Aoi stared at the screen for a few seconds after finishing creating the character.
The dark-haired warrior stood still in the center of the character creation screen, breathing slowly as if he were alive.
The cape moved slightly, as if an invisible wind was blowing in that digital world.
She tilted her head.
"Okay… now the class."
The screen showed several options.
Mage.
Archer.
Thief.
Priest.
Warrior.
Aoi rested her chin on her hand and started thinking.
"If I choose mage, Hina will boss me around…"
"Archer looks difficult…"
"Thief looks like it dies fast…"
She stayed silent for a few seconds, looking at the last option.
"Maybe… warrior."
She gently moved the controller.
"That way I can help Hina while she casts spells…"
For a moment, she stopped.
A memory crossed her mind.
When she used to play video games with her father, Hiroshi, he always said the same thing:
"A mage needs someone in front to protect them."
Aoi smiled softly, almost without noticing.
"Then… warrior it is."
She selected it.
Class: Warrior
A new screen appeared.
Warrior Class
Has great physical strength.
Specialized in close-range combat and front-line fighting.
Aoi held the controller with both hands.
"Okay… let's go, Hiro."
The game started.
The screen opened to a small village.
Wooden houses.
A fountain in the center.
NPCs walking around peacefully.
A calm song played in the background.
At the bottom of the screen appeared:
Hiro — Level 1
Simple starting equipment.
Short sword.
Basic armor.
Aoi picked up her phone next to the controller and opened LINE.
She typed to Hina:
"I started playing already."
Then she put the phone down and returned to the game.
Hiro started walking through the village.
The sound of footsteps on dirt, the fountain water, and the calm music made everything strangely comfortable.
At that moment, her phone started vibrating.
Hina replied.
"You're already online? Haha."
Aoi typed:
"I started at level 1."
A few seconds passed.
No response.
Then another notification appeared on LINE.
You were added to a group.
Group name:
"Eternals"
Aoi frowned and opened the group.
Hina wrote:
"Hello Eternals, I created this group so we can communicate better."
Aoi typed:
"Hina? Who else is in the group?"
She opened the member list.
Hina.
And…
Souma.
Aoi's hands froze over the phone.
"Y-Yamamoto is in the group…"
She stared at the screen.
"What do I say…?"
A few seconds of silence.
Then a new message appeared on LINE.
Souma wrote:
"Thank you. I'm not online yet."
Aoi started typing.
"Let's go together, fight!"
She looked at her own message before sending it.
"Did that sound weird…?"
Before she could think more, another message appeared.
Hina wrote:
"I'll send a friend request inside Eternal Aegis."
In the game, a notification appeared.
Prince John wants to be your friend.
Aoi blinked.
"Prince John?"
She tilted her head.
"Is that Hina?"
At that moment, her phone vibrated.
Private message.
Hina wrote:
"Prince John is me."
Aoi let out a small laugh.
"Of course it's her…"
She accepted the request.
Almost immediately, another notification appeared.
You were added to a party.
The screen changed.
Hiro appeared in a new location.
Dungeon entrance.
The place was dark, with wet stones and a staircase going down into darkness.
Next to him were two characters.
Prince John
and
Soumakey
One of the characters walked forward and dropped something on the ground.
A shining sword.
Sword LV 30
A message appeared in the game chat:
"I think this sword has high stats for your character, but keep it."
The other character dropped two items.
Mana potion.
HP potion.
Aoi looked at the chat for a few seconds.
Then she typed:
"Thank you."
She lifted her eyes from the screen.
The natural light coming from the window was darker now. The room was turning gray with the end of the afternoon.
Aoi stood up and turned on the light switch.
White light filled the room.
She looked back at the screen.
"We haven't even started…"
"But it already feels fun."
She looked at the clock.
18:02
"I think I can play a few more minutes."
They entered the dungeon.
The sound of footsteps echoed.
Water dripped from the stones.
The music became more tense.
The first enemies appeared.
Goblins.
Then small skeletons with rusty swords.
Prince John cast spells.
Soumakey attacked with fast strikes.
Hiro tried to keep up.
Even with the low level, the strong sword helped a lot.
A few minutes later, the dungeon ended.
At the exit appeared:
Hiro — Level 4
Aoi typed:
"Thank you very much. I have to go now. See you tomorrow."
Soumakey replied:
"See you tomorrow."
Prince John too:
"See you tomorrow."
Aoi closed the game and turned off the console.
She leaned back in the chair and stretched her arms.
"It's been a long time… since I had this much fun at home."
At night, she went downstairs and took a shower.
When she came out, she put on comfortable home clothes and went to the kitchen.
She opened the refrigerator.
Sliced beef.
Onion.
Rice.
Eggs.
Soy sauce.
Sugar.
"I'll make gyudon…"
She started cooking.
First, she put the rice in the rice cooker.
Then she cut the onion into thin slices.
She placed a frying pan on the stove, added some oil, and the onion began to brown.
The smell spread through the kitchen.
Then she added the beef.
She mixed soy sauce, sugar, and a little water.
The aroma became stronger and comforting.
When the rice was ready, Aoi prepared two bowls.
Then she set the table.
Two plates.
Two cups.
Two pairs of chopsticks.
20:00
The door opened.
"I'm home! Aaah… hello, daughter."
It was Yukiko.
Aoi smiled.
"Hi mom. How was work?"
"Tiring… but nothing I can't complain about."
She stopped and smelled the air.
"Hmmm… that smell…"
Aoi replied calmly:
"Your favorite food."
Yukiko opened a big smile.
"Thank you, Aoi-chan. What would I do without you?"
"Are you going to eat now?"
"I was going to take a shower first… but…"
She was already sitting at the table.
"Thank you for the meal."
Still wearing her work suit.
Aoi smiled.
"I worked hard today."
Yukiko raised an eyebrow.
"Oh really? Why?"
Aoi answered casually:
"Because… today was good at school."
Yukiko smiled mischievously.
"Really? Got a boyfriend?"
Aoi almost choked.
"W-What?!"
"Why that question, mom?!"
Yukiko smiled slightly.
"That's the age I got my first boyfriend."
She looked curious.
"You can tell me. Is he handsome?"
"MOM!"
Yukiko couldn't hold her laughter.
"Hahaha sorry, daughter."
Aoi tried to keep eating normally, but she was smiling inside.
After dinner, Aoi went back to her room.
She looked at the console and thought:
"I guess playing a little more won't hurt."
The next morning
Tiiiic… tiiiic…
The alarm clock rang.
Aoi slowly opened her eyes.
"Aaah…"
She looked around.
"Why am I on the floor?"
The TV was on.
The console too.
"Did I fall asleep playing…?"
She slowly stood up.
"Ow…"
Her body was stiff.
She went downstairs.
In the kitchen there was breakfast.
And a bento.
A note:
"Eat well and enjoy your classes."
Aoi smiled.
"You should sleep more, mom."
She ate breakfast while thinking about the game.
"Yesterday was fun…"
She looked at her phone.
7:25
"CRAP!"
She ran to the bathroom.
On the way to school
On the way to the station, she saw someone running too.
"Hina!"
Hina turned.
"Aaah! You're late too?!"
"We're going to miss the train!"
"Run!"
They ran.
They reached the station.
7:49
The train was arriving.
"Let's go!"
The doors opened.
They ran inside.
A few seconds later, the doors closed.
Hina was breathing heavily.
"T-That was close…"
Aoi sighed and looked out the window during the ride.
At school
When they arrived, they walked to the gate.
Hina looked at Aoi.
"It's not normal for you to run like that."
"I woke up late."
"And why are you walking weird?"
"I slept in a bad position."
Hina narrowed her eyes.
"I saw Hiro was level 17 this morning."
Aoi sighed.
"Okay… you can make fun of me."
A few steps in silence.
Then Hina said:
"Why does Hiro… look like your father?"
Aoi stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then she answered:
"I made him as a tribute to him."
She smiled slightly.
"He fits this game more than I do."
Hina smiled.
"How mature."
"For Hina."
Then Aoi stopped walking and looked around.
"Wait… wasn't Mio supposed to pass by here?"
Hina looked around.
"You're right…"
"Did she come earlier?"
"Maybe."
But when they entered classroom 2-B, they noticed.
Mio's desk was empty.
Her bag wasn't there.
Aoi picked up her phone.
"Mio, class is about to start."
No response on LINE.
She stared at the empty chair.
"You never miss school…"
"What happened, Mio…?"
And for the first time that day,
a strange feeling of worry began to grow inside her.
The chair remained empty.