At lunch, Jess and Sakura walk over to where your friends are sitting in a circle. At the center, Payton reads from a magazine.
"Okay, guys, here's the next question: have you ever sung in front of a large audience?" Payton asked
"I don't know... does ninety THOUSAND people count as large? 'Cause it just so happens that I got yanked on-stage at Lollapalooza to sing the chorus to 'Radioactive' with Imagine Dragons." said Autumn
"Whoa... you did? Sing it for us now!" said Julian
"Heh... I didn't say I sang it WELL." said Autumn
"Doesn't matter! That's worth at least 10 points!" said Payton
"Ahem... What was this about POINTS?" Sakura asked
"Hey, Sakura, Jess, I'm asking everyone questions to see how well they score on this High School Experience quiz. Do you want to play?" Payton asked
"I'm in. Prepare to be destroyed." said Sakura
"That's not how it... you know what? Never mind. I'm just going to ask the next question: have you ever stayed up all-night at a raging party?" Payton asked
"Duh... obviously! Nobody can sleep the night after a big game!" said Julian
"Payton, that was too easy. Who HASN'T done that?" said Nishan
"Well... I haven't." said Sakura
"What are you talking about, Sakura? You were at an all-night party. It was the night before Comic-Con, and everybody was-- Oh, I remember now... you went home early to compete in a LoL grudge match." said Nishan
"Yeah." said Sakura
"Okay, so that's 5 points for Julian and Nishan." Payton marks the scores in the magazine. "I'm sure you'll get points for this next one, Sakura. Have you ever made out DURING class?"
"Uh... I made out with a Quarian on the eve of the battle of Rannoch." said Sakura
"We're talking about REAL life, Sakura. It doesn't count if you did it in a game." said Mia
"How about you, Jess? Have YOU ever made out DURING class?" Payton asked
"Um... no comment." said Jess
"What? Don't be a tease! Everybody else spilled all the gushy details." said Mia
"A gentleman never kisses and tells." said Jess
"So if you didn't kiss, then you WOULD tell, right?" Julian asked
"Julian, don't overthink it." said Jess
Payton marks the scores, and then the class bell rings. "Oops, that's it for now! Thanks for playing, everyone!"
The group disperses. As Jess walking away, Sakura jogs up alongside her."Hey, Jess, got a second to talk?"
"Sure, Sakura, what's up?" Jess asked
"I wanted to talk to you about the game we were just playing." said Sakura
"You mean Payton's High School Experience quiz? What about it?" Jess asked
"In case you weren't paying attention, I was losing. Badly. Everybody else has had a TON of amazing high school experiences, and I haven't had any." said Sakura
"Really? NONE?" Jess exclaimed
"Do not mock me, Jess. I'm in no mood." said Sakura
"Right. What I was trying to say is... it's never too late to do something new."
"I agree, and I accept your offer of assistance."
"Wait... what?"
"Together, we will ensure that my high school experiences reign above all others! Now what achievements were on that list?" Sakura pulls out her phone and taps through to a task manager app.
"I jotted down all the quiz questions Payton was asking, and I re-organized them to minimize total time to completion. It'll be just like speed-running through Pony Princess: Warbender for max gamerscore points!"
"Yes, it will be... just like that thing you said... I think?"
"Now first thing's first... I need to go on a spontaneous date!"
Sakura went on a date with Nishan played Halo, Fortnite and Roblox together afterwards they watched The Walking Dead "The date went perfectly, Jess! We were so effortless! So carefree! Like two padawans in a pod race."
"You sure seemed like you were having a wonderful time with Nishan you two make a cute couple." said Jess
"Exactly. That had to be a perfect High School Experience. No way Payton could even THINK about awarding partial points." said Sakura
"You were just doing that for points?" said Jess
"Why else? Next on the list: 'Get Involved in Some Crazy Drama'. That doesn't sound too difficult." said Sakura
"Um, drama is something that just happens. You can't really force it."
"I don't have to. This is a high school. Couples are making up and breaking up all the time. I just need to be in the right place when a relationship hits DEFCON 1."
"You want to butt in WHILE a couple is breaking up?"
"It's not THAT big a deal. I do it to my Sims all the time."
Two couples Lily (Glee) and Greg (Prep) broke up they both yelled at each other
"Did you see the breakup? That was SO dramatic!" Sakura watched the couple drifted apart
"I can't believe you're so happy. There were real hurt feelings." said Jess
"Obviously! It wouldn't have fulfilled the quiz requirements otherwise. The important thing is that we can cross 'Get Involved in Some Crazy Drama' off the list." Sakura consults her task manager app. "No, no... too easy... we've been breezing through these challenges. It's time we cranked the difficulty to Insanity!"
"Uh, why?" Jess asked
Because we're not lame!" said Sakura
"Okay then... HOW?"
"By executing the next three High School Experiences simultaneously. Specifically, I need to perform in a dance number, learn to do a skateboard tick, and make a Vine video that goes viral... ALL at the same time."
"That sounds like we're going to need some help."
Jess gathers Willow (Dancer), John (Skater) and Henry (Flimmaker)
"You want us to choreograph a dance?" Willow asked
"Do skateboard tricks?" John asked
"And film a viral video all at the SAME TIME?" Henry asked
"What's the matter? Too tough? I'd HEARD that you guys were the best." said Sakura
"We ARE the best. We just need a few seconds to talk things over." said John
The three friends break from their huddle
"okay, we've got an idea, but it's kind of crazy." said Wilow
"What do you think of filming... the Harlem Skate?" Henry asked
"I love it." said Sakura
After a few quick minutes of preparation, the stage is set.
"And ACTION!" Henry called
Sakura dances alone on a skateboard as the music revs up. The beat drops, and Jess, Willow, and John appear behind her dancing crazily on skateboards!
"and CUT! Got it in one, everybody! Now we just need to upload the Vine and start counting our views." said Henry
The video uploads on YouTube and within a few seconds, the views start to tick up sharply.
"Five hundred views! Soon, we'll rule the Vine-space with an iron fist!" said Sakura
Willow, John, and Henry cheer! As they celebrate, Jess pull Sakura aside.
"So we're all done with the High School Experience quiz, right?" Jess asked
"Almost. Just one more event left... We're going to throw a raging, all-night party to commemorate my supremacy... and there's someone I'd like to invite personally." Sakura calls Payton. "Hey Payton, wait up! I'd like a word."
"Sure, Sakura, Jess... what's up?" Payton asked
"Jess and I have been raising my score in your High School Experience quiz all day." said Sakura
"You have?" said Payton
Sakura: "All that's left is to throw a raging, all-night party! And as the main event, I'd like you there to verify my triumph through your own calculations." said Sakura
"Calculations? Sakura, what are you talking about?" Payton asked
"While you were asking questions, I saw you tallying scores in the magazine. Where is it?" Sakura asked
"I tossed it out after third period." said Payton
"You... you WHAT?! How will I know when I've won?"
"Won? The quiz wasn't about winning."
"Maybe not for you." Sakura pivots and thunders away.
"What was THAT all about?" Payton asked Jess
"I don't know, but I think we'd better find out." Jess looks for Sakura "Sakura, there you are! We've been looking for you everywhere!"
Sakura stands at a video game cabinet at the back of an old arcade. She blasts multicolored UFOs as they swoop down from the top of the screen. "Shh... can't you see I'm a little busy incinerating alien scum?"
"Sakura, please... it's important. We want to know what's wrong." said Payton
"Fine." Sakura lowers the blaster. Several UFOs reach the bottom of the screen. The words 'Game Over' flash, and then the high scores appear. All twenty have the exact same name listed: SAKURA.
"Wow! Sakura, you have every high score!" said Payton
"Of course I do. I've got the high scores on every machine here." said Sakura
"All of them? That's incredible!" said Payton
"I've survived a zombie apocalypse, built a thriving metropolis, and even saved the galaxy from Reapers. But sometimes I wonder if I haven't really LIVED... Then I saw how badly I did at your High School Experience quiz, and that just proved it. In here, I'm a winner, but out there." said Sakura
"Sakura, high school can't be summed up in some stupid quiz, and there definitely aren't any winners or losers." said Jess
"Yeah, that quiz was just an excuse to have a good time hanging out with all my friends." said Payton
"I don't know." said Sakura
"Just think about what you did today, Sakura. You went on a date, got involved in some crazy drama, and made a viral video... Memories like those are worth way MORE than points!" said Jess
"Now are we going to throw that party or not?" Payton asked
"Which party?" Sakura asked
Payton grabs Sakura's phone and taps to the task manager. She points at the last item on the list. "'Throw a raging, all-night party'... if we do this last thing, then you're all finished, right?"
"Yeah, I guess so... but there's still no way to compare scores." said Sakura
"Sigh... Sakura, like I said--"
"Just kidding, Payton! I get it. The party is an excuse to hang out with our friends! Besides, I'm a completionist. I never finish a game until I've done every possible quest. Come on, Jess. Let's go!"
Sakura party begin. There are video games.
"Who's up for Halo.?" Sakura hold up the controller
There is dancing...
"Ooh! Sakura, I didn't know you owned Just Dance 2014!" said Mia
Everyone play Just Dance danced to the screen. The party is a total success!
"Sakura, look! The sun is coming up, and everyone is still here. That means you totally threw a raging, all-night party! You finished your list!" said Jess
"I'm just happy that everyone had fun." said Sakura
Payton rushes up, carrying a notebook pressed tightly to her chest. "Actually, Sakura, since keeping score matters to you, I went back and asked everyone to help me write a new High School Experience quiz. And don't worry! It's got tons of questions about games!"
Sakura takes the notebook and flips through. "There's a question in here about 'drawing up schematics for nuclear reactor'..."
"15 points! What!" Nishan exclaimed
"And 'winning a hotdog eating contest'." said Sakura
"I do enjoy food." said Julian
"And I scored 20 points for being 'fashionable in the face of adversity'!" said Mia
"And I created an alternative scoring system of colors and musical tones that... proved very unpopular." said Autumn
"Aww... But you did get 10 points for 'trying to fix something'." said Payton
"Fine, fine... but who WON?" Sakura asked
"Um, that's actually hard to know. People keep adding new questions." said Payton
"The next question should be 'mapped a constellation through a telescope'." said Nishan
"What about 'spiked a football after scoring a winning touchdown'?" Julian asked
Everyone crowds in around the notebook, offering up more and more suggestions. Sakura clenches her fist. "I see now. There's only one way to emerge victorious." Sakura grabs the notebook and dashes off!
"Hey... I bet 'cause a commotion at a party' is worth some points." said Julian
"I just KNOW 'swiping stuff' is." said Mia
"Come on, guys. Ease up. It doesn't really matter who wins the High School Experience quiz? ...does it?" said Jess
Julian, Mia, Nishan, and the rest of her friends size each other up... and then everyone dashes off after Sakura!
"Guys? ...GUYS?" Jess called