But don't expect me to be nice to you.

„And besides, Yuki is the one paying me. I don't owe you anything.“ she pauses. „Especially not when Yuki can't see or hear us“, she says more quetly, then leaves.

Houta stares at her back, her hair more magical looking. There's fewer strands, blue is shinier and more highlights. Her outfit is simpler and somehow that makes her look more innocent, even after her words that were anything but.

She reaches Yuki and gently wakes him up.

„You were right, Yuki.“

„Ugh“, Yuki makes a disgusted face. „How bad is it this time?“

„You tell me. Look.“

And Yuki looks. Shino is leaning over him.

„I see two very nice, big updates.“, Yuki notices.

„Not me!“, Shino yells and kicks Yuki so hard he rolls over.

„Ow!“

„Don't ow me! You can't feel any pain! Nor can you take damage!“, so far.

„That doesn't mean you should just hit me whenever you like!“

„You were being rude!“

„I was admiring your big round eyes.“

„Sure you were.“, Houta joins in.

„Wow. Yours are, too.“, Yuki comments on Houta's eyes.

„It's not just our avatars. Look around.“

Yuki stands up, and sure enough, all the visuals are different. Some colors are more muted, others more saturated. Shapes are simpler. Motions more fluid. Their avatars look less realistic, whereas plants and scenery more realistic. It's making everything look more magical. Yuki grins.

„Now this is Afterlife Undreamt!“

„Of course this is Afterlife Undreamt.“, says Shino.

„No... I started playing it as soon as it came out. I'm guessing you started later. Because this –“, he motions all around him, „is exactly what graphics looked like back then! Have you not seen any pictures at least?“

Houta and Shino shrug.

„I should really rethink my taste in friends! Nanami would appreciate this... Oh and she probably looks even more beautiful now...“, Yuki gets lost in imagining the updated version of Nanami, only for the info notice to interrupt him. He dismisses it almost instinctively, without even reading the title.

„Did you just delete your notification?“, asks Houta.

Yuki laughs defensively.

„It's a new weapon event!“, Shino informs him.

„Yay for me.“, exclaims Houta unenthusiastically.

„It starts in two days.“

„A lot can happen in two days. Maybe we die. Or the game is deleted.“, Houta says.

Yuki jumps. „Oh that's right!“, then runs a safe distance and instructs Houta, „Shouto, would you fire me up for five seconds?“, and he pulls out Firestorm.

„Ugh, now? What for?“, Houta asks, annoyed.

„Just do it, please! Trust me.“

„I trust you less when you have to say that.“, Houta admits then gestures and shoots a red laser beam at Firestorm. As soon as Firestorm fires up, Yuki does a series of complex movements, much akin to a dance, and whooshes his axe around him. In exactly five seconds after Houta's laser hit the axe, he deals the final blow, sending a 20 meter long fire stream and hitting a tree. The tree catches fire and burns out quickly, leaving only ash, and the ground splits open where fire hit it. Firestorm barely touched the grass. Houta and Shino gape with their jaws dropped.

„The animation is so smooth!“

„Everything is so flashy!“

„Fluid!“

„Pretty colors!“

„The effects are so much better!“

„Even the sound effects are more whooshy!“

Houta and Shino keep praising the update while Yuki keeps nodding proudly. „Yup, finally an update that makes the game better! Will you do the weapon event too, Shino?“

„Gotta get those levels in, you know! About time I become a disorder user...“

„Oh, Shino“, Yuki shouts happily. „I'll double your pay after you do!“

„Oh I know you will.“