The hallway felt longer than usual.
Each step I took echoed louder than it should have, like the sound was bouncing inside my own head instead of the walls. My grip tightened around my phone, the screen still showing the same headline:
"Famous streamer Mitsuru reveals she is a girl."
I should've ignored it.
Closed the app.
Gone back to my usual routine.
But I didn't.
Because of one thing.
That small emblem in the corner of the stream.
Our school's gaming club logo.
Mitsuru… is here.
I stopped in front of the clubroom door.
For a moment, I hesitated.
This was stupid. I didn't belong here. I didn't even like real people—especially not girls.
Not after what happened.
2D was enough.
Safe. Simple. Honest.
…Unlike her.
Just as I reached for the handle—
"Are you serious right now?!"
A sharp voice burst from inside the room.
I froze.
Another voice followed, louder this time, filled with frustration.
"You call that gameplay?! We couldn't even beat a team of middle schoolers!"
My hand slowly lowered.
Without thinking, I leaned closer… pressing my ear lightly against the door.
Inside, the argument continued.
"You're supposed to be the top players of this school, right?" the girl snapped.
"Then why are you playing like beginners?!"
No one responded.
The silence that followed was heavy.
Then—
"How are we supposed to make it in esports like this?"
That word hit me.
Esports.
So they were serious.
A chair scraped loudly.
"I'm done."
The voice was cold now. Final.
"I'm not wasting my time playing with people who can't even win a basic match."
My eyes widened.
She's quitting?
Footsteps approached the door.
I didn't even have time to react.
The door suddenly swung open—
"—and don't bother calling me ba—"
I fell forward.
"WHA—?!"
My body hit the floor with a loud thud, my face inches from polished wood.
Silence.
Heavy, suffocating silence.
I slowly looked up.
Four pairs of eyes were staring down at me.
Kazuha, her red eyes slightly widened in surprise, brown ponytail swaying as she leaned forward. Risa, expression unreadable, blue eyes sharp and observant.
Kana, blinking in confusion, arms still crossed.
Hikari, already frowning, purple eyes filled with annoyance.
And behind me—
"Move."
I flinched.
I quickly scrambled out of the doorway as the girl who opened the door stepped past me without even a glance.
Sera. Her long dark hair swayed as she walked away, her expression cold, uninterested.
"I'm done with this club," she said flatly. "Good luck embarrassing yourselves."
And just like that—
She left.
The door remained open.
The room felt… quieter.
Heavier.
"…Are you done lying on the floor?" Hikari's voice cut through the silence.
"Gah—!" I quickly stood up, brushing off my uniform. "S-sorry! I didn't mean to—"
"Then leave."
Kana didn't hesitate.
She pointed directly at the door.
"You heard everything, right? That means you definitely shouldn't be here."
Risa nodded slightly. "This isn't a place for spectators. Especially not ones who eavesdrop."
"I wasn't eavesdropping!" I shot back instinctively—then froze.
Okay, I was.
Hikari sighed, clearly annoyed. "It doesn't matter. You don't belong here."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"You don't even know anything about Nervanox, do you?"
My chest tightened.
Nervanox.
A Multiplayer Online Battle Arena.
The same game.
The game I swore I'd never touch again.
The game where I met—
"Yeah, that's what I thought," Kana said, rolling her eyes. "Just leave."
Before I could respond—
Two hands grabbed me.
"Wha—HEY?!"
Risa had one arm. Hikari had the other.
Their grips were firm. Unmoving.
"Wait—wait, what are you doing?!" I struggled as they dragged me toward the door.
"We're removing a distraction," Risa said calmly.
"You're wasting our time," Hikari added.
"LET ME GO!" I shouted, trying to pull free. "At least let me explain—!"
"Wait."
Kazuha's voice cut in.
Clear. Firm.
Risa and Hikari paused.
Kazuha stepped forward, her expression serious—but not cold like the others.
"…Let's hear him out first."
Kana frowned. "Why? He's obviously clueless."
"Maybe," Kazuha said quietly. "But throwing him out without even listening… isn't like us."
She looked at me.
Not with hostility.
But curiosity.
"…Please," she added softly. "Just give him a moment."
A brief silence.
Then—
"…Fine," Hikari said, releasing my arm.
Risa followed, letting go without a word.
I stumbled slightly, catching my balance as I rubbed my wrist.
That was close…
This was it.
My chance.
If I got thrown out now, I'd lose the only lead I had.
Mitsuru is here. One of them. I can't leave.
"I…" I hesitated.
My throat felt dry.
My heart pounded louder than ever.
Say it.
"I know how to play Nervanox."
The room went still.
All four of them stared at me.
I clenched my fists.
I had quit.
I swore I'd never go back.
That game only brought pain.
Memories I didn't want.
Feelings I didn't want to face.
But right now—
None of that mattered.
"I can help you win."
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncertain.
Because whether I liked it or not—
The game I ran from…
Was the only way to reach her again.