CTRL+U — Chapter 1: "Connection Established"
Scene 1: Entering the Game World
Yoru Asano sat at the corner of his desk, waiting in silence for only a few seconds in front of the large screen. In the reflection on the screen, the faint light and shadows from the walls blended together. He put on his glasses, took a deep breath, and slowly moved his fingers across the keyboard. Each keystroke seemed to affirm his solitude in some way.
As an e-sports player, Yoru's world was entirely virtual. His real identity was unknown to almost everyone. But that didn't bother him at all. No one should ever know who he really was. After all, his escape from the real world was here; in the game world, no one could tell him what to do.
The place where Yoru felt the most at ease was in virtual maps and digital environments. Here, he was known as "v1rus.exe," and unfamiliar people respected him, with viewers admiring him. He had control over everything, everything was at the tip of his fingers. Just like in the real world, he was always calm and collected. But today… something was different.
The lights on the screen began to flicker. Yoru pressed the keys harder. "There was something I had to finish in a few seconds, then I could relax again," he thought. But something stopped him. There was a new menu, an unknown option, an unfamiliar character. His eyes scanned the text on the screen.
New Quest:
"Antiv1rus: Critical"
Yoru didn't squint as he examined the menu. This was different from a regular NPC quest. Even the name "Antiv1rus" sounded strangely familiar. The reflection of this name reminded him of a bad experience he had once lived through.
However, Yoru chose to ignore it, activating his tactical intelligence built over years of experience. The game, as always, had to be fun. Fully aware of everything, he shifted his character into motion, heading deeper into the game world.
The enemy, as usual, attacked with unexpected speed. But Yoru, as always, remained calm. Instead of rushing forward, he took a moment to observe his opponent. "Something feels off..."
Every movement on the screen seemed like it was sending some kind of danger signal, not just gameplay. Yoru, in an oddly unfamiliar way, felt alien to this virtual world. But, no matter what, he continued to play, as usual.
Scene 2: First Encounter with Antiv1rus
The sound of his character's footsteps echoed on the game screen. A deep darkness surrounded him; a virtual city, streets, and buildings. A few seconds later, Yoru's eyes noticed a strange light shift on the screen. Suddenly, a silhouette appeared in front of him. The name "Antiv1rus" appeared almost like a warning.
The character's eyes locked onto Yoru's Avatar. Red, almost blood-colored eyes glowed, giving the sensation that they were reaching beyond the screen. Antiv1rus had transcended being just an NPC. It was a glitch, a reality error. But Yoru didn't care. He had seen this kind of thing before. After all, this was a game world.
Antiv1rus:
"System failure. Lens... you are approaching, Yoru Asano."
This sentence immediately caught Yoru's full attention. Everything, every character, every striking detail always had a purpose. Was this NPC an error? Or was it a kind of warning? Yoru leaned in closer to the screen, focusing on the dark silhouette.
"Lens..." The word slipped from Yoru's lips. It was a familiar term, one he had heard only a few times before; it was the name of one of the foundational systems. But the deeper Yoru's mind wandered, the more it consumed him. Lens represented the bridge between the digital world and reality. Something was wrong. Or maybe everything was part of a plan carefully designed by someone.
Yoru (inner voice):
"This... is not a mistake. This is a trap. But no one talks to me directly like this."
Yoru moved his character to circle around Antiv1rus. A brief silence seemed to amplify everything on the screen. Slowly, Yoru slid his hand to the right, maximizing the screen. From that moment, everything was under his control.
Antiv1rus:
"Time is running out. You must turn back. But they are watching you."
Yoru's hands froze over the keys. Was this just an NPC's warning? Or was someone really watching him? It wasn't asking for much. But there was something unsettling in his soul.
Scene 3: The True Face of Competition
After a while, Yoru glanced at the reflections on his screen. The competition was about to begin. This wasn't just any game. Yoru was about to enter a tournament match. It might not be a life-changing match, but for the audience watching, it held great significance. And as always, Yoru was confident he would defeat his opponent effortlessly.
His opponent, K4rn, was the star of the tournament. Everyone in the arena knew how powerful he was. But Yoru didn't need that. As always, he thought the victory itself wasn't important. Playing and winning were just for fun. The victory was nothing but a mark he would leave behind.
When the match began, the game screen filled with explosive lights. The virtual arena followed Yoru's every step. With each step, the virtual world became more real. But Yoru, as always, only focused on studying his opponent's moves. K4rn rushed towards him, but Yoru's eyes were so cold that it seemed like he was in control of everything, no matter what happened.
Yoru's quick and efficient strategies distracted his opponent even more. As K4rn tried his strongest moves, Yoru countered each one with ease. On the screen, Yoru's name appeared as the victor.
Announcer (in-game voice):
"Yoru Asano, v1rus.exe achieves a great victory!"
But Yoru's mind was still on the message that appeared on the screen: "Lens... you are approaching."
After the victory, Yoru stared at the screen for a while. He momentarily forgot about the outside world. But this wasn't just a game. This was a kind of trap.
Scene 4: Akari's Eyes
Yoru removed his headphones and headed towards his bed to sleep, but just outside the screen, a light flickered. Slowly, he opened his window, only to see a silhouette in the darkness. Someone was there. That person was a presence that touched the fears deep within Yoru's subconscious.
Another message appeared on his phone's screen. When Yoru opened it, he realized that everything had changed. In that moment, fear and doubt intertwined.
Message:
"I'm just watching you. I never thought you'd sleep so sweetly while causing all this chaos. —A"
For a moment, Yoru squinted at the screen. Something wasn't right, but he didn't pay attention to the message. He set his phone aside and quietly pulled himself into bed.
End of Chapter
Yoru's eyes slowly closed. But that night, there was worry in his gaze. He would no longer be able to stay only in the virtual world. He was going to have to step into the real world. Akari was still watching.