Darkness surrounds me, an endless void stretching in every direction. I float, untethered and alone, until pinpricks of light begin to appear. They flicker like distant stars, growing brighter and brighter as I focus on them.
Curiosity draws me closer. I reach out, my fingers brushing against one of the glowing orbs. It bursts on contact, and suddenly I'm awash in memories.
I'm back in our living room. The TV sits dark and silent. My parents hover nearby as I hunch over my textbooks.
Mom's voice cuts through the silence. "Have you finished the chapter yet, Kei?"
I tap my pencil against the page, the words blurring before my eyes. "Almost."
Dad glances up from his newspaper, his gaze sharp. "Make sure you're not just skimming. Every detail matters for your exam."
I nod mechanically, my jaw clenching. Outside, I hear the shouts and laughter of neighborhood kids playing. My grip tightens on the pencil.
The scene shifts, and suddenly I'm alone in my room. The house is quiet – Mom and Dad must be out. My heart races as I boot up the computer, fingers flying across the keyboard as I try to squeeze in as much gameplay as possible before they return. The game loads, bright colors flooding the screen. For a few precious minutes, I'm free.
I completely lose track of time, the minutes slipping away as my focus narrows to the screen before me. The game's world consumes my complete attention, until a distant sound cuts through my concentration. The front door. My stomach drops as I realize what it means. Footsteps approach, growing louder with each passing second.
I scramble to close everything, my fingers fumbling over keys and mouse, but I'm not fast enough. The door to my room flies open, and Dad bursts in, his face turning an alarming shade of red.
"What did we tell you about wasting your time playing video games?" He looms over me, and yanks the power cord from the wall. "You're throwing away your future for this nonsense?!"
I shrink back in my chair as he launches into a familiar tirade. His words wash over me, a torrent I've heard a thousand times before. And when he finally storms out, I'm left staring at the blank screen, my reflection pale against the dark surface.
The memory slowly dissolves, reforming into a new scene. I'm in my bedroom, at my desk, a pile of old school papers spread out before me. My textbook lies open, neglected, as I fold and cut the papers into crude shapes. Soon, an army of paper monsters stands before me.
I pick up two of the monsters, one in each hand. "I am Gor!" I growl under my breath, shaking the creature in my right hand. "And I am the dreaded Rex!" I snarl, moving the left one.
The paper monsters collide in a flurry of motion. I tear at their edges, ripping small pieces off as they "battle." Tiny paper scraps flutter to the desk, scattering all over its surface.
"Pow! Bam! You can't beat me!" I whisper, making the monsters collide and tear.
I pause, listening for footsteps. When none come, I continue my imaginary battle, whispering sound effects and dialogue. It's silly, sure, but it's also the most fun I've had in weeks.
But eventually, the paper monsters fade away, replaced by a sunlit schoolyard. It's recess, and a group of classmates huddles together, laughing at something on someone's phone. I hover at the edge of the circle, trying to catch a glimpse of what's so funny. One of them notices me and raises an eyebrow.
"You want to see, Kei?"
I nod eagerly, leaning in. It's some kind of meme, apparently referencing a popular TV show. They're all cracking up, but I don't get it. I force out a chuckle, hoping it sounds convincing.
"Good one," I manage, my voice sounding strained even to my own ears.
The others exchange glances. "You watch the show, right?" someone asks.
I shake my head, heat rising to my cheeks. "Uh, no. My parents don't really let me..."
There's an awkward pause. Then someone changes the subject, and the group's attention shifts away from me. I drift back to my desk, my shoulders hunched.
The schoolyard slowly fades, morphing into a new memory. I'm in the school's cafeteria. My classmates huddle around their tables during lunch break, slapping down colorful cards and shouting out attacks. Yu-Gi-Oh – the game everyone's obsessed with.
I hover at the edge of the group, trying to catch glimpses of the intricate card designs. My fingers itch to hold them, to be part of the game. But my pockets are empty. No allowance means no cards.
"Hey, Kei!" A voice breaks through my thoughts. It's Tarou, a boy I've barely spoken to before. He's looking at me, head tilted. "You want to play?"
I shake my head, heat rising to my cheeks. "I... I don't have any cards."
Tarou's eyes widen in surprise. Then, to my shock, he starts rummaging through his backpack. "Here," he says, pulling out a deck wrapped in a rubber band. He holds it out to me. "You can have mine. I've got extras at home."
My hand trembles as I reach for the cards. "Are... are you sure?"
Tarou grins, pressing the deck into my palm. "Yeah, man. Everyone should get to play."
That afternoon, I join the circle for the first time. The rules are confusing at first, but my classmates are patient, explaining each move. By the end of lunch, I've won my first duel. The bell rings, and for once, I'm reluctant to return to class.
For weeks, I'm part of something. I have conversations that don't revolve around tests or grades. I laugh. I strategize. I belong.
But the happy memory slowly dissolves, replaced by something else... I'm in my room, cards spread out on my desk. I'm lost in admiration, poring over the cards' colorful artwork and rereading their descriptions, when the door suddenly slams open.
Dad towers in the doorway, his face thunderous, as he takes in the scene. "What is this?" he snarls, gesturing at my cards. "This is what you're wasting your time on?"
Before I can react, he's at my desk. His hands sweep across the surface, gathering up my precious cards. I lunge forward, trying to stop him, but I'm too slow.
"No!" The word tears from my throat as he starts ripping the cards to shreds. Pieces drift to the ground, scattering across the floor in a chaotic pattern of colors and images. "Please, stop!"
But he doesn't stop. Not until every card is destroyed. He then gathers the torn pieces, his voice cold, as he leaves the room. "Focus on your studies, Kei. This nonsense ends now. "
Later, when the house is quiet, I fish the pieces out of the trash. My fingers tremble as I carefully tape each card back together. They're too damaged to use now, but I can't bear to throw them away. They're the only proof left that there exists a time when I actually belonged somewhere.
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The memories start to slowly fade out, the motes of light dimming one by one. Darkness creeps in, bringing with it a deep chill. Is this all there is to my life? An endless cycle of force study and isolation?
The cold seeps deeper, its icy tendrils wrapping around my limbs, threatening to freeze me in place. The darkness presses in closer, a suffocating blanket that threatens to snuff out my existence. Each breath becomes more of a struggle as the void tries to claim me.
But as the cold and darkness close in, something inside me snaps and rebels. A spark of defiance ignites in my chest, tiny but fierce. This can't be all there is. I refuse to let it be.
I haven't even had my first kiss. The thought hits me like a punch to the gut. What else will I miss out on? Will I leave this world without ever really living in it?
The spark grows, fueled by years of repressed frustration and longing. It spreads through me, a wildfire chasing away the cold. I push back against the darkness, my will slowly becoming stronger.
As I fight, the world around me begins to shake. Softly at first, then with increasing violence. The remaining motes of light flicker wildly, like stars going supernova. The darkness fractures, cracks of light breaking through its surface.
The shaking intensifies, and reality itself seems to tear at the seams. I'm buffeted by unseen forces, tumbling through a maelstrom of light and shadow. But just when I think I can't take anymore, when it feels like my very being will be torn apart –
My eyes snap open.
***
I'm back in the stall of the restroom.
But before I can even do anything, an endless amounts of blue screens start popping up one after the other:
PROCESSING...SOLUTION REJECTED.
CALCULATING...SOLUTION FOUND.
The player's current level will be increased to 10 to fix this error.
CALCULATING...SOLUTION ACCEPTED.
Congratulations!
You've reached Level 1!
You've reached Level 2!
You've reached Level 3!
You've reached Level 4!
You've reached Level 5!
You've reached Level 6!
You've reached Level 7!
You've reached Level 8!
You've reached Level 9!
You've reached Level 10!
50 stat points awarded.
My jaw drops as I watch the angry red text morph into a soothing blue. Level 10? I blink hard, convinced I'm hallucinating. "No freaking way." I pinch myself. But the pain is real enough. A wave of relief washes over me, and I slump against the stall door, the forgotten toilet paper slipping from my fingers.
"Okay, get it together. You're alive. That's what matters, right?"
But before I can even begin to process the bizarre messages, a blood-curdling shriek comes from outside the restroom, making me flinch in surprise.
Then another. And another.
"What is going on out there?" My voice trembles.
My hand hovers inches away from the stall's lock, frozen in indecision. Part of me wants to burst out there and see what's going on. But the other part is screaming at me to stay put, and to stay hidden. Until it's all over.
After a moment's consideration, I shake my head. "Nope, not yet." I yank my hand back. I want to take a look at what those stat points are about first.
I force myself to focus on the floating text about the 50 unspent stat points. "Stat points? Like in those RPGs where you level up your character?" The empty stall offers no response. "Did my life just turn into a video game?"
A mix of emotions swirls in my gut - fear, confusion, and beneath it all, a tiny spark of excitement that I can't quite squash. "This is insane. But if it's real... if I can actually control my life like a video game character..."
I clear my throat, feeling ridiculous but desperate to try. "Uh... status window?"
To my shock, a glowing blue screen pops up, filling my vision.
Status Window
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Name: Kei Sato
Level: 10
Health: 100/100
Health Regen: 0.01/Sec
Mana: 100/100
Mana Regen: 0.01/Sec
Stamina: 100/100
Stamina Regen: 0.01/Sec
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 10
Agility: 10
Vitality: 10
Intelligence: 10
Luck: 10
Damage Reduction: 1%
Critical Chance: 1%
Unallocated Points: 50
I skim through the stats, my mind racing. "Holy crap, it worked. Now what?"
The screams outside are now slowly fading out, and I know I'm running out of time. But I force myself to take a deep breath. This isn't a decision to rush.
"Okay, let's think this through. What's going to keep you alive out there?"
I start weighing my options out loud, trying to make sense of it all.
"Let's see... according to these instructions, putting points in vitality will boost health, health regeneration, stamina, stamina regeneration, and even provide damage reduction. That's like getting five benefits for the price of one. Seems like a no-brainer."
I pause, considering. "And let's see… Strength will increase your damage output, agility will increase your speed, and dexterity will improve your aim. Each has its advantages. But which one would be most useful?"
My fingers drum against the stall door as I continue deliberating. "Huh, according to the instructions, putting points in intelligence will actually make you smarter. That's different from most video games where it usually doesn't. Strange."
I glance nervously at the door. The screams have now stopped, leaving an eerie silence that's somehow worse.
"I don't think I have a lot of time left to decide. I need to make a decision soon."
After what feels like an eternity of mental back-and-forth, I finally make my choice.
"Alright. Here goes nothing. Give me 20 in Vitality, 10 in Agility, 10 in Strength, and 10 in Dexterity."
As I speak, I silently pray I've made the right call. Because there's no going back now.
The screen flickers, and suddenly it feels like I've been struck by lightning. Every cell in my body feels electrified, alive in a way I've never experienced before.
"Holy sh--" I gasp, gripping the wall to keep from falling over. My legs feel like jelly, but at the same time, I'm hyper-aware of every one of my muscle fibers. "What the hell was that?"
As the intense sensation begins to fade, leaving behind a residual buzz, I blink rapidly, trying to clear my head. It feels like I've chugged ten energy drinks at once, but without the jitters. Just pure, raw, undiluted power coursing through me.
Status Window
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Name: Kei Sato
Level: 10
Health: 300/300
Health Regen: 0.03/Second
Mana: 100/100
Mana Regen: 0.01/Second
Stamina: 300/300
Stamina Regen: 0.03/Second
Strength: 20
Dexterity: 20
Agility: 20
Vitality: 30
Intelligence: 10
Luck: 10
Damage Reduction: 3%
Critical Chance: 1%
Unallocated Points: 0
"Okay, get it together." I shake out my arms and legs. Each movement feels smoother, and much more controlled than before. "This is real. This is happening."
I take a deep breath, centering myself, and check my new stats one last time. The numbers are a lot higher, but what really matters is how I feel. Stronger. Faster. More... alive.
I take one last glance at my new and improved stats, trying to slow my racing heart. This is it. Moment of truth. I open the stall door and tiptoes through the restroom, wincing at even the slightest sound. My eyes are glued to the restroom door and my heart feels like it's about to smash right through my ribcage. The screams have all but faded out, and now the place is just filled with this eerie silence that's almost worse. My hand shakes as it hovers over the doorknob.
I breathe in. I breathe out.
Then my hand comes down, and the door swings open.