Private Finished Back in the Game

"I will be sure to give them a good glance.", Neon responded, stopping at one of those UFO Catcher machines. Somehow his expression was that of longing for a time that was gone for him, as if he remembered something but not capable of speaking of it in any way. "It feels weird... I was dead for what? A year? But feels like a decade passed or something, and even seeing something so simple like an UFO Catcher makes me feel nostalgic."

"That might be it. Heh, I remember a time when I suggested the developers to add one of these for the game I was in, but they never got the physics working right and no one wanted it to be simply based on random number generator. We instead ended up having a decoration shop in place for people to buy virtual plushes.", slipping a few coins in the machine, Neon decided to try his hand at it. Three tries... That had to be more than enough for him to get 1 or 2 prizes.

"Other day I got in contact with some of my old friends. It is weird, for me to pretend to be my own fan. One of them has become a mother last month, the other is becoming an independent game developer.", with two of his tries he had been lucky enough... That the black cat plush and pink round bird fell next to the hatch.

He was so close to getting either of the two, so why was he using his third try to get another one so far from the hatch? And a squid at that!?! Should Kon be keen enough he would notice the squid one was designed with velcro on its tentacle. With a content sigh, the fox boy remarked his satisfaction: "They moved on. I'm glad they did."

And when the squid plush dropped into the hatch, its tentacles pulled onto the other two. It was a few intense seconds, but the pink bird and black cat had too become prizes. "If you want one, be my guest.", Neon was offered one of the three to keep.

As Kon cut off the word of gratitude, Neon couldn't help but chuckle a little and respond "You are welcome." He knew about Fae by looking a little into them, and from then it was easy to assume why the NEK0 didn't say "Thanks". Better safer than sorry, right? He let Kon speak his side while scooping the bird and squid toys. It was relatable, perhaps he too could call his friends over someday?

"Oh, I know! If they have time to play with me it's fine! I want the best for them too. Plus, I'm no longer the same old me, maybe what I should say is that I'm more full of life now than then, and I have big sis Izumi helping me grow well here. Hm? Excuse me a moment.", heading towards a more open space, he held the plushes with one arm, and with a free hand he drew a gate opened a portal to his room on a wall, big enough for him to simply walk in.

On the other side a completely normal bedroom was seen, but... Why did it seem so dark?! Why was there glowing outlines on everything in there, including Neon when he crossed into it? There he simply placed the plushes on the bed, fetched his phone on the desk and headed back out, erasing the gate with his tail in fluid motions.

"Forgot my phone for almost an hour. So decided to get it and leave the plushes in there while at it. And yes, you just saw my bedroom."

The praise made his tail wag vigorously, but being reminded him to move on himself from his past made the movement slow down into a more relaxed pace. "Hm, no talking my way out of this... But anyways, me being here was more of a thing to see how adjusted I am to electronic games, and I really rusted from being in the digital medium myself for too long, haha!", he sounded ashamed of his failure, but certainly willing to reckon it.

"Hah, thanks. Although catching up on games is not a high priority of mine. Medium, Medium-Low, I'd say.", and of course didn't bother him in the slightest. Something odd for the so-called "legendary gamer". But even then it was clear that he chose to live a more active life, and even if he looked slim he was clearly healthy and energetic, things that contrasted harshly with who he used to be.