When curiosity gets the better of you, sometimes it drags half your group into an accidental scandal that turns out to be... very pixelated.

*****

"Ah, right there! Yes!"

"Hold still, I'm almost done."

"It's so intense... I can't handle it!"

*****

Yuma wasn't the type to get possessive. But when Nicholas started hanging around EJ's room more than his own—after practice, during snack breaks, even late at night—it started to wear on him. EJ had been his roommate for a while. They had a rhythm. Now, that rhythm was being ruined by Nicholas and his weird way of folding towels.

But the breaking point wasn't the towels. It was the moment EJ casually told him, "Hey, I think you should room with Jo now. Nicholas and I—well, we've got a system."

A system?

Yuma was many things. Chill was not one of them. And Yuma's curiosity was also kind of piqued so rather than stewing in displaced annoyance, Yuma decided to get to the bottom of this mystery. And who better to assist than Jo, the ever-reliable partner-in-crime?

The (Still Very Bad) Stakeout

Yuma and Jo positioned themselves strategically outside EJ and Nicholas's newly shared room. Yuma's idea of "subtle" involved peeking around the corner with half his body exposed, while Jo facepalmed at his friend's lack of stealth.

Jo whispered, "You call this spying? We're practically announcing our presence."

"Shh! I think I hear something," Yuma hissed back.

Jo: "Why are we crawling? The hallway is empty."

Yuma: "Because we don't know who could walk by. It's called stealth."

Jo: "Your entire shoulder is out in the open."

Still, the two of them parked themselves beside EJ and Nicholas's door. They didn't have to wait long.

Inside, muffled sounds began to float through.

Nicholas: "AH—wait, go slower this time."

EJ: "You said you liked it fast."

Nicholas: "I did! But now it's just too much!"

Yuma looked like he forgot how to breathe. Jo choked on his own spit.

Yuma: "WHAT IS GOING ON IN THERE?!"

The Spy Squad Grows

Harua turned the corner, spotted the two crouched like villains in a cartoon, and just raised a brow. "Are you guys okay or..."

Maki appeared right behind him with a juice pouch and curiosity. "What are we listening to?"

Then came Taki, drawn by the whispers and dramatic facial expressions.

Nicholas (from inside): "I'm dripping!"

EJ: "That's because you don't know how to handle this level of pressure."

Nicholas's voice: "Ah, right there! Yes!"

EJ: "Hold still, I'm almost done."

Nicholas: "It's so intense... I can't handle it!"

Nicholas: "I'm BEGGING you—don't do that move again."

Taki's eyes widened. "IS THIS LEGAL?"

Harua: "...Should we call someone?"

Maki: "Nah, let's see where this goes."

Jo whispered, "Are they...?"

Maki, ever the pragmatist, replied, "Only one way to find out."

The Panic and the Parents

Just as Maki leaned closer to the door and reached for the door handle, K and Fuma appeared, taking in the huddled group with a mix of amusement and exasperation., K's voice thundered 

K: "What is going on?"

Cue the spy squad freezing mid-crouch.

Fuma: "Why are you all crouched like gremlins outside a door?"

Yuma, sweating: "We can explain."

Taki: "Please don't die in there, Dad!"

K blinked. "Excuse me?"

Taki sniffled. "I JUST GOT YOU BACK!"

K looked like he aged five years in that moment.

Fuma crossed his arms, exasperated. "If this is what I think it is—"

K muttered, "I swear, if they traumatized my team with whatever nonsense they're doing—"

And with that, K flung the door open dramatically.

The Reveal

EJ and Nicholas sat casually on the floor, controllers in hand, deep into a fighting game.

Nicholas: "Oh hey. What's up?"

EJ: "Why are half of you outside our door like you're filming a documentary?"

Jo: "We thought you were doing something... else."

Nicholas: "Because of the yelling?"

Yuma: "Yes! Who says things like 'I'm dripping!' while playing games?!"

EJ: "Bro, we were racing. His character was sweating."

Nicholas: "And I was losing."

Maki: "You screamed like you were in labor."

Taki: "I almost planned your funeral, EJ!"

Harua: "I was THIS close to calling the CEO."

The Aftermath

The entire hallway was now filled with awkward silence and deeply questionable life choices.

Fuma rubbed his temples. "I want to be surprised. I really do. But this is... unfortunately very on-brand."

K let out a long sigh. "My children are broken."

Jo: "Can we all agree that Nicholas should maybe use less sensual vocabulary when gaming?"

Nicholas shrugged. "What can I say? I game passionately."

Taki: "I aged six years."

Yuma, grumbling, walked away. "I gave up my room for this."

K's Final Words

As the group slowly dispersed in various states of horror and secondhand embarrassment, K looked at the chaos before him, arms crossed.

K: "Next time anyone hears something suspicious behind a door... just knock. Like a normal person."

Fuma added, "And maybe don't scream 'I'm dripping' when your mic is on."

EJ: "No promises."

Nicholas: "Definitely no promises."

K muttered under his breath, "I need a raise."

Moral of the Story? Always knock. Never assume. And if Nicholas starts moaning during Mario Kart—just leave the room.