The sky was a vast expanse of dark looming clouds that had long since passed threatening to rain as drops slammed against the windows, roofs, and cement of the city below. It was easy to say that no one would be starting their day without an umbrella if they should venture outside for any reason. It was a bit of surprise to see rain happening on the last few days of freedom before the start of school for many but who ever said nature made sense. The downpour of noise didn't reach the ears of one person, no matter how much she usually loved the sound and enjoyed watching it. Shizuka didn't move from her spot on the bed, her chocolate eyes staring up at the ceiling as her mind drifted through memories for she didn't know how long. She hated thinking about it day in and out but with her brother gone, the silence and loneliness of the house was like a prison. She sighed, turning on her side and looking around the darkness of her bedroom with only a small source of light coming from the Neuro Linker that had been yet to be turned off. The small piece of technology had been the lead in to the biggest mistake of her life and yet it use to bring her so much joy. Could she ever get back into the game? Could she enjoy Brain Burst again? Had someone taken her spot as King? No, Mamorimasu would have said something but what if her Legion disbanded or people joined other Legions..... what would she do then? A King with no one? Would she just be doomed to be alone no matter what world she was in?

All this and more swirled in her mind that she was about ready to pick the thing up and chuck it where it could not be seen. Shizuka pushed off the bed, swiping the thing up off the desk and raised it about her head for but a second before pausing to bring it back down slowly. She twirled it in her hands gently before placing it on, her eyesight correcting itself and seeing everything else pop up. Her home network was the only one she ever connected to and even then it was never for very long since it was usually just to check the frustrating and disappointing messages from her parents telling her what to do or what they excepted for a certain date. 

[b][i]One Unread Message[/i][/b]

She looked at those three words with dread before opening it up and frowned. Even now, it binged up on the screen with a brief and pathetic message that sounded more like business than family, not that she expected more at this point. Shizuka, after all, had been taking care of herself as far as she could remember and her parents really had never been her parents or at least not what anyone would look to as parents. 

[i]Shizuka,

There is a press meeting tomorrow and we expect you to be there as well as looking presentable for the occasion. As always, you will be compensated for your time. The limo will pick you up at 10 o'clock sharp, don't make them wait. 

- Mr.Katashi Kobayashi and Mrs.Jun Kobayashi[/i]

Shizuka knew there was no reason to respond so she just deleted it, not wanting to look at it a second longer. She hated playing happy perfect family when it was all a fat lie. As it was, they had needed to make lies on why she hadn't lived with them since her waking in the hospital. That had been a complete joke to watch as they made pathetic excuses and at that point in time they didn't even want to see her but the more the media pointed fingers was when they contacted her. They would pay for her time and in return, she would play their happy daughter. Silent and pretty. She shook her head, not letting her parents get to her as she moved to the kitchen and started to scrounge around for something to make lunch wise.