Chapter 2 - No Game No Problem (2/2)

"I know, I'm just here to browse. I'm not going to buy anything."

'That is what you said last time' flashed across the HUD embedded in his glasses.

"I know, I was bad, but I swear-"

Before Gray could finish, the words "and the 18 times before that as well"

"I know I know! REALLY, I promise I won't buy anything. I don't need any or want stuff from here."

A skeptical emoji flashed across the HUD.

"I'm serious! Besides, the Stream Summer Sale starts next week and I can't wait for it!" said Gray excitedly.

A white flag emoji went across his HUD

"Stop it…"

Animations of old fashioned wallets getting exploded were then played on his HUD

"Seriously?"

Finally a video of a wallet getting buried while taps played in the background was sent to his HUD.

"Stop it! Just give me the hard limit and I'll try and keep below it!"

Gray was probably one of the few humans that argued with AIs. Jono once caught him doing this and his friend merely gave him a disappointed look. The kind of disappointed look you get when you reach in to a bowl of Starbursts and pull out a yellow one instead of a pink or red one.

Gray walked in and saw a rotund man in his 30s wearing the traditional black GameGo shirt staring at the display watching a video for Alterra Online. If one looked closely enough, one could see a small amount of drool starting to form at the corner of his mouth. This was Jim Stevens, also known as Spoon. Gray was really interested in how he got the nickname 'Spoon', but Jim never told him and nobody else seemed to know.

"Hey Spoon! You interested in Alterra Online as well?"

Spoon came out of his daze and inhaled sharply to slurp up the drool he realized was about to fall. "Gray! Yeah! I got a shweet shetup all ready for thish!"

Poor Spoon, his jaw became damaged in an accident he said giving him a slight lisp whenever he talks excitedly. Gray couldn't help but think that Spoon really reminded him of and old cartoon character, Eric Cartman from South Park. Still, Spoon would just roll with it and Gray thought that part of Spoon might actually like it as it was unique.

"I'm jealous Spoon, I can't play it since I only have last gen VR, but I don't mind as I can't see myself spending that kind of money."

The word 'LIES' flashed across Gray's HUD from his basic financial AI, which he chose to ignore.

"Shorry to hear that man! Like, thish game ish going to be amazshing!"

Gray had to agree with him on that point, but he honestly enjoyed himself even with his older setup.

After a few minutes of nerding around with Spoon, Gray and Spoon both received a notification that Alterra Online's Diamond Tier contest winner would be announced. Spoon quickly switched back to Alterra Online's live stream. Spoon seemed extremely excited about this.

"I had twenty AI help me shend at leasht a million entry formsh"

"Really Spoon… I did just one" Gray had to admit that as much as Spoon seemed like a goober, he really did know his shtuff! I mean… stuff!

After a few more scenes from Alterra Online were revealed, Gray started to walk out of the store as the winner was about to be announced. Gray reached the door and walked out as it opened for him only to suddenly hear what he thought was the scream of an elementary school girl. He looked back quickly at the source of the noise to see Spoon staring at him in utter shock.

"D… D… DOOD! You won!"

Only one word came to Gray's mind: SHWEET!!! I mean SWEET!