Further away.
Snow was falling in light little flakes, swirling around Mayohi and Hinata as they finally left their last class before the Christmas holidays. Their footsteps crunched on the icy ground, their breaths formed small white mists, and their colorful scarves danced in the wind.
Mayohi kept her eyes fixed on a crumpled test paper she held with both hands, looking deeply upset.
— How did I only get 10 out of 20... she mumbled. I gave it my all... It's not fair.
She looked up at Hinata, her expression even more outraged:
— And you, how much did you get on the history test?
Hinata replied with almost innocent simplicity:
— 17.
Mayohi stopped dead. Her eyes widened as if the world had just ended.
— What?! That's impossible! Show me your paper!!
Hinata paused a little, then calmly opened her bag to take out the said paper. She handed it to her. Mayohi immediately grabbed it, scrutinizing it as if looking for a trap.
— Ah... okay... There was a three-part question... And I didn't finish... Well... that's three points less... but... wait...
She blinked several times, folded the paper, flipped it over, frowned.
— But even if I hadn't answered that... normally I would have had 13... How do I end up with 10?! What kind of scam is this?!
Hinata, intrigued, leaned toward her.
— Huh? Let me see your paper.
Mayohi handed it to her anxiously. Hinata skimmed through it quickly, then froze.
She squinted.
— Uh... Mayohi... where is question number 13?
Mayohi blinked.
— Question num... what?
Hinata flipped the paper over, tapped it with her finger, and said very calmly:
— It was double-sided. Mayohi... you only did the front page. You completely forgot the whole back page.
Mayohi's world seemed to stop. She opened her mouth wide, then her eyes popped more than ever.
— How...? There were... QUESTIONS ON THE BACK TOO?!
She brought both hands to her head, let out a dramatic cry, and started crying almost theatrically.
— How could I make such a mistake?!! It's not possible!!
Hinata couldn't help but smile. She placed a gentle hand on Mayohi's shoulder and patted lightly to calm her.
— Breathe... At least you got 10. You could have done way worse.
Mayohi wiped away some remaining tears, took a deep breath... then suddenly stood up straight, eyes blazing with renewed determination. It was almost as if real flames were lighting up behind her.
— Anyway, she declared, clenching her fists, it's not the end of the term yet! After the Christmas holidays, I will NEVER let myself be tricked by this kind of thing again!
Hinata, slightly taken aback by this sudden transformation, softly applauded. It wasn't mocking, just a timid, a bit embarrassed, but sincere support.
— Yes... courage, Mayohi.
They resumed walking in the snow, their footsteps leaving a long trail behind them.
After a comfortable silence, Mayohi asked:
— And you, Hinata? What are you going to do during the holidays?
Hinata raised her face slightly toward the gray sky where the flakes were falling silently. Her voice became more composed, almost solemn.
— I'm going to prepare for the Martial Arts Festival.
Mayohi turned her head, intrigued.
— The festival of what?
— Martial arts, Hinata repeated. It's a big event where all practitioners, from all styles, gather. There are duels, demonstrations, and at the end, they determine which art is considered the most powerful that year.
Mayohi's eyes instantly sparkled.
— That's amazing!! And... you're going to participate?
Hinata nodded calmly.
— Yes. I want to challenge the greatest... and win the final prize to give it to my brother.
Her cheeks blushed as she lowered her head slightly. Her voice grew softer.
— He signed me up without even knowing there was a huge prize. He just did it... to make me happy. So... I wanted to prepare a surprise for him in return. To thank him for everything he does for me.
Mayohi felt her heart melt like a flake on a warm window. Without warning, she grabbed Hinata and hugged her tightly.
Hinata blushed instantly.
— M-M-Mayohi?! What are you doing?
— Your brother really has an exceptional sister, Mayohi answered sincerely.
Hinata turned her head so quickly that a flake got lost in her hair. She was blushing to her ears.
— You say... nonsense...
But despite her words, a shy little smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
Mayohi gently released Hinata, a mischievous smile already on her face. She rubbed her hands together like she was preparing a secret plan.
— So... what do you have to do today? she asked in a tone far too innocent to be honest.
Hinata took a step back, hands raised as if warding off a wild beast.
— Uh... I... well I have to... — Her eyes desperately searched for an excuse in the sky, trees, anything — …I have to go home!! Yes, that's it! I have to go home!!
Mayohi burst out laughing devilishly joyfully.
— Hinataaa... I know you. When you use that tone with me, it means you have nothing planned.
— That's not true! protested Hinata, already red. I have a very busy schedule! I have to train… do my homework… uh… tidy my room… watch the snow fall...
— Uh-huh. — Mayohi grabbed her hand before she could finish — Come on, let's have some fun!
— Wait, Mayohi!! I... I didn't say yes!!
— Too late! Decision validated by the supreme council of good humor!
Hinata stumbled slightly as she let herself be pulled, completely overwhelmed.
— Where are we going now...?
Mayohi puffed her chest out proudly.
— To the video game store! They just released a bunch of new titles, I want to try them! And you're coming with me! It's a sacred friendship duty!
Hinata paled for a moment.
— Oh no... not the games where you scream at the TV again...
— I don't scream! I communicate with the game's soul!
— You threw your controller... at the screen...
— THAT WAS A SPECIAL TECHNIQUE!!
Hinata sighed but a small resigned smile appeared at the corner of her lips. She knew she had lost at the first question.
Mayohi was already dragging her happily toward the main street, their quick steps making the snow fly around them.
The bell above the door jingled softly when Mayohi and Hinata entered the video game store. The warmth inside immediately enveloped them, contrasting with the biting cold outside. Colored lights blinked around the displays, and screens showed clips of various games. The air smelled like new plastic, candy sugar, and pure geek enthusiasm.
— Aaaaah... paradise, Mayohi whispered, spreading her arms as if she had found sacred ground.
Hinata stood beside her, hands in her coat pockets, looking around with military caution.
— I... I'm not sure I'm in the right place, she murmured.
— Yes, yes, don't worry, everyone here is nice, Mayohi answered, giving her a reassuring pat... which reassured absolutely no one.
They moved toward the counter. The cashier, a young guy with glasses and a red beanie, looked up and his face lit up.
— Oh, well! Mayohi the tornado is back!
Hinata stiffened.
— …The what?
— Nothing, nothing! Mayohi replied a little too quickly. Hello Akira!
The cashier smiled.
— As usual, you're here to try the new stuff before scaring off the other customers with your victory shouts?
— Hey! You don't choose your destiny as an elite gamer!
Hinata rolled her eyes.
Akira pointed to a corner of the store where everything was already set up: two comfortable armchairs, a large curved screen, virtual reality headsets on the side, and multiple controllers.
— You can try everything on display. Just be careful this time... and don't break anything, Mayohi.
— It was an accident, I tell you! And the screen started it!
— The screen can't start a fight, Hinata corrected, sighing.
— That's what it wants you to believe...
Without listening more, Mayohi sat down in one of the armchairs, ready to grab a controller. Then suddenly, she stopped, a mischievous look crossing her face.
— Well then... she said crossing her arms.
— What now? Hinata asked, totally wary.
Mayohi slowly turned her head toward her with a predatory smile.
— What if today... it's YOUR turn to play too? Come on, try it!
Hinata stepped back as if proposed to pet a bear.
— No no no no, I'm just watching, that's enough for me, thanks. I like... observing.
— Too late. Come closer. Now. Imperial order from the dean of gamers.
— You're dean of nothing at all!
— Come anyway.
Before Hinata could flee, Mayohi grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the neighboring chair.
— Sit down.
— No!
— Yes!
— I— Hey!!
Hinata fell into the chair as softly as a sack of cement. Mayohi put a controller in her hands.
— You'll see, it's fun. We'll start easy: VR Social World.
— Social... what?
— Too late, it's launched.
With the headset on her eyes, Hinata took a deep breath.
The virtual scene loaded: a public square filled with multicolored avatars. As soon as she appeared, three of them slid over to her.
— Hey beauty, you new here? said one of them.
Hinata jumped, almost fell backward, and raised her hands in front of her.
— Don't come near! I... I'm not here to... to be approached!!
Like a martial reflex, she struck forward.
But what she hit... was air.
In the real world, her fist barely missed the glass window next to her.
Akira shouted:
— HEY! NOT THE WINDOW!!
Hinata removed the headset, trembling.
— THIS GAME IS NOT HEALTHY!!
Mayohi, laughing hard, wiped a tear.
— I told you it would be funny!
Hinata was furious, but what came next wasn't going to soothe her nerves.
They tried a dance game: Hinata nearly blinded an imaginary passerby.
A shooting game: Hinata screamed at every vibration of the controller, convinced she was being really shot at.
A racing game: she turned the steering wheel so violently she knocked over a pile of boxes behind her.
A horror game: she threw the headset to the ground like a pulled grenade.
Mayohi had never laughed so much in her life.
Then they came to a versus fighting game.
— You'll like this! Mayohi declared to her.
— Hmph. I'm sure this one, at least, is easy.
Hinata took the controller, eyes narrowed, ready.
The fight began.
Three.
Two.
One.
Hinata rushed forward.
Her character took a hit. And another. And a fifteen-hit combo. And an absolutely humiliating finish.
Defeat.
— Huh?! But... why am I already dead?! What kind of game is this?!!
— Try again! said Mayohi.
Hinata tried again.
Defeat.
Again.
Defeat.
Again.
Defeat.
Her face turned tomato red, her hands trembled, her eyebrows furrowed.
— This game... is... crap!!!
Mayohi literally fell backwards in her chair laughing so hard her ribs hurt.
— You're just... too bad, Hinata!!
— I'M NOT BAD! IT'S THIS GAME THAT HATES ME!!!
— Yeah yeah, blame the game!
Hinata wanted to smash the controller... but Akira coughed loudly behind her, which calmed her instantly.
— Sorry...
Mayohi caught her breath, still shaking from laughter.
— Seriously Hinata... taking you here was the best idea ever.
Hinata crossed her arms, pouting, but a slight smile betrayed that deep down... she was having fun too.