Level 04: AFK
Offline:\Sinagtala Relocation Site\Sinagtala Tenements>
Four-fifteen in the morning, Ren woke up early. He may be groggy due to playing NOAH late at night, but the gladness NOAH delivered to him last night is still intact. As he get up from his bed, he thought to himself,
"Hatsya, that blue-hooded guy who banned the hacker right in front of us... I hope I can defend that game like him someday..."
He went to the dining area, and saw his mother preparing a quick and simple breakfast, consisted of salted bread, and mugs of coffee for two. They started eating their breakfast, and began chatting,
“Ren, I just watched the breaking news last night, it’s about the game called NOAH--”
“What about it, ma?” Ren asked.
“I’ve been hearing about that around the neighborhood, while you and Butchoy are away, they’re wild about it, like it’s a celebrity!”
“Mom, it’s an online game, like the one depicted on Metanoia movie”
“Ah okay, I’m sure you, and Butchoy tried that game, after it came out eh?” Ren’s mom asked, with her sights on her only son’s eyes.
“Yes mom, it is good... I get to meet people from other countries actually” Ren chuckled, and scratched his head.
“I hope you don’t get too engrossed on the that game, like your BD-Strike and DotA days!” Ren’s mom reminded.
“Ummmm... mom, that game isn’t as too frantic as those games I play” Ren admittedly rebutted.
“Still Ren, never forget that you have school, and your dawn job”
Ren and his mom glanced at their simple wall clock, and she reminded,
“Oh, you gotta go to Manang Abe now!”
Ren hurriedly went upstairs and get dressed casually for his dawn work...
Meanwhile, at the Kanlaon Mansion...
Offline:\Estoril Park\Kanlaon Family Mansion>
Henry, donning only an oversized shirt, and dandelion yellow fitted cotton short shorts, woke up. He went to his computer and logged into NOAH. The male godly operatic voice spoke to him,
“Hatsya, would you like to come to my house?”
“Eh? Oh c’mon, may I talk to you tonight instead?” Henry rejected.
“All right, sorry for bothering you Hatsya. I have pressing matters to discuss to you”
“Mind texting it to me?”
“Wait a minute, I am not that fully advanced to pull off such feat!” the operatic voice laughed.
After talking to the operatic voice, Henry checked his emails, and even his blogs for comments. Moments after, Aling Marisa, the curly-haired mahogany-skinned maid called,
“Sir Henry, your breakfast will be ready in few minutes!”
“Okay, Aling Marisa!” Henry affirmed, as he logged off from his computer.
Henry immediately went to his bathroom, preparing for school. Meanwhile, at Iris’ room...
Iris talked to herself while taking shower,
“Hmmm... I don’t know what drove me to play as an enforcer. I honestly don’t play games, but I kinda find it appealing. Damn, I ain’t that kind of girl!”
Fifteen minutes after, Iris wore her school uniform, and went downstairs...
In their living room, Marietta saw Iris and asked,
“Say, how did you do on your dad’s work?”
“Well honestly, I don’t really play games, but for some reason, I find his game something enjoyable for me”
“How? In spite the fact that the majority of his game is about slaying skyscraper-sized animal-themed battleships in a bright humongous mushroom field?”
“Well mom, not only that but I know you won’t be letting me wear Daisy Dukes, but at least in dad’s game, it virtually let me wear one” Iris admitted.
“That’s interesting to know at least, Iris... Sometimes, you really have to get along with your dad, it’s a part of his business on why we are all on this status, princess” Marietta replied to her daughter.
After their brief conversation, Iris went to the dining area for breakfast. Henry and his brothers came down in their school uniforms as well. The Kanlaon’s boys wore short-sleeved white polo shirt underneath their dandelion yellow three pocket vests, and slacks. While watching TV, Marietta asked Henry,
“How’s your first day with your father’s world, Henry?”
“Well... It’s fun to be a game master, mom!”
“I hope you don’t forget to go outside, having friends for real, okay?” Marietta chuckled.
“Yes mom” Henry humbly replied.
Concurrently, at Hatsumi’s home...
Offline:\Estoril Park\Kalantiao Residence>
A short-haired girl, wearing her black skull-printed nightshirt, woke up smiling. She was glad that her livestream performance spiced up by unexpected online encounters last night. The girl went to the bathroom to do her wake-up habits. Moments after, her mother knocked at her door and called,
“Hatsumi-chan, we’ll have tamago gohan for breakfast!”
“For a moment, mom!” Hatsumi answered back, while dressing up for school.
Five minutes after, Hatsumi finally came out from her room, wearing her school uniform. Her school uniform consisted of a short-sleeved white school blouse underneath her dandelion yellow school three-pocket vest, and navy blue pleated long skirt. She came down quickly, and followed by her Japanese mother, and her older brother wearing blue-green scrubs. Hatsumi’s older brother, Kenji, asked amusingly,
“Sis, seems that you’re really serious in becoming an online celebrity too eh, like PewdiPie?”
“Yup, and I didn’t know that someone from their company took part on my NOAH streaming last night!” Hatsumi answered.
“Really? Sis, watch out when you go back to the game, and that guy you’ve been swooning right now, could be your future boyfriend!” Kenji teased.
Hatsumi’s mother blurted out,
“Ehem! Hatsumi, I hope you’re not planning to elope with that guy if ever you guys meet offline!”
“Mom, I know that... And in fact, I have other cosplayers trying to court me, only they’ll receive a big N-O, right on their face” Hatsumi rebutted.
The family were at their dining area, ready to eat their breakfast. Their breakfast is a tamago gohan, or simply put: egg sauce over rice. Tamago gohan is a popular Japanese breakfast food made of steamed rice, and raw egg.
An hour after...
Offline:\Estoril Park\St. Augustine College>
Henry, Iris, and Edgar, their flippant-haired younger brother, stopped at the first floor of the Higher Basic Education building. Iris reminded her brothers,
“Henry, Edgar, never tell anyone that you guys are game masters, okay? Or else, y’know, they’ll keep bugging us!”
The two nodded, and then, they went to their respective classrooms. Though, Edgar went to LBE Building, since he’s a 5th grader, whereas Iris is a senior HBED student, and Henry is a freshman HBED student.
Henry went to room 202, and sat in front row of the classroom. While waiting for the class to start, he brought out his yellow yarn-bound writing notebook, to write a short story. While writing, his fellow male classmates stood outside their classroom, seemingly waiting for the class’ prominent personality.
At the stairway, Hatsumi is accompanied by her queer best friend. Her epicene best friend spoke,
“Hatsumi-chan, you tell me, you like that fancy fencer you met in the game?”
“Aaaah... nope, b-but I find him attractive, Romeo!” Hatsumi squealed.
“Oh c’mon, you’re falling in love to a nerdy avatar, girl! Wake up!” Romeo laughed.
The two cosplaying friends were ushered by the rest of her classmates to their classroom. Many of the boys began taking pictures of their famous cosplaying schoolmate, and Hatsumi just winked at them. Their comely cosplaying classfellows sat beside Henry, and Romeo talked to Henry,
“Henry, what are you writing?”
Henry smiled at Romeo, and simply chuckled,
“A story about a clowder of cats, on their search for their master”
“You are writing stories about cats now?” Romeo asked.
“Yeah, it’s a decent exercise to expand your imaginative realm”
While Henry’s talking to Romeo, Hatsumi playfully flipped Henry’s right earlobe. Far behind them, some of their classmates gossiped,
“Damn, our class cosplaying princess is with that weird guy in front”
“Still, she looks cute nonethenless, regardless of people she’s with”
Hatsumi whispered at Henry,
“Hatsya, I like you”
Henry got startled at her whisper, and Hatsumi took a quick shot of his reaction with her phone camera. Henry finally entertained Hatsumi,
“Y’know Henry, I like you, and your avatar” Hatsumi confessed.
“Yeah, you liked me, as your kid-looking knight in shining armor” Henry hesitantly blurted out to Hatsumi.
“Oh c’mon Hatsya!”
“D-don’t call me by t-that name in class! I-it’s awkward and girly-sounding for me!” Henry exclaimed.
Meanwhile at Ren’s school...
Offline:\Sinagtala Relocation Site\Sinagtala Highschool>
In classroom 205, Ren sat at the third row, close to the windows. He took one of his spare notebooks and drew his avatar at the back page of his notebook. While sketching, Ren thought to himself,
“How will I raise you up, Rennin? So far, so good out there... Though you are not fitting to be wielding a dagger, I want you to carry a pair of sticks”
Behind him, he heard some of his classmates discussing their first days in NOAH,
“Hey Rico! NOAH’s fun as Dragon Nest, that it felt like we’re no longer just watching our characters pull off flashy moves!” compared by the shaggy-haired schoolfellow.
“Really? Well, I better stop playing LoL and DotA then, if that’s the case!” the bowl cut-haired classmate replied.
“Yeah dude, DotA’s getting stale lately. Almost every internet cafe here in Sinagtala’s playing NOAH!” answered by the frumpy-haired schoolmate.
Unexpectedly, the scrawny shaggy-haired boy sat beside Ren. The face of Neruto44’s player is visually-tainted bruises on his cheeks. Neruto44’s player glanced at his drawing and spoke to himself,
“Hey, I think I’ve seen him somewhere--”
“Yeah, that’s my avatar. Who are you in the game last night?” Ren asked the bruised classmate.
“I am the owner of that damned Neruto44, Pablo! Remember my name, weakling!” Neruto44’s owner cussed, with his right finger poked at Ren’s forehead, and spoke further,
“You are all really lucky at that time, because you have that nerd in your party!”
“You deserve it, Pablo! The game just went on, and you exploited it right away!” Ren rebutted.
“Damn you! Since you just befriended a game master, you pricks mobbed me to death permanently, you weaklings!” Pablo threatened Ren, and moved to the farther edge of the classroom.
After being threatened by Pablo, another schoolmate sat beside Ren. This time, he has tan skin tone, gelled spiky black hair, and wearing a pair of round prescription glasses. He placed his plastic case filled with his anime drawings, and glanced at Ren’s drawing.
“Hey, isn’t that Rennin?” the spiky-haired glasses boy asked.
Ren nodded, and immediately asked his classmate’s name, and then the new seatmate introduced himself,
“I’m Roy Aguila, and you are?”
“Ren. Ren Hernandez and I bet you are Roy-kun from the first day!” Ren remarked back.
Roy nodded gladly, and he finally sat beside him throughout the class.
Two hours after, and it’s recess time...
Offline:\Estoril Park\St. Augustine College>
Romeo, Hatsumi, and Henry were in one table in the cafeteria, talking about their first day in NOAH,
“Hey Henry, can you dress up like a rich girly boy tonight in the game?” Hatsumi requested.
“W-why, Hatsumi?” Henry stammeringly asked.
“I need you for my first game music video out of NOAH, Henry” Hatsumi simply answered.
Hotaru butted into their conversation,
“She has another friend who wanted to promote her own song, and she’ll use NOAH as her MTV”
“Yeah Henry, I have a friend who wrote a song about rebuilding hope, and you’ll be playing as the dying prince, and Hatsumi will be the headstrong knight, willing to revive you” Hatsumi added.
“Hmmm... that’s interesting, in exchange of severe EXP loss? That won’t be good” Henry tried to turn down her wish.
“Oh yeah, dang... I’m sure you’ll be able to--” Hatsumi suggested, only to be interrupted by Henry,
“Nope, I will not do that. That’ll be unfair to the rest of the players. Let’s just do our best to do the video, and hope that Romeo and our friends will back us up, after our sacrifices for the MTV, okay?”
Hatsumi conceded, and then they finished their snacks.
Meanwhile on Ren’s school...
Offline:\Sinagtala Relocation Site\Sinagtala Highschool>
Ren, and Roy were eating simple bacon sandwiches outside the classroom. While eating, Roy began to talk,
“Ren, I often see you in the morning, peddling bread. Why do you do it?”
“Well, it’s my way of earning some money for my family, yet keeping small amounts for myself for playing games” Ren admittedly answered.
“I bet your mom knows it already, Ren”
“She did, and she still hoped that I’ll really reduce gaming time anytime soon. However, I ain’t a casual gamer; I’m looking for any game that might net me money by tournaments”
“Well, I think if we go far enough, how about we sell epic, heavily-enhanced goods to other players in real money then?” Roy proposed, even though it is way off from his league.
Several school hours passed, and both parties reached dismissal time...
Offline:\Estoril Park\St. Augustine College>
Romeo, Hatsumi, and the Kanlaons met at the first floor lobby of their school, exchanging short goodbyes, and Iris didn’t expect that Henry will be close to certain people.
“You are sexy during the launch of the game, Iris!” Hatsumi praised Henry’s older sister.
“Well honestly, I didn’t intend taking part on my father’s game launch” Iris is disappointed, then she continued,
“Eventually, I find my dad’s project worth trying. His game at least lets us wear things that we can’t really afford to wear in real life, though I am not really used to playing his game as an online high-speed hack and slash...”
Hatsumi and Romeo were amazed that a non-gamer like Iris was able to welcome her father’s project.
“Oh, I gotta go guys!” Romeo bid farewell to his classmates and friends, as he headed out first.
Hatsumi briefly hugged Henry, and whispered,
“See you online, Henry”
“I will be there, sharky” Henry softly replied back.
Henry’s siblings were speechless as they saw Hatsumi and Henry hugged together.
“No really Henry, you do like her eh?” Iris thought to herself.
“This is both better and worse than PBB teens!” Edgar memetically thought.
After their hugging, Hatsumi and the Kanlaons parted ways...
Offline:\Sinagtala Relocation Site>
Ren and Roy left the school together, and treaded the same way home. As they head home, they talk about anything till sundown, until Ren brought something up,
“I’d like to upgrade my computer, and I think my bread-peddling dawn job won’t make it well”
“Why don’t you just play at Mang Mario’s internet cafe then?”
“Nah, as much as I’d like to but, I’d be playing it at my own home”
“Then how about... you play someone else’s avatars, and get paid per hour?” Roy brought up a decent suggestion.
“Hmmm... I’ll consider that, but that’s gonna kill our studies if took that seriously, Roy” Ren hesitantly replied, then Roy suddenly talked about Pablo,
“That guy with bruises is the player of Neruto44 last night, right?”
“Yeah, and he’s dead serious to diss us as weaklings” Ren answered.
“After all, Ren. Pablo’s wrong in the first place. If he goes back to you, and bully you, I’ll not hesitate to whack him off!” Roy consoled Ren
Moments after, they reached their tenement, and both parted ways to their respective homes...
Offline:\Estoril Park\Kanlaon Family Mansion>
Henry was doing his English assignment in his notebook. While writing answers, he began thinking of playing NOAH to meet Hatsumi online but he continued his assignment. Henry isn’t a type of a gamer that will let himself drop grades to 85 and below in favor to his avatar.
Ten minutes after, Henry was able to finish his English assignment, and tried logging into NOAH.
Online:\Brygul Planet\Walled Metropolis “Kanpeki Sekai”>
The walled metropolis named Kanpeki Sekai, or Perfect World in Japanese language, is built quickly while many of the players are still in the Forest of Rocks. The walled metropolis consisted of five hundred feet tall skyscrapers built to resemble like canopy trees. Each Canopy skyscraper is interconnected to their neighboring Canopy skyscrapers for ease of access for all living entities in the city. Some of the Canopies have parks and resorts, others have military installations, and a handful of the branches have statues of different heroes of NOAH displayed.
Hatsya, donning white short-sleeved fitted frilly polo shirt, blue necktie, navy blue cotton mid-length shorts with suspenders clung onto his shoulders, and shin-high leather boots, waited for Hatsumi to arrive in Canopy 5’s Nippon Skypark. Hatsumi spawned right beside Hatsya, wearing only black mid-length cycling shorts, and deep blue short kimono with a hammerhead shark print on her back.
“Wait a minute... Why are we both wearing shorts?” Hatsya curiously asked.
“We’re gonna free-run in this safe zone!” Hatsumi gladly exclaimed.
“So... we’re like dating, and free-running at the same time? Many came here to slay battleship-sized creatures, gear up, and slay each other for fun. This is kinda rare for me, and for this game to welcome other types of play in this world” Hatsya laughed.
“Ya, Hatsya! I’m tired of fighting creatures. I wanna run around with you”
“Okay, you asked for it!”
The two started sprinting towards the connecting branch back to Canopy skyscraper. They ended up in the 46th floor of the building, dashing through other avatars, and even called the attention of security NPCs throughout the building. Unexpectedly, the whole building’s audio system began playing ‘Levitate’ by the band Hadouken, which even amplified their run!
“See? It’s fun, Hatsya!” Hatsumi taunted, as they both run their way down to the first floor.
The two leaped high, avoiding oncoming security personnel, then they landed behind them. Five more different avatars, led by a cartoonish avatar seemingly imitating Team Fortress 2’s scout, joined free-running too, by trampling the security personnel, chasing the two starters.
Offline:\Estoril Park\Kanlaon Family Mansion>
At the NOAH Core, Orion is alarmed by his employees by showing Hatsumi and Hatsya causing havoc in their newly-built Kanpeki Sekai safe zone.
“Boss, isn’t that your son’s avatar? His girlfriend seemed to start a new type of game!” asked by Gregorio, the stubby co-developer, who now took a game master role.
“Yes. Seems chaotic at first, but good thing that he and Hatsumi were able to start something new for our game”
“I think we better summon a group of parkouring zombies, and make everyone run, and see if their new type of play will work! This should boost our game’s popularity at this rate, guys!” Orion ordered his game masters.
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