Lilly was not a big fan of this idea. She’s now 18 years alive and she never had the urge to use the world wide web. So when this new Internet Cafe opened right next to the Shanghai, it seemed like Hanako was the one interested.
But knowing Hanako would be too shy to make such proposals, it was Lilly, who asked her, if she wanted to give her a proper introduction to the internet.
Not because she changed her mind about the internet being mostly a waste of time, but because she wanted to do something with her best friend. Scottland, Hisao, the exams, it’s been a pretty busy time.
"Well okay the first thing I want to show you is Skype."
Hanako was already in her element. Moving the mouse and typing on the keyboard like an expert. Lilly was listening patiently.
"I think you’re gonna like this one. See, you remember when you told me that the internet would drive people away from interacting with one another ?
"Yes" Lilly said, while suppressing her laugh.
It´s not necessarily what Hanako said what she found amusing. No, it was rather the sudden eagernes and confidence she always had in her voice when she´s talking about something she likes. It was like she forgot her shyness for a brief moment and showed a glimpse of the real Hanako.
"With Skype you can talk with people all around the world. The only thing you need is a computer, a headset and an internet connection."
" That could be useful indeed."
"Yes let´s say you want to talk with your parents. You could just call them and if you have a webcam you can have a videochat and actually see them..."
As soon as Hanako finished her sentence, her eyes widened with shock by what she just said.
"I..I mean..."
"You should have told me beforehand that the internet has such miracolus powers my dear" Lilly said. This time she let out a little chuckle.
"S..sorry"
Lilly of course wasn’t upset, so she quickly changed the topic.
"So what’s next on the list"
Hanako needed a moment to collect herself but then continued.
"Alright next up is Wikipedia. Wikipedia is basically the biggest lexicon in the world. Doesn’t matter if you´re searching for historic events, famous people, animals or literature. There’s a lenghtily article about everything."
"Everything, you say? " Lilly raised an eyebrow.
"Yes we can try it out. Just tell me something you want informations on."
Lilly pondered for a bit.
"Okay, I want to learn some trivia about green tea."
Only a few clicks later Hanako not only told her when it was approximately invented, but also every variety of green tea in alphabetic order.
" Wow I’m truly impressed. From now on I´m gonna use Wikipedia for all of my homework"
"Hmm no I wouldn’t do that. Wikipedia isn´t popular among the teachers."
"Oh? " Lilly was surprised
"The problem is, that everyone can write and edit the posts, so itֹ’s not a reliable source. Some people even make a game out of it by filling the articles with made up infos. The more absurd the better."
"Hmm"
After adding a little spice into the scottish independence wars by claiming that the english wanted to ban the scotts from wearing their cilts, Hanako proceded to show Lilly several websites. The weather forecast, online shops, newssides, they even found the website of a newspapper from Lillys hometown.
"I feel like we made quite a journey today."
"Yes, but I wanted to show you one last website before we go. Do you ever heard of Facebook?"
" I heard of it... The name sounds somewhat familiar."
"They call it a social media, you make yourself an account and then you can communicate with people all around the world."
"Oh so just like that Sky thing"
"Yea.. no it’s kinda hard to explain. Let’s just try it out and make yourself an account okay?"
So Hanako quickly made her an account and send the log in data to Akira because according to Lilly it was always good to have a back up, if she forgot them.
"Okay first things first, your name"
"Wait. Don’t use my real name. Haven´t you heard the stories of young women been tracked down through the internet? My Mother told me about them."
"Okay so...what should I write"
"How about "The Literature Girl"
This time it was Hanako who couldn´t supress her laugh.
"You’re not serious are you. How are people gonna recognize you?"
" Didn’t I made myself clear. The goal is that people won´t know who I am"
After a brief exchange they agreed to at least include her first name. Lilly S.
"Now it’s time to design your page. Do you want to add a profile picture."
" I can’t leave it blank can I? That would leave a bad first impression. But I don´t want to have a picture of me in it. The risk of beeing abducted by one of those lunatic internet people."
"Of course,you don’t have to"
"Do you have?"
"Uhm... no I have a picture of a cat playing a piano."
"That sounds so cute. But you never told me you had a cat back at home"
"I don’t, it’s a picture from the internet."
"Who made it ? "
" I don’t know."
" I wouldn´t be pleased if someone just used my cat as a profile picture."
"It´s okay everyone does that"
"Just because everyone does it,doesn´t make that right"
Hanako never felt more annoyed with Lilly but she decided to stay calm.
"Look Lilly I don´t think there´s an alternative right now. We either take a picture of you, or one from the internet."
" I have a better idea. We make a picture on our own"
"And of what?"
Lilly thought for a bit
"I have a great idea. Look there’s a flower shop just 2 minutes from here. You remember him right? "
Hanako nodded.
"Once you got there , take a picture of a nice flower bouquet and come back. Flowers will give my page a warm and welcoming feeling."
As Hanako wanted to rush out and take the picture, she was stopped by Lilly.
"Wait, I don’´t just want any flowers. Ideally it should be lillys."
Lilly laughed fullheartedly at her own remark. Hanako smiled wrly, but more because of the relief that they finally got that out of the way.
"How do you like my Facebook Hanako?"
"I...It’s cute."
"Anyone already visited my page?"
"No, not yet. You need friends."
"I thought we were friends?"
"Facebook friends. Other people you might know and use Facebook."
"Hmm I know you... maybe Akira? I don´t know to be honest. I don´t have that many friends. How many friends do you have?
"Around 200."
This time it were Lillys eyes who were widened with shock.
"Who are these people?" Lilly said with a lot of surprise in her voice.
"Uhhmm you know family, friends..."
"Do I know them?"
"Yes some of them. Let´s see there´s Emi, Hisao, Saki, Miki,Chisato, Misha,Shizune...
"I didn´t knew you were so popular young lady"
Hanako could only smile at that remark.
"But I never saw you talking with each other."
"N..no b.."
"Or do you just talk online?"
"No we don´t talk with each other."
"Why not? You´re friends after all."
"Facebook friends are different okay. You just add anyone you might know."
"I see, so why don´t you message them?"
"They don´t want to talk to me"
"Are you sure?"
"They would have messaged me otherwise."
Hanako saw that Lilly had difficulties understanding all of this.
"Listen, that´s normal okay? Everyone uses Facebook that way. There´s no need to be upset about this."
" If you say so" Lilly said with a concerned look on her face, which quickly dropped to her usual pokerface smile.
"You have to excuse me for a bit my dear. I have a call to make." She said as she suddenly stood up and left the cafe.
After Lilly stood up Hanako logged into her account. Still zero messages... Lilly was clearly wrong. In school she was like a ghost. The sole fact that they accepted her request was an act of kindeness she couldn´t had expected from them. None of them talked with her in the real world, so why would it be different online?
Maybe because it’s easier to write with someone, instead of talking with him face to face. Maybe she wished that in these lonely nights, when Lilly was upsent someone would reach out to her. Just asking her how her day was, and make a bit of smalltalk about school and other stuff. Just something nice to keep her mind occupied, so she’s not alone with her thoughts.
Suddenly she recieved a message, from an account with a flower profile picture.
Dear Hanako
This is my first message I’ll write to someone on the internet. Technically it’s Akira who’s writing this right now but those are my words so I hope you´ll like them. ;p (added by Akira. You forgot to tell her about the emojis. Maybe it´s for the best if she doesn´t know though )
I don´t know if you noticed it but lately we haven´t seen each other that much. That´s why I was so excited for this even though computers are definetly not my cup of tea ( I’m not lying she laughed almost a minute about this """joke""")
I want to thank you for having the patience to teach me everything. I know I’m not the most pleasent student but I hope you somehow found a way to enjoy this too. I’ve mistaken myself earlier though. We aren´t friends. We are family, and you´re like a sister to me. And to be honest with you, the person who’s actually writing this is not feeling different.
This message wasn’t planed to be too long but theres one thing I have to tell you. I’m so proud of you. The girl who snuck into my room and silently drank her tea with me is no more there. When I look at you now, I see a confident, young women who is so strong . I´m so proud to have you as my sister.
Sincerly
Lilly
(p.s Hit me up if you want to gossip about sis IT-skills
. She once asked me how long it takes until an E-mail arrives)After that Hanako rushed outside.
"Lilly!"
"Oh I was just heading back. Sorry that the call took so long you know how Akir"
Hanako interrupted her with a deep hug. She burried her head under Lillys, while she stroke her hair.
"Thank you.. sis"
