Chapter 1
Upon reaching the train station stop, I walked a short distance until I arrived at the front gate building of Summit Peak University. The name of the university was prominently displayed on the gate in a combination of blue and gold colors. Having visited the university before for enrollment and entrance exams, I was somewhat familiar with the area and had previously explored it to some extent.
I strolled nervously among the many students who were also heading in the same direction as me. I was promptly stopped by the scanner, wherein I flashed my ID card to gain entry. Inside, there are plenty of security officers roaming around who politely greet students as they enter. I reciprocated the ones who greeted me as I headed for the east building. As I exited the gate building, I passed the beautiful park-like courtyard of the university and saw many students sitting on benches and relaxing under the red oak tree. I kind of envy them since I, too, would wish to spend my time here if I didn't have my first class to attend.
I arrived at the east building and took in the scenery. I then slowly headed towards the classroom I was assigned to. My social anxiety started to kick in. I was nervous and a bit apprehensive as I stopped a few meters away from the door of the room. I saw other students walk inside and composed myself to do the same.
"I heard from my sister who studies here that our professor in this class is kind and considerate," came from a male voice.
"For real? I hope so. I'm kinda scared, to be honest. It would be a huge relief if our teachers weren't super strict. For real!" a high-pitched female voice responded.
I'd be more relieved if you could just speak normally, for real.
The voice came from a lanky boy with sharp facial features and brown hair with a faded cut. He has an air of arrogance and confidence around him giving off an aura of someone who is prideful and conceited. I'm most likely wrong in my initial deduction but that is just the impression I get from looking at him. I know I'm being biased but considering his earlier statement, it was the first-impression I formed of him.
"If you can't even defeat me in a one-on-one fight, how do you expect to win against any professional player, especially someone like Zetta?" she retorted.
"I was just holding back because you're a girl! If I got serious, you won't stand a chance," the boy claimed.
"Once again, you're making excuses! Just admit that I'm better than you!" the girl fired back.
I get that trash-talking is a part of playing competitive games, even more so between close friends but pick the right place and the right time for Pete’s sake. You guys are garnering stares you know, I feel a second-hand embarrassment just by looking at you two.
Thankfully, the professor arrived halting their bickering. No, wait! Not 'thankfully', I haven't mentally prepared myself for the class yet! I blame these two for this.
What that guy said earlier about the professor seems true. While he may be intimidating at first glance, he probably paired us in consideration of those who have no acquaintances yet in this class to make friends. Like me, for example...... How depressing.
As I was ruminating about our professor's actions, I heard someone call out to me.
"Katherine Katyusha, right?"
A polite yet cheerful sound came from the girl who was supposed to be my pair. Okay, Kat, don't screw this up; better make the best first impression you possibly can.
"Elizabeth Miles, I presume?" I gave her a polite smile
'I presume' my ass! Now, I sound like a stuck-up honor student. God, I'm not used to interacting with other people.
"You can just call me Elizabeth, or Liz for short."
I nodded, not knowing how to respond to her straightforwardness.
"Ohh, are you Russian? I mean, your surname sounds like one."
Is she doing the activity thing already? Probably not judging by her demeanor. I think she is just genuinely curious.
None at all in fact besides my aunt, but let's not tell her that.
"Oh! I grew up here in Philadelphia, so you can ask me anything you'd like to know!" she proudly proclaimed.
I thought so. She's not writing anything at all, and I doubt she has a perfect memory to remember all that I've said so far.
Our conversation continued while writing the important points. It was surprisingly easy to talk to her with her leading the conversation of course. When it came to hobbies, she became much more energetic and expressive than she usually was (which is a lot). She talks about her being a streamer of the game Champions of Andartha. A game that I was very familiar with.
Champions of Andartha or commonly called CoA by its players. It is the most successful game that came out when the full immersion virtual reality pod was in its initial stages of becoming well renowned. It has drastically risen in popularity along with the full immersion VR with a current player base of over 870 million and rising. That is all according to the article I read back then, which, in hindsight, might be a blatant promotion of the game by highlighting their huge player base. Its meteoric rise is mainly due to its competitive scene, which has garnered a lot of attention from potential players and the like. It was out for almost four years, but every year, the player base keeps increasing. Its biggest event, the Andartha Cup, a yearly tournament held every late November, has the largest prize pool in the history of esports and is also integral to its popularity. Being a champion in that tournament can set you up for a lifetime of luxurious living, except for the first tournament, though.
As memories of my sister rushed back, my heart sank, and a wave of nausea threatened to overpower me.
Not here. Not now, Kat. Hold it in.
"......Katherine?"
"O-ohh sorry! I didn't hear you. I was lost in thought. What was it again?"
"I said. My friends and I scheduled a friendly match later with the local VR cafe players. Wanna come with me later? Pleaasssee?" She begged cutely, making me want to accept it there and then.
VR cafes, huh? I've never been into one, but I heard it became commonplace after the rise in popularity of the VR pod. The news I read said that it would experience a boom just like those PC cafes back in the day, though I was probably just a baby back then when the net cafes were commonplace.
"But for now, let's focus on the activity," I redirected the conversation, steering us back to the task at hand.
We talked a lot, sharing most of the things we are both comfortable with sharing, like our courses and such. I mostly avoid the topics about my family, and thankfully, she doesn't pry either. I also found out that aside from being a streamer, she is also the guild leader of Concord of Heroes'. It doesn't ring a bell, though. To be fair, I'm not up to date with the current popular guilds. She is adamant about only recruiting members that she knows personally, which is a big reason why she wants me to play with them later and also join her guild. Time flew as we talked and listened to things about each other and pondered what we were going to write in the bio. She is surprisingly fun and easy to talk to, even for an introvert like me.