Author's Note: Yadda yadda yadda blah blah blah another chapter.

--------------

'No. That won't work either.' Null thinks while walking, looking at a destitute person asking for money.

Null is currently walking around, trying to find something that will give off emotion. He's thinking of different ideas, but has yet to find something that works.

'Maybe I can paint fear. I could paint that terrifying hippie running at me with that horrific dance. The shadows of the trees on her face amplifying her scariness. I'll call it, “Hippie Dancer in the Dark Forest.” No, no, no. If it is known that I painted her like that, she would probably hate me, or worse, want to become friends with me. How about feelings of superiority? I could paint the most sublime stick figure in history. That could work. No, that's fucking stupid. 

The will to go unnoticed? No, the feelings aren't strong enough. How about a picture of me painting a picture of me painting a where the hell am I getting these dumb ideas? No wait. A pretty pony. Perfect.'

Null sets out his paper and starts illustrating the pretty pony. He then takes a fire he made from the camping skill and places it on the paper, just realizing how stupid an idea that was. 

'I can't find anything. Maybe I will have more luck searching the web at my computer.'

David logs out of New Reality and spends the remainder of his time before school looking at different pictures. He still couldn't find anything. With his time up, he heads to school.

**********

David is currently in calculus reading a book waiting for class to start.

“David! Hiiii!” It's Cecile. She waving her hand rapidly and looks really, really happy to see David. She is considered one of the most popular people at school. She is also considered one of the most beautiful. If one were to look at a painting of her, they would feel the kind aura of a beautiful, intelligent goddess. 

“Hey.” David on the other hand is expressionless and cold as always. He says his brief greeting and returns to his book.

“How are you doing?” Cecile asks.

“The same.” 

It has been three weeks real-time since David and Cecile have beaten Plague. Throughout all this time, Cecile has been working hard at trying to become friends with David. This is actually the first time David has actually responded to her greeting without ignoring her or verbally abusing her. It looks like her perseverance is working.

She sits next to David and has a big smile on her face. Everyone seeing this thinks something's off.

“Why isn't Cecile yelling at him?” One guy asks.

“More importantly, why does she show so much enthusiasm when meeting him? I've never seen her this happy and cheerful when talking to someone!” A girl says observing.

“Even more importantly, David just responded without being hostile! He didn't ignore her or make a snappy comeback!”

This sets off a panic in the class.

“He actually greeted someone!?”

“It's the end of the world!”

“Head towards the lifeboats!”

“Women and children first!”

“Idiots! Even lifeboats can't save us! We need to build an ark for the catastrophe that's about to befall us!”

“His name's actually David!?”

Everyone is running around in circles afraid of this New World Order. There are things that people are just used to. The sky is blue on a clear day, things always fall down when you drop them, and David is an antisocial person who will ignore your existence unless provoked. To actually respond to a greeting. They probably would have been less shocked if something had fell upwards. 

“So David, what are you doing in New Reality right now?” Cecile asks happily.

David ignores Cecile and doesn't respond. Everyone seeing this calms down.

“False alarm everyone.” A guy says while wiping the sweat off his forehead. 

“I seriously thought we were all going to die.” A girl says while laying her head on her desk.

Cecile doesn't mind that David is ignoring her. In fact she's excited that David actually returned her greeting.

'Soon we will be the best of friends! There are no breaks on this friendship train! Next stop, inside jokes! Muahahahaha! MUAHAHAHAHA!' Cecile thinks in her mind. 

************

It is David's 3rd period class, PE. The PE teacher says to the students, “Today we're going to be doing something a little different.”

“You mean like not exercise?” A guy named Ted says gleefully.

“You wish I were that nice. We are actually going to go into a virtual reality game and play basketball!”

This actually makes most of them excited. David doesn't care.

“We're going to play New Reality!?” Ted asks delighted. 

“Who said anything about New Reality? There are other virtual reality games besides New Reality! We're just going to play a basketball game. Its actually not a game. We're just going to be moving into a virtual space. The only difference between this game and real life is the time dilation. Most of you won't notice a thing.”

“Aw man! If there's basically no difference then why do we have to play in virtual reality?” That same person complains.

“I want to play it for its time dilation. It would've been difficult to play 2 full games. We have to play one for boys and one for girls.”

“That's never stopped you before!” Ted complains.

“Hey... Shut up.” The PE teacher says to Ted annoyed. 

People are starting to catch on to the fact that the PE teacher is trying to make an excuse just to go into a virtual reality. Everyone gets into the pods the teacher brought with him. These pods are considered the school's property. Because of the fact that they're on school grounds, and there being a slight chance that someone makes something obscene, people using the pods cannot customize their appearance. You can only appear how you appear in real life. Everyone materializes on a basketball court. Some people start running around and see that there is basically no difference.

The teacher divides them into sexes. There are two basketball courts. Girls go on one side and boys go on the other. David is once again picked last. Coincidentally, he is once again on Rory's team. 

They start playing. Rory's team is winning by a large margin, even with David not really doing anything. Ted's on the other team, frustrated. 

'I need to do something!' Ted thinks. 

Rory starts running towards Ted. He panics and then shoots the ball from the opponents side. Surprisingly, he makes the shot. It shocks everyone.

'Did- Did he just shoot from the other side of the court and make it!?' Null thought with wide eyes. 

Rory was just as surprised.  'How did he do that!?' 

As soon as Ted gets the ball, he shoots from the other side of the court a second time and makes it! This deeply surprises everyone again. No matter where Ted is, as soon as he gets the ball, he shoots and makes it, even if its on the other side of the court. Rory's team starts losing. Rory gets nervous. Another guy on Rory's team named Ron realizes how hopeless its getting.

'Is this the end? No!' 

When Ted is about to get the ball again, something strange happens. The ball changes course on its own and gets passed to Rory. Rory was surprised, but he then takes the shot and makes it.

'Wat?' Null thought. 

Now the points started wracking up on Rory's side again. It used to be that when Ted got the ball, he would shoot from anywhere, but now he can never even get to the ball. It keeps mysteriously changing directions. Rory then sees that its his teammate that's doing it.

'It's misdirection!' Rory figures out.

'This makes no sense!' Thought David.

Yet another person on Ted's team realizes that the situation can't continue or else they'll lose. 

He then quickly grabs the ball. Some people try to stop him. That guy then shoots the ball randomly and it goes in.

“Formless shot!” Someone yells out.

That same guy keep getting the ball and zipping past people. Even if he jumps to out of bounds, he'll randomly take the shot and make it. Ron then grabs the ball. This surprises everyone. 

'He can't use misdirection if he holds on to the ball. What is he planning?' Ted thinks.

That quick guy then guards against Ron. Everyone thinks that Ron can do nothing against that fast guy.  

When Ron reaches that quick guy, he vanishes and then appears behind him.

“Oh!”

“There it is!”

“The Vanishing Drive!”

David looks at this scene dumbfounded. 'Are we- Are we still playing basketball!?'

More ridiculous things happen. One guy slam dunks with a twister surrounding him. Another person makes after images. One person gains the ability to copy anyone's moves. One guy even made lightning come out of his eyes. This astounded everyone there.

“Could it be?”

“The zone!” 

“The zone. It is the state where one reaches their highest potential. Only those who have practiced earnestly, have high talent, and have love towards the sport have the right to stand before that door. 

When one usually plays, he or she only exhibits around 80% of their potential. The zone makes it go to 100%.”

“Dude are you seriously saying a monologue in the middle of a game!?” 

 David just decided to just go with it.

'I don't know anything anymore!' Yells David in his mind.

Rory was currently doing some silly technique called the Emperor Eye which caused people to trip up and fall. They were currently losing. Rory looks around. Every is doing spectacular except for David. He's still halfheartedly going after the ball and is not even trying.

'Maybe that will work. Heh.' Rory thinks looking at David.

He then does something. Everyone on Rory's team gets lightning coming out of their eyes.

'What the hell!? Now there's lightning coming out of my eyes!' David thinks. 'Why do I strangely feel so motivated?'

The speedy guy gets the ball and tries to go pass David. David is Rory's team's weakest link. They know he doesn't really try so they always try going pass him. When he tries to pass by David, David grabs the ball, zips pass him and his other teammates, and slam dunks the ball. Everyone who saw this had their mouths left open.

“Wait...”

“Hold on.”

“Something isn't right.” 

The other team once again gets the ball. David steals it and zips pass them. The guy who always slam dunks with a tornado surrounding him for some strange reason guards the goal. David bypasses him like he's not even there and performs a windmill dunk.

“This virtual world has a glitch!”

“Tornadoes surrounding bodies and lightning eyes I can partially accept, but that guy currently beating the other team single handed? That crosses the line in being believable!”

The game ends with Rory's team getting victory. It was a massacre at the last minutes of the game due to David. They all believed that it was all Rory's doing and gave him his accolades. David thinks it's lucky that what he did was solely pinned on Rory. He vowed to never get caught in the moment like that again.

**********

It's now lunchtime. David is heading towards his usual spot in the corner away from everyone. When he makes it there, he sees a box. Its an advanced lunch box. In the future, small boxes that can keep things hot or cool are not that expensive to make. There's a note on the box. 

It reads, “Hey David! It's Cecile! I hope you're doing well. This lunch was made by me. It took a while to make, but I wanted it to be perfect. Enjoy! \(^o^)”

David's face falls. He would much rather have the old annoying Cecile back. At least she usually left him alone outside of their classes. David opens the lunch box. The meal looked really extravagant. There was fettuccine with shrimp and craw fish, jumbo fried shrimp, and a fresh salad with ranch on the side. The meal looks like it is sparkling. 

David closes the box, then picks it up and places it on a table far away from him. It's now illegal to throw away a lot of things because of that country's dire need for resources. If it wasn't for that, Cecile's lunch would've went into the garbage.

************

The next day, David sits in the same place again and sees another lunchbox. There's another note on it.

It reads, “David, Cecile again. So yesterday you didn't touch the lunch I made for you. That's fine. Just know that I worked really, really hard on this meal. I stayed up until 4 am to make this meal. I'm tired and can't really think straight right now. Please eat the food. Please?  (^_^)”

David looks at the lunch Cecile prepared. There's lasagna, chicken tenders with ranch dipping sauce, and even some pizza. David once again picks up the lunch box and places it far away from him.

*************

The next day, David heads back towards his spot. He sees a lunchbox.

'Geez. Can't she take a hint?' Thinks David. 

There's a note on this lunch too. 

It reads, “EAT THE FUCKING FOOD! (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻ “

David then felt a chill run down his spine. He looks around and sees several girls watching him. Some are inside the cafeteria, and some are outside.

'I underestimated her. I thought that since we do not share a lunch period, I would be safe. I never accounted for her friends coming to watch me.' Thinks David frightened.

David would've just ignored them, but those few staring at David causes other people surrounding them to ask what's going on. 

“Cecile made that loser a lunch and he refuses to eat it?”

“Why doesn't he just eat it? She must have worked really hard to make that lunch.”

“I'm so jealous and angry! Jealous that she's never made me a lunch and angry that he doesn't eat it!”

One guy falls into depression. “Waaah! Some people have all the luck! *Sniff* *sniff* Waaah!”

David now sees that he has to eat the lunch or he'll become public enemy number one.

'I hope she didn't poison the meal or mess with it in some way. Well if that does happen, I can only blame myself.' Thinks Null. 

This meal consists of fried chicken, mash potatoes with gravy, macaroni and cheese, and greens. David takes a fork that was provided with the meal. He's currently sweating. Its only a matter of time before he eats it and it just so happens that she added something to make him itchy or something of that nature. The way he's about to take a bite is as if he was being forced to eat poison. 

'All or nothing!'

He takes a bite and closes his eyes. The painful sensations he was expecting never came. The laughs he was expecting never came. He looks around. Other than those Cici made watch him giving satisfied nods, there was nothing else out of the ordinary. 

David thinks, 'This... Is actually pretty delicious.'

**************

David meets Cecile later that day.

“David, I see you ate my food. How did you like it?” She starts fidgeting.

“Pretty good.” David gave his honest opinion. “Just please don't make me anything anymore.”

“But we're friends! I don't mind making my friends lunches!” She smiles.

“Who said anything about us being friends?”

“But we are! Maybe we can go to the park later and have a just friends picnic.”

“No.”

“Hey I made some cookies. Want some?”

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

“No.”

David starts walking away. Cecile heads after him. 

“Maybe we can both go watch a just friends movie. Doesn't that sound fun?”

“No. Go away.”

David walks away faster. Cecile is still following from behind. 

“I actually made some brownies. I even wrote your name on the brownies with icing. How about-”

“No!”

David runs into a full sprint. Cecile can no longer catch up.

“This isn't over David! Maybe you can run from me, but you lack the ability to run from our developing friendship!”

David thought while running away, 'Damn. She's already at the “dere” stage. I thought I had more time!'

***************

It's now the weekend. David still hasn't figured out what he wanted to paint, so he is on his computer looking for some inspiration. While he's searching, his door slams open. 

“Yoo David!”

David's sister Cindy comes in with a smirk. When in front of everyone else including their parents, she has a lovable, cutesy personality. When in front of David however, she acts sort of like a tomboy. She knows acting cutesy in front of David is useless because he is immune to her charms. 

“Get lost Cindy. I don't feel like dealing with your shit today.” David says without looking at her still searching through pictures.

He was so focused on finding a picture that he forgot to lock his door. That's saying something for the paranoid David.

“I came for a good reason today. It has come to my attention that we do not spend nowhere near enough time together. Soooo... We're going out to have some fun! Just you and me, runnin around, doing sibling stuff! Goin on adventures, just runnin around!”

David gets highly upset. “No! Also, that incest shit does not fly with me! Trying to go on a date with your own brother. The fuck is wrong with you!?”

Cindy gets shocked. “Woah! Woah! Hold on!  Who said anything about a date!? And anyway, that incest shit doesn't fly by with me either! Even if I was into incest, Michael is a hundred times better than you!”

David nods. “Good. Now that we've gotten that out the way, get the hell out of my room!” He points at his door while yelling this out.

“Damn David! Calm yo tits!” She puts her hands up in a surrendering gesture.

 ““Calm my tits!?” My tits can never stay calm in your presence! My tits right now are like a thousand angry bees, ready to unleash their wrath!” 

“We need to bond as a family and make wonderful memories!” She yells out dramatically while hugging David's leg.

“You probably ran out of money our parents gave you so you're trying to use me for funds you parasite!” David yells out angrily while trying to shake Cindy off his leg.

She looks around rapidly and starts to sweat. She starts stammering nervously. “Hahaha... Me using you for funds? You're such a kidder David... Hahaha...” She wasn't at all convincing. 

“Any who... You're going to be going out with me today.” Cindy says confidently.

“You're awfully sure. What makes you say that?” David looks at her skeptically. 

POP! A popping sound rings out. Cindy holds a detonator in her hands. David then sees that his computer, pod, and everything else is surrounded by some plastic looking balls.

“Because for every time you disagree, something terrible will happen. I can't even guarantee you'll live through this. I'm only concerned about your safety. So do you agree?” Cindy says with a trollish smile. 

'90% chance that's not even the real detonator. She just wants me to go on a wild goosechase.' David thinks.

David sighs and starts trying to get ready. He knew that when Cindy really wants something, there is nothing he can do to stop her. He had learned from his past. If he tries the same thing to her, it will only escalate. Last time he tried it, his entire room was destroyed. 

Cindy goes smiling and skipping to her room. David slams the door shut when she left, fed up with her. 

After a little while, they both show up at their front door. Cindy is in short shorts, has her hair down and a purse with a little sweater showing off her curves. David in something he just threw on: Big pants and a thick, long sleeved shirt. 

Cindy purses her lips. “I think its time for you to buy some new clothes. The clothes you have always piss me off!”

“What business is it of yours?”  

“We're buying you something to wear. You still haven't changed your style after all these years you damn lame!” She yells at David disdainfully.

“So we're going to use my money to buy me something that I don't even want to try and impress people I don't even like? You've got some nerve!” David yells back extremely annoyed.

David can never keep his usual expressionless face when around Cindy. She aggravates him more than any other person. Even Cecile is outclassed when comparing them. 

David and Cindy go. Cindy smiling while David looks pissed off. People looking at David think he's Cindy's boyfriend. The glares are all around him. David, of course, notices the glares. 

'This is one of the reasons I hate being around Cindy in public.' 

David acts lethargic and follows after Cindy slowly. He has his hands in his pockets and is slouching. There is a sleepy look on his face while he is frowning. 

They soon make it to the clothing store. 

“Hey David, do you think this looks good?” She asks cutely while making a pose.

David is sitting down resting his head on his arm not even bothering to look at Cindy. “You've asked me that same, exact question the last 30 times, and every single time, the answer has always been the same. I. Don't. Know. And. I. Don't. Care.” David says annoyed.

“I don't know why you're so upset.” She says quietly and adorably with tears in her eyes.

People watching her stare daggers at David. 

They yell out, “How dare you!”

“Bitch do you want to die!?”

“I cut you. I cut you real bad.” That guy says while pulling out a switch blade.

David curses in his mind. He knows that Cindy is doing this on purpose. He also knows there is nothing he can do about it. 

After the torture session of agonizingly waiting for Cindy to finish trying on clothes, they went to the men's section.

“No.”

“Come on David. Don't be a sourpuss.”

“No.”

“Wear these clothes or I'll start crying. Not that whimpering weak shit either. I mean full on bawling.” 

David grumbles and snatches the clothes away from her. He takes a minute to get changed then comes out. David is wearing a dark gray polo tight fitting shirt that shows off his muscles, and some black pants that are nowhere near as loose as the pants he had on before. David hugs his arms. He feels practically naked.

“Whoa. Not bad.” Cindy says in approval with a thumbs up. 

“I feel naked. Can I change back?”

“Sure you can!” Her happy tone is laced with sarcasm. “You need to take them off to buy them anyway silly!”

“I'm not buying them.”

“You're not?” She says with tears in her eyes.

David gives her the stink eye and buys the clothes. The cashier didn't know why David was staring at her with angry eyes.

After their shopping escapades, David decided that he has had enough. Cindy feeling that the crying card is starting to lose its effectiveness decides to go to the arcade. 

Arcades are much more advanced in the future. Not only are there games where you can compete with others on AR glasses and actually earn prizes, but you can also find full immersion virtual reality games here. David and Cindy first play AR ping pong which Cindy won. They then move on to rock climbing, which David won. What Cindy had the most fun doing was a virtual reality game that was basically a huge jungle gym the size of a city. 

“Wheeeee!” Cindy was zipping from place to place. She truly looked happy instead of having that calculated cuteness she usually has. David was just sitting at the highest point of the giant jungle gym, waiting for Cindy to finish. David still has that scowl on his face. 

After playing lots of games, Cindy wants to look for something else when she sees someone and her eyes sparkle. 

“It's her! I've always wanted to meet her! I own lots of magazines with her on the cover!” Cindy yells out excitedly while squealing. 

Cindy grabs David's arm and pulls him along. 

When David sees who Cindy is trying to meet, his face shows shock. He knows this person somewhat. She is currently playing a motorcycle game. She sitting on a fake motorcycle with her ass sticking up. It's making all the guys within a 200 meter radius notice her. She has a huge crowd surrounding her. The guys talk among themselves.

“She's is literally the sexiest woman I have ever seen.”

“Too bright! I didn't even know mere human genes were capable of creating something so perfect.”

“Dat ass doe.”

“Dat ass indeed.”

She takes off the helmet and plans to go to another game.

“Ex-Excuse me.” Cindy calls out shyly.

The lady hears someone calling out to her. She looks over and sees Cindy and David.

“It's Luciana Leavitt! It's her and she's looking at me!” Cindy whispers out excitedly. 

Her cold, expressionless, beautiful look makes her look like an ice princess. Her beauty makes her mostly unapproachable. Her long, black hair flows in the nonexistent wind. Her leggings and tight shirt accentuate her curves. She is for all intents and purposes, “perfect”. If someone were to paint a picture of her, the picture would inspire many emotions such as admiration, longing, and lust. She walks towards Cindy.

“Cindy Lewis right?” She says with no emotion.

“Yes! I'm a huge fan of yours. I love seeing videos of you in New Reality!”

“Those videos aren't put up by me. Those videos are by stalkers.” Luciana states matter-of-factly. 

“Oh. I didn't know that.” Cindy laughs nervously. “You are so beautiful! I own a lot of magazines with you in them.”

“I actually don't like modeling too much, but it does make easy money.” Luciana states.

“Oh. Hahaha...” Cindy can clearly see this conversation is heading towards a train wreck. 

“You actually compete in the Olympics. I've been following your exploits. You're impressive.” Luciana tells Cindy.

“You have!?” Cindy starts hopping up and down.

Cindy starts talking animatedly while Luciana makes terse comments. They both have a lot in common and they both realize this. They're both constantly hit on and both are really good at a sport. All the guys there stare at both Cindy and Luciana. 

“Two beautiful women together.”

“I've tried approaching, but its like an invisible force field of mediocrity repulsion is keeping me away.”

David is standing away from both of them. He does not want any misunderstandings happening, so he's standing well away. Standing next to the both of them is just asking for trouble. Even with his distance, with his paranoia at maximum, he still feels multiple gazes burning at his back. 

'Damn. First Cindy and now Luciana? I'm going to get my ass kicked at this rate. Better increase my distance.'

David starts backing away slowly. Cindy notices this. 

“David don't be rude. I know you hate people, but now is not the time for that. Do you know who this is? She's a model and a ranker in New Reality. She goes to our school!” Cindy says to David in a lecturing tone.

Luciana actually slightly chuckles at this. This is the first time David has seen an expression other than coldness from her. This causes the guys there to sigh in admiration. 

“I know who David is. He's in my homeroom.” Luciana states.

Cindy's face shows shock as she looked at David. “Why didn't you say anything?”

“...”

David looks away, not even bothering to look at the both of them. 

'I have never talked to her before. I see no reason to start now.' David thinks with sweat dripping down his forehead.  

“David...” Cindy grumbles her breath, fury evident.

“Don't worry. I know he doesn't like to talk.” Luciana says trying to diffuse the situation between them. “This makes me curious though. How is it that David not only lets you talk to him, but also lets you go on a date with him? I was under the impression that he always liked being by himself.”

“Oh, David is my brother. We came to an agreement in order for us to go out.” She stares at David daring him to say anything.

“Oh? You have another brother besides Michael? Well that makes sense. Cindy Lewis and David Lewis. Well its been fun, but I have stuff to do.”

“Can I see you at school?”

“Sure. I don't mind.”

“How about we exchange numbers and go shopping one day?”

“That's going a bit far...”

“Okay, I'm fine with just seeing you at school.”

Luciana waves and leaves, her crowd following behind her. 

“Wow! She's so cool! I hope to become as pretty as her one day!”

“Can we go home now?” David asks depressed.

“Silly, silly David.” She wags her finger. “We haven't even played any hardcore arcade games yet.”

They play an interactive virtual reality game. It's a shooting game where you have to shoot through zombies. While they're playing, Cindy asks David a question. 

“So David. You were awfully shy when it came to Luciana. Do you have a crush on her?” 

“Yeah, I'm pretty sure the feelings I have toward her have nothing to do with love.” David says while shooting at 3 zombies at once. 

“You liiiike her. Your chances of going out with her are near zero though. I recommend you go out with someone of your level. That will be difficult. Maybe we can find a desperate cockroach." Cindy says while shooting a hole in multiple zombies' heads. 

“God dammit. Fine. I'd rather tell you my secret to clear up this misunderstanding.” David takes a deep breath. “The truth is, I'm afraid of her.” 

That caught Cindy off guard causing a zombie to bite her. She then jumped out the way and shot at it. “Hahahaha! Are you serious?” 

“*sigh* yes. She holds all the qualities of the 3 types of people I fear. One, beautiful women. Two, rich and/or famous people. Three, scary people. If it were just one or two of those three things, I might be able to deal with it, but she has all three. She's my triple threat.” David says while rushing into a horde of zombies shooting at them and hitting them in their faces with the butt of his gun.

********

Flashback:

David had a terrible experience because of a rich person. In 9th grade, a person tried to fight David. David in return broke his leg.

That person then advertised, "A thousand dollars for every bone someone breaks."

David could fight them off, but the fights never stopped. He eventually got worn down and had multiple bones broken. David had learned an important lesson that day. 

'Kung Fu is powerless against the power of money.'

Flashback end:

************* 

“If that's the case, then why aren't you afraid of me?” Cindy ponders. 

“You damn narcissist.” 

They beat the game leaving a new combined high score. Cindy was tired, so they decide to leave the arcade and head home.

-------------------

Author's Note: *farts*