Chapter 1

Maru scrolled through her phone as she waited impatiently for the crosswalk light to change. She read the time on her phone that read 11:53 a.m.

"Come on, come on..." she said under her breath. Finally, the light changed, and she shoved her phone in her pocket. Then she sprinted across the road. Why, why was she always running late?? She should have gotten up earlier. At least the VR cafe was not much further away. As long as nothing happened between the next intersection and now, she should be able to get there with a minute to spare. Suddenly, there was a cart of fresh fruit that rolled out in front of her. She tried to miss it, but her shirt caught the corner of a tray that was filled with fresh blueberries. The berries went flying everywhere. Maru tried to keep running, but her arm was caught by the cart owner.

"Where do you think you're going?!? Aren't you going to pay for that?!" yelled the cart owner. Maru bowed her head a couple of times.

" I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I'll come back and pay for it, I'm just in a rush, you see.." Maru began to explain. The cart owner scoffed at Maru. Seeing as she needed to leave now and this man was holding her up, Maru dug in her bag and grabbed as much money as she could. She then thrusted it at the man who tried to catch it all. Then she took off running again. The cart owner stared down at what she gave him. It was just some coins and crappy coupons to the supermarket that she worked part time at. The cart man began to yell after Maru, but it was no use. She had already ran out of sight.

"Maru!! You're late!!" A tall, thin, blonde woman in heels yelled out to her. Maru dug in her pocket for her phone to see it read 11:59. Maru held it up in the lady's face as she panted for air bent over. "See, still a minute to spare!" she said in between breaths. The woman shook her head at her. As she turned to walk into the VR cafe. "Why do I even bother with you..." the woman mumbled. Maru quickly followed her in. "Oh, come on, Alice! You know you secretly love me!" Maru said in a pouty voice. The two of them made their way to the back of the cafe. As they went to open a door, Alice stopped Maru.

"I'm telling you... If you don't beat Takeshi this time and take first place, I'm dropping you as a client." Alice said as she went to open the door. Maru stared at her in silence for a minute, then went back to being her peppy self.

"Aww, Alice, you don't mean that! Right? I mean, this would be like the twentieth time you've threatened me with that, and ya haven't done it yet!" Maru said with a smile. Alice turned away, her face would show how uncomfortable she was. She really liked Maru as a person, but consistently getting second place was not getting either of them anywhere. It was OK for the beginning, but now the numbers were just dwindling across the board. The sounds of cheering and keyboard clacking could be heard now through the open door. Maru scrambled her way down to her spot. Alice followed slowly behind. Maru's crew of fellow players began to cheer and tease her as she sat down.

"What? Was the raid too much for you last night?" they teased. Maru rolled her eyes as she glanced across from her. A pair of dark brown eyes caught her attention. Then followed by his suit and perfect hair. A suit? Are you for real? It's a gaming competition not a buisness meeting. Maru groaned. Of course, they had him sitting in front of her. It was odd that he seemed to be acknowledging her for once. Ever since high school, he barely spared her a passing glance.

"Afternoon Takeshi..." she said with a straight face. This man seemed to know how to get under her skin without even having to lift a finger. Takeshi stood up and reached his hand over towards her. A handshake? She went to grab his out stretched hand. Quickly, he slapped her hand out of the way and pointed at her hair.

"You have fruit in your hair." Takeshi said in an unchanging voice and then sat back down, putting his headset back on. Maru ran her fingers through her hair. Sure enough... a blueberry. Maru groaned and then shot a look at Alice. Alice gave a shrug as to say that she had not noticed it. A sigh escaped her lips as she sat down and logged in, then placed her headset on. Alice's words kept running through her mind as she loaded up the game. Would she really drop her this time if she did not take first place in this competition? Maru shook her head. There was no time to sit and debate on what ifs. Right now, there was only the game to play. Thankfully, the game was individual battle royal style. So it was everyone for themselves. Maru did not mind playing in teams. However, she knew she had a better shot at beating Takeshi if she had no one else to worry about. There were six battle royals being played at once. Each battle had 30 players. The top ten of each round would advance into the next battle royal. Eventually, it would come down to the top 20 players who would play in the final battle. The top three survivors would win a prize. There was also a prize for most cumulative kills throughout all of the battles.

Maru had done well in her first two rounds. She won both and had the most kills. However, she had not been in a round with Takeshi yet. It seemed fitting that the two of them would not meet until the last battle of 20. Maru stretched as she waited for the last bout to start. Her eyes met Takeshi's again. She gave him a smile.

"Today is the day that I take first place from you, Takeshi!" she announced as she pointed at him. There was no response from him at all, just a cold stare, and he went back to what he was doing. Maru bit the inside of her cheek. He never responds. He just looks down on me anymore. Maru groaned in annoyance. Then she sat back down and began to set up for the last round.

Maru held back tears as second place appeared on the screen. How?? How did he even do that? Maru kept replaying the round in her head. Then she realized that she had made a rookie mistake and left an opening behind her. Maru dropped her head on the keyboard. Then she sat up in a brief moment of hope to see where their kills sat. One.. she had one less kill than him. Maru fell backward into her chair. "Damn it!" she said as she rubbed her face. Takeshi stood up from across her. "GG Takeshi...I made a rookie mistake." she said with a smile. Nothing. No response just walked away from her. God, what an ass. Maru sighed again. Then she could hear heels walking towards her even over all the noise. It was Alice, and she knew it. Maru stood up instantly and bowed her head toward Alice. "I'm sorry, Miss Alice!! I know I lost, but I was so close this time!!" Maru exclaimed. Alice stared at Maru and gave a sigh.

"I'm sorry, Maru, there is nothing I can do. I have fought with the board as much as I can. Today was the deciding factor... and you lost to him again. They said it would be one thing if you guys went back and forth between who wins... but you never win." Alice said, giving Maru a sincere look now. "Honey, you're 23. Maybe it's time to give up on the gamer life, ya know? Think more about what else you can do?"

"There is nothing! Alice, you know this! Gaming is my life! My world!" Maru began.

"Then maybe start looking for a husband! Start a family!! Something!! I'm sorry Maru, I really am!" Alice said as she began to walk away. Maru could see a small tear running down Alice's face. She could tell it was not Alice's decision to leave her. A sigh escaped Maru's lips. Turning to the computer, she began to pack up her things. Then, she made her way slowly to the door. Her mind seemed so empty on her walk home. She had not even noticed the fruit cart man had once again appeared in front of her and was yelling for more compensation. Maru again dug in her bag. She placed the last few dollars she had left to her name until payday on his chest and just continued walking home. Well, at least... she began to think, but before she could finish the thought, it began to rain. Of course.