“Jesus,” I can’t help but hiss out. That’s a lot of money just to hang out with someone who plays video games. Not that Rin isn’t worth that much, but that’s still a substantial amount of money!
“Yeah,” Rin says with a chuckle. “So the two of us get into a video chat and boot up a game together. It turns out, Kawa is likeseriouslycharismatic. He had me eating out of the palm of his hand. We never made a video from it or anything but after that, I promoted him to VIP.”
“Do you know if Kawa and Iwa know each other in real life? They seem to flirt a lot.”
Rin snorts so hard I’m worried he’s hurt himself for a moment. “Oh my gods,” he says with a laugh. “They really do flirt all the time. I don’t know if they know each other, I’ve never asked. I think Owl has a giant crush on Glasses. And then Azaad and Wizard are a couple. Chat always reminds me of my abysmal love life.”
I hum softly. “It’s not as abysmal anymore.”
There’s a moment of silence before Rin speaks again. “You’re right,” he says, his voice taking on a soft quality to it. “I’m glad you’re getting into all this stuff. I know it’s not how you’d normally spend your night, but I really liked seeing you in chat, Maki.”
“I liked being there.”
“I can’t wait until we can switch and I can see you play. I’msoexcited. How was practicing in the new facility?”
“It was fine,” I tell him, thinking about our practice from earlier today. “The lights are slightly different so I have to be careful about receives that come from up high. It would beeasy to lose the ball. Otherwise, it feels the same as our home gymnasium.”
“That’s so interesting. I never would have thought about the lightning making a difference.”
“Lots of things can make a difference. The lighting, the air flow, the type of flooring that the gymnasium has, where the stands are in relation to our benches or the court itself. It’s good that we can always come early and get used to everything.”
“I like listening to you talk about volleyball. You’re so cute,” he says before he makes a little squeaking noise. “Shit. Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that! I’m really fucking tired and my filter is pretty much nonexistant. Hopefully that wasn’t weird.”
“It wasn’t. It’s okay, Rin. I truly do not mind.”
“Okay,” he says, letting out a long sigh. “I saw Owl is a big fan. Maybe I’ll have to ask chat about volleyball and see if they can help me learn a few of the rules before I come watch your game.”
“Owl was very excitable,” I say with a little chuckle. “Are you free next Monday? That is when our next home game is.”
“Yes! I will be there, Maki. I’ll figure out how to buy some tickets and let you know what section we’re in.”
“That won’t be necessary. I have a ticket for you.”
“What? No. I can buy them! Rodney and Kei will want to come as well.”
“I’ll make sure to save three tickets for you. My treat. I’m allowed so many tickets for friends and family, and I never use them. You’ll be doing me a favor by filling my section.”
There’s a long pause. Before I can worry about overstepping, Rin says, “okay. If you’re sure.”
“Very sure.”
“Okay, then thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Rin.” I let out a yawn. “I should head to bed.”
“Yeah. Me too. Thank you again for calling. Good night, Maki.”
“Good night,” I say before hanging up the phone. I take a moment, reveling in the sensations inside my chest. I’m so happy. I don’t think I’ve ever felt anything like this. These giddy sensations, the warmth in my veins, the anticipation of seeing Rin again in the future. I think this is what people mean when they talk about developing crushes.
I like Rin.
Throughout the weekend, I continue to check Rin’s stream when I have a moment, sending a message or two in chat. On Monday morning, Rin finally beats the game and is allowed to end his stream.
Monday night is my game. I’m not sure if we were on our best or if the other team was having an off night but we win the first three sets quickly and efficiently, winning the overall match. Kent even got to play for a bit in the second set, when normally, he would only play if I was injured or something happened where I needed a break. When I get back to my hotel room, I find a message from Rin waiting for me.
Rin: I might not know anything about volleyball but I can tell you played well today, Maki! Good games and congrats!! <3
I hold my phone against my chest, wondering why that little heart emoji is leaving me breathless. The smile on my face doesn’t leave, even as we all pack our things and get back onto a plane to fly home.
