Chapter 2: Who needs reality when you have videogames?

I was bored.

Not just any kind of bored—the kind of boredom that seeps into your bones and makes you question your entire existence. So naturally, I decided to do something about it. Something fun. Something stupid.

"Hiyori!" I yelled from the living room, my voice echoing through the shrine. "Get in here, I've got an idea!"

She appeared a few seconds later, looking as annoyed as always. "What do you want, Y/N? I'm busy."

"Busy doing what? Polishing your tails?" I teased, already dodging the inevitable flick of her tail aimed at my face.

"Busy not dealing with your nonsense," she shot back, crossing her arms. "What's this 'idea' of yours?"

"I'm bored," I declared, as if that explained everything. "So, I'm going to spice things up."

Hiyori narrowed her eyes. "Define 'spice things up'."

I grinned, holding up my phone. "What was the last game you played?"

She blinked, caught off guard by the random question. "Call of War: Ancient Warfare 4[Parody Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4]. Why?"

"Perfect," I said, ignoring her suspicious look. "Now, where are the idiots?"

"Says the biggest one."

"Shut up."

As if on cue, my phone buzzed with a group chat notification. Speak of The Devil.

>Me: Get over here. I'm bored.

>Fukuhara: What now?

>Koyasu: If this involves your reality-bending bullshit, count me out.

>Soseki: I'm in the woods, remember?

>Me: How the fuck do you have access to the Internet in the woods?... Nevermind, I forgot about last Chapter... I'll just go along since this is Fiction.

And with a flick of my wrist, I teleported the entire crew into the shrine's living room. Fukuhara and Koyasu stumbled in, looking disoriented, while Soseki appeared in the corner, clutching a twig like it was a lifeline.

"Nice of you to drop by," I said, smirking as they all glared at me.

"Y/N," Fukuhara growled, "if this is another one of your pranks—"

"It's not a prank, it's an adventure!" I cut him off, barely containing my excitement.

Koyasu groaned. "That's what you said last time, and we ended up in a fucking volcano."

"And we survived, didn't we?" I countered.

"With third-degree burns," Soseki muttered, dropping the twig and eyeing me warily.

"Relax, you're pitch black, nobody's gonna see it! Anyway, this is going to be fun," I assured them. "We're going into video games!"

The room fell silent as they all stared at me like I'd lost my mind.

"Did you hit your head on the way here?" Hiyori asked, deadpan.

"No, seriously!" I insisted. "We're all going into the last game we played, and it'll be real. Think of it as a live-action simulation!"

"That sounds dangerous," Fukuhara said, crossing his arms. "Which means you're definitely doing it."

I grinned. "Damn right."

With a snap of my fingers, the room dissolved around us, and I felt the familiar pull of my reality manipulation at work. One by one, we were sucked into different worlds, each one tailored to the last game we played.

When I opened my eyes, I was standing in a dimly lit security office, complete with flickering monitors and a creaky old fan. The air was thick with that unsettling, musty smell of something old and forgotten.

"Shit," I muttered, realizing where I was. "Franklin's Pizzeria. Where the fuck did you even get this game?"

Soseki was next to me, looking around with the same deadpan expression he always had. "I dunno, I don't even have it, why am I here?" he asked.

"Because I said so," I replied, grinning as I checked the monitors. The screens showed various parts of a run-down pizzeria, complete with creepy animatronics lurking in the shadows.

"Great," Soseki sighed, already resigned to whatever madness I'd dragged him into.

I flipped through the cameras, keeping an eye on Franklin, a bear animatronic that looked like it had seen better days. "So, we just survive the night. Easy peasy."

"Isn't this the game where you get killed by robots?" Soseki asked, his voice as flat as ever.

"Yep. But not on my watch," I said confidently. "I've got reality on my side, remember?"

As if on cue, Franklin moved on one of the screens, its eyes glowing ominously as it crept through the darkened halls.

"Shit," I muttered again, flipping through the cameras faster. "Okay, new plan. Don't die."

"That was your plan all along," Soseki pointed out, deadpan as ever.

I grinned. "Touché."

As the night wore on, the animatronics got more aggressive, with Franklin, Ricky the Rabbit, and Gary the Goose all trying to find their way into our office. I kept them at bay with the doors and lights, but it was getting more and more intense.

"We're gonna make it," I said, more to myself than Soseki.

"We better," he replied, eyes fixed on the hallway.

As the clock finally struck 6 AM, the power went out, plunging us into darkness. I could feel the tension in the air as we waited, holding our breath.

Then, the lights flickered back on, and the animatronics froze, their eyes dimming.

"We survived," I breathed out, relieved.

Soseki just gave me a look. "Let's not do that again."

"Agreed."

——————————————————

Hiyori found herself in the middle of a warzone, bullets flying, explosions shaking the ground, and soldiers shouting commands. She was decked out in full military gear, a rifle slung over her shoulder, and a steely determination in her eyes.

"Great," she muttered, ducking behind cover as a grenade exploded nearby. "This is just what I needed today."

Hiyori wasn't one to back down from a challenge, though, and she quickly assessed the situation. She was in the middle of an intense battle, surrounded by chaos and destruction.

"Okay, let's do this," she said to herself, charging forward into the fray.

She took out enemies with precision, moving through the battlefield like a seasoned warrior. The sound of gunfire and explosions was deafening, but Hiyori stayed focused, her instincts guiding her through the chaos.

She took down enemy after enemy, her movements fluid and efficient. This wasn't the first time she'd found herself in a fight, and it wouldn't be the last. But there was something exhilarating about being in the heat of battle, where every second counted.

As she moved through the warzone, she couldn't help but think of me(can you believe that, little ol'me?). "Of course he'd do something like this. Couldn't just let me have a peaceful day, could he?"

But despite the annoyance, there was a part of her that was enjoying the challenge. It was a chance to let loose, to use her skills and instincts without holding back.

"Bring it on," she muttered, reloading her rifle and charging into the next wave of enemies.

——————————————————

Fukuhara found himself standing on the edge of a vast, open world, the sun rising over the horizon and casting a golden glow over the landscape. He was armed with a sword and shield, his clothes rugged and fit for adventure.

"Well, this is new," he said, taking in the view.

The world around him was beautiful, with lush forests, towering mountains, and sparkling rivers. It was a far cry from the gritty, urban landscapes he was used to.

But Fukuhara wasn't one to be intimidated by unfamiliar territory. He set off into the wild, eager to see what this world had to offer.

As he explored, he encountered all manner of creatures—some friendly, some not so much. He fought off monsters, solved puzzles, and even tamed a wild horse to ride across the vast plains.

"This is actually kinda fun," he admitted, slashing through a group of goblins with ease.

He found himself getting lost in the adventure, forgetting for a moment that this was all just a game. There was something freeing about being in a world where anything was possible, where the only limit was his own imagination.

But as the sun began to set, he remembered why he was here in the first place.

"Y/N, you bastard," he muttered, shaking his head. "Always dragging us into your messes."

But let's be honest, he couldn't deny that he was having a good time. As he set up camp for the night, he looked up at the stars and smiled.

"Maybe this isn't so bad after all."

——————————————————

Koyasu found himself in a brightly colored classroom, the walls adorned with posters and decorations. A group of girls, each with their own unique personality, sat around the room, chatting and laughing.

He blinked, trying to make sense of his surroundings. "What the hell is this?"

The girls turned to him, their eyes lighting up with excitement.

"Koyasu! You're just in time for the poetry club meeting!" one of them chirped, handing him a piece of paper and a pen.

He stared at the paper, then back at the girls. "Poetry club? You've gotta be kidding me."

But the girls just smiled at him, their eyes shining with enthusiasm. It was almost unnerving how cheerful they were.

One of the girls, a short one with pink hair and a bow, grabbed his arm and dragged him to a desk. "Come on, Koyasu! Write something from your heart!"

"From my heart? What kind of bullshit is this?"

He glanced around the room, trying to make sense of the situation. The atmosphere was way too bright, too cheerful for his taste. It was like being trapped in a pastel-colored nightmare.

The girl next to him, with long, flowing hair and a serene smile, leaned over. "You can write about anything you want. It doesn't have to be serious."

Koyasu sighed, resigned to his fate. "Fine. Whatever." He scribbled something nonsensical on the paper, something about whiskey and heartbreak that he was sure would make no sense in this overly sweet environment.

When he handed it in, the girls gathered around to read it. Their reactions were, well, mixed.

The pink-haired girl giggled. "This is so... different! I love it!"

The serene one nodded thoughtfully. "It's unique. It has a raw, emotional edge."

The others nodded in agreement, their eyes twinkling with admiration.

Koyasu stared at them, baffled. "These girls are insane."

But before he could question it further, the room suddenly shifted. The walls seemed to close in, the colors darkening and twisting in ways that defied logic.

"What the hell?" Koyasu muttered, his sense of unease growing. The girls' expressions changed, their once cheerful faces now warped and unsettling.

The atmosphere turned sinister, the cheerful music slowing down to a distorted, eerie tune.

"Koyasu," one of the girls whispered, her voice echoing in the warped space. "We want you to stay... forever."

"Oh, hell no."

Koyasu jumped to his feet, backing away from the girls who were now creeping toward him with unnatural movements. The room continued to twist and warp around him, like a nightmare he couldn't wake up from.

He turned and bolted for the door, not caring where it led as long as it was out of this hellish club. As he burst through the door, the world around him shattered, and he found himself falling through darkness.

——————————————————

Meanwhile, Soseki and I had managed to survive the first night, but I wasn't about to let the fun end there.

"Soseki," I said, flipping through the security monitors, "what do you think about sticking around for another night?"

He gave me a flat look. "I'd rather stick a knife in my eye."

"Come on, it's just getting good!" I grinned, knowing full well he didn't share my enthusiasm.

But before Soseki could respond, the lights flickered again, and the animatronics started moving. Franklin the bear was already on the move, its glowing eyes fixed on our location.

"Shit, they're coming," I muttered, slamming the door shut just as Ricky the Rabbit appeared at the end of the hallway.

Soseki sighed, resigned to his fate. "This is your fault, you know."

"And isn't it great?" I replied, a manic grin spreading across my face. "This is what real fun looks like!"

"You're a lunatic," Soseki said, deadpan as ever.

But even as he said it, I could see a flicker of something in his eyes—maybe it was the thrill of the challenge, the adrenaline rush that came from facing down death, even if it was in the form of homicidal robots.

As the night dragged on, the tension in the air grew thicker. The animatronics were relentless, trying every trick to get into the office. But I kept them at bay with quick thinking and a bit of reality manipulation, bending the rules of the game just enough to keep us alive.

Finally, the clock struck 6 AM, and the lights flickered back on. The animatronics powered down, their eyes dimming as they returned to their original positions.

"We made it," I said, breathing a sigh of relief.

Soseki just shook his head. "You're insane."

"Maybe," I admitted, "but you can't deny it was fun."

He didn't respond, just stared at me with that same unreadable expression. But I could tell—somewhere deep down, he enjoyed it. Even if he'd never admit it.

——————————————————

Hiyori was deep in the middle of a firefight, her reflexes sharp and her aim deadly. She'd taken down wave after wave of enemies, but the fight was far from over.

"Where the hell are my reinforcements?" she muttered, ducking behind cover as a barrage of bullets whizzed past her.

The battlefield was a chaotic mess, with explosions going off left and right, and enemies coming from all directions. But Hiyori was unfazed—she'd fought in worse situations before, and she wasn't about to let a bunch of virtual soldiers get the better of her.

"Come on, you bastards!" she shouted, charging out from behind cover and taking out a group of enemies with a well-placed grenade.

As she fought her way through the battlefield, she couldn't help but think about me, again(Yay, I live rent-free in her head!). "Of course he would do something like this. Just can't leave well enough alone, can he?"

But despite the annoyance, there was a part of her that was enjoying the challenge. It was a chance to let loose, to use her skills and instincts without holding back.

She cleared the area, the last enemy falling to her expertly placed shot. The battlefield fell silent, and Hiyori took a moment to catch her breath.

"Mission accomplished," she muttered, lowering her rifle.

But before she could relax, the ground shook, and a massive tank rolled into view, its cannon aimed directly at her.

"Oh, for fuck's sake," she groaned, grabbing her rocket launcher and preparing for one last showdown.

——————————————————

Fukuhara was making his way through a dense forest, his sword at the ready and his senses on high alert. The world around him was alive with the sounds of nature, the rustling of leaves, and the distant calls of wild animals.

He'd been exploring for what felt like hours, taking in the sights and sounds of this strange, new world. There was something peaceful about it, something that reminded him of simpler times.

But Fukuhara wasn't one to let his guard down. He knew this world was full of dangers, and he was ready for whatever came his way.

As he made his way through the forest, he stumbled upon a group of goblins huddled around a campfire. They were ugly little creatures, with twisted faces and beady eyes that glinted in the firelight.

Fukuhara grinned, drawing his sword. "Alright, let's dance."

He charged into the fray, his sword flashing as he took down the goblins one by one. They were no match for his skills, and within minutes, the camp was cleared.

As he stood over the defeated goblins, Fukuhara couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. It had been a while since he'd had a good fight, and it felt good to let loose.

But his victory was short-lived. The ground rumbled beneath his feet, and he turned to see a massive creature lumbering toward him. It was a giant, hulking beast with glowing eyes and a menacing snarl.

"Well, shit," Fukuhara muttered, readying his sword for the battle of a lifetime.

——————————————————

Koyasu tumbled through the darkness, the twisted reality of the poetry club fading into the void. He had no idea where he was going, but anywhere was better than that nightmare.

He finally landed in what looked like a normal street, the sky clear and the air fresh. He looked around, disoriented, but relieved to be out of that Hellhole.

"What the fuck was that?" he muttered, dusting himself off.

But before he could get his bearings, a familiar figure appeared in front of him—me, looking as smug as ever.

"Having fun?" I asked, his grin wide and infuriating.

Koyasu glared at me. Ouch, tough crowd. "What the hell was that place?"

"That," I said, "was a little something I like to call 'Poems of a Twisted Heart'. Did you enjoy it?"

"Fuck no," Koyasu snapped. "That place was fucked up."

"Well, it was just a game," I said, shrugging. "Besides, you survived, didn't you?"

"Just barely," Koyasu muttered, running a hand through his hair. "That was some seriously messed up shit."

I just laughed. "It was supposed to be fun! Lighten up!"

"Next time, keep your 'fun' to yourself," Koyasu said, but there was a hint of a smile on his face. Despite the horror of the experience, there was something strangely exhilarating about it. Maybe it was the thrill of surviving, or maybe it was just the relief of being out of there.

"Alright, alright," I said, still grinning. "I'll save the horror for Halloween."