Hex POV
I had just finished showering. Hair still damp. Towel thrown over my shoulders. Room quiet except for the ceiling fan spinning like it had secrets.
Then my phone buzzed.
Mila is calling… Video Call.
I smirked. Of course it was her.
I answered.
Her face popped up instantly. "Hex! Finally. You took forever!"
"I was showering," I said calmly, dropping onto my bed. "Some of us believe in hygiene."
She narrowed her eyes. "Rude. I also shower."
Before I could reply, James suddenly appeared in the call, half lying on his desk like a dying soldier.
"Hex," he said immediately, serious tone. "Did you finish Attack on Titan?"
No greeting. No hi. Straight to business.
I grinned. "Yeah. I'm done."
James gasped dramatically. "AND?"
"It was insane. But I've moved on."
"To what?" Keiren's voice came in as he joined the call.
I leaned back casually. "Naruto. The new one."
James sat up straight. "The new one?? Already??"
Keiren nodded approvingly. "Good choice."
Mila blinked slowly. "…Are you guys serious right now?"
We ignored her completely.
"The animation is cleaner now," I continued. "And the fight choreography? Way better. The pacing too."
James snapped his fingers. "YES! That's what I've been saying! The strategic battles are elite."
Keiren jumped in. "Exactly! It's not just fighting. It's mind games."
Mila stared at all three of us.
"I called you guys," she said slowly. "And you are ignoring me."
James turned his head. "You didn't speak."
"I didn't speak because you all started screaming about ninjas!"
"That's not screaming," Keiren defended. "That's passionate discussion."
"Passionate?" Mila scoffed. "You people should watch real movies."
Silence.
Then James squinted. "Real movies?"
"Yes," she said proudly. "Action movies. Drama. Thrillers. Not animated headbands."
I burst out laughing.
"Animated headbands?" Keiren repeated in disbelief.
James leaned toward the camera. "First of all. Naruto has more emotional depth than half the 'real movies' you watch."
Mila gasped dramatically. "Excuse me?? The last movie I watched had betrayal, explosions, romance, sacrifice!"
"And bad CGI," Keiren added.
"And a predictable villain," James said.
"And a main character with zero personality," I threw in.
Mila pointed at me. "Hex! I thought you were on my side!"
I smirked. "I didn't say that."
She crossed her arms. "Fine. Hex. Who are you supporting?"
James leaned in immediately. "Yes, Hex. Choose wisely."
Keiren grinned like he was about to witness a war.
I pretended to think.
Long pause.
Then I looked at Mila through the camera and said calmly, "You. Obviously."
Silence.
Then—
"OHHHHHH!" James shouted.
Keiren slapped his desk. "He chose Mila!"
Mila blinked. "Wait. What?"
"You asked," I shrugged casually. "I'm supporting you."
James pointed dramatically. "Traitor! We were building an anime empire!"
Keiren added, "He switched teams for Mila. I see what's happening."
Mila was smiling now, trying to hide it. "Wow. Night byte . Supporting me?"
I smirked. "Of course. Someone has to defend good cinema."
James clutched his chest. "Good cinema?? He's gone."
Keiren leaned closer. "Hex, be honest. You don't even watch those movies."
I shrugged. "Doesn't matter. I'm loyal."
Mila's cheeks went slightly pink. "Aww. That's sweet."
James immediately made fake kissing noises.
Keiren joined him. "Hex and Mila sitting in a tree—"
"Shut up," I said, laughing.
Mila laughed too. "Wow. This escalated fast."
James leaned back dramatically. "First he finishes Attack on Titan. Then he moves to Naruto. Now he betrays us for Mila. Character development."
"Plot twist," Keiren added.
I shook my head, still laughing. "You guys are insane."
Mila pointed at James and Keiren. "See? This is why real movies are better. Less chaos."
James gasped. "LESS chaos?? Action anime is organized chaos. It's art."
"Art?" Mila repeated.
"Yes," Keiren said confidently. "Strategic art."
Mila threw her hands up. "You know what? Tomorrow I'm making you all watch one proper movie."
"Define proper," James challenged.
"No ninjas," she said.
"That's already a downgrade," I muttered.
They all heard me.
"HEX!" Mila shouted.
I laughed harder.
We kept arguing like that for what felt like forever. Anime versus movies. Real actors versus voice actors. Plot depth versus visual realism. It turned into chaos. Pure chaos.
Then James suddenly looked at his clock.
"…Guys."
"What?" Mila asked.
"It's 10PM."
Keiren froze. "No way."
James nodded. "We have school tomorrow."
Mila groaned loudly. "Why does time move so fast when I'm arguing?"
I smirked. "You guys have school."
They all looked at me.
"Oh right," Keiren said slowly. "Hex is suspended."
I stretched comfortably on my bed. "Exactly. I can stay up all night."
"That is unfair," James said.
Mila narrowed her eyes. "Don't get too comfortable. Aunty Gemma will wake you up early."
I sighed dramatically. "True."
James stood up. "Alright. Everyone sleep. We can continue this war tomorrow."
"Anime wins," Keiren said confidently.
"Movies win," Mila shot back.
I raised my hands. "I support Mila."
They all groaned again.
"Traitor!" James shouted.
"Goodnight, traitor," Keiren added.
Mila smiled softly. "Goodnight, Hex."
I smiled back without even realizing it. "Night."
The call ended.
My room went quiet again.
But I was still smiling.
They were loud. Dramatic. Annoying.
But they were mine.
And honestly?
I wouldn't trade that chaos for anything. 💫