Akihiko leaned against the car, his hands tucked casually into his pockets, his sharp silhouette illuminated by the glow of the streetlamp above.
His blue eyes lingered on Ayaka, tracing the flicker of emotions crossing her face. "Worth the drive?" he asked, his voice low and steady, as though he already knew the answer.
Ayaka tore her gaze from the building ahead and turned to him, her pulse quickening for reasons she couldn't quite put into words. "You… you brought me all the way here for this?"
"I told you to trust me." His tone was calm, unhurried, carrying an unspoken weight that made her stomach flip.
The moonlight caught in his eyes, turning them into shimmering pools that seemed to hold secrets she was desperate to uncover. "Not everything's about the destination, Ayaka. Sometimes, it's what happens along the way."
She turned back to the building, the soft hum of neon lights spilling onto the pavement like a beacon in the quiet night. The sign above the door read 'Tanaka's Gaming Cafe' its glow a stark contrast to the darkened streets around them.
Through the glass, she could see rows of gaming stations, each one bathed in a kaleidoscope of colors, and the faint sounds of laughter and clicking keys drifted out.
"Gaming cafe?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and folding her arms across her chest. "Really? You don't even play games."
Akihiko pushed off the car with an easy grace, the faintest smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Doesn't mean I can't learn." he said, taking a step closer. "Besides, it's not about me tonight."
Her brow furrowed as she studied him, trying to decode the meaning behind his cryptic words. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He shrugged, the motion effortless, but his eyes never left hers. "Maybe I'm just curious to see you in your element. You're always so focused, so competitive. I thought it might be fun to challenge you on your turf."
Ayaka blinked, caught off guard by the casual confidence in his tone. "You're serious? You're actually going to play?"
"Why not?" he said, his smirk deepening. "Unless you're scared I might surprise you."
Her laughter bubbled up before she could stop it, light and genuine. "You? Surprising me? I'll believe it when I see it."
He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping just enough to send a shiver down her spine. "Careful, Ayaka. Underestimating your opponent's the fastest way to lose."
She tilted her head, a playful challenge in her eyes. "Big words for someone who probably doesn't know how to hold a controller."
Akihiko chuckled, the sound rich and low, as he straightened and gestured toward the glowing entrance. "Guess there's only one way to find out."
For a moment, she hesitated, her fingers curling into the strap of her bag as she tried to make sense of the knot of emotions twisting in her chest.
This wasn't just a simple night out. There was something unspoken in his actions, something that made her heart flutter and her mind race.
"Alright." she said finally, a spark of excitement lighting her eyes. "But don't say I didn't warn you. I'm not holding back."
"Good." he said, his gaze holding hers for a moment longer than necessary. "Neither am I."
As they stepped into the cafe, the electric buzz of the gaming world enveloped them, but Ayaka's focus remained on Akihiko.
Whatever his reasons for bringing her here, one thing was clear: tonight was going to be anything but ordinary.
"Ms. Yamamoto! You're back!" an elderly voice chimed warmly as the door creaked open. The speaker, a jovial old man with silver hair and glasses perched on his nose, waved from behind the counter.
His eyes then shifted to the figure beside Ayaka. "And this gentleman…?" He paused, his gaze lingering on Akihiko, curious but welcoming.
Ayaka grinned and took a step forward. "Ohhh! This is my friend, Akihiko Nakamura. We're pulling an all-nighter for some serious gaming!" Akihiko bowed respectfully, his movements precise and practiced.
The old man clapped his hands together with a hearty laugh. "Ah, I see! Nice to meet you, young man! I'm Taichi Tanaka, the owner of this humble café. Let me show you to Ms. Yamamoto's usual spot."
He winked knowingly. "Shall I bring the usual snacks, or do you have a special request tonight?"
"Make it double!" Ayaka replied, holding up two fingers with a mischievous gleam in her eye.
Taichi chuckled and gestured for them to follow. "Double it is! Come along."
As they walked through the cozy café, the air filled with the comforting aroma of coffee and fresh pastries, Akihiko leaned close to Ayaka, his arm brushing hers deliberately.
Lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, he asked, "He's not the Taichi from middle school, is he?"
Ayaka stifled a laugh, glancing at Akihiko's overly concerned expression. "Of course not!" she whispered back, her tone teasing.
Taichi came to a stop, turning to gesture at a snug corner table by a large window adorned with soft fairy lights. "And here we are—Ms. Yamamoto's usual spot. And lucky for you, there's an extra seat tonight."
He patted the chair beside Ayaka's usual seat before beaming at them. "Now, I'll get started on those snacks."
"Thank you, Mr. Tanaka!" Ayaka said with a radiant smile.
"The pleasure's all mi—" Taichi's words trailed off as his eyes widened in sudden recognition. He pointed a finger at Akihiko, his brows furrowing as if trying to solve a puzzle.
"Wait a minute… Ms. Yamamoto, this guy… isn't he the one who princess carried you out of the café a while back?" Taichi dramatically mimed the act, cradling an invisible figure in his arms.
Ayaka's cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she threw her hands over her face. "T-T-That's not necessary to bring up!" she stammered, her voice muffled by embarrassment.
Akihiko chuckled, clearly enjoying her reaction. "You're one to talk. If I remember correctly, you were the one making a scene because you didn't want to leave."
Ayaka shot him a glare, arms crossed defensively. "Oh, please! You conveniently forget how you stressed me out by making me rewrite that chapter! My first time being this stressed over writing, all because of you!"
"Alright, alright..." Taichi interjected with a chuckle, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I'll leave you two lovebirds to sort this out."
Ayaka froze, her eyes wide with shock. "N-no, Mr. Tanaka, you've got it all wrong! We're not a couple!" she called out, her voice rising in protest.
But Taichi was already heading back to the counter, his laughter echoing through the café.
Akihiko leaned back in his chair, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Well, that was… interesting."
Ayaka groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Why is it always like this with you?"
"Because it's fun." Akihiko teased, his blue eyes sparkling mischievously.
------
After settling in their seats, Ayaka and Akihiko both opened their computers. Ayaka was already logged into her favorite game, her fingers dancing over the keys with the grace of someone who had spent far too many hours mastering the controls.
Akihiko leaned closer to her screen, squinting at the swirling, ethereal graphics. "What's this game called again?"
"Celestial Conquest: Divine War." Ayaka replied with a gleam of excitement in her eyes. "It's a 5v5 online game where you play as celestial beings fighting for control of the Astral Realm."
"Alright..." Akihiko said, skepticism clear in his voice. He opened the game and raised an eyebrow as the title screen loaded, depicting a breathtaking clash between radiant gods and shadowy demigods, their weapons glowing with cosmic energy.
"Okay, so how does this work?" he asked.
Ayaka scooted her chair closer to his, pointing at the screen. "Here's the gist. Each team has five players, and the objective is to capture the 'Astral Nexus' in the center of the map while gathering 'Celestial Energy' from shrines and defeating 'Void Beasts' in the jungle. Each celestial being has a unique role—Guardian, Invoker, Harbinger, Arcanist, or Redeemer."
Akihiko clicked through the character selection screen, his brow furrowed. "This is… a lot of options. Who should I pick?"
"Start with something simple..." Ayaka suggested. "Try Solric, the Dawnbringer—he's a Guardian. Lots of health, shields teammates, and his moves are straightforward. Perfect for a newbie."
"Newbie, huh?" Akihiko muttered, narrowing his eyes at her teasing tone. He selected Solric, the golden-armored warrior with a hammer that radiated solar energy.
The match began, and Ayaka sat back, arms crossed, watching him with a sly smile.
"Okay, so where am I supposed to go?" Akihiko asked, his character aimlessly wandering down the middle lane.
"Mid lane's fine for now." Ayaka said, trying not to laugh as his movements were erratic, Solric stumbling into minion waves and taking unnecessary damage.
"Why is this little thing hitting me so much?" Akihiko exclaimed, fumbling with his controls as a minion swarm whittled away his health.
"Because you're just standing there!" Ayaka replied, stifling her giggles. "Move! And don't forget to use your abilities!"
He mashed some keys, accidentally activating Solric's shield too late, leaving his character to fall to a tower's energy blast. "Oh, come on!"
"Wow..." Ayaka said, leaning on her elbow with a wide grin. "You're really bad at this."
"It's my first game!" Akihiko shot back defensively, though he couldn't hide his frustration.
Moments later, the enemy team's Harbinger ambushed him in the jungle, trapping him with a wall of dark flames. Akihiko flailed at his keyboard, barely landing any hits before Solric went down again.
"Did I just die again?" he groaned.
"Yup..." Ayaka said, her voice almost sing-song. "That's your third death in five minutes. New record!"
Akihiko glared at her, though a hint of amusement crept into his expression. "You're having way too much fun watching me fail."
"Of course I am." Ayaka replied with a grin. "It's like watching a baby deer try to walk for the first time."
Despite the rocky start, Akihiko managed to last a little longer in the second half of the game, even landing a lucky stun that helped his team secure a kill.
"There you go! Progress!" Ayaka cheered, clapping sarcastically.
By the end of the match, however, the victory screen did not appear. Instead, Akihiko's team suffered a crushing defeat. He leaned back in his chair, exhaling in exasperation.
"Okay, this game is harder than it looks..." he admitted, shaking his head.
Ayaka reached over and patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. You'll get better. Or… maybe not." She laughed as Akihiko groaned again.
"Alright, fine. Rematch." he said, a competitive glint in his eye. "This time, I'll wipe that smug look off your face."
"We'll see if you can... Because I'll be your next opponent in a 1 vs. 1 match." Ayaka replied, already setting up the next game with an amused smirk.
"That's not fair! You have a higher ranking!" Akihiko protested, throwing up his hands as he glared at Ayaka.
"Calm down..." Ayaka replied, her mischievous grin spreading as she leaned back in her chair. "It'll be just like training! This is how strong players are born—by being thrown into the deep end!"
"Really? Because it feels more like you're about to crush me for fun." Akihiko's tone was dry, but his narrowed eyes carried a hint of suspicion.
Ayaka pretended to be offended, her hand flying dramatically to her chest. "What? Me? Crush you? I'd never!"
He raised an eyebrow. "Sure, totally believable."
She giggled, then straightened up, trying to look serious. "Fine, fine! To make it fair, I'll let you pick which character I'll use."
Akihiko's curiosity was piqued, and he leaned over to look at her screen. Rows of beautifully designed celestial characters lined the selection screen, each radiating their own unique energy and flair.
"Alright, let's see…" he murmured, his eyes scanning the options. His gaze landed on a character whose elegance stood out among the others.
"How about this one?" he asked, pointing at 'Kaelina, the Starborn Seer', a stunning figure with flowing silver hair that sparkled like stardust and piercing azure eyes.
Her celestial robes glowed faintly, adorned with intricate patterns of constellations, and she wielded a staff that shimmered with cosmic light.
"Why her?" Ayaka asked, tilting her head.
Akihiko shrugged, but his tone was calm and matter-of-fact. "Because she kinda looks like you."
The words hung in the air for a moment. Ayaka's eyes widened, and her heart skipped a beat as her face turned a noticeable shade of pink.
"W-what?" she stammered, instinctively brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"You know..." Akihiko continued casually, oblivious to the effect his comment had. "The eyes, the way her hair falls, that whole ethereal vibe. It's pretty similar." He returned to his seat, leaving Ayaka staring at her screen, her cheeks aflame.
She coughed to regain her composure. "A-anyway! Let me explain Kaelina's skills so you don't make dumb choices when fighting her."
Akihiko smirked. "Pretty sure I made a great choice already."
Ayaka shot him a flustered glare before focusing on the character. "Alright, listen up. Kaelina is an Arcanist, so she's all about powerful ranged magic and area-of-effect damage. Her passive ability, Astral Resonance, boosts her spell power every time she lands a skill shot on an enemy. If you let her stack it, she becomes terrifying."
She moved her cursor over the first skill. "Her Q, Stellar Shard. sends out a star that explodes on impact, dealing AoE damage and slowing enemies. Great for zoning and hitting multiple enemies at once."
Ayaka clicked on the next ability. "Her Luminous Veil, creates a shield that absorbs damage and reflects a small portion back at enemies. It's really annoying for opponents because they can't just dive her."
"The Constellation Collapse, is a crowd control skill. She summons falling stars that deal damage and stun anyone caught in the area. Timing this right can turn team fights."
Finally, she hovered over the ultimate. "And her Eclipse Nova, is a massive AoE attack. She calls down a rain of meteors, dealing ridiculous damage over time. If you combine it with her stun, it's game over for anyone caught in the blast."
Akihiko nodded, though his focus drifted back to the character model spinning gracefully on the selection screen. "Not bad. Strong and pretty."
Ayaka's blush deepened, and she quickly turned back to her own game, muttering under her breath. "Why did I let you choose anyway?…"
"What's that?" Akihiko asked, leaning closer with a smirk.
"Nothing!" Ayaka snapped, trying to hide her flustered expression. "Just focus on not dying this time!"
Akihiko chuckled, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Fine, fine. Let's see if you can actually back up all that bragging about being so good."
"Don't get cocky." Ayaka warned, her competitive grin returning. "You'll still lose, badly." As the game loaded, Ayaka's heart still fluttered, but she steeled herself.