Crash Party

The apartment was dim, and the faint notes of the TV’s music drifted lazily through the living space.

Melissa and Hinata stepped inside. Melissa paused, hand on her hip, squinting toward the couch.

"Look at that," she muttered, half-smirking. "Like nothing happened."

On the couch, Crow lounged in a blanket like a couch king in robes, holding an oversized bowl filled with warm porridge. His hair was ruffled, cheeks still flushed lightly from the recent fever. An old mecha anime flickered on the screen, all exaggerated voices and explosions. Crow indulged, oblivious to the two of them.

Finally noticing them, his eyes lit up.

"This tastes so good," he mumbled, mouth full.

Melissa shook her head. With a snicker, she hooked a thumb toward Hinata. “She cooked it.”

Hinata jerked back.

“What—I didn’t—!” she blurted, stumbling over her words. "It was her stuff. I didn’t even—just…" Her words dissolved into murmurs, ears burning.

Crow blinked, pausing mid-bite. then smiled.

"Thanks!"

His appreciation struck Hinata deeper than she’d expected. Her heart fluttered annoyingly.

Scoffing lightly to conceal her blush, Hinata turned partly away.

"Don’t read into it," she muttered, trying to sound indifferent. Then she walked briskly to the kitchen.

Crow’s eyes followed her, his smile lingering. He let out a quiet breath.

“She’s back.”

And Hinata felt the weight of that look in his eyes. She reached for a glass, then paused—hand hovering over the cabinet.

Something about sitting down, being seen, felt different this time.

“It’s just food, dumbass,” she said to herself.

She poured the water slowly, forcing the nerves back down.

In the end, her heart hadn’t stopped doing that thing—the one where it flinched whenever he smiled.

— • —

Evening settled in, the apartment now steeped in warmth and calm.

The thermometer beeped softly. Crow checked the number, then showed Melissa the screen.

"36.0. Look at that. I’ve successfully bailed."

Melissa leaned forward, mock-serious.

“Well, good job,” she said, half-lidded, patting his head.

Crow shot a fake, vulnerable look. "Thanks, Mom."

He sprang up, tossing the blanket aside. "I’m good now. Might go to the grocery. Or do laundry."

Hinata moved swiftly, stepping into his path. Arms crossed, she stared him down.

"You’re staying in bed," she instructed, her tone allowing no argument.

"Aw. Just five minutes—"

Hinata loomed, silent and menacing. "Say that again."

He froze, eyes wide. "…Bed," he corrected, meekly sinking back onto the couch.

“Ha!” Melissa barked. “Found your match, huh?”

Hinata glared at him one more time before turning and walking away.

Crow flopped into the cushions, murmuring beneath the blanket.

Melissa sipped her drink, nodding.

"Yep. You’re not the boss now, so stay put."

She moved toward the window, sliding out her phone.

“He’s alive again. Bring the guns in.” She ended the call and slipped it back into her pocket.

Crow blinked. “Guns?”

In the kitchen, Hinata rinsed her glass, watching the water run clear.

One breath in—

SLAM!

The door burst open, Dylan and Yuzu storming in with bags overflowing with snacks and drinks.

"PARTY DELIVERY!" Dylan shouted gleefully.

Yuzu’s grin was mischievous. "We heard you got sick, so we brought more unhealthy stuff."

Crow waved from the couch.

Dylan approached Crow, patting his shoulder. "So, when do we take grandpa for a walk?"

Yuzu mimed an imaginary wheelchair. "We’ll find you a cute nurse."

Hinata loomed behind the two, saying nothing.

Dylan and Yuzu shrieked.

"AAAH! LADY HINATA!" Yuzu dived behind the couch.

Dylan dropped to one knee, head bowed. "If this is my end," he declared nobly, "let my epitaph read: Felled by beauty and pain."

"STOP SIMPING, MORON!" Yuzu wailed.

Crow groaned beneath his blanket. "Please stop encouraging her."

Melissa merely sighed, shaking her head. "You all are hopeless."

The tension melted into laughter, and snacks spread across the low table, filling the apartment with warmth and comfort.

Dylan suddenly clapped his hands like a thunderstruck genius. “WAIT. I know what we’re doing tonight.”

Arena of Blood and Steel 3 boomed into the living room like a muffled gun. Dylan and Yuzu sprang for the controllers like hyenas.

“I’ll end you tonight. Oh, wait—right. I end you every time.”

Yuzu bounced, her eyes blazing. “Let’s see about that, fossil!”

Crow sank back into the couch, sipping soda through a bent straw. On his left, Melissa reclined casually, one leg draped over the couch’s armrest, watching lazily. Hinata sat to his right, cross-legged, arms folded.

With determined menace, Yuzu flicked through the character roster. “Let’s see… I’ll destroy you, Crow-style.”

She selected Kanno Hinata with an overly dramatic flourish, striking the game's iconic victory pose.

The room froze.

Crow’s grin faltered. Hinata’s eyebrow twitched.

Melissa’s gaze slid slowly toward Hinata, narrowing thoughtfully. “Hmm…”

Crow let out a shaky, awkward chuckle. “Looks like… someone?”

Hinata shifted slightly, tightening her crossed arms, foot tapping against the floor.

Melissa tilted her head, then sipped her drink. “Alright,” she muttered with a knowing smirk. “Absolutely not suspicious at all.”

Dylan’s grin turned downright villainous. He flicked the control stick and slammed down the “Select” button.

Beatrix Eisenfaust.

The screen glowed with Beatrix’s elegant pose, cape billowing dramatically, paired with a smug, confident wink.

Yuzu gasped as though personally affronted. “Hey! She’s broken! You absolute coward!”

Crow and Hinata froze, exchanging glances.

The match began with a special interaction.

In-game Hinata spun into view, striking a playful finger-gun pose. “You ready, bestie?”

Beatrix glittered onto the scene, flipping her hair. “Only if you can keep up, darling~”

Glitter hearts exploded. A sparkling high-five.

Silence.

Hinata choked on her drink. She coughed and sputtered, her face flushing with a mix of embarrassment and surprise.

Crow laughed. “I really thought you and her were best friends,” he whispered.

Hinata growled quietly, wiping soda from her mouth with the back of her hand. “Tch. Where do they get these dumb ideas?”

“And she’s actually strong here. How accurate is that?” Crow teased.

Hinata slouched further into the couch, muttering darkly. “Probably bribed the creators. Typical rich-ass move.”

“Deal with it,” Crow chuckled. “Canon now. Friends forever.”

Hinata hid deeper beneath the blanket.

“…I hate you,” she grumbled.