[ gamer! Fuyuhiko X Princess! Peko! ]

When his screen lit up beside him, Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu didn't even spare it a glance, instead keeping his gaze focused on the TV screen in front of him while his fingers flicked across the controls.

It was only when his character reached a checkpoint that he stopped, flicking a disinterested look at the screen before his features broke out in a smile.

Peko Pekoyama is calling...

His eyes went back to the gaming screen, although his foot shifted and one of his toes tapped the green button.

"Hey, Peko," Fuyuhiko greeted. "Long time no see."

It was a few moments before a monotone voice answered. "Yes, Fuyuhiko. How have you been?"

"Good, actually. Sis stopped fuckin' bothering me relentlessly, and she leaves the house more, so I'm left on my own more often then not."

"That's not what I am asking."

Fuyuhiko sighed, then dropped his controller. Peko probably couldn't see it, as it was an audio call, but he didn't know if she caught notice of the slight and small noise it made when it hit the ground.

"When was the last time you slept?"

"Sleep sleep or just sleep?"

"A full eight hours without disturbance."

"..."

A heavy sigh came from the phone. "I'm not sure this is healthy, Fuyuhiko. I am aware of the fact you love your games and all, but to be up at-" Pause. "-two in the morning? Almost every night, and play until sunrise, before sleeping another two to three hours?"

"I'm so glad you're concerned for me," Fuyuhiko mumbled. "I was accepted into Hope's Peak as the Ultimate Gamer."

"What are you even doing all this time?"

"Spending quality time with people."

"With people who exist only through the screen."

"Yeah. I have a girlfriend through that screen."

He caught it.

The slight snort that was mixed with a laugh, an attempt to cover up a small bout of laughter. Without his consent, his heart beat a little faster in his chest, skipping one beats too many as his chest started to hurt.

A princess, out of all things, he thought bitterly. A fucking princess. I fell in love with a princess.

His hands returned unconsciously to his controller, fingers wrapping around it as they fell onto the buttons.

"Are you doing anything during Winter Break? The last few days, anyway?"

Peko went silent for a few moments, and Fuyuhiko could hear her fingernails tapping against the marble surface that was her desk. Probably.

"Nothing, really. I'm heading back to Japan, as you know. My vacation ended here already, I'm leaving tomorrow," she murmured.

At the opening, Fuyuhiko felt his lips lift into something resembling a smile, features lit up the ghostly glow of the gaming screen. "Do you think you can come over to my house again?"

A pause, like Peko was considering it.

"Yes, I think I could do that. I have not been to your house yet, have I?"

"I'm not even sure if you could call this piece of shit a house," Fuyuhiko snorted. It's nothing compared to hers.

Another snort-laugh from Peko.

Bloody hormones, Fuyuhiko thought as something representing a blush scattered across his freckled cheeks.

"I did not tell you this earlier, but I am currently on a plane."

"Ah, so that explains the bitching noise in the background."

"I wouldn't put it that way, but yes."

He spammed the buttons, carefully and swiftly killing the boss onscreen.

Again, another sigh. "Fuyuhiko, go to sleep."

"I don't want to," the gamer replied.

"Fuyuhiko, I'm worried about you and your lack of real sleep- you probably have bags under your eyes. That worries me. This can severely affect your health, and I do not need you passing out in the middle of the street when you're walking back to school. So, please, go to sleep. For me."

In his surprise, Fuyuhiko bit his tongue. "Shit- ow!"

There it was again- the familiar feeling of a blush settling upon his cheeks. "W-W-Wait, what?"

"I said to go to sleep."

"No, no, after that."

A sharp gasp, then a small curse, something that paled in comparison to most of Fuyuhiko's curses, but a curse nonetheless.

"I m-mean-!"

It's so unlike her to trip over her letters, Fuyuhiko noted.

"Can you please forget that last part? I request that from you, it was a selfish act on my part. My apologizes."

"No need to act all formal over it, Peko," he said, collecting several prizes from defeating another boss. "It's just a mistake."

Fuyuhiko was well trained in keeping his voice from wavering, as was Peko, but in reality, heat had crawled all over his cheeks and neck.

"A-Ah, but still...! A princess doesn't say things such as that in public."

I'm going for it.

"But still, you're really cute when you stutter."

Holy shit, I actually said it. What the fuck was I thinking?! Idiot, idiot, idiot!

It almost felt like he was about to blow his top, and explode in a flustered mess.

Peko still hadn't replied, and Fuyuhiko actually took a break from his game, golden eyes trained worriedly on his phone as he awaited her answer.

She ended the call.

When the noise cut short, Fuyuhiko groaned and flipped onto his stomach as he flopped back. "Idiot! I totally ruined my friendship with her!"

Cold water slapped him in the face as he found himself in the bathroom, with soaked hands and a wet headset, along with droplets dribbling down his skin and hanging off his chin for a second before hitting the sink.

"God... fucking... dammit..." he groaned, putting mostly of his weight on his hands as he leaned over the sin, the water sliding easily down his face, as if the surface was marble.

It took quite a bit of self-convincing for Fuyuhiko to walk back in his gaming room. His character had died in his absence, but the gamer gave little to no care whatsoever.

As he sat down in his usual spot, he mumbled: "I totally blew it. I totally blew a hole in the bridge of our relationship."

The screen lit up beside him.

Peko Pekoyama: I'm still coming to your house.

But, it was more fun to climb around the hole to get to the other side rather then let it be.