You can fall in love with a fantasy, or you can fall in love with reality. But when the virtual world becomes too real, and you fall in love there, how do you separate the two? -- Anon Guest
[AN: Wise words from MeMum - If you can't tell the difference between reality and fantasy, you should give up fantasy]
"Truck-kun, take me away," Addie whined, facing the horror of homework. So much math. So much study. She really wanted to get into the latest episode of Doki Doki Dungeon, but her Smother was holding it hostage.
Homework first.
She spun on her chair as she wheeled away from her study desk to get the next tome to work on. And then, like every badly-written manga, something went wrong. Addie remembered misbalancing, and a pain blooming in the side of her head. And then she woke up in the world of Doki Doki Dungeon.
Addie almost wept with joy. She could find and meet Amour Heartfeld. Join the throng of other ladies vying for his handsome heart and -of course- win. Because Addie knew everything she needed to be to win his love. She didn't even need a guide to this world. She knew everything about this world.
Including how to score free newbie equipment. Walking into town in her nightwear definitely allowed the people to believe the wagon train she'd been travelling with had been assaulted by brigands in the night. Looking tired from the blow to her head and the memory of homework's threat helped with that assumption.
Once kitted out in Newbie Gear, Addie discovered the one flaw to her plan.
She was still twelve.
Amour Heartfeld was almost old enough to be her father. He viewed her as a kid, and not a potential bride. The best she could hope for in their relationship was that of mentor and student.
...and maybe being the comedy relief.
It took a dozen adventures for it to hit home, when Amour started talking about setting her up with a newbie crew of her own. Closer to her own age. So she could find the great adventure of true love.
True love. Without Amour Heartfeld.
She could be everything he could want... except be old enough for him.
Addie would never be old enough for him. She left her own celebration in tears, running until she fell onto a grassy hillside. Unable to see the stars for her tears.
It wasn't fair!
Why couldn't the things she loved love her back?
"Are you all right, miss?" the speaker sounded young, losing the fight with a breaking voice.
Addie cleared her eyes enough to see a stripling lad a little older than her. A little peach fuzz of facial hair. A lot of pimples. One of the oni-charmed, since he had actual horns sprouting out of the mop of his hair.
He had all the character design markers of Gormless Wonder With a Heart of Gold. He was going to need some wisdom on his side before half the town ripped him off. She could easily take advantage of him, but... That would not make Amour Heartfeld proud of her.
"Just a heartbreak. Someone I like... doesn't like me like I want them to."
"Running away from a broken heart, myself," said the oni-charmed young man. "I'm Umid. I came here for a new beginning."
"Hi," said Addie. "I'm Addie. I... used to adventure with Amour Heartfeld."
Time for a new adventure.
[Photo by Marko Blažević on Unsplash]
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