My footsteps echoed on the cold floor of Tokyo Airport. The crowd was in a hurry, suitcases rolling in different directions, announcements blending into a monotonous background. I could barely keep up with my own breath as I approached the exit.
My thoughts were still with the brother I had just seen off. There was a strange emptiness inside, as if a part of my own peace had left the city with him.
It was at that moment that the awkward happened: the heel of the shoe slipped on the smooth tile. The whole body slid forward, the heart plummeted down, and the world turned upside down for a fraction of a second.
—Be careful!
But my shameful fall didn't happen, as strong arms wrapped around my shoulders. A deep voice sounded right next to my ear.
—Ah!
I looked up and met a bright green gaze. A tall man with features that seemed to have come straight out of a book illustration for some kind of prince romance novel.
Everything seemed unreal, the airport noise seemed to disappear for a moment.
He bent down, picked up my sunglasses, which had fallen out of my hands, and, holding them out, added with a slight smile:
— Try not to fall anymore.
And he left. Just like that, disappearing into the crowd as if he didn't exist at all.
"What the hell was that about?"
I stood there, still feeling the warmth of his hands on my shoulders. I adjusted my glasses and walked out.
Outside, a tinted car was waiting for me. As I got in, I thought for the first time in a long time:
"What if I wrote a novel about this? About a chance encounter that could have changed everything?"
But this thought disappeared as quickly as it appeared, and I had to write down how to forget an interesting dream as soon as I woke up! The phone in my pocket rang, and the screen showed:
[Akaha Kuefi - Editor]
—Hello?
—Hi. We have some revisions for the book. Do you want to meet at a cafe? We can discuss it over coffee.
—Of course...
I said quietly, looking out the window at the city passing by. And only somewhere deep inside still tickled strange shudder from the look of the stranger with green eyes.
The cafe where we agreed to meet was quiet and cozy. The large windows let in a soft light, and the smell of freshly roasted coffee mingled with the aroma of pastries. Akaha was already sitting at a table against the wall, marking something on her papers with a bright pen.
—You're late, but I'll forgive you this time. You said on the phone that you'd seen your brother off at the airport, right?
—Yeah.
I nodded, taking off my coat and sitting down opposite her, ordering my favorite lemon tea and pastries, and the conversation smoothly turned to work.
Akaha flipped through the documents, clarifying minor details and making notes.
—So... if we keep going according to plan, the fourth volume will be out in six months. Can you imagine? Your book is on the shelves of major stores. It's serious.
—It sounds unreal. I still can't believe this is happening to me.
I smiled a little, and my mouth yawned on its own in a sleepy manner. Akaha's curiosity was piqued, and she narrowed her eyes.
—What did you do yesterday?Usually, after such conversations, you sit down to write or go to the library.
—Um... Not really.
Damn, now she's starting to suspect that strange things are happening in my life, so I took a teaspoon and dipped it into my cup of tea, swirling it around.
—Um... Not really.
—Not really? Come on, spill the beans.
There's nothing I can do about it; she can sense when I'm hiding something or lying. I had to tell her the truth without deceiving Akaha herself.
—Okay, I... I started playing a game yesterday.
—What? You? A game? You always said it was a waste of time.
—I do. But still… I tried it. It's called Log Apofis Horizons.
Akaha raised her eyebrows in surprise when I became embarrassed, my editor's face now showing a lively curiosity like a cat catching a sunbeam.
—Log Apofis, huh... Hmm. I never thought you'd end up there. And how did you like it?
— I don't know... It's strange. At first, I thought it was pointless. But then... I couldn't stop.
I looked out the window, where people were passing by with umbrellas, waiting for the rain to start. There was a slight tremor in my voice, a mix of doubt and self-acceptance.
My editor smiled a little wider, and it was the first time I'd seen her like that.
—It sounds like the beginning of something interesting. Maybe even more interesting than the usual edits.
Akaha put her pen down on the papers and looked at me seriously, squinting her eyes and leaning back in her chair.
—You know, I'm surprised. I was sure that someone who writes books like you would keep writing day and night. Even after the company insisted on taking a year off. But instead, you're playing VR.
—I thought you'd judge me.
—And why wouldn't I? What's the point of spending hours on something that doesn't produce results? If it had speed, excitement, and real adrenaline, maybe I could understand it. But... "kill a monster, get a reward"? It's just a mechanic, nothing more.
I sighed without looking up at my editor, she was really playing verbal chess with me and I was losing my game. Looking at her calmly I replied:
— It all depends on how you look at games. Yes, there are primitive ones, where you just click the buttons until you get bored. But there are others. Such as Log Apofis. It's not that simple there, it's complex, multi-layered... and when you play it, you feel that every step has a price.
—Are you serious? You mean there's a point there?
—I mean sometimes the point doesn't come out right away.
Akaha tapped her fingernail on her coffee mug. Her eyes went distant for a moment, as if she was trying to imagine what I was talking about. Then she chuckled and crossed her arms.
—Okay, so let's say that. But you know what? If you're going to 'understand games,' maybe you should try a different genre. Something with real speed and excitement. Like... racing.
—Racing?
—Yes. Imagine not swords and magic, but the roar of an engine and the track under the wheels. You don't need to be a hero to feel alive.
I chuckled, but my eyes flashed with interest, and Akaha noticed it, and with a sly smile, she said something that changed their work conversation into a whole challenge.
—Do you want to understand why millions of people get high from games? Then try the genre where a mistake on a turn decides everything.
—Listen, it's cool, no doubt about it. But you haven't tried real adrenaline yet. Do you want to feel the speed like you're going 200 kilometers per hour?
—What? Are you playing? I thought you were just a text editor and a deadline grumbler.
—An editor is also a human. And you know, it's not all about words and pages. Sometimes you need to... break free.
—So you're suggesting I... race?
I raised an eyebrow, unable to believe that my strict editor from Scaipia Book Group was talking about VR games. Akaha leaned closer to me and you could see a spark in her eyes.
— Not just racing, Adrenaline Rush VR. You put on the helmet and believe me, you'll forget where reality and the game are.
I was silent for a second, thinking about what I had heard. I honestly never imagined Akaha doing something like this. This woman always seemed cold, collected, and even too serious. And now... it's like she's a different person.
—Okay. Just tell me where to get this CD.
—Now that's what I'm talking about!
We both jumped up from our seats and ran in an unknown direction, leaving a bill on the table. I didn't want to run away without paying!
The streets of Tokyo were illuminated by signs and advertising holograms. The sky, filled with city lights and clouds, seemed to match the mood.
As I walked alongside Akaha, she enthusiastically spoke about VR games, as if she were not an editor but a schoolgirl who had just gained access to a game room for the first time.
Ten minutes later, we stopped in front of a game store window. The glass was lit up with a variety of covers, bright battle art, fantasy worlds, but the eye immediately attracted a disc with a metal logo and a track stretching into the distance.
— Here it is! Adrenaline Rush VR.
Akaha tapped her finger on the window, I saw how she looked at the box and felt a strange excitement. Mixed curiosity and a slight fear.
— Do you seriously think I can handle it?
Akaha smiled, and a challenge flashed in her eyes.
—You weren't afraid to play games. Don't be afraid of this one either.
—Deal.
Upon entering the store, we were greeted by the smell of plastic, soft light and the ringing of a bell above the door.
The cashier looked up, bored, as the two girls approached the counter. Akaha confidently took the disc, handed it to the seller, and soon a brand-new box with the game's logo appeared in my hands.
— I'm waiting for you online tonight. Today you will find out what real extreme is. Log Apofis is child's play in comparison.
She winked and walked towards the subway station. I stood there, clutching the disc in my hands. There was a fluttering in my chest, a sense of anticipation, as if this evening would be more than just a game.