Ryu returned to Sanctuary with the items from the cart and went straight to the shopkeeper.

[Quest Complete: Missing Supplies]

[Reward: +5 Sanctuary Reputation, +400 GP]

“Thank’s for the help traveller, I knew I could count on you,” said the shopkeeper.

“Yeah sure.”

Ryu ended the conversation there and left the store, seeing no reason to continue. He’d gotten what he wanted so that was the end of it. But what now? In his honest opinion, he hadn’t really considered what he would do with his bot if it worked. He’d been so worried about whether it would work at all that he’d never thought so far.

But now... how was he to decide what to do?

Strolling around the plaza Ryu’s head raced with thoughts. Dot’s ability to learn and, to a degree, obey his commands, led him to eventually wonder what he couldn’t do.

Ryu stopped in his tracks and looked around at the people going about their business. As usual his eyes drifted towards the women, a natural, instinctual, desire weaving through his mind. Usually his beta instincts would stop him from taking that first step. Usually.

One of the girls he’d been staring at for too long pointed at Ryu who hurriedly turned around. Changing who he was would take more than just a thought.

With that Ryu logged out. He’d had enough VR for today.

***

The odds of being hit by a car are about one in 4300. In comparison, the odds of winning the lottery are about one in 14 million. So what would be the odds that Ruri and Ryu logged out of VR at the same time?

“Huh?” exclaimed the siblings as they looked at one another, their noses centimeters apart.

Ruri moved first, her eyes dodging downward as she shifted her head back.

“What did you-” Ruri’s mouth hung open, unable to pronounce whatever came next.

“I just wanted to play,” said Ryu, answering the question he knew she was going to ask.

Ruri got up and Ryu raised an eyebrow at what she was wearing. A tank top and striped panties? No wonder she’d been cold. He added “no bra” to the outfit as he watched her rush out his room.

Ryu got up soon after, stretching a little before doing a little cleaning. Which was really just placing the two headsets on his desk. He did a quick check of his usual sites before leaving his room for the kitchen to grab a snack.

Upon entering he spotted Ruri, now wearing a shirt and pyjama pants, peeking inside the fridge. Walking normally he grabbed a cup, and Ruri looked his way.

“What do you want?” said Ruri.

Ryu grabbed the juice from the fridge as he replied, “What?”

“For dinner,” said Ruri, folding her arms and leaning on the bench.

Ryu took a sip from his cup, “I dunno. Are you cooking?”

“Yeah, Mum said she’ll be home late.”

Ryu put his cup on the bench and inspected the fridge.

“You know, I could cook if you like?”

Ruri tipped her head to the side. “You can cook?”

She wasn’t wrong, but Ryu wouldn’t be the one doing the cooking.

“You don’t think I can?”

Ruri rolled her eyes. “Well then what are you going to make?”

“Uh…” Ryu took another glance at the fridge’s contents.

“Creamy chicken pasta alfredo,” said Ryu, smugly.

Ruri’s head backed up. “Do you even know what that is?”

Ryu shut the fridge, not wanting to waste power, and grabbed his cup of juice. “Do you not believe me?”

The two siblings locked eyes, testing each other, until Ruri broke off first, looking down.

“You better not give me food poisoning.”