In the VR room. A teleporter slid open underneath Yi and flashed into another room ahead of Arnold's view.

"Yo, my bro! You finally decided to play! How's the tutorial? Exciting ain't it?" said Arnold, raising his eyebrows.

"It's… not a tutorial, for sure…"

"I know right? It is like a trial-"

Yi slumped onto his knees, Arnold and his character, RedTarget dashed in sync and each grabbed their friend. "Woah! What's wrong?"

"Nothing… I'm just tired…"

"Just tired? I think there's more here. What happened?"

"...My mom is dying. I need your help."

"What! Okay, we're leaving. Press the button on the right of your headset."

They pressed the button and their forearm beeped showing a screen option.

[Confirm Log Out?]

They tapped yes then their characters dispersed. Arnold took off Yi and his VR equipment, carrying him on his shoulder to the entrance with eyes watching him.

"Is that the friend you always talked about, Arnold?" The net manager said.

"Yeah, I'll explain later. This is an emergency."

"Oh, stay safe!"

"I will!"

He rested Yi on a bench outside and said, "Alright, tell me what happened?"

"I took her to the hospital, the doctor said she was diagnosed with leukemia. I need to pay before they can operate."

"How much is it?"

"A hundred and five."

"What!"

Yi gripped Arnold's shoulder. "You have to help me."

"I was about to, but my savings are just 5K. How much time does she have left?"

"Two days…"

Arnold ruffled his head and said, "Argh! This is frustrating! We don't have any options."

Yi let go of his shoulder and froze.

"We'll think of a way. Don't be discouraged yet," Arnold said, laying his chin on his fist, frowning.

…..

It has been a few minutes Arnold glanced at Yi and said, "Hmm… I don't even wanna give this a go but this might be our only option."

"What is it?" Yi's face lit up.

"Your idol paid the boss to fire you, right? How about I ask him to lend us that money."

Yi stood and said, "Okay, let's give it a try."

"Ya serious?"

"Anything to save my mother."

Arnold checked on his phone and said, "The restaurant is closed early today. Boss is probably heading to withdraw that money. We'll visit him tomorrow. But before that."

He then stood and slapped Yi's shoulder. "You're staying with me until your mother recovers."

"W-what?"

"You heard me, let's go!" Arnold said, walking home.

Yi is just stoned still.

"Whatcha waiting for? Come on!"

"Oh, uh… coming."

…..

Knock Knock.

Arnold pushed his apartment door and said, "Gran, I'm home."

"Welcome back, how's your stomach?"

"All good now, the meds already kicked in."

"Good to hear. And glad to see you again, Yi." She smiled.

"Hi…" He leaned his head closer to Arnold's.

"Please don't tell her about mom, I don't want to concern her."

"You betcha." Arnold pointed both his fingers.

"Hmm? Whatcha two whispering about?"

Arnold placed a hand behind his head. "Aha, nothing. Yi was just wondering if he could stay with us for a few weeks if ya don't mind."

"Well, of course, stay as long as ya want. What about your mother though?" Turning her head, waiting for her answer.

"Oh! Uh…" Arnold scratched his head.

"My mother wished to visit my cousins, but she didn't want to take me along since I'm working."

"Oh, that's a shame I was hoping to chat with her during your stay. But didn't Arn mention you were fired by that trash can?"

Arnold slapped his face. "Busted… You answer instead, bro."

Yi nodded. "That's the reason why I was looking for him. I wanted to find a new job while staying here. Sorry if I'm being troublesome."

She shook her hands, and said, "No, no you aren't troubling us at all. Please make yourself at home. I'm going to prepare dinner."

Arnold raised his fist. "Hell yes! I'm starving. Let's freshen you up first, bro."

"Oh… kay."

…..

The bathroom door was pushed open as Arnold said, "Aight, we have arrived. Got any questions?"

Yi peeked inside and said, "Um… how to use the shower?"

"Easy, turn that circle on our heater to the right, same as the valve and ya good ta go. I set it warm by default. Oh! Before I forget."

Arnold stepped inside, grabbed a towel hanging, and tossed it to Yi. "That's yours. I'm gonna find some outfits for you."

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"W-what? You don't have to. I can repeat wearing mine for a few days."

Arnold crossed his arms and smirked. "I won't let ya do that here. This is my rule."

"B-but."

"Glad you agree! Enjoy your shower!" Arnold dashed out.

Yi extended his hand. "Wait! Hrmgh..!"

He turned and stepped into the bathroom with his mouth agape. "Woah, so clean…"

As he twisted the switches, warm droplets rained down on Yi's light skin and his muscles loosen.

"Ah… So this is what a hot water shower feels like..."

…..

He was wiping himself and glanced at a mirror and stepped closer. His cheeks sucked deep inside. Rib cage popping out with branch-like limbs.

Yi clenched his fists. "I can't stay like this much longer, not after what happened today."

He wiped himself, wrapped his waist, and opened the door, with Arnold laying his back on a wall next to it, frowning at his phone.

Yi took a glance at it before Arnold startled and shoved it into his pocket. "Bank loan?"

Arnold slapped his face and said, "Double busted… Welp, no point hiding it. This is our plan B if Boss refuses to lend money. But I doubt this will work either."

Yi smiled and said, "Thanks, man. I feel bad for dragging you into this."

Arnold raised the corner of his lips and said, "Don't be, bro. You are like a brother to me. And brothers help each other right?"

Yi scoffed. "Even real siblings rather disown their sister for reputation."

"Is that what happened to your mother?"

Yi hesitated but nodded.

"Well… I don't even have a sibling." Arnold said.

Yi turned away.

His friend's blue eyes faced the ceiling as if he was watching the skies and beamed. "But I thought about it. If we have siblings, we'll never abandon them like how your mom's parents did."

"Arnold…" Yi faced him with glimmering eyes.

"Okay! Enough talking. Put on these clothes. I'm taking a quick shower. Don't go anywhere!" Arnold shoved a pair of clothes in Yi's arms as he hopped inside and slammed the door.

"Oh.." Yi looked at the outfit and let out a breath of a smile.

…..

Arnold slammed open the door with his new clothes and said, "I'm done! How long was I inside?"

"Almost six minutes..?" Yi said, sitting next to a wall.

"Nice! That's a new record! C'mon. I'll show you my bedroom next."

…..

Stepping into a path, they were greeted with rows of photos hung on each part of a wall of Arnold as a baby until he grew up and a picture of him as a preschooler sitting on top of a man and woman's shoulder.

"Are these your parents?" Yi stood in front of the photo.

"Yup."

"Where are they? I have never seen them since I met you."

"Well, that's the last picture I took with them. They died in a car accident..."

Yi was shocked.

"I was with them. Mom hugged me tight so I won't get hurt in the crash."

"After that crash, I was horrified… Mom and dad were bleeding. Dad was unconscious and mom barely kept her eyes open and whispered, "Take care of yourself, be a good person" and closed her eyes..."

Yi said, "...I'm sorry, man. I shouldn't ask you in the first place."

"Aye, no worries, mate. Think of this as an exchange."

"Exchange?"

"Yeah, what happened to your father?" Arnold locked into his eyes.

Yi clenched his jaw and said, "He's dead."

Arnold squinted. "Hmm… that's all? Seems unfair, I told you my whole story y'know."

"Ha… Okay, he's still alive, out there. I bet he's now gambling to buy beers."

"So he's the reason that you're homeless huh?"

Yi nodded. "He ran away, leaving behind his debt, and our house was taken away. We tried to ask our family members for help, but they looked at us like we were a ticking time bomb and threw us away."

He clenched his fist and said, "...I hate them so much."

Arnold extended his arm and dragged Yi by the neck.

"Oi oi oi!" Yi said.

"Aight, no more sad stories, my room is just up ahead."

"I get it! Stop dragging me!"

…..

"Welcome to my holy bunker!"

"Woah…"

The room was decorated with blue LED lights on every corner. A poster of RedTarget on a yellow wall above his bed with his PC set next to the entrance.

"Looks like we're sharing the bed," Arnold said.

"What? No, I'll just sleep on the floor."

"Oho, no can do, bro. I won't let my best friend sleep on the floor inside my house. That's also my rule."

"Ha… guess I have no choice."

Arnold's gran shouted from the kitchen. "Boys, dinner's ready!"

"Alright! Let's go!" Arnold sprinted.

Yi took slow steps, when he was there, Arnold was sitting with a spoon and fork in hand. "Man, what a feast!"

"Of course, all this is for celebrating Yi's stay."

Arnold turned back and said, "Ya hear that? Gran made these just for you."

Tears dropped to the floor as Yi smiled and said, "I wish mom was here to enjoy this… The shower. The bed. T-this food… It's what we always wanted.."

Gran was speechless, hands covering her mouth.

But Arnold smirked. He pushed away his chair and wrapped his arms around Yi's neck. "Hey, how about you bring her along to have dinner with us sometimes?"

"What?"

"Whacha think, gran?"

"Wonderful idea."

"See? Even gran agrees. You better make a promise."

Yi wiped his tears away and nodded. "It's a promise!"

"Then let's dig in!" Arnold said.

Both sat close to each other. Arnold passed a chicken thigh on everyone's plate as they smiled, laughed, and feasted on their meals.

…..

"Orgh… I'm stuffed…" Arnold rubbed his belly.

"I've never been so full in my entire life…" Yi said.

"Okay, get some rest you two. I have a lot of work to do in this kitchen." Arnold's gran stashed their dishes and placed them on the sink.

Yi jumped off his seat and said, "Let me do it, please."

"Oh, it's fine, I can do it myself."

"No, please let me do it, this is my only way to repay you."

"Hmm, very well then."

He grabbed an apron hanging to a wall and tied it on his back, washing every dish in a flash.

Arnold's gran raised an eyebrow and nodded. "Wow, you're very swift. The way you cleaned those seem unreal."

Yi chuckled. "I can't be that fast."

"My gran doesn't lie, bro… She's telling the truth. Burp…"

"Thanks, I guess."

Clack

"Done, that's the last one," Yi said, untying his apron.

"Hmm, now I'm curious if your consistency is the same as your speed." She stepped toward the row of dishes he cleaned. Picking up, and flipping one after another.

"Stainless. Amazing! I can see why my grandson always talked about you."

"He does?"

"Yes, every single day."

"Gran! Why did you expose me!"

"Oh? Was that a secret? You didn't say." She beamed.

He grunted. "Whatever! I'm going to sleep. Ya coming, Yi?"

"Uh… yeah. Goodnight, gran- I mean Mrs. Carol."

"Oh, no need to be so formal. You can call me gran."

"I-I can?"

She nodded.

"...Okay good night, gran."

"Better, sleep well, Yi."

He waved at her as he tailed Arnold.

Arnold hopped onto his bed and said, "Ah… playing body motion VR after work is so tiring.."

Yi was stone still and said, "Yeah…"

"Hmm? Why are you just standing there?"

"I-I think I should sleep on the floor."

"Seriously?" Arnold said.

He averted his eyes.

"Okay, you take the bed; I'll sleep on the floor." Arnold grabbed his blanket and pillows.

"What? No- urgh, fine!" Yi slid onto the bed.

Arnold smirked and pulled out a piece of cloth. "Here, I got a spare blanket. Don't wanna start a rope fight if we share one."

"Thanks."

"Get some sleep now, we're gonna wake up early to-"

Snore

"Damn, asleep already? That's a world record."

Arnold shook his head and said, "See ya in the morning, level 10 skeleton."