First Session: Sprinkles

"An education is only as good as the people teaching. The internet can be an excellent resource, but it can also lead you astray. The school has the benefit of having dozens of world class educators handy, each with their own specialties. Even if you aren't a fan of the remedial curriculum, it largely exists to help ensure you're up to date so that you can start taking more challenging content."

They seemed... almost well adjusted. It was only the casual mention of going home to their father that meant anything else. Denial. That was denial.

"Are things that much different for you here?"

Valli's skin crawled at how casually they said it. Needed help relaxing. He could guess what that entailed.

He let the surprise register on his face, his eyebrows raising.

"Oh? I was under the impression that the NEK0s had been... adjusted in a variety of ways. Enhanced learning, reduced physical needs, physical capabilities adjusted... things like that. The file doesn't exactly have details, but I was very generally briefed."

Human charms. That might give him something that could edge his way to more shaky territory without asking outright.

"Not aging is a difficulty in itself. It means you have to move, and form no real bonds. You can't have friends in the narrow reality for more than a few years, because they'll begin to wonder."

Which was an issue he would never have had to face... until now.

"How do you feel about the idea of having to use a human charm to pass as a human?"

"There's a difference between making friends and leaving them because you made the decision to leave, and making friends and being forced to give them up to avoid compromising the veil. If you choose to return to the narrow reality, you'll be doing so on your own terms, and you'll be able to weigh the friendships you have here against your desire to continue living in Japan."

Valli paused for a moment, unsurprising by the I don't like it, but I'll deal.

"It's a common sentiment. To put it in simple terms, for many people it's like going back in the closet. Hiding who you are."

The only person she needed was her father. Valli's expression was somewhere between intense and distressed, lost in thought even as they attempted a (lightly inappropriate) joke.

"Do you remember when I said that it was a bad idea to rely on someone to do everything for you? That applies to emotional and social needs as well. It isn't uncommon to have someone in your life who's more important. To many it would even be expected. But having just one person leads to unhealthy dynamics. Often it's idealized--put on a pedestal, really--but in truth, having just one person be responsible for all of your emotional needs is a huge amount of strain on both sides."