Middle of June. The summer once again delivers another scorching hot day in Japan. The sun is at its brightest point where you can't see any shadows. A clear blue scenery dominates sky while tiny bits of clouds are flying peacefully.

I can tell that even if I'm inside the building of some company.

I was here almost every day working as a regular animator of horror and gore genres. I don't dislike dark themes and as time pass by I slowly get hooked to it.

I don't know why but I really have a strong dislike against humans, even myself. I'm just working here as a time killer and because they're paying me quite a price nothing more nothing less.

Suddenly, in the middle of condensed working a voice called my name.

“Shinozaki!” but I didn't bother to reply because I might made a mistake, but then again it called and louder than the first.

“Ryuji Shinozaki!!”thats my name. Im Ryuji Shinozaki a 25 years old animator in some random animation studio here in Japan.

I faced at the direction where the sound came from, usually my two eyebrows only separate when I'm facing the desktop monitor but if I'm glaring to other people I always bear a serious face or rather a grumpy one.

Especially when the one who called your name is your company boss. On my point of view, he looks like a creature stuck between the evolution of human and gorilla. His mustache and beard are really disturbing up to the point that I thought he really was a gorilla.

“What do you need?!” I replied matching his tone but no matter how my tone is just low-pitched as always.

“How dare you shout back at me?!

“Ugh, if you don't need anything I'll go back to work!”

I really hate wasting my energy to this man.

“What?! Ok fine, Fine!”

“...” I give him a sharp glare before facing away and look back in the monitor.

“It's lunch break idiot! All the others already leave”

“Alright”

“You're the only one left there, hurry up before the second shifts arrive”

“Ok, I understand and leave me alone!”

“You!”

“...”

After I'm done saving my work I stand up from my chair and gather my stuffs then leave the building through the main door. The building Im saying is an 8 story building, its just like a typical building like youve seen anywhere.

I almost forgot that my shift today was only till lunch break, maybe because of the three all nighters here. Guess I'll just go home and sleep and sleep and sleep.

I was abandoned by my parents in some orphanage when I was still 3 years old and because of my hardworking nature(self-proclaimed) that I managed to graduate without any problems.

I left that orphanage when I reached 18 years old and started to live on my own as soon as I found a job but up until now I’m still providing them the 60% of my monthly salary as a way of gratitude. Im living alone for 7 years now in some cheap apartment space. 40% is just more than enough for me because I don't have that much heavy expenses, no girlfriends to deal with, and my 'otaku' hobby is the only thing that mostly of my pay check goes to. Plus, the apartment where Im currently living is not too far from the building so I only need my bicycle to go back and forth.

As soon as I exit the building I began unlocking the lock in my bicycle. I dont usually pay attention to my surroundings while Im on my bike so time passed just like they dont really happen.

It barely took 5 minutes of cycling before I finally got home, the apartment that Im saying is usually the same as what you seen in anime and other movies, not to mention its a bit rundown.

Yes anime because when Im still a schoolboy Im an anime and manga obsessed freak also known as Otaku or can also be called Fanboy. That might also be one of the cause why I dont have a girlfriend since then.

"Click"

After I secured the bicycle, I climb up the stair to the second floor and as soon as I inserted the key in my door then give it a twist it produced a sound of clicking. After I opened the door of my room and lock it again, I tossed my bag somewhere in the hallway.

My feet automatically move from the hallway to the bedroom. The inside of my bedroom is decorated with different anime related stuffs.

This house or at least apartment space is divided into three rooms, the comfort room, the dining and kitchen, lastly my bedroom. This room is located in the second floor of the 3 story apartment building.

After my body made a contact with the bed my consciousness slowly fades away as I close my eyes.

10:37pm [Friday]

It's the time I've seen in the digital clock beside the bed when I woke up.

I slowly raise from my bed and began rubbing my eyes with my left hand.

The aroma of something like beef immediately caught my nose faster even before I realize it.

My body acts as if charmed by the smell and began to move on it's own. I don't remember leaving the kitchen before I sleep and even if I did I might be the one who is roasted now.

On the small gap of the door I slowly peek in the kitchen. I was right, the source of the delicious smell is in my kitchen. I slowly slid the door and witnessed that no one is there but the pan is still in the burning stove with some porridge or stew maybe? inside. I approached the pan and then suddenly the door of the fridge beside the stove closes.

Because of the smell I didn't notice that the door of the fridge was open and it is concealing a girl right at my age.

For almost 30 seconds we stare at each other with surprise expression.

She was the one who breaks the silence.

“Good Morning! Sleepyhead! Ah, though it's 10:45pm” her soft and gentle voice echoes in my room then after her greeting she look at her wristwatch.

As far as I remember I don't have any room mates. And it is obviously a miracle if she is my girlfriend. Of course she's not my girlfriend nor my room mate. Her name is Kasumi, Ichinose Kasumi. She has a long black hair that extends to her waist, two round eyes of the same color. Her appearance can charm everyone, she bears a beautiful face matching with her thin and voluptuous frame. She is about the same height as me towering 170 cm more or less. Right now, she wears a white undershirt and a skirt in a noticeably short lenght. I usually ignores that, and that might also be one of the reason why my chastity is still protected.

Kasumi lives exactly beside my unit, in other words she is my neighbor. She often comes here during 'almost every' of her free time with only one usual objective.

“Let's play again! All night! I'm free until the day after tomorrow!” she said with her usual lively face.

Of course she's free until monday why did have to slap that in my face.

“Ok, alright, I get it so please stop shouting you might startle the other residents here..”

“Oh right, Sorry...” she just hang her head when she realized the words I said.

A moment of silence pass by before I continue to ask more question in a usual low-pitched tone.“How do you know my schedule?”

“Ah in that case. I already came here two days ago but, you're not here so I checked on your computer for your schedule. Hee-hee.” she answered my question by pointing her forefinger up and end it with a chuckle.

[So the spare key that she got while I was still new here is still in her.] When I first came here seven or six years ago she was the first one who helped me to adopt to the new neighborhood, she introduce me to the other residents, and teach me so many things.

As I stated I hate humans but somehow no matter what, she is an exception, her gentle, clingy and kind personality breaks through my steel heart.

The game she's talking about is the RPG game we often play together and not some shady or erotic business. I just influence her on playing that game since she always watches me whenever I'm playing.

“And how 'bout this one?” I said while pointing my finger on the soup in the stove.

“Oh yeah! I almost forgot! Excuse me” as soon as I reminded her of the meat she hurriedly come to check on it, she go in the place between me and the stove. “I bought some on my way here for our dinner. And in case of midnight snacks there are few in my bag.”

“uhhhh,”I slowly cut my way out of her back when I fel that my little one is going mad and before cold sweats began to moist on my face. I'm not a perverted person to make a move on a defenseless woman just like her, I'll leave that topic on that. I replied while making my way to the couch.“uh, thanks you're reliable as alwa—..Wait! You did that on purpose right!”

Just about when I was to praise her I caught a glimpse of her chuckling in front of the stove while watching my pitiful reaction.

“Hahahahaha....wooh,” the joy has caused tears to linger in her eyes that she starts to rub afterwards.

“What's so funny?!”

“Guess I'm lucky to have a neighbor like you.”

Her smile really is charming me everytime she cast it, so I change my gaze away from her almost everytime she smiles.

After completely rubbing the tears of joy she continued with—

“Ok, Enough with the teasing

“Please wait a moment, the dinner will be ready in a few minutes.”

“Need some help?”

“Nope”

“You sure?

“Because as far as I can remember you're the one who broke my favorite mug”

“Oh Jeez, I've already bought a replacement! You should've forget about that already!”

It's true she is a reliable person but not all the time. She usually do works that her body could barely handle, just like her job right now, she is working as a company manager to—I don't remember where but I'm sure she told that to me not just once or twice.

Night pass by, and after we ate dinner we started our first night of gaming.

That night I was the one who cleaned the dishes.

6:25am [Saturday]

“Yuujiiii, You're taking too long, where are you?”

Kasumi's voice echoes in my dimly lit room. Currently, Kasumi is lying on my bed while her laptop in her chest. I don't know how she still see the screen of her notebook because of her huge bosom.

“Just a minute”

The low pitched voice doesn't produce any echoes. While sitting in front of my desktop with both of my hands in the keyboard I answered the girl. But she raise her tone a little then reply.

“What?. I'm here at the lobby near the fountain for almost 15 minutes! Where are you?”

“Calm down Kasumi..I'm in the pvp arena”

“Whatt?? Are you kidding me??”

“No. Why would I?”

“Your character is a Support class! How can a support do a player kill??”

“Skills. I guess”

From the view of our conversation it seems like Kasumi is the one who teaches me about the game. In only short period of time she learned everything she need to do. I can say that she is really a natural born genius.

“Skills of support class do Zero( 0 ) damage! You know that! What's your K/D/A?”

“32/3/16”

K/D/A these three is very common specially in multiplayer games. Their meanings are kills, deaths, assist. As for my case I just answer her question with only honest word but when I caught a glimpse of her face she doesn't seem to be convinced.

A moment of silence pass for almost a minute. She's just glaring at me from my bed. Then, she opened her mouth and said.

“How did you—”

“Greater Healing and Reflect”

Before she even finish her words I interrupted her.

“Are you a GM or something?”

“...Do I look like one?...

“Oh, it's done.”

After answering her question once again a 'Victory' flashes in my screen.

“All right I'm in the lobby near the fountain..”

“..I'll be there”

Then just as Kasumi requested we party up and cleared countless dungeons and labyrinths in the game that took 3 hours or so.

10:21am[Saturday]

“Yujiii”

After gaming for so long I expected her voice to be exhausted. I look at Kasumi who's still in my bed when I hear her weak voice. She's already looking at me, then our gazes meet.

“Can I sleep here...in your bed...for a while?”

“Sure. I'll sleep on the floor..”

“You know you can sleep here with me...your bed is huge...Good Nighttt”

“No thanks..Good Morning”

I prepared sleeping bags on the floor beside my bed afterwards. Then as usual my conciousness fades when I close my eyes.