~ Day 14- Protectiveness ~

Going to the arcade always felt strange to Takane. At first, she would stand in line like everyone else, waiting for her turn on the machines and usually getting mocked by someone before she even sat down.

After that, they'd soon realise that she was not to be underestimated at all. Her reflexes were that of the pro gamer she was and even the most stuck-up, arrogant guys would end up trembling and crying when she was done with them, simply because of the shame of losing to 'just some girl'. Of course, Takane knew better. Her ego in certain aspects hardly knew any bounds.

Having Haruka tag along with her after school irritated her, though. He wasn't one to do much after school, aside from doing homework or talking to her, so it came as a surprise when he wanted to join her one day. But well, he did admire Takane's not-so-feminine talent a lot, so she told him he could come.

Everything was as usual for Takane (sans the starry-eyed idiot towering behind her while looking like a little kid in a toy shop), even though there were some of those guys she knew would cause a ruckus around. The big, snotty type of guys who wouldn't accept defeat and instead chose to insult others like it was their place to do so.

Yet they were scattered about, all minding their own business up until then, so Takane just ignored it altogether, playing some beat 'em ups for warm-up against Haruka, who had practically no chance against her, yet was laughing when he wasn't saying the things his character probably felt out loud ("Owch!", "Takane, that hurt!") or asking her how to do things ("Takane, how did you do that move?", "Why doesn't it take my combos?"). Takane expected to be infuriated by the end of the second round, but actually, she found Haruka's antics to be somewhat fun and cute.

For his sake, she decided to stick to simple Player1 VS Player2 setups, noticing how he got better at most games simply by trying and understanding her own way of playing. Takane found that amazing. Somehow, Haruka even managed to get a third round when they were playing Arcana Heart 3. Takane pretty much perforated the boy's Eko with her Scharlachrot in the end, but she was still surprised that he'd even managed to get her to lose one round.

They played another round of that, then, Haruka picking a new character, Zenia Valov, that time ("She looks very strong and pretty!"). As they went into it, Takane actually had issues keeping up with Haruka. He had gotten pretty good at avoiding her time-consuming moves but what really bothered her was how he abused the homing-attacks in order to deal severe amounts of damage to her in no time.

As Scharlachrot hit the ground in the first round, Takane was a little dumbstruck. Usually, she was such a poor loser, and yet, this only made her feel proud of Haruka and his abilities. But that didn't mean that she didn't wipe the floor with him the next two rounds, finishing the last one on a Perfect, when she started getting serious.

"I'm still no match for Takane, huh?", Haruka laughed a little embarrassedly and rubbed his upper arm. "But I really thought I had you at first, you know?"

"I was using a character that is merciless at doing damage if played properly. In the first round, you were amazing", Takane replied earnestly and looked him in the eye. "Even I couldn't keep up with it at first, since your pace was just too fast and-"

"Little lady, scold your boyfriend somewhere else, will you? Actual gamers would like to play this sissy little game as well", came a deep voice from behind them and Takane didn't even turn around, sitting up a little straighter. Haruka, however, obliviously looked behind them.

"But Takane is actually really good!", Haruka said and the girl next to him was about to slap him for being that stupid. People like that guy behind them wouldn't mind resorting to violence and provoking a reaction like that was unfavorable.

"Aw, how cute", the man sneered. "Unfortunately, though, I haven't seen her play against someone but a bitter wimp."

At that, Takane spun around in her seat, glaring at that jerk with her eyes so narrow, she barely could see anything anymore. "He's trying his best. But I doubt someone as inexperienced and downright dumb as you would be able to tell", she bit out and grit her teeth. Next to her, Haruka was trying to calm her down, unable to realise that she was doing this for him.

"You've got a big mouth but probably ain't able to back it up, eh, missy?", he said and decided to loom over Takane's sitting form, grinning down on her. "So it's either leaving right now or making me make you leave."

Common sense told Takane to get up. Her pride made her sit there with crossed arms and a haughty grin. "Come at me then", she mocked him and the man grinned.

"Don't harm her!"

Haruka's voice reminded Takane that he was still there. This hadn't been about her pride in the first place. It had been about Haruka. About no-one else. Just him. So, when she was trying trying to protect him... why did that disgusting man pick his light form off the chair and held him by his collar?

"Listen, if your little girlfriend doesn't know how to behave, then you're the one to take responsibility. After all, I would feel awful for hitting a girl", he sneered. Takane expected Haruka to look afraid or confused at that, but instead, he looked serious.

"I agree on that", he hissed. Then, he was hit in the jaw, clenching his eyes shut as he lost his balance and landed on his butt next to the chair. Takane pretty much fell next to him, kneeling by his side with wide eyes.

"Are you okay? Haruka, oh God, I'm sorry, I-", she stammered and pat around the place where he'd been hit. Then, for a second or so, she looked over her shoulder, glaring at the man smirking down on them. "You swine", she mouthed before helping the dazed Haruka lift himself off the ground (she wasn't really helpful, considering her short stature).

When they were out, Takane was back to touching around his cheeks. "My God, I'm incredibly sorry! That bastard... I- I didn't think he'd hit you or anything! You didn't even do anything and-", she choked out before a sob broke out of her mouth. She wasn't crying, but it felt like it.

"Takane", Haruka looked down at her and picked her hand off his cheek, holding onto it. "It's fine. I'm just a bit drowsy is all", he said and Takane stared up at him.

That was, until she saw his reddened jaw and his childish expression as he tried holding back tears of pain.

He wasn't good at that.

A/N: No-one noticed how the windowsill in the previous chapter suddenly became a desk? Ahaha.

Now about my real life (please skip): I'm going to a house party hosted by my crush in a few minutes. I spent half an hour straightening my hair. I'll get drunk and do something stupid. Like confessing. Wish me luck.