A zombie came into screen, Ao aimed at it with the gun and fired. Headshot. A few dozen of undead filed as another wave came.
"Why did I bet against her?" Matsunaga planted his face on the side of the game console in agony.
Why did he even bet that if he wins, she'll go out on a date with him. And if she wins, he'll do anything she says. Which was a really bad idea. Matsunaga was broke from all the merchandises that Ao asked for him to buy.
"I never knew that she could be this extravagant when she has money," Matsunaga shakes his wallet down but nothing came out but for his identification card in school, "why does my little sister Nozomi has such a vulgar taste when it comes to things she likes?"
He turned to Natsuki who just came by and was accompanied by Keiichi, "you! Natsuki, why haven't you invited Kobayakawa-san? Spit Woman could have come with her,"
Natsuki smiled apologetically, "I did. Yukirin told me so,"
Matsunaga grabbed him by the collar, "then, why? Why!?"
Natsuki was taken aback by the way his friend was acting"Kobayakawa-san said she has to study for her tests this weekend. I can't force her to come,"
Matsunaga loosened his grip on Natsuki and let him go. He came back to his game console emo corner and started growing mushrooms.
"Then what about Nozomi?" Keiichi added.
For seconds there, the atmosphere felt heavy. So thick that Keiichi could feel it and notice it. Natsuki was busy with Matsunaga and the people that are also in the arcade were far away. Keiichi was just the only one. He noticed Ao shaking, the gun was shaking on her hands as she replied, "she doesn't feel well,"
And a whisper he couldn't hear from this distance. He knew she was saying something. He doesn't know lip reading but he managed to make out 'because' and 'you'.
"Because of me?" He muttered. Then he smirked at her, "I like her already."
Keiichi walked and stands beside Ao. He took the player two gun. The player two screen was flashing 'Game Over'. He inserted a coin to play with her. Then they shoot zombies that dare to come.
"Nomi- No-Nozomi? How do you know her?" Her blue eyes were staring far. It was blank. She was staring blankly into the screen while shooting.
"Nozomi? She's one of the girls that confessed to me," Keiichi lightly chuckled, "guess there's no one to accept who I really am,"
He added, "she was the farthest that ever came," he kept shooting, "I did try to warn her. But she kept fawning over me,"
Ao's part of the screen flashed 'Game Over' as she puts back the gun on its place, "she's too fragile. I don't want you polluting her mind. Stay away from her,"
"Polluting? Sora-san, what are you pulling?" his own metaphor became literal as he sees Ao pulling the flower brooch from her cap.
She grabbed his free hand and placed it on his palms, "Sora-san, what are you doing?" Not exactly placing it on his palms.
She pricked his palm with the pin. Keiichi tried to pull free his hand but was unable. He couldn't believe this was the grip of a girl. Ao set the pin dipper into his palm. Keiichi winced and dropped the gun and it was swinging down back and forth with its wires dangling. When he was about to yell out a scream of pain, Ao pulled the pin away. Blood oozed out like a fountain.
Keiichi hissed, "what was that for?" He grasps his wrist with the wound on his palm.
Ao pinned back the brooch on her baseball cap, "it was punishment," she stares at his palm with silent amusement in her eyes.
"Your enjoying this aren't you?" Keiichi asked with a smile as if he was liking the pain inflicting on his palm.
She shook her head, "not a hundred percent,"
Keiichi's face darkened and the pupils on his eyes turned smaller, "what if I do this to you? I will surely like it to a hundred percent,"
The girl was taken by surprise at his odd attitude. Keiichi's smirk grew wider, "scared now are you?"
Most of the people in the arcade swarmed at the couple playing 'Just Dance'. It was the highest probability that it is Yukirin and Tsuyoshi dancing to the game. Even Matsunaga (still obviously carrying Ao's anime merchandise) and Natsuki left the two to cheer on the otaku couple. It was only Ao and Keiichi standing in a lonely corner in the arcade.
"That was..." it was a whole new side of Keiichi that Ao has seen. Whatever it was, it made her heart forgot to pump or maybe she was the one who forgot to breathe. If she was scared, how come it was sending tingles of joy to her nerves. After that, her face heated up and her heart finally beats but faster than it ever was before like she had ran a whole trackfield.
Two 'Game Over' pixelated texts flashed into the screen and a zombie face was squishing its face onto the screen like it was begging to come out of the console. The cheers of everyone in the arcade echoed in the far side of Ao.
"Please do it again," she said with no hesitation.
"What?" Keiichi was baffled and dubious.
"I think it was really cool," she whispered enough for him to hear.
Keiichi facepalmed himself, "why do you and Nozomi have the same reaction?"
What is Ao going to say? It's not like she knew the answer to the question, she just shrugged at him, unsurely.
Blood was traveling down to Keiichi's wrists, a few drips were staining his pants. Ao handed out a handkerchief to him.
"You hurt me then you help me? You're delusional," he says while wiping his blood stained hand. He pressed the handkerchief into his wounded palm to stop the blood from gushing out.
A small smile spread upon Ao's lips, "if Nozomi's brother finds out what she feels right now, what will happen to you could've been worse,"
Keiichi hands back the handkerchief, "are you okay with me not washing it?"
She did not mind if her handkerchief isn't washed. Ao liked the blood to stay there. The stain was quite big and she was really happy. She took the handkerchief from him and said not to worry. She held it close from her nose and started smelling it when Keiichi has to turn his back.
Keiichi excused himself to go the restroom for boys. He quickly disappeared in a few seconds. Ao bit her handkerchief.
"Please play with me a bit longer, Kei-kun,"
*****
I could not believe it! His blood tasted and smelled so good. He never liked Nozomi and that's safe. But Nozomi likes Kei-kun so much... I have to-- no, she doesn't like Kei-kun anymore. If she still does, then her fragile body will be-- I'll leave it to there.
My best friend Nozomi, I love you so much that I have to keep you to myself.
But this is so boring. I don't feel like playing anymore. Yukirin is busy with Tsuyoppon. I think she's really happy to be with him. I wonder if I'll be like that with Kei-kun, too.
*****
Ao walked over to Natsuki and Matsunaga. Her cool demeanor as usual. She managed to get along well with everyone despite of her anxiety in socializing. Yukirin was a big help to her.
"Soracchi, where's Kei-chan?" Matsunaga asks while facing the crowd that cheers for the couple.
"He said he wanted a break so he had to go to the restroom for a while," she replied and Matsunaga nodded at her.
The duo was splendid. Yukirin and Tsuyoppon were like idols on stage dancing. For a person like Tsuyoppon, Ao didn't think he was this good in playing 'Just Dance'. The music ended and they striked the last pose, and the crowd roared in enthusiasm. Beside her, Natsuki and Matsunaga were joining the cheer, too.
Ao just clapped for her friend. She truly admires Yukirin.
*****
As the girl went home, she did not expect a jump scare for her. Nozomi pounced on her when she went inside. This was normal for them. Nozomi had an extra key in her house so she could take care of the house and it's vice versa for Ao.
"Soracchi, I missed you!" Nozomi was really happy that she came back. Ao hugged her back.
"Nozomi, you need to get off me. We're on the floor," Ao said in a few moments later to break free the hug.
Nozomi stood up and she pulled up Ao, "I'm sorry, Soracchi. It's just that you went home late,"
"We're neighbors. Your brother escorted me. Aren't you worried about your brother?"
"No! I-it's just that you're a girl. Onii-chan can take care of himself,"
Ao smiled a bit. Nozomi is worried about her, "I'm glad that you're worried for me," she handed out a plastic bag filled with anime merchandises and some Gudetama. She gave a small Gudetama doll.
"I won this for you and me," she said shyly.
"Thank you, Soracchi!" Then she hugged Ao like a bear and they both fell down again.
After eating Nozomi's cooking in Ao's house, the red-head went home because Matsunaga has called in the landline.
Ao leaned with her back on the door while clutching the handkerchief to her mouth and licking it.
"I'm so happy about today,"