Saturday arrived, and Ryden found himself in Gabriel's apartment once again. The place looked just as neat and tidy as it had when Ryden first visited to check on Gabriel while he was sick. The soft lighting in the living room made the space feel cozy, and the faint smell of something sweet lingered in the air. Ryden couldn't help but notice how Gabriel's apartment always felt so well-maintained, even though it gave off a relaxed vibe.

Gabriel had already prepared a spread of snacks and drinks, neatly arranged on the coffee table. Ryden could see a mix of chips, fruit, and a few cookies, alongside two glasses of iced tea. It looked like the perfect setup for their gaming session, which Ryden was now genuinely looking forward to.

"Ready to play?" Gabriel grinned as he grabbed the controller, settling into the couch. But just as Ryden was about to pick up his own, he hesitated, reaching into his bag instead.

"I got you something," Ryden said, his voice a little hesitant but sincere. He held out a small, neatly wrapped package and placed it in Gabriel's hands.

Gabriel's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He hadn't expected anything from Ryden. But when he saw Ryden's genuine expression, his heart warmed. "You didn't have to, but... thank you!" he said, his voice bright with gratitude. His fingers carefully unwrapped the package, eager to see what was inside.

When the paper came off, he revealed a small keychain, a miniature version of Claudio—his favorite Tekken character. It was delicate, yet perfectly detailed. Gabriel's face lit up with a huge smile. "This is awesome!" he exclaimed, holding it up to inspect it more closely. "I gotta put this on my keys!"

Without missing a beat, Gabriel jumped to his feet, crossed the room to a small hook on the wall, and grabbed his keys. He attached the tiny figure to the ring with enthusiasm, making sure it was securely fastened. He dangled the keys in front of Ryden, showing them off proudly. "Now my keys look even cooler, right?"

Ryden couldn't help but laugh softly at the sight, the way Gabriel's energy seemed to fill up the room. He loved how genuinely excited Gabriel was, how he could make the simplest moments feel fun and spontaneous. It was clear Gabriel was someone who found joy in the small things, and that made Ryden smile even more.

"Of course, they do," Ryden said, his smile warm and easy. "Claudio's a cool guy. Now let's get to it, huh?"

Gabriel plopped back down onto the couch next to Ryden, still holding his newly adorned keys. He gave Ryden a playful nudge. "You're right, enough of the gift. Let's start the game already!"

Ryden chuckled, feeling a lighthearted sense of anticipation bubbling up inside him. He had never expected a simple Saturday like this to feel so fulfilling. Gaming with Gabriel, sharing a small but thoughtful moment, and being in a space where he could relax—Ryden felt like he was finally starting to break out of his shell, and it was all because of Gabriel's easygoing nature.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

With a final grin, Gabriel handed him the second controller. "Let's see if you're ready to take me down this time."

Ryden took the controller with a determined but playful look in his eyes. "I'll give it my best shot," he said, settling back into the couch.

Gabriel winked, and with a simple press of a button, their gaming session began in full swing.

However, Ryden couldn't shake the thought of another upcoming anime convention. It was only two weeks away, and Angel would be there. He had become increasingly excited about it, yet nervous too. It wasn't just the event that had him on edge; it was the fact that he wanted to invite Gabriel to go with him, but he wasn't sure how to bring it up. He had gotten into the anime and gaming world because of Angel—because of her presence in his life, whether through social media, her cosplay, or even her influence on his growing interest in things he'd never paid much attention to before. But admitting this to Gabriel felt like it might change things between them. Would he think it was silly? Would he think it was just a phase?

Gabriel had been so welcoming and open, never judgmental of Ryden's awkwardness or his lack of experience with gaming or anime. But what if this made things different? What if Gabriel couldn't understand why he was so drawn to Angel, why he felt like he had to support her? Ryden took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. He'd spent the last few weeks enjoying this new side of himself, and he didn't want to hide it anymore, especially not from Gabriel.

They were sitting on Gabriel's couch, controllers in hand, enjoying another round of Tekken. But Ryden found himself distracted, his fingers pausing on the buttons as he tried to find the right words.

"I've been thinking of attending another convention," Ryden said, his voice quieter than usual, his gaze briefly falling to the controller in his hands.

Gabriel looked up from the screen, pausing the game with a swift motion. His eyes were curious but patient. "Oh? What and where?"

Ryden took a deep breath, his nerves bubbling up again, but he pushed forward. "It's an anime convention this time," he said, then placed the controller down on the table. His gaze shifted to meet Gabriel's, his green eyes filled with a mix of vulnerability and uncertainty. "Actually... I've been going to these conventions because of a girl."

Gabriel, always so good at reading people, noticed the hesitation in Ryden's tone and the flicker of anxiety in his eyes. He didn't interrupt, though. He just gave him a nod, signaling that he was listening, and waited for him to continue.

Ryden swallowed, trying to find the right way to explain it. His voice was quieter now, almost self-conscious. "It sounds dumb, I know. But I really liked how this girl looks, and I just... wanted to support her. And I ended up following her hobbies, the things she's passionate about." He let out a nervous laugh, trying to make light of the situation. "I found her on the cover of a book, and now here I am, in the middle of all this—anime, cosplay, gaming."

Gabriel finally spoke, his tone warm and reassuring. "I told you before," he said gently, placing a comforting hand on Ryden's shoulder. "I don't judge. Everyone has their own reasons for getting into things, and we all start somewhere." He smiled, his eyes softening. "I'm just glad you feel comfortable telling me this. And hey, if it weren't for her, we wouldn't even be friends, right?"

Ryden felt a wave of relief wash over him. Gabriel's words were simple, but they held so much kindness. He'd never once felt judged by him, never once felt like his interests were a source of embarrassment. In fact, Gabriel had been the one to make him feel confident in exploring this side of himself. Ryden smiled back, a genuine, warm smile, and he couldn't help but feel grateful for how easy it was to talk to Gabriel.

"So," Ryden said, his voice a bit more playful now as he leaned back on the couch, "will you go to the convention with me?"