The next afternoon found Eli back in the same café — not because he wanted to, but because it had somehow become a meeting point. The kind of place that didn't ask questions, didn't mind when you stayed too long, and always smelled faintly like burnt toast and cheap coffee.
Renzo was already there, hunched over his laptop, headphones crooked, tapping furiously at his keyboard. He was muttering something about jungle paths and early ward control when Eli slid into the seat across from him.
"You sleep?" Eli asked.
Renzo snorted. "Define sleep."
Eli grinned. "You mean no."
"Exactly." Renzo leaned back, cracking his knuckles. "Been looking at old replays. We need someone who can flex top or support. Someone consistent."
Eli raised an eyebrow. "You already have someone in mind?"
Renzo hesitated, then turned his screen toward him. A Eternal Nexus profile glowed in the soft blue light.Username:NotSmibbleRank: Diamond IIRole: SupportMain Champion:Solari, the Luminous BastionWinrate: 61%
"He's good," Renzo said. "Mechanical, patient, never tilts. I played with him in a scrim ages ago."
Eli scanned the stats. The numbers spoke for themselves. Whoever NotSmibble was, he wasn't just good — he was stable. The kind of player who held a team together quietly while everyone else chased glory.
"You think he'd say yes?" Eli asked.
Renzo smirked. "I already messaged him. He said he'd meet us here."
Eli blinked. "You what?"
Renzo shrugged. "Relax. He's cool. Just… socially allergic."
They didn't have to wait long.
A few minutes later, the door chimed softly, and a tall guy stepped inside — mid-twenties maybe, wiry build, wearing a faded hoodie that looked one wash away from retirement. His hair was messy in a way that suggested he'd stopped caring about mirrors a while ago.
He glanced around until his eyes landed on Renzo and Eli, then gave a small nod and walked over.
"NotSmibble?" Renzo asked, grinning.
"Yeah," the guy said quietly. "But, uh… you can call me J.D."
His voice was calm, polite, but carried that slight hesitancy of someone unused to small talk.
Renzo motioned toward the empty seat. "Sit, man. Coffee? It's terrible, but it's ours."
J.D. gave a small smile. "I'm good." He sat down, resting a laptop case beside him.
For a moment, silence hung between them — not awkward, just cautious.
Renzo broke it. "So, you heard about the Circuit?"
J.D. nodded. "Yeah. Word's been spreading in Discord circles. Some people think it's fake. Others think it's… something else."
Eli leaned forward. "You believe it's real?"
J.D. met his eyes. "You two do. That's good enough for me."
There was something disarmingly simple about the way he said it. No ego, no bravado. Just quiet trust.
Renzo grinned. "Alright, then. Let's see if you can play as good as your stats say."
They booted up Eternal Nexus right there, the glow of three laptops turning the dim café into a miniature command center. The barista glanced over once, sighed, and went back to pretending not to care.
They queued for a ranked game, filling out the missing roles with strangers.
Renzo called jungle.Eli locked mid.J.D. picked support.
It wasn't a perfect comp, but it felt right.
From the first few minutes, Eli could tell — J.D. wasn't just good, he was anchored. His movements were deliberate, never wasted. He rotated for vision without needing to be asked, timed his shields with uncanny precision, and typed only when necessary.
Renzo died once to a bad invade. J.D. didn't blame him — just warded deeper and typed, "Play slow. I'll track him."
When Eli overextended in lane, J.D. was already there, dropping a shield just before the enemy ult landed.
They lost one fight, then won the next three. By the time the Nexus exploded in blue light, all three were grinning like idiots.
Renzo pumped his fist. "Let's gooo! That's the synergy I'm talking about."
Eli chuckled. "That was clean."
J.D. just smiled faintly. "You guys are fun."
They played two more games after that — and somewhere between the pings and late rotations, something unspoken clicked. The chaos of solo queue melted away, replaced by a quiet rhythm that felt like teamwork.
During breaks, they talked.
J.D. told them he'd been playing Eternal Nexus since beta, back when the graphics were rough and the balance worse. He'd almost gone pro once but stopped after his dad got sick.
"I had to pick between tournaments and taking care of him," he said simply. "Easy choice."
Eli listened quietly. The honesty in J.D.'s tone hit harder than he expected. It wasn't self-pity — just truth.
Renzo leaned back. "You ever think about trying again?"
J.D. smiled, just barely. "Every day. Guess I just needed a reason."
That line stuck with Eli long after the words faded.
When the café lights dimmed, signaling closing time, they finally logged off. Their screens went dark, but the warmth of shared victory lingered.
Outside, the night air was cool, carrying the hum of distant traffic. The three of them walked down the street together, talking about patch notes and favorite champions like old friends who'd known each other for years.
Renzo cracked another joke about how J.D. sounded like a secret agent every time he spoke. Eli actually laughed — a real laugh, the kind he hadn't felt in months.
"Seriously," Renzo said. "How are you so calm? I tilt if someone pings me twice."
J.D. shrugged. "I just remind myself it's a game. But it's also… not just a game, you know?"
Eli nodded. "Yeah. It's like… a reflection. The climb."
Renzo rolled his eyes. "Bro, don't get poetic on me."
But even he was smiling.
They stopped at the corner where their paths split. The streetlight above flickered once, bathing them in soft amber.
J.D. extended his hand. "So… are we a team?"
Eli looked at Renzo, who grinned and nodded.
"Yeah," Eli said finally, shaking his hand. "We're a team."
For a moment, it felt like everything was possible again — like the climb wasn't just an endless grind, but a road they could actually walk together.
Then Eli's phone buzzed.
A new message. No name. Just a symbol.
🜂
Round One: Team Confirmation Required.3 of 5 Players Verified.Proceed to recruitment phase.
Renzo read over his shoulder and whistled. "Guess the Circuit knows we're ready."
Eli's stomach fluttered — part fear, part excitement.
J.D. pocketed his hands. "Then let's find the last two."
And as the three of them stood under the flickering streetlight, a quiet sense of purpose settled between them — fragile, real, and just beginning to take shape.