Chapter 11

Adam's eyes narrowed slightly as he saw the name floating above the young woman's head. Kamiko. The name was familiar, sending a jolt of recognition through his mind. It was tied to significant events from the game's future, events only he knew. Like flipping through a history book no one else had read, memories from his past life rushed back. 

He remembered her very clearly. In the future he came from, she was not just any player. She was destined to become one of the most skilled and influential members of the Goldenrod Guild, a massive force that would control territory, trade, and even the game's narrative. Kamiko was a primary reason for their success.

Adam recalled her reputation perfectly. It was burned into his memory from old forums, reports on guild battles, and a few tense encounters they had shared in his previous life. Kamiko possessed an incredible ability to see opportunities where others saw nothing. She could walk into a chaotic situation, assess it in seconds, and manipulate it to her advantage. It was not luck. She had a sharp, strategic mind and was unafraid to take bold risks. She was a master of turning unexpected events to her favor, making her a formidable adversary and a powerful ally. She was someone who had to be taken seriously.

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Adam stood perfectly still on the path. He kept his face a blank mask, concealing the complex calculations happening within. He watched Kamiko with a new, sharp interest. Meeting her now, on the very first day of the game's launch, was completely unexpected. It was a significant deviation from the future he remembered. Was this random chance, or was his presence already sending ripples through time? His mind, already filled with secrets from years ahead, instantly saw the potential risk and the opportunity. He knew who Kamiko would become. But right now, she knew nothing about him beyond the name floating over his head: AlphaBoss.

He remained carefully neutral on the outside as she stepped closer, a bright, friendly smile lighting up her face. Kamiko stopped a few feet away and held out her hand, her eyes wide with what looked like genuine excitement. "Wow! I've always wanted to meet a pro player!" she exclaimed, her voice clear and energetic. "I can't believe I'm meeting one on the first day! This is awesome!" Her eyes glanced up at the name above his character. "AlphaBoss," she read aloud, looking impressed. "That's a really cool name. It sounds so strong and confident."

Adam remained silent. His knowledge of the future Kamiko made him cautious. Her bubbly personality felt like a potential facade. He knew that any casual conversation could be a risk, that every word he spoke could be a piece of information for her to analyze later. Silence was the safest strategy for now.

His quiet demeanor did not seem to bother her. She leaned in a little, her expression a mix of curiosity and playfulness. "So, is AlphaBoss your real name or just your gamer tag?" she asked, her tone light. "I just used my real name, Kamiko," she added, volunteering personal information in hopes of getting a response. Still, Adam said nothing. He simply looked at her, waiting. He needed to understand her motive. Was this simple curiosity, or was this the future opportunist already looking for an edge?

Kamiko's smile faded slightly, replaced by a small pout of mock annoyance. "Why aren't you saying anything?" she asked, a note of genuine curiosity in her voice now. "Is your microphone off? Can you hear me?" She gestured vaguely toward her own headset.

Finally, Adam decided the silence had served its purpose. He needed to disengage, quickly and firmly. He broke his silence, his voice sharp, direct, and devoid of warmth. "Can you leave me alone?" he said flatly. It was not a question. It was a command. "I need to get back to the village. I have things to do." Without waiting for a reaction, he turned and started walking past her, his steps long and determined.

Kamiko stood frozen for a second, her hand still slightly outstretched. Surprise was clear on her face, a flash of shock crossing her features before she quickly masked it. But she was not one to give up easily. Recovering with incredible speed, the friendly, perhaps calculating, smile returned. Instead of being offended, she seemed almost amused by his bluntness. She quickly fell into step behind him.

"So, I was right!" she called out cheerfully. "You really are a pro player! Acting all serious and mysterious!" Her tone was teasing, but Adam sensed an undercurrent of determination. She was not going to be dismissed so easily. Frustration began to build inside him. He could hear her footsteps keeping pace, a constant reminder of her presence. Her happy chatter cut through the quiet of the forest. This was a complication he did not need, especially from her. Kamiko's proximity was a direct risk to his carefully laid plans.

"I have some stuff to do in the village too," she continued, easily matching his speed. "So, I guess I'll just come along with you! We're heading the same way, anyway."

Adam's jaw tightened. This was exactly what he was worried about. If she watched him, she might notice things. She was smart. She could piece together that he knew things he should not. He absolutely could not let her get close enough to discover the extent of his future knowledge.

As they finally left the dense forest and stepped onto the wider path leading to the village, he hoped she might lose interest. The hope vanished quickly. She kept talking, a non-stop stream of observations and questions. Adam risked a quick glance over his shoulder. His annoyance must have been visible, but Kamiko simply offered another sunny smile.

"So, AlphaBoss," she started, her voice musical, "where are you going in the village? Got a secret mission already? You really don't seem like the talkative type," she teased again, her tone light but insistent.

That was it. Adam stopped so abruptly that Kamiko almost ran into him. He spun around to face her. "What's wrong?" she asked, her playful look fading into genuine curiosity.

Adam's controlled frustration finally spilled over. "Will you please stop following me?" he demanded, his voice sharp with irritation. "I told you, I need to focus on the game!"

Kamiko blinked, surprised by his outburst. "Hey, I'm not stopping you from playing," she replied, her voice becoming calm and reasonable. "You can focus all you want. I'm just walking in the same direction."

His eyes narrowed. He did not believe her innocent act. "You being here, talking non-stop, is distracting me," he said bluntly.

Kamiko shrugged, her playful attitude returning. "Well, I'm not actually stopping you. Go ahead and focus. I'll just be here, walking wherever I feel like walking." She crossed her arms, looking pleased with herself.

Adam let out a deep sigh. Arguing was useless. "Just leave me alone," he said again, his voice firm.

Kamiko tilted her head, a sly smile spreading across her lips. "Alright," she said sweetly. "I'll leave you alone. I promise."

His face immediately showed deep suspicion. He knew her type. Nothing was ever free. "A condition?" he asked carefully. "What kind of condition?"

"Simple!" Kamiko said, her voice cheerful but determined. "If you accept my friend request and add me to your list, I'll disappear. I'll leave you completely alone. Promise." She smiled brightly, confident he would agree.

Adam paused. He raced through the choices. Adding her as a friend was a minor risk. He could ignore her messages. He could even remove her later. Dealing with her persistence now was wasting precious time he needed to get ahead. It was the practical choice. With a nod so small it was barely perceptible, he finally gave in. "Fine," he snapped, the word tight.

Kamiko's smile widened in victory. Adam sighed silently, feeling uneasy. He had made a tactical retreat to solve an immediate problem, but he suspected he had just entered into a far more complicated arrangement for the future. He reluctantly opened his game menu, found Kamiko's profile, and sent the friend request. The acceptance was almost instant. A soft chime confirmed she was added. Her name now sat under the 'Friends' tab in his menu.

He stared at the glowing text, frowning. Annoyance, respect, and caution warred within him. In his past life, Kamiko had been unpredictable. Sometimes an ally of convenience, more often a rival. Keeping her at a distance had always been the safest strategy. 

Yet here he was, barely an hour into this new life, and he had already linked their accounts. He convinced himself it was the right move. Give her this small victory, avoid a pointless conflict, and get back to his real goals.

Kamiko, meanwhile, looked down at her own screen, her face lit with a triumphant smile. "Alright then, AlphaBoss! It was interesting meeting you," she said cheerfully. She gave him a quick wave. "See you around!" With that, she turned and headed down a little-used side path, disappearing behind the simple wooden buildings of the village.

Adam stood frozen on the main path, watching the spot where she had vanished. Only when he was sure she was truly gone did he let out a quiet breath. The immediate annoyance was gone, but the connection remained. He had bought himself some peace, for now. But the game had just started, and he had a feeling Kamiko would be a character who kept showing up in his story, whether he wanted her to or not.