RIGHT! Here's Chapter 1! XD

Thank you to those who've read and reviewed the previous chapter XDD Sorry about the lateness of this one. From now on I swear I'll upload a chap at least once a week! XD (Like, every Saturday I guess :3)

Right, so one we go! This is a multi-chap after all XDDDDDD

DISCLAIMER: See Prologue

Beta-ed by Mystic Shadow Demon-sama! XDD

~*~_~~IMAGE*DIVE– 8bit World~~_~*~

*Chapter 1*

"Hey Nii-san, do you know what Avatar is?"

Avatar. A communication tool made for mobile phones that became really popular lately. Even celebrities and politicians… heck, just about anyone with a cell phone uses it nowadays.

I wasn't particularly interested though -despite being a Japanese citizen, I don't really care for this online business- but Kasuka, my little brother, suggested I try it and… well, I decided it won't hurt.

The application allows you to create a character called an 'avatar' to represent yourself in the virtual world. Through this 'avatar', you can communicate with other people's 'avatars', participate in activities and event features, and access the games and mini apps available. Kasuka told me the application itself is pretty well designed.

Apparently, apart from greetings, a requirement is placed where you post questions to others through your avatar. 'What kind of sweets do you like?', 'What are your dreams for the future?' 'Who's you're favourite actor', the like; it doesn't matter what kind of question it is; as long as another person answers they can start a conversation with your avatar. Communities are also spread throughout the network in order for users to be more comfortable. I decided to join a community for students to be more familiar with the thing, and there I was able to greet my offline friends.

There are some times I would post a random question in the community just to give it a try, and I would be slightly surprised when other people actually answers it. Although, I would usually leave them hanging.

I haven't really left my small circle of friends in terms of the online chatting thing, which sort of killed the idea of me getting an Avatar in the first place but…I don't really use it that often. Besides, I have a slight…withdrawal…to communicating with other people, and I never really liked starting conversations.

I'm not entirely anti-social, but I'm more used to having people picking fights or running away from me than having someone sit down for a friendly chat. People always tread carefully around me, afraid to ignite my legendary temper apparently.

Kasuka, Shinra, Kadota, Celty and…well…the louse are the only exceptions. Though with the latter, it'd be us trying to kill each other.

And also… I have a pretty bad reputation in this city…

But, one time as I was randomly surfing through the application, I came across something that perked my curiosity.

-Why do people confide in each other?-

I felt a spark of interest as I read the short message, and I couldn't help but approach it.

It was a weird thing to ask, and I wondered just what kind of person would ask that serious a question in a social networking app.

So I answered it, purely on a whim.

-…-

-That's an interesting answer- the message suddenly popped up on my screen.

-Hey there!-

-I'm Psyche xD -

-You are…-

-Tsugaru?-

-That's a cool name ^^-

-Or handle ^^;-

-Hmm…-

-So, you're a student right?-

-Me too ^_^-

-But then again this IS a comm for students…-

-lol-

-Ah?-

-Right!-

-It's Tsugaru's turn to ask question now!-

-Ah, but are you new to Avatar?-

-(OwO)?-

-The log on your profile says you've been a member since last week…-

-So you are new-

-Hmm hmm-

Apparently, this was how I met 'Psyche'.

As I stared at the sudden bombardment of messages, I felt a twinge of irritation, immediately regretting paying this guy any attention, but I couldn't help the curiosity rushing through me about him somehow; and I couldn't just log out since I was the one who started this conversation in the first place, it would've been rude…

Well, not that I really care about being rude but… oh who cares anyway.

I figure it probably wouldn't hurt chatting with this guy anyway, a guy I've never met and probably never will meet, for a change of pace… I mean, that is Avatar's purpose after all…

/Oy oy oy, didn't you say it's my turn to ask a question now?/

/Then stop typing and let me think…/ I sent.

-Aah, you seem like the strict type ne?- he immediately replied.

"Shut up" I typed, feeling a few veins pulse in my head. This guy is annoying. But I found it kinda surprising how, going back on this weird conversation, it didn't seem as though we're two complete strangers chatting for the first time.

It was quite… natural…?

In the end I decided to humour him by asking a question off the top of my head.

-Eeeh?-

-Who is the most important person in your life…?-

-Isn't your question pretty cliché? (=_=); -

I felt a twitch. /What the hell? Who are you to talk?/

/Didn't you just start asking weird questions by yourself?/ I messaged, just about ready to crush the phone in my hands at this bastard's provocation.

-Ah. Ahaha!-

-Yeah, I guess you're right ^^;-

There was a pause in the bombardment of messages, and I found myself staring at the screen, waiting for his reply.

-The answer is "everyone" isn't it? ^^- the message flashed, and I found myself just slightly more interested.

We chatted for a while after that. It started out as a particularly normal conversation, talking about random stuff and popular topics; the weather even popped up a couple of times.

Apparently that wasn't all as we began delving deeper into our conversation, sharing thoughts, interests, hobbies… comparing our likes and dislikes, making comments…

I found out almost immediately that he's actually the outgoing, easy-go-lucky type based on how he types his messages and his over-use of smileys, and I found I'm comfortable chatting with Psyche. In fact, I actually enjoyed chatting with him, just listening to him ramble on about pointless things all bubbly and energetic while sharing a few things myself.

Apparently he likes the colour pink, but red is his favourite. He loves ootoro more than anything and he says that if possible he'd eat it every day for every meal, he also enjoys ice-cream a lot but doesn't like to eat too much sweets because he doesn't want to get fat. I chuckled at that point, teasing him a bit, only to find my screen spammed with huffing smileys and Psyche's complaining.

I'd laugh at that, but then I'd type out a short apology and we'd go back to the normal conversation.

He also says he likes socializing with people, and here I wondered about his question and what his reason could've been to ask it.

And then, somewhere along the way, it struck me that this person doesn't know who I am.

And that, as of now, we were friends.

The thought hit me hard upside the head and I felt my heart beat quicken.

Yes, I know that should've been obvious considering this thing uses aliases, there isn't any physical contact and all you do is message each other, but I wasn't thinking of that. And… Really…

No one knew who I was online. This thought made me a little lightheaded.

They don't know who I am, how I act, what I can do, what I've done… I can become a completely different person here.

Online, I don't have to worry about losing my temper, or scaring the other person away, or getting other people hurt, or keeping a distance. So long as I have the freedom to choose my words, no one will know. And no one needed to know, 'cause that's how online chatting worked.

After this realization, I was able to pay more attention to the online world. I answered a few questions, got into actual conversation with a few people I don't know, made some acquaintances and a few online friends… all under the Avatar "Tsugaru".

I found that through "Tsugaru" I could become human. Not the explosive, destructive, violent monster that is "Heiwajima Shizuo".

Tsugaru became the person I've always wanted to be, what I've always failed to become. Calm, collected, patient, kind… someone who doesn't bring about danger, who people didn't need to be cautious around, to be afraid of…

I found myself strangely at peace.

-Well, I should probably get going now, I've completely discarded my Japanese homework TTATT-

-Hope to chat with you again soon Tsugaru! \(^o^)/-

((Psyche has logged out))

I felt oddly refreshed as I switched my cell phone off, looking towards the ceiling with what I know looks like a silly grin on my face.

Yes… right now I feel strangely calm…

-Well then Tsugaru, Let's be friends ^^-

Psyche… huh?