Run, run, run away

2nd August

Yuki found himself in the midst of a grand hall, the air buzzing with excitement and anticipation. A surge of euphoria coursed through his veins as he absorbed the electric atmosphere. He couldn't fathom what had just transpired or where he was, but before he could gather his thoughts, Naomi broke the silence with a radiant smile.

"This... is Avalon!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with exhilaration. "And I'll be your tour guide here!"

Yuki's mind raced, his head throbbing with the intensity of the moment. He stood up, his eyes darting around the magnificent hall, and asked, "Where are we?"

Naomi replied, her voice brimming with enthusiasm, "As I mentioned before, we're at Avalon! Now, let's get going, shall we?"

Yuki's confusion lingered, but he trusted Naomi's guidance. "Where are we headed?" he inquired, eager to explore the enchanting realm of Avalon.

Naomi grinned mischievously. "Avalon is not just confined to this grand hall, my friend," she teased, leading the way towards a hallway that connected to a sprawling balcony. Yuki followed her, anticipation building within him, and as they stepped onto the balcony, he was greeted with a sight that took his breath away.

Right in front of Yuki stood a vast landmass, sprawling like a metropolitan city, connected to smaller landmasses by bridges. The entire expanse floated gracefully in the air, a breathtaking sight to behold. The centrepiece of the main landmass was a magnificent castle-like structure that dominated the landscape, encompassing nearly 60% of the entire area.

Yuki stood in awe, his eyes drinking in the beauty of Avalon. It was a moment that left him speechless, lost in the enchantment of the place.

"Let's go and explore, shall we?" Naomi suggested, her voice filled with excitement. Yuki, still captivated by the surreal scene before him, could only manage a breathless reply, "Is this all... real?"

Naomi nodded with a warm smile. "Yes, indeed. Avalon is a world beyond imagination."

Curiosity sparked within Yuki as he remembered a previous question Naomi had posed. "Before, you asked me when my birthday was... why?"

Naomi's expression became slightly more serious. "Because... it's important," she replied, pausing for a moment. "But before we delve into that, remember my question?"

Yuki's mind raced to recall her previous inquiry. "Will I run away with you...?" he muttered, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Naomi's eyes locked onto his, her voice resonating with determination. "Yes, that's right. Will you? Will you leave behind your mundane life and come to this extraordinary place? Avalon is like a real-life RPG world, where monotony becomes a thing of the past."

She spoke with conviction as if delivering a persuasive speech for the highest office. "Until now, you've confined yourself to a closed room, living in your own small bubble even within school. You know deep down that it's not fulfilling. So, WILL YOU?"

Yuki was taken aback, his thoughts swirling. Slowly, he regained his composure, mustering the strength to respond. "H-Hey... why are you making it sound like I'm some sort of NEET or something..." he stammered.

Naomi tilted her head, genuinely surprised. "You weren't?"

Yuki's voice grew more resolute. "Of course not! I used to play basketball!" His energy returned as he engaged in the conversation.

Naomi's eyes sparkled with newfound interest. "That's news to me! So, what happened? Why did you stop playing basketball?" Her tone was filled with eager curiosity.

Yuki's enthusiasm waned, his energy fading once again. "Well... things happened, and I ended up quitting basketball altogether..."

Curiosity burning within her, Naomi pressed on. "Things like...?" She leaned in, disregarding Yuki's discomfort.

Yuki hesitated, feeling a mix of reluctance and vulnerability. "Um... you know, like... a change of... circumstances..." he trailed off.

Naomi persisted, undeterred. "Like...?"

Realizing he had said too much, Yuki's frustration got the better of him. "...Like, why am I even telling you this? Why do you want to know?" he snapped, caught off guard by his own outburst. Immediately realizing his mistake, he backtracked, apologizing profusely for his sudden outburst.

✳ ✳ ✳

After a brief exchange of apologies and reconciliations, Yuki and Naomi found themselves back on track. This time, as the question of running away with Naomi arose once more, Yuki began to give it serious consideration.

"Do you like the way you live?" the question echoed in his mind.

"No, I don't," Yuki admitted.

"Do you not want your life to become interesting and enjoyable again?" another question followed.

"Yes, I do," Yuki affirmed, a newfound determination welling up within him.

"So, will you run away from your old life for this new one in another world?" the question lingered.

"YES, I WILL!" Yuki exclaimed, his voice brimming with conviction. A surge of motivation pulsed through his body, surprising even Naomi. "GOOD!" she responded with a gleam in her eyes. "Then let's do it, shall we?"

Yuki paused, a lingering concern tugging at his thoughts. "But wait, what about my old life?" he inquired.

"We will cast a spell, and everyone will forget that you ever existed," Naomi explained matter-of-factly.

"Is it really that simple?" Yuki wondered.

"No, but in your case, you didn't have any friends, and no one really cares about you. So, it will be relatively easy," Naomi replied with a hint of bluntness.

Yuki grimaced at the blunt truth but ultimately accepted it. "Well, you could have put it in a less painful way... but fine."

Naomi excused herself momentarily, engaging in a phone call before returning to Yuki. "The necessary arrangements will be made by tomorrow. For now, it's getting dark, so you can return and spend your last night in that little room of yours."

Yuki's response carried a tinge of indifference. "Am I supposed to feel sad about it?"

Naomi paused, contemplating her words. "Normally, you should, but it seems like you don't really care about it anyway," she replied. "In any case, come back here tomorrow. We will register you, and then you will begin learning how to use magic. Teehee."

"Got it. But how am I supposed to go back? When I came here, my head felt like it was going to explode. Please tell me I don't have to endure that pain again."

"Don't worry, you'll be fine. The headache will only last for a few seconds," Naomi assured him.

Yuki's annoyance was evident as he made a face. "A few seconds? I would die in those few seconds."

Naomi relented, sensing his discomfort. "Fine, I'll come with you. I'll try to minimize the pain."

"Can't I just stay here?" Yuki proposed, hoping to avoid the ordeal.

"No, you can't. We have to make some arrangements," Naomi replied firmly.

With a resigned sigh, Yuki complied. "Fine."

"Pack your important belongings, if you have any. Although, it won't really matter once you're here," Naomi instructed.

They returned to the grand hall, the familiar process unfolding, but this time Yuki braced himself for the inevitable pain, the intensity magnified.

7:20 PM

Yuki lay on his bed, his mind swirling with a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty. Thoughts flooded his consciousness, each one vying for his attention.

What awaits me in this new world?

Will I find meaningful connections?

What if I make mistakes and ruin everything?

Wait... will I be able to adapt to their customs and culture?

Amidst the whirlwind of thoughts, Yuki's mind wandered to more mundane concerns. A mischievous smirk crossed his face as he pondered a rather unconventional question.

"Will I be able to watch... you know, adult content there?" he mused, his thoughts veering into the realm of curiosity.

Shaking his head, Yuki dismissed the thought and decided to distract himself by indulging in his favourite pastime—gaming. He played game after game, the excitement of victory fueling a temporary escape from the uncertainties that lay ahead. Yet, despite the rush of adrenaline, a lingering feeling of emptiness persisted.

"I guess winning in games can't fill the void," Yuki reflected, realizing the fleeting nature of such distractions. He was searching for something more substantial, something beyond the instant gratification of virtual victories.

As the clock struck midnight, Yuki finally put down the controller and surrendered to the embrace of sleep. With each passing moment, his thoughts grew fainter, until all that remained was a sense of weariness and a single phrase lingering in his mind.

"This sure is... boring," he whispered, his voice fading away as he succumbed to the realm of dreams.

<Ch4 - Run, run, run away—Fin>