After experiencing this painful lesson, I would rather stay at home than go back to that school full of lies.

I pressed the power button on the computer and put on my headphones, enjoying endless music.

Opening the game as usual, a crisp login music played and the four awe-inspiring characters of Dream Fairyland appeared before my eyes.

After logging into the game, I continued my adventure with players in the virtual world!

"Hey, Dragon's Breath!"

The avatar of my friend Naiko, a cat girl, blinked, and I opened her message.

"You haven't been online for the past two days and our team's strength has greatly declined. What have you been busy with?"

Naiko is a gaming friend I met six months ago. She is five months older than me, so I call her Naiko sister. We met in an FPS game, and at that time, I played very well and cooperated seamlessly with Naiko sister, leaving no enemies behind.

Our team used to be the best...

"Sorry, I had some annoying things at school these days, but don't worry, let's continue our adventure and surpass everyone like we did last time!"

"Okay!"

In this way, six hours flew by and I almost passed out in front of the computer desk.

"So tired..."

Games can really make people feel empty, but since I don't have any fulfilling activities, I can only continue to numb myself.

"Dragon's Breath, brother..."

"What's up?"

Naiko sent another message.

"Do you want to go to the new game release event next Saturday?"

"Are you talking about the second generation of Dream Fairyland?"

"That's right, the latest chapter of Dream Fairyland, a new journey in the Magical Forest, and you can get a box of the official edition on-site with the ticket. Do you want to go together?"

The excitement I just felt was immediately pulled back to reality. It seemed like I forgot to buy a ticket. I heard that they were sold out long ago!

"I really want to go, but unfortunately, I didn't manage to get a ticket, Naiko sister, you should go alone."

I really wanted to go, but I spent so much time in that damn school these past few days that I completely forgot about buying the ticket. So I texted her my current situation.

"It's okay, I invited you to the event, so I bought two tickets in advance!"

"Really?!"

As soon as I fell into despair, it was as if I had caught a lifeline and I immediately thanked her excitedly.

"Thank you so much, Naiko sister!"

"Hehe, no need to thank me so dramatically. Naiko sister will be waiting for you at the entrance wearing a white camisole."

I'm really looking forward to it. I must thank Naiko sister properly when the time comes. If she finds a game she likes at the event, I'll use it to repay her.

"May the Gods bless us, just keep it ordinary, please don't be a dinosaur!"

This is my minimum requirement for Naiko sister. It's really a worrying problem in this age of numerous online traps.

"What am I thinking? Seriously..."

I had already made up my mind, but then I looked at my few remaining game discs and felt a headache. I'm running out of games to play, and I don't feel like going to the store these days. Sigh!

I looked at the clock, it was already 7 o'clock, quite late.

And the game store is more than 20 streets away from my house. Taking the tram would only save me half the distance. I frowned for a while and finally decided - to buy!

Before leaving, I carefully dressed myself. With an artist's style, I put on a painter's cap and a gray down jacket that is not usually worn. In this alley, I'm a celebrity. If some old lady recognizes me, my glorious image will be ruined!

Walking through the alleys and busy streets of the city, I squeezed into a crowded tram during rush hour and made my way to the game store, which was far from home.

"Wow, there are so many new dating simulation games!" I exclaimed.

Looking at the shelves full of youth-oriented games, even as a gaming expert like myself, it was hard to resist the temptation and not suffer from decision paralysis.

"Should I go for a wholesome romantic game or a dramatic harem story? Should I choose a game that caters to cute girl enthusiasts or... maybe one for older sister enthusiasts?" I pondered.

I randomly picked a few popular ones and headed to the counter to pay.

As I was about to pull out my wallet, the cashier, perhaps being new, noticed the games I had chosen and kindly interrupted.

"Miss, these are romance games for men. They might not be suitable for you. Perhaps you should..."

Every time a cashier made assumptions about my gender, it would always make me furious, but regardless, I tried to stay calm and lower my voice.

"I... um, I'm a guy, actually."

"A guy...?!" the cashier exclaimed in surprise.

Avoiding the astonished gaze of the cashier, I hurriedly left the store with my games and boarded the tram.

"Phew!"

Finally relieved, I flipped through the games I had just bought. Most of them were about pursuing girls, but the last one... was about falling in love with an older sister?

The cover featured a girl with long, silky hair that reached her waist, and her youthful, cherry-colored lips seemed to pull me in.

...

Suddenly, the noise of the passing tram and the crowded scene outside vanished. I found myself standing alone by the railing, surrounded by an uncharacteristic calmness. A scene from my distant memory unfolded before my eyes.

"Forever... together!" she said lovingly.

What?

On a rainy day, under the brightly lit streetlights, I sat on what seemed like a bus stop and silently watched Yu Nai, soaked to the bone, beside me. I wanted to call out to her, but my body remained motionless, leaving her shivering in the cold, helpless.

"Yu Nai!"

"Make me some dinner already! Geez, why are you so late?"

The girl lay on a couch that looked eerily similar to the one in my living room. She was?! How come the student council president from Sakura Sea Academy appeared in my memory?

When I woke up from the jolt, my gaze remained fixed on the cover of "Sisterly Love." The protagonist on the cover still wore that heartwarming smile, but now it seemed perplexing.

"Huh, am I just tired from playing games today?" I wondered.

Back home, there were countless messages from Naiko in my friend list, all shaken up by the continuous notifications.

I checked the time – it had been an hour and a half! With a nervous heart, I opened the chat window and took a peek.

"Where are you? Where are you? Where are you? Where are you? Where are you?"

The alarming number of messages made me sense that the other person's mood was terrible, and they might even be mad at me.

"Sorry, I went out to buy some games, so I left the chat window open."

"Ugh... Geez, I kept shaking your chat window so many times!"

"Is there something urgent, Naiko?"

"I forgot to tell you that we were supposed to meet at the entrance at 2 pm. Remember not to be late again, okay!"

Naiko even sent an angry emoticon, and I replied apologetically.

"Of course, there won't be a next time!"

"I forgive you this time, but don't keep me waiting when the time comes!"

"Alright, I'm logging out now. I'm tired today, and I have to go to school tomorrow."

I realized that it was time for me to return to school. After all, taking a break from studying was unbearable, and all my time was spent playing games, except for mandatory subjects like language classes.

If I kept going like this, I wouldn't even have the energy to stand up!

"Yeah, I have to go to school tomorrow too. Our school is quite lenient, so we can play computer games during breaks!"

At the same time, Naiko also mischievously made a grimace and showed off to me.

"Well... I'm going to bed first. Since you have to go to school as well, you should rest early."

"Bye bye!"

There is still plenty of time to sleep, so I'll take the opportunity to take a shower.

Lying in the bathtub, I instantly felt most of my fatigue disappear. I will have the energy to start school tomorrow, right?

"It seems like I've been in a relationship with Naiko for so long, but I haven't even contacted her yet. Actually, come to think of it, I don't even know which school she goes to."

Actually, Naiko probably has similar doubts about me.

After turning off the power switch, I quickly returned to bed and covered myself with the blanket. It was the coldest time of winter, and the freezing feeling spread throughout my body the moment I stepped out of the bath.

"So cold..."

I lay in bed and continued to play games on my tablet. I fell asleep without even putting my computer away, exhausted by midnight.

The next morning at ten thirty...

"Wow, I overslept again!"

Damn card game last night was so dazzling and addictive that I missed my time to go to school!

"Hey, son!"

"Don't call me, Dad! I'm going to be late!"

"No, I'm waiting for you at the school gate. There's something urgent that I want you to discuss with the chairman."

Meeting the chairman? I completely disregarded being late for school and drove slowly while listening to my dad.

"Dad, you're back?"

I could hardly believe my ears. How come Dad came back so early this year? And he's right at the entrance of the Sakura Sea School!

"Yes, I came back this time for a very important matter. Don't get angry with your dad in front of the chairman!"

"What could make me angry with you in front of such an important person like the chairman?"

"..."

I asked as casually as possible, but all I got from my dad on the phone was a serious reprimand.

"Son, in such a major matter, you must not treat it as a joke. Today, I came to let you meet your fiancée."

Although my dad tried to answer my question as calmly as possible, I couldn't stay calm after realizing the truth!

"Dad, what... What are you saying? I don't understand. Can you please say it again, is it...?"

"Sigh, I'm asking you to meet your future spouse!"

"Get married!!!"

Click clack, the bicycle slipped and fell to the ground. I have to meet my fiancée?