“That Scottish Fold earlier was adorable, but this American Shorthair is just as cute! I wonder what kind of cat we’ll meet next. You never know what’s coming—it’s so unpredictable!” Akane exclaimed.
Akane was completely engrossed, eyes wide with exhilaration. It was as if she were watching a heart-pounding action film. Saito truly couldn’t understand. How could someone find such suspense in a video of cats walking and running around? Rather than gaining a deeper understanding of Akane, watching the movie together made the inner workings of Akane’s mind feel even more arcane. Still, this was supposed to be a moment of bonding, so he decided to make the most of it.
He retrieved the cake he had bought earlier from the fridge and brewed some tea for the two of them. It had been a while since he last prepared anything other than bottled tea. Akane carefully sliced into the sponge with her fork and brought a bite to her mouth.
“Wow, the cake is so delicious! The cat movie is adorable! I’m so happy right now!” Akane swooned.
She rested her head in both hands, melting into pure bliss. Saito had never seen her look so genuinely happy before. That cake had definitely been worth its price tag.
As she munched away watching the movie, Saito noticed Akane was carefully avoiding the strawberry in her cake, neatly cutting away the sponge around it.
“If you don’t like strawberries, I can eat it for you.”
The moment Saito reached for it with his fork, Akane swiftly shielded her plate from him.
“I do like them. I just love to save the best parts for last.”
“Wouldn’t it taste better if you ate it while you’re still hungry?” inquired Saito.
“No, things you really love should be saved and enjoyed slowly. Just looking at that strawberry makes me happy.”
“Well, you’ve looked at it long enough. It’s mine now.” Saito couldn’t resist teasing her.
“Is there even a heart beating inside your chest? I’ll kill you.”
She pulled her plate away protectively, eyes sharp with suspicion. Apparently, she didn’t appreciate him joking about her strawberries.
On the screen, the cats continued their peaceful antics—chasing butterflies and batting at fallen leaves with their tiny paws. The scene was so tranquil as to be almost hypnotic. While he had been eating, Saito had managed to stay alert for the movie. But now that the cake was gone, boredom crept in, and his mind started to drift. He knew all too well he couldn’t afford to fall asleep, though. If he did, it would sabotage Akane’s earnest attempt at bridging the gap between them. She’d be disappointed, maybe even angry. I have to persevere, Saito thought.
Saito bit down hard on his lower lip, trying to use the pain to fight off sleep.
“Uh…hey Saito, is your lip bleeding?!”
Akane seemed alarmed.
“It’s fine. Just blood,” answered Saito.
“It’s absolutely not fine! Are you coughing up blood?! Are you sick?!” Akane’s voice began to rise.
“Nah, there must have been a thumbtack in the cake or something,” said Saito.
“I ate that cake, you idiot!”
Akane was horrified, but her voice sounded distant—Saito was really starting to fade into sleep. After all the tension between them, now that they had finally experienced and shared a moment of peace, the exhaustion was hitting him all at once. Damn it… Not here! I refuse to pass out! Stay awake, Saito!
Desperate, he raised his fork, poising it right above his left hand.
“What are you doing?! Have you finally lost your mind?!”
Akane snatched the fork away before he could stab himself.
Three hours had passed since they started watching, and Saito had dozed off completely. However, through sheer willpower, his eyes had remained wide open. His eyeballs were dry and stiff, feeling as if they might crack at any moment.
“Ahh, that was so much fun! Next time, let’s watch the full twenty-four-hour version,” said Akane.
“…Wha—?”
Something truly terrifying shook Saito out of his reverie, jolting him awake. The repeated biting of his lips had filled his mouth with the metallic taste of blood.
“Wh-where am I…? Alpha Centauri…?”
“You’re on Earth. Are you okay?” said Akane.
“So…I made it back alive…” Saito sighed in relief, wiping the blood from his lips. He had apparently succumbed to sleep at some point, but fortunately, Akane hadn’t noticed. She casually removed the disc from the player, clearly in an excellent mood.
“Since you watched a movie I like, I’d be happy to watch one you like next,” Akane suggested.
“Honestly, I’d rather play a game than watch a movie,” Saito replied.
He wasn’t sure he could endure another extended session of just staring at a screen.
“I haven’t really played many games before,” Akane confessed.
“Which ones have you played?” Saito asked.
“Pretty much just the ones that come preinstalled on computers. You know, the one where you have to defuse the bombs,” answered Akane.
“So basically you have zero gaming experience,” said Saito.
Akane furrowed her brows.
“I always set the bomb off on the first move. I hate that game. It startles me.”
“Wait, if you always blow the bomb up on the first move, how do you still get surprised?” Saito replied.
“Even when I know it’s coming, it still catches me off guard! I know it’s just a game, but it’s way too full of itself,” Akane exclaimed.
The fact that she couldn’t just take the safe and easy approach to gaming was, in a way, very typical of her. Her frustration when even a program acted against her will was, in a way, also very typical of Akane.
“You know, you might actually enjoy other games if you give them a try. I’d be happy to teach you how to play,” proposed Saito.
“Doubtful. Even if the world turned upside down, I’d never get hooked on gaming.”
Akane scoffed dismissively, as if gaming was beneath her.
Thirty minutes passed.
“That was so unfair! Shooting me while I was trying to recover?! That’s just cruel!”
Akane was furiously mashing buttons on the controller, completely absorbed in the game. On screen, a chaotic battle raged—a crossover fighting game featuring a roster of iconic characters. Her chosen character, a swordswoman, was getting mercilessly riddled with bullets by Saito’s gunslinger. Akane’s swordswoman was blasted off the stage time and time again.
“There’s no such thing as ‘fair’ in an all-out brawl. Accept it,” advised Saito.
“…!”
Akane trembled with frustration, and her eyes teared up. She was gripping the controller as if she might crush it at any moment.
“Uh…hey, you’re kinda crying. Maybe we should stop,” Saito suggested.
“I’m not crying! And I won’t let you escape with a win!” Akane exclaimed.
“I wasn’t planning to run, but honestly, you don’t stand a chance,” Saito replied.