“So, um, have you played many video games?”

“No.”

“Oh, um, what’s your favorite anime or manga?”

“I haven’t had the time for either.”

“Huh, that’s cool.”

Kitana didn’t respond.

“Well, if you haven’t really played any games before, all these ability points and skills might be a bit confusing," Alan said. "I’ve found it best to try to stick with one sort of character and focus on doing that as best you can. Also, there are a few pretty useful skills that you can buy that will allow you to improve faster. I don’t know if you noticed them, but Skilled and Gifted seem pretty over powered.”

"Yes, those skills have been quite useful in accruing extra ability points," Kitana said. "I began with them.”

“Oh, you did? Um, if you don’t mind me asking, what other abilities did you start with?”

Kitana made a gesture, opening a menu, looking at it while she ran.

“Sword mastery, a various number of sword-moves the Game seems to have converted from the style I’ve learned, various breathing techniques, meditation, sprint, sneak, enhanced endurance, there are quite a few here.”

Alan opened and looked at his character menu. The only skills were the ones he bought, Skilled and the basic sneak ability.

You should align yourself and become “friends” with this Kitana. Discover her goals and aid her or blackmail her, Eve suddenly sent.

Um, right… I’ll do that, but probably not for the same reasons you want me to, and I’m definitely not going to try to blackmail her.

Fine. Based upon the games I’ve played, girls are likely to like you if you are strong, cute, handsome, charming, funny or a lovable buffoon. Based upon my observations, you would be best suited for the role of lovable buffoon. First—

Wait, no, stop. Too far. Please don’t give me relationship advice.

Is that a command?

It is. Stop.

Fine.

Blushing slightly, Alan continued jogging along the road. What were they talking about again? Oh, right, skills.

“Huh, that’s pretty amazing," he said. "I actually only have a few skills. Um, by the way, what level are you?”

“53.”

Oh, well that explains a lot… Alan thought. I guess abilities in the real world transfer over to the Game, which sort of makes sense if it’s supposed to represent fighting in your actual body, just virtually. Another reason all the people at the airbase were super buff and looked militaristic.

Still, to be told that I don’t have any skills worth mentioning is sort of depressing. I may have spent most of my days sitting inside reading stuff or watching things or playing games, but I also studied pretty hard. Okay, well, I studied hard when it mattered and I wanted to, so like, a few times. Whatever, I have Eve to do that...

Alan ignored the fact that a lot of his inability came from laziness. He’d do the hard work. At some point.

Alan began to tire, but Kitana kept up the quick pace. Urging his body onward despite the pain, Alan resolved to take this time to push himself harder than he ever had before. It was a game after all.