Boy Meets Ai

Chapter 71

Chapter 71

The incident at the tournament would come to be known as the Black Sky Day. The world had watched the events unfold as the video streaming was still active for most of Aramais' attack. They also saw the brave players that risked their lives to stop the "killer virus". Seiko and the others were overnight celebrities, or at least their ether avatars were. They remained anonymous per their request and the UmbraCyber also agreed that was for the best. They were told that if they signed a document absolving the ether from fault, they would receive a payout. One that was even larger than the grand prize. They all knew that to be the case anyway. Aramais had been the culprit and clearly, he had been the cause of everything. They signed the agreement. None of them was interested in suing the company. After a week long security upgrade and revamp, the ether reopened as if nothing happened. Players and Ai returned in droves, almost completely forgetting about what had happened.

Seiko had more money than he even knew what to do with. He used some of the payout to commission a monument at a nearby park. He also gave Thomas' mom a portion. She was unwilling to accept until he had told her about the deal he had made with her son. He had spent every night with her since Black Sky Day. He couldn't sleep so they would sit at her table with cups of spiced cocoa and talk. About Thomas and Oaklee and laugh at the good times. About how much they missed them. Then they would cry. There was no going back, no cure for their heartbreak, all they could do was talk.

A month later, A memorial for those that died was held at the monument. The organizers were Seiko and Ms. Reeder. They were surprised at how many people showed up. The park was filled with people who had lost someone and those just looking to pay their respects. The local news was there as well, reporting in the event. Seiko answered their questions vaguely, simply saying that he was a survivor wanting to pay his respects. After finishing the interview, he went to find Ms. Reeder. That was when he heard a familiar voice.

"Seiko?"

He turned around on his heel quickly to see who called out to him. He mentally kicked himself for revealing his identity so easily. A young woman in a hoodie stood just a few feet away. She wore large sunglasses even though it was night time. He recognized her voice though.

"Shinobu?" He couldn't believe it.

"It's... Carrie actually." She removed her glasses to reveal a face that was surprisingly recognizable to Seiko as well. Now this was too much. He could almost laugh it was so unbelievable.

"You're telling me I've been partied up with a celebrity this whole time?"

Shinobu looked thoroughly embarrassed, smiling with red cheeks. "Famous people can be nerds too you know."

"I guess so." Seiko held out his hand and returned her honesty by giving her his real name as well.

"Johnny. Nice to meet you."

Despite learning their real names, they decided it was too strange to go by anything other than their gamer tags.

Shinobu explained that she had a feeling he would be at the memorial. She knew Thomas' mother was going to be there and remembered that Seiko had been friends with him IRL. Then it was just down to walking around, listening for a familiar voice.

They made their way to the crowd of people, chatting as they did. As it turned out, they had lived in the same state their whole lives without ever realizing it. Seiko passed her neighborhood on his bus rides to see his mother. The two of them lit candles and placed them at the base of the monument. The names and gamer tag of each player that died was etched into the stone. Shinobu traced her fingers on the letters, flashing back to that day. As she did, she noticed another row of names. Realizing what they were, she searched frantically until she found it. There, in the column marked "Companions" was Oaklee's name.

"I miss her so much." Seiko said. "I can't remember what it was like before her and now... I don't know what to do without her. She was more than a friend. She was my family."

Shinobu wrapped her friend in an embrace, squeezing him tightly.

"I miss her too."

After paying their respects, they made their way over to Ms. Reeder where Seiko introduced Shinobu. She thanked her for protecting Seiko and apologized profusely for what Aramais had done. She had done that with everyone that had come.

"It isn't your fault. Don't put that weight on yourself." Shinobu said.

Still, guilt lingered in the woman's eyes. After a few hours, the park cleared out. Everyone went home. Seiko asked Thomas' mother if she would wait for him for just a minute while he said goodbye to his friend.

Shinobu and he stood there silently for a while, the candle light illuminating their faces. It was strange for them still. They had different faces here. It was like seeing a long-lost friend but also a complete stranger.

"Oaklee didn't want me to go back to how I was before we met. I think she was scared that if I was alone..."

The young man's emotions threatened to overwhelm him.

"But I'm not alone anymore. I made friends. Because of her I have people that..."

Shinobu hugged him as the tears streamed down both their faces.