The Isekai Game

My Valentine's (February)

The first weekend of February felt so magical. Vanessa felt it in her stride as she paced down the Isekai Studio halls. That perfect posture she held above others remained with every sway in her hip. The katana flung out like her hair when she spun around.

Security guards watched the cameras, wondering what she was doing. Her movements were so weird and unorthodox. She kept her eyes closed throughout her dance, enjoying every bit of freedom in public while alone. 

"Too bad we can get this posted," said Logan coming through an emergency exit. 

Vanessa's heart jumped before her body, "How"?

"How What?" asked Logan. 

"How did you get there"?

He shrugged, "I take the back exit a lot. And the front entrance was overcrowded since it's February. So I decided to grab my gear and go through the back".

"I never knew you can do that".

Logan began dancing a bit, "The studio doesn't care. We used to do it all the time in middle school".

"That is crazy. Dani told me you were coming at this time, but I didn't see you". 

Logan was shaking his shoulders, "Mmm, why does that matter"?

She blushed, "Eh, Mmm, is doesn't. Buuuutt, I thought it would be nice". 

Continuing his dance, Logan nodded, "Sounds cool. Jaivva came with Jeff. Whoever tried to ban him will get it soon. By the way, don't worry about trying to meet up with anybody this month". 

He looked in the eye, "I'm serious. We seem to be near or possibly in the same area. So don't bother teaming up with me".

A depressing aura was felt from her, "W-why? We are on the same team. We should help each other. A-and it makes more sense to help each other". 

"Well, it's an individual theme, Vanessa. Not a pair, team, or any other kind. So it is designed for us to beat it alone. Now that shouldn't be a problem. You're smart, strong, clever. You can get through this. Now it's simple. If you have an enemy you can't beat, either get away and don't fight it. Or find a way to take it out indirectly". 

She stopped him with a hand on his shoulder, "That is a bad plan. Just because it's an individual theme, doesn't mean we can't help each other. Just like last month". 

He moved her hand away, "It's not a plan... It's the game. Now we can take all weekend for what's already an overnight theme. Or, we can act like pros and beat our missions". 

Her shoulders fell quickly from Logan's ignorance, "Oki. If you say so". 

"We got this," said Logan walking forward, "This is why I got you, Jaivva, Faith, and Dani new weapons". 

"I know," sighed Vanessa, "But you should try to have more fun". 

He was a bit shocked, "I do. I have fun all the time in everything I do. If I wasn't having fun I wouldn't trying to make this my life".

"Sometimes you make the game feel more like work than fun. Like-".

"Well, there's a lot of work to put in. I hate it when people come in with starter weapons, put in no time, no effort, and yet expect to beat the hardest of content". 

"Oki. But, you shouldn't hate. You should be nice and hope they get better". 

"Well if they put no effort into it and then wine and complain saying 'it's not fair' then that's on them. And I do hate that". 

Vanessa faced him again, "But is bad. You shouldn't hate those people". 

She saw the sincerity in his eyes, "Look Vanessa, I have 24 hours a day. 7 days a week. 356 days in a year and about 30 prime years of my life to do what I want. To top it off, this is the only life I got. Imma do it pursuing what I love. Of which by the way, is a privilege not everybody has. So before I waste a single lick of my time and effort on people wanting to hold me back from what I love, imma dish at them". 

He stared at her for a moment, "And you should too. Believe me, we're not bad people. You should've seen this place when I came. You can ask anybody who was here five years ago. This place was a mess. Don't hurt yourself for others, okay"?

Lost of words, she had to admit defeat, "Oki". 

But after a few more steps, she stopped and cleared her throat. Logan felt as though he probably pissed her off. 

As he reached for her hand, she stated, "This is my door". 

She stared at his hand and licked her lips, "Is there something you wanted to do"?

He closed his mouth, "No... Good luck".

Just as he walked away, Vanessa called out, "When I'm done, I have a surprise for you". 

"What is it?" he asked. 

"Is a surprise," she said before squinting her eyes. 

He squinted back at her while walking backwards, "Okay. See you in a few days then. Good luck". 

She waved her fingers into her palm, "Good luck". 

With her goggles on, she opened the doors to a reddened sky. One step in and the door slammed behind her. To her left and right were trees of large sizes. The breeze kept her attention.

Vanessa looked down at the dress she was planning on showing Logan once she had beaten the game. 

Her shoes shined red while her knee-high stockings remained pure white despite the dirt blowing on them. Yet the bottom white layer of her covered most of it. The pink over layer exposed the frill tip of the white one. 

Along the pink layer were short, decorated white and red layers. Each designed with crystalized shapes and little ribbons. 

Her stomach was exposed for a frill white top that had a red bow at the neck and a red vest over. 

There was a fat red bow in the back that matched the rose and two joker cards on her hip. Eyes, nails, and lips, were red like a demon. However, the long virtual extensions would only dissuade one's perception. It came past her hips with little flowers in it. 

A cute flowered pink hat barely rested on her head. And whenever she positioned her fingers a certain way, a red and black fan would appear. 

A twirl before a kick was needed. February fourteenth was coming. And she was going to get that boy to be her Valentine's. No questions asked.