Chapter 8
Hi Guys. I apologise for the delay in this chapter and future chapters as well. My current set up is in a room where a renter is staying which means I don't have access to my computer as much as I had hoped. I will try my best to make chapters as much as possible with this limitation. I do also have an outrageous idea, so I hope it blends well and people enjoy this random new instalment.
I appreciate the Support <3
"Ahhh~ too sweet."
"OOO~ too sour."
"Chiki, I'm not too sure about this chocolate muffin flavour."
"This peach one is definitely staying on the menu."
"Strawberry, vanilla, banana and chocolate are all good."
"Mango tastes amazing both as the liquid and the pearls."
"I'm not keen on kiwi, but I know people who enjoy it."
Looks like we've got a few flavours ready for the boba shop. Now we just need to collect feedback from people and see which ones they like the most.
Zoey hasn't had much time to go through all this with me recently, and since my new potential client ended up in the hospital, I've had a lot of free time on my hands.
I glance up from the table and see Zoey still taste-testing the drinks.
Her expression looks far more relaxed than when she first walked into the shop.
It's been a few days since I left the Huntr/x building. To say Zoey and Mira were shocked and confused by my decision would be an understatement.
I'm still not sure how it happened, but the next morning in my new hotel room I woke up to Mira's face inches away from mine, looking absolutely menacing, while Zoey sat backwards on a chair nearby, arms resting on the backrest, also looking menacing.
The interrogation that followed was relentless.
Why did I leave?
What happened?
Was it because of Rumi?
Was I angry?
Did someone say something?
Did something happen between us?
Since it seemed like they didn't know the full situation, I didn't want to drag Rumi into it.
Even though Zoey tried her best to look intimidating, the trembling of her lip and the tears forming in her eyes made it pretty obvious she was upset.
In the end, the only explanation I gave them was that I wanted to focus on setting up the business with Zoey and that I also had a new client to sign while I was in Korea.
After a quick huddle between the two of them, they decided that maybe it was for the best.
They were already busy with rehearsals, preparing for another show next week, and trying to help Rumi recover her voice.
Both of them hugged me, cried on my shoulder for a bit, and then left me alone to process everything that had just happened.
Honestly, that whole encounter felt like emotional whiplash.
"Chiki."
Zoey's voice pulls me back to the present.
"Yeah?"
She slowly raises the cup she's holding.
"This peach one really is good."
"I told you."
She narrows her eyes slightly.
"Don't get smug."
"I'm not smug."
"You absolutely are."
She takes another sip before placing the cup back on the table.
"We've got a decent lineup now."
I glance at the notes we've written down.
Strawberry.
Vanilla.
Banana.
Chocolate.
Peach.
Mango.
And kiwi as a niche option.
Not bad for a starting menu.
"We'll keep testing," I say. "But this should be enough to start with."
Zoey nods slowly.
"Yeah… I think people will like it."
She leans back in her chair and stretches slightly.
Even though she tries to hide it, I can see the excitement in her eyes.
This whole project means a lot to her.
Which is exactly why I wanted her involved in the first place.
For once, she has something that's hers.
Not Huntr/x.
Not songwriting for the group.
Just something she can build herself.
Zoey suddenly tilts her head at me.
"You know… I still find it weird."
"What?"
"That you came all the way to Korea because I asked you to watch our concert."
I shrug.
"You asked."
"So, you just… came?"
"Well, that and the business opportunity."
She rolls her eyes.
"You're ridiculous."
"Probably."
Zoey picks up another drink and takes a cautious sip.
Immediately her face scrunches up.
"Okay that one is terrible."
I glance at the label.
"Chocolate muffin?"
She nods firmly.
"Delete it."
"Agreed."
I cross it off the list.
Some experiments just aren't meant to survive.
Zoey sighs dramatically.
"You know what we still need though?"
"What?"
"A signature drink."
I raise an eyebrow.
"A signature drink?"
"Yeah!"
She suddenly perks up again, excitement returning.
"Something unique. Something people associate with our shop."
"That's not a bad idea."
Zoey taps the table with her finger, clearly thinking.
"Hmmm…"
Then her eyes suddenly light up.
"What about honeydew?"
"With peach popping pearls."
I pause for a moment.
"…That might actually work."
Zoey immediately pumps her fist into the air.
"Yes!"
I shake my head slightly, unable to stop myself from smiling.
Working on this shop with her is surprisingly… enjoyable.
And honestly?
After everything that happened recently…
It's a lot simpler than dealing with complicated emotions.
Just work.
Just planning.
Just building something new.
Zoey suddenly leans forward again.
"Chiki."
"Yeah?"
"When this place opens…"
She grins mischievously.
"We're putting my name on a drink."
I sigh.
"…We'll discuss that later."
Line Break
The door slid shut with a quiet thud as we settled into the back seats of the car. The driver pulled away from the curb smoothly, merging into the morning traffic without a word.
Unlike the taxis we'd been using before, this one was a little more… comfortable.
Zoey had one leg tucked under herself on the seat, her phone held close to her face while a single earbud hung from her ear. The faint instrumental of an unheard song leaked out just enough for me to hear it.
Her lips moved slightly as she read the lyrics back to herself.
"When the mask you wear starts breaking…"
She paused.
Then she nodded slowly.
"…okay."
Her fingers tapped across the screen as she locked the line in.
"That one might actually work."
I glanced over at her.
"So the suffering is over?"
Zoey shot me a look.
"It's never over."
"That sounds unhealthy."
"That's the creative process."
She slipped the earbud out and dropped her phone onto her lap, leaning back into the seat with a tired sigh.
For a moment neither of us spoke as the car rolled through the busy morning streets of Seoul. Office workers moved quickly along the sidewalks, coffee cups in hand, while delivery trucks unloaded boxes outside shops that were just opening for the day
Zoey leaned back in the seat, scrolling through something on her phone again.
"Oh yeah," she said casually, "Did you see the gaming news from Japan?"
I shook my head.
"No. What happened?"
"A bunch of companies are teasing new neuro-link games."
That alone wasn't particularly surprising. Neuro-link gaming had been slowly gaining traction for years now. Ever since the early systems proved stable enough for public use, developers had been trying to push immersion further.
Still, Zoey tilted her phone toward me anyway.
"Look."
I leaned slightly closer.
Several headlines filled the screen.
Major Studios Announce Next Generation Neuro-Link Titles
Full Immersion Fantasy Combat System Revealed
Open Ocean Adventure World In Development
Zoey scrolled through a few of the preview images.
Concept art flashed past.
An endless ocean dotted with scattered islands and massive ships sailing between them.
A mountainous village hidden behind towering stone faces.
A dark forest where swordsmen stood ready against creatures lurking in the mist.
A sprawling magical kingdom filled with towering guild halls and glowing spell circles.
My eyes lingered on the screen for a moment longer.
"…Wait."
Zoey glanced at me.
"What?"
"These are… new games?"
"Yeah."
She shrugged.
"Apparently they're building entire worlds for neuro-link players to explore."
I leaned back slowly.
"…You're kidding."
Zoey laughed.
"Why would I be kidding?"
But I barely heard her.
My mind was still staring at the images I'd just seen.
An endless pirate sea…. One Piece.
A hidden ninja village…. Naruto.
Demon hunting swordsmen in the dark…. Demon Slayer.
A kingdom of magic guilds…. Fairy tail.
Those weren't just random fantasy ideas.
They were practically identical to worlds I knew.
Worlds that shouldn't exist here.
Because in this world…
Those stories had never been written.
I ran a hand through my hair.
"…This world is getting crazier."
Zoey tilted her head.
"Huh?"
I gestured vaguely toward the phone.
"These games."
"They're basically like stepping into an anime."
Zoey blinked once.
Then she laughed.
"Oh, you mean the art style?"
"Something like that."
She leaned back into the seat, clearly misunderstanding.
"Yeah, that's kind of the point."
Zoey tapped the screen again as another article loaded.
"A lot of studios are leaning into that aesthetic now."
I looked back out the window as the city rolled past.
Anime style.
Sure.
If only it were just that.
Because from where I was sitting…
It looked less like inspiration…
and more like someone had decided to turn entire anime worlds into playable reality.
And somehow…
this world was doing it without even knowing the stories they were copying.
Zoey suddenly leaned forward again, excitement returning to her voice.
"Actually though, imagine if concerts happened in there."
I raised an eyebrow.
"Concerts?"
"Yeah!"
Her hands started moving as she spoke.
"Fans logging into a virtual venue, watching performances from anywhere in the world."
She grinned.
"You could build entire stages out of light or magic or whatever."
I shook my head slightly.
"You're already turning it into a concert hall."
Zoey crossed her arms smugly.
"Tell me it wouldn't be cool."
"…It would be cool."
"Exactly."
The car slowed as we turned onto a quieter street lined with smaller businesses and empty storefronts.
Zoey leaned closer to the window.
"Oh— we're here."
The vehicle pulled to a stop in front of the building that would soon become our shop.
Zoey stepped out first and walked toward the glass storefront, peering inside.
Construction materials were stacked along the walls, and several workers moved around inside carrying equipment.
It still looked rough.
Bare floors.
Unpainted walls.
Boxes piled in the corners.
But the shape of the shop was already starting to take form.
Zoey stood there quietly for a moment, taking it all in.
"…This is actually happening."
I stepped up beside her, pulling the key from my pocket.
"Still looks like a construction site."
Zoey glanced back at me with a grin.
"Give it a few days."
I unlocked the door.
"Then we'll see if your shop lives up to the hype."
Zoey's smile widened as she stepped inside.
"Oh, it will."
~~~~
Let me know what you guys think. About the direction this is going in, and the new addition to these new anime involvement.
Also, much love to wilroso for still showing support to my story months after chapter 7. Wanted to get the chapter out ASAP.