'It's just a game, it's just a game, it's just a game, it's just a game, it's just a game!'

Casus shot up in his bed, his eyes wide and black hair slick with sweat. He was home. In his room. The real world. It had to be! He could feel the satin sheets against his palms and the cold sweat running down his back. It was real.

Or was it?

Casus jumped from his bed, his breath heavy and shallow and he made his way into the bathroom. As he entered he was greeted by his own reflection in the mirror that stretched along the wall, his well toned, yet sickly pale body, totally visible.

"Is this real?" he said, his eyes transfixed onto his own reflection as his finger traced along the scar that jagged down his brow and cheek.

Without hesitation, Casus smashed his fist into the mirror. With a chime, the mirror cracked outwards like a silver spiderweb, his own reflection splintering off into each unique shard. Casus pulled back his fist to inspect his bloodied hand and pressed his head against the mirror in a fit of relieved laughter, tears streaming down his cheeks. There was no player blood in VRMMOs.

"It's real..." he said with a grin, turning his back to the mirror and lowering himself to his knees. "It's not a game."

~

Casus straightened his tie, a difficult task indeed considering the state of his hand, but he managed all the same. Yet another mirror to be replaced in oh so many months, although his medication had made sleep a much more achievable affair than what it once was.

Casus pulled his black blazer over his grey waistcoat and turned his attention to the digital clock at his bedside.

'10:24' he thought, a bemused smile playing across his pale lips. He would have to head to the store quickly and pick up his new game if he was to meet Takamine in time for their online reunion.

Casus peeled back the curtains behind his bed and allowed the late-morning sun to shine into his room. The once-bleak interior was suddenly revived into something one could even describe as homely, even Casus's unhealthy complexion seemed to glow with vitality. Japan was indeed a beautiful country. He had lived there with his brother and father ever since he was a little boy and the thought of leaving had never once occurred to him, even after all that had happened.

Grabbing his phone, Casus made his way out his room and into the living room only to once again find himself cast in darkness with but a few slithers of desperate sunlight daring to try and break through the cracks of the lowered blinds.

"What's going on?" Said a man who laid mostly hidden under a blanket on the sofa. His features were much the same as Casus's own, yet they bared the wear and tear of age. "What are you doing up?"

"I'm going out," said Casus.

The man chuckled and ran a hand through his dishevelled greasy hair.

"Out where?" he said. "You really should share these things with your father."

Casus scanned over the various empty bottles of alcohol that decorated the floor.

"You disgust me" he said, his icy tone sending the man's eyes downcast. "Tidy this mess up before I get home."

Casus motioned towards the door.

"Sure thing, son" smiled the man as he sat up on the sofa. "I'll see if your brother can help me."

Casus froze, his hand tightly wrapped around the door handle. Must he endure this every day? Every damn day for three years straight?Did he truly not remember, or did he simply wish to torture Casus as much as he tortured himself?

"Sure" he breathed, opening the door to once again be brought into the light. "Whatever you say, old man."