CyberWorld

Chapter Six: Actuation

Suki sighed. "Cyber Gen kids."

"Right now, he's got no real reason to stay," Han-woo said. "He needs people he can bond with."

"Yoona shall suffice."

"No," Han-woo stood and strode over to Suki, her head only slightly higher than his shoulders. "We'll all need to chip in."

"Yes!" Aiko said, pointing a finger at him with her others wrapped around the glass, spilling droplets onto the grey concrete floor. "My point exactly."

Suki sighed. This was far from the first time her words fell on deaf ears in the presence of her two well-meaning, but often clueless friends.

"So the kid's clueless with a sword," Han-woo said. "Do we switch him to guns?"

Deep in thought, Suki put her hand to her chin. Even Aiko knew when she truly needed to concentrate—this was one of those times.

"For now," Suki said. "I need you to keep a close eye on him from now on, especially with Operation Thirstquencher coming up. "

"Mhm. And I should also try to break him out of his shell?"

Suki raised an eyebrow. She hadn't thought about it like that. "That'd be preferable. It's a big ask, but you might have to become his bodyguard, in a sense. If Chronocease ends up in the Apostles' hands..."

"Understood. I'll stay close."

Han-woo trod out of the break room, the automated door sliding shut behind him as he walked through its metal frame.

"Do you wish Adrian was here?"

Suki grimaced. "You don't get anyway comparing two people like that. Especially if they're related."

"I know," Aiko's voice dropped to a whisper as placed her hand on Suki's shoulder. "You'd be starting a war—no going back after the first attack. Are you willing to make that choice?"

Suki looked back at her grimly and sat where Han-woo had been moments ago, clasping her hands together and exhaling through her nose. Then, she drove her fist onto the table's surface.

...

It didn't make sense. Yoona had only known Michael for a while, yet his words cut deeper than any blade would. No, you're defending her. And for what, exactly? To become friends with your idols? His words echoed in her head.

No, she wasn't defending them. They were just doing their job! From what she'd seen, Aiko and Suki had followed the Player Protection Act to a tee.

What does he know about a job, anyway? He was probably living the life riding off his dad's coattails. A man she respected, by the way.

But he couldn't be the only reason why she was so on edge, right?

Hmph. Nothing she couldn't fix with reading a little Paul Ackman. Thank goodness she remembered to go back to her store to pick up her books. Sure, she could have converted it all to holotexts or stored them in her inventory, but she preferred using the small shelves tucked away behind the counter. It was as tactile as it got, in a virtual space like CyberWorld's.

Besides, it was probably better to keep them in-game.

Now she lay in her quarters reading her copy of Tried and True and trying to immerse herself in the story Ackman had built.

They're celebrities, Yoona. When this is all over, you'll go back to being a nameless intern.

Keep calm, Yoona said to herself, her fingers creasing the book's casing. She could feel herself about to snap, the loose threads of her sanity pulling gaunt against her sanity. Not with the book in your hands.

They won't care about you anymore.

Yoona slammed the hardcover shut with a thud, sweeping her arm overhead in an arc motion fully prepared to toss it across the room.

At the last moment, her other hand grabbed her wrist, and her fingers tightened across the book's spine, grinding her thoughts of frenzy to a halt. She grunted and dropped the book at her side, falling back onto the bed flat on her back. Then, she turned on her side and clutched her bolster against her chest, the top end grazing her chin. Perhaps it would relieve the tugging in her chest the harder she squeezed.

Happy thoughts, She thought.

Well, she hadn't had to deal with her parents in a while. And period cramps won't a thing in the simulation, thank goodness. Even though dehydration after firearm training was a total pain, it still turned out to be less strenuous than managing a business, funnily enough.

She didn't necessarily agree with Michael. His phrasing and tone wasn't helping his case either.

But she was afraid he might be right.