Chapter 05

One of the things that makes life such a shitty game, is the random set of rules that are almost always unpredictable. When you're at your usual state of tolerable misery, and something comes to add to the turbulence, you have no choice but to throw the towel.

"Pa—pardon me," the troubling turbulence walks in. "Is this the Aid Club..?" 

Out of the three thousand students enrolled in Cooper University of Science and Technology, the first customer to the Aid Club is the very same person with those one sided triple freckles, and those curvy hips. The way she moves, it seems as though she doesn't want to be seen. The white shirt she's wearing is tightly squeezing on her body, and her above the knee skirt bounces with every move. Her chestnut-brown hair flows down slightly below her shoulders in loose waves, and with every step she takes, they sway. Her puppy-like eyes darted about as if she is scouting out the area, her gaze never stopping to rest, and when her eyes met mine, she let out a tiny squeal. "Eeek..!"

Ha ha ha! Shit..

I'm gonna get busted. She's probably intending to inform Charlotte about the Bell Tower incident. Obviously, Ms. Snow White would gladly tell Lane about it, and then, poor Miles is officially screwed. The End.

"Wh—why is Miles here?!" the girl exclaims.

"Uhh, I'm in this club.." I'm still not sure about the accuracy of this statement just yet.

Oh, I see. She still remembers me! This can't be good. But hey—a girl just recalled my name from just one encounter! That's the first time something like this ever happens to me. Usually, the female gender finds me revolting. So, that's a nice change of pace. Wait, why do I feel excited all of the sudden? Is it because I noticed her chest? Don't get the wrong idea! It just happens to enter my field of vision, okay? By the way, it's pretty big.

"Would you like to have a seat?" Charlotte's voice echoes through the room, forcing the girl to obey.

"Uhh—okay.." she ends up seating herself directly opposite to Charlotte.

"You're Zoe Howell from Information Technology, am I correct?" 

That can't be just a wild guess now, can it? "You knew her name?! Do you know every student in this school?" I ask cautiously.

“Not every student. I didn't know you.”

“Oh…”

“It’s nothing to get upset about. I only didn't because I was disinterested in your stunted character. I had a strong, subconscious desire to avert my eyes from you, so that was my fault.” she replies with an apologetic face.

“Hey, that’s a pretty terrible way to comfort someone. It basically makes the whole thing my

fault!” I complain angrily.

“I wasn't trying to make you feel better. I was just being sarcastic.” without even giving me a glance, Charlotte flicks back the hair that had fallen to her shoulders.

“This club seems…kinda fun.” Zoe observes our interaction with something of a sparkle in her eyes. Maybe she got a few screws loose.

“This isn't pleasant for me…” the Ice-cold queen shot her a chilly glare.

When the look hit Zoe, she became flustered, fidgeting and shaking her hands wildly in front of her. “Oh! Well, um, like… I just thought you guys seemed like you were really natural with each other. You know, um… Miles’s acting totally different from how he usually does in class, so I was like, Wow, he talks!”

“Of course I talk..!” do I come off that lacking in communication skills?!

"Yes, you and Mr. Grimwine are in the same class, I see.." Charlotte puts her finger on her chin.

“Huh? Is she?”

“You were aware of that, weren't you?” Charlotte replies—giving me a annoyed look, and Zoe twitches in response.

Oh, crap!

My anxiety took the best of me. There's no way to prove or disprove my claim. But it sure is strange not to be familiarized with a classmate that calls you by name while they never talk to you on semi-daily basis.

“O-of course I was!” hope that mends it.

“So why’d you look away?” Zoe cross-examines me intently. “Isn't that why you don’t have any friends in our class? You act so weird, it’s creepy.”

Oh, that condescending gaze is so familiar. There is indeed a girl in my class who sometimes looked at me the way you’d look at something dirty. She was part of the Stuck-up Kids that often hangs out with the soccer club or whoever. 

So, she’s my enemy, huh? My consideration had been wasted on her.

“Slut.” I mutter.

Zoe snaps back at me. “Huh? What do you mean, slut? I’m still a vir—Uh… Ah-ha-ha! N-nothing!” her face flushes bright red as she waves her hands in an attempt to erase the word that had almost escaped her lips. What a dumbass!

Ms. Perfection butts in to save Zoe from her state of panic. “That’s not something you need to be embarrassed about. At your age, being a virg—”

“Hey, hey, hey! What are you talking about?! Not having done it in college is embarrassing! What does that say about my hotness level?!”

“What a superficial sense of value..” Charlotte sighs out of annoyance.

“Hotness level? Sounds like something a slut would say.” I sigh out of boredom, though.

“You said it again! I can’t believe I’m being called a slut! You’re such a creep. Freak!” Zoe moans in frustration as she looks at me through teary eyes.

“Me calling you a slut has nothing to do with my creepiness. And don't you call me Freak," I reply coldly. "You slut." 

“You…you really are a pain in the butt! And you’re seriously creepy! Why don’t you just die?!” she says with much more hurtful tone.

Ahh.. That's a very good question. Well, I could just tell her that I want to die this instant—this very moment. Just break free from all this bullshit of a life. Slit with a razor, and paint the walls red. No more hassel over college, no more hassel over whether my mom and I would be able to survive next month or not, no more brain humming, and no more fear! But, I can't just do it 'cause she says so, right? I wanted it to be my own decision.

So, after a brief silence, as a warning to her, I say gravely and with palpable anger in my tone, “Don’t use stuff like 'Die!' as casual insults, or I’ll kill you!”

“Oh…s-sorry. That’s not what I…huh?! You just said it! You freakin' said it!” 

As I’d noted earlier, Zoe Howell is a dumbass. But surprisingly, she's also capable of making a sincere apology.

I realize my initial impression of her hasn't been entirely accurate. I’d thought her head is filled with nothing but partying, sex, and drugs—just like everyone else in her clique, the Stuck-up Kids, and the people who hung out with them. 

Apparently tired of bouncing around, Zoe breathes a short sigh. “Hey, I heard from Mr. Lane that this place grants students’ wishes?”

“Did he?” I’d been under the impression this club was for reading books and wasting time.

“Not quite." Charlotte, completely ignores my dubious expression and responds to Zoe’s question.

"The Aid Club is only for supporting people. Whether or not your wishes are granted depends on you.”

“How is that ‘not quite’?” Zoe asks, perplexed. That was exactly what I’d wanted to ask, too.

“It’s the difference between giving a starving person a fish and teaching them how to fish. Perhaps the best way to describe it is that we encourage self-reliance.”

That sounds like something out of an ethics textbook. So it looked like

we were basically in agreement that the point of the club was putting self-

reliance and cooperation (the same bull-crap held up as virtuous in any

school) into practice.

“Th-that’s kind of amazing!” Zoe got this look in her eyes like she’d just had a revelation, like Whoa, you just convinced me! It makes me a little worried that one day she might get suckered in by a cult.

There’s absolutely no scientific basis for this idea, but there is this common belief that girls with big boobs are a little…you know. I think this example could be added to the list.

And then there was Charlotte with her flat-as-a-board chest, her clear intellect, and her wisdom. As usual, she was smiling coldly. “I may not actually grant your wish, but I will help you as best I can.”

Apparently reminded of what she’d originally come here for, Zoe pipes up. “Oh! Um, um…listen, so…I wanted…,” she begins, glancing at my face.

Please, anything but the Bell Tower incident. Don't say that you want our advice about a life or death matter. And don't even dare confiding in us anything regarding your mental health.. Fingers crossed..

“…Um.”

“Huh?”

“…Well, you guys are good at videogames, right?”

“Huh?” why’s she bringing that up now?

“…me?” she's mumbling something as she stares at her shoes.

“…Huh? What did you say?” Charlotte raises her brow.

“…me!”

“Sorry, what?”

“Oh, come on!” she shouts. When she raises her head to glare at me, I saw big tears pooled in her eyes.

“I said, teach me how to play Battle Royale!”

What on earth is going on..?!

◢ ◣

H

ere’s the short version of Zoe Howell’s story. Until recently, she and one of her buddies, named Anthony had been good friends and often walk home together after school. But recently, He had started setting up camp in the library every day after classes to practice Battle Royale. Even when she went to invite him to walk home with her, he told her, “Shut up and leave me alone.” She offered to help him practice, but after he crushed her in their first game, he rejected her completely. (“Playing you isn't even practice. Anyway, you’re annoying. Just stop following me around!”)

Or so she said.

“Huh. Fair enough.” Charlotte sighs. "Well, it’s true, he wouldn't get much practice playing some random girl. After all, he wasn't bad."

"Uhh—really..?" how'd she know about something like that? The guy ain't even in her class.

"I'm not certain if you noticed, but his username, Size-Matter has always climbed up the top 10 chart once or twice every week." Charlotte replies. "I believe you had a match with him couple of days from now."

"O—oh..?" damn! Is she stalking me?! That's uncomforting. This girl is planning to snipe me in the head any minute!

“Yeah! That’s, um…that’s rough. He was pretty good.” I scratch my head in embarrassement.

“…I wasn't asking for your opinion!” Zoe fires back at me, her cheeks flushed, though. “Anyway, are you gonna teach me or not?!”

"Huh?!" I start. "So, what? You want our help turning you, a normie into a pro-gamer? Do you know the amount of practice it takes?" 

"Isn't there a trick—that makes you very good?" Zoe asks.

"No, there isn't. But if you're serious about this, you shall prepare yourself for a thorough training." Charlotte explains. "Are you ready for this?"

"Uhh—" the brown haired girl fidgets before our eyes.

"Why? Why you wanna do this?" I interject.

She turns on me angrily, or maybe she was just surprised. “Huh? You’re

really asking me that? Isn't it obvious?!”

“Obvious…?”

“Are you an idiot?! You really are dense! Ugh, freak!” this generation really does like the word 'freak.'

“Dense…?” wait, I see what this is all about. “…Oh.”

“Unbelievable...” Charlotte fights the urge of getting a headache.

I finally got it, and the sudden rush of understanding escapes through my mouth, too. “So you have a thing for this Anthony!”

When I look over at Zoe, her face is so red I expect steam to come out of her ears any second.

“You really are a freak! It’s unbelievable!!” she whirls around, her skirt flying as she landed a clean hit on my face with her school bag.

"Ouch..!" my nose receives a critical hit, and I fall off my chair.

“Oh, s-sorry…but you say such weird stuff! …Are you okay?” Zoe finally snaps back.

"Don’t concern yourself with this boy. He has no human rights. He’s compelled to be here.” says the Ice queen.

Ohh Charlotte, you're one cold bitch...

"It just—Anth really doesn't get it. You know Courtney? She told Anth she liked him, but he turned her down. Courtney! But he hangs out with me a lot…so I thought he might like me, but no! Apparently not. But anyone would assume he did, right? And then he suddenly goes and tells me to ‘shut up’ and ‘not hang around him’… What the hell?! What do you.think?!”

“Wh-what do I think? It…doesn't make sense? Why do you need us for something like that? Just ask your friends.” I get back to my seat safe and sound, by the way.

“Erk…w-well, um…,” Zoe stammers, her eyes darting everywhere. “I don’t really want people to know, and if my friends found out, they’d make fun of me… This sort of..stuff isn't really like them.”

I let out a small sigh. I just don't understand.

Frankly speaking, there's nothing I care less about than peoples’ love lives. So you can tell how scant my interest is in the whole damn topic.

"Hahaha! It'd be weird, huh?" Zoe laughs off awkwardly. "Someone like me, playing videogames.."

"No, I'm not trying to say it's weird on you, I honestly just don't care." I reply balantly.

"That's even meaner!!" 

"In that case, I think we'll agree to help you." Charlotte declares the club's decision. I guess, my opinion isn't valid by any measures in her eyes.

“What? You will?! Really?!”

Zoe swivels towards her, eyes flashing. She was super in her face. Why do normies always get so close to people? Like, lethally close for us not part of that social class.

“But do you own Battle Royale?” Charlotte asks.

“Huh? Can’t I use yours? I have a console.”

“…Okay, that’s fine, but…” there was one major problem.

“…Where would we do it?”

“…!”

Zoe opens her eyes wide and blushes. What was with the naive reaction? Very surprising.

“Yeah, we don’t have a spot, do we?” she says. Indeed we don’t. 

If she had the game, we could have played online, but since she doesn't, we’d either have to play at her house or one of ours. Just the three of us, a guy and two girls.

“…But…!” her expression is both pleading and determined.

“I mean, if we went to one of our houses, it would be…,” I say, gazing at Charlotte—who averts me like I was a piece of trash.

“…Fine. No problem.” Zoe gaze is determined, but when I look closely, I saw tears welling in her eyes. This isn't easy for her. She hates the idea of being around me that much, huh? That really hurts.

“…I…guess we should just forge—” I try to give myself a way out, but Zoe cuts me right away. 

“..No, it’s fine. You two can come over." she looks at us with the peaceful expression of a girl ready to drink the poison. Yeah, women in love are strong, willing to suffer any hardship for the one they loved. Of course, I’d rather ignore the fact that this particular hardship is having me over to her house.

“…Oh.”

“But are you sure you’re okay with it?” I guess she's more sensitive to my mood than I’d thought. Ducking out isn't apparently a real option.

“Yeah, it’s fine. I’ll go,” I reply. “Where’s your house?”

For some reason, Charlotte Harvey acts disgruntled. “…Miles, why are you so calm? What? You’ve been to a girl’s house before?”

“Uh, n…” I'm about to say I hadn't, when Ruka's face floats before my mind’s eye. “Oh yeah, I guess I have..”

“Huh?! What? But you’re…a freak! Even I…even though…”

What was that supposed to mean, 'You’re a freak'? Was she trying to say that because I failed so hard at life, I couldn't possibly have been to a girl’s house, and if I had, it was gross? Okay, so I wasn't a normie, but that doesn't give her the right to say something like that. And that’s exactly what I told her.

“You stop using that weird tone of voice. It’s freaking me out…" Charlotte takes a defensive stance.

"Anyway, let’s go!” Zoe says.

“Wait, I have to go get the game.” I utter nervously.

“Oh right.”

◢ ◣

We went to my house, where I picked up the game disc and a couple of other things and headed right back out.

“Okay, this way.” with that, Zoe beckons me and Charlotte towards the deadly dungeon.

My first impression was that Zoe's room is cluttered. It wasn't especially messy, but there were a bunch of character plushies on her bed, and her desktop was packed with rows of what looked like fashion magazines featuring celebs on the cover. Everywhere I look was crowded, bright, and showy. The walls were decorated with corkboards overloaded with carelessly pinned-up photos—both from photo booths and regular cameras—of our normie classmates. Must be her 'BFFs,' as they say.

“Miles, you’re staring..” Charlotte whispers to me.

“Oh sorry.”

Zoe comes in carrying two cute mugs and a regular paper cup on a round tray. Apparently, she severing us black coffee.

I stare at it. “…”

“Shut up! Don’t complain!" she says.

I wasn't complaining…

“So…what do I do?” Zoe asks, gripping the controller, straightening her

posture, and facing the start screen on the TV with laser focus. Her big, round

eyes reflected the screen.

“Well, for now…,” Charlotte begins, sitting down far enough away that I wouldn't

be suffocated by her aura and picking up the other controller, “should

we have a match?”

“What?! No way! I mean, you’re even better than Anth, right?! No way can I play you!”

“I know, but…if I don’t know what level you’re starting out at, I wouldn't know what you need…”

“Oh, so that’s how it works…? I guess it’s okay, then…” she looks very timid and nervous. Her shoulders were all scrunched up, her mouth was pulled tight, and her eyebrows were furrowed intensely. Strangely enough, it was a good look for her.

On the character selection page, Charlotte chooses Anthony’s standby, Nathen, and Zoe chooses a dashing swordman, Raiden, the showiest option available.

“Oh, hold on.” I tell her. 

“What? Is this character not good?”

If Zoe’s goal had simply been to master Battle Royale for fun, then using a

character she likes would have been best. But her goal right now is to

become Anthony’s practice partner. In which case…

“Use this one,” I say, pointing the cursor at Sac-boy. “He’s the one I usually use.”

“Huh? Yours? Is it better?” she tilts.

“No, but Anthony’s practicing so he can beat him, right? He probably wants to get ready to face my character. So…”

“Oh…I see.” Zoe nods gravely. “You’re so smart, Miles.”

“Uh, r-really…?” I reply, embarrassed by the compliment. 

“…Anyway, are you ready?” Charlotte barges in.

“Yeah!”

The mood is gradually becoming friendlier. Here I am in a girl’s room, watching two beauties playing my favorite game, a situation found only in sitcoms or anime. I was overwhelmed by emotion at the thought of how my life resembles Troy and Abed from Community.

“…No way…” Zoe is astonished.

“All right, I’ve got a basic idea now… First, what you need to work on is…”

“…Forget what I need to work on! What did you just do?! Your moves were super-fast!”

They’d each started with four stocks, and the match ended without Charlotte taking any damage at all.

“Well, you’re doing the typical beginner moves. You blindly use techniques that leave you wide open, and you’re not watching what I’m doing. I can take advantage of those openings to whale on you without even thinking about stats,” with pride, adjusting her imaginary glasses as Charlotte coolly enumerates Zoe's mistakes. 

“You did a surprisingly decent job with the most basic fundamentals, like the inputs for your specials and edge recovery, so…the problem is with your neutral game… You used too many specials, so if you use normal attacks more…” I explain. 

“Hey, what are you talking about? You really are so weird!” Charlotte cuts me off with her ice-cold glare “Zoe!”

“Y-yes?!”

She gives a start, then switched from sitting cross-legged to tucking her legs under her, her back ramrod straight. She is very athletic.

“For now, I’ve figured out what I want you to do.”

“Really?! What?!” Zoe's eyes sparkles with dreamy stars.

"Copy my moves." 

Like, really? That's the best you can come up with. Charlotte, you're really bad at AD-LIB.

◢ ◣

Few minutes has passed, and there's still no progress. Every time Zoe tries to copy Charlotte's moves, she loses miserably. Looks like Ms. Perfection's methods isn't reliable after all.

As the two girls continue their struggle, I get myself up before my sleepy body starts to give in.

"I'm gonna head outside to get me a drink." that black coffee left a bad taste in my mouth. "I saw a vending machine nearby."

"Oh, in that case," Charlotte tells me. "I'd like a green ice tea with strawberry mix!" 

I ain't your errand boy..

Once I reach my destination and grab my drink after it drops down, thoughts starts to run in my head. 

I think, Zoe has very good communication skills. She's enough to be a member of the Stuck-up Kids; and you'd need more than looks or cash for that—you'd need to know how to play nice. But you could also take that to mean she's good at integrating herself. In other words, she lacks the courage to risk loneliness in order to be herself. 

On the other hand, there's Charlotte. She acts as if she's proud of being alone. The two of them are completely different types of people. 

I get back inside. While I'm on my way up to Zoe's room, I notice that almost all the hung pictures were of Zoe and some other girl. Is she her sister? She seems close to her age. Maybe a year or two older, but not more. But where's she? Couldn't Zoe confide in her instead of coming to us? And that day at the Bell Tower. Did Zoe's sister know about it?

I reach the room, and see that there's not much happened since I left. 

"Hmmm. It's not the same as your moves, Charlotte.." Zoe's started to wear out.

"I told you again and again, just follow my steps. How can I teach you in a way you will absorb?"

I hand Charlotte her green ice-tea. And she replies with "Oh, finally!" 

Charlotte is just not a good teacher. It's really wrong to believe that all smart people are good instructors. It's the vast difference between a novice and an expert. Charlotte is a genius; so, she wouldn't understand why incompetent Zoe fails to grasp that point. But Charlotte isn't in error. She did everything possible. The problem is this girl.

"Here." I hand Zoe a bottle of Mountain Dew.

"Uhh, I'll pay you.." she hesitates to take it.

"Nuh, it's okay.." 

"No, I can't just take it!" 

"It's fine, come on!" I insist to the point she can't say no anymore.

"Uhh—thanks.." she stutters with a weird blush that truely forces me to crack a smile. "Tehee.."

"Let's take five." Charlotte tells us to blow off the steam a little.

As we're sipping on our beverages, I decide to take a new step at helping Zoe. I take my notebook out, and start writing a list of commands for her to memorize. Charlotte notices me and whispers "Is this the best time to be writing your will?"

Geez..this girl is terrible..

"Nope. These are a list of moves that you can use." I peel the paper off of my notebook, and give it to Zoe.

"Huh? So, you want me to memorize them?!" with a weird chuckle, Zoe glances at the list in disbelief.

"These moves are used by top 10 players. They never let me down in a tough fight!" I explain with exuded confidence.

"To—top 10..?!" Zoe looks at both Charlotte and I in shock. "You two are one of the top 10 players?" 

"Hehehe.." I scratch my cheek in embarrassment.

"If that wasn't shocking enough, the reason behind Mr. Anthony's current obsession is Miles beating him out of the top 10 list." Charlotte adds.

"Haaah?" Zoe's jaw falls open.

"Why'd you have to say that..?" I ask.

"So, you take responsibility for your actions." Ice-cold Charlotte shoots back.

"But...that's..weird, right?" Zoe's voice gets more and more annoying with the passage of time. "It's just a game! People would think it's so creepy to be this serious! No one would like you at this rate."

"I—it's not like I'm doing it to get people to like me." I reply loosely.

"Still, I can't imagine others gossiping about what I do. It's so harsh to live like that!" Zoe replies. "Wait! Is that why I never see you having fun in school?"

"Hey! Get off my case.." I shoot back. "Besides, having fun with people isn't the only thing in life."

"Huh..? Maybe..but if I do that—I won't be able to get along with anyone.."

What's wrong with this girl?! Does she have to be super self conscious about what people say? I think it was called 'Trendy Life'. Where you have to like and do whatever the majority like and do. But dictating your happiness by some arbitrary system is just a waste. It's not even considered happiness! I mean, this look on her face—Zoe gave up, and faked an entire persona to be part of the crowd. Giving in is, by it's very nature, giving up on a part of yourself.

"Uhh, maybe..I wasn't cut out for this." the girl adds. "I'm not talented like Charlotte.."

Hey, I'm also pretty good! Don't I deserve some praise as well..?

"But people say it's weird being good at those things nowadays." Zoe scratches her face in hesitation. "It's just not a cool thing to do, y'know.."

"Could you stop conforming to your surrounding! It's terribly unpleasant!" Charlotte spits out. "Aren't you ashamed of seeing people as an underlying cause for your own clumsiness?"

Whoa, God, this is harsh; even for me. Zoe is completely taken off guard. Her face just went pale.

"Yo—" she opens her mouth. "You're so cool..!" 

"Huh..?" both Charlotte and I are surprised.

"There's nothing fake about you. I mean—you're really super real!" Zoe explains. "I only go along with what other people think. So, it's just the first time anyone has ever said something like that to me."

"What is this girl talking about?" Charlotte is perplexed.

"..I wish I could live—like you two.." Zoe mumbles faintly.

“I think you can.” I say.

“What?”

“I mean, if you still want to change.”

“What? Change my personality? No way, I can’t do that! What are you talking about? I’m already 22! It’s too late! I’m done talking about this!” to ease the tension, Zoe gives a fake smile so perfect you couldn't even tell it's fake. Without even seeing it in action, I know it's the expression  she used to fight her way through the battlefield of the classroom.

“…I was like that, too. From the day I was born until now, actually. I had a personality that never changed. Or maybe more like a worldview.” I continue, with my face looking down.

“What?” 

“To me, life is the worst kind of game. Life is absurd. Cool characters profit, and poor characters are exploited. There are no principles worth respecting. It’s just a game of chance. There’s no point in pouring my time and energy into something like that, and there’s no need to. That was my way of thinking.”

“O-okay…” Zoe’s smile was steadily turning to shock.

“So even if I lost at the game of life—for example, people ignoring me in class, not having a girlfriend or even regular friends, having a low social status—none of that mattered. ’Cause the game was shit to begin with. On the other hand, games like Battle Royale were great, so it was way more meaningful to win at it than at life. It was awesome, and most of all, it made me genuinely happy. My whole life, that’s what I thought.”

Charlotte stares at me silently. I bet she's doing a victory dance inside that ice-cold head of hers.

“But recently, I met another gamer who’s kind of insufferable, but also just about as good as me. According to them, life’s one of the these games that just need fixing. I still don’t fully believe it, but they do know their stuff when it comes to games, so for now I’ve decided to test it out. In other words, I’m trying to take the game of life more seriously.”

Zoe blinks in surprise. The next thing I say isn't directed at her so much as at the gamer with the best work ethic, the most confidence, and the worst personality in the world.

“As a game, I don’t know if life’s god-tier, but at the very least, it’s decent! That’s what I think.”

Zoe opens her pretty mouth wide and smiles. “So it needs fixing, then, huh?”

I smile, too, naturally this time instead of consciously making an expression. 

“Point is, it doesn't matter if your personality hasn't changed for years and years."  maybe she realizes what I'm getting at, because she gazes into my eyes with surprise.

“So Zoe, if you want to change, I think you can.” I force myself to return her gaze.  “…Even now. Go for it.”

“Y-you really think so…?” 

Zoe’s eyes are shining. I finish saying everything on my mind..

“Yeah, well, maybe.”

Zoe bursts out laughing. “Ha-ha, what’s that supposed to mean? You’re

not very reassuring!”

“…Well..”

Ignoring my explanation, Charlotte lets out an annoyed sigh. “It was

rather long to reach your point.” she says. “Your life story is irrelevant whatsoever..”

“What?! You bastard!"  I shoot back. I want to say tons of nasty things, but Zoe interjects.

“…But…yeah…I think I’ll give it a try.”

“Huh?” both me and Charlotte shift our attention back to her.

“I mean, practicing those moves, and…seeing if I can stop worrying so much about what other people think… Like you said, you don’t know until you try.”

“…Really?” I reflexively question.

“Yeah…oh, that reminds me,” Zoe adds, taking out her cell phone. “Give me your numbers. I want to have it in case I have questions.”

“What?! It’s not like I’m some expert on what other people think!”

“Not that! Questions about Battle Royale..” Charlotte replies.

“Oh right…”

We exchange numbers as Zoe gives me a nervous look.

“Uh, um, well…I guess we're done for now.” she utters exasperatingly.

After all, we taught her what we could.

“Okay—oh, don’t forget the game!” says Zoe.

“Oh, no worries, that’s a spare. The memory card is a backup, too.”

“Spare? Backup?”

“…Never mind. It means he has another one at ho—Really? But…if you’d lent her this to start with, couldn't we have played online…?” as always, Charlotte's sharpness is lethal.

“Oh yeah! That’s true…sorry.” I scratch my hair to look confused.

“Ha-ha. Right! But this way let us talk about a lot of stuff, so it’s fine!”

“Ha-ha.” it's nice enough of her to say that. 

Charlotte speaks to her. “Zoe, what are you going to do about your request?”

“I don’t care about that anymore. I’m gonna try practicing my own way next

time. Thanks, Charlotte.” Zoe turns around, smiling.

“I think that if you have room to improve, you should push yourself to the limit. That would be better, in the end.”

“In that case, see you tomorrow. Bye.” Charlotte excuses herself, and I follow—like some stupid sidekick.

“Okay, bye.”

“Okay, take care! Oh, wait…um, uh—” Zoe stops me halfway.

“What’s up?” I ask, while a gist of cold air hits me. Does she intend on talking to me about the Bell Tower now?!

“Oh…nothing. See you!”

I leave her house wondering what she wanted to say.

Charlotte decides to tag along and walk with me towards the station together. This was the first request the Aid Club tackled. Not sure if it was a success story. But less than five minutes later, a short text arrives from Zoe to the both of us.

“Thank you.”

Just those two simple words, no emojies or anything. I guess that’s what she had wanted to say when I was leaving. Huh. She was a normie, but in some ways she was easy for me to connect with. 

On the contrary—the cold hearted female person who's keeping my company for few more meters, is the hard to deal with type. As she stares at Zoe's text and then back to me, she says “The sword you were carrying just happened to work against the boss’s elemental weakness, and the shield you had happened to resist the elements she used. A miracle, I’d say.”

This girl loves to make me feel down.

"Uhh, That's a bit too gaming-deep analogy. You're brain is being spoiled from the long playing hours, Charlotte.." I reply with a calm expression.

"I thought a language we both understand would be suitable for you to grasp.." she shoots back.

"Whoa! Didn't think you could be this considerate." forget that, this is out of character!  

"Well, after you admitted that I was basically right about fixing life, I thought I should throw you a bone." 

"I never said anything like that!" I reply in annoyance. "You're just full of yourself."

"Am I? I had no idea." 

"Wanna bet?.." I let out a sigh.