Meeting (1)

'Nooooooo!!!' Mary screamed internally as he stares at a shelf.

This shelf was emptied out with nothing left on display. And when he tried asking one of the employees if there are anything they have left in stock, he was hit with the sad reality that every copy of the game was sold out.

'I understand that the game was famous and the sale was really good, however at least have one copy of the game left.'

Mary was a gamer. But, he doesn't like any competitive games or calm tycoon games. What Mary really likes are called "Soul Games." Soul games are part of a subgenre of action-adventure type games where it's famous for having really hard difficulty. Every time normal people play Soul games they either rage, quit, or both. However, It is different for those that are serious about Soul games and want to challenge themselves on a daily. In this instance, that person is Mary.

'I can't anymore. I've been wanting to play that game ever since its release, the only thing is I couldn't. Back when it was released, I was broke, had no money, and no savings either, thankfully my allowance just arrived yesterday. And since Shea wanted to go today, I decided that I should just wait until today, with the possibility that the sale might just end. But that turned out to be my biggest mistake'

The game that Mary really wanted to buy was the game called Elden ring. This game has really wonderful game mechanics and aesthetics, and the bosses were just superb. Seeing the release of the game and the countless great reviews. Mary just couldn't help himself.

When Mary was in deep thought a voice suddenly echoed into his ears.

"I'm sorry." Shea who was just watching Mary stare at an empty shelf for minutes understood the situation. When she realized she felt guilty and couldn't help but apologize.

Mary then realized the guilt-driven Shea and proceeded to reassure her.

"It's okay It's not like I really wanted it. Plus I can just transfer the money I received to my online profile and buy it via the internet." Truthfully Mary really wanted to buy it, but he couldn't tell the truth. Knowing that Shea also had personal reasons he could not help but feel empathetic to the girl who can't go home.

'I can't just scold this girl for my own greed. A game is a game anyways, there are always other times to play it. But time spent for the sake of memories will always be in the past.' Mary thought to himself.

Shea who could not understand a single thing Mary just said smiled as she watches the boy in his own thoughts again.

"Anyways, how about we go now? I still have the buy that rice cooker after all. And if we stay here longer my depression would eventually peak." Mary said as a single tear fell out of his right eye.

"Rice cooker? Oh, you mean that machine that cooks rice for you?" Shea answered curiously as to what a rice cooker is, then suddenly a thought came to her mind.

'Wait, wasn't I the one that broke it?!'

Shea still remembered that time when she was being thought about house appliances and how to use them. And when she learned about electricity, she was amazed by it. Shea learned about all kinds of objects that use electricity, the one that she really liked was the rice cooker. But the only thing she does not like about it is the fact that it takes time.

So, when Shea tried using "QI" to fasten the rice cooker, lightning appeared out of her body and ended up breaking the rice cooker.

That moment was also the time that Mary learned that Shea has an affinity for lightning.

Anyways, ever since Shea broke the rice cooker, both Mary and Shea lived off with nothing but toast and food delivery which made the already broke Mary even broker.

"I'm sorr-" Shea apologized again, but this time Mary already knew what she was going to say.

"It's fine!" Mary cut off. "The thing about the rice cooker never really bothered me anyways. What's better is that we get to eat and that's that."

'Plus, I don't really want her to have something that could give her any connection here on earth. That way the moment that she returns, she won't feel any sentiment on this world.'

Mary rugged it off and decided that it was better to go. As he turned around and was ready to leave he noticed a bunch of people in suits entering the store.

As if it was a habit. Mary pulled Shea to hide behind one of the display shelves.

"Hyii!"

'That's weird. It's not every day you see people wear formal attire while shopping for games.'

After the people in suits entered, they immediately went toward the cashier. In a short moment, the people in suits started talking to the cashier.

They were talking about something serious, and Mary could feel it. With curiosity, Mary peeked at the cashier and saw someone familiar.

'Mark?'

The person that the people in suits were talking to was none other than Mark, Mary's friend.

'What do the people in suits have to do with Mark?'

Mary continued to peek into the conversation between Mark and the people in suits until Mark went under the desk and pulled a cardboard box on top of the desk. This cardboard box was huge, big enough to put a body on it. After considering, one of the people in suits called one of the workers to come and bring the box dolly.

After a short moment, the worker arrived with a box dolly and transferred the cardboard box onto the box dolly.

The worker tried to volunteer to push the dolly but the people in suits refused. They then offered a briefcase towards Mark to which he then received with a smile. Seeing the smile, the people in suits then decided to go and pushed the dolly outside.

After Mary secured that the people in suits are really gone, he then went towards Mark. Slowly creeping in, he suddenly busted in at Mark.

"Hey, Mark!!! care to explain what was that?"

"Guh. Mary, what are you doing here!" Mark was surprised to see Mary, but at the same time, he was scared because of the face that Mary was making.

Mary was making a predator look, with his eyes glowing red and his mouth in a grin.

"Nothing much just shopping." Mary as he grinned more.

Seeing the grin Mark surrendered to his fate.

-

Authors note: Dun, dun, dun. We'll finally see the plot point of Mark, or do we :P Anyways, I didn't really reread this chapter and fixed its grammar and short details. I also made this on a whim so I could sustain the 1 chapter per week spree that I Oh well, it's only a hobby of mine to pass time so I'll try to at least upload once a week :D

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