After finishing the tests we met in the courtyard to go back together, Izuki suggested we go to the arcade and everyone was in. So we had to be there, it's true that we are in exam period but it wouldn't hurt to take a few hours off.
They're all out front, even Yūhi is on board. While Shun and I walk behind the girls at a snail's pace.
— How long have you been hanging out with her?
— She's the one who's been sticking with us for a while. But don't hold it against her, she probably doesn't have enough friends and don't forget that it was Izuki who asked her to be there.
He nods without adding anything, before putting his phone back. Of all sensations, saying nothing and thinking is the best. Our silence is broken when blond heads appear in our field of vision, the girl is chatting with her peers while my challenger puts his hand on his head - perhaps embarrassed by his reaction in the cafeteria. Arriving in front of us, Shun leaves us walking along the way. His gesture makes me giggle a little, it doesn't often happen to him to leave me alone, as he likes to meddle in my life so much.
— First of all, a beautiful victory. He says as he walks beside me
— Thank you. It was entertaining. We'll play again anytime you want. I answer without taking my eyes off the road.
Just as a white man was about to come between us, the vice delegate takes the vice. This has got to be the lamest thing I've brought out since the first chapter. It's sad for the author, forced to make this kind of rotten pun to fill his word quota.
— I don't know if you know him but, he starts, you play like kik'x
— Huh? I say surprised, but not so much, I don't want him to notice anything.
— Kik'x, the scarlet king... Your cinematic way of playing...
— Mdrrr what do you mean? Did you bleed the videos of this player or what?
— Yes, I did... You could say that, he says with an embarrassed smile on his face, he was a real legend. He had the same way of making the fight both exciting and fun. I said he but nobody knows who was behind the screen.
— I guess he must have been a great player to tell you about it that way. I say with a hint of guilt in my voice, as if I felt guilty for letting it go.
— Oh you know, it wasn't for his victories that he was known, besides his nickname came mainly from the way he got his TV gauge turned red, it was at those moments that attention was drawn to him. Even though we had expected the result, his sadistic and violent side was a beauty...
During all his little speech, I had stopped typing on my mobile phone. I listened to it carefully. And it reminded me of him. The man I was just four years ago, I was just a player like all the others who posted games on the game forum; fate had made sure that a lot of geeks like me were watching them. So proud, I told my parents about it. Who wouldn't want to be a legend? I was one and yet I didn't give it much importance, for me it was a game and that's all, irl I only had Shun, no bunch of friends because of my way of thinking. Already as a child I found everything tiring, everything was exhausting, unlike the others I hated to go out and hang out in the parks or go camping... And we soon found that the two of us only liked anime, manga, comic books and games. That was our world to me and my best friend. At school, to show this kind of passion to others is to be automatically excluded from groups, even more so in the school where we were. There were no such clubs, so there was this online game.
Sleepless nights, afternoons in front of the screen, that's all I did during the whole school...
— You couldn't have done anything anyway so stop thinking about it. said the giant who served as my brother, his hand was on my neck while the others were working hard in the many games in the room.
I too joined them shortly afterwards. I don't want to be in my thoughts anymore, I just want to enjoy this moment. With an adventurous spirit, I'm heading towards a new space dedicated to augmented reality, the attraction makes the buzz so beautiful that I notice. Lots of young people of my age are lining up. While I'm thinking of going back to other games with a less touristy character, Ayama's twin sister decides to give me her place, saying she prefers to join the others who are having fun at street fighter 2 - on arcade strip please. I immediately join my new buddy under the hateful looks of the people lining up.
After the room, we have to go home. The group is scattered in all directions, the only one coming in my direction is Yūhi. Shun having left earlier, Emiko doesn't live with him, I find myself with the cute little brunette. Nobody launches a subject, of reserved nature that we are, no words are exchanged. Even when I arrive in front of the bookstore near the bus stop, she comes in too. I take some shojo that had been advised to me by a youtubeuse in one of her videos, more precisely -by her video itself. We leave the place, each with a bag in hand, and no words exchanged.
*****
The following days I did not do badly in the other subjects. We went home for the rest of the week as a group, it was nice this pack atmosphere. I slept late for the revisions, I almost gave up the game.
Before going to sleep I get a notice that I read with my eyes half closed:
— Since the exams are over, I invite you. Tomorrow at 1 pm don't be late.
Poor Sky... When will she understand that...
**************
Thanks for reading see you next week !