Once the trio arrived at ProCenter, their first station was the bowling arena.
"Not many people here, huh," Luke commented.
"Indeed," Vincent agreed. "But, I suppose that's to be expected. This facility is mainly for video games, after all."
"Yep." Lars nodded. "Actually, I didn't even know there were other things here until you brought it up, haha."
"These are mostly relics from the past," Vincent explained. "Before this facility became the video-game-oriented ProCenter we know today, it used to be a general-purpose entertainment place. It had everything from batting cages to slot machines."
"Yo, that sounds cool!" Lars nodded. "Today it's mostly arcades and video games, right?"
"Indeed, it is. And, even arcades are mostly outdated at this point, so most things run on consoles and PC. Times have changed, and so have the young generation's interests."
"Actually," Luke said. "Coming here to play video games feels the most pointless, at least to me. I mean, we can play everything online nowadays."
"True, we can." Vincent nodded. "However, there are multiple benefits to playing side by side. We experience that every day in the club."
"Yeah, I guess…"
"And," Vincent continued. "Putting aside the quality of our humble base, it does at least offer all the basic necessities for a group to practice in one place."
"Just BARELY enough of them," Luke pointed out. "Shit is really rundown, haha. It's a literal the BASEMENT, dang it."
"True, but some people don't have even that minimum. Not all schools have Mnacers clubs, so that's where ProCenter can come in as a replacement."
"Yep," Lars agreed. "Like, imagine if we couldn't practice at the club. Then, where would we even go!?"
"To ProCenter, of course!"
"Yep! ProCenter: your ultimate video gaming arena!"
"Pft, haha! " Luke laughed. "Aren't these quotes from some of their old cringy ads? That shit has me in tears every time, haha."
"Yep, these were hella funny!" Lars laughed along.
"These were around during the older days of ProCenter," Vincent explained. "Back then, video gaming was a new boom, so they forcefully shoved the term into every piece of advertisement. "
"Dang, Vince," Luke said. "Is ProCenter paying you or something? You sound like a legit tour guide!"
"I'm honored that I come across as sufficiently professional." Vincent bowed elegantly. "This is just par for the course for me. As the son of a journalist, I feel obliged to study the topics around me."
"Dude," Lars said. "Sometimes, it feels like you know everything there is to know! It's wild!"
"Indeed. My knowledge might as well transcend the boundaries of the mortal realm, for I'm connected to the Akashic Records!"
"Heh. I heard ya throw that word around but it's like Chinese to me, dude."
"Understandable, for the Akashic Records far transcend the common sense typically associated with knowledge," Vincent said. "These are magical records that exist within the fabric of the mental space, recording all information about the universe. They cover the past, present, and even future!"
"Dang, they can even see the future!?" Lars jumped. "Are ya a prophet or somethin'?"
"Unfortunately, reading the future is too high a toll for a mortal such as myself," Vincent explained. "Therefore, I focus primarily on the past and present."
"You're like a walking encyclopedia, word." Lars nodded. "Are ya also gonna be a pro journalist like yo dad?"
"Quite possible," Vincent said. "However, I'm exploring multiple avenues at once. My dad recommended staying flexible about this and not blindly pursuing the same profession as him, especially given the times."
"Watcha mean?"
"Frankly speaking, modern journalism is in a rough state. It has been largely reduced to a race of clickbait articles. Nowadays, it's all about the engagement you can farm, not about the quality of your content."
"Oh, yeah," Luke said. "The classic YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT! And then you open that video and it's the most lukewarm thing ever."
"Yeah, these are annoying for real, haha." Lars chuckled. "Also, all these vids about 10 REASONS WHY YOU'RE STUCK IN BRONZE. Like, dude, pls."
"Truly, it's a sad state of affairs that such cheap tricks are so effective at grabbing people's attention." Vincent shook his head. "Because of that, my dad told me to broaden my horizons. Rather than just becoming some clickbait journalist, he said to try my hands at many different things: video editing, commentary, writing guides, etc. Based on current trends, he believes that being a multi-platform content creator is the future."
"I dunno, man," Luke said. "Sounds like he's telling you to become an influencer, haha."
"I suppose you could interpret it that way, as much as I dislike the stigma associated with the term," Vincent said. "On paper, being an influencer simply means your content is reaching people, which is a good thing. Alas, there are far too many scams and cults formed because of all that virtual influence."
"Fax, my brother. Spit your shit indeed."
"So, that's why I've been keeping an open mind about all of this," Vincent explained. "The knowledge I amassed regarding ProCenter is all part of this. For example, it would prove very useful in case I ever decide to make a documentary video about it."
"Oh, so that's why you're so good at all that stuff!" Lars nodded repeatedly. "Yo editing is clean as heck, and I love yo hype commentary! You've got all the tools to make peak videos, dude!"
"That's reassuring to hear, though I'm not quite up to par yet."
"Nah, man," Luke said. "You totally got it. There's so much content slop these days that somehow gets tons of views. Your editing and commentary are god-tier compared to that trash."
"I'm glad you guys like them," Vincent said. "Especially the commentary, that part is very important to me."
"It's hype, yo!" Lars said. "I betcha you can become a commentator for the World Championship!"
"That would be a great honor," Vincent said. "Really, it's encouraging to know that you love my current amateur work. I actually consider dabbling in professional commentary someday."
"You gonna get there ez! And, you should commentate over our games when me and Yuel go pro, haha."
"I vow to do so if I ever ascend to that level of professionalism!"
In the meantime, Luke found himself tuning out of the conversation. The registrations for bowling were done, so he went ahead and grabbed a ball.
Dreams, goals, jobs…. Luke stared at the pitch-black ball in front of him. It looked like a black hole that could easily suck him in. All these topics they're talking about… They're hella heavy, just like this dang ball! AGHHHHH!
Luke tried to lift the black ball but his arms failed him. Was this ball too heavy? Or, did Luke simply lack willpower?
"I believe this one is on the heavier side," Vincent pointed out. "You can tell by its number."
"Yeah, I know." Luke let go of the heavy ball. It had the number 16 written on it, which was apparently too much for a middle schooler. Hell, it felt like only a bodybuilder would be able to lift that shit comfortably enough.
For a middle schooler like Luke, a ball with number 6 felt light enough to handle. So, he picked that one and fired it across the lane!
The ball flew really far, making it look like some flashy, professional throw! It was also hella accurate, too!
I don't remember the last time I bowled, but it looks like I'm at the top of my game! Luke grinned confidently. His explosive attack was gonna be a surefire hit! But…
Clack. The ball rammed into the pins alright, but it barely made a dent in their formation. Despite the speed, the ball only lightly tapped them. They shook a little but remained standing in place.
… no, wait! THUD. One of the pins actually fell! Woohoo!
But that was it. That's all Luke achieved with his impressive-looking attack.
"Man, I haven't played in so long…" Luke smiled dryly.
"Dude, ya tossed that ball, haha!" Lars laughed. "Ya can't do that, yo! Gotta roll it real gud, like this!"
To demonstrate, Lars grabbed a number 10 ball. "Dang, I forgot how heavy these dudes are!"
"Just take a lighter one," Luke advised. "I tried some of these numbers but they feel way too heavy."
"Nah, this is fine, trust," Lars reassured. "Just gotta get used to it. It's heavier, but it's better! That's the bowling rule, yo!"
"Is that the meta or something?" Luke turned to Vincent.
"Indeed, heavier balls are ranked higher on the tier list." Despite saying that, Vincent picked a number 8 ball. "With that said, overshooting isn't good, either. We must take into account the fact we're middle schoolers and pick accordingly."
Both Lars and Vincent stepped forward to shoot. Since there was nobody else around, each of the trio monopolized a different lane so they could roll simultaneously. It was VIP bowling!
WHISH! Lars unleashed his heavy ball first, and the darn thing almost dragged him along for the ride!
"Whoa!" Lars just barely avoided stepping into the lane. "Phew! Dang, I haven't bowled in a while, haha."
Evidently, the number 10 ball was a bit too much for him. It didn't roll nearly as fast as Luke's ball did, which made the attack seem questionable at best. Nonetheless...
BAM! The ball rammed into the pins with full force! What it lacked in velocity, it made up for with sheer power!
Half the pins were sent flying. The ball failed to land in the center, but it successfully eliminated the right flank.
"Gah!" Lars held his head. "My 200% accuracy, yo! How did I miss the center!?"
"You rolled so well and you're still unsatisfied..." Luke made a face.
"Well," Vincent said. "Such is the nature of the ever-hungry beast who always seeks higher highs. Now, it is my turn!"
Vincent rolled his number 8 ball. Clearly, he wasn't very good at this. The ball got a nice initial velocity, but it failed to stay on track and fell into the gutter.
"Dios mio!" Vincent dramatically collapsed as if he had just lost the nationals. "It appears I failed to unleash the power in my right hand…"
"Don't worry, dude!" Lars encouraged. "You'll get the next one for sure, believe it!"
"Yes, you're right. I must believe, dattebayo!"
"Welp." Luke chucked. "As always, the meta fails those who follow it blindly!" He declared boldly as he picked a number 6 ball again.
Admittedly, he did give number 8 a try earlier. That was probably the better-fitting weight for him. Alas, he rejected it!
I mean, I can handle the weight. I'm no weako. Luke asserted to nobody in particular. But, it is heavier, and… it's more meta! Reject meta, return to lightweight!
And so, he rolled his meme ball once more! Once again, the ball flew hella far from his fingers. That didn't happen with Lars and Vincent's rolls, and neither did Luke remember this ever being an issue when he bowled in the past.
Should it work this way? Lars said it ain't good to toss it like this. Luke contemplated. Hmm. Throwing the ball like this looks cool, and it makes a nice sound when the ball comes down crashing. But, is this a legit strat?
Judging by the result, it wasn't. His ball lost all its momentum yet again and failed to make much of a splash. He knocked down one pin and made another one wobble a little, that's about it. That netted him a total of 2 points for this frame.
This is less than half of what Lars pulled off in a single roll. I have a feeling this is going to be one heck of an uphill battle...
BAM! Lars's heavy ball crashed into the left flank, eliminating the remaining five pins!
Not only was this result impressive, but it granted the guy a spare! Now, after already scoring 10 points, he could roll a third time to get EVEN MORE POINTS! Bro was a walking cheating machine for real.
The skill gap here was crazy. Ain't no way Luke is going to be able to compete with that monster.
At least, he felt a little better about himself when he watched Vincent. The poor guy struggled to even make the ball hit the pins.
For the second roll, Vincent's ball stayed within the lane the whole way through. However, it strayed too far to the right by the time it reached the pins. In the end, it only barely grazed the rightmost pin on the way out, miraculously knocking it down despite the weak impact.
"Alright!" Vincent pumped a fist. "One point at a time!"
My guy, we're losing here by over 10 points right off the bat! Honestly, Luke had already started losing spirit. This shit was going to be unwinnable, word.
The next two frames played in a similar fashion. Lars got far ahead with 37 points, whereas Luke and Vincent trailed far behind with 12 and 8.
"Whew, we're getting mopped here, haha…" Luke laughed dryly. Maybe I should switch to a heavier ball, too? I feel like 7 or 8 will do better.
A devil whispered into Luke's ear, tempting him to get closer to the meta. If he optimizes his gear, he might be able to compete with Lars! At least, that's what the devil claimed.
Nah, there's no point. Luke rejected the devil's sweet whispers. I'mma keep polishing my skills with my homie number 6. We gonna show these meta slaves that a lighter ball can compete, too!
He asserted so in his head as he continued using the number 6 meme! He'll find a way to win despite the seemingly impossible odds! Hopefully...