"Even if they did, it would eventually be traced, and the account would get banned. The person could just make a new one without us knowing, sure, but what's the point? No one's that bored."
"Then how do you explain [Gravy] acting like a complete noob at the start? This guy was a legend before he disappeared. Top-ranked with inhuman reaction times. Now he's stumbling through basic movement drills?"
The group fell silent, watching as [Gravy]'s mecha executed a flawless dodge roll that contradicted everything they had just said.
"There's only one answer," someone finally offered. "He's putting on a show. Trying to look cute in front of his date."
"Stop with the romance theories! Give me something concrete!"
"Fine. If you rule out romance—which you really shouldn't, looking at the way they're bantering—then there's only one explanation I can think of. They changed the virtual pods they're using."
"You mean..."
