Two weeks later, Yoko called Imada.


    "Imada-san, it''s me."


    "Yoko-san!"


    "Why haven''t you called me? Everything happened just like you said it would!" Yoko''s voice was tinged with excitement.


    "I wanted to call, but there''s a rule."


    "Another rule? I''ve been wanting to talk to you. Can''t you change these rules?" Yoko tried to capture Imada''s full attention.


    "I''ve wanted to talk to you too," Imada replied, his face turning slightly red on his end of the phone.


    "That''s good to hear. But can I really trust you?"


    "It''s true!" His face turned an even deeper shade of red.


    "So, why me?" Yoko probed further into Imada''s feelings. She was at an age where being alone started to raise eyebrows. She was ready to make her move, whatever it took.


    "Well, that''s... um... let me think..."


    "Do you have a girlfriend, Imada-san? Is that why you''ve been holding back on contacting me?" she blurted out.


    I don''t have a girlfriend," he stated, with a confidence he hadn''t shown before. "You''re not married?"


    "No, I''m not."


    "You''re not lying, are you?"


    "I''m not lying."


    "...Can we meet today?" Yoko asked after catching her breath.


    "Sure, we can meet," Imada replied.


    Imada said he would be waiting in the hotel lobby, but Yoko told him she wanted to go directly to the room where he was staying. After hanging up the phone, Yoko rushed to take a shower, put on makeup, dressed in her favorite outfit, and headed out. She entered the upscale hotel near the station and took the elevator to the 24th floor.


    "Yoko-san, please come in."


    Imada opened the door and welcomed Yoko into the room.


    "Thank you," Yoko said, entering the room with a radiant smile she hadn''t shown to anyone else recently. Without waiting for Imada''s invitation, she settled onto the sofa, crossing her shapely legs.


    "Imada-san, I''m thirsty. Could I have some water?"


    "Of course," Imada replied. He took a bottle of mineral water from the refrigerator and reached for a glass.


    "No need for the glass, just the bottle is fine," Yoko said. She took the bottle from Imada and drank the water with audible gulps, capturing his gaze with the movement of her graceful throat.


    "It''s really cold and delicious!" she exclaimed. The corners of Yoko''s lips curled into a smile, wet and glistening, capturing a soft light.


    "Well then, let me offer a toast to your success as well," Imada said, pulling another bottle from the refrigerator.


    "Thanks to you, my account balance keeps rising."


    "That''s good to hear, isn''t it?"


    "It really is. I can finally pay off my debts, and my mother''s ring will be returned as well. Thank you so much, you''re incredible."


    "Don''t mention it. I''m really not that special..." The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "But you are extraordinary. If you''re available, would you join me for dinner? I''d like to express my gratitude."


    "I''d love to, but I actually have prior commitments..."


    "..."


    Yoko looked at Imada, her eyes tinged with sadness. They were so captivating that Imada felt his heart being drawn into them. Declining an invitation from such an enchanting woman felt like losing a piece of himself.


    "I don''t have much time today," he said.


    "Work-related?"


    Considering Imada''s looks, Yoko assumed plenty of women would be vying for his attention. They would likely fantasize about him, perhaps even fall for him. Yoko herself was susceptible to his physical allure. Yet, for some reason, his charm seemed to diminish whenever he spoke.


    "Yes, work," Imada lied.


    "If it''s work, then there''s nothing that can be done. I did show up on short notice, after all. If you don''t mind, I''d love to know what kind of work you do."


    "Well, I work in research and development for virtual reality."


    "Virtual reality? You must be really smart," Yoko said, her eyes sparkling.


    "Maybe, maybe not," Imada replied with a wry smile.


    "In that case, let''s reschedule dinner for another time. I''ll be heading home now."


    "Yoko-san, wait a minute. I’ll accompany you downstairs."


    Yoko and Imada took the elevator together. Yoko was going to the first floor, while Imada needed to get to the underground parking lot. When the elevator doors opened on the first floor, Imada spoke up.


    "Yoko-san, would you like a ride in my car?"


    "Huh, are you sure you have time?"


    "It''s fine. Isn''t your apartment right nearby?"


    "Yes, it is. I appreciate it!"


    Yoko thought that Imada might have taken a liking to her and couldn''t hide her smile. She had heard that a man wouldn''t offer a ride to a woman he wasn''t interested in. Perhaps it was because she hadn''t taken the initiative until now that men might have considered her unapproachable.


    "It''s over there, Yoko-san."


    When they reached the underground parking lot, Imada pointed to his car.


    "Oh, isn''t that a Rolls-Royce?"


    "No, it''s a Bentley," he answered as he walked toward the car.


    "I don''t know much about cars, but it must be expensive."


    "Well, yes. Now, please get in."


    Imada opened the passenger door.


    "I''ve never seen an interior so futuristic. There are so many buttons."


    "It''s a special design."


    "Imada-san, are you a spy or something? This car looks like it could fly through the air."


    "I can''t fly, though," Imada said with a smile.


    "But a spy, maybe?" Yoko smiled. As Imada took the driver''s seat, he noticed Yoko’s faint scent beside him. He thought surely a luxury car must exist solely to have a beauty like Yoko in the passenger seat.


    "It’s very strange."


    "What''s that?"


    "That someone as successful as you doesn''t have a girlfriend. Maybe your preferences are really specific. What type of person do you like, anyway?" Yoko couldn''t help but ask.


    "My type? Well..."


    While saying that, Imada knew that Yoko was a 100% his type.


    "Are compromise or imperfections not an option? I don''t think there''s anyone truly perfect out there."


    "There might be," Imada said with a smile.


    "But finding that person is tough. How about someone nearby and good enough?"


    "Then, someone nearby like Yoko-san. Besides, you''re perfect," Imada blushed as he said this.


    "Really! Imada-san, you''re the type to make jokes like that? How mean!"


    "How can I be mean by telling the truth?"


    "I''d be happy if it were the truth. But I''m definitely not perfect at all. If it weren''t for you helping me, who knows where I''d be right now?"


    "I think you''re perfect."


    "..."


    Yoko began to wonder if he might be serious.


    "Next time, let''s definitely go out for a meal!" Imada blushed once more.


    "Yes!" Yoko couldn''t contain her happiness, and her smile radiated brightly. As Imada glanced at her while driving, he noticed her symmetrically beautiful eyes were more stunning than anyone else''s. He dropped Yoko off in front of her apartment. As she disappeared inside, he entered a password on the touch panel. He pulled a small lever under the driver''s seat, and intense vibrations enveloped his body, causing him to lose consciousness.


    When he woke up, he found himself sitting in front of a computer in his usual dingy room. The transfer from the virtual world had been completed, and he had returned to his dull reality. Thanks to this game, the sense of happiness that had been unfamiliar in his life now existed within him even after returning to reality.


    “Successful people must face each day with hearts that leap like this,” he thought. The power to act, backed by confidence. The courage to fearlessly face failure. These were qualities that captivated those around successful individuals. Although Imada possessed none of that, it seemed possible for him to exhibit courage and action as a successful person within the virtual world. The origin of this newfound strength was Yoko''s presence. She had become an essential part of Imada''s life, and he had begun to think about her day and night.