**Arc 2: Chapter 4 – A Bet Worth Making**
The café buzzed with its usual chaotic energy, but So-ra's corner of the room was unusually quiet. Her focus was absolute as she faced her next challenge—a ranked match against some of the most notorious players in the region. A small crowd of spectators had gathered behind her, their excitement palpable.
Jae-min watched from the sidelines, arms crossed, while Elyra lounged invisibly on the edge of the table beside him, whispering commentary only he could hear.
"She's good," Elyra murmured, tilting her head as So-ra executed a flawless move to eliminate an opponent. "Really good. But she's holding back."
"What do you mean?" Jae-min asked, keeping his voice low.
"She's cautious," Elyra explained. "It's like she's afraid of showing her full strength, probably because of something in her past."
Jae-min frowned. He'd noticed it too. So-ra was exceptional, but there was always a slight hesitation in her gameplay, a split-second delay that made the difference between dominating and just winning.
"Guess I'll have to figure out what's holding her back," he muttered.
---
The match ended with a decisive win for So-ra, and the crowd erupted into cheers. She leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms above her head with a satisfied grin.
"That's how it's done," she said, turning to face Jae-min.
"Impressive," Jae-min said, stepping forward. "But I've seen you play better."
So-ra raised an eyebrow. "Better? I just carried my team to victory against a top-ranked squad. What more do you want?"
Jae-min smirked. "I want to see what you can really do. No holding back."
So-ra's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"
"You're playing it safe," Jae-min said. "You're good enough to dominate, but you're holding yourself back. Why?"
The room fell silent, the spectators sensing the tension and slowly dispersing. So-ra crossed her arms, her expression hardening.
"You don't know anything about me," she said sharply.
"Maybe not," Jae-min replied, "but I know potential when I see it. And I know when someone's afraid to take risks."
So-ra glared at him, but her silence spoke volumes.
"Tell you what," Jae-min said, leaning against her desk. "Let's make a bet."
"A bet?" she repeated, her tone skeptical.
"Yeah," Jae-min said, his grin widening. "One match. You go all out, no holding back. If you win, I'll double your sponsorship budget."
So-ra blinked, clearly surprised. "And if I lose?"
"Then you have to let me help you—really help you," Jae-min said. "No more walls, no more excuses. Deal?"
So-ra hesitated, her eyes searching his for any sign of deceit. Finally, she smirked and extended a hand. "Deal."
---
The match was set: a high-stakes one-on-one between So-ra and Jae-min. The café owner cleared a private section for them, and a crowd quickly gathered to watch.
Jae-min had never considered himself a great gamer, but he knew enough to hold his own. Still, he was relying on the system to give him a slight edge.
"You sure about this?" Elyra asked as he adjusted his headset. "She's not going to go easy on you."
"I'm counting on it," Jae-min replied.
The game began, and So-ra immediately went on the offensive. Her movements were precise, her strategies unpredictable. Jae-min struggled to keep up, barely managing to counter her attacks.
"She's insane," he muttered, his fingers flying over the keyboard.
"Focus," Elyra said, her voice sharp. "You're doing fine. Just stick to the basics."
But it was no use. So-ra was relentless, and within minutes, she'd secured her victory.
"Game over," she said with a triumphant grin, leaning back in her chair.
Jae-min sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, you win. Guess I'm doubling your budget."
The crowd erupted into cheers, and So-ra basked in their admiration. But as the excitement died down, she turned to Jae-min, her expression softening.
"Why'd you push me so hard?" she asked.
"Because you're better than you think you are," Jae-min said simply. "And I want to see you succeed."
So-ra stared at him for a long moment before nodding. "Fine. I'll take your help. But don't think this means I trust you completely."
"Fair enough," Jae-min said with a grin.
As the crowd dispersed, Elyra appeared beside him, her golden eyes sparkling with amusement.
"Her likability just hit 50%," she said. "You're halfway there."
Jae-min nodded, feeling a strange mix of satisfaction and determination. So-ra was a challenge, but he was in this for the long haul. One step at a time, he'd earn her trust—and maybe something more.