chapter 4

The next morning, Juri woke up feeling bloated and heavy, which was quite different from his usual hunger. He was able to continue his gaming habits with the government money even after his parents gave up on him, but once that stopped he sacrificed food in favor of playing. He knew his time being a free man was dwindling, but he'd just kept pushing the thought from his mind. His eyes fluttered open and scanned the giant room he was being kept in.

Most of the stories were meant to be 'success stories'. Those were the ones the government liked to show. Successful men taking in hopeless young adults and transforming them into functional members of society... but Juri had learned from people online that more often than not, the program was abused to get free labour, sex, or anything else. He hadn't expected a lavish room and a huge, albeit much too huge, meal.

Teo was waiting for his pet to wake, and as soon as the boy did he laid his head on the boys head. Juri only flinched a little bit.

"You're more submissive than I thought you would be." Teo admits, stroking Juri's head. "You haven't fought against me at all. Aren't you frightened?"

Juri flushed. He was, earnestly, but he assumed it would be worse to fight anything. Teo hadn't hit him or seemed violent at all yet, except for making him eat more than he'd wanted.

"I'm a busy man, so I'm going to lay down some ground rules before I leave for work." the tall man continued, not caring much that Juri hadn't responded. "You do not leave this room, except for the restroom. It's through that door. The other one will be locked."

Juri's eyes moved to both doors, far across the room that was larger than his old apartment altogether.

"You can play on the computer and watch television. I had your memory card installed along with the games you enjoyed, all your accounts have been switched over, but if you disobey me it will be the first privilege you lose."

Teo was well aware of Juri's addiction. All NEET's had a weakness- well, usually many weaknesses. Often games become addictive when you were too socially awkward and pathetic to succeed in real life. He'd been able to see the reports of Juri's gaming habits, and decided to make them part of the training.


"The computer will not turn on until you've taken a shower and eaten your breakfast. You will change into the clothes laid out for you each day, and eat anything that is brought to you." he continued, meeting Juri's eyes for a moment before the smaller boy lowered his. He was cute, his face feminine and sweet even when he looked nervous. It was probably his girlish looks that made him so reclusive in the first place. "The computer will turn off at dinner time. If you are good, I might allow you a few extra hours to play into the night. How does that sound?"

Juri looked anxious, but hopeful.

"... You're really... going to... let me keep playing?" he asked, a slight tremor in his voice that may have been fear, or just another weakness that had gotten him to this situation. "I thought... you were supposed to... make me be successful... o-or something... sir."

"Oh Juri..." Teo clicked his tongue, leaning down to kiss the boys forehead. "Surely you've figured out already that you are a lost cause. I have other motives for keeping you as my pet."

He chuckled and gave Juri's head a few more strokes. He hadn't even attempted to move away, even when directly insulted, though his face was now a pretty pink color. There was a knock on the door and Teo smiled.

"That's your breakfast. I should be going... Don't forget the rules. Eat everything brought to you." he said. "I'll come by to visit again this weekend."

Juri blinked, clearly shocked that it would be so long before he saw his 'owner' again, but Teo was gone before the young man had any chance to ask any questions.