"What's your rank again?" Ryan asked skeptically. "Please don't tell me you're still Silver."
"Unyielding Silver," Jason corrected proudly, cracking his knuckles. "You don't understand, my Yasuo is insane. I can take on five people at once!"
The others groaned.
Jason only played one champion - Yasuo - and although he was good, he had a bad habit of diving into hopeless fights, insisting he could "turn it around."
It was almost funny - in real life, Jason was calm and polite, but in-game, he turned into a complete maniac.
An hour later, Sophia pulled up outside the gaming lounge on a blue e-scooter, parked it, and walked in - immediately catching everyone's attention.
She had clearly dressed up. Light makeup, just enough to look soft and elegant without trying too hard. But her outfit, a pastel JK-style uniform, short pleated skirt, white stockings, and a tiny beret, made half the guys in the room forget how to breathe.
She looked like a mix of cute and dangerously alluring.
Aiden's roommates were floored.
"Holy crap," Daniel whispered. "Since when is Sophia this hot?"
"Dude, Jason, you legend," Ryan said, giving him a shove. "She even dressed up for you!"
"Sophia used to have that baby-face vibe, but now she's totally glow'd up," Jason muttered under his breath, turning red. "She looks… wow."
He tried to act casual, but the pride on his face was obvious.
After all, he was the one who invited her.
"Hey there, pretty girl, add me on Snap?"
A greasy-looking guy near the front, cigarette hanging from his mouth, blocked Sophia's path. His grin was cocky, his tone sleazy.
"I'm sorry, I'm here to meet someone," Sophia said firmly, trying to walk past.
"C'mon, don't be like that. It's just Snap! Won't cost you anything."
"I said no. Please move."
That only seemed to tick him off. "What, you too good for me? Dressed like that, you're obviously asking for attention..."
Before he could finish, Ryan slammed his chair back and stood up, rage flashing across his face.
"Touch her again, I dare you," he snapped, stepping between them.
The thug sneered. "What, you her boyfriend now?"
Then he noticed the three other guys, Aiden, Daniel, and Jason, standing up behind Ryan.
Four on one.
His smirk vanished instantly.
"Yeah, that's what I thought," Daniel growled. "Now get lost before I make you..."
The guy tossed his cigarette and stormed off, muttering under his breath.
Jason exhaled. "What a joke. Dude acts tough until he sees numbers."
"Not bad, Ryan," Daniel said, patting his shoulder. "Didn't think you had that kind of fire in you. You looked like a total hero just now."
Ryan rubbed the back of his neck, blushing. "Nah, man. Guys like that are all bark. You just can't let them think they can get away with it."
But while everyone was praising Ryan, Sophia's gaze drifted toward Aiden.
"Thanks for stepping in earlier, Aiden," she said softly. "And you too, Ryan."
Aiden blinked. "Uh… I didn't actually do anything. You should thank Ryan."
"Typical," Ivy Mae said as she walked over from the counter, rolling her eyes. "Sophia thanks the guy who didn't move, but not the one who actually defended her. Makes total sense."
Her tone dripped with sarcasm.
Then she turned to Aiden, her expression shifting serious. "You guys should head out soon. That guy looked like the kind who doesn't let things go. He might wait outside with friends."
Aiden thought about it. She wasn't wrong.
The last thing he needed was to get jumped over someone else's ego.
"Yeah," he said finally, standing. "Let's grab our stuff. We'll head back after this game."
The rest of them nodded, their earlier excitement replaced by a quiet edge of caution.
Even in the glow of neon screens and laughter, trouble had a way of following them.
Aiden was about to say something when Ryan cut him off, his tone sharper than usual.
"If you wanna leave, Aiden, go ahead," Ryan said coldly. "I'm not going anywhere. That dude's a coward - what's there to be scared of? Even if he brings backup, so what? I'm not hiding from him."
The others exchanged quick looks.
Ryan wasn't dumb, he'd noticed how Sophia's eyes had lingered on Aiden earlier, and that sting of jealousy was burning in his chest.
But for guys, pride mattered.
Having Ivy Mae, a girl, tell them to "run before it gets messy"? That didn't sit right.
And honestly, that thug might not even come back. Running off preemptively would just make them look weak.
Daniel grinned, clapping Ryan's shoulder. "Relax, man. We're brothers, we're not bailing on you. If something happens, we handle it together."
Jason leaned forward. "Yeah, screw it. Let's just queue up already. Sophia, grab the seat next to Ryan!"
"Oh, sure," Sophia said softly, hesitating a moment before sitting down beside him.
Aiden caught the tension immediately.
He understood.
Ryan had invited Sophia, and now Sophia's attention seemed to be drifting toward him. That kind of thing messed with any guy's head.
But it wasn't like Aiden was trying to flirt with her. He hadn't even looked at her twice.
He just wanted to play a few matches and call it a day.
"Ivy, can you grab us a few bottles of water?" Aiden said, trying to steer the mood back to normal.
"Got it, Aiden."
She smiled shyly and ran off toward the vending machine.
Her favorability toward him had clearly skyrocketed lately. And when Aiden reached out to gently pat her head in thanks, she froze, cheeks flushing pink.
When she came back, she leaned in close and whispered in his ear, her breath warm against his neck.
"Come by my place tonight. I'm cooking dinner for you… Don't forget."
Aiden's whole body stiffened. A jolt of heat rushed through him.
He swallowed hard. Damn it… focus. Games. Not girls.
He turned back to the screen, forcing himself to concentrate.
A few minutes later, they loaded into the match.
Aiden picked Garen in top lane.
Ryan, of course, went Yasuo mid, his favorite.
Sophia locked in Janna as support.
Everything started off fine, until Sophia began "helping" Aiden.
"Sophia, you don't need to come top. I've already got two kills," Aiden said, frowning.
"It's fine, Aiden! I'll help you push the tower!"
"You're stealing my XP."
"Then I'll stand back and just… watch," she said cheerfully, hovering behind his champion.
Down bot lane, Daniel groaned. "Uh, Sophia? Maybe help me out a little? I'm getting destroyed down here!"
But she didn't listen.
Despite their early advantage, the team ended up losing. Everyone knew why.
Jason sighed, rubbing his temples. "Bro, that support literally spent the whole match third-wheeling top lane."
"Let's just run it back," Ryan said with forced calm, clearly irritated.
But before anyone could hit ready, the front doors of the gaming lounge burst open.
The cheerful hum of computer fans and clacking keyboards instantly died down.
A group of about ten guys swaggered in - tattoos, buzz cuts, dyed hair, cigarettes hanging from their mouths.
And at the front of them, the same punk Ryan had kicked earlier.
"Well, well, look who's here!" the thug sneered, scanning the room. "Weren't you all real tough earlier? Let's see how tough you are now!"
The whole lounge went silent.
Aiden pushed his chair back slowly.
So he really did bring backup.