"On your right, bruh." The last class was PE, and they were running laps.Or rather, Dave ran laps around everyone, while Jake almost spit his lungs out. His lanky friend already finished when he still had a long way to go. It was nothing new."It's so degrading to run against a fucking Olympic athlete." His Running skill on the first level didn't do much when his endurance was below average.At least he wasn't last anymore."Come on, Jones. No slacking. Three more laps," the teacher yelled, glancing up from his stopwatch.Jake did his best though, running on sheer willpower alone."That's why I mixed ya name up. The teachers use ya last name, darn it." Rebecca inserted from the sidelines. The girls from his class were in a different group, playing ball.He couldn't help but keep glancing over to see how the fiery little ginger did. As surprising as it was, she sucked. Though Jake suspected she held back, or wasn't interested in their games.She joined him during every recess despite her clear distaste for RP games.Jake hadn't heard her talk this much in the last three years as on this day alone. He didn't hate it.She was fun to be around, even if he couldn't dedicate too much time to her.They had to go over every hidden mechanic of MA with Dave because his life depended on it.Still, that dream, where they dated, seemed more and more real.And he wanted nothing more. But he couldn't enjoy it if the world ended.There had to be a way out.Finishing his last lap, wheezing, Rebecca walked up to him again."Ya are slower than an elderly snail." She offered him a towel, balancing the insult with the kind gesture.During the day, Jake realized, that's how the ginger always rolled."And you got hit by the ball first in every round, despite being the smallest target." He shot back, and the girl laughed. Too bad, she was in his blind spot, thanks to his stupid eyepatch.At least the headache and the weird glitching stopped while he wore it."The difference is that I wasn't trying." She stated the obvious."The sooner they got me, the sooner I could ditch the whole thing and come bother ya. You though, ran like ya life depended on it, and if it were, you'd be dead."She had a real talent for insulting people and always found the most painful targets. And then he couldn't respond in kind, because she was too adorable. She didn't play fair, but he loved it.Jake wondered if that was a skill too, or if she was born that way.She had this almost evil laugh, a cute, smug cackle that made her throw her head back.The more he heard it, the more he loved that sound. Still, as their date crawled closer, he reminded himself of his mission."So, I hope ya look forward to ya gift this afternoon." The little redhead teased him once the class ended. "Let's meet at the bus station, and catch one to Spring Falls.""What? That's like an hour's ride." It wasn't a protest, but a genuine surprise.Jake thought she'd buy a simple gift to 'win' against the student council President, and call it a day.Now it pained him even more that he planned to cancel."Look, the thing is, I have—" Jake began, but the ginger rushed closer in a blur of motion and stared him in the face."No. I told ya, I insist, in fifty minutes at the station. I run home to change out of my uniform, and we take the bus. Don't be late." Her face was adorable but dead serious."But—" He tried, but that was as far as he got before Rebecca's index finger landed on his lips."I'm willing to compromise and go to Brent." She offered, retracting the finger. "That's only fifteen minutes with the express one. Ya can't buy shit here in Enfield though."It was impossible to turn her down. Her insistence was one thing, but Jake didn't want to either."Fine." He nodded and tried his best to sound busy. "But don't plan for long, I'll have to be back by three, and if my eye doesn't get better, get an appointment later today.""I'll miss the eyepatch. It suits ya."Rebecca laughed, giving him one last bump before heading for the girl's locker.His Bluff skill and high intelligence score helped him make up believable excuses.Well, he still felt like kicking himself for it.He never thought that one day he'd fight against the cutest girl who wanted to hook up with him.But his struggle seemed to backfire since it only got Rebecca even more adamant."Dawg, what are you doing?" Dave shook his head, wrapping his long arm around him once they were alone in the locker room. "She's a hottie, and she's begging you for a date, bruh."So it was that obvious. It caused him physical pain only to think about it.His friend's next question didn't help either. "You swing the other way? I ain't judgin' bruh.""What? No." Jake wanted nothing more than to sit down and explain everything to everyone. But he knew they wouldn't believe him. "No. But it's complicated.""Is there another gal?" Dave probed and before Jake could protest, he remembered the President.She was also involved in this and knew about the prophecy.His brain went into overdrive. He could explain everything to her and ask for her help.He stared his dark-skinned friend right in the eye and felt like kissing him.After his comment about swinging the other way, he decided not to."DeeDee, you're a genius." He said, hurrying up to change. "There is another girl. Yeah. And I should have enough time to tell her everything before the date.""Wha—? Bruh, that's savage. So you wanna confess to a chick, then go on a date with the other one? She doesn't deserve that, JJ." Dave protested, but he seemed more jealous than upset."Ugh, no, but I'll tell you later." Jake decided to run.The student council's office was at the other end of the building.He had about forty minutes before meeting up with Rebecca. It could work.He even spent two more points on the Running skill, so he didn't collapse on his way.But he was out of luck. Sonokawa was out to inspect the school's old building way down the street.It was a few hundred yards, and he was already running during the PE class. By the time he reached the place—unsure if the President was even still there—he almost died.He didn't see anyone there, leaning against the fence and wheezing. Even if he were to make it back in time, he'd be all sweaty. It wasn't ideal for a date, but he had to commit.Still, that place seemed deserted."Where the hell is everyone?" He mumbled, entering through the gap in the fence, and two things happened.He spotted two members of the student council standing where nobody was before.And the street and every other nearby building disappeared. In their place, he only saw a black void.