The late afternoon sun cast long shadows through the windows of Shiba Seki Ramen as I untied my apron and folded it carefully over the counter. The lunch rush had ended hours ago, leaving only the lingering warmth of the kitchen and the familiar scent of broth that never quite left my hair.
"Good work today, Aria."
Serika appeared beside me, already changed out of her work uniform and back into her school clothes. Her expression carried that satisfied tiredness that came after a busy shift.
"You too."
I replied while smoothing down my skirt. My fingers found the edge of my uniform jacket and adjusted it without thinking a habit born from countless mornings of getting dressed in precision.
"Everyone should be here soon."
She glanced toward the door, then back at me with a small smile.
"Nonomi texted that they're on their way."
The bell above the entrance chimed as if summoned by her words. Hoshino stepped through first, moving with that characteristic unhurried grace, her eyes already half lidded as though the walk here had been exhausting. Shiroko followed close behind, her gaze sweeping the restaurant before settling on me.
"Nyaa... Smells good..."
Hoshino stretched her arms above her head, halo glowing softly in the dimming light.
Ayane came next, her tablet tucked under one arm as she surveyed the interior with obvious approval.
"Oh, this place is actually really nice. I can see why you two work here."
Nonomi giggled as she slipped past Ayane, already making her way toward one of the larger tables near the window.
Sensei entered last, looking slightly overwhelmed by the energy preceding him. His tie was loose, and his jacket looked like it had been through more than just a day of teaching. When his eyes met mine, I offered a small nod which he returned with a tired but genuine smile.
We settled around the table, the wooden surface worn smooth by years of use. I took the seat beside Shiroko while Serika moved to my other side. Hoshino claimed the corner spot where she could lean against the wall, and Sensei ended up between Ayane and Nonomi who immediately started pointing out items on the menu.
The owner with kind eyes and quick hands, appeared with menus and water.
"Aria, Serika. You brought friends today?"
"Yes."
I answered simply, feeling the faint warmth in my chest that came from seeing two parts of my life overlap like this.
"They wanted to try the entire menu."
"Then I'll make sure it's extra good."
He said before departing, leaving us with the menus though Serika and I didn't need them.
"What do you usually get?"
Shiroko asked me, her voice quiet enough that only I could hear over the others' conversation.
"The miso ramen. Sometimes the gyoza."
I watched as she scanned the menu, her expression unchanging but her finger pausing on the same items I had mentioned.
"I'll have that then."
Across the table, Ayane was already calculating something on her tablet.
"If we split three orders of gyoza and everyone gets a different ramen, we can all try a bit of everything. That's the most efficient way to experience the full menu."
"That sounds wonderful."
Nonomi clapped her hands together.
"I want to try the spicy miso."
"Nyaa... I'll just have the regular tonkotsu... Extra soft noodles..."
Hoshino murmured without lifting her head from where it rested against the wall.
Sensei looked between all of us, that same slightly bewildered expression from earlier still present.
"I'll just have whatever you all recommend."
"The tonkotsu then."
Serika decided for him with the confidence of someone who had served hundreds of bowls.
Ever since the kidnapping incident, Serika changed.
She no longer glares at sensei and even treats him differently now compared to their first interaction
"It's what most first timers get, and it's really good here."
When the food arrived, steam rising from each bowl in delicate wisps, conversation naturally quieted. There was something almost sacred about the first bite, the way the broth coated your tongue with warmth that spread all the way down to your stomach.
I lifted my chopsticks and took a careful portion of noodles, blowing on them once before eating. Beside me, Shiroko did the same, her movements measured and precise. The taste was familiar, comforting in the way that only repeated experience could provide.
"This is really good."
Ayane spoke around a mouthful of noodles, momentarily forgetting her usual composure.
"Serika wasn't exaggerating."
"Told you."
Serika grinned, already halfway through her own bowl.
Nonomi made a small sound of delight as she tried the gyoza, her cheeks flushing slightly from the heat.
"Aria, you should try this. The filling is perfect."
I accepted one from the communal plate and bit into it. The pork and cabbage mixture was well seasoned, the wrapper crisp on one side and tender on the other. I nodded my approval which seemed to please Nonomi immensely.
"Nyaa..."
Hoshino had somehow already finished half her bowl despite appearing to be half asleep. Her chopsticks moved with surprising efficiency for someone who looked so relaxed.
Sensei ate more slowly, pausing between bites as if trying to commit the taste to memory. When he caught me watching, he offered another one of those tired smiles.
"Thank you for the recommendation. This is exactly what I needed after today."
"The battle was tough."
"Yeah. Those unregretful suckers..."
Serika said a little annoyed. Thinking back to the group called problem solver 68 that attacked us earlier and the way my ammunition had run low. My fingers flexed unconsciously, remembering the weight of my pistols.
"But we won."
"We did."
Shiroko added quietly from my left.
"Because of Sensei's directions."
"And because you all fought well."
He countered, setting down his chopsticks for a moment.
"I just helped coordinate. You're the ones who actually did everything."
Ayane looked up from her tablet where she had been taking notes, possibly reviewing something from the battle.
"Coordination is important though. We were scattered before you arrived. Now we actually work as a unit."
"A foreclosure task force unit."
Serika laughed softly.
"Still can't believe that's our official name."
"It's nyaa bad though..."
Hoshino mumbled.
"Kind of fits us..."
The conversation drifted after that, flowing between topics as naturally as the steam rose from our bowls. Nonomi asked about my first day working at the restaurant. Ayane wanted to know the exact recipe for the broth until Serika reminded her that it was probably a secret. Shiroko simply ate in comfortable silence, occasionally glancing my way as if to confirm I was still there.
When my bowl was nearly empty, I found myself looking around the table at each of them. Hoshino with her perpetual sleepiness. Serika's bright energy. Ayane's calculating mind. Nonomi's gentle warmth. Shiroko's quiet presence. And Sensei, who somehow fit into all of this despite being so different from us.
This was what I had wanted to protect when those students along with the mercenary they hired advanced on our school. Not just the building or the name, but these moments. The ability to sit together after work and share a meal. To laugh about nothing important and plan for tomorrow like tomorrow was guaranteed.
My headache from this morning had long since faded, leaving behind only this clarity.
"Thank you."
I said suddenly, quietly enough that I wasn't sure anyone would hear.
But Shiroko turned toward me, tilted her head slightly in question.
"For coming today."
I clarified, feeling the faint warmth in my chest grow stronger.
"For being here."
Shiroko's expression softened in that almost imperceptible way it sometimes did. She reached over and briefly touched my hand where it rested on the table.
"We're always here."
"Nyaa... That's right..."
Hoshino agreed without opening her eyes.
Serika bumped my shoulder gently with hers.
"You're stuck with us now."
"As if you'd want to be anywhere else."
Ayane added with a small smirk.
Nonomi simply smiled that warm, knowing smile of hers.
And Sensei, who had been watching this exchange with quiet attention, nodded once as if confirming something to himself.
The owner returned to clear some of our empty bowls, his expression pleased at seeing them so thoroughly cleaned.
"I'll bring out some almond tofu for dessert. On the house, since you brought such a lively group, Aria."
"Thank you."
I replied, feeling grateful for his kindness.
As we waited for dessert, the conversation continued in its easy, meandering way. Outside, the sun had fully set, leaving Kivotos bathed in the artificial glow of streetlights and neon signs. But inside Shiba Seki Ramen, surrounded by my friends and the lingering warmth of a good meal, everything felt exactly as it should be.
My whale pajamas were waiting for me back home. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new debts to worry about, new threats to face. But right now, in this moment, I had this.
And I would protect it with everything I had.
The screen flickered to life, its pale glow washing over my face as I settled into the familiar position. Another simulation. Another life to live through someone else's eyes, someone else's choices.
This time the parameters felt different somehow. The usual comfort of distance, of knowing this was just data and memory, seemed thinner than before.
Year 1
A new baby is born. It was a male. His name is Tony.
I watched the text appear, feeling that strange disconnect that always came at the start. A boy this time. The name settled into my consciousness like a weight I hadn't asked to carry.
Year 2
Your parents bought you toys to play. You decided to grab the:
A. Book
B. Toy blocks
C. Computer parts
The choices hovered before me and my hand moved almost on instinct. Not the gun this time. Something about the computer parts called to me, promising puzzles and systems that could be understood through logic rather than force.
I selected C.
Year 3
Thanks to your nonstop playing with the computer parts, you gained Technology affinity.
Your parents gave you food to eat.
The food is scrambled eggs with bacon, arranged to look like a smiling face on the plate.
Your reaction to the food is:
A. Smile
B. Ignore it
C. Ask for something else
I remembered my confusion at the apple bunnies. Tony felt different, more connected somehow. I chose A, letting him appreciate the small kindness.
Year 4
Due to your positive emotional responses, you received Emotional intelligence. This ensures better understanding of social cues and improved relationships with others.
Your parents brought you to the library.
You found rows and rows of books about computers and technology.
Your parents had fun teaching you basic reading.
You had fun.
Year 5
Your parents finally enrolled you into school.
How exciting!
Your classmate shows you his new game console.
You're amazed by how the graphics move across the screen.
However, he won't let you play with it, saying you're too clumsy.
Your reaction is:
A. Get angry and break it
B. Ask politely if you can watch
C. Walk away upset
The old fear from my past simulations whispered at the edges of my consciousness but Tony didn't carry that weight. Not yet. I chose B, watching as he navigated the social situation with more grace than Ella ever could.
Year 6
Due to your patience and politeness, you made your first friend.
While browsing your father's computer, you accidentally found a locked folder.
You spent three hours trying to figure out the password.
You succeeded.
Inside were photos of your family vacation. Nothing interesting, but the challenge thrilled you.
You gained Curiosity. You now feel compelled to solve puzzles and unlock secrets.
Your teacher caught you trying to access the school computer's restricted files.
Your action is:
A. Lie about it
B. Explain you were just curious
C. Stay silent
I thought about the consequences, about how trust worked in relationships. Tony had emotional intelligence that Ella lacked. I chose B.
Year 7
Your honesty impressed your teacher.
She enrolled you in an after school computer club.
You learned basic programming and met other kids who shared your interests.
One of them, Marcus, showed you something called "ethical hacking."
The concept fascinated you. Finding vulnerabilities to help fix them, like being a digital detective.
Your parents asked what you want for your upcoming birthday.
Your choice is:
A. A better computer
B. Programming books
C. A trip to a tech museum
This time the choice felt obvious. I selected A without hesitation.
Year 8
Your new computer opened up whole new worlds.
You spent countless hours learning, practicing, improving.
You gained Programming (Intermediate).
You found an online community of young hackers, all learning together.
They called themselves "The Curious Collective."
You made friends from around the world, people who understood your passion.
You felt like you belonged.
Year 9
Someone in the Collective challenged you to hack a local company's website.
Not to damage it, just to prove you could.
Your choice is:
A. Accept the challenge
B. Refuse and report them
C. Suggest practicing on legal training sites instead
The choice hung before me and I felt Tony's uncertainty. The desire to prove himself warred with the knowledge that actions had consequences. I chose C, hoping it would keep him safe.
Year 10
Your suggestion was well received.
The group shifted focus to legal hacking challenges and competitions.
You won your first Capture The Flag competition.
You gained Recognition in the cybersecurity community.
A high school recruiter noticed your achievements and offered you a spot in their advanced technology program.
Your parents were proud.
Year 11
You entered high school with a reputation as a tech prodigy.
Older students approached you asking for help with various computer problems.
One of them, Derek, asked you to hack into the school system to change his grades.
Your reaction is:
A. Agree for money
B. Refuse completely
C. Report him to the administration
I felt the weight of the decision. Tony's emotional intelligence suggested the ethical path, but his curiosity whispered about the technical challenge. I chose B, keeping him clean but not making enemies.
Year 12
Derek spread rumors that you were stuck up and thought you were better than everyone.
Some students started avoiding you.
You gained Loneliness. Social interactions become more difficult and you retreat into your work.
You spent more time online, in communities where your skills mattered more than high school politics.
You discovered the dark web.
The forbidden nature of it called to your curiosity like nothing before.
You found forums discussing advanced hacking techniques, zero day exploits, corporate espionage.
Your action is:
A. Dive deeper into learning these techniques
B. Leave immediately and never return
C. Observe quietly without participating
The danger sense I carried from my real life flared but this was Tony's story, not mine. His curiosity trait pushed him forward. I chose C, letting him learn but trying to keep him at a safe distance.
Year 13
Your observation taught you things school never could.
You gained Hacking (Advanced).
You also gained Paranoia. You now understand how vulnerable everyone's information really is.
A mysterious user named "Cipher" contacted you privately.
They offered you a job. Real money for real work. Corporate security testing, they claimed.
The pay was more than your parents made in a month.
Your choice is:
A. Accept immediately
B. Investigate Cipher first
C. Ignore the message
Tony's emotional intelligence and curiosity pulled in different directions. I chose B, hoping caution would save him.
Year 14
Your investigation revealed that Cipher was legitimate, at least on the surface.
A security consultant who hired talented hackers for penetration testing.
You accepted a small job. Breaking into a company's network to find vulnerabilities.
You succeeded brilliantly.
The money felt surreal in your hands.
You gained Financial independence.
Your parents noticed you had money and asked where it came from.
Your reaction is:
A. Tell them the truth
B. Lie and say it's from tutoring
C. Deflect and change the subject
I thought about trust and relationships, about the healthy body trait that kept Tony physically safe but not emotionally. I chose A, hoping honesty would preserve what mattered.
Year 15
Your parents were surprisingly supportive after initial concern.
They made you promise to only do legal work and to finish school.
You agreed.
Cipher sent you more jobs. Each one more challenging and more lucrative than the last.
You gained Reputation in the underground security community.
Other hackers started reaching out, forming connections, building networks.
You felt powerful. In control. Like you understood systems in ways most people never would.
Then one day Cipher sent you a different kind of job.
"I need you to access a competitor's research database. High security. High reward."
You realized this was corporate espionage. Illegal. Dangerous.
Your choice is:
A. Accept for the money
B. Refuse and cut ties with Cipher
C. Report Cipher to authorities
The weight of the decision pressed down on me. Tony's traits pulled him in different directions. Curiosity and financial independence versus emotional intelligence and the memory of promises made. I chose B, trying to keep him on the right side of the line.
Year 16
Cutting ties with Cipher meant losing your main income source.
You gained Anxiety about money and the future.
You focused on legitimate security work, building a portfolio, trying to establish yourself properly.
It was harder than you expected. The legitimate world moved slower, paid less, demanded credentials you didn't have.
You started taking jobs from other sources. Some asked fewer questions than others.
The line between legal and illegal blurred when you needed to pay for college applications.
You gained Moral flexibility. Right and wrong become situational based on circumstances.
A hacking group called "Digital Freedom" reached out.
They claimed to fight for privacy rights and against corporate surveillance.
They wanted your skills for their cause.
Your reaction is:
A. Join them enthusiastically
B. Join but remain cautious
C. Decline politely
The idealism called to something in Tony's core. Fighting for a cause bigger than himself, using his skills for something meaningful. I chose B, hoping caution would protect him.
Year 17
Digital Freedom welcomed you warmly.
They were organized, professional, driven by ideology rather than profit.
You gained Purpose. Your actions now feel meaningful beyond personal gain.
Your first operation was exposing a company selling user data illegally.
The information you uncovered helped thousands of people understand how their privacy was violated.
News outlets picked up the story. Digital Freedom was praised as digital vigilantes.
You felt proud.
But then the requests became more aggressive.
"We need you to access government databases. To prove they're spying on citizens."
Your choice is:
A. Do it for the cause B. Question if this crosses a line C. Refuse outright
I felt Tony's internal conflict. The purpose he had found warred with the understanding that government systems were different. More protected. More consequences. I chose B, letting him voice his concerns.
Year 18
Your questions were met with mixed responses.
Some members praised your caution. Others called you weak, uncommitted.
You gained Doubt. Decisions become harder as you question your convictions.
The leadership assured you the target was justified. That exposing surveillance would help millions.
You agreed, but insisted on careful planning.
The operation took months of preparation.
You gained Hacking (Expert).
The night of the breach, everything went smoothly at first.
You slipped through firewalls like water through cracks, your fingers dancing across keys with practiced precision.
The data was there. Proof of overreach. Of illegal monitoring.
Then alarms triggered that shouldn't have existed.
Your paranoia screamed warnings but you were already too deep.
You gained Compromised. Your digital fingerprints are now in government systems.
You managed to extract the data and disconnect, heart pounding in a way it never had before.
Digital Freedom celebrated. The information was released carefully, strategically.
It made international news.
But you couldn't shake the feeling that something had gone wrong.
Year 19
Investigators were looking for the hackers.
You gained Hunted. Government agencies are actively searching for you.
Digital Freedom told you to lay low, use different identities, stay off grids you used to frequent.
Your skills kept you hidden but the stress was constant.
You barely slept. Every notification made you flinch.
Your parents noticed something was wrong but you couldn't tell them the truth.
You gained Isolation. Meaningful relationships become impossible to maintain.
Then Marcus, your old friend from the Curious Collective, contacted you.
"I heard about what you've been doing. You need to stop before you get killed."
Your reaction is:
A. Tell him to mind his business B. Listen to his concerns C. Cut contact completely
The memory of friendship tugged at something in Tony's chest. Marcus had been there from the beginning, before everything got complicated. I chose B, hoping connection might save him.
Year 20
Marcus explained that he worked in legitimate cybersecurity now.
That the people you were fighting against had resources beyond imagination.
That ideology didn't stop bullets or prison sentences.
You gained Perspective. You begin to see the bigger picture of your actions.
You told Digital Freedom you needed a break.
They weren't happy but they understood burnout.
You tried to build a normal life. Enrolled in community college. Got a legal job doing network security.
The mundane work felt strange after the adrenaline of illegal operations.
You gained Restlessness. Normal life feels insufficient after experiencing intensity.
Six months into your break, Digital Freedom contacted you again.
"We have something big. Something that will change everything. We need our best hacker."
"There's another group trying to stop us. Corporate hackers, well funded, extremely dangerous."
"If we don't move first, they'll bury the evidence we've been gathering for years."
Your choice is:
A. Return for one last job B. Refuse and stay away C. Offer to help from a distance
I felt the trap closing but Tony's purpose, his restlessness, his loyalty to the cause pulled him forward. I chose A, knowing somehow that this was where his story had been heading all along.
Year 21
You returned to Digital Freedom like coming home.
The team had grown. New faces, new skills, new determination.
The target was massive. A multinational corporation with ties to several governments.
The evidence they allegedly possessed would expose corruption on a scale never seen before.
You spent weeks planning, coordinating with team members across different countries.
You gained Leadership. Others now look to you for guidance and strategy.
The opposing hacker group made themselves known.
They called themselves "The Cleaners."
Corporate mercenaries who erased digital trails and eliminated threats.
They were good. Better than anyone you had faced before.
You engaged in digital warfare, attack and counterattack, each side probing for weaknesses.
You gained Enemy. A powerful group now knows your identity and capabilities.
The night of the final operation arrived.
Your team moved in synchronized precision, each person handling their assigned task.
You were responsible for the main server breach.
Your fingers moved across the keyboard with expert confidence.
The data was there, protected by security you had spent months learning to bypass.
Then you felt it.
Another presence in the system. Not your team.
The Cleaners had been waiting.
Your action is:
A. Try to complete the mission anyway B. Abort and warn your team C. Engage the enemy hacker directly
Tony's purpose pushed him forward but his paranoia screamed warnings. The data was right there. So close. I chose A, letting him try to finish what he started.
Year 22
You pushed forward while the enemy hacker tried to lock you out.
It became a race. Your expertise against theirs.
You gained Tunnel vision. The mission becomes everything, consequences fade away.
The data download began but it was too slow.
The enemy was adapting, learning your patterns, closing in.
You rerouted through proxy after proxy, buying precious seconds.
Seventy percent downloaded.
Your team reported they were being traced. Some were already disconnecting to protect themselves.
Eighty five percent.
The enemy hacker broke through one of your defenses.
You felt their presence closer now, almost intimate in the way skilled opponents understand each other.
Ninety three percent.
Then they spoke to you through the system.
A message appeared on your screen.
"Tony Chen. Age 22. Los Angeles. You've made powerful enemies. Stop now and you might survive the week."
Your heart stopped.
They knew everything.
Your choice is:
A. Finish the download anyway B. Disconnect immediately C. Try to trace them back
The fear should have made him run but Tony's purpose, his tunnel vision, the investment of everything he had become wouldn't let him stop. I chose A, watching him commit to the path of no return.
Year 23
The download completed.
You disconnected and immediately began covering your tracks.
But you knew it was too late.
They had your real identity. Your location. Everything.
You gained Marked for death. Powerful people want you eliminated.
Digital Freedom got the data out successfully.
It made worldwide news. Governments fell. CEOs were arrested. Billions in fraud exposed.
You had won.
But victory felt hollow as you packed everything you owned into a single backpack.
Your parents cried when you said goodbye without explaining why.
You gained Grief. The cost of your choices becomes emotionally clear.
You went underground completely.
New identity. New city. New life.
The Cleaners were hunting you. You saw their traces in system logs, felt their presence at the edges of your digital existence.
Marcus tried to contact you but you couldn't risk bringing danger to him.
You were alone with your skills and your paranoia.
Year 24
You survived by staying invisible.
Small hacking jobs for cash. Never in one place long. Never using the same methods twice.
You gained Survival instinct. You can detect danger and adapt quickly.
But the isolation was crushing.
The purpose that had driven you felt distant now, meaningless against the reality of constant running.
You gained Depression. The weight of your choices affects your mental state.
One night in a cheap apartment in a city you couldn't name, you made a mistake.
Exhaustion and depression made you careless.
You used an old proxy you had used before.
Just once.
Just for a moment.
The Cleaners found you within hours.
You knew they were coming before they arrived.
Your danger sense, honed by years of paranoia, screamed at you.
You grabbed your bag and ran.
But they were professionals.
They had planned for every exit.
Your choice is:
A. Try to fight your way out B. Attempt to negotiate C. Run anyway and hope
Technology affinity and hacking expertise meant nothing against physical threats.
Tony had spent his life in digital spaces, fighting digital battles.
This was different.
I chose C, letting him try to escape even knowing it was hopeless.
Year 25
You made it three blocks.
The night was cold and empty, your breath visible in the air as you ran.
Your healthy body kept you moving but they were trained for this.
You ducked into an alley and tried to think.
Your laptop was in your bag. Your whole life, all your skills, reduced to hardware and data.
You could expose them. Send everything you knew about The Cleaners to every news outlet simultaneously.
Mutually assured destruction.
Your fingers flew across the keys even as you heard footsteps approaching.
You gained Desperation. Normal limitations no longer apply.
The upload began.
Sixty seconds to completion.
The footsteps grew closer.
Forty seconds.
You saw shadows at the alley entrance.
Twenty seconds.
They raised their weapons, professional and emotionless.
Ten seconds.
You thought about your parents. About Marcus. About the cause you believed in.
Five seconds.
You thought about Ella, somehow, though that made no sense. Another life. Another person who made different choices but ended the same way.
Upload complete.
You hit send.
Then everything went dark.
It was a short life.
Your final act exposed The Cleaners completely.
Three governments launched investigations. The organization was dismantled within months.
But you weren't there to see it.
Calculating score.
Age: 25
Talents: Technology affinity, Programming (Intermediate), Hacking (Expert)
Traits: Emotional intelligence, Curiosity, Loneliness, Financial independence, Paranoia, Moral flexibility, Purpose, Doubt, Isolation, Perspective, Restlessness, Survival instinct, Depression, Healthy body
Congratulations for completing life simulation.
Choose two talents or traits to carry on.
A. Hacking (Expert)
B. Emotional intelligence
C. Paranoia
D. Survival instinct
E. Healthy body
F. Technology affinity
The choices hovered before me and I thought about what Tony had learned, what had kept him alive as long as he had, what might have saved him if he had valued it more.
I selected A and F
I thought B and D at first but I already have Danger sense and Sensitivity plus I am different from Tony personally.
Congratulations for receiving the talent Hacking (Expert)!
Congratulations for receiving the trait Technology Affinity!
Simulation chances reset **** every *****
Error!
System not working properly.
The mystic Deus Ex Machina lacks ***** to function properly.
Please do a ******* and ******* to properly bind the mystic to this body before it shatters completely.
Ending Simulation.
The screen went dark and I sat there in the silence of my own room.
Tony's life played through my mind like a movie I couldn't stop watching.
The choices that seemed small at the time. The lines that blurred gradually until there were no lines at all. The purpose that felt so noble until it cost everything.
I thought about my own choices. My guns. My simulations. The traits I was collecting like armor against a world that seemed determined to break people.
My danger sense pulsed faintly and I wondered if that was Tony's story and experience settling into place alongside mine.
Outside the window, Kivotos continued its ordinary day, unaware of the life I had just lived and lost in the space of an hour.
I reached for my water bottle on the mini fridge, my hands still shaking, and took a long drink.
The simulation was over.
But the lessons remained, carved into my consciousness alongside gun mastery and healthy body and all the other pieces of lives that weren't mine but somehow were.
I saved the file and closed the program, then rested my head on the desk.
Just for a moment.
Just until the trembling stopped.
Then a thought passed through my mind.
'Through all the simulations I experienced so far, which one is truly the life that I can call ordinary?'