Chapter One-Hundred And Six: Day Five: Locked In

Christina's Arc: Bend or Break

This girl has got me so damn stressed that I don't know what to do with her anymore.

Christina went back to her own damn homeroom, which gave me room to breathe. But that didn't mean she changed her schedule back to what it was. She was in every other class, except softness training, because she switched me out!

Now I was stuck in The Dangers of Emotional Manipulation 102. I tested out of 101, so they decided to stick me with a bunch of second-year students, and the girls were looking at me funny. I almost pulled the tyrant card.

I wandered through the hallway, pushing past students who no longer regarded my status. Probably Christina's doing, too. I guess she can't get it wrong all the time. But it was the end of the day, and I had to pick a club to kill time at. There were: Softness Training Club, Claim Law Study Club, Protective Escort Club, and Tea and Diplomacy Club; all highly recommended by my teachers.

I turned the corner and started my march again.

They all sounded stupid, except for Claim Law, but Christina would lose her shit—

"Carter!" Nakamura called out.

I walked over to her. Maybe she was as lost as I was. Also, I hadn't spoken to her since Christina bulldozed my life.

My face grew warm.

I hadn't spoken to her since I tried to…kiss her.

"Hey, Carter. Did you decide to join me for a riveting game of Golden Bloom: Oathbound Guilds?"

I stared as her excitement grew bigger by the second, but I had no idea what the hell she was talking about.

"Y-you know? I mentioned it at lunch the other day…it's um…a tabletop…game."

Oh, shit. Am I frowning?

I took a moment to notice what my face had done: it was frowning.

"I'd love to, Nakamura."

"Don't worry about it, Carter, I can see that it's not your cup of tea."

Damn you, Face, and don't think I'm not blaming you, too, Emotions. Now make things right, Brain.

"Nonsense, Tiff. I'm playing," I said, more aggressively than I wanted.

Nakamura responded by raising her shoulders and rubbing her arm. I even got a blush out of her. Then I felt bad, because I—

The bell sounded, which meant I should have found a club by now. Fortunately, I did.

"Well, Mr. Carter, I guess you're stuck with me," Nakamura said.

***

We walked into a classroom on the second floor. Typical desks lined in rows, except for a small cluster in the center where four girls sat. They didn't even notice I was there, just hunched over some board game like a bunch of fiends.

"Ladies, we've got a new player joining us!" Nakamura sang with too much enthusiasm.

"Whatever, just get her set up with a player card," a girl with a messy bun and thick glasses said from behind an unusual textbook.

Did she just call me a her?

"Well, the thing is," Nakamura said, frantically walking over to the girl. She touched the book and laid it flat. "Our newest member isn't a girl."

Nearly on cue, their eyes snapped to me like a neon sign in the dark. Shame. I was alright with them thinking I was a girl. They were less attractive than Nakamura, and definitely didn't give me the walk-you-home-safely vibes.

They started mumbling amongst themselves.

"Wait. Wait, wait. Hey, gaijin boy. Did someone trick you into coming here, or are you lost or something, because I don't want to waste my team's time making you a character card if you're just going to disappear?" Thick glasses said.

Wow, kid. Who the hell hurt you?

"Carter would never—"

She held up her hand, almost hitting Nakamura in the face.

"Let it speak, Shadow Song," Thick Glasses said.

Nakamura blushed.

I crossed my arms and placed a hand to my chin because I swear she just called Nakamura the wrong name, unless there was an inside joke. I'd better ask.

"Did you just call Nakamura Shadow something? Wait, did you just call me it?"

She stood up, pushing her chair back as she did.

"It will remain it until it has an official name and class, just like Shadow Song here, who is a level nine Sword Saintess with dominion over shadow and fire elements."

Nakamura blushed again.

Well, I've officially found kids weirder than Jenie. Actually, she would fit right in with these freaking nerds. Wait, I just called Nakamura a nerd. Quick, Brain, do something.

…

"Damn, I've got nothing. I don't even know if that was human speak," I said.

"Well then, be off, gaijin."

Ayame, I'm sorry, but I can no longer dedicate my hatred toward you alone, for a new challenger has appeared.

I walked over to Thick Glasses and towered over her.

"Who do you think you are, talking to me like this? I'll play your stupid game, and I'll win. When I win, I want you to apologize to me for calling me names."

"Oh, I get it. You're just a rude boy, looking for female attention. Well, go get your fill from somewhere else!"

"Hooo, I've never hit a woman before, not even the crazy animal that stabbed me, but I'm about to make an exception!"

She pressed her wrist against her waist and stood on her toes to square up with me.

"Well, gaijin, I dare you to hit me out of character, because you'll lose that fight, for sure."

Out of character! What the hell is she talking about?

My eyes wandered over to Nakamura for clarity, but she just stood there, covering her face while this waist-high wretch offended me.

"Well, gaijin—"

I blew in her face, and she stumbled into her seat.

"A curse?" she shouted, red-faced.

Yup, that was probably the closest she's been to a boy besides her dad.

"Carter, please pull up a chair so I can explain the game—"

"Nonsense, Shadow Song, I'll explain the rules of combat to it. As acting Realm Master, it's my responsibility to orient new members to the world of Elarune."

That's funny, because a moment ago, she told Nakamura to do it. So, what changed?

"In Elarune, explorers traverse the realm seeking different goals that bring players together. But when darkness rears its ugly face, the five guilds that protect the land must act in order to safeguard our future, and—"

"Please stop talking. You're making this less fun than it might be," I said, but I remembered Nakamura likes this game. "I mean, I'm sure that it's a fun game, and I'd really like to, um, jump…in."

The other girls at the table started to whisper, and when I looked at Nakamura, she wouldn't hold eye contact. Perhaps I offended her by not listening to her game's backstory.

"So, you want session zero before you even know the lore. Okay, nub, I can do that," Thick Glasses sneered, picking up her fancy book, causing the other girls to react.

"You'll get your session zero, but I feel a little divided letting you suffer alone with zero experience. So, I, Madam Justicia True Strike of the Iron Cinders guild, will accompany you on your adventure."

What an obnoxious name!

"Well, that's a mouthful. I'm just going to call you JT for short," I stated.

"F-fine. I'll permit you to shorten my title, for now."

The girls at the table started to whisper again, and I started to get nervous.

"Now, it, the hour is nigh; you pick your class and name thyself before the great and powerful realm master for all to witness!" she announced, fixing her glasses. Then she pulled out a little fan and held it next to her fancy book so it would turn the pages wildly.

"Um, okay."

JT smiled, like she had done something there, then turned the fan off and set it on the floor.

"Ookay."

"Let's talk out of character for a second so I can explain each class and what they do; how they should be played is user discretion," JT said.

"I was never in character," I said dismissively.

She placed her book back on her desk, then reached over and effortlessly pulled my desk closer to hers, reminding me of the power gap.

Christina had been so gentle with me these last few days that I'd forgotten just how scary even normal girls could be. I really think she would win that fight if we fought.

She turned the book around so I could see the page. It was a list of characters and classes, but they didn't sound as impressive as Nakamura or JT's characters. I also didn't know what most of this stuff meant. But it listed things like MP, LP, spell slots, and Death Throws, but I knew what luck meant, I think.

I slowly traced the description of each class with my right index finger, cautiously reading in real time, and ensuring that I didn't place both hands on the book. Diving into the pages would give me a better understanding of…this, but I didn't want anything to happen to my body while I was trapped.

"Well, has it decided yet?" Thick Glasses asked.

Why the hell are you rushing me…

"I'll go with…a ronin. That sounds fun."

I looked at JT, I guess for approval, and she had crossed her arms and closed her eyes. The other girls just stared at me. Thankfully, Nakamura pulled my sleeve to get my attention.

"Carter…you must pick a gender first," she whispered. "Might I recommend—"

"What are you talking about? I'm clearly a guy—"

"Locking it in!" JT yelled.

"Locking it in!" the other girls echoed.

What the hell was that? What does lock it in mean?

"What's going on! What's being locked in, and it better not be something perverted."

"Nothing of the sort," JT said before stamping something onto a blank card. "I'm simply assisting you in cementing your character," she said in a snooty tone.

"Shouldn't you explain the gendered implications and effects of the—"

"Shut it, Shadow Song! It's locked in," JT said, and then the grin she grew started to concern me. "So, a ronin. Are you positive you want to make a ronin, being as you are a male character?"

I started to turn toward Nakamura—

"It needs to answer for itself."

I drummed my fingers along the edges of JT's book and glared at her.

"What the hell is wrong with being a guy in a make-believe board game, and why can't I ask anyone else?"

She slicked her hair back and fixed her glasses.

"It's simple, dear nub. If you read the fine details of each class, you'll see that male characters start off with half of specific raw stats as their female counterparts. For example, Ronin is a dex-based class. Dex means dexterity or agility."

I looked at the page for the bullshit JT was talking about, but the description didn't mention it anywhere.

"Don't lie to me—"

Her hand flopped onto the page without warning and almost made me jump.

"Right here under the stat points. Do you see the M/F?" I nodded. "Read the numbers with that in mind."

"I… STR four for females, but only two for males… six/three, four/two, three/three… Why the hell is my charm so damn high? Two for girls and five for boys!"

"Yeah, but your luck is three—"

"Screw luck!"

JT adopted a more serious face and started to stand.

"Well, don't we have a dirty mouth that needs to be—"

"Don't touch him!" Nakamura shouted, grabbing my arm.

I looked; all the girls were standing except Nakamura, who looked more threatening than all of them. I'd never seen her act like this before. It was kind of nice, being protected by someone who regularly walked me home.

"If he keeps cussing, Shadow, then you're both out of here."

That's a bit too far. I can accept being kicked out; I don't really care about their game club, but Nakamura seems like she really cares. Do something, brain.

I stood up, positioned myself so they could see me, and bowed.

"I'm genuinely sorry for using inappropriate language in your club, and I promise you that it will never happen again while I'm here. Please don't kick us out."

…

"C-Carter, I've never seen you apologize for the way you've spoken before."

"Alright, alright. Take a seat," JT chided.

I sat down and fixed my desk.

"Since your apology was so sincere, I'll return your sincerity in kind. I'll let you switch classes because we haven't locked that in yet," JT said.

"Can I, um, switch genders?"

"Not a chance! It's locked in!"