I stared at my phone screen waiting for the two girls’ responses to my request. Kana was lying on my lap fast asleep while Senko was asleep on the recliner.

* Hikari Fujiwara is Typing…

* Haruomi Kyouka is Typing…

Come on… come on! Please Respond! Someone, Please respond! I really need someone to guide me in this predicament!

* “Sorry Yuu-san, My Schedule is too tight for next week, I have to sleep early :crying_emoji:” Hikari-san responded quickly.

* “That's alright, I'm sure Kyouka Onee-san could help me.” I answered.

* Hikari-San went offline.

That shouldn't be a problem, Kyouka Onee-san should be able to help me.

* “My deepest apologies Rin-Kun, But My roommate told me that Dragons must always and only be portrayed as Almighty, divine beings that transcended gods in any and every sort of fictional content, she said dragons are beings that greek gods fear and she needs to know that she's absolutely wrong because that's in Chinese mythology!” Kyouka Onee-san Responded.

* “That's alright, I'll try to ask My sister or something.” I responded.

* Haruomi Kyouka went offline.

Well fuck. How do I solve this problem now!? My Sister isn't gonna be back for a few more days, and I need to plan out these “fake dates” Within a month…

I wonder what date ideas I could even do with a girl I just met… I can't really take her window shopping because it's too boring and she might assume I'll bore her cousin to Death… wait what if I split the 5 dates across real life and Kyoryu-Online? Could that work? Wait no I don't even know if she plays the game unless…

* “Haruka-Senpai, perchance do you know anyone besides our friends that play Kyoryu-Online?”

I texted Haruka-senpai which she responded quite quickly.

* “Anyone else that plays Kyoryu-Online? Well, the only people I know who play it are, Yuuki-kun, Myself, Kana-Chan, Hikari-chan, Senko-kun, I know that some of your other friends… I believe you mentioned a while ago that they all play Kyoryu-Online too, I guess that just leaves My Cousin, Michi-chan… and that's about it.”

* “Ahh, I see, thank you for answering quickly :crying_emoji: I was getting a bit desperate looking for other people to play with, Although I never expected your cousin Michi to play it.

I cannot let Haruka-senpai know that I met Her cousin at a freaking "drinking night event" with my friends and then end up agreeing to like five fake dates with her in order to prove my feelings for her Cousin!

* “I see, I don't mean to pry but is there any reason that Yuuki-kun asked the question at this hour?”

* “Well, you see… I was considering starting an official group guild for our friends to join so that we Can finally start our own Base within the game and not hang out in that Inn we rented since the start of the game

Even though I was bluffing on the spot, making an official group guild would be a great idea since I get to form an actual base for me and my friends to use as our territory in order to grow stronger and better at the game, So even though I was likely to low level to actually start it I know for a fact being ready for it would help me and my friends overtime!

Haruka-senpai and I exchanged our goodbye messages as our texting ended.

“If only it was that easy to ask you out Senpai…”

Putting my phone back in my pocket I gave Kana's head a gentle rub as I slowly left the spot to properly let her lie down on the sofa, where I placed a blanket on her.

°°°

The next day, classes were still suspended and I woke up early to Join Kana at her morning jogging routine. This time I joined in jogging and not just standing around waiting for her to finish.

“Kana, Do you have any “Date” ideas, I really need ideas to fix the problem your brother pushed me onto.” I stretched my arms and legs as we just finished our jog.

“Hmm, You could go do paintball, or maybe bowling together”

Of course, she was gonna ask me to do something taxing, well at least she's helping.

“I see, thank you for helping.”

Kana and I headed back to my house, then we had breakfast with Senko. After breakfast, Kana decided to take a long nap while Senko and I decided to play Kyoryu-Online, SinceFumiko texted in our group “Bro’s group chat” about a new feature in the game that we were gonna love to try out.

“So Fumiko invited everyone to this meeting?” I asked before putting on the game Headset.

“Yep, He already told everyone to be in the game early.” Senko responded as he put on his game’s headset.

“I see…”

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

°°°

Welcome to Kyoryu-Online!

Name: Yuuki, Rin

Game Name: Ryuki

Age: 17

* Level: 35

* Hp: 3,450

* Atk: 1560

* Sp. Atk: 250

* Def: 670

* Sp. Def: 540

* Speed: 590

Name: Senko, Kasumi

Game Name: X.V.X._.FlameplayzAi._.X.V.X.

Age: 19

* Level: 29

* Hp:2,290

* Atk: 820

* Sp. Atk: 434

* Def: 640

* Sp. Def: 370

* Speed: 525

Senko and I spawned in the center of gunhildr town.

“So where’s the spot we’re gonna be meeting up?” Senko brought up.

“Let’s do it around the field area where the dinosaurs are low levels.”

“Right.”

Senko and I quickly crossed gunhildr town’s stone bridge and arrived at Gentle Expanse where we immediately sent Fumiko, Toda, and Johnny the game invites as for a brief moment we waited when…

3 players have teleported to your location

Fumiko, Johnny, and Toda all teleported to our location!

“It’s been a while since we last played together huh?” Toda arrived first, His avatar’s long sleeved, high-neck gray shirt under a black cloak was instantly recognizable along with his brown pants, his short black hair with a deep green ombre and jade green eyes.

He is A schoolmate and close friend of ours, he has zero experiences with women and is a complete otaku! He may be a badass in the game but outside of the it and when it comes to socializing, Toda has a tendency to be an awkward boy especially around girls but very open and whiny towards his “bros” which included Senko, Johnny, Fumiko and Myself. Toda is one of the most resourceful people I ever had as whenever someone in our group has trouble, he tends to be the first to try helping out the others in need.

Seiichi, Toda

Game Name: PsychoKiller13

Age: 17

* Level: 40

* Hp: 7,400

* Atk: 3000

* Sp. Atk: 500

* Def: 1050

* Sp. Def: 600

* Speed: 700

“Yo, it’s been a while since I asserted dominance over you clowns haha!” The second person to arrive was Fumiko, who had a different look from his real life appearance. His avatar was adorned with a jagged silver knight-armor above a jet-black bodysuit, his avatar had below-elbow length, magenta-red hair with crimson eyes.

Fumiko is one of our closest friends, he is a total Jackass who loves to play video games, watch anime, and reads manga. He has bad tendencies where he lusts… er… asks out every pretty, cute, or busty woman that he sees… especially if they’re older than him… although All of them immediately reject Fumiko the moment they make split eye contact with him which was a bit sad. Fumiko, like Toda is one of our schoolmates and has zero experience with women and is a total otaku and weeb. Now despite his… obnoxious personality he always has everyone’s backs… especially since most of the time he is the one igniting conflict and the four of us are the ones defending him.

Fumiko, Yamamoto

Game Name: MeatGobbler69

Age: 18

* Level: 46

* Hp: 5,400

* Atk: 900

* Sp. Atk: 3500

* Def: 650

* Sp. Def: 1600

* Speed: 900

“We haven’t even started playing the game and you’re already beefing with each other? Typical Fumiko.” The last person to arrive was Johnny, His avatar had a sleeveless black shirt and blue pants alongside a red-orange, blue scarf-cape hybrid, lastly he had a black face mask and gloves. Overall his outfit was reminiscent of a rogue bandit. His Avatar’s hair and eyes didn’t change from his real appearance since they both dark-brown hair and tanned skin.

Johnny, like the other two, is our schoolmate and close friend, though in his case we only met him a few years ago, as opposed to Fumiko and Toda who we knew since middle school. His family owns the Rodriguez-Hasegawa Kochina at the Waku-Waku life department store’s food court. Like myself, He is very skilled at housework, cooking, cleaning, laundry, and organizing, and unlike Fumiko and Toda, He is very friendly, supportive and intelligent but has a serious side that he shows when somebody gets on his nerves. Johnny and I got along well since we’re both skilled with house duties, we both have a “sister,” and we tend to be the ones suffering from the shenanigans that Senko, Fumiko, and Toda started.

Johnny, Rodriguez

Game Name: BaNaNa._.Blade

Age: 18

* Level: 44

* Hp: 120

* Atk: 950

* Sp. Atk: 100

* Def: 150

* Sp. Def: 100

* Speed: 9000

“So what’s the purpose of this invite Fumiko?” Toda scratched his butt and crossed his arms.

“Alright, so you guys heard about the game’s new patch update right?”

“We do, now get to the point.” Johnny rolled his eyes at Fumiko.

“I’m getting to it, open the game’s User interface and open the mail system.” Fumiko demonstrated by opening his interface and opening his mailbox where he received what looked like a ring with a pale orb at the center. “Y’all see what I’m holding in my hand here?”

“Yeah,” Toda responded as everyone else also received the same ring.

The ring the game sent us was called a Mana Ring, the item description said it draws out the wearer’s potential and unleashes their magical capabilities.

“So the game finally introduced magic… this would definitely make combat and exploration much more interesting.” Senko grinned as he put the ring on.

“So is there something that’s supposed to happen?” I asked while sliding the ring on my finger.

“The description said chant this sentence… “Thou art I and I am Thou… emerge from the sea of the universe and grant thy strength.” or something like th- what the!?” Fumiko read as everyone’s rings all started glowing brightly as several colored shards circled us and the sky turned dark.

“Fumiko what did you do!?” Toda shouted.

“I read the damn description!” Retorted Fumiko.

“Thou is I and I’am Thou, Thou must Choose your path for Thou will be granted the strength of the god Jörmungandr!” An otherworldly voice spoke to everyone. The rocks that hovered around shined brightly each with labels saying: Kinetic, Eruption, Tsunami, Thunder, Cyclone, Quake, Thorn, Blizzard, However three were darkened out… these were Illumination, Spectral, and Corruption, it’s as if choosing them may not be a good idea.

“Thou First choice is free for Thou has explore to receive a second or third… Kinetic is the element of Self’s own strength a neutral element… Eruption is the element of controlling heat and the fury that comes with it… Tsunami is the element of Water and its pure volume! Thunder is the element of lightning and electricity, energizing one self with unmatched energy! Cyclone… the element of air and wind, from a gentle breeze to a hurricane that anihilates everything in its path… Thorn the element of life itself and the ability to be one with mother gaia! Blizzard the power to control the sheer coldness of life itself! Illumination, the art of light and it’s shining power, Spectral the power of spirits and souls… Corruption, the element of trickery, mischief and cruelty… Choose wisely as thou may only pick one!”

As the stones circled us, we all glanced at each other and all chose a shard which shined brightly as it attached itself to the ring each of us wore. Fumiko chose an orange shard, signifying he chose Eruption crystal shard… Toda Chose a deep green one showing he picked the Thorn crystal shard. Senko picked deep blue shard showing he chose water crystal shard, Johnny held a deep yellow shard signifying he chose Thunder crystal shard, lastly I was holding a pale green crystal… I chose the Cyclone Crystal shard.

As the shards we chose attached and molded themselves into the ring we wore the sky lit back up to it’s normal lighting.

It seemed like everything was back to normal, but after choosing our shards, it was like we were never gonna be the same again.