Within the gaming room of the Paradise Palace, Elly, Kara, Clair, and a few other girls were chatting and playing. They each stood before a machine with a fighting game that had girls dressed in adorable costumes and uniforms battling each other in an extremely violent manner.
Bang! A loud boom sounded as a bunny girl jumped from the side of the screen, somersaulting above a big breast's female garbed in a nurse uniform with a giant syringe.
Her feet then danced, leaving a series of remnant shades as each hit landed onto the nurse's face, a final kick launched her into the other corner of the screen where she smashed into a panel and disappeared. The bunny girl having been victorious made a V sign with her fingers and a sexy pose.
"Hehe, my win, looks like you're just a loser like always Kara!" The leading girl of their group said having beat Kara horrendously in the game.
"Haha, Big Sister Lia, she always sucks at times like this, why can't she learn how to dodge such a simple move?" Another of the girls said in mock.
Kara lowered her head and clenched her fists angrily; it happened every time, no matter where she went with these girls, they singled her out like this to do sport.
Lia noticed that Kara wasn't saying anything, in truth, she, as a wealthy student amongst those attending their school, had always looked down on Kara.
The poorest of the girls in their group, one who she had to lend money to every time they went out. Even today, when she made that dirty look before asking who would be paying, she felt like cringing deep in her stomach that a cheap girl like her could be her class.
"Kara..." Lia said with a strange grin.
Kara looked up at her and saw that she was smiling as she spoke again, "Kara, if you lose this time, then you're going to have to pay me back for all I lend you those times."
Kara bit her lips at those words; she knew full well what the latter was talking about and her debt incurred to sustain this 'friendship.'
The other girls laughed as they saw Kara's look and they jeered.
"What's with that look, Kara? You're acting like it's too much to pay back such a low sum, how long has it been? We've been friends since school started and your parents must have earned it back a long time ago," One girl said.
Kara looked at them feeling ashamed, as she thought to herself, 'How could they? They've known about my situation for years; how can they not realize that my parents are now separated? How can they not understand that I am a child left to fend for myself? I hate every single one of them... I hate! Hate! HATEEE! These rich and dirty bastards!'
Whiling taking in Kara's silly look, Lia noticed that Clair and Elly weren't participating in Kara's mockery; they saw that Elly and Clair were chatting and laughing.
"Clair? What do you think?" Lia asked.
Clair made a puzzled look as she asked, "Huh? About what?"
Elly also looked over with a confused look on her face, the other shook her head and pointed at Kara, Elly and Clair frowned as they saw Kara holding her head down.
Lia spoke again, "We were thinking of making a bet, Kara owes me a lot of money but refuses to pay up every time I ask her. Don't you think that's shameless of her? So, I've been thinking, I want to try and give another chance, I want to make a bet with her over this game, and if she, or anyone she chooses, can defeat me in a single round, then I will give up on the debt."
Clair frowned at this; she knew that Kara had always had trouble with these girls but didn't say anything. Never did she think that they would act out today.
Elly, having been in somewhat similar experiences, understood Kara's plight.
Kara looked at Clair and Elly with emotionless eyes as she spoke, "You guys don't need to do anything, I already have enough of a debt... I can..."
Kara was about to say something, but Elly snorted and spoke, "Hmph! Enough of that nonsense!"
The other girls were surprised by Elly's sudden change; her character now seemed a bit different from her usual image.
Kara too looked up at Elly in shock; she pondered, 'What's she even doing?'
Elly walked from where Clair was and stood before the machine, staring at the girls directly, she most hated these types of girls, which is one of the main reasons she was forced to leave that prestigious academy.
"Are you even fit to call yourselves friends? You should have already known that she would not be able to pay up if she asked for help in the first place, so why are you forcing her now? You're all acting like some greedy whores!" Elly snarled, but she was now calm enough not to act with violence like in her old school.
Lia and the other girls were shocked, as Clair and Kara looked at Elly, not expecting her to use such words.
Lia frowned, she spoke, "Elly, you... you're acting like some uncouth wretch from the lower rugs, how can you speak like this?"
"That's right! You should be ashamed of yourself!" Another girl said, like some echo.
Elly plainly looked at them and replied, "I don't care! You disgusting wenches are the kind I hate the most; I've seen enough of your kind and it's already a good thing that I haven't smacked you all in your faces. Since you want to make a bet with Kara, I will fight in her place; you will leave her alone if I win, and never show your face again!"
Lia was stumped, even Kara, who hated everyone's guts and didn't like Elly, thinking she was the same as everyone else, had a different look in her eyes.
She stared at Elly standing before her with moist eyes, as she pondered, 'Was... was I wrong? Have I also become blinded ever since they left me? Is this… the true meaning of friendship?'
Kara's eyes flashed with images of her parents, but soon it shattered apart, throwing her into darkness. Suddenly, a warm hand that seemed to stretch from the light tapped her shoulder as Elly ignored everyone else.
She made a sweet and adorable smile as she spoke, "Kara, you shouldn't befriend people like this, from now, let's try to be friends, okay?"
Elly wasn't an idiot; she had naturally sensed that Kara had some vague amount of ill will towards her. Thus, she wanted to take this chance to let her open up more. Kara trembled, but she didn't reply, she knew... deep in her heart, she knew she was past the point of redemption.
Clair walked over with a smile, and spoke, "Come on, Kara, cheer up, you don't need to mind their mockery, with us here, we can beat them and push off that nonsense debt!"
Kara had always been with Clair; she knew that Clair was genuine, which was why she felt a sting from Clair's words.
She was about to say something, but right at this time, Lia snorted and spoke, "Ha, Elly, I never really mind that bitch Kailyn, but it seems now that she was right about you. Mark my words Elly, I will certainly let everyone know what kind of girl you are... hmph!"
Elly scoffed, "Just a silly excuse from an aspiring lapdog, come on; I don't need to hear your shit; let's get the match started!"
Lia glared at Elly in a menacing way but didn't say anything. Soon, the scene grew tense as the girls began another round of battling in the violent but cute video game.
Nero, who had been observing from a distance, shook his head as he thought, 'Mother was right, girls sure are scary, a man's place doesn't belong in their conflicts, I better get out of here right now.'
As Nero thought this, he hurriedly left the area, but as for Adult Nero, he chuckled before thinking back in an embarrassed manner, "Jeez, that mother of mine... che! To think that I was always such a stupid brat."
Nero had only stepped out of the Gaming Quarters, he prepared to head to the resting room and wrapped up. However, right at this moment, his shoulder smashed into another person.
Nero was angry that someone could be so clumsy, he glared at the individual and saw that he was doing the same as they shouted the same thing, "Hey, watch where you're going?"
After they finished, they didn't even bother to recall the other's faces as they hurriedly walked on to handle their affairs.
Perm, having left behind that rude brat, entered the gaming lounge before he glanced at his men and nodded. Soon, the group began to fan out preparing to surround the girls at the center, while at the same time not drawing too much attention.
Adult Nero narrowed his eyes as he saw Perm's group, but he shook his head while sneering, "As stupid as ever I see, huhu... I wonder, what will he do when he realizes it was me that past him?"
He said nothing to Nero, as the events thus far occurred in the natural order, though some sections had bits of a butterfly effect.
'Tsk! Darn thugs, since when did people of that character go to the gaming section?' Nero thought as he recalled how the men looked and act, but he no longer paid it any mind.
He quickly got himself changed in the resting room and clocked out. He then walked up the bartender and tossed a letter to him while picking up his 20 Eu Dollars. The bartender didn't even ask what the letter was, he tossed it into a drawer and continued flirting with the women.
Nero, who was ready to leave, went towards the exit, but he couldn't help but notice that Avollo was still around. He pondered, "Eh? Was he waiting for me?"
Nero was about to walk over, but right at this time, Nero saw someone unexpected walking from the different sections of the room towards him. He frowned in discontent, but he didn't do anything, as it seemed that the party had a matter to discuss.
Benson soon arrived in front of Nero; he hesitantly looked at him while gritting his teeth before he sighed and spoke, "Alright, I'll make it quick, I am not here to apologize or anything like that either so hear me out."
Nero made a curious look as he thought, 'Hmm, what's going on here?'
Benson stared at him and spoke, "I'm not sure if you noticed this, but Kailyn has always been a girl of awful character. When she's angry, you'll never know it, but she'll always find ways to fight back."
'What the hell is he even going on about? Do I like I give a shit about Kailyn?' Nero thought as his eyes flashed with discontent.
Benson shook his head, seeing his look before got directly to the point, "My meaning is, Kailyn is jealous of yours and Elly's relationship, she has sent thugs to try and deal with her. While I might not like you and want to help Elly, I realize that I far from being able to do anything. Plus, if I were to report this to the police, it would be easily solved due to Kaylin's family, and I'll only end up in trouble. So, Nero, I have come to you, the person who did the unthinkable during our last scuffle, I request that you ensure her safety."
As he spoke his words, Benson then turned and left; he didn't want to spend another second talking to Nero after all, they weren't really close, and based on his previous manner, it didn't even seem that he was willing to accept an apology.
'She's being targeted?' Nero thought, thinking that it was madness, with her strength who could beat her.
However, as Nero thought here, he knew that girls might also fall prey to hidden traps, especially someone with a temper like hers. He imagined what would happen if men targeted her by using advantage and frowned.
Nero then thought about her adorable appearance. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist before he turned around and hurrying to the Gaming Quarters. His mind tried to convince himself, 'I'm only going to look, what could happen? Besides, even if something happens, I can't just sit back; after all, I did accept that friend request...'
Avollo who noticed Nero when he came out was ready to leave, but he frowned as he saw him head back, he pondered, "What's he up to? It seemed like he was about to leave just now... hmm, he might have forgotten something."
When Avollo said this, he prepared not to pay anything attention. Still, suddenly, he saw an unexpected scene, many different individuals that were seated minding their own business began to inch towards Nero's direction slowly.
"This... Uncle Ian," Avollo said in shock.
"That's right, Young Master, something is most certainly about to go down... and the funny thing is, I feel that your friend is right at the center of it," Uncle Ian said with a sharp look in his eyes.
"Then I must..." Avollo rose to his feet prepared to go and help, but suddenly as if a terrifying force held him back, he sat back down, looking at Uncle Ian with anger.
"Uncle! Why did you pull me back?" Avollo cursed.
Uncle Ian stared at him and spoke, "This isn't a matter just anyone can meddle in, with so many DU societies and secret groups making a move, we must observe and see what's happening."
Avollo gritted his teeth and lowered his head, knowing that even if he wanted, he was no way a match for an expert like Uncle Ian, especially if he were to Digitize. He spoke in a complacent tone, "Alright fine,"
The scene within the Paradise Palace taking a new turn, as startling debut like no other was about to unfold.