The kitchen table was a battlefield of half-eaten breakfast plates when Riley suddenly leaned forward, eyes blazing with purpose. Aria and Sofia both froze mid-chew, suspicious.
"I want us all to play Realmwalker tonight when it launches," Riley said. "But—we've got a problem."
Aria raised a hand dramatically. "OH NO. Here it comes. The tragic twist."
Sofia quietly set down her spoon. "What's wrong?"
Riley exhaled slowly. "We… don't have VR headsets."
Three identical blinks echoed around the kitchen—Aria's, Sofia's, and Mom's.
Aria slammed her palms on the table. "WOW. WHO COULD HAVE PREDICTED THIS. It's not like we're broke or anything!"
Sofia whispered, "They're expensive…"
Riley lifted a hand. "Relax. I'll get them."
Aria stared at him. "How?! You have like… twelve pounds and a pocketful of lint."
"I have some money," Riley protested.
Mom turned from the sink, arms crossed. "How much is 'some'?"
Riley hesitated.
Aria leaned toward Sofia. "Look. He's thinking. That means we're doomed."
Riley groaned. "Fine. I have enough for one headset."
Aria blinked. "One? ONE? BRO. There are THREE of us."
"I'm aware," Riley muttered. "I… forgot sixteen-year-old me isn't exactly rolling in cash."
Sofia's voice softened. "So… only one of us can play?"
Riley felt the twist of disappointment on her face like a knife.
That couldn't happen.
Not this time.
Before he could speak, Mom slid dramatically between them like a diva entering stage left.
"Oh please," she said, clasping her hands with exaggerated emotion, "ALL THREE of my children begging for gaming equipment at the same time… I've waited YEARS for this moment."
Sofia giggled.
Aria snorted.
Mom grinned. "Fine. I'll buy the other two."
Riley's jaw dropped. "Mom—seriously?"
"But," she added, raising a deadly finger, "this counts as your birthday, Christmas, next Christmas, and possibly Easter."
Aria gasped theatrically. "MOM. THAT'S ILLEGAL."
"It is very legal," Mom said.
"It… probably is," Sofia agreed softly.
Riley swallowed. His mom—this younger, gentler, brighter version—was already helping him more than he'd ever let her, the first time around.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Aria pretended to dab at imaginary tears. "He's soft again. Someone get a camera."
Sofia smiled. "He's being kind, Aria. Let him."
Mom grabbed her purse. "Right, before I change my mind—into the car."
Aria shot out of her chair so fast it nearly capsized. "I CALL SHOTGUN!"
"You always do," Sofia sighed.
"BECAUSE I AM SPEED," Aria shouted, sprinting down the hall.
Mom followed her, muttering, "Why did I have children again?"
Riley and Sofia walked behind them. Sofia nudged him gently.
"You know she's doing this for you… right?"
Riley blinked. "What?"
"You're different today. Kinder. More… here."
She smiled. "She notices."
Riley's chest tightened.
"…Good. I want to be better this time."
"This time?" Sofia echoed.
Riley froze.
Then forced a casual shrug. "I mean—now that I'm older. Kind of."
Sofia didn't believe him. But she let it go.
She always let things go.
Riley swore silently:
Never again.
---
The Electronics Store
The shop was loud, bright, and plastered wall-to-wall with Realmwalker posters:
ENTER A NEW WORLD — REALMWALKER LAUNCHES TONIGHT
CHOOSE YOUR SPIRIT — FORGE YOUR LEGEND
LIMITED EDITION STARTER KITS
Aria stopped dead in the doorway.
"Oh. My. GOD. Look at that poster. Sofia—we are BUYING THAT POSTER."
"I… can't buy anything," Sofia whispered.
"Riley!" Aria grabbed his sleeve. "Put it on your tab!"
Riley coughed. "We're here for VR headsets."
Mom pointed to a pristine display:
NEXUS-VR Gen4 Headsets
Top-tier. Sleek. Expensive.
The kind Riley could never afford in his past life.
Aria lifted one reverently. "I can literally FEEL victory entering my soul."
Sofia read the manual, fascinated. "The sensory calibration is incredible…"
Riley picked one up gradually, like it might evaporate.
Mom winced at the price. "Fine. Two of these. God help my wallet."
The cashier nearly fainted ringing them up.
When they finally stepped outside, bags in hand, Riley felt something warm and steady settle in his chest.
This was really happening.
All three of them.
Together.
Something he missed entirely in the first life.
Then trouble showed up.
Three boys leaned against the wall outside—a uniformed trio with smug expressions. Riley's stomach dropped.
He recognized them instantly.
Year-11 bullies.
And in the center—
Harry Tomkins.
Younger.
Smugger.
More punchable.
Harry smirked instantly. "Well, well, well. If it isn't the future disappointment of England." He glanced at the girls. "Shopping with your baby sisters, Grant?"
Aria's eyes went nuclear.
"ABSOLUTELY NOT," she said, stepping forward.
Riley grabbed her sleeve. "Aria—don't."
She yanked free. "No. He wants to talk? Let's talk."
Harry sneered. "Should've known your sisters have more backbone than you. You hiding behind them?"
Sofia stepped beside Aria—scared, but firm. "Leave Riley alone."
Harry laughed. His cronies cackled on delay.
"Or what?" Harry taunted. "He'll cry on us? Tell his mommy?"
Aria cracked her knuckles.
"Oh I'm going to enjoy this."
Before Riley could stop her—
She walked straight up to Harry…
…and punched him dead in the face.
A perfect hit.
A crisp CRACK.
Harry stumbled backward, clutching his nose.
"WHAT THE—?!"
Aria flicked her wrist like she was shaking off dust.
"That's for breathing too close to my family."
Harry's friends surged—
But Mom stepped forward with an expression that could end civilizations.
"I dare you," she said coldly.
The boys froze mid-step.
Even bullies have survival instincts.
Mothers with grocery bags are the apex predators of suburbia.
Harry sputtered, nose bleeding. "This isn't over, Grant!"
Aria blew him a kiss. "Anytime, sunshine."
He stormed off, humiliated.
Aria turned back, vibrating with adrenaline. "DID YOU SEE THAT? I AM A GOD."
Sofia gently examined her knuckles. "Does it hurt?"
"Pain fears ME," Aria declared.
Mom grabbed Aria by the ear. "Violence fears me. Don't pick fights."
"OW—MOM—OW—"
"You're grounded."
"Nooooo—"
Riley couldn't stop laughing.
Not just a smile—
He was laughing like he hadn't in years.
Like someone had unlocked the part of him that still remembered joy.
Sofia tugged his sleeve. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Riley said, breathless and real. "Actually… better than okay."
Aria rubbed her ear. "That idiot had it coming."
Riley exhaled, a fierce smile forming.
"I can't wait to destroy them in the game."
Aria gasped. "OH. MY. GOD. WE'RE STARTING A FEUD."
Sofia whispered, horrified, "Please don't start a guild war."
"No promises," Riley grinned.
Mom shook her head. "You children exhaust me."
But she smiled.
And for the first time since waking up as sixteen again—
Riley felt like he belonged in this life.
Tonight, Realmwalker would launch.
Tonight, he would rewrite everything.
Tonight, their adventure truly began.