Prelude: "The Planned Meeting"

Virtual reality is actually a thing now.

When the first actual VR that could make one person move freely without having to also move in real life and have all five senses working properly came out in the name of VDive with the new generation of graphics that made one think it looks like real life, various game companies created games that offers many kinds of entertainment like action, exploration, immersive story gameplay and all of those good stuff.

Some made fantasy MMORPGs which sucked.

Who would even want to play games that have very limited gameplay, created without any passion or effort and has no other thing that could make it entertaining other than buying in-game crazy equipment that requires real life money?

Smart game companies who specializes in quality would know that’s a very bad move if you want to be successful.

When VDive came out, every gamers were crazy for it.

But I didn’t.

Back when it came out, I was just advancing into middle school with no expectations or hope for my youth. In school, I have no friends and I am a loner with a nonexistent reputation. I had been alone for a good few years now which is when I was still in kindergarten. With every hope of making connections crushed under the sole feet of social hierarchy, why hope again right? I would only get hurt in the process.

As I enter my second year of middle school, my parents bought me a VDive as my birthday present. I guess they know how I am very unhappy with my school life so they tried to cheer me up by buying me a VDive which almost any teenager would’ve wanted. That VDive, while I had no expectations of it despite breaking various insane records in game history, became the greatest present I could ask for when they introduced me to VR Social World.

VR Social World is a very simple game where you make your own avatars, explore actual spherical worlds, play many kinds of mini-games and then finally, interact with many people in that world. It’s pretty funny to think that my parents knew about all of this when I don’t, a supposed youth. Back then, the company who made this game also made the same game with the old VR sets and one can even play it on PC.

Even when my parents told me all about it, I wasn’t excited or anything because I thought the bonds I created in virtual world or internet or anything that isn’t made in real life didn’t have any meaning. I am a loner after all and being cynical is kind of my forte. But my parents encouraged me to try and see it for myself, having even slightest of hopes I could enjoy it. When they were like that, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse so I agreed to try it out.

In the next morning of that day, on Sunday though.

When I enter my consciousness into that game, deep down I knew this would surely change my life and it did. My avatar looked the same way as I do in real life, red hair, mean look and angular face. It really looked the same way as I do in real life because I also want to know if I can make friends here despite having a very intimidating appearance. Once again, I have no hopes of making connections here and even if I do, as I said earlier, it won’t matter much.

But I was proven wrong.

I was first approached by a female player with an avatar that has an appearance of a cat-girl. She had long white hair and icy-blue eyes, wearing a rather casual attire a girl wears in real life when going out to shop or eat a parfait in a restaurant. Or was it a young woman? I don’t know but if her childish behavior was anything to go by then it means she’s younger than me. About perhaps a year or two at most.

It was pretty awkward at first when I enter the game before that female player came to me, I didn’t know how to approach people in that world and I find myself wondering and acting like I was admiring something like a beautifully decorated tree and some other decorations that was placed inside of the world as well as the biomes I was on when I attempt to talk. And while it was actually beautiful given the new generation graphics, i-it was kind of very embarrassing and I feel like I want to die remembering about how I acted.

But the female player, Kinne-san, approached me when I was looking over the mountain. The graphics in that game is insane as I said earlier I wonder if I’m actually in real life or not. She talked to me and since I have no social skill, she murdered me with hers as my replies were short and slow. But gradually, I became used to her and finally talked normally. We both had fun just by talking and she asked me to accept her friend request to which I did.

It was a very happy moment in my life at the time, I don’t know why. Perhaps I changed my mind about the bonds created in that virtual world deep down and I just don’t know it.

Soon enough, Kinne-san introduced me to her groups of friends. Hickey22-san, LoveLife-san, Kimochi10-san, Akaru-san and XxLocoxX-san. They were all very friendly people and I find myself wanting to spend time with them more. Together, we all explore the countless worlds of VR Social World and had a lot of fun. On the way, I created friends of my own and I became the number one player in the game of Survival Life–even became a logo for that game because how I ace it every time and offered various proposals.

I was very happy, my parents saw it on my face and they were also happy. Every time after school ends, I would go home and then eat lunch with them. I would spend some of my time helping around the house, enjoying our everyday bonding before I lay on my bed, put on the VDive and enter VR Social World. It had somehow become a routine in my weekly schedule but I wasn’t complaining. Ah, and I also don’t forget to have dinner too with my parents.

That was about two years ago and now, after I had finished my exam–working as hardest as I can to aim for a prestigious school to attend in the city, I was advancing into high school. Prior to three days before the entrance ceremony, I wanted to suggest something to the group of friends I had made. We were all eight altogether and even if it doesn’t seem a lot, it is to me and I guess to them as well. I was thinking to take a step further in this relationship we all are in and see for myself if we could become friends in real life as well.

Right now, at the very moment, I was skiing down through the mountain with all of them. The cold air pierce through my lungs, the low temperature touch my skin, the smell of ice and frozen rocks waft into my nostrils and the adrenaline I feel right now was exciting me. Thanks to the VDive and its complete five senses working properly, I was feeling all of this as if it was real life. It’s amazing how technology has gotten so far even though I was unimpressed by it at first.

I was maneuvering around the obstacles and jump through ramps, I was having a fun time. Despite having to play this game less than all of my group of friends, they weren’t really good at it and sometimes I would point it out to which made them yell at me. I found it funny though, am I really good at games without actually knowing it? I mean, Survival Life is a pretty simple game if you understand the concept and it’s very fun.

All I think when I play these games are to have fun mainly, not being the number one.

I think it’s just people don’t really understand the mechanics and the concepts of the games.

As we race down through the mountain, I came out as the first again followed by XxLocoxX-san and Kinne-san. Others all just walk down with their equipment which I just smiled at. A group of friends I made over the years, I think it’s time we get to know ourselves for real and deepen our friendship.

“That’s not fair, Kitou-kun!” Kimochi10-san whined as he walks down towards me, XxLocoxX-san and Kinne-san with an avatar of a big, burly man with bald head. “You’re always very good at skiing, why can’t you let us win for once?”

I raised my eyebrows, “I think I already did, many times actually. Are you guys really bad at this game?”

“No! You’re just good!” Akaru-san yelled at me as he walk down, pouting with that little boy avatar wearing a bear’s skin over his head of his. “You’re also good at that hardcore game, Survival Life! And you are calling yourself a casual gamer!?”

“Eh, it isn’t hardcore though? It’s pretty simple and it’s very fun.” I smiled.

XxLocoxX-san chuckled, he’s an avatar with a demonic appearance; long horns, bat wings, arrow-shaped tail tip, yellow eyes and grey skin. “I think you’re the only one who can said it, Kitou.”

Hickey22-san walks towards me, giving me a pat with the large paws of tiger he has which is his avatar as a humanoid tiger. “No kidding, you’re a natural when it comes to games, you know?”

“I think out of all of us here, Kitocchi is the most mature and professional at games. He’s older than us though, that’s clear.” LoveLife-san said, giving me a cat grin with that cat-girl avatar of hers like Kinne-san.

“Hard to believe he’s the same person I first met about two years ago.” Kinne-san commented, smiling. “All frowning and older-looking even if your avatar doesn’t justify it, I think I wanted to talk to a person like that which is why I approached you.”

I chuckled, “Heh, that takes me back.”

“When I first met Kitou-kun, he was dominating me in Survival Life.” AlexAndra$-san, a friend I met in the aforementioned game, came in with her mature woman avatar. “It’s both awesome and frightening when I fought him...” Why do you have an impressed and traumatic look on your face?

“I understand you.” Akaru-san and Kimochi10-san nodded in agreement.

Kinne-san approached me, “So, Kitou. What’s the reason you’re calling all of us here? It isn’t just because you want to ski, was it?”

My eyes lit up in realization, “Ah, right.” I smiled and look at them all, they had curious looks on them. “You’re all here are Japanese, right?” They all nodded, “Okay, one problem down.” I sighed in relief before I smiled, “Well, I have a something to ask.”

“What kind?” XxLocoxX-san asked, he really seemed curious. “It isn’t every day you call us like this just to ask us, it must be something important.”

“Well, he got that right.” Hickey22-san shrugs.

“Heh, you guys...really.” I chuckled before I look at all of them, “Everyone,” I began, widening my smile. “Want to meet IRL?”

(A day later, two days before entrance ceremony)

Currently, I was on a train with a phone on hand. I was on my way to the next two station to meet up with Kinne-san and others in a reservation restaurant. When I asked them to meet in real life, I thought they would not want it and I would have to persuade them to it but it turns out they have also thought about it for a long time now. Guess I’m not the only one who have thought of it, some of them might be the same age as I am or younger, like third year of middle school.

But out of all of them, I feel like I’m the oldest there. I mean, most gamers play VR now aren’t they? And most of them are young like the age of teens. Well, with puberty kicking in and adolescent wide stairs to climb, I guess they have a lot of things to be thinking about.

“Well, where should we meet?” Kinne-san asked all of us and I stood to the front.

“Don’t worry about that, I’ll make reservations at a restaurant. Anyone knows the restaurant named “BlackTaste” at Astro Plaza? If not, I’ll send you guys the location or rather, I’ll just send it in the group to let you know.” I said, smiling.

“Astro Plaza? That’s pretty far.” AlexAndra$-san commented and I was a bit concern.

“Really? Do you want me to come to your house and take you there?” I asked but she just shook her head.

“While that is very nice, I would like my appearance to be a secret until we’re all meet.” She said, putting her index finger on the middle of her lips with her left eye closed suggestively.

“Okay then. Any trouble? Oh, and don’t worry about the cost. I’ll cover it up.” I said, smiling.

“Ohoho? That’s very nice of you, Kitou-kun!” Kimochi10-san said, grinning. “I’ll be really happy to take that offer then!”

“So it’s settled?” They all nodded and I smiled, “Good, I would really like to see you guys out of your avatar.”

They all agreed with me while also throwing back that declaration at me as well. I also wanted to surprise them a bit with how I look in VR Social World is the same as I do in real life. It isn’t going to be a big deal but they’re be surprise just a bit! That’s enough for me.

Before that though, I took the excessive time I had for myself to get a haircut since my hair is long and very irritating. The haircut was the same as the new haircut I have in VR Social World except I look a bit older. I’m really excited to surprise these kids!

Once I was out of the platform into the city, I made my way to the Astro Plaza where many people are littering everywhere. For some reason, I always felt stare stabbing through my being. I’m a bit nervous but I managed to shrug it off. The restaurant should be at the third floor, it’s a bit expensive but thanks to the work as a sponsorship in VR Social Media, I won’t have trouble with money now.

I entered the BlackTaste and asked the counter manager for the reservations I made. It was in a private room, beside through the long and clear window a garden can be seen with a long table and eight chairs–one was at the top which would be mine since I was the one who made this reservation and that I’m the oldest one here. I know we’ll cause a small commotion since Akaru-san and Kimochi10-san is very loud and pretty childish so I made sure to reserve a private room with soundproof walls (not really, just a better wall that could block a bit of the sound).

I seated on where I was supposed to sit, there wasn’t any of them yet so I just left my bag there as a sign that I’m already here and went out to visit a few shops. I may be a bit early, about 40 minutes early. Okay, maybe early is an understatement but I really can’t help it. I’m excited to see them all! The friends I made in VR Social World and also in this real world! And I sure hope their personalities didn’t change the moment we all meet together.

I bought a few things, just small ones like a neckless for Kaa-san and a watch for Tou-san. They both had taken care of me and had been very supportive throughout my life. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have met Kinne-san and others in VR Social World. I’m very grateful for them so I asked them what they wanted and told them about the amount of money I had in my bank account. Even when I told them that, they refused and told me that they’re happy that I’m happy.

But of course, I would not take a no as an answer so I decided to buy just two little things to show my gratitude. A neckless Kaa-san had wanted and a watch Tou-san talked about which he seemed to like. This is very little compare to what they did for me.

After buying those two things, I look at the time on my smartphone and nodded. It is five minutes late to our decided meeting time so I’m going to be a bit hasty on my way there. Don’t want them to wait any longer, now would I? I have to entertain them first thing first when we all are together.

With two bags on my hand, I entered the BlackTaste again and walked towards the private room. As I closed in, I could hear happy chatters that sounded a bit...odd. Their voice were different somehow and while they do sound the same like they are in VR Social World, there was something different and I just don’t know what.

I find myself to be a bit anxious, really curious to see them. As I grabbed the door knob and turned it, the chatter immediately died and I can hear someone saying something.

“Alright, here comes Kitou the oldest of us!” That would be XxLocoxX-san and somehow, his voice calmed me down.

I took an intake of air and then opened the door as the light shines in (?). I was greeted by a bunch of adults sitting on the chairs, they all have small bits of resemblances to their avatars but what shocked me were that they all are older than me! Once I opened the door, I stared at them with widen eyes as I tried to process how they all surprised me. I thought I was the oldest one in all of us and they also believed it but I wasn’t and in fact, judging by how old they look, I’m the youngest one here.

So that’s what was different in their voice, they sound older.

I gulped and calmed myself. I walked to my chair and sat while they all stared at me with the same wide eyes. I took another intake and look at all of them, yosh. This is not a dream and they all are older than me by at least three years.

I smiled, “Hello, everyone. My name is Sudohara Kitou and yes, I’m the same Kitou in VR Social World you all met. Nice to meet you.” Nailed it!

They blinked as the realization sink in, “EHHHH!!!!!!????”

This is a story of a loner who played a social game and meet his friends he made in that game in real life only to found out that they all are older than himself.