Alternate Liberation

On Saturday morning, soft sunlight filtered through the large trees lining the quiet street. Non's house was nestled in a lush, leafy neighborhood, giving the area a peaceful and refreshing atmosphere. Akira arrived at the front gate slightly late, beads of sweat forming on his forehead from the warm morning sun. Jin, who was sitting on a bench near the house, immediately jumped up and waved him over.

"Kiki! Why are you late? We've been waiting forever!" Jin exclaimed, frowning playfully, though her mischievous smile remained.

"I'm not that late," Akira replied, scratching his head awkwardly. "The traffic was bad."

"Then leave earlier next time," Jin teased, still grinning.

"Come on in. Non's setting up the computers," Mei said gently.

Non's living room was a cozy space filled with gaming gear and various electronic devices. Everyone gathered around a large computer screen. Win was sitting cross-legged on the couch with a soda in hand, while Non was fully focused on launching his game design software.

"Perfect timing, Akiii!" Non greeted as he turned around. "We're about to brainstorm a new scene."

"Great!" Akira replied, dropping his bag before sitting down next to him.

The group started discussing new ideas. Akira, who was in charge of the story, began explaining, "Imagine starting the game in a forest where the player has to complete quests and face simple monsters before entering a large city. It's a good way to hook the players while making the world feel natural."

"That's awesome! And there should be hidden items in the forest to encourage exploration," Jin suggested enthusiastically, slapping her knee.

"That's a nice touch," Mei added. "Maybe we could include some traps or small puzzles to challenge their wits."

Win, who had been quiet for a while, chimed in, "We should make the enemies smarter, too. Force the players to strategize instead of just rushing in and hacking everything."

"Great idea, Win!" Non nodded in agreement and quickly typed it into the program.

As they brainstormed, Akira suddenly heard a strange noise. It sounded like glass cracking—a faint yet sharp sound that seemed to echo in his head. He froze for a moment, glancing around the room.

"Is something wrong?" Mei asked, noticing his reaction.

"It's nothing," Akira replied, keeping his unease to himself.

Time flew by, and soon it was noon. Non stretched before suggesting, "Why don't we take a break and go to the amusement park nearby? I can drive us there."

The group agreed enthusiastically, packing up their gear before heading out.

The amusement park was vibrant and full of life, with bright colors and the sound of laughter filling the air. Jin was the first to run toward the ticket booth. "Hurry up, slowpokes!"

"What should we ride first?" Win asked, holding a park map.

"The roller coaster, obviously!" Jin shouted excitedly.

Everyone laughed at her enthusiasm as they headed to the line. Mei and Akira ended up sitting together. Mei clung to Akira's arm as the roller coaster climbed the steep track.

"Scared?" Akira teased with a grin.

"Not at all… Akin," Mei replied softly, her tone gentle but her face betraying a mix of excitement and fear.

As the roller coaster plunged downward, everyone screamed at the top of their lungs. But when the ride ended, Mei burst into laughter. "That was way more fun than I expected!"

They continued exploring the park, trying out various attractions like the haunted house and the Ferris wheel. However, the sound of cracking glass returned in Akira's head. He stopped in his tracks and looked around, but nothing seemed out of place.

"Are you okay?" Mei asked again, her voice filled with concern.

Akira hesitated before replying, "It's just… I keep hearing this strange sound."

"A strange sound?" Jin turned to him with a curious expression. "What if it's a call to another world? Maybe you're about to become a hero or something!"

"Don't be ridiculous!" Akira laughed, though deep down, her words sparked a flicker of doubt.

"Don't worry, no matter what happens, we've got your back," Win said reassuringly, giving Akira a confident smile. "I'll protect you, so there's nothing to fear."

"Exactly! We'll all stick together no matter what," Mei added with a touch of shyness in her gaze but a firm conviction in her voice.

The group's laughter echoed through the park as the sun began to set. Despite the strange noise that lingered in Akira's mind, he pushed the thought aside, determined not to let it overshadow the precious moments he was spending with his friends.

Little did he know, those whispers and sounds would soon change his life forever…