Javier prepares himself. Ready to unleash his plan. Brian observes his opponent.

Brian inner thoughts: Based on how the kid is acting, he might try that one combo. Okay then. I’ll act accordingly.

Javier is about to dash forward, but Brian is suddenly in front of him. The shock leaves Javier opens to Brians next attack. Brian spartan kicks Javier a few feet backward. Javier goes for a counter punch, but Brian parries his fist and delivers another round house kick to Javier’s face. As Javier goes flying into a nearby police car, Brian doesn’t give him the time to react as he leaps on top of him and slashes downward with his demon short sword. Javier takes the attack head on. The force of the attack causes the police car to explode and engulfs Javier in flames while Brian performs a backflip back onto the street. The NPC’s that was once surrounding the area begin to act accordingly and run away.

Brian stands and waits until Javier finally leaps out of the flaming remains of the police car and onto the street. Javier is showing pretty heavy damage at this point. He notices a small flame still lit on his shoulder, and quickly blows it out. Brian patiently waits. Giving time to compose himself.

Javier inner thoughts: No doubt about it. Brian’s ability is other worldly. In most fights, a person will follow a certain pattern or style, and if you’re paying attention, you can read it. Once you learn the players’ style you can DOWNLOAD them. Except that’s impossible for Brian. He’s so unorthodox with almost everything that he does! Damn it, think.

At this point Brian notices Javier’s hiding his right arm, behind his back. Javier kneels down.

Brian inner thoughts: What is he-

Javier throws a pipe that seems to have come from the exploded police car. Brian instinctually deflects the debris. Although, as soon as the pipe is out of his view he sees Javier in mid flip. Javier, then delivers a double downward kick to the top of Brian’s head. (Deku/Rock Lee style) This stuns Brian for a whole second. Long enough for Javier to grab his collar and throw him over the police perimeter and towards the crowd. As Brian hovers over toward a crowd of NPC’s, they begin to scatter where Brian is going to land. That is, until Javier quickly jumps over to him, grabbing his ankles, and flinging him through the window of a nearby business.

Without skipping a beat, Brian dashes out of the business and toward Javier. While Javier attempts to predict Brian’s next movement. He throws a jab, but Brian dodges it, along with the following combo. Brian then delivers a quick blow across Javier’s chest, followed by then grabbing Javier’s head and throwing him back toward the now flaming police car. Javier sees his destination and flinches in fear. Falling into the fiery remains of the car, as Javier’s avatar explodes.

Brian holds his pose, for a few seconds.

**

Nora redirects her attention from the monitors to the pods. Waiting for one of the pods to open. Ren finally looks away from his phone to see who won. Then making a face that Nora could only determined to translate to some form of ‘damn, again?’

Nora inner thoughts: That match ended so abruptly and anti-climactic. I barely held my own against Javier but this nine to five, office worker looking guy just toyed with him. Brian the True King huh? I think I’m starting to see why people call him that. There’re so many strong players in this endeavor I found myself in. I’m excited to break down this match later. I want to find and defeat powerful opponents!

Brian’s pod door opens first. A few seconds later, Javier’s pod door follows. While Brian begins to rotate his shoulders, Javier looks down ashamed.

“Sorry kid. I had to finish that quickly,” Brian says.

“Next time I won’t lose!” Javier yells.

“You’ve been saying that since our first game. I won’t lie, you’ve improved since then but you’re still a far from beating me.” Brian states.

“Hang on!” Nora yells.

Everyone in the room jumps from the sound of her voice. Nora’s face looks determined and a little happy.

“Can I have a match next?!” Nora asks Brian.

“The rookie brat now? You kids have way too much energy for me. Back in my day we”

Before he can finish his sentence Brian’s face immediately goes pale. He almost throws up but catches it in his mouth. He covers his mouth and runs out of the room without another word. This both surprises and concerns Nora.

“What the hell was that?! Where did he go?” Nora asks.

“He might already be at his limit.” Ren says.

“What do you mean?” Nora asks.

“Brian has a condition. So, he can only play a few matches before he becomes too nauseous.” Javier explains.

“What? No way. The game makes him that nauseous, but he still plays. That’s dedication.” Nora says.

“Brian has actually been playing VBL from the beginning. But he’s always been dominant in the game. Defeating every champion and any strong contender,” Javier explains.

“True king Brian.” Nora says aloud.

“Exactly. That’s why I’m obsessed with beating him. That man stands as a ceiling for VBL, and I if can’t take it from him then I at least want to stand as the same ceiling. I want to one day become strong enough to be a pillar of VBL.” Javier explains.

“I guess that won’t happen today.” Nora says. This causes Javier’s face to change from confidence to dread.

“You don’t have to say it so blunt.” Javier says.

“But that sounds pretty cool. I also decided to become stronger. I want to stand on top of this new world I discovered as champion!” Nora exclaims.

“You have a lot more work to do in that case. You can’t even beat me yet.” Javier counters.

This time it’s Nora’s turn to have a dreadful look on her face.

**

Next morning, Nora is sound asleep, while her mom and dad are on their way out of the house in their uniform.

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“You think she’ll wake up in time?” Isiah (Dad) asks.

“If she was, she would already be awake.” Jasmine (Mom) says.

Jasmine takes a deep breath and –

“Nora! Your farther and I are going to work! If you don’t wake up now, you’ll be late!” Jasmine yells.

Back in her bedroom the sound asleep Nora, snaps awake and almost falls out of bed. She looks at her phone, only to see that it’s dead. She then tracks her charging cord from the wall only to see that it wasn’t plugged in. She connects her phone and jumps out of bed.

Nora inner thought: Shit! Shit! Shit!

Eventually Nora gets prepared and ready to go. Although her parents are long gone at this point. She checks her phone to see it’s only 45% battery. She yanks her phone off the charger and runs out of her room. Her stomach was rumbling.

Nora inner thoughts: Ugh, I’m so hungry but I don’t have any time to eat any breakfast. Maybe I can make it to lunch time.

Nora runs past her kitchen where a plate wrapped in tin foil sits on the dining room table with a note that reads “Just place in the microwave. Love you sweetie.” Nora locks the front door from the outside then proceeds to run to school.

**

Nora’s homeroom teacher, Mrs. Holiday, is about to close the class door. Signaling the start of class.

“Wait!”

Nora burst through the door and into the class. While Nora catches her breath, Mrs. Holiday closes the door behind her. Keeping a stern look focused on Nora.

“Thank you for that act of almost tardiness Ms. Maxim. Now please take your seat so we can get started” Mrs. Holiday commands.

Nora acknowledges some weird looks from her classmates as well as a few chuckles. Although she is too tired and hungry to care. Nora looks toward her desk to see Faith, looking back at her. Nora clenches her fist and walks past her in order to sit down.

Faith inner thoughts: I knew it. She doesn’t want anything to do with me. Can’t say I blame her.

“Now class, I’m sure you all received a message from the school about today’s unfortunate situation” Mrs. Holiday explains.

Nora inner thoughts: unfortunate situation? What is she talking about?

“So, because of the fire accident in the school’s kitchen, lunch will not be served today. Due to this, school will only be a half day today.”

“What do you mean there won’t be any lunch today?!” Nora’s outburst makes Faith jump in her seat.

“Ms. Maxim, did you also disregard the message the school sent to you via your phone?”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Holiday but my phone died.” Nora explains.

“One for excuses today aren’t we Ms. Maxim?” Mrs. Holiday says.

“Excuse me?” Nora asks.

“Apparently our school’s kitchen caught fire last night. The fire department came through to investigate it and supposedly they found a greasy rag,” Faith explains to Nora while turning around.

“Now Ms. Storm, who told you that a rag was found?” Mrs. Holiday asks.

“I just heard it going around the school” Faith admits.

“Well take rumors with a grain of salt.” Mrs. Holiday turns around to face the chalkboard. “Now if that’s all the disruptions, we should be starting class.”

Nora inner thoughts: Geez. What the hell is her problem?

Faith inner thoughts: She dismissed the rumors as soon as I said it. Almost like she was being defensive. Weird.

**

After the last bell rings, the hallways and court yards are inhabited with students that have the rest of the day off. Nora looks at her phone. Taking note of the time. She suddenly gets a text from Javier. They ended up exchanging numbers before leaving the VBL HQ, yesterday. “Decided to skip school today, you busy?”

Nora texted him back. “My school just ended early today. You down for a match?”

Before she looks away from her phone, Javier quickly texts back. “Okay bet. Meet you there.”

Nora’s stomach lets out a loud growl before she attempts to ignore it and walks off campus and towards the VBL HQ. From across the school yard Faith is talking with her friends until she glances over to see Nora leaving the campus.

Faith inner thoughts: I can almost guess where she’s going…

“Hey guys, I forgot I told my mom I’d help her today. I’ll see you tomorrow!” Faith excuses herself.

Before she can hear what, her friends say, Faith is already walking away. Her friends look amongst themselves.

“That was weird.”

“She’s been acting strangely lately.”

“I wonder if she’s still sick.”

“I can’t afford to get sick.”

Faith breaks into a slight jog until she gets off campus. Not even looking back toward her friends. She barely sees Nora before she turns the corner onto the next block.

Faith inner thoughts: I’m almost certain that she’s heading to VBL, so maybe I should just meet her there instead. I would end up attracting more attention if I kept following her. If she doesn’t go to VBL then I’ll just talk to her before school tomorrow.

**

Infront of the VBL HQ. Javier is sitting on one of the benches in the VBL yard. Scrolling through his phone. Faith scopes out the VBL front yard from across the street. Pretending that she’s looking at her phone. People of all ages walk by Faith, but each is carrying on with their own lives and doesn’t pay attention to her. Cars and school buses alike are driving down the street.

Faith inner thoughts: Looks like I was wrong. Damn it.

Just then Nora turns the corner and walks onto the VBL yard. Smiling and walking right up to Javier.

Faith inner thoughts: Whoa, whoa. Wait a minute! She’s acting like she knows him!

As Nora walks up, Javier smiles about something Faith can’t obviously hear.

Faith inner thoughts: Could it be that… That’s her boyfriend?!

**

A few seconds earlier.

Nora is walking at her own pace down the sidewalk.

Nora inner thoughts: I wonder why Javier isn’t in school today. Did his school also have a fire? I’ll have to ask him when I see him.

Nora is interrupted by the sound of her stomach growling. She immediately grabs her gut.

Nora inner thoughts: I’m only a block away, so I’ll wait until I get there to ask if Javier wants to grab something to eat first.

Eventually Nora walks onto the VBL yard, walking toward Javier. He seems lost in thought.

“Javier”

Javier looks away from his phone and smiles at Nora.

“Sup.” Javier says.

“Did your school also close early today?” Nora asks.

“Huh? No, I just skipped today.” Javier explains.

“You skipped? Damn, I didn’t take you for the delinquent type.” Nora jokes.

“It’s not like that. I mean I did skip, but I had my reasons.” Javier explains.

“Nora!”

The sudden burst causes Nora and Javier to look behind themselves. Nora sees Faith walking toward her, red in the face and flustered. Javier (Who doesn’t know Faith) sees a slightly familiar red head walking toward him.

“Faith?!” Nora asks aloud.

“I had no idea you had a boyfriend!” Faith declares.

“A what?!” Nora yells.

“Ha ha ha!” Javier laughs abruptly.

“’Javier, this isn’t funny!” Nora yells.

The commotion is interrupted by the sound of Nora’s stomach growling again. This time Nora feints to floor before Javier or Faith could say anything. Although Javier is quick to catch her before she hits the hard concrete.

“Nora!” Faith yells.

“Rookie girl!” Javier says.

**

Nora wakes up inside the booth of a luxurious restaurant. Javier is sitting next to her, while Faith is sitting across the table from her. Around their booth the sounds of people eating and talking loudly over each other come through. Conversations ranging from business to personal.

“What happened?” Nora asks.

“You fainted.” Faith informs her.

“Probably due to you not eating.” Javier says.

“How did you know I didn’t eat anything?” Nora asks.

“Because your stomach was growling the entire time, I carried you here.” Javier says.

“You carried me?!” Nora asks.

“Well red head couldn’t carry you.” Javier explains.

“I told you my name is Faith. Also, I told him about the incident at our school.” Faith explains.

“Sort of wild it happened to your school too.” Javier says.

“This has been happening to other schools?” Faith asks.

“Two other schools in the past 2 months. It almost feels like a pattern to be honest.” Javier explains.

“Is that what happened to your school?” Faith asks Javier.

“(sigh) No, I decided to skip school today- “

“Nora, you’re dating a bad boy?” Faith interrupts.

“We’re not dating!” Nora yells. A few people eating their food stop to look over at the teenagers.

“Yeah, you couldn’t be further from the truth red- I mean Faith.” Javier says.

“Besides, why do you care? You left me at that VBL contest and haven’t talked to me since.” Nora points out.

Javier can feel the tense vibe and opts to stay silent. Faith grows silent as well, as she begins to fidget with her hands.

“You’re right. To be honest the real reason I wanted to meet you at VBL was because I wanted to apologize for that day. I legitimately enjoyed our talk and thought you were pretty cool,” Faith informs.

“Then… why did you leave me?” Nora asks.

“Because people at school don’t know I play video games in my spare time. In fact, I keep myself reserved most of my time in school. At least until I get home. Although that’s not an excuse for what I did to you. I wanted to be a friend, and I immediately betrayed your trust in me. That’s on me. So, I’m sorry. I know that doesn’t just make things okay between us but if you wouldn’t mind. I’d like to try it again,” Faith says with tears forming in her eyes.

Nora is hesitant as she processes everything Faith said. Javier looks over to Nora. Nora takes a minute and thinks back to what her father said. The sounds of the crowded restaurant begin to settle in. Kids can be heard yelling over their food, people talking loudly over other people.

“I can’t fully trust you- “

Faith’s eyes widen.

“But if you’re willing to re earn my trust. I’ll be willing to try again.” Nora says.

Faith allows her emotions to flow freely. Javier smiles.

“Thank you” Faith says.