บท 33: Everyone keeps secrets.
How similar was the world of this cartoon to the real world?
This morning, Asha had spent her time watching videos on TubeTube, trying to understand more about the world.
She didn't have many options to check the differences in the hospital since they didn't have internet or a TV.
The world was very similar to her previous one but with significant differences.
Most of the videos on TubeTube were about animals doing cute things or trivial topics.
While those contents still existed in her previous world, their numbers were tremendously greater here.
Of course, there were serious videos about science and common knowledge, but the quantity of trivial and nonsensical content was even greater compared to that.
Things like horror games from her past life didn't exist here, and the gaming industry seemed very primitive, still in the early stages of 3D games.
Platforms like TikTok didn't exist yet. Most videos were at least 10 minutes long, and the idea of working as a YouTuber seemed almost unimaginable.
It was as if she had gone back to 2010 but with some technologies from 2020.
For example, Smart TVs existed in this world, but advanced gaming consoles were still not that popular.
Concepts like VTubers or channels focused on gaming were far from reality.
This news alone was very shocking, as she realized she wouldn't be able to play her usual FPS games or hero shooters.
Not even Minecraft existed in this world!
Asha put her hands over her face in frustration. She felt as if her world was falling apart.
Video games were like a part of her soul. She had thought this world would at least have games similar to her previous one, but in reality, the gaming industry here was still so underdeveloped.
There were some 2D games similar to Pokémon, but that was it. You couldn't find games with good storytelling or advanced 3D graphics.
The most popular topics were music. It made sense, given how the original series often used songs in many episodes, but for Asha, it was frustrating.
Ultimately, she was deaf. She couldn't listen to any of those songs.
The streaming services here were also terrible. Most series had poor storytelling, nonsensical dialogue, and predictable plots.
'This world is hopeless.'
She had spent most of her time deprived of entertainment. Sometimes, she would fantasize about all the games she could play once she was out of the hospital.
But when she finally had the opportunity to enjoy life's simple pleasures, this world played a cruel trick on her.
Asha lay down on the couch, spiritless.
A world without good games was like a nightmare.
She had spent two whole hours in front of the TV looking for anything decent, only to find the most ridiculous and senseless content.
'At least Super Drill…'
Super Drill Adventures seemed like the brightest gem this world had to offer.
Beautifully innovative and detailed 3D and 2D animations, compelling storytelling, and deep messages in every episode.
Super Drill was unique, but this world seemed to fail miserably at replicating its formula.
Asha eagerly searched for the next episode of Super Drill, trying to contain her excitement.
She clicked on the thumbnail almost as if possessed, but unfortunately, the world wasn't so kind to her.
[The limit of two hours a day has been reached. Please ask for your parents' permission to continue watching.]
'What?'
Asha couldn't believe the words on the screen displayed directly in her brain. She focused her energy to appraise the notification more clearly, but no matter how much effort she put into it, the message remained the same.
Suddenly, Priyanka's words came back to her.
"Two episodes a day."
Asha's hands began trembling in despair. She had wasted her entire allotted TV time and lost the chance to watch her beloved Super Drill.
It felt as if she could cry tears of blood.
'This must be a nightmare.'
She tried to convince herself that this situation was just a bad dream, a projection of her fears.
But no matter how long she stared at the TV, she didn't wake up.
The first thing to defeat her wasn't some mythical enemies like the Crystal Gems, but a cruel Family Management App.
*
Sitting apathetically in a wheelchair, Asha accepted the food entering her mouth.
It was already lunchtime, and as usual, Priyanka was feeding her.
Asha's spirit was crushed by the realization that not only was the entertainment of this world awful, but the one series she loved was locked away from her.
Strangely, she wasn't the only one with empty eyes.
"Connie, the food is spilling," said Priyanka, looking at her curiously.
"...Food?"
Connie stared blankly at her plate. It was a typical healthy meal that she would normally complain about.
But this time, she put the food in her mouth without hesitation, as if she were a broken robot.
Doug watched his daughter with concern. Even he couldn't eat this type of salad without frowning, which made Connie's behavior all the more unsettling.
"Connie, are you okay? Did something happen?"
"Something...? No."
With those words, she continued eating robotically.
Trying to lighten the strange atmosphere, Doug turned on the radio.
[CBB News here with the latest updates!]
The cheerful voice of the host filled the room, momentarily shifting the mood.
Doug took a sip of water as he listened.
[Our reporters have been receiving accounts from worried parents about the appearance of a strange creature seen playing with children at a water park.]
"Cough—cough—!"
Doug sputtered, nearly choking on his water.
Priyanka quickly moved to pat his back in concern.
"Doug, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. I just choked for a moment."
Three pairs of eyes stared at him, but Doug maintained a stoic expression and drank more water.
[Reports describe the creature as pink and shaped like a lion. Similar sightings have been documented—]
"Clink!"
The sound of shattered glass interrupted the broadcast.
Connie's plate lay in pieces on the floor.
"I-I'll be back in a minute!"
Without waiting for a response, Connie ran out as if she had seen a ghost.
"Wait. Connie—!"
Priyanka turned her gaze to her husband, who was now robotically sipping water, and the shattered plate on the floor.
"Doug, what is going on?"
"I just remembered something urgent at work. I need to head out."
"Now? On a Sunday?"
"It's really important."
Without further explanation, Doug grabbed his clothes and car keys.
In the blink of an eye, only Priyanka and Asha remained. Asha stared blankly into the distance, as if her soul had left her.
Priyanka sighed and surveyed the mess—food, glass, and water were scattered across the table and floor.
"Let's clean up first."
*
Below the safety of her blanket, Connie's mind raced.
'Was that real?'
The image of the pink lion she had seen yesterday in her secret base replayed in her head like a scene from a horror movie.
Its eyes glowed pink, its candy-covered mane glinting eerily in the light. It had stared at her like a predator eyeing its prey.
Then, in an instant, it had vanished through a magical ring.
Her parents would never believe her.
The encounter had left her so shaken that she'd spent the entire night awake, turning it over in her mind.
She was both terrified and fascinated.
'A magical lion…'
Thinking back, the lion hadn't actually attacked her. It had been intimidating but ultimately behaved peacefully.
'Would it still be there if I went back? Why was it eating candy? Do lions even like candy?'
She hesitated, trying to rationalize the situation.
'No, this is dangerous. No matter how magical it is, it's still a lion…!'
Despite her words, her eyes kept drifting to her stash of candy.
'But… what if it's a good magical lion? It's magical, after all…'
Normally, Connie would never take such a risk. But the more she repeated the word "magical" in her head, the more tempted she became.
And the fact that this creature was nearby, potentially living in her backyard, only solidified the idea forming in her mind.
'Tonight… just to make sure it's real…'
The truth was, like her father, Connie desperately yearned for adventure.
*
Author note
This chapter seems simple but is the result of more than 7 drafts discarded, mixed, and rewritten. I tried to write something better for days, I went until 2 AM trying to write something good and rewrote it all 4 hours before the chapter was released TWO TIMES.
I really tried X﹏X. I'll postpone the rehabilitation to the next chapter.
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