Afterschool.
Yuuki and Rio returned to his place.
She told him there was “no time to waste” and that she’d “take care” of his sister. Although Yuuki wasn’t overly enthusiastic, he knew Rio had a knack for teaching. The manner in which she explained things had this almost professional quality to it.
Maybe she’ll get through to her. Holding onto this faint hope, Yuuki brought Rio over.
He opened the door, entering the living room. Mina, who laid on the sofa gaming, rose up.
“Yuukie, welcome ba–”
The moment she spotted a figure at his back, she lost balance, tumbling off of the sofa. Mina didn’t even bother getting up as she crawled out of the living room.
Rio watched as if coming upon a new species of animal, turning her gaze to Yuuki. “What... did I just witness?”
“Give me a second.”
Yuuki left Rio in the living room as he walked over to Mina’s room, presumably where she fled. There he, to no one’s surprise, found Mina, peeking out the door.
I’m getting deja vu.
“Mina, come out. We have a guest over.”
“Guest? You didn’t tell me you were bringing a guest over!”
Mina pouted as she stuck her head out to sneak a peek into the living room, her eyes widening.
“Yuukie, you... dumped Yui for another woman?! Already?!”
“It’s not what it looks like.”
“Then what is she doing here?”
“She’s just... someone I met recently. She’s super smart, so I thought I’d ask her to help you study.”
“Help me study? As if I asked?! Nope, that’s it, now Minaterasu’s angry. Hide in iwato, no, narito angry!” She said, shutting the door, only to immediately open it back up a little. “Although if you were to pay me three visits and pet me on the head, I, Mina Zhuge, might just forgive you.” She said with a satisfied look on her face.
“Petting aside, you know the three visits?”
“Of course. Zhuge Liang’s the guy who shoots lasers. Cool, right?”
“I think you’re talking about the video game character.”
She probably gets her random trivia knowledge from video games.
Mina dove into Yuuki’s arms with an oof, when suddenly.
“What’s taking so long?”
Yuuki turned around, only to see Rio standing directly behind him with a miffed look on her face. Unlike Yui, it looked like she wasn’t going to patiently stand around waiting for them to finish.
“Alright, let’s get studying.”
Mina immediately took cover behind Yuuki’s back. Rio didn’t care for Mina’s games, trying to drag her out by the hand. She was quite forceful, again, in sharp contrast to Yui.
Mina, meanwhile, bunched herself up so as to not get caught, using Yuuki as a shield.
“She has a scary face.” She whispered, running back to her room and slamming the door shut.
“Why’d you let her escape?” Rio pressed him with said scary face.
No wonder she got that impression.
Yuuki himself felt the same way as Rio’s eyes were slightly slanted by default. He decided to repeat what Mina said word for word.
“She said you have a scary face.”
“S-Scary? What’s so scary about my face?”
“I think you might want to try smiling.”
Smile... smile.
The first thing that popped into mind was that one picture of Yui. Yuuki pulled it up on his phone, showing it to Rio. “Use this as reference.”
“I-Is this the picture you mentioned earlier? Why is she making that face?”
“Ask her.”
Rio seemed skeptical at first but the corners of her lips gradually turned up as she kept staring at it. The picture had a kind of invigorating effect, the uncanny power to bring a smile to one’s face.
“Hold that smile. I’ll be right back.”
After handing his phone to Rio Yuuki opened the door to Mina’s room, heading inside. It appeared to be empty at a glance, were it not for the not-so-subtle humps under the blanket. He pulled it off and, surely enough, found Mina, all curled up and pretending to sleep. Her cover was blown completely yet Mina remained calm, not saying a word.
“Midterms are right around the corner and you haven’t done any studying, have you?”
“Sure I have. I’m the type to work hard from the shadows, is all.” Mina slowly turned her head toward Yuuki, a shit-eating grin on her face.
She thinks she can talk her way out.
“Rio is going to help you study.”
“Buuuuuut she seems arrogant, looks scary and gives off major friendless vibes.”
Says you. Although, Yuuki couldn’t deny Rio was rather friendless.
“The friend thing, well, it’s... complicated.”
“Huh…” Mina abruptly settled down.
The friendless connection?
Yuuki dragged Mina out of bed, exiting the room together. Outside they were greeted by Rio, who had somehow managed to maintain a smile.
“Okay, I guess now we can begin.”
Even her voice felt softer than usual.
Mina nervously gazed up at Rio from behind Yuuki’s back. “If you can beat me in a game of Bash Bros, that is.”
“Why?”
“Huh?”
“Why should I?” Rio shot back without delay.
Mina looked flabbergasted, as if Rio’s response came completely out of left field, while Yuuki couldn’t help but wonder why Yui didn’t take a similar approach.
“If you don’t do well on your midterms, we’ll just confiscate your video games.”
“Why didn’t I think of that?”
“You didn’t?” Rio asked, appalled.
Sensing the gravity of the situation, Mina poked her head out once more, pointing at Rio. “No, that’s inhuman! Don’t just stand there! Do something, Yukkie! Throw her out!” Mina frantically shook and banged on his back. Yuuki, needless to say, wasn’t exactly on Mina’s side on the matter, which only made her even more aggro. “Who do you think you are? What are you to Yuukie anyway?” She screamed out from the cover of Yuuki’s back.
A hint of hesitation appeared on Rio’s face. “I’m…” She glanced over Yuuki, her eyes downcast.
He thought she’d spout off something moronic like “I’m priest Yuuki’s faithful servant” but it appeared she managed to hold back the urge in front of Mina.
But then, how do I describe our relationship?
Rio’s gaze cried out for help, so Yuuki replied in her stead. “She’s my... friend.”
“Eh?” Rio raised her head, her eyes widening.
Caught off guard by her reaction, Yuuki asked, “Am I wrong?”
“U-Uh-uh.” Rio shook her head slightly, unsmiling her smile.
Mina, seemingly smelling weakness in the air, jumped out in front of Rio, talking mad trash right in her face. “Friends? Friends, huh? Yui’s way more funny and interesting than you’ll ever be. I mean, you’re too scared to face me in a video game. What could I possibly hope to learn from you?”
If Yui was here she’d probably respond with something along the lines of “Hello, I’m your elder?”
Rio blinked, gently lowering her voice. “You’re on.” With just three words, she shook the room.
Sensing imminent disaster, Yuuki promptly interjected. “Rio, don’t.”
“I’ve played Bash Bros before. Don’t worry.”
“You have?”
“Yui mentioned liking the game, so I borrowed my little brother’s copy to get a bit of practice in.”
Brother?
Rio having a brother aside, the “a bit” part didn’t really inspire much confidence. A bit of practice simply wasn’t going to cut it against someone like Mina.
Mina jumped out in front of Yuuki as if she had long been waiting for this very moment. “Then it’s settled! Hehehe, I’ll smash you to pieces, just like Yui.” She smirked, returning to the living room.
The TV had been on the whole time, running a game Mina had played with Yui before-- Bash Bros.
Mina took two controllers, placing the first on one side of the sofa and taking the other to the opposite side. Rio picked up her controller, brushing up her hair as she sat down. Her movements were as calm as always, likely a product of arrogance.
This is going to be a repeat of the Yui incident, isn’t it? Yuuki was already getting concerned just seeing Rio’s controller handling.
“Hmm, who should I pick?”
Mina, full of confidence coming fresh off of the Yui stomp, took her sweet time going over characters, her cursor wandering aimlessly.
Rio, meanwhile, wasted no time locking in hers. Mina shot Rio a quick glare before quickly locking one in herself.
As soon as the match started, Rio’s character began attacking the air.
“Oh dear, don’t know what the buttons do? Too bad! The world of Bash Bros is cruel and unforgiving!” Mina exclaimed, charging straight toward Rio’s character.
No shot. She’s done.
As much as Yuuki would’ve loved to cheer Rio on, seeing her get stomped was just too painful. Just as he was about to look away from the screen, Rio’s character suddenly moved out of the way, punishing Mina with a counterattack.
“What?!”
In the time it took Mina to exclaim so, Rio chain attacked her for tons of damage.
Mina appeared to have realized she wasn’t up against some newbie, leaning slightly forward as she went in on the offensive.
“The frame advantage is mine. Perfect shield this, punish.” Rio spoke some kind of weird language as she countered effortlessly.
After knocking Mina’s character back, Rio started spamming projectiles at her.
Dirty.
Mina, losing patience, rushed in, only to be greeted with a jump attack.
“Stop spamming!”
“All’s fair in love and war.”
“Grr.”
Rio repeated the pattern with mechanical precision, taking favorable trade after favorable trade. Mina knew it was coming but it appeared Rio outclassed her so hard it didn’t even matter; She just ate it again and again. Yuuki didn’t even know what was happening, he just kind of watched.
“What kind of robot freak are you!” Mina finally cried out as the letters KO flashed across the screen. Having been served a massive upset, Mina was understandably upset. “That didn’t feel fair at all…”
“The strategy I used is a little nasty. How about another round then? No cheese this time.”
“Y-You’re on!”