Rin stood at the window watching workers do final checks on equipment around the portal. The thing pulsed like a heart, purple light washing over everything in rhythmic waves.
His phone buzzed.
Leo: you good up there?
Rin: yeah view's insane
Leo: don't get too close to the glass when we breach. shit gets loud
Rin: noted
He pocketed his phone and decided to explore a bit. The observation deck was huge, stretching maybe two hundred feet with multiple viewing angles. Most people clustered near the center window but there were quieter spots along the sides.
That's when he spotted her.
Pink hair, not dyed pink but like actual anime pink. She sat on one of the benches away from the crowds, sucking on a lollipop while scrolling through her phone.
'Two years since I talked to a girl.'
Before he could talk himself out of it, he walked over.
"Hey, mind if I sit?"
She looked up and pulled the lollipop out of her mouth. "Go ahead."
He sat down, leaving a respectful distance between them. Up close she was probably his age, maybe younger. Her eyes had this weird quality where they seemed to shift between blue and purple depending on the light.
"First time watching a raid?" he asked.
"Yeah. Just awakened last week actually." She gestured at the portal. "Figured I should see how the pros do it before I try a dungeon myself."
"Smart. What's your ability?... Never mind, that's rude to ask."
"Its ok. I have emotion manipulation. I can make people feel things, happy, sad, whatever." She twirled the lollipop. "Sounds lame compared to other powers but apparently it's pretty useful for crowd control."
"That's not lame, that's terrifying. You could literally make someone suicidal."
"I mean, yeah, but that would be fucked up."
"Obviously. I'm just saying, power-wise that's nuts."
She smiled a bit. "Thanks. Most people just ask if I can make them horny."
"Jesus."
"Right? Like that's the first place their minds go." She stuck the lollipop back in her mouth. "What about you? What'd you awaken with?"
"Nothing, still normal."
"Oh." Her expression shifted to something like pity. "That sucks."
"It is what it is. I'm just here to watch my friend fight."
"Your friend's a Hunter? What rank?"
"B-rank. Lightning type."
"Wait, lightning?" She sat up straighter. "What's his name?"
"Leo Penzerio."
Her whole demeanor changed instantly. The casual energy vanished, replaced with this intense focus. "You know Leo? Like personally?"
'Oh no.'
"Yeah, we've been friends since college."
"Oh my god, what's he like? Is he nice? He seems nice in interviews but you can never tell with edited footage." The words tumbled out fast. "Does he have a girlfriend? Not that it matters, I'm just curious, like casually curious."
"He's single."
"Really?" Her eyes literally sparkled. "That's crazy. Someone like him, single? That doesn't make sense."
He watched her fidget with her phone, pulling up what was definitely Leo's Hunter profile. Sure enough, there was his friend looking all heroic with lightning crackling around him.
'Oh boy. She's one of those huh.'
"How do you even become friends with someone that strong?" She leaned forward. "Like did he help you out or something? Save your life?"
"We were roommates in college. Before the fracture event."
"Wait, so you knew him before he was famous?"
'Is she even listening?'
"He wasn't famous. He was just some dude who ate ramen for every meal and watched too much anime."
"That's so cool though. You're like childhood friends with a top 100 Hunter in the country." She twirled her hair around her finger. "Do you think you could introduce me? Just like casually, nothing weird. I just want to meet him."
"He's about to fight monsters."
"After! After the raid. You could just be like 'hey Leo, this is my friend' and I could be there."
He looked at her. The pink hair, the lollipop, the way she was practically vibrating with excitement about Leo. This was going to be his life now? His best friend was famous and girls were going to use him for clout.
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Joy. Joy Castellanos."
"Joy, I'm going to be real with you. If you're trying to get close to me just to meet Leo, you can just say that. Don't waste both our time."
Her face went red. "I wasn't, I mean, I didn't, that's not why I..."
"It's fine. Everyone wants to meet famous people. I get it."
"No, seriously." She pulled the lollipop out again, fiddling with it. "I was actually having a nice conversation before I found out about Leo. You seemed normal, like actually normal. Most awakened people are so full of themselves."
"I'm not awakened though."
"Exactly. You're just some guy. It's refreshing." She paused. "That sounded bad. I meant it as a compliment."
"Being 'just some guy' is a compliment now?"
"In this world? Yeah." She gestured at the other people on the observation deck. "Half these people are Hunter groupies. The other half are family members who treat their Hunter relatives like gods. You're just here watching your friend do his job."
"And trying to get introduced to him."
"Okay yes, I would very much like to meet him." She grinned. "But I was genuinely interested in talking to you first. The Leo thing was a bonus."
"A bonus you jumped on immediately."
"Can you blame me? He's hot and powerful and has lightning powers. That's like every girl's fantasy."
"Every girl's fantasy is electric shock?"
"Shut up, you know what I mean."
Rin found himself smiling despite the situation. She was at least honest about it, which was more than most people would be.
"Tell you what," he said. "If the raid goes well and Leo's not too tired after, I'll introduce you. But you have to actually have a conversation with him like a normal person, not a fangirl."
"I can do that."
"No asking for autographs."
"Fine."
"No asking to touch his lightning."
"That's a real thing people ask?"
"You'd be surprised what people could ask."
Joy laughed and stuck the lollipop back in her mouth. "Deal. Normal conversation only."
A loud alarm blared through the observation deck. Red lights spun along the walls and everyone moved to the windows.
"Breach in thirty seconds!" someone announced over the intercom.
Rin stood, moving to the center window. Joy followed, standing next to him.
Below, the portal pulsed faster. Hunters took positions around it. Leo stood with Jin and Kelvin at the front. Even from up here, Rin could see electricity dancing across Leo's arms.
"Your friend looks ready," Joy said quietly.
"He better be."
The portal opened.