Josh lay on his hotel room bed gazing blankly at the ceiling. A faint glow from the day’s sunlight seeped through the partially closed curtains, casting a warm ambiance in an otherwise totally dark room. Though the windows were closed, he could still hear the hum of traffic, the rhythmic walking of pedestrians, and the occasional blare of sirens that never failed to make him jump. Amidst the city chime, the soft sounds of a streamer could still be heard from his laptop sitting on the desk.

Josh drifted and thought about how different his home was from London. He lived in Norwich, a city toward the east of the country. He thought of his home’s charm, the tranquil river-side of the river Wensum, and the familiarity of it all comforted him. The pace of life in Norwich felt much slower, especially compared to that of London. In Norwich, community thrived, with locals greeting each other with warm smiles as they bumped into each other at one of their favorite coffee shops - one of many. He remembered his leisurely strolls through the charming marketplaces and verdant parks as he traveled to and from school. He longed for home and felt like a mouse in an unfamiliar and expanding maze.

Despite his longing for home, he remembered his purpose for being here. Joining the prestigious King’s eSports Academy would be an unbelieve dream come true for him. He’d be more than glad to navigate through the most complex of mazes to make it a reality. Josh had spent the past few hours dwelling on the exam and reflecting on his actions. He recalled the unlikely exam in the form of a PC cafe, the games he played, and the people he encountered. He closed his eyes and imagined the same scenario all over again and how he could perhaps do things differently. He consistently pondered on who the examiner of the exam was and how he could’ve been assessed.

“If it was assessing my gameplay then I’m not confident I’ll get chosen at all”, he reasoned. He had lost two of the three games and to top it all off, he was also penalized for being late. “I don’t think even I would pick me”. He considered other examinees who could’ve been in the room with him. He recalled the irritated gamer that he encountered and how he mentioned the exam as he screamed at his teammate. Josh sincerely hoped he wouldn’t have to meet that person again - in-game or in-person. He also mused over whether the Grandmaster player that was seated to his right was a fellow examinee. “If I was the examiner, I’d definitely pick him”. As Josh lay on the bed he felt anxious and felt butterflies beginning to well up in his stomach.

GRRRR!

His stomach let out a loud and guttural growl that echoed across the hotel room’s walls. With a sigh, Josh pushed himself up, left the hotel room, and reluctantly began his search for food.

With a warm pastry in hand, Josh wandered the bustling streets of Paddington. It was lunch and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air as office workers walked with purpose to their chosen destination. The weight of the exam still lingered in his mind and he couldn’t help but continually glance at his phone waiting for an email, message or call from the Academy. Seeking a way to escape from the mind loop, he decided to seek refuge in the form of a gaming cafe nearby. Using his phone he searched for gaming cafes near him and luckily, there were three nearby: Nexus Gaming Hub, Arcade Oasis, and Game Nest Cafe.

Josh’s excitement grew as he made his way toward Nexus Gaming Hub. He envisioned whether it would be similar to the layout of the ‘Gaming Cafe’ he was in during the exam and couldn’t wait to finally be able to clear his mind even just for a moment. However, as he approached, his heart sank as he saw a snaking line of people outside the establishment. He waited in the queue for several minutes before realizing that the line hadn’t moved at all. Hoping for better luck, he turned around and set his sights on the next closest cafe, Arcade Oasis.

Arriving at Arcade Oasis, Josh was glad to see that there wasn’t a queue. Before entering, he quickly peered through the prestine glass doors. The interior dazzled with a kaleidoscope of neon and bright hues. Gaming cabinets and gaming consoles attached to wide-screen TVs lined the walls, their screens flashing with gameplay. Rows of gaming PCs proudly stood in the center of the room. Each station was fully equipped with peripherals, and RGB lights shifted in color below each desk. As he entered, the sound of button mashing, keyboard typing, and chatter created a surprisingly lively ambiance. Similar to the ‘fake’ PC Cafe he had tested in, the walls of Arcade Oasis were decorated with posters showcasing different game franchises. What differed from the exam were the scattered comfortable seating arrangements in the form of benches, bean bags, and cushions, that provided a space for players to relax in between their games.

Excited at the thought of being able to play in this gamer haven, he walked toward the reception desk.

“Excuse me,” Josh said politely, “are there any available pc gaming stations?”

The receptionist glanced up from the desk, a sympathetic smile on their face. “I’m so sorry,” they replied apologetically. “Every PC is occupied and we’ve got them all booked for the rest of the day.” Josh’s shoulders slumped at the unfortunate news.

“Oh, I see. Thank you anyway,” he said, trying to hide his disappointment.

As he left the establishment, he brought up the last cafe he found that was nearby on his phone—Game Nest Cafe. According to the Google page, it had a 3.3 star review, and seemed to be considerably smaller compared to the previous two cafes he had just visited. Josh was aware that he had no alternative other than to make his way back to his solitary hotel room. With a sense of urgency, he quickened his steps toward Game Nest.

Getting closer to the cafe, he couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast to the previous two establishments. Josh followed his navigation app and turned into a dimly lit alley. The entrance to the cafe seemed almost hidden and unassuming. A neon sign flickered above the scarred and splintered door, “Game Nest”. However, the letters m and s seemed to flicker out more often than the others causing the name to occasionally appear as “Ga e Ne t”. Directly opposite, a worn-out and seemingly abandoned pub called “The Rusty Anchor” stood with its doors permanently closed.

The exterior of the Game Nest Cafe reflected its humble nature. The paint on the walls was faded and flaking. The windows, plastered with posters of League of Legends champions, showed signs of wear and tear. For a moment, Josh hesitated, unsure whether this would be the right place for him. But curiosity and desire to take his mind off the exam urged him forward.

As he stepped inside, he found himself greeted by a cozy, albeit small space. Around fifteen or so gaming stations were scattered throughout the cafe. Each desk was equipped with well-worn keyboards and monitors that showed signs of age - some perhaps even older than his peripherals at home.

However, despite the modest appearance of the space, there was a sense of warmth and familiarity in the air that strangely reminded him of his home. The gamers present all seemed to know one another, their interactions filled with genuine closeness. The owner, Tony Saunders, a man in his early thirties with a slightly disheveled appearance, had a hint of a beard, and a tuft of blonde hair. He stood behind the counter, busily attending to customers and engaging in conversations. The room was filled with a cacophony of voices as the gamers discussed strategies, cheered for their teammates, and exchanged banter. Tony’s voice, infused with enthusiasm and warmth, cut through the chaos as he spoke.

“Hey, Dave, have you finally managed to get out of Iron rank? “ Tony called out to a player engrossed in his match.

Dave, a regular customer at the Game Nest, replied with a mischievous smirk. “Kiss goodbye to Iron Dave, I’m officially Bronze three and on my way to Bronze two!”

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Laughter erupted from the surrounding gamers, their focus momentarily diverted from their own matches.

“Save some LP for the rest of us Dave!” One player chimed in.

“If you’re not careful, you might find yourself back in Iron,” another added.

Amidst the lively banter, Tony caught sight of Josh, who stood silently at the entrance, taking in the atmosphere. Tony’s eyes sparkled with a friendly gleam as he scurried toward Josh.

“Hey there, new face! Welcome to the Game Nest. Looking for a gaming session or just exploring?”

“Thanks!” Josh replied with a smile, feeling a sense of familiarity in this chaotic and humble place. “Do you mind if I join in on the fun?”

Tony grinned, motioning towards the gaming stations. “Of course not! Grab any empty seat my friend. What’s your main game?”

“League of Legends,” Josh said, already being gently pushed by Tony towards an empty seat.

“Perfect! Almost all of us here are League players,” Tony informed, leading Josh to a gaming station next to two other gamers. They were both university students, dressed in casual attire and sat relaxed in their chairs as they were loading into a match.

Josh approached with a friendly smile. “Hi, do you guys mind if I sit next to you and maybe watch for a bit?”

One of the students, a guy with square-frame glasses, looked up at him and nodded. “Of course! My name’s Alex, and this is my friend, Emily.” Alex had a friendly face framed by his chestnut hair and a demeanor that gave off calm confidence.

"Josh," he replied, shaking hands with both of them. "Nice to meet you both."

“Nice to meet you,” Emily said smiling. Her warm aura matched her fiery ginger hair and a sprinkling of freckles that curled up with her cheeks as she smiled.

As the trio exchanged greetings, Emily and Alex’s match began. As he watched, Josh couldn't help but notice their skillful gameplay. They swiftly coordinated their moves, executed precise strategies with short and simple communication, and shared bursts of laughter as their in-game victories piled up. As Emily and Alex finished up their game, Josh decided to log in and inserted his account card into the desk’s timeworn Portal. The screen flickered to life and the client appeared in front of him.

Emily, spotting Josh logging in, leaned over in curiosity, peering at Josh’s screen. “Hey, new face! What rank are you? You don’t look like a beginner.”

Josh, slightly taken aback by her friendliness and how close she was, replied quickly, “Well, I’m currently Diamond Two, but this is the first time I’ve ever reached it.”

Emily’s eyes widened as she turned her whole body toward Alex. “Alex, did you hear? Diamond Two! We’ve got a pro in our midst!”

Alex, equally shocked and intrigued, nodded in agreement. “Wow, that’s crazy impressive! We’ve been trying to climb up the ranks ourselves and have just been hovering around Platinum Three.” Alex stood up from his chair and approached Josh, placing a hand on his shoulder. “Maybe you can give us a few tips and tricks on climbing.”

Their conversation had caught the attention of the nearby gamers, who overheard the exchange and couldn’t help but chime in with excitement.

“Did someone say Diamond Two? That’s legit! Respect!”

“No way! Diamond Two? What role do you play?”

“I’ve been stuck in Silver forever. Please teach me your ways, Master!”

All the different voices blended together and filled the small gaming cafe, creating a joyful chaos of celebration and curiosity. Tony, the owner, observed the scene with delight, a wide grin growing on his face.

“I’ve never seen the place this alive before! You’ve got the whole Nest going wild!” Tony chuckled.

The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as more and more gamers joined the conversation until each person was offering their own anecdotes and words of admiration.

“Hey, Josh, maybe you should join our clash team!”

“No way! You’ll all end up making Josh carry you and your heavy ass to victory!”

Laughter erupted, and Tony couldn’t help but join the festivities, pouring some soft drinks all around, and reveling in the contagious joy that filled the room.

Josh, overwhelmed by the positivity and excitement, felt a deep sense of belonging. The Game Nest was a close-knit community and yet they embraced a stranger like him with open arms. It was a beautiful and unexpected reminder that a game could bring together and create these unlikely friendships. This was the most comfortable he’d felt since he’d arrived in the city.

Amidst the chatter and high-fives, Josh’s heart skipped a beat as he noticed a new email notification briefly flash on his phone. He scrambled to pick up his phone, breaking from the middle of a conversation he was having with Alex and Emily. It was an email from the Academy. He quickly opened it, and his eyes widened as he read the words that appeared before him.

Subject: Congratulations! Join the 2033 Cohort at King’s eSports Academy

Dear Josh,

We are thrilled to inform you that you have been selected to join the prestigious King’s eSports Academy as a scholarship student in the 2033 cohort. Your exceptional performance in the recent exam has placed you within the top 10 of all examinees, solidifying you as one of our brightest talents.

We would like to extend our warmest congratulations on your achievement and invite you to our campus to finalize the details of your enrollment. As a scholarship student, your tuition fees will be fully covered, and we are delighted to inform you that accommodation has also been arranged for you. You will be provided with a designated location, conveniently located a short walk from the King Charles Campus.

We kindly request your presence either today or tomorrow to meet with our admissions team, receive your official acceptance letter, and collect all necessary materials for the upcoming academic year. This includes your class schedule, required textbooks, and your accommodation keys.

Please let us know your preferred time of visit, and we will ensure that everything is prepared for your arrival. We look forward to welcoming you to the King’s eSports Academy and witnessing your growth as a talented eSports professional.

Best regards,

Dean of Admissions

Signed Alexander Stormborne

As the words on the screen sank in, a surge of joy flooded Josh, his hands trembling with excitement. “I got in! I actually got into the King’s eSports Academy!” He whispered to himself, unable to contain his happiness.

To his surprise, Emily and Alex had been watching the whole time, their eyes sparkling with anticipation. They broke out into cheers and claps, drawing the attention of the entire Nest.

“Josh, that’s incredible! Congratulations!” Emily cheered.

“You’re going to be part of the King’s eSports Academy?! This calls for a celebration!” Alex rejoiced, patting Josh’s back a little too enthusiastically.

“Diamond 2 and now King’s eSports Academy? You’re unbelievable,” a gamer jabbered from the crowd that was now quickly forming around Josh.

In the middle of the excitement, Tony made his way through the group, toward Josh and put a hand on his shoulder.

“I hope this means we’ll be seeing a lot more of you, Josh,” Tony grinned. “You’re more than welcome here anytime.”

The room was filled with cheerful voices, and warm wishes as everyone gathered around offering genuine congratulations for Josh’s achievement. Although he had just met these people, he couldn’t help but feel at home in this crowded, and humble gaming cafe. It was always his dream to be able to join a prestigious eSports academy like KEA, and the remarkable cherry on top was that he had been accepted as a scholarship student. It hadn’t fully sunk in for Josh that this was just the beginning of an incredible journey. The path was set and he was ready to seize every opportunity that would lay ahead. He had placed among the top ten students and he wasn’t sure how and in that exact moment he didn’t care why. He had so many thoughts floating around his head regarding the exam but he quickly brushed them away. For now, he wanted to dwell in the atmosphere of the Nest, enjoy the presence of new friends, and celebrate passing the exam.