Weekend.
The streets were louder than usual—music from open shops, people crowding sidewalks, laughter bouncing between buildings. Emma and Diana walked side by side, relaxed for once. No school. No alarms. No robots.
Then—
"YO! BOXING MATCH!"
A crowd had formed in an empty lot.
In the center stood a huge guy—thick arms, broken nose, fists like bricks. Someone shouted the rules.
"One round! Knockout wins! Winner takes 100 bucks!"
Money started flying.
Bills. Coins. Someone even tossed in a watch.
The big man cracked his neck confidently.
No one stepped forward.
People laughed nervously.
Diana stopped walking.
Her eyes locked on the cash.
She slowly turned to Emma.
"…Emma."
Emma already knew.
"ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS." Diana grabbed her shoulders. "WE CAN BE RICH. FOR A FEW HOURS."
Emma sighed. "Diana—"
"We can eat. Snacks. Drinks. MORE snacks."
"No."
Diana dropped to her knees.
"I AM BEGGING."
Emma stared ahead.
"PLEASE."
"…You're dramatic."
"I KNOW."
The big man flexed. "Anyone else?"
Diana pushed Emma forward.
"HER."
The crowd went silent.
Then—
Laughter.
"Huh?"
"That girl?"
"She's tiny."
The organizer blinked. "Uh… miss? Are you serious?"
Emma nodded.
They handed her gloves.
Mouth guard
She pushed them back. "I don't need them."
The crowd murmured.
"Cocky."
"She's dead."
"Easy money."
Every bet landed on the big man.
The bell rang.
Ding.
The big man rushed her, swinging wide, confident.
Emma stepped in.
One move.
Boom.
A sharp, clean strike.
The sound echoed.
The big man's eyes rolled back.
His body froze—
Then collapsed.
KO.
Silence.
Then—
"WHAT—"
"NO WAY—"
"DID YOU SEE THAT?!"
The crowd exploded.
Diana screamed, jumping up and down. "WE'RE RICH— WE'RE RICH—"
Emma stood there calmly, gloves still on, not even breathing hard.
The organizer stared at the unconscious man, then at Emma.
"…Winner."
Money was shoved into Emma's hands.
Diana clung to her arm. "I LOVE YOU."
Emma glanced down at the cash.
"…Fine. Snacks are on me."
Diana cheered like she'd won a championship.
The big man groaned.
People stepped back as he slowly rolled onto his side, face bruised, pride shattered. Someone helped him sit up.
His eyes lifted.
Not to the crowd.
To Emma.
For a second, his expression changed—confusion, then something close to recognition.
He muttered, barely audible:
"…Was that Ethan?"
Emma froze.
Just for a fraction of a second.
Diana didn't notice.
Emma turned away calmly, already handing the gloves back.
"No," she said flatly.
The crowd kept buzzing, the moment swallowed by noise.
But the name stayed.
—
Later.
Restaurant.
Warm lights. Noise. Plates clattering.
Diana had gone feral.
"I want this. And this. And THIS. And— wait— can I get extra of that?"
The waiter stared.
"…Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Emma sat across from her, quietly eating a simple meal. No extras. No drinks beyond water. Calm as ever.
Diana's table looked like a battlefield.
"So," Diana said between bites, cheeks full, "best weekend ever."
Emma nodded slightly.
Her mind wasn't on the food.
Ethan.
She glanced at her hands.
Still steady.
Diana suddenly leaned forward. "You okay? You went quiet."
Emma took another bite.
"…Just thinking."
Diana shrugged. "About money?"
"No."
"About punching people?"
"…Also no."
Diana grinned. "You should punch more people."
Emma almost smiled.
Almost.
They headed to the arcade next.
Lights flashing. Music blaring. Machines beeping nonstop.
Diana's eyes immediately lit up like a child who just saw heaven.
"EMMA."
She sprinted toward a machine.
On the screen, a character was fighting enemies smoothly, combos flashing, explosions everywhere.
Diana gasped.
"…It's already on."
Diana stepped closer. "Wow. For free?"
Emma stopped behind her.
"…Diana."
Diana grabbed the controls. "Someone's playing really good—"
Emma flicked her forehead.
Thunk.
"Ow—?!"
"That's not a person," Emma said flatly. "That's gameplay."
Diana blinked.
Looked at the screen.
Looked at the controls.
"…So."
Pause.
"You're telling me."
Another pause.
"I have to pay?"
"Yes."
Diana stared at the machine like it betrayed her.
"…This world is cruel."
Emma put coins into the slot.
"Now play," she said.
Diana instantly forgot everything, grabbed the controls, and started button-mashing aggressively.
"WHY IS HE NOT JUMPING—"
"That's crouch."
"WHY IS HE DEAD—"
"That's you."
People nearby laughed.
Emma watched quietly, arms crossed.
The character on screen died.
Again.
Diana froze.
"…What."
The machine flashed GAME OVER.
Diana's eye twitched.
"THIS GAME IS RIGGED."
Before Emma could say anything—
Diana shoved the arcade machine.
Not lightly.
The whole thing TILTED.
Then—
CRASH.
It fell.
Dead silence.
Then—
"HEY—!!"
Security.
A grown man pointing, yelling, already running.
Diana screamed. "EMMA—"
And TOOK OFF.
People gasped.
Coins scattered.
Alarms started beeping.
Emma stood there for exactly half a second.
She looked at the fallen machine.
Looked at the approaching security.
Sighed.
"…You're unbelievable."
Then—
SHE RAN TOO.
"WAIT— EMMA—"
"I'M BLAMING YOU FOR THIS—"
They bolted through flashing lights, dodging kids, jumping over wires.
Diana laughed like a maniac.
Emma ran perfectly straight, calm, efficient—way too fast for a normal person.
"WHY ARE YOU SO FAST?!" Diana yelled.
"WHY DID YOU PUSH IT?!" Emma yelled.
They burst through the exit doors.
Cold air hit them.
They didn't stop until they turned a corner, hiding behind a closed shop, both catching their breath.
Diana collapsed to the ground, laughing uncontrollably.
"WORTH IT."
Emma leaned against the wall, breathing steady.
"…We're never coming back here."
Diana grinned. "Next time, we run faster."
Emma shook her head.
But—
She didn't disagree.
The laughter was still fading.
Diana wiped a tear from her eye, still sitting on the ground.
Then—
Diana's stomach growled
The sound was loud.
Both of them froze.
Emma slowly turned her head.
"…Diana."
Diana placed a hand on her stomach.
"…Uh."
Another growl.
"Emergency," Diana said seriously. "Like. Five-minute-max emergency."
Emma stared at her.
"No."
Diana nodded. "Yes."
Emma pointed down the street. "Anywhere else."
Diana shook her head. "No time. Only one place."
Emma's eye twitched.
"You're telling me," Emma said slowly, "after you committed a crime—"
"Allegedly."
"—we're going back to the same arcade."
Diana stood up, already walking. "I believe in fate."
Emma grabbed her arm. "I believe in jail."
Diana looked at her, desperate. "Emma. Please."
Another stomach growl.
"…I'm not making it."
Long pause.
Emma closed her eyes.
"…You owe me."
"FOREVER."
Emma sighed deeply.
"…Let's go."
They cautiously walked back toward the arcade.
Emma peered around the corner first.
Lights still flashing.
Security pacing.
Diana whispered, "Bathroom's on the left."
Emma muttered, "Of course it is."
They slipped inside, heads low.
Security turned—
Didn't notice.
Diana sprinted for the bathroom.
Emma stayed near the entrance, arms crossed, acting casual.
A security guard glanced at her.
She stared back calmly.
Unblinking.
The guard hesitated… then looked away.
From inside the bathroom—
"EMMA I'M DYING—"
"BE QUIET."
The arcade music swallowed the rest.
Emma exhaled.
"…I'm never forgiving you."
From the bathroom:
"I'LL BUY YOU FOOD."
"…Make it two."
"DEAL."
Emma leaned against the wall, waiting—
wondering how her life became this.
From inside the bathroom—
"Emmaaa."
Emma didn't move.
"…Emma."
She stared straight ahead, arms crossed, expression dead.
"No."
"But—"
"No."
Diana's voice dropped to a dramatic whisper. "I need help."
Emma finally turned toward the door, eyes narrow.
"With what."
"…Moral support."
Emma blinked.
"…You are in a bathroom."
"I know but it's scary."
"No."
A pause.
Then Diana tried again.
"Emma. Best friend. Light of my life."
"No."
"I will buy you snacks for a week."
"No."
"I will never push another arcade machine."
"…Liar."
"Okay maybe once."
Emma sighed sharply.
"I am not going in there."
Diana pouted audibly. "You're heartless."
Emma leaned back against the wall.
"…Finish quickly. Security is still breathing."
From inside the stall:
"…You're the worst."
Emma replied flatly,
"And yet you asked me."
Silence.
Then the sound of the toilet flushing.
Emma didn't move an inch.
Diana rushed out of the bathroom, fumbling with her panty and shorts trying to fix herself while walking.
Emma immediately grabbed her wrist.
"Quickly."
"What—?"
"MOVE."
A security guard turned their head.
Emma pulled Diana along, calm face, fast steps.
They slid past the machines, slipped through the exit—
Ding.
Outside again.
Safe.
Diana bent over, hands on her knees, laughing.
"…Worth it."
Emma didn't stop walking.
"Next time," she said flatly, "you're holding it."
Diana grinned and jogged to catch up.
"No promises."
Chapter end