Our Journey Begins

Amongst the sound of delicate whispers, the screeching of chairs, and the tiny noises of a cash register - a young man sat with book in hand. The space such man occupied was a light yet stifling shadowed corner. One that could easily envision in a comic book as a way to show off just how different a main character was in accordance with their surroundings.

This was one exact moment as described.

A small distance away, approximately two small wood tables, three beautiful young girls sat together huddled closely. Their eyes couldn't help but drag unhurriedly in the young man's direction every other second as if he was a small piece of their favorite dessert.

Black wavy hair thrown messily into a bun- with just a couple of strands missing the party, piercing green eyes hidden behind round Harry Potter-like glasses, and skin as pale as Snow White in contrast to not having seen the sun in a very long time.

(>.> Get some sun dude!)

(You're one to talk, you haven't gone outside yourself.)

(Hush!)

One of the three girls, identified with bleach-blonde shoulder-length hair, released a dreamy sigh letting her imagination run wild. The young man dressed in most eye-catching of armor, slaying an evil dragon to later scooping her up in his arms and promising her a life filled with love.

SLAM!

Imagination running wild like a bull in the rodeo firmly halted in the face of a tray loudly shattering it. Three pairs of eyes, and a small flicker of a fourth, flinched instinctively at the newest arrival. A tall brown-haired female stood at the foot of their table - a being that caused shivers to run down their spines.

"Stop ogling at the poor man like he's a piece of meat," she said, her voice coming out soft and airy without a hint of force. "You all probably wouldn't even like him."

One of the three girls, with fading purple hair, blinked at the words of their friend. Eyes moving back onto the young man in the corner they captured onto just what book he had been reading. <Birth of Heroes>

Noticeably a popular Webnovel turned anime and soon-to-be VMMORPG.

Her nose scrunched up in visible disgust. "Oh, he's one of those people."

Directly following their friend's lead - as if the young man had suddenly turned into a trash bag expelling a horrid odor - they all visibly expressed their disgust.

Shaking her head at her friends, she spared the young man in the corner a small glance. Although her eyes held pity and hint of sadness it was soon overcome by contempt. "Cleo Witler isn't worth anyone's time," she said, her voice getting sharper. "He's just a failure that doesn't care about anyone but himself. Everybody in our class would agree." With that being all she had to say on such a matter - and like a light switch being flipped on - she calmly sat at her friend's table.

(This girl's a bitch (ง'̀-'́)ง! )

(…I agree.)

((⊙_⊙) Wait you agree with me?)

(Yes.)

The young man, newly identified as Cleo, lips quirked up in a brief sad smile before swiftly wiped away - as if nothing had happened. Almost like the insult simply went in an ear and out the other.

Though his heart tightened painfully stealing the breath his lungs needed to breathe only momentarily.

It went ignored.

"Yo! Jam Jam. Earth to my brother?" The sudden deep voice - one so familiar - startled him. His small slender hands flinched providing the book he held a lack of stability thus it fell shut.

All Cleo could feel was the slowly creeping dreadfulness at the mini realization his page - his progress in the journey of a band of heroes - had just been destroyed.

'No…I was so close to finishing! ʼ he mentally mourned, internally crying tears of despair.

((;´༎ຶٹ༎ຶ`) So relatable!)

(Only you would find it relatable.)

(Well duh! I read books too ( ͠° ͟ʖ ͡°)!)

(Sigh.)

"Oh- uh, sorry."

Another young man, though few years younger than Cleo, towered over the occupied table with a large grin - whilst leaning slightly on the extra chair. With prominent features mirroring those of Cleo, his hair was considerably shorter and dyed a dark fiery red. Change that color to black, grow it out and they'd honestly pull off looking like twins.

Those piercing green eyes flickered from the fallen book to those that had belonged to his brother. His lips gradually opened as his mind swirled around choice words he held and wished to say but rather he had said, "Didn't I tell you not to call me that? Ash?"

Lifting his arm, he began to scratch the back of his neck gently. An act both in embarrassment and one of pure instinct that he had always done.

"It's a bit of a habit. Can't really shake it, sorry Jam Jam." Though his voice was deep resulting in an act of always managing to turn heads he spoke softly.

Directing his attention elsewhere in the form of a hardcover book, Cleo let a small rush of fondness flood through his veins. "Whatever." His brain stalled when Ash took a seat across from him whilst attempting to fish out something from his bag - something he had just taken notice of. Finally successful in his attempt Cleo's eyes widened.

"Look what I got us!" spoken in a tone that was both cheerful and smug, Ash carefully set two DVD-like cases onto the table between them.

"I-Is that-"

Swiftly sliding across the table, one copy made itself known in front of Cleo's very eyes. The biggest, most popular upcoming VMMORPG:

Birth of Heroes.

(Ooh~ヽ(♡‿♡)ノ!)

(They seem especially excited.)

(Seriously? Of course, they'd be excited!)

(Oh?)

(They both read the novels multiple times, watched the anime and now they get to experience everything with their own eyes!

(Makes sense.)

"Early copies. Managed to get so lucky! You ready to play?"

"Is that even a question?"