Volume 1, Chapter 2: Clubs Day

7:00 AM the alarm went off.

"Ugh…."

With a sleepy face I started slapping to where the alarm clock was supposed to be placed. But I never got it, so I woke up and looked.

"Huh, the clock is not there?"

I followed the sound and found out it was on the other side of the desk.

"Ohh yeah…" I remembered while still being half asleep "I placed it there to avoid me from stopping the alarm"

Yeah, I had a really bad time trying to wake up early. Well sleeping is the best thing ever! Besides skating and anime obviously.

It was kind of early so I changed into my normal clothing, took my uniform and placed it on my bag and went to the restroom.

I washed my face, my mouth and wet my hair.

I then went to the living room.

"Good Mor…"

It was empty. My sister seems to have left earlier than me.

"I guess she got something to do. I'm pretty sure she was elected Class Rep again"

I looked at the dining table and there was a plate with 4 onigiri and a note from my sister.

"I'm leaving early! I have to check some stuff with the student council! Love you! =D"

I smiled happy and looked at the note again. She had nice handwriting, not like me.

"I knew it, she is the class rep again. Way to go little sister! Do your best"

I also think this note was meant for my mom, since she is the one who gets to wake her up.

"Ohh well, let's just eat this things" I took one with my left hand, and placed her note on the table. "Thanks for the meal" and ate one. I hope where were made for me to eat and not for another reason. If not, I'll be in trouble later when I get back at home.

"Ohh well, it that's the case I'll just apologize later with her."

I finished eating the onigiri, and went to the restroom again. I washed my mouth and left the house.

I took out my skateboard and placed it on the ground kicked the floor and left.

I was on my way to school, when I saw some skaters on a park. I recognized one of them. It was Chuck.

I got close to them and greeted everyone.

"Hey guys! Good morning!"

Everyone looked back at me and greeted me back. Chuck stomped his way between them and stood in front of me.

"There you are! Mr. I have to go, see you tomorrow, and I disappear 2 days straight"

'Wow sorry are you my girlfriend?'

I took a step back and placed my hands in front of me showing my palms in a signal for him to calm down.

"Wow, wow Chuck calm down, what's wrong with you!"

I scratched the back of my head with one of my hands.

"I have to go to school you know, I got busy sorry"

He calmed down and left out a relieved sigh.

"Ok Sorata, I won't say anything. But next time at least let us know you won't be coming, we waited for you yesterday for hours!"

I then remembered 'I told them I was going to come back!'

I clicked my tongue in disapproval and looked at them.

"I am sorry guys. I know I told you I was coming back and completely forgot"

I lowered my head. Chuck took a step back surprised and then leaned forward to me placing his hands on my shoulders.

"Hey, it's not that bad, we had fun anyways, calm down. I was just messing around with you."

I looked back at him and then with one arm I surrounded his neck and with the other one I started scratching his head with my knuckles.

"Damn you Chuck! I was worried I thought you guys got mad!"

He struggled with me to break free but I was doing my best to restrain him. I'm not strong or anything, I even hate fighting. Whenever I got into fights I just dodged until the opponent got tired and leave the place. I'm pretty sure with one or two well-placed hits I'm out.

He broke free and then walked back. And he pointed at me with a finger.

And with a serious expression he said.

"You, me! S-K-A-T-E! Right now!"

He looked determined, so I checked the clock, it was 7:20.

If I calculated my time well. It will take around 20 minutes to beat Chuck in a game of SKATE, and then I'll have to rush to school to arrive at 8:00 AM sharp.

I sighed and looked at Chuck.

"Okay Takeharu, I don't have too much time, so let's go!"

When I said that, he got all flustered and ran to me, took me by the collar and told me with a cold gaze

"Don't call me like that! My name is Chuck damn it!"

I grabbed both his hands and looked at him to make him stop

"Wow, wow, okay, sorry Chuck"

He let me go and settled down, relaxed and looked at me again.

"Since you messed up. I'll start"

I just made a signal with my hand letting him know I didn't care. Like when you try to wind yourself with your hand.

"Sure. Go! You have 5 moves, you stop then."

Chuck looked at me with a killing gaze and his determination when to off the roof

"You asked for it! Here I go!"

And Chuck started. We are in a regular park, so there are no bowls or benches or anything that we could grind, so we were only able to do street tricks, which are my forte.

He got some speed and started Kick flip, Heelflip, Shove it!, 360 Shove it!, 360 Flip and finished.

Everyone cheered him up. Even I did, I've never seen him doing so many street tricks that smoothly.

I looked at the clock it was 7:30, it took him 10 minutes to finish this routine, since we talked a lot after I told him to start. So I had no time to play a full SKATE game.

"Ok Chuck, I'll be late for school so I need to finish this fast, sorry!"

He looked at me mad like I have just insulted his mother.

"What the hell? Really? You are just going to do a freaking hand stand or something right? Nah, forget it. Go to school, I'll see you later on"

He looked really mad. I know he feels that way because of what I said. It's like if I had this unbeatable opponent, and tried to take him down. But whenever I was about to do so, he just did a "special move" or something and got me out of combat. That's how he felt I guess.

I swallowed hard and looked at him, he was pretty mad as far as I can tell.

"Ok, sorry, but I will continue this game later then. I won't use forbidden moves or anything, thanks for understanding"

He calmed down and looked at me

"Ok Sorata, go on, I know school is more important than skating, we all know. See you later"

While saying this, he started skating away from me, to the skate park were we used to hang out.

"Thanks Chuck, I'll see you later"

I started skating to school. While I do so, let me explain some stuff about them.

This guys are obsessed with skating, at some degree they even skip school to continue doing so. And I know you need to dedicate time to it, to become pro, but, just doing this at that scale I feel it's ridiculous. I know it's fun and everything but, not studying for skating, if you are not a prodigy, don't even try it, you will just waste your time and life.

I've been invited by several stores, to participate in tournaments, and I've been offered 2 sponsorships from local stores, the ones I always shop from. I have won several tournaments, but whenever I go and see the big tournaments. Well I'm no match for them. That's why I've always rejected this sponsorships, I don't want to become a pro at this, and it is just my hobby, like anime.

But this kids, they've been like this since I know them. I honestly don't even know if they study or not. I just talk to them about skating and that's it.

That's why I label them my "skateboarding friends".

But well, I went to school, I was going to arrive sort of in time, but when I got to the staircase I didn't feel like jumping over it. So I stopped and walked down the stairs.

Yeah I have this way of doing things that if I'm not feeling comfortable with it, I won't make it. The worst thing that can happen to you is getting injured when you knew that it would probably happen if you continued.

When I got to the stairs by the way it was 8:15 AM, so I was late already, the gates where open, which looked strange to me. I ran to them and there was no teacher.

"Huh? A day off? Something happened?"

As soon as I got there I saw a lot of booths being placed around the school building and then I remembered.

'Ohh yeah! Today its clubs day, since we just got in the new semester, clubs will try to recruit new members'

I was saved! I could just pass the door, and enter school without anyone noticing.

I got into the room with the school shoe lockers, rushed to the restroom, changed into my school uniform, rushed back, placed everything inside the shoe lockers and ran like hell to the classroom.

I opened the door with a big slam and got back my breath.

Everyone started clapping.

I looked around the class room and everyone was standing up and clapping while smiling.

Then Ryuunosuke who was almost on the floor laughing looks at me.

"Hahaha you are safe Sorata, the teacher was called back around 5 minutes ago by the principal"

I dropped the skateboard on the floor and fell on my knees thanking the gods.

Everyone laughed even harder.

"You are really funny Akasaka-kun"

One girl with a pony tail and glasses told me, while giving me a hand to get up.

Hinata Akitsuki a normal plain girl, had a good body, but was kind of a gossip girl, she loved gossiping about everyone, she was part of the School Newspaper obviously.

"Thanks Akitsuki-san"

I smiled back at her, placed my skateboard on the rack for the coats and went to my seat.

After around 10 minutes the teacher came back and class started.

The day passed by, lunch, the booths were almost done.

I wanted to take a look, but there were no signs yet, so I didn't knew which type of clubs were there.

After a few more hours, the school day ended and I was able to go.

Ryuunosuke looked at me and asked in a curious way.

"So, are you going to join any clubs Sorata?"

I looked at him as if a stalker questioned me

"Err… I don't know Ryuu, I need to look for one that fits my tastes."

He put his clenched hand on his chin while thinking, then he looked back at me with a "Eureka!" gesture.

"Hey you like, computer programing and also video games right?"

I looked at him dumbfounded. I blinked a couple of times and answered.

"Well yes, I'm not a super good programmer, but I do like that and video games. I've seen the light music club, but they need people who knows how to play well and I'm a super amateur on that"

He closed his eyes for a little bit while thinking, and then opened them again and gave me an excited look.

"I know which club will be within your interests! It started this year though, but you can check it out later. They got a booth although only 3 persons are in the club. I received an invitation from one of them, but I can't get into it."

Ohh yeah Ryuunosuke was a big fan of video games, so I guess that's why he got invited. I'm almost unknown here, since I like to keep a low profile.

"Well let me see it"

I looked at the invitation. It was pretty plain it just said.

"Please join our Video Games Research Club! Room 401-3"

I looked at it with a dead gaze, it was so plain, no info, no nothing!

"Wait, is this really a club? It has no info on it!"

He looked at me with a displeased face

"I know, I also think it's a trap, but I asked at the principal's office and it does exist, I guess they will try to get new members with a booth. Check it out later!"

That made me curious, 3 people and they were allowed to get a booth? I guess since only 1 person was missing they made an exception. I will check it out.

I looked at Ryuunosuke with a face full of hope.

"Let me go and check this out! Wanna come?"

He apologized with his hand and looked at me.

"Sorry Sorata, I've got some student council stuff to attend to"

Ohh yeah, he was the Class rep, again, I knew he will be getting that position again.

"Sure, no problem, I'm off then!"

"Ok! Have fun! Tell me if you get into a club!"

I left the classroom and went to the schoolyard. I wasn't able to roam the school with my regular clothes on, so I had to stick with the uniform. Anyways I can't skate here.

While looking at the booths I looked for the "Video Games Research" club, but I wasn't able to find it. I've been invited to around 10 different clubs now, and some of them or most of them are demonstrating what they do.

The football team for example was having a demonstration game. The Judo team was having demonstration duels. The Light Music Club was playing a song.

I looked frustrated at all the booths without finding the one I wanted. While messing up my own hair with my hands in desperation.

"Ahh damn! Why isn't there an "Extreme Sports" club?!"

So after that, I walked around the school looking at more booths.

I glanced at my right and looked a one booth, pretty simple, it wasn't even a booth. It was just two tables one besides the other one, with a flat screen TV (school borrowed obviously) a computer, a controller and a game. I knew this game. I knew it pretty good.

"Siscaly PC Version"

I whispered.

For the ones who don't know, this is the "censored" version of an erogame in which you created a "little sister" and then battled people online. I played it first at Ryuunosuke's house, yeah he like videogames, mostly, ERO-games. That's why he kept it as a secret. But I liked the game so much I got my own copy and played online for months.

Last year I played on a tournament at Chiba and won it. I don't remember the opponent but it was a girl in a Gothic Lolita Cosplay as far as I can recall. Maybe she knows the girl I saw on the car the other day. Silly me right? This is not an anime! That will never happen.

I looked at it and stood there for around 5 minutes thinking about what to do. After that I saw the name "Video Game Research Club". I made it! It's this one!

"Wow it really existed, I thought I was a joke!"

When I said that, a girl, no more tall than my sister (around 1.55 m) showed up, she had short red hair and had a so-so body, not that curvy but still cute, she had a cute face and a warm smile.

"Hello, want to try the game?"

She came close to me with a controller which was a PC version of a well-known console on the market made by a famous computer developing company.

I stood there thinking how should I answer, the girl looked at me worried and moved her hands in front of my face.

"Ahh, hello? Are you okay? You don't need to play if you don't want to"

I snapped out of my trance and looked at her and smiled while embarrassed I took the controller with one hand and pat the back of my head with the other one.

"Ohh, sorry it's just I didn't think this kind of club existed. What do you guys do?"

She smiled at me, gave a little jump while clapping both hands, and went to the table, behind the TV she took what it looked like an information sheet and handed it over to me.

"Read this. My name is Mina Kinomoto, nice to meet you."

I took the piece of paper and smiled back.

"Sorata Akasaka, nice meeting you Kinomoto-san"

I looked at the piece of paper and read it out loud.

"The game research club focuses on creating a place where the members can research about creating video games, and software pertaining the same topic. You can also know new people and play with us!"

It was a pretty straight forward explanation. But at least they had what I liked.

Kinomoto-san looked at me and got a troubled face, she was looking at my skateboard.

I looked back at her and noticed that, I placed the skateboard on the ground and asked.

"Are you curious why a Skater boy will be interested in such a club?"

She got startled and jumped a little bit, after that, she asked in a little voice.

"Are you going to make fun of me because I am part of this club?"

I looked back at her and placed one foot over my skateboard, then with a proud expression and placing one hand on my chest I told her.

"Of course not! I do skate and love it a lot! But I also like video games, anime and I want to create my own skateboarding game like the one of Tony Hawk!"

I looked really proud. Poor Kinomoto-san just understood the part of video games and anime, she didn't knew who Tony Hawk was or that he even had a game.

She giggled and looked down embarrassed. Then looked at me and said with a confident voice and face.

"I'm sorry for doubting you, but a lot of people think this club it's just a waste of time and space."

"Of course not! Video games have a whole industry! And by far the best one is the online one, like Siscaly! Do you play it?"

She looked surprised that I knew about the game and leant forward me.

"Wow, how do you know it Akasaka-san?"

I had to be careful with her, if I told her I owned the eroge uncensored one, she will never talk to me again. I'm pretty sure.

"Well I saw it on an arcade once and bought it later to play on my computer. I know there is a +18 version too, but I've never seen one"

Sorry for lying Kinomoto-san! But it's for our own good!

She looked at me with a doubtful expression and said.

"So, you own the regular version?"

I took a step back with this accusation and started to feel nervous, but I kept myself together and relaxed.

"Yes I do own the regular copy Kinomoto-san why do you ask?"

She looked disappointed, she looked down and then recovered herself. She looked at me, smiled and walked next to me.

"So Akasaka-kun, will you try the game?"

"Sure, but if you guys research and create games, why am I playing Siscaly?"

She looked at me in a suspicious way and with a glare on her eyes she whispered.

"This is a modded version, all the characters are equal, you will just select one by looks, try it out!"

I looked skeptical and looked at her.

"So you are implying you guys' modded an original game? You cracked it? Isn't that illegal?"

She looked at me surprised of me knowing the jargon and that I managed to know what they did.

"Well yes, we know it's illegal, but we did it for training purposes!"

She said this while standing on the tip of her feet and pointing to the sky while making a _! Face.

She was embarrassed that I got to know their scheme, she looked to the ground and said in a little voice.

"You think we are delinquents or something?"

I am considered that just because I skate! I won't look down on her, I will get to know everyone first then get my own conclusions about them.

I looked at her with a confident look and a warm smile.

"Don't be silly. I am considered that myself because I skate! And I'm not one! Let's see what you game has to offer then!"

She looked at me and smiled from ear to ear, she was really happy, she gave a little jump and clapped again. She took a radio and talked to someone.

"I have a new candidate! Please do your best! Nyan~"

She looked at me with a 'You are SO going down!' Face. While a little voice answered.

"Ok, let's see what this useless human has to offer"

Well I guess it was a she because of the voice, but she was kind of rude. But well I was the Siscaly local champion last year so I won't lose to her!

"Hehe, as I can see, my opponent is really competitive right?"

I said this with an awkward wry.

Kinomoto-san placed the radio behind her back and smiled at me embarrassed.

"Haha I'm sorry Akasaka-san, she surely is, but she is the best player we've found so far. So, don't hold yourself, and give out your best!"

You don't need to tell me that. I will beat this bitch and show her who is boss around here! 'Worthless human'? Is she a Bot or something?

I gave her a cold ice gaze, to show her my opponent's comments where nothing. She got startled a little bit as I could manage to see. She went again besides me and gave me the instructions.

"Akasaka-san, since I know you are already familiarized with the game. I'll be quick."

She breathe in, then exhaled to calm down. Kept quiet for a second or two choose her words. Looked back at me and started talking.

"Okay, the rules are simple. Select a Little sister and fight against your opponent. If you win, I will invite you to the club. If not…."

She paused for a little bit and looked at the floor worried. I thought she will bring up those kind of elitist comments as 'If you don't win, you are not worthy of our club' or something like that. Since the other person called me 'Worthless Human'.

Then she looked back at me and tilting her head to a side, she smiled and stuck her tongue out like if she was joking while patting the back of her head with one hand.

"We will still invite you! I'm just kidding! Hahaha Sorry!"

I just let my shoulders drop down in relief. I really thought she was going to give me that elitist crap I've seen in other teams. Skateboarding had a lot of people like that anyways.

I just awkwardly smiled at her like I thought her bad joke was actually funny.

"So, the only thing I need to do, is beat this person in a Siscaly game? 2 out of 3 rounds?"

She looked at me impressed that I knew the way a simple vs. duel was supposed to be like. In the end I do own a skateboard and look like a skateboarder with it. I'm pretty sure she thought I was a delinquent or something.

"Yes, you only need to do that. This person also was invited this semester. She beat the President and me in this game so fast. We just had to have her in our club! She even won against other members of the club who happened to pass by at that time. Let's see how you do!"

While she was doing this, I was looking around the 'Little Sisters' from the character selection panel. They were all lolis with different styles: Goth Lolita, normal Lolita, high school Lolita, in pajamas Lolita. Stuff like that.

I just went over and picked up the Goth Lolita, mocking myself since I've been thinking about a girl I just happened to see in a car which I almost crashed with and I was pretty sure won't be seeing again in my whole life.

Kinomoto-san looked surprised by my choice. She hit me with the elbow and looked me with a kinky look.

"So, Akasaka-san is interested in gothic Lolitas? Hm, that's interesting. I thought you would like model-type girls or something like that since you skateboard!"

I moved away from her in embarrassment, is this girl hitting on me? She is not a gothic Lolita! And I'm not interested in them! Well I've seen a lot of them in NatsuCon and Akihabara and such and I think some of them are really cute, but I've never been with or talked to one before.

And well I just want a plain girl or a normal girl, or just a girl that will love me for who I am and well that she is caring, cute, and shorter than me, educated, the usual stuff.

"Ah, no I just liked her dress, is it that weird?"

The character I selected was using a typical gothic Lolita dress, black from top to bottom, with black and white crosses around the long skirt, with a lot of ruffles on the front part of the dress, and on the sleeves. And with a crossed lacing on the back, like the ones you see on corsets or such.

Kinomoto-san looked at me and gave a little giggle.

"Not it's not, I just find it rather interesting. But don't mind me! Let's play!"

While she said that, my opponent selected her little sister, which by a great coincidence was the same as mine! Just with a dark purple color in her dress.

I guess this was the most powerful character of their mod and that's why Kinomoto-san teased me? For me to select another one? If that's the case, what a cheap trick is this!

Anyways, I let a sigh and looked at her.

"So I'm ready, now what?"

"We need for your opponent to accept the look of her character and the scenario will be random"

After around 3 seconds after she said that, the screen went black and then the two gothic Lolita characters where in a kind of a "space crater" scenario. They gave their intro speeches or those mocking lines they say when they enter the ring like 'Ahh you can't beat me' or 'you are my opponent? This is going to be so easy'. Stuff like that.

And the countdown began.

"Players ready! 3….2….1…. FIGHT!" The game system said through the TV speakers.

As the fight started my opponent moved in a crazy lightning speed and attacked me. I barely made it to avoid her attack. She was good, really good. This looked like a professional player! Like the ones who played on the national tournament in which I didn't even last the first round. I come to think that I won the local tournament just by pure luck.

"Wow she is fast!"

"Yes she is a really good player, I told you!"

While we were talking about that, my opponent did a fake move and swept my character's legs, leaving her vulnerable, she then proceeded to lift me up with a medium punch, and jumped with me, she gave me a 52 hit combo!

My life from 100% went almost to 15%, this has to be one of the best aerial combos I've ever seen. She is definitely a pro! Wow I will have to play seriously now.

After my character fell off to the ground, I quickly moved her up, and rushed my opponent, she was still falling which gave me a little advantage, I just had to hit her with a medium kick while jumping a little bit and she will be open for a combo too. I did this and she got hit. I proceeded with my own combo, when it was finished, she was left with almost 10% of her hp. I started to play defensively to avoid her attacks.

She started trying to hit me again like crazy, being more and more aggressive.

Kinomoto-san was all excited, she was just giving 'OH's! And Ahh's!' all the time. She really liked games, or maybe fighting games?

As for me, I was like crazy trying to avoid my opponent's hits, this was getting really difficult. In a moment she moved back, and rushed, I jumped over her, and she was expecting that, because as soon as I did this, she hit me with a low upward punch and combo'ed me to my death. The poor gothic Lolita fell on the ground and her dress ripped, obviously since this was the "normal censored version" the CG stopped in the middle of it.

I left my guard down and I lost. I left out a sigh in relief and frustration.

"This opponent of mine is really good."

Kinomoto-san looked at me worried, she may by thinking that I was about to bail out.

"Don't get discouraged Akasaka-san I told you this player was really good. You are 0-1 you can still win"

I looked at her with an enraging gaze, she walked two steps back since I scared her. I pointed at the TV and said with all my might.

"I will freaking beat this person!"

"Oh, hehe, good to hear that Akasaka-san, let's start the next match"

I selected the rematch option from the list and got ready. I was going to crush this person and then boast about it in her face when I get invited to the club.

So the game started again. I went full aggressive on this opponent I had.

"You are going down!"

Kinomoto-san giggled a little bit and looked at my while hiding her mouth with her hand.

"Oh you are really competitive as I can see Akasaka-san"

"Hell yes I am!"

I didn't even see her, I was going full berserk with this opponent. She was good dodging my attacks. But after a little bit, I saw she tried again to taunt me with a fake attack to get me up and combo me again. I started to remember I've played someone like that before, and knew exactly how to defeat that. But I couldn't remember where I did this, the local tournament? Or with another person at the arcade? I can't remember.

I let myself get hit and went up, when the other player jumped with me, if you performed a grab in the right moment, the character will recover and counter that attack, which will leave your opponent open for a full HP combo.

So I started, countered her attack, my character took the opponent's character and kicked her in the face, I went down with mine and swept her and then mid kicked her into the air, I jumped and did a full HP combo, by the last amount of hp, the screen which in the original game will be filled with tentacles and all that, was instead filled with lights and cannon balls, which left my opponent's character on the floor and with her clothes being ripped.

Ohh yeah a "full hp combo" means you will combo your opponent until their hp hits zero, they are extremely difficult to do, but this game was really easy since all the Lolitas had the same attack patterns, well most of them.

"HAHA! TAKE THAT!"

I jumped in joy while Kinomoto-san looked at me and started laughing. She looked at me with an impressed look and got close to me to pat me in the back.

"See? I told you not to get discouraged! You just did a full HP combo! You are really good at playing this game Akasaka-san!"

I pumped my chest and looked at her

"I am the best Siscaly player in the region! HA!"

She looked at me with an embarrassed face, like if I was boasting too much.

I do get carried away from time to time. I calmed down and looked at her with a calmed face.

"Hehe sorry I didn't intend to boast over my skills, I do play good, but this player is by far the most difficult rival I've ever had!"

"Well Gokou-san is a really good player as I told you"

"Gokou-san? Is she the one playing against me?"

"Yes, she is, do you know her?"

I thought about that last name, but it didn't rang any bell.

"Nope I don't, but well, at least now I know her last name"

'Gokou-san huh? I will investigate her later, she is pretty freaking good at this game!'

That's what I thought while selecting the rematch option again.

"Ok, let's see who wins now"

"Sure, good luck!"

The game started again, but now my opponent, or should I now say Gokou-san went full berserk on me! I guess she wanted to try out the same strategy I had. But lucky me I also had a defensive plan. This game had a pretty impressive way of balancing the matches, rather you played defensively or offensively, if you hit-parried the attacks, the damage will be reflected back to the player who started the attack, it was super difficult to achieve, to do so, you had to forward + low punch every hit just before it touched your character. Even I had difficulties to do so, but I tried my best.

By the time the match almost finished, both our HP was around 10% each, we had been fighting for at least 2 or 3 minutes, the match had a clock countdown of 5 minutes per round. I never paid attention to it, until this match.

"Wow this is interesting!"

Kinomoto-san said while staring at the screen almost without blinking.

After a little bit, Gokou-san attacked me with a flurry of punches.

"I've seen this before"

"Huh? What happened Akasaka-san?"

I looked at the pattern attacking me again and I recognized something, she was trying to clear my hit points even while I was blocking them. Like in any other game, Siscaly had the same thing were if you blocked an attack you will still get damaged but just a little really little fraction of the damage.

By the time I realized this, I was about to hit 5% of my hp. But I remembered that in the local tournament there was a player who tried the same thing. I knew the flurry of punches had a little time frame in where the opponent was also vulnerable to a counter attack. This was added on an update to the game to avoid players doing the same flurry of attacks the whole time until you killed your opponent like that. As soon as I saw that opening I stroke back and swept her again, I tossed her in the air and attacked again, I then proceeded to unleash the special attack to her, which cleared her hp points, declaring me the winner of the match.

Kinomoto-san clapped in amusement and looked at me with a big grin.

"Wow way to go Akasaka-san! You are really good on this game!"

I smiled embarrassed and blushed a little by her praising, after all she was really cute.

"Ahh, haha, it was pure luck, this Gokou-san you mentioned is hell of a good player! I want to meet her later!"

Kinomoto-san smiled from ear to ear and rushed behind the TV, by the time she did this, the screen showed a "Your opponent has disconnected" on it.

"Here Akasaka-san! Take this and go to the room after 4:30 PM, I will be there with the other members of the team!"

She gave me a piece of paper with the phrase 'Core Member' on it. And it had a drawing of a little sword on the bottom and it also said on the back 'Room 401-3'. I guessed it was like a token or a medal that stated I was able to win the match.

"Wow thanks a lot Kinomoto-san, I'm honored!"

I told her that while looking at the piece of paper. It really felt like a trophy or something.

She smiled at me really excited and looked at me directly into my eyes

"We will be waiting for you there Akasaka-san!"

I smiled back with a lot of excitement and left, I went to the shoe lockers and took my regular clothes from there, went to the restroom and changed into them, then went back to the shoe lockers and changed my shoes to the skating ones and went outside to goof around while the time passed by to go to that club room.

I skated for a little while outside, doing some simple stuff, people started to gather around me and I felt really nervous. I was good and all but I hated to draw attention from doing so. So I left to a local park a few blocks away from school.

I was alone, just a few kids playing there, I sat on a bench and thought about the game I just had. Gokou-san was really good at this game, she also reminded me of my final round at the local tournament last year.

I checked the clock it was 4:15, so 15 more minutes until I will be going back to school.

I went to a vending machine and bought a bottle of water since I got thirsty from skating for a while. I sat down again on the same bench I was before and drank it.

"Phew, which kind of people will this Game Research Club members will be?"

I waited for another while and started day dreaming while looking at the blue sky. My mind just went blank for a while. After a while of day dreaming, I came back to my senses. I looked at the clock and it was 4:50 PM already! I jumped off the bench and skated back to school.

"What the hell is it that late already? What the hell happened? Did I fell asleep or something?!"

I entered the school and a teacher saw me at the shoe lockers room.

"Akasaka-san! You can't enter the school without your uniform!"

I looked at her with an irritated look. I will have to change again?! What a pain!

"Ok, sorry, I will change to them immediately"

"Good, please follow the rules!"

"Yes yes!"

I went to the restroom and changed again, I really thought I was almost a super hero, having to change my clothes from time to time in a restroom. Although normal superheroes changed in a telephone booth or with super techy devices.

I changed back, went to my shoe lockers and left my bag there. And went to the room the paper stated.

"Let's see, it says Room 401-3"

I went to the fourth floor and found the number. It just had a really plain sign which said 'Game Research Club, Welcome!'

I took a deep breath, let the air out and relaxed. I don't even know why I was feeling so nervous. I didn't know that after I opened that door, my life will change forever.

I opened the door, while holding my skateboard under my right arm, with the sand paper touching my left arm skin. Skin auto-repairs, clothing doesn't.

When I opened the door I looked at the room, it was kind of little, it looked like that because of all the computers and books placed all over the place, it was pretty tidy, all the computer cables where ordered and they looked like a real professional did the job.

I took a glance at the persons inside, I only saw 3 persons.

"Good afterno….."

I stopped in full. There she was! The girl! The cute gothic Lolita I saw on the car the other day, she was there staring at me, with her eyes wide open, with a surprised expression on her face, she was wearing her regular school uniform but she looked super cute. And it was her, she had the same haircut and cutie mark on her left eye, she had pale white skin, it looked almost like ivory, she looked even cuter when seen up close.

She stood up in an instant and while looking at me fully surprised, she pointed at me and with a little and kind of nervous voice she tried to say something.

"Wh-wh-wh-WHAAAAAT! Y-Y-YOU!"

I dropped my skateboard and looked back at her, with an even more surprised expression than hers I also pointed at her, we were both pointing at each other trying to speak.

"Wh-WHAT!? WHAAAAAAAT!? You!? What are you doing here!?"

She got nearer and looked really mad because of my reaction, she stopped pointing at me and looked me with a gaze as if I where trash.

"Sorry?! That has to be my question! You almost crashed with our car and almost ruined our meeting! Do you even know how long had I waited for that day?!"

I looked at her irritated, how the hell she will talk to me like that! I didn't even knew her! But now I can certainly know she indeed is the girl I saw the other day. Wow I can't believe this!

"What? You guys were the ones who almost ran over me! If I wasn't that good at skating and jumped other that car's hood I would be on the hospital right now!"

She looked like if I was accusing her of robbery, she kind of calmed down and started speaking like if she was part of royalty and I was just a slave for her.

"You useless human! Do you even know what would happened if you were run over? It would be your fault since you were using that thing while looking at your cellphone! That's so irresponsible!"

She had a point in that, I couldn't fight that back. I was my fault after all.

Before I was able to respond to her, Kinomoto-san entered as a mediator and calmed us both down.

"Hey hey! Calm down Gokou-san, Akasaka-san, don't shout at each other! I didn't knew you guys knew each other!"

"We don't!"

We both answered at the same time, and did this while turning away from each other crossing both arms in front of our chests in disapproval.

Kinomoto-san and another guy who was there with her, looked at each other and laughed.

"Hahaha Wow, this two kids have just met and they already get this well? Well this is interesting."

A tall guy, wearing glasses, with short spikey light brown hair, he looked like a senior, looked at both of us.

"Well Gokou-san why don't you sit and calm down, let Akasaka-san introduce himself, you can talk to him about whatever happened in the past after that, ok?"

She looked at this guy and then looked at me with an ice cold gaze, you could clearly tell she was suppressing a lot of anger. But she managed to get back into her chair and just kept there, looking at me, without saying a word. Carefully studying my every move, while analyzing me or something.

I saw this guy with a dumbfounded look and didn't knew what to do. I just got here and I am already involved in a fight? Wow am I that problematic?

"Sorry, I didn't introduce myself, how rude of me. Hideki Suzumiya, 3rd grade, President of the club, you already know Gokou-san here and Kinomoto-san here too, right?"

I looked at him and calmed down, so this guy was the president of the club? Well he indeed looked geeky and I'm pretty sure he is an otaku, most of the gamers are anyways.

I relaxed a little bit and moved, I reached down to pick up my skateboard, while doing this I felt an ice cold stare again, and it sent chills down my spine. I looked up and Gokou-san was looking at me even madder as if I had just reached to pick up a gun or something.

"Ohh, well I don't exactly recall how, but I just had a little issue with her, involving a car, and this skateboard. By the way my name is Sorata Akasaka, 2nd year, pleased meeting you Suzumiya-san"

"Haha just call me Hideki!"

"Ok, Hideki, sorry"

He was a really nice person after all. I looked over Kinomoto-san who was smiling gently, and well the other monster there still looked me down as if I were a pile of garbage.

"No need to apologize Akasaka-san"

Kinomoto-san sat down to a side of Gokou-san I guess to stop her from attacking me if she snapped out or something. She was really scary, I couldn't believe someone so cute, and portraying that much beauty were that cold.

I just let out a sigh in frustration and relief, I mean I found her! But she was the complete opposite of what I thought, she was rude, cold, looked down on me and didn't even knew me. But I will have to endure it, maybe she is just anti-social, maybe after knowing me better she will show me her true way of being.

Kinomoto-san looked at me worried, I stood there looking at them without saying anything, and the atmosphere of the room began to become awkward.

She looked at me with a gentle look and continued.

"So, well let's introduce everyone! I'll start!"

She stood up and bowed to everyone, then looked at us.

"My name is Mina Kinomoto, I'm 16 years old, and I am in Group A with Gokou-san. I like video games, scripting, coding and animating things! I want to become a professional animator and script writer"

Wow she looked really responsible, she even knows what to do in her life. I admire her now.

Next, Hideki stood up as Kinomoto-san sat down.

"Well, as you guys know already my name is Hideki Suzumiya, I'm 18 years old, this is my third year here and in this year I was able to form this group. I tried for the last 2 years with no success since no one was interested. I got to know Kinomoto-san and together we talked to the student council and they let us try to get more members. We managed to do so, but most of them are ghost members who barely are active, but with you two, now the group will be more active!"

He slammed the table which made Kinomoto-san jump startled. Gokou-san still looking at me like crap, didn't even hear the sound or didn't seem to be affected by it.

I just looked at Hideki which was in the verge of crying in excitement.

"Thank you! Thank you guys! You fulfilled my dream of creating this club!"

He then stood quiet as if he remembered something and continued blushed in embarrassment.

"Ohh yeah sorry I got carried away. Ahem. I also like coding, scripting and drawing some stuff, I'm not that good. I like video games and playing role playing games. We should try to do a game once! Oh and I plan on studying to become a game developer"

Well this Hideki guy is sure a character, but he seems to be a really good person. He also has a career plan. But well he is a senior he has to have one already.

I do have one, but I don't know if I have the capacity to fulfill it.

Next, everyone looked at Gokou-san. She was still looking at me, ice cold stare, arms crossed, with an air of superiority. She realized I also looked at her, and we began a mini staring contest. But she then realized everyone else was looking at her, so she got nervous, and looked at the table and with a little voice, she talked to us.

"I… I pass, I'll introduce last"

After saying that we all sighed, I guess she really is timid, she looks so cute when she is like that. But while I was in "Shy Gokou-san wonderland" I felt a cold chill going down my spine, I looked back at her and she was staring at me again with this cold emotionless glare like if she was the owner of a big company and I was in a job interview. I was scared! Now I know how people in those situations feel.

I stood up and looked at all of them. Kinomoto-san and Hideki-san looked interested in what I was about to say. About the little girl with a cutie mark, she looked like she didn't even care.

I gulped and ordered my ideas.

"Well…. My name is Sorata Akasaka, but you guys probably know that already, ahahahahaha"

I started laughing like an idiot. I was nervous, although I do know a lot of people and skateboard with a lot of people, getting to know or talking to new people was kind of difficult for me.

Kinomoto-san and Hideki-san laughed with me

"Haha calm down Sorata-kun you are not in a job interview!"

Told me Hideki-san while giving me a comforting look. I was nervous, I had 2 cute girls and a really nice guy in front of me. One girl looked interested in what I had to say, the other one looked at me like she wanted me to die already.

"Ahaha sorry. Ok so. Sorata Akasaka, 16 years old, I'm a 2nd year student, Group B…"

"Ohh right next to us! Right Gokou-san?"

Kinomoto-san said this while looking at Gokou-san which didn't even seem to be bothered by Kinomoto-san asking her. She just looked at her and then back at me.

"So, the useless human is near, that's so bad."

"Come on Gokou-san don't be like that"

She sighed and looked at me again with a cold stare.

I was already fed up of Gokou-san and her way of staring at me, so I tried to make fun of her playing the old trick of making fun of myself.

"S-so… This useless human being likes to engage in sports activities which imply of my organism to get on top of a wooden artifact and use inertia to play along with my surrounding environment"

Kinomoto-san and Hideki san looked at me confused, I just ranted a whole bunch of meaningless words in a sentence I tried to convey. Gokou-san looked at me in extreme anger, her face was red and she breathed heavy, she knew I made fun of her way of speaking to me.

"Hahahahahahaahaha! You kid! You are so funny! So, that sports activity you said I guess it skateboarding?"

Said Hideki while patting Kinomoto-san's back to help her snap out of her confusion.

"Ohhh Ahh! Haha! Yes! Sorry about that Akasaka-san you confused me a lot!"

I laughed with them and patted the back of my head. I then continued.

"Well, yes I do love skateboarding. I also like anime, and video games. I'm good at programming software and debugging is my special ability, I am good at looking code and modifying it. And I guess that's it?"

I bowed down and sat down.

"So you like anime?"

Said the little girl with a cutie mark while staring at me. I guess she was an otaku too. So indeed she had the Queen of the Night Cosplay on that day then!

"Y-yes I do, why?"

She looked at me as if she had found something interesting in her new slave or subject, she had a really rude look.

"What kind of anime do you like? The main stream? BL? Yaoi?"

She just told me gay anime genres what does she think about me!

"No! I don't like those things! Are you crazy?! I'm not against people who love them. But oh my god no! I do tolerate that kind of things, for example Maschera has that kind of pairing! And well it doesn't bother me, I find it interesting it gives the story a different feeling about it"

As soon as I said Maschera, Gokou-san's gaze changed, she opened her eyes in a big matter and looked surprised that I even knew that animation, she relaxed and smiled, not a friendly smile, but more like a smile when someone touches a subject in which they are really good at. Did I step on a land mine?

"Huh? You said you find that pairing interesting?"

Kinomoto-san and Hideki looked at each other, like they knew this conversation was going to take some time, so they stood up and walked outside of the class room.

"Ahh we will leave you guys to patch things up, we need to deliver the news of the new members to the student council"

Oh god no! They will leave me alone with this girl? What if I say something wrong and she snaps and murders me! Don't go!

They stepped out and closed the door.

That's when I feared for my life, I felt another cold chill run down my spine and as I looked at Gokou-san she was standing in front of me with her right leg stepping on the next chair and the other one on the floor. She was crossing her arms and looking at me as if I was some kind of scum.

"Interesting, about what? Do you even know what the creator thought about this? What inspired this pairing? Do you even know?"

"Err… ahm, no, sorry, I don't know that. I just have watched the anime and I like it a lot"

She looked at me even more mad, and she looked like she was about to snap.

"YOU ARE SAYING THAT YOU LIKE THE ANIME BUT DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE BACKSTORY OR EVEN CHARACTER DESIGN? HOW DO YOU EVEN CALL YOURSELF A FAN IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT?"

She was really mad at me, I guess she was a hardcore fan of the show. But honestly it was kind of frustrating to be yelled by a little girl like this. She was cute, even while mad, but I got mad too.

"Well I am sorry Gokou-san I am not that of a hardcore fan like you. I mean, when you guys almost crashed with me the other day, I saw you was wearing a Queen of the Night Cosplay. It looked really good on you. You looked rather good. You looked cute. But wow, just wow, with this way of being. I think I got the wrong impression of you I am sorry"

When I said all of this, she looked at me surprised, she started to blush really hard. I guess she was getting mad at me. She gave a pair of back steps and continued looking at me. With that look she started looking at the ground. She was blushing a lot, I mean come on, you are mad at me now? I was complimenting you!

"Y-y-you…."

I had enough for today, I will have to wait a day or two to let things cool down and come back. I will try to talk to her about more normal topics or ask her about Maschera or something.

"I am sorry Gokou-san, I didn't meant to offend you. I'm leaving now. Have a nice day and I'll see you around I guess"

I grabbed my skateboard and opened the door. When my hand touched the door knob and I turned it to open the door, she talked in a really shy and low voice I almost lost what she wanted to say.

"Y-you said… I looked cute on it?"

I looked her with a really serious expression. She was completely blushed, but it didn't seem like she was mad, she looked kind of confused or surprised about my commentary. I didn't believe she had such a cute face while being in that state. I mean come on, I don't think no one has ever complimented her looks or Cosplay at all.

"Yes, yes you did. It suits you, you are a cute girl after all. Have a nice day"

She tried to say something else, but stopped in the middle of it. I didn't pay attention to it anyways.

I left the classroom and went to the shoe lockers room. Changed my clothes and left the school. I went to my house to leave my stuff and skated all day with Chuck and the gang. While remembering my first encounter with that cute gothic Lolita girl named Gokou-san, which was a really strange person.