Friday Night – Midtown District, Ramen House
Tyler pushed the sliding door open like he was storming a battlefield.
"We're here! Table for eight! Possibly nine! Possibly chaos!"
The host blinked once, then led us to a low table near the corner. Warm lighting. Steamy windows. Bowls clinking in the background. A perfect post-game atmosphere.
Tyler flopped onto the cushion beside me. "Jay. Dude. Hero. We feast."
"I carried one ball," I said.
"You carried my soul."
Sofia, already halfway into her first appetizer, waved a chopstick. "He also carried the crowd's ovaries."
Emma groaned, sliding in across from us. "Can we not talk about reproductive organs before dinner?"
"Too late," Sofia grinned.
Amaya took the seat beside me quietly, her bag in her lap. "I've never been here before…"
Jay smiled. "Their miso will change your life."
She smiled softly. "Because you said so."
The Energy – High and Loud
Plates arrived. Gyoza sizzled. Broth steamed. The table filled with laughter.
Tyler told an exaggerated play-by-play of the match, complete with sound effects and impressions of rival players. Sofia dramatized everything. Even Luna chuckled once when Tyler tried to mimic Jay's "cool stare" and nearly fell off his cushion.
I laughed with them.
But somewhere between the fourth dumpling and my second refill of green tea…
I looked around.
And noticed.
Yuki wasn't there.
The Shift – One Name Too Loud
"Anyone see Yuki today?" I asked casually, mid-bite.
The table stilled for a second.
Emma didn't look up from her tea.
Sofia paused, chopsticks halfway to her mouth. "Why?"
I shrugged. "She's in our class. Just figured someone invited her."
"She doesn't… really hang out," Amaya said quietly.
"Yeah," Tyler added, "she gives off that 'watching us from a rooftop' vibe."
I smiled. "Still. She was at the match. I saw her."
"You did?" Emma said—too quickly.
I nodded. "Top of the bleachers. Just standing. Watching."
No one else said anything.
Then Sofia leaned forward, a sly grin returning. "You thinking of recruiting your next fan, Rep?"
Emma's eyes narrowed slightly.
Amaya lowered her gaze.
I shook my head. "Just curious. She's… different."
That word lingered.
Subtle Storm – Jealousy in Small Ways
Emma didn't say much for the next few minutes.
She picked at her noodles, lips tight, glancing toward the window like she was bored. But I saw the tension in her fingers—tight around the cup.
Amaya was even quieter than usual. She clung to her soup spoon like it might float away, her shoulders a little hunched, eyes down.
Sofia raised an eyebrow but didn't press further.
Only Luna met my eyes across the table.
"Careful," she said under her breath.
I blinked. "Huh?"
"She sees everything. Yuki."
Then she went back to eating like she hadn't said anything at all.
Later – The Arcade Break
After ramen, we stumbled into the old-school arcade next door.
Tyler was a menace on the air hockey table. Emma destroyed everyone in DDR, claiming she was "just warming up." Sofia roped me into a claw machine war, screaming when I actually won her a stuffed octopus on my first try.
"HOW," she gasped, clutching it. "You don't even try!"
I winked. "I'm just built different."
Amaya didn't play. But she watched.
Sat near the crane machines, legs folded under her, smiling gently every time our eyes met.
And Luna?
She sketched. Always sketching.
Jay Drifts Off – And the Girls Feel It
I found myself near the entrance at one point, sipping a soda, eyes drifting toward the exit.
"Still thinking about her?" came a voice.
Emma.
She leaned beside me, one arm crossed, the other holding a can of juice.
"Yuki?" I asked.
She didn't answer.
"I just… I don't get her," I admitted. "Everyone else talks. Laughs. Reacts."
"And she watches," Emma said flatly.
"Exactly."
"She's not your next project, Jay," she said, voice low.
I turned toward her. "Who said she was?"
Emma stared at me for a second too long.
Then took a sip and walked away.
Close – The Walk Home
By the time we were walking back through the midtown streets, the group had scattered into pairs.
Tyler and Sofia were still arguing about who won Skee-ball. Luna wandered a few steps behind, eyes on the sky. Emma walked ahead without speaking.
And me?
I walked beside Amaya.
Neither of us spoke at first.
Then she said, softly, "You're really curious about her."
I nodded. "Yeah."
"…Do you like her?"
The question hit harder than I expected.
I stopped walking.
"I don't know her," I said honestly. "I just feel like she sees something I'm missing."
Amaya nodded slowly. "I see you too, you know."
I looked at her.
She wasn't mad.
Just… a little sad.
And I hated that.
"…I know," I said.
And she smiled again.
But this time, it didn't quite reach her eyes.
Next Day – Morning at School
The school was quieter, but I felt it the second I stepped into class.
The buzz.
The weight.
Even people who hadn't watched the match were looking at me differently.
Mr. Brooks entered with his usual disheveled flair, saw the hallway noise, and sighed. "Can someone print me a t-shirt that says 'Yes, Jay is still in this class?' Thanks."
Tyler clapped me on the back. "You're officially a school idol now."
"Kill me."
Mid-Morning – Rei's Arrival
I was headed to the vending machine when I spotted Rei leaning against the wall outside the gym.
He waved me over.
"You've got a minute?"
I nodded.
We walked a bit, away from the noise.
"You did good," he said. "More than good. You've got instincts. Vision. Timing."
"Thanks," I said. "It felt good."
"We want you on the team," he said simply.
Not a question. A statement.
But I didn't answer right away.
"…I'm not ready to commit," I said after a moment.
He raised an eyebrow.
"I've got other stuff. Class rep, clubs, life. I don't want to half-ass it if I join for real."
Rei nodded. "Fair."
"But," I added, "if you need me… I'll be there."
His smile was small. But real.
"Good. We'll need you again soon."
Then he walked off.
Leaving me with an unopened drink and a dozen more questions.