Five minutes til the last bell. The arms on the clock moved slowly as they always did when it was almost dismissal. You could feel the excitement bubbling in your stomach. It was almost game night, and you couldn't wait to start training.
The teacher looked weary as she noticed students starting to pack their things. "You aren't dismissed until I tell you to!" She warned.
Your best friend (name) turned his head towards you and mimicked the weird way Teach's lips moved when she talked. Stifling a chuckle as her glare moved in your direction, you pretended to write notes and stare hard at whatever was on the board.
Doodles were scrawled around the edges of the notes you took in class. A masterpiece, if you could say so yourself.
You stared out the window to kill the last few minutes, imagining them to be miniature clocks with arms and legs sliding down the clear glass windows of the classroom.
All of a sudden, a small pink note caught your attention at the side of your desk. Raising an eyebrow, you hesitate to pick it up and take a look around.
The girls around you looked just as excited to leave - none of them looked nervous. So who did it come from? And how did it get here? Must have been lightning-fast ninja moves.
You had no theories. Was it really for you? Checking the note, you saw your name scribbled in neat Hiragana.
Cute. You thought, grinning a bit.
"Please meet me at Hello Nature Café on Saturday. I have something important to tell you. My treat! Tap your pen three times upon reading this if you agree!"
You whacked your pen three times loudly, hoping she heard it.
Her handwriting was pretty, so you hoped she was too. Whoever it was, why didn't she just ask in person? Was it a confession? The mystery was intriguing.
Dundundundun
The bell was off, interrupting your train of thought, but at least class was finally over.
After loosening your school uniform, you shoveled your books into your bag and left the school gates with your friends.
"Man, that last class was pretty boring. I was trying my best not to fall asleep." (Best friend) said, stifling a yawn.
"Yeah." You agreed. "I can't wait to play."
"Heh. I know what else you can't wait for." (Funny friend) said, elbowing you in the rib.
"What did the note say?" (Megane friend) asked, looking a little jealous.
"A girl wants to meet me at a café this Saturday." You said, grinning at your three friends.
"Can I see!?" (Best friend) gasped, attempting to take the note from your hands.
You pocketed it before he had the chance. "No fair!" He pouted.
Tousling his hair roughly, you gave him a calm look. There were no secrets between you two, so he probably got the message that you'd show him later.
"Leave some of the girls for us!" (Funny friend) joked, pushing you on the shoulder. You pushed him back a tad too hard and had to be pulled apart by the other two.
Ah.
A typical day in High School.
[Play this music]
Passing by the street vendors waving at the crowd of hungry students, you made your way past the shops and onto the market street you guys liked to visit after school.
You went into the internet café to start playing your favorite MOBA game: League of Legends. It was the best way to forget the stress from school and stress about something else.
Propping on your favorite headphones, you placed an arm around (best friend) and waited for the game to queue. Since you usually played with your three closest friends, there was room for one stranger. Usually a noob feeder you had to carry. Sometimes a Smurf or a pro, if you were lucky.
Not today, though.
The fifth person's profile picture was a cat girl. That could mean three things:
(A) a creepy guy who really likes cat girls
(B) a "gamer girl," maybe even a streamer
(C) a new player who picked a last minute pic?
Your friends shook their heads and sighed, but you knew all too well not to judge people by their profile pictures. They just might surprise you.
Entered the rift.
The five of you spawned at the base.
NekoNyanNyan: Hi guys! ^_^ Say hello to the stream! Turn on vc please ~
Oh, you were right.
You all turned on voice chat and heard ... what could possibly be the cutest voice in the world.
"Please take care of me!" She squealed. You could audibly hear the peace signs and aegyo she was dishing out for her viewers from behind the microphone.
Your friends rapidly introduced themselves to her, and she replied in kind, probably accustomed to the attention she got from guys during games.
"We need to get moving." You snapped, shifting your friends' focus from the girl to the game. They got to work pushing their respective lanes, as per your usual strategy.
"Support. Come with me." You ordered, to the chagrin of (Megane friend).
"All right~" The streamer cooed.
A pit formed in your stomach. Do people actually like her acting like this? This was too much.
Surprisingly, you two had good synergy. She knew exactly when to use her skills and when to attack or fall back.
Then she started stealing your kills.
"Hey. Cut that out." You said, sharply.
"Oppa, mianhae. I'm on a support assassin challenge right now! Need to get lots of kills!"
You rolled your eyes. "Fine." Then started buying more speed items. You took two kills.
"Oppa!" She pouted.
You could feel she was starting to buy more speed items too.
She took two.
Your assassin friend took one. Ace!
With a final push, you won the game and queued up for another one with her.
"I lost the challenge because of you..."
"Don't rely on others helping you to complete challenges. What does that say about you as a gamer?"
She stopped hitting minions in-game and did an angry emote. "But I'm a girl!"
"Be happy then. I'm treating you as an equal."
It was silent for a while in-game, with your friends shooting glares at you.
"Don't feel bad, Neko! I'll help you get kills." (Best friend) said warmly.
"It's okay... he's right. I want to complete the challenge fair and square - even as his support."
She ended up getting the most kills on that second game. Not bad.
Victory!
She thanked her viewers then continued her commentary.
After the fourth game, you ordered noodles for your group. Delicious. After a couple more games with Neko, it was time to go home. Today's results weren't bad. You ranked up today. Megane and Funny Friend went the other way while you decided to walk your best friend home.
Despite the neon lights, it was dark and you couldn't risk the dork getting lost.
"Those were great games today!" He exclaimed, his hands relaxed behind his head as you walked. "The streamer was such a cutie."
"Quit bein a perv." You slapped his butt, making him punch you on the chest.
"Look who's talking, hyung!" He shouted, unable to hide his smile. "I swear I'll rank above you one day."
"Keep dreaming in gold rank, kid."
"Just because you're one rank above me..." He pouted, then tackled you, wrapping his arms around your waist. You raised a questioning eyebrow.
A smirk formed on his face. "I got the note~"
"Brat." You chided him, but meh, you were gonna let him read it anyway.
"Ooh, this Saturday, eh? Good luck with your blind date!"
He punched you in the stomach.
Without warning, the wonderful smell of ramyun wafted out in the air as you passed by the market street. "Dongsaeng, I'll buy you some."
"Thanks!"
Omnomnomnom. That's the sound he makes when he's eating. You laugh.
You like watching him eat because it reminded you of when you were kids. Meanwhile, he just really loved to eat. The night air was cold but comforting as you walked in the chilly breeze.
You stuffed your hands into the warm pockets of your coat.
Your best friend's house is so much like a second home that you almost walked in, making him laugh. Giving you a fist bump, he turned to you then walked in.
You made sure he was safe inside the house before leaving. Then you were surprised to hear Neko's voice in your head. (Best friend) was right - she really was a cutie.