Lavapup POV:

  I opened my eyes again and slowly lifted myself up, taking the headset off my head and pcing it on the nightstand beside me.

  I gnced out the window, like I always did after logging off. Morning dew clung to the gss while the gentle orange light of the rising sun filtered through it.

  "Oh... we stayed up the entire night..."

  My voice came out hoarse, cracking mid-sentence before I broke into a cough.

  I stayed seated on my bed for a little longer, simply staring around my empty room.

  Well—empty wasn't the right word.

  One wall was taken up by a sleek ft-screen TV, and the rest of the room was filled with things. Too many things, honestly. Shelves, decorations, expensive clutter I never really cared about.

  "Lights on..."

  I sighed, waiting for the AI assistant to illuminate the room.

  Sure enough, after just a couple of moments, the lights flickered on. LED strips built into the edges of the walls filled the room with a warm, golden hue.

  Only then did I pnt my feet onto the fuzzy bck carpet and push myself up.

  With teary eyes, I waddled over to the next door and pushed it open.

  Clothes upon clothes filled the room, looking more like an entire clothing shop than a wardrobe.

  But I couldn't care less. I grabbed the first pair of pants I could find and threw on the first hoodie within arm's reach.

  "That should be good enough..." I muttered, gncing at the mirror for a brief second before turning away."Not like better clothes would change anything."

  Without taking another look, I continued on, pushing open the door that led into the grand hall.

  In the center yawned a massive opening down to the first floor, surrounded by a shimmering, fwless golden railing. Hanging above it all was a chandelier—grand and elegant—though the candles perched on it were fake.

  Laughter drifted up from downstairs. Happy. Joyful. Familiar.

  My chest tightened.

  I bit my lip, trying to suppress the uncomfortable pressure, and quietly turned away, heading for the bathroom instead.

  Silver and marble greeted me. A bathtub rge enough to be mistaken for a pool. A sink handcrafted from pure onyx.

  I sighed and picked up my toothbrush, letting the vibration drown out every other sound in the house as I cleaned my teeth.

  There was so much luxury here.

  And yet, I still felt poor.

  Empty.

  Like an entire part of me was missing.A hollow space somewhere deep in my chest.

  After that, I walked downstairs and quietly took a seat at the table with the rest of my family.

  I wasn't even fully seated yet when my mother began to speak.

  "What's with those bags under your eyes? Were you up all night again pying those stupid games?"

  She asked sharply, gesturing with her golden fork.

  I chose to ignore it. I took a piece of bread and slowly smeared butter onto it, never looking up, never saying a word.

  "This, is why you never amount to anything...?"

  Her voice wasn't angry this time.Just disappointed.

  I bit down on my lip, squeezing my eyes shut, trying to hold back the tears.

  The pain was sharp—like a nail being driven straight through my chest.

  But I stayed quiet, taking a bite of my bread, forcing myself to show as little reaction as possible.

  "You— you always stay in your room with that stupid headset," she continued, her voice shaking,"saying you've got some offer to become a pro gamer or something!"

  She broke down then, tears streaming down her face as she yelled.

  For the first time, I dared to look up.

  My dad.My siblings.

  They all just sat there, staring at me with the same cold, empty gaze they always had.

  Like I was nothing.

  "Because it's true..."

  I whispered it—barely audible. I didn't want anyone to hear.

  But my mom did.

  "Pying video games and earning money with it isn't real!" she snapped."What am I supposed to tell others? That my daughter locks herself in her room all day and escapes reality?"

  Her voice wasn't a shout anymore, but it was still loud enough to cut deep.

  She let out a deep sigh.

  "Why can't you be more like your Brother?""Is this life not enough for you?""Is reality really that bad?"

  She asked the question without expecting an answer.

  "When are you going to grow up, Nay?"

  I smmed my hands onto the table and stood up, walking away without even finishing my piece of bread.

  My hunger was gone anyway.

  "Nay Leona Harbeck, get back here at once!" my mom practically screamed, but I ignored her.

  I went into my room and locked the door behind me—and that's when I finally broke down.

  Tears ran wild as I gasped for air, clutching my hoodie like I was drowning in my own sobs.

  The salty taste dripped onto my dry lips.

  "I'm sorry..." I whispered, staring at the ceiling light.

  "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

  I repeated it over and over like the lunatic I apparently was.

  I knew I was worthless.My grades in school were always average at best. I had no talent for singing like my sister.

  I remembered the terrible nights I cried myself to sleep, fingers bleeding from endless violin practice.

  The piano never worked for me either.

  "It's okay... it's always like that," I stuttered, my voice cracking."I'm used to being a useless disappointment."

  But then I found something I was good at. Something I actually enjoyed.

  Full-dive VR fighting games.

  I had a natural talent for them. I climbed the ranks quickly, and not long after, I won my first tournament—fifty dolrs.

  When I proudly showed my mom, all I got were disappointed looks.

  After a while, my tears finally ran dry.

  What remained was a gaping emptiness, rger than before.

  I walked over to my nightstand and grabbed the headset lying on top of it.

  "At least you don't think I'm useless, right?"I asked the machine with a sad smile, almost hoping it could answer.

  But it couldn't.It was just a metal helmet after all.

  "Who am I even kidding..."

  I put the headset on and y back down, pulling the bnket over myself before turning it on again.

  "At least you don't judge me..."I whispered.

  And as my mind was dragged away from this oppressive, suffocating pce—

  —the image of that goofy white-haired elf, with the most unserious name imaginable, stretching his hand out toward me, an unbothered, bright smile on his lips.