Two things awaited Sophie Blackwell when she skulked her way home from her usual vending machine drink run that night. A package and a note sat in front of her door. Only one of those things held any mystery, and she knew what was in the package.

"Sophie," she mumbled to herself as she read aloud. "Busy at work this week. Will not be home. Make sure to eat well. Your package showed up... Dad."

The note was blank of any sentiment, as usual. Her door was locked up tight, too. He hadn't even stepped inside his own house for a minute. Pops was always busy at work, and being away for a week or more wasn't unusual, but it was still annoying how he told Sophie that this was her house even though he was the one who paid for the place. And the moment he wanted to have anybody over, suddenly it wasn't Sophie's place, and she was confined to her room.

"What am I, the damned housekeeper? Dammit..." Shaking off her annoyance, she slid her key roughly into the lock and brought the large box inside. Kicking bags of garbage and pizza boxes out of the way, she quickly made space to put the box down and spared herself just enough time to open a can of soda and light up a smoke before sliding a knife deftly into the creases of the cardboard container. Her VR headset was inside, waiting for her. It was just shortly after midnight, so as soon as she slapped that baby on her head, her new destiny awaited. She didn't waste any time.

[b]”Welcome to Hikikomori Virtual Academy, Future Student. Tonight will be used to create your Academy Persona, to give you an orientation of our services and your new responsibilities, as well as to test you in the three areas that, we believe, are the fundamentals of Humanity: Physical, Mental and Social. When you are ready, merely state so by pronouncing “Start” clearly, and the Persona Creation Process will commence with myself as the model.”[/b]

The darkness faded, and she was presented with a vision of herself, in all her unkempt glory. It made Sophie uncomfortable to look at. Pastel colors were 'in,' she knew that from magazines, but none of her clothes were properly fitted, and they hung loose. Her shorts drooped low on her waist and her jacket was nearly slipping off her shoulder. [i]I guess today's been a 'sloppy chic' day...[/i] Her vaguely smiling doppelganger creeped her out as well. It was a program made for people with more expression in their faces, she knew. But on her own face, it felt like somebody else's smile.

[i]Whatever. It's time. Let's get going.[/i]

"Start her up I guess," she mumbled. It took almost a full minute of uncomfortable silence for Sophie to realize that she hadn't been clear. "Oh, for the love of... START." Only after confirming that the program had been kicked into motion did she let her breath out. "This is gonna be a hassle, I already know it..."