When Etsuko, Takuma and Takuya entered the internet cafe, they immediatly saw Gakushū and Karma, and thought to say Hi.

It wasn't like they were looking for Gakushū and Karma, but their hair colors stuck out like a sore thumb.

Karma being the only boy with red hair in the cafe, and Gakushū the only one with strawberry blonde hair that, because of the lighting, looked to be pinkish now.

Gakushū and Karma were huddled close to each other, Karma seemed to be giving instructions to Gakushū about how to play a game.

"They look like they don't want to be bothered" Takuma observed, before following Takuya to get cup noddles.

_______________

Gakushū stared at his screen, expression serious, as in full concentration.

"If you're done customizing your character, just skip all the intro quests and come fine me" Karma said, going back to his computer.

"How could you just skip them? There are so many quests to complete"

Karma rolled his eyes. "You won't be given any useful items even if you complete them, it's a waste of time"

Gakushū was still insistent. "I can't just skip them"

"You don't need to do those quests to play the game" Karma assured.

"How will I know the storyline if I skip them? Ren said that storylines are an important aspect of games"

"Why are you so damn diligent?! It's just a game!"

"I just want to finish these first alright?! Maybe I'm the type of person who enjoys clearing these one by one!" Gakushū declared, starting to get irritated.

Karma pushed Gakushū side and started clicking the 'skip' button at the corner. "I said skip them!"

"Hey! What are you doing Akabane?!" Gakushū tried pushing the red head off him
"Stop it!"

Just one last click! One last click of that skip button and then it'll be done and over with. "Just a little further nor!" Karma said through gritted teeth as Gakushū kept him at arms lenght.  "No way am I letting you do this Akabane! I want to work my way to the top!"

"It's just a game!"

SNAP! Click!

Gakushū and Karma froze, before turning to the source of the sound. There stood Ren with his phone out, and beside him was the orange haired girl Hitomi with a smirk on her face.

"Ren? Hitomi-san? What are you two doing here" Gakushū stood up, back straight and lips in a thin line. "Shouldn't you be at home? It's a school night"

"That's rich coming from you" came the voices of the Nobuyuki twin.

"Ara, Ara" Etsuko smirks. "Two handsome boys out late together and was caught in a compromising position once again, dear dear are you two on a date?"

"A date?!" Karma and Gakushū exclaimed in unison. "Me and Akabane? Never " Gakushū scrunched his nose in disgust.

"Me and this square brain? Maybe when the world ends" Karma shove his hands in his pockets. "It's never gonna happen"

"Why are you two so defensive?" Etsuko interrogated.

"We're not" Gakushū and Karma said together again. "We're just stating some facts" Gakushū muttered.

"Right, but you never told us why you two are here" Ren reminded. Then his eyes widened when he saw Karma and Gakushū's screen.

"No way, Asano-kun I didn't know you also played this" Ren grinned at Gakushū. "Wow, I'm surprised you have this side of you"

"Ooh! Let me see his character!" Etsuko pushed aside Ren.

"What level is he?" Takuma asked.

"I wanna see too!" Takuya added.

The six of them ended up playing in that internet Cafe all night, resulting in them being sleep deprived the next morning.

(Author: Gamer Gakushū and Karma has been on my mind for days now)