23 Dream (1/2)

After some discussion, we have come up with our usernames for the game. I stuck with Rejected_Goddess as I couldn't think of anything better, and it didn't sound too bad. Yuki decided on Tainted_Snow_Goddess she wanted to have a name matched mine, and she thought it sounded cool.

Alex was a different story. We spent about an hour trying to convince her to choose a username seriously. She was always trying to turn hers into a sex joke. We almost settled for PeachesNCream until we found out that her in-game character name was Algea Hedone. We didn't think she would resort to Greek mythology for her name, so we opted for a compromise. Her username is now LadyMisery.

”I wonder what these spark things are supposed to be?” I had asked while drinking my non-alcoholic tea.

”They probably wanted to change how users accessed their menu and wanted to a cash grab too.” Yuki was lying on the floor, staring up at the ceiling. ”By the way, mom, you better hope they don't nerf your OP skill.

”Oh? What OP skill did your mother get?” Alex looks towards me with a look of curiosity.

”She's got this totally broken skill that like multiplies the XP she gets. The higher that skill is, the bigger the multiplier. I wouldn't be surprised if she could hit the soft cap in like a week or two.”

Alex looked over in my direction with wide eyes.

”How the hell did you get a skill like that?”

”I just asked Eri to be my friend, and she gave me some stuff.”

”I should have guessed it was something that ridiculous. Leave to you to befriend the game intro VI.”

Virtual Intelligence or VI was designed as a pseudo-AI. Still, the AI were not able to develop any kind of sentience. They were used in many different machines, and they were mostly implemented in robots like delivery robots.

”I guess I'll find out when I log back in.”

”I'm more interested in the streaming part. I could create my own channel and make some money that way too.” Yuki had flipped herself into a sitting position facing us.

”That's a good idea too. You should give that a try too, Sarah.”

”Maybe…I don't know how I feel about live streaming in front of people.”

Alex briefly had a sad look on her face before changing it to her smile.

”The Sarah I knew was an outgoing person who wasn't shy.”

I stared at the floor for a moment, thinking about my past.

”The past me was also a naïve girl who didn't know hardships. Once we log back in, I think I will go my own way for a bit. I…need some time to myself to think.

Yuki had a glimmer of sadness in her face for just a moment.

”Yeah, I suppose you're right. If Emiko asks, do you want me to explain?”

”If you wouldn't mind. I'm sorry.”

We spent the rest of the day hanging out and watching movies while I tried to ignore the awkward tension between Yuki and me.

I stood up from the couch and stretched, feeling the bones in my spine pop. Something about the sound that makes is relaxing. Of course, feeling the bones pop is also relaxing.

”It's getting late, and I am getting tired. You can take my bed, Alex. I will sleep on the couch tonight.”

”You will do no such thing! I will sleep on the couch. I'll be fine, go take your bed.”

”You are a guest. I will not let you sleep on the couch.”

Hearing our back and forth, Yuki interjected her thoughts.

”Why don't you two just share the bed? It's big enough.”

We both nodded at her idea. I felt kind of dumb for not thinking about it, but I am probably more tired than I realized. We all walked to our rooms for the night with Alex following me. I changed into some pajamas since I couldn't sleep in the buff tonight. I gave Alex a long shirt I also use sometimes to sleep in. We both crawled into bed, I turned off the light and stared at the dark ceiling until sleep could take me.

”Sarah…I know you probably don't want me bringing this up, but are you considering Yuki's feelings seriously?”

She was right. I didn't want to think about it. I mean…I don't even know what to think. After a moment of silence, I spoke up.

”I am thinking about, but the thing is, I don't know what to think. We are family. We aren't supposed to have those kinds of feelings for each other.”

”That is only partially true. You know there was that billionaire that married his sister, right?”