The Isekai Game

Anxiety

Water flowed against her feet. Fountains layered over one another upwards on a wall. It was the second weekend into the month and Vanessa hadn't beaten her mission. Just the motioning of the pouring large fountain gave her a sickness of water being shoved into her stomach.

Gazing into the rainbow being reflected from the aesthetic fountain, a rush of water being flooding into her nose occurred. Flashbacks played in Vanessa's mind. Not of simulation, but of genuine fear of how dreadful it is to drown.

After a gasp for air, Vanessa decided it was time to sit down. But the feeling didn't stop. Her body began contracting as to throw up a liquid that wasn't there. This little fountain was surely beautiful. But the trauma caused by the water maiden took the experience away.

Keeping her head down, Vanessa recalled earlier, back in August, Logan mentioned having PTSD. It was a laugh given he really just had unhealthy habits. That boy wouldn't know a cooked meal if it was shoved into him. Could this be it? Could Vanessa really have PTSD?

One would like to believe that it was simply images transplanted into her head by the game. There has never been any such thing noticed nor mentioned by any player before.

A further moment reminded Vanessa of when she was at her grandparents for the holidays in Italy. Her mother stood talking about Vanessa's future college, suggesting she go for business to join her in the real estate industry. Vanessa dazed off staring at her grandma cut fish. Each cut sent her deeper into a trance. The head was thrown. Vanessa jumped, seeing it as a vampire fish from the December theme.

Everybody in the kitchen froze. It was apparent she was frightened. Her mother began rubbing her shoulder explaining that she has been playing some crazy otaku game back in Miami. Everybody suggested she spent more time studying for a real future than playing some game that scares her.

"Yeah, she's out of it," said Dani as she placed her hand on Vanessa's shoulder.

Vanessa jumped to her feet and slipped back down to the bench. Mimi sat down to give her a hug. Dani rubbed her shoulder and leaned in for a hug.

"Something giving you nightmares?" asked Kiki.

Fluttered at the moment, Vanessa jumbled her words around to find the right sentence. Mimi tightened her hug. The affection given took Vanessa's breath away. After it was taken, she warmed into comfort. They patted her head, letting her know it was all okay.

It was clear to the three veteran players that Vanessa was suffering from some form of anxiety, or possibly worse.

"Is oki," said Vanessa with a smile. "My mission is to fight this water lady and she keeps beating my s**t".

Dani smacked Vanessa's thighs for cursing. Everybody was in relief that it wasn't anything too serious. It was actually normal for players to get anxiety from water stages. Being that she was practically in a water garden at the moment made more sense as to why she was being triggered.

Kiki suggested getting her out to relax a bit and maybe getting their limit breaks if she feels comfortable. Vanessa insisted she was okay. But Mimi told her better leading to a tug-o-war. Dani stopped the two from causing further stress on Vanessa when it dawned on her.

"Vanessa, why are you waiting here?" asked Dani.

Kiki instructed everybody to give space so Vanessa could breathe. Vanessa pushed to get her words out. She was waiting for Logan and Vanessa for a team mission. As to what that mission was, she had no clue.

Mimi made clear, "Well, you need to stay away from water for a bit. Probably relax another weekend. Like I know we are on different teams, but this is seriously for your health. Give this game a break if you need to. It's not worth your health".

"You should be fine though," said Dani, "I'll talk to Logan to make sure he keeps you away from water".

Kiki pleaded in favor of Dani to bring some sense into that boy. Mimi wasn't convinced. Instead, Mimi vouched that they stay with her to make sure Logan doesn't do anything crazy.

Vanessa tried convincing them that she was okay. However, the girls weren't satisfied.

"So Vanessa is getting anxiety over water," said Logan alongside Jaivva, as he whipped his face. "This could cause a problem".

Nobody had seen nor heard him creep up. In doubt it was the real Logan, Kiki placed her hand on his shoulder. Dani asked if they were doing anything around water. Logan simply doubted it. It all came down to what Vanessa had planned.

Everybody was confused. He further explained that she will be obtaining her spirit animal. Both Jaivva and Vanessa were confused. Mimi, Kiki, and Dani were squealing for joy. The noise agitated Logan. It was expected, given that obtaining a spirit animal was one of the most exciting parts of the game.

"Seriously Logan! No water!" said Kiki, "I know where you live". 

Nonchalant as ever, Logan answered, "Obviously. This may cause problems in the future. But never before has thrown people into their cause of anxiety helped. We'll look into getting through this later. For now, we'll stick to missions, limit breaks, and obtaining spirit animals".

Dani made clear her mission was a water spirit. It was unfortunate given Logan didn't have much time to help her with it. He genuinely had other assignments to do for the sake of himself and the team. In the meantime, he intended to see to it that his two precious teammates were taken care of.

"Well, be easy on her," said Mimi brushing Vanessa's hair, "I know it's hectic to get a spirit animal. But take it easy on her for a bit".

He ignored every word Mimi said. He reached down for Vanessa's hand. Kiki informed him they were coming to get limit breaks as well. He immediately denounced her stating the team has priority. Even Dani and Jaivva took his side on that. There wasn't anything wrong with them actually joining their venture. But Logan liked to keep information safe from the enemy.

The bickering continued until Vanessa jumped up to play with Logan's wolf ears. He corrected her that it was fox ears. She kept trying to touch it causing Logan to blush. Her attempts continued until Logan threatened her with lightning.

Jaivva held his arms together, allowing Vanessa to touch the ears. Instead of fighting, Logan pouted from the humiliation. All of the girls took the moment to play with his ear. Dani even teased him with an ice pop offering.

Petting the tiny fur on his ears, Kiki said, "Logan's so fearless until it comes to women. Maybe that's why he's so mean towards them".

The ears were real, and so was his anger. It was Dani who stopped the shenanigans so Logan could help them take care of business.

Kiki noticed Vanessa was no longer shaking nor gasping for air. It was the comfort she felt with Logan that managed to make her feel better.

Kiki asked her scrawny neighbor, "So where are we going for the trials"?