Chapter 16: The Sunday Invasion (of My Phone)

My room.

Finally.

My sanctuary.

My curtains are drawn. My PC is humming. A giant, half-full glass of (probably expired) soda is on my desk.

This is my real happy place.

My parents are at their respective jobs, as usual.

This means the house is quiet. No one is asking me about school. No one is telling me to be "more ladylike."

It is just me, my over-ear headphones, and the new raid boss in "Cybernetic Dawn."

My fingers are a blur on the keyboard.

"Evade left! Left, you idiot tank!" I mutter to myself, criticizing my online teammates. "He’s winding up! Wind-up! Ugh, you're all dead."

My team wipes. Again.

I sigh, leaning back in my chair and cracking my neck.

"This," I announce to my empty room, "is still better than Saturday."

Saturday.

The Panda Incident. The Truck Incident. The Paw-Print Band-Aid Incident.

My face still feels hot just thinking about it.

I helped him. I patched him up (badly).

My social obligation is done.

I am never, ever speaking to Fuji Kenji outside of a direct academic challenge again.

He can go back to his... dog-influencing... and his... secret crest phone calls... and his... stupid, perfect, annoying...

Bzzzt.

My phone, lying face-down on the desk, vibrates.

It's probably Rika, wanting to 're-hash' the trauma. Or Toujo, sending me the 50-second video he definitely filmed of me being "panda-handled."

I ignore it.

Bzzzt.

Bzzzt.

"Ugh, FINE!"

I snatch the phone.

It's... an unknown number.

A text.

Unknown Number: Isuzu-san, good evening. This is Fuji Kenji.

Unknown Number: I hope I'm not disturbing your... 'peaceful' Sunday.

I just... stare.

My blood runs cold.

He... he has my number.

How?

TOUJO!

That... that traitor! That weasel! That... dead man walking!

I am going to end him. I am going to erase his "e-sports" career from the face of the planet!

My fingers are shaking. Not from fear. From rage.

He has invaded my last sanctuary. My phone.

My fingers fly across the screen.

Me: WHO GAVE YOU THIS.

Fuji KenJerk: Toujo-kun was very accommodating.

Me: He is a dead man.

Fuji KenJerk: Please don't kill him. I need him to... 'borrow' things from you in the future.

Me: What do you want.

Fuji KenJerk: I just wanted to say, my leg feels much better. The frozen peas were a masterstroke of nursing.

Me: I am blocking this number.

Fuji KenJerk: You can't.

Me: Watch me.

Fuji KenJerk: I have a question about the History homework.

Me: You are Rank #2. You have never had a question about homework in your life.

Fuji KenJerk: There's a first time for everything. :)

He...

He smiley-faced me.

A... :) an emoji.

"ARGGGH!"

I throw my phone onto my bed.

It's like... he’s enjoying this!

He's teasing me!

I, Aoi Isuzu, "Bloody Twilight," am being teased. By the School Prince. Over text.

My phone buzzes again.

Fuji KenJerk: You're right. No homework question.

Fuji KenJerk: I just wanted to see if you'd actually answer.

Fuji KenJerk: You're less scary over text.

Me: I am going to break your other leg.

Fuji KenJerk: Ah. There she is.

Fuji KenJerk: Goodnight, Isuzu-san. Don't let the pandas bite.

I am so annoyed.

My face is so hot.

...But...

I'd be lying if I said... I didn't almost... smile.

Just... a little.

Because... he's a real idiot.

And, begrudgingly... I hate to admit it...

It's kind of nice... to have a rival who isn't a total moron.

(I am still going to murder Toujo, though.)