Chigusa POV

My family is very strict, there are a lot of things they don't allow me to do like wearing a piercing or different types of clothes. People bullied me cause of that.

I tried to kill my self, several times. My friend, Sakaki, told me about an online game – called [The World]. Shortly after I started to play, I met him – my boyfriend Ryou Misaki the player behind Haseo. It was never easy between us, at first he hated me but he said himself that somewhere along the way I came into his heart and he realized it. There where plenty of times, that I was jealous because of Shino and we had one or two fights because of that.
For some time now Ryou stopped playing [The World] however, he calls me two or three times a week. My parents don't know anything about him, I guess its better this way. I'm not playing [The World] this much either anymore. I want to get better grades in school, Ryou is helping me though, but my classmates won't make it easy for me.
I am glad that I met so many friends last year we're also planning a tiny guild meeting in Tokio soon. That reminds me that I have not asked Ryou if he has time for the meeting. I reached for my cell phone, which was on the bedside table, and opened the App Line.

[Good Morning Ryou. I forgot to ask you if you would like to attend the guild meeting next weekend.]

After sending this message I got up, put on my school uniform and gave my birds some food. I brushed my long, black hair and put on my headband. Still one and a half more year in this shitty school, I thought to myself. I went to the kitchen and got some cereal and ate it quickly. I got my keys and walked out the door to walk to school.

Ryou POV

I've been smart almost all my life, my family is rich because my dad owns a major company. Although I live on my own in Tokio, in my own apartment. That's quite incorrect, my dad bought this one for me after I told him that I'm moving out. He was okay with that, my mom wasn't at first but now she got used to it. I was playing [The World] for a long time, defeated the Aida and saved my friends. The past events from the last two years where the reason why I asked Reiko Saeki, known as Pi in [The World], to get me a job in NAB. She didn't agree at first but after bugging her she agreed. After I finished Highschool, I'm going to visit a university to study network administration.
A lot of things happened since I started this online game. I met a girl, she was very annoying at first and not easy to handle but when she wasn't with me I felt lonely. Four month ago I asked her to be my girlfriend. She said yes, of course.
Speaking of my girlfriend, she sent me a message earlier. I read her message and smiled at the same time.

[Good morning Chigusa, Sure, why not. You're going too, right? Where will the meeting be?]

Of course she will go, our friends from [The World] are meaning everything to her.

She said some days ago, that she met another girl online. I need to ask her about that later, when I call her. I got ready for school, grabbed my key and then made my way to my school. With the subway I reached my destination in less than thirty minutes.

When I arrived at school I went straight into my classroom and sat down in my seat. I don't have many friends here. That's because I can't do much with the other students and I don't care much about them. It's like Chigusa once said: "It's not easy to make friends with you".

The thought of this memory makes me smile again. But she was right about that remark. I am not particularly interested in other people. There are very few people in my life whom I call friends.

I'm not surprised that some people avoid me. In [The World] I was known as the Terror of Death. People were afraid of me, that has subsided, but in the real world I still seem to frighten other students. Even the teachers are a little cautious with me, I can't say exactly if they are afraid or not. The first hours, up to the breakfast break, passed quite fast. When I looked at my mobile phone during the break I noticed that Chigusa has responded.

[It's in Tokio. Silabus said something about Karaoke.]

Great.. I really hate Karaoke. I don't have to sing though. I replied to her message.

[You can sleep in my apartment. I doubt you would want to drive back home at night.]

[I don't know if my parents will let me...]

It's not that Chigusa and I haven't met before, we did a few times. But she never saw my apartment nor stayed over night.

[I won't let you drive home alone at night. It's no big deal, I've got a separate room if that's what bothering you.]

[I talk to my parents then. But to be honest I don't think they'll like the idea of me staying with you a whole weekend.]

I've got a bad feeling about this. Chigusa told me, that she doesn't have a good relationship with her parents. They're very old-fashioned, they force their daughter to live their lives. "What should the neighbours say" or "You run around like a tramp.", that's what they say. Chigusa doesn't have it easy, she never did. Fortunately for her, she is bullied by her classmates at school. The teachers look away. If she went to my school, I could protect her, she wouldn't be alone anymore.
My cell phone vibrated again. A message from Chigusa, I was so in thoughts that I forgot to answer her.

[Please don't be mad at me, Ryou. I'm verry sorry.]

This again.. silly girl.

Chigusa POV

He might be mad. I did it again... I thought to myself.

[Stop apologizing silly. I'm not mad at you. I was just thinking and forgot to answer. I call you after work.]

[Okay. Talk to you then. Love you.]

It's still strange for me to write Ryou those words. It won't be easy to tell my parents that I'll stay in Tokio next weekend.

After the breakfast break I went back to the classroom. On the way there I saw the group of girls who always mobbed me. I may not be as weak as I used to be, but it still hurts.

The three girls are Ahmya, Chiyo and Hina. Ahmya bumped into me and caused me to drop my mobile on the floor.

"Dork face why did you walk into me! Seems like your shabby mobile phone is broken. Serves you right!" Ahmya screamed and pushed me to the side.
I went back in line and then walked, again, to the classroom. The display on my phone is shattered, but it's still working.
After school I left and went home.

Of course, my parents are already back from work. Quietly, without saying a word, I go to my room. As always, they don't notice me. I still don't know exactly how to talk to them about the upcoming meeting. I am old enough to decide with whom I meet, other people of my age are allowed to do the same.

At dinner, I'll ask my parents about the subject. But I have absolutely no good feeling about the whole thing. I turned on my computer and did my homework. I didn't feel like [The World] today. After a few hours, my parents called me to dinner. I breathed deeply. Better now than never. I sat down at the table, there was silence as always. Carefully I began the conversation.

"Mummy, Daddy, I want to visit my friends in Tokyo next weekend and spend the night with them..."

Stunned, the two of them looked at me.

"First your bad grades, then your clothes, and now you want to sleep with a boy! What should the neighbours say? How can we explain that our underage child sleeps with a boy and then gets pregnant? We forbid you contact with him and all your friends! You stay here!"; my father screamed. I couldn't say anything because my mother continued.

"There's no point with that brat anyway. No daughter of mine sleeps with a boy like a prostitute! I'm tired of you dishonoring our family and disgracing us! If you absolutely want to go to your friends then stay right there! You are no longer welcome here! Until next week Friday you move out!"

And with this sentence my parents stood up and I tried to realize what was happening.

The next moment I also got up and ran to my room. Again I breathed deeply and tried to suppress my tears. My parents wanted to throw me out. Where should I go? As if by myself I reached for my mobile phone and dialed Ryous number. Maybe he's still at work or already on his way home.

It rang a few times until he picked up.

"Chigusa, I told you I'd call you later. I'm still at work."

"I know, I know. And I'm sorry to bother you too, but..."

I tried to suppress my sobbing but my boyfriend doesn't miss a thing.

"Chigusa! What happened!"

I couldn't talk. All I could do in that moment was cry.

Ryou waited patiently until I said something again. After almost five minutes I started my sentence.

"I asked my parents about next weekend. "

"They weren't happy, I suppose."

"No.. not at all. They throw me out, Ryou. They said if I want to see my friends then I can stay there the same. Where am I supposed to go? I don't know what to do. "

"Calm down, Chigusa. Why don't you move in with me? I told you that I still have a free room."

"But I don't want to be a burden to you Ryou."

"Dummy! You are not a burden!"

"What about school? Rent? I don't have any.."

"Don't worry, Chigusa. I'm talking to my parents about school. I'm sure something can be done. And at NAB I earn so well that I can feed both of us. You have to improve your grades and I'll help you!"

"Are you sure it's okay?"

"Yes, I am. I'll pick you up Friday. Pack everything you want to take with you. I'm in front of the school in Chiba on Friday to pick you up. After school we go to my place."

"Okay. Thank you, Ryou."

After this sentence we hung up and I let my gaze wander through the room.

Stella POV

Somewhere in a large city full of people lives a young student, me. I am Stella and I study Game Design in Berlin. A few weeks ago I met a very nice person in a MMORPG. Her name is Atoli. She is two years younger than me. Online we do a lot together. We write a lot of mails to each other and I know one or two stories from her life. It feels like I've known her for half an eternity. We talk about everything. From the weather to school.

I live in a flat share with my twin brother Alex. He studies business informatics because he wants to work as a software developer.

At home I'm the one who always has to make dinner because my brother can't cook. But he helps me with all my computer stuff so we are even, Despite all the stress I still manage to get straigt A's in University and I'm always on time. I never get in trouble once.

But lets get back to reality.

Like almost everyday I went to the cafeteria at noon. From afar I saw my brother sitting with his friends. Since I am a quite introverted person, I do not have so many friends. It is hard for me to approach people. Online the whole thing is no problem at all but offline...
I was completely lost in my own thoughts during the break that I didn't even notice that my former best friend came to my table with her new best friend.

She is studying Japanology and History. He studies business administration.
"Hey Stella, what are you doing today after college. We all want to barbecue in the park, wouldn't you like to come with us? It'll be fun for sure." Marisa asked me.

Funny for her and her friends. I was not welcome and I knew that too. We lived apart and are not the same people we used to be. Admittedly, I still get along very well with her twin sister. Unlike Marisa, her sister has a dream and a goal before her eyes.

She wants to move to her boyfriend in Vienna as soon as she has finished her studies.

Marisa simply dreams of going to Japan. Frankly, I would like to do the same. That's why I decided to go to the games industry. But I am aware of how difficult it is to gain a foothold in this industry and how hard the job is in big companies.

But the question is whether I can find a job there and get a work visa.

With my luck, I would have to marry a Japanese, but that's easier said than done.

In half a year I would travel to Japan for 4 weeks, that would be a start after all.

That's how long I saved up for this trip. Even my brother helped me to make this dream come true.

"Hey, Stella," Chris shouted and shook me out of my thoughts. "Are you coming with me or not?

"Oh... uhm... no. I meet later still with my girlfriend. Online... in [The World]... but they didn't have to know that.