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Most people, if asked, would say that Ogawa Yuzuriha and Ishigami Senku got along quite well. Friends since middle school, the two of them hardly ever found themselves at odds, and even when they irritated each other it was infrequent and usually quickly amended with a simple sad look from Taiju.
So it was quite a surprise to Gen when he walked past the rec room at the Tokyo base and heard a bloodcurdling roar of rage from within.
“OH YOU DID NOT JUST DO THAT!!”
As Gen’s heart rate suddenly spiked, an icy cold voice slithered out from the doorway. “So what if I did? You totally had it coming.”
Poking his head inside, Gen saw Senku and Yuzuriha staring at each other down with the most terrifying expressions he’d ever seen on either of them in the nearly ten years he’s known them, a panicked looking Sai pressed up against the wall.
Fire danced in Senku’s crimson eyes as he glared at his childhood friend. “You better prepare for a world of pain, Ogawa. I’m not going to be beaten so easily.”
Yuzuriha laughed, and it was such a chilling sound compared to her normal warm countenance that Gen could only stare. “By all means keep wasting your pitiful little life trying to bring me down.”
“The only pitiful little thing here is that smile you’re wearing, the one I’m going to tear off your face and burn until there’s nothing but a memory,” Senku growled.
“Uh…what’s appening-hay?“ Gen asked Sai.
“I don’t know!” The programmer yelped, arms flailing. “I just asked if they wanted to playtest the Super Smash Brothers dupe I was working on and then they started going crazy!”
Gen blinked. “What?”
Senku and Yuzuriha seemed to not even register that there were other people in the room. “You must be losing it if you think you have any hope of defeating me,” Yuzuriha said.
Senku’s chuckled. “Your confidence is adorable, but this is the adults’ time to play, princess.”
“Oh?” Yuzuriha snorted. “This from the little boy who slept with a Doraemon plushie for ten years?”
Senku’s eyes narrowed. “Best out of fifteen.”
Yuzuriha smirked. “Challenge accepted, Mister Ishigami.”
The screen in front of them beeped, and both young adults raised their controllers with such intense looks in their eyes that it seemed like they would melt the glass monitor just from staring at it. As soon as their game avatars appeared on the platform, they started mashing away at the buttons in a frenzy, barely even blinking.
Sai shot a desperate look at Gen, mouthing “help me.”
“I…I’m going to get Taiju-chan real quick,” Gen said hurriedly, rushing out of the room.
When he brought Taiju back to the rec room, Yuzuriha suddenly threw her controller down with a shriek.
“That’s IT! You are DEAD TO ME!!”
Senku scowled. “YOU WERE DEAD TO ME FIRST!!”
“YOU WERE DEAD TO ME BEFORE YOU WERE BORN!!!”
“YOU WERE DEAD TO ME BEFORE THE CONCEPT OF LIFE EXISTED!”
“Please, Taiju—“ Sai gasped. Taiju blinked, glancing at Senku and Yuzuriha’s shouting match, then back at Sai and Gen.
“Is there a problem? This is how they always are during game nights.”
Gen and Sai stared at him.
“What?” Gen croaked.
“They’re so loud though,” Sai whimpered. Taiju nodded sagely.
“Okay, I understand. I’ll calm them down then.” He cleared his throat. “Hey, it’s dinner time!”
Immediately the screaming stopped.
“Oh, dinner already?” Senku said. “Wow, I’m actually starving.”
“Time sure flies when you’re having fun, doesn’t it?” Yuzuriha said as the two of them got off the couch and walked towards Taiju.
“No kidding.” Senku nodded. “Anyway awesome work Sai, plays like a charm. We’ll be back soon for sure.”
“Let me know when you get Zelda programmed into the game!” Yuzuriha called. “She’s my favorite!”
The two friends casually strolled out the door, and Taiju smiled.
“See? They were just having fun.”
He followed his friends out, and Gen and Sai stared at each other.
“Those three…really are something,” Sai said.
Gen sighed and rubbed his temple. “You said it.”