“Lover and Hater of Tower of Hate and Love” (65.10) (Zeta)

"We're calling it Roux-Ball," Roux said. "That is final."

"You're not even playing, beat it," Kalei said, tossing a ball over Roux's head to Marmalade.

"Come up with a better name then, I dare you," Roux said.

"I haven't had time to come up with a name, I'm trying to figure out the rules," Kalei said. "So far I got two versus two, so you're also taking up space, beat it."

"How about a third entity, a wildcard that can do whatever the hell they want," Roux said, trying to steal the ball from Marmalade. She tossed it to Kalei, but Myles intercepted it.

"That is definitely worth fifteen points!" Myles said.

"Where did you get fifteen from?" Ash asked.

Myles shrugged. "Sounded like a cool number."

I'm not exactly sure what the process was, but Sai and I made it into the apartment just in time for everyone to decide they wanted to hang out in my backyard. To start that meant Kalei throwing a ball with Marmalade, Roux, and the Althea sisters, trying to come up with rules for some game while the rest of us watched.

"I'm kind of into the third entity thing, not gonna lie," Kalei said. "The gremlin that tries to stop the teams from scoring."

"We should probably figure out how we score at some point," Marmalade said.

"We need a net or something," Kalei said. "Diast! Is this one ball seriously the only sporty thing you own?

"I can check for something," Diast said.

"Maybe you have an anime figure that has big hoop-like arms, we could use that!" Kalei said.

"Not bringing out any of my figures for this, sorry," Diast said.

"Oh, screw you," Kalei said.

"Wow, that is exceedingly harsh," Diast said. "You know how fast my figures would break if you threw something at them? If..." She stopped herself as Kalei chuckled deeply. "You're just being an ass to try and get me mad, huh?"

"Yeah," Kalei said.

"Whatever, I'll find something," Diast said.

I debated bringing up the idea Oka and I had about a game where you score points by throwing a ball through someone's braided hair. None of us had braids at the moment, so it'd delay playtime to get that all set.

Dr. Diast came back with a frame for a goal that looked like it was a hundred years old.

"It was in one of the closets in the basement, I dunno if it works," she said as she plopped it down at the end of the backyard.

"It's alright," Kalei said.

Diast rejoined Stella's side as Sai and I sat on the back steps again.

"You're really OK with us playing back here?" I asked.

"I rarely use this backyard for anything, so it's nice to see it get some action," Diast said.

"I'm good, too! Well," Stella started before announcing to everyone. "Everyone make sure you take your shoes off in the kitchen if we go back inside! It looks like it's gonna get real muddy soon."

It was end of winter snow, so the yard was mostly melting ice with wet grass underneath.

"Oka says she 'fought a bookshelf guy,' whatever that means," I said as I texted back to her. "Maybe she had a quick study session after the void training? She also says she might still stop by soon!"

"If she makes it in the next hour, I'll have cupcakes ready," Stella said.

I made sure to let Oka know that immediately.

"Do you want to join them?" I asked Sai as we both watched our friends play.

"Sure, why not?" Sai said.

I ended up on Myles and Ash's team for the first round, while Sai played with Kalei and Marmalade. Roux remained in the center in the gremlin role, one that quickly became the most sought after spot as we shook up the line up each game. For a game where we changed the rules and teammates entirely every three minutes, I thought I was doing pretty good.

To the point that I got a bit too cocky when Sai threw the ball to me.

"Hup!" I yelled as I leapt for it…promptly missing and landing on the ground.

I thought the wind would be knocked out of me, but I mostly landed on my knees, which throbbed in pain immediately.

"You good?" Kalei asked.

"Yeah, I think," I said. Practically seconds later Stella was at my side. "Stella, oh my god, I'm fine,"

"Let me see," Stella said.

"I just have mud on my pants, it's fine," I said as Stella inspected me for any injuries. If anything was going to hurt me at that moment, it was the crushing embarrassment having my sister look me over like I was a five year old while my friends watched.

But none of them were paying much attention to me. Sai walked past, looking up towards the alley. Shortly after, chatter among the others went quiet.

"I thought you were going home?" Sai asked.

At the top of the slight incline of my backyard, right at the pavement of the alleyway stood P.D., hands on her hips.

"I can't take it another second," P.D. said.

She wasn't here to start a fight with Kalei, was she? They couldn't fight in my own backyard.

"Can we help you?" Stella asked. "Who is this?"

"It's…her name's P.D." I said. "I dunno why she's…here…"

"Hey, remember what I said—" Sai started.

"Not now, Sai," P.D. said.

Kalei glared, waiting for P.D. to make the next move.

"I just got the results back, my treatment is finally working the way it's supposed to," P.D. said. "I've been trapped under this thing for far too long, trapped in this, and now, mercifully, I don't have to anymore. And I couldn't make it another minute without saying this to you face to face."

She reached to the sides of her helmet, pressing two buttons on the side. A hiss of steam shot out as she removed her mask.