"Congrats on another successful end to your Let's Play streams!"
In unison, three rather excitable men began to congratulate the quietest at their table. His eyes were hidden in his hair, but his embarrassed smile couldn't be hidden. His closest friends had invited him out for drinks, so who was he to refuse?
"Hey, Niall, I went ahead and asked some girls to come along. It's only fair that you try to mingle a little!"
The assumed leader, and best dressed of the group, was always down for a good time. Casually inviting women around, while keeping his friends in the dark for a while.
"Haru! Can you not stress Niall out?! Man is finally out the house, cut him some slack."
The tough guy, and everyone's protector. He was usually trying to keep Niall's anxiety down or shutting Haru up.
"So, Niall, when is your next stream?"
The smallest and most feminine of the group, always interested in Niall's work. He was a fan even before Niall told them he was a streamer a few years back.
This, besides streaming, was Niall's favored atmosphere. Even with his shy streak and anxiety, his friends were the reason he could leave his house with any form of confidence.
"I haven't been able to keep up with your streams, work and all. What's your next big project?"
Haru was truly interested, but he was a naturally busy man. Niall gave him a small smile, a hint of reminiscence on his face.
"My eight year anniversary, of my debut, is coming. I want to go back to my roots. Do Hero's Chronicle for my new viewers, while showing everyone my favorite character. I'll find all her lore and show them how bad of an MC she had to deal with."
The smallest, Riles, chimed in.
"I remember her! Aveline. She hated the Hero. He was an actual asshole."
"Mouth."
Ken, the big guy, was good about keeping the group in check. He just hated cussing.
That was how their night proceeded, but before long Haru began to check his phone. His eyes lit up after a while, his excited smile telling everyone the news.
"The ladies are almost here! Ken, no being stupid and causing them to be uncomfortable. And you, Riles, don't be more feminine then them! I'll smack you!"
The table burst into laughter, though it began to die down as a half tipsy Niall spoke up.
"I'm gonna grab some fresh air. Don't want to have to go home early."
Stretching his back and shoulders, Niall let out a small yawn before heading towards the exit. The crowd was minor, but he still had to weave his way past some. Once outside, Niall took a deep breath before walking off down the road a little. As he walked, a small group of women passed him by.
'Must be them. They're around our ages, and they're cute.'
As he began to turn to head back, a voice called out to Niall.
"E-excuse me! Are you, N-Niall? The DSRPG streamer?"
He gave a small nod, his head tilted sideways. The voice belonged to a scrawny guy in a hoodie, his hood far over his face.
'He can see me from under there?'
"I w-wanna talk to you. I-it's about your streams!"
Niall took a step back.
"You're kinda freaking me out."
The hood fell back a little, beady eyes staring deeply at Niall. He was no more than fifteen, his hair a mess on his head.
"Y-you, you took her from me!"
Niall knew where this was going. This "fan" was obsessed with a game character, not like Niall himself with Aveline, but a genuine obsession with a character that left him unable to cope with her being in "love" with another player.
The crazed teen opened his jacket, revealing a knife and a shirt with a ruined character on it. She was cute, but dark scribbles distorted her features. Niall recognized her, but she was barely a minor character from an old game. Her name was lost in the junk folder.
Reaching into his pocket, Niall felt for his phone.
'Shit. It's back at the bar!'
Turning away for a split second, Niall took a quick scan of the area. A few onlookers had already begun to call the police, but none were close enough to stop the man as his knife pierced deep into Niall's gut.
"F-fuck. Get off me you-"
His voice caught as he felt the blade twist. In the crowd, a few screams could be heard as well as hurried footsteps. Niall shoved with all his strength, hearing Haru from nearby.
"Ken! Throw Riles!"
A second later, Riles foot was smashed against the boy's face. The glare in his eyes was pure and unbridled fury.
They both kept going until the assailant began to skid across the ground. Niall let out a soft laugh as his legs fell out from under him. Landing with a thud, his eyes could only focus on the three pairs of shoes within view. His face was lifted, Haru within his vision.
"Stay with me man. Keep focused. We have an ambulance on the way."
The concerned faces of Ken and Riles formed in his peripheral, but slowly faded out as he began to lose consciousness.
"S-sorry, guys. I ruined... tonight."
His paling face terrified his friends as he struggled to keep awake. His breathing grew more shallow as he felt his body moving. Eyes fluttering open, he could see the sky above break open. Rain hit his face as he was loaded into the back of an ambulance.
The next few days became a roller coaster nightmare for his family and friends. It was all downhill, his prospects were never good. Niall chances of survival continued to fall, faster and faster. After two weeks of fighting, a wound he should have been able to survive, he breathed his last.
Being his best pals; Haru, Ken and Riles made sure to bury him with his favorite things. It was Egyptian-esque, but they knew he'd love having Aveline with him in his final resting place.
"You fought hard, buddy. I'll drink to you tonight."
"We shoulda broken that bastards neck! You were just getting to the best part of your life!"
"I'll never see his awesome streams again. How do I figure out the best parts? You massive jerk... you should have had is come out with you."
They cried heavily, their tears falling into Niall's coffin.