"Ah..it was freaking cold."
I slumped on my sofa, exhausted.
I opened the box I took from the shelf. It was the medicinal box Ephera had brought here just in case. I immediately started to treat my injury.
"He didn't even hold back, that ass*ole."
I grunted.
He had a muscular body while I was skinny. He should have held back a little.
'Whatever. He's my friend, so I will forgive him like a good friend.'
After treating my injury, I took the controller of the playstation and started it. The game I wanted to play was already in it. Well, it was the game I was used to playing with Ephera, so I'd never taken the disc.
Since Ephera's death, I have played that game every day without stopping, so my hunger that morning. The apartment I was currently in was a rented one. My friends were also living there but they all left after Ephera's death. I was the only one who refused to leave.
The TV's screen started to show the video introduction of the game. The game I was playing was [Princess And Dragon].
It was a dating sim game? I think?
Anyway, it was those famous games that would sell very well in Japan. And indeed, one of the creators of the game was Japanese. The game shouldn't have been a success in Europe since it wasn't very attractive, but surprisingly, it was a great success.
In the game we were playing the Main Character, a student, and our goal was to capture the [Heroines] of the game. We have to make the right choice and right actions at each [Event] to seduce the girl and get a happy ending.
Yeah, it sounds cliché, but that was the reason behind its success and also why Ephera and I played the game.
"There is it."
I smiled seeing the conversation on the screen.
["Jayden, u-um do you like Layla…?"]
A blue-haired girl asked with upturned eyes.
The image shifted to a black-haired handsome guy. Then four lines appeared.
[A] [Yes, I like her…]
[B] [No, I don't like her!]
[C] [I love you!]
[D] [I will only answer you on my bed.]
There were four choices displayed.
I cringed at the two last choices, especially the last one…
I was facing one of the main targets or Heroines of the game, so I should logically choose the third choice, but I chose the second one.
Why?
Because it was the most neutral one. I had to choose that choice to avoid trouble from Layla, who was the villainess of the game.
[Really…?]
The blue-haired girl asked with puppy eyes.
Damn…
She was sure hella beautiful, but it was hella too easy as well. Maybe I should have chosen the hell mode. Hmm…
Like that, I played that game for a few hours. I would have played more if not for that call.
"Who is it?"
I asked in a tired tone.
["Ephera, she could be alive."]
"!"
I lost my breath for several seconds.
My heart hammered heavily in my chest.
"W-what?"
My brain had a hard time registering his previous words.
["Nyr, if you want to get back your happy life, come to Tokyo."]
"..."
I stared dumbly at the white wall as the voice cut the call.
***
[Tokyo]
Two days had passed since that call. I left for Tokyo and as soon as I got out of the airport, people wearing black suits caught me.
And here I was, facing a middle-aged man who wasn't Japanese.
Strange…
"You seem to be too calm…"
The man said without hiding his surprise.
"Ephera."
I cut to the chase. I didn't come to Tokyo to have a friendly discussion with him.
"Impatient I see."
He laughed before cuing his guards to leave the room.
"I can't bring back Ephera."
"..."
I was barely holding back from punching that bastard. Did he think I was in the mood to listen to such absurdities? Of course, he couldn't bring her back!
She is dead!
"At least not in this world."
"Enough."
I stood up to leave.
I came here for nothing in the end.
"Wait."
"Eh?"
My body stopped moving. I couldn't even lift a finger.
"What the hell?!"
I couldn't understand what was happening.
"What did you do?!"
I glared at the man.
Did he attach my legs with something like invisible ropes, or whatever?!
"Calm down, Nyr."
He approached me and snapped his fingers.
Something came out of the void.
"!"
I was speechless at this sight.
Was he a magician?
It was the only thought that came in my mind.
"Do you want to see Ephera again?"
He asked me.
Do I want to see her again?
Ahahaha.
What a dumb question.
I stared at him, removing my calm expression.
"Oh. You are showing such a scary face. Is that really you?"
He laughed again.
"Look now."
The man showed me something that made me speechless again.
It was the game. [Princess And Dragon].
What the hell?!
I started to doubt my own sanity.
Did I really get that call?
Did I really come to Tokyo?
Why the heck was he showing me that freaking game?!
"I will kill you."
I said in a chilling tone.
"Kill me or I will kill you."
I said that, clearly showing in my expression, killing intent.
I didn't care anymore about living. I just wanted to vent out my wrath on someone so it might as well be him. Whatever. That fucking world didn't do anything to me!
"I will grant your wish."
"What wish?! Buzz off!"
He was pissing me off.
And why can't I fucking move my body?!
I refused to acknowledge what I saw so I just acted like an idiot.
That guy…
Why was he looking at me with pity?
Fuck you!
"One day, you will understand. Now die."
He said and put his palm on my head.
"Wh-What?!"
A bright light engulfed and blinded the entire room. I could just close my eyes.
It was probably a dream.
Yeah.
A long dream.
I hoped that but I was soon proved wrong.