Daylight had died, while night was being reborn.

On his way home, Effryn decided to take a longer route to stall for more time. And it was because of one reason: What is am I gonna do with Evvryn?

Or the better question would be should I do anything with Evvryn?

There wasn’t much he could think of on what he should do in this kind of situation. He wasn’t too accustomed on dealing with these kinds of feelings, let alone romantic feelings at that.

And there also was the indisputable fact of Effryn never having a girlfriend in school-err-his entire life, so he had no experience on this whatsoever.

He just sat alone while everyone was in there own little groups. But he didn’t mind it too much. It was peaceful to have his own conscience as a friend, so he wasn’t completely alone.

Lonely time is best time, he often thought to himself while wasting away in class.

Though there are the times of day when he does of social contact. Like how every day during lunch, Evvryn would sit next to Effryn, sheepishly ranting about how little sleep she got the night before.

Eizer would come from time to time...but that was when he decided he actually wanted to go to school.

Aside from those two, no one else came to mind from who he talked to during school.

That was inside school, there were more people he had outside. Even if those people all online, with only one being real.

“Aghhh dangit!! Not even Lfg raids bring this much stress, so why does someone I’ve known my whole life do?!” Rummaging through his hair, he wanted to pull his hair out. His poor hair was poofy from all the fluffing he was doing today.

Okay, let's think about this. Theoretically, if I do go through with this, then what if ‘theoretically’ she rejects me?

“H-hey Evvryn...I know I’m this is coming out of nowhere but...I think I like you.”

“...”

…..

“Are you gay?”

“Whhhyyyy?!?! And why is that probably exactly what she’d say?!”

Okay, put that on hold. Let’s try my approach. Lonely time.

If I just keep quiet to myself and not say anything to Evvryn, completely sealing these feelings, then in a perfect environment, it could work. All I would have to do is just endure this feeling for the rest of my life, watching her until she eventually falls for a someone, leaves and lives with him, and has a happy and loving life with male x. All while I have to sit back, and hear all about how happy she is now that she left me.

Yep, sounds easy enough.

“Screw that!! Who could live with themself if that ever happened?!” Effryn suddenly felt huge pain for any person who had or did live through anything like solution B.

I guess I’ll have to ride time for this one, and see where I end up.

For some time now, Effryn had been walking down the city streets, thinking and talking to himself like a madman. Luckily, many people weren’t out at this time, so only a few could see there was an escapee psycho.

Well sometime, somehow, he ended up arriving at the place where the two had grew up in, where the lived in for their whole life until last year, where they first met-the orphanage.

It had been a while since they came to visit, but every now and then, they still like to come around and check on the new generation of kids living there. They help around with the old couple during spring cleaning, or other times they did a mass cleansing similar.

Well...Evvryn did most of the cleaning. Effryn always went to visit one person each chance they got to come. They were someone he held very closely to his heart. One who held the true virtues of innocence by just merely existing. A being so pure she stood above every mortal.

Effryn worshipped her, in a way it could be seen as either a true devoted follower, or the lowest of low perverts. He thinks himself as the first half, while Evvryn saw him as the latter.

Every Time she saw them together, Evvryn would say you disgusting scum, shaking her head in disappointment, as if humanity hadn’t regressed enough.

But Effryn endured the comments. No matter how many glares or hurtful words were tossed at him, he’ll take anything to keep the beaming being lit!

Orphanage trips always eased the troubles back at home for the two, helping them take their minds off of the annoying realities of the world, or if a game just pissed them off immensely.

Effryn huddled up in his coat, brushing off the cold air while he walked towards the old orphanage door.

-iing

Effryn rang the doorbell like he always had, waiting for someone to come answer.

He pushed his ear close to the cracks, listening in to the world inside the orphanage. He could hear small laughs and giggles from various directions, with footsteps dancing away.

Ha, good. It’s still fun for the little ones here, even late at night.

Effryn could hear the sound of heavier footsteps coming towards the door.

“What in the hell could be coming at this time of night…” The voice sounded like an older womans-the mother.

Huhhhh…

Effryn sprang back, getting ready to greet the woman.

Creeeeeeeeeek.

Opening with an eerie sound, Effryn always thought of it as pushing a massive door open like those in Dark Souls.

The door stops before fully opening, with the women peeking out her head.

“Yes, hello? I do hope you know it’s la...” She looks up to see could have been at visiting at this late hour, only to meet eyes with Effryn, who was gleefully smiling awkward.

Letting out a sigh, the mother began to lean against the door. “Love, It’s 10:32, don’t you think it’s a bit late for a visit now?”

Oh crap. Well...she’s not wrong.

“Errr y-yes! I just wanted to come by and see what was going on, you know? Haha…”

I want death.

“Jeez...you’re hopeless without Evvryn. Well fine, if you insist on coming in, then you can help with making the little ones get ready for bed.” Further opening the door, she gestured Effryn to come in. “Next time though, it would be appreciated if you came at a more...reasonable time.”

“O-oh, y-yes ma’am.” Frantically pushing out words, he followed suit, while closing the door behind him.

The orphanage. It had the same smell, same atmosphere, and same laughter. Even their old toys from when they were growing up were still there. It was a nostalgic Eden.

After walking in, Effryn helped the mother in getting blankets for the children. It was already past their bedtime, but since washing their clothes took longer than expected, most of the kids were running around, screaming and enjoying their youth.

A truly heartwarming sight for any decent human being.

As heartwarming as it might be, Effryn was only looking for one particular person. The goddess. He’d been keeping an eye out ever since walking in, but there was no sign of her.

“If you’re looking for miss Frael, she’s in the back room. She’s not feeling so well again.” She said, having noticed Effryn glancing around the room for her. It did make sense for her to know specifically her, since he did spend time with her the most each time he and Evvryn came together.

“Again already...is it ok if I visit her soon?”

Frael was a kind, sweet thing. But she often got sick, so she couldn’t do most of the physical activities the other kids were doing, so Effryn was more than happy to spend time with her, and relieve her from boredom.

That, and it was nice to have another shut-in friend, excluding the fact she was only eleven, and that her sickness stopped her from doing much of anything.

“Of course dear, you can leave the rest to me. You’re not really the folding type either, and you would be of more use to her. Evvryns more suited for this.”

Ouch. Saying it in a motherly tone doesn’t soften the hurt in those words!

“Uhhh-right! Thank you…?” Not knowing whether to be thankful he got to see Frael, or he was burned with the painful realities of his lack of chores skills to get out of folding children’s clothes he was thankful for it either way. But even more for the first half.

He finished up the clothes he was folding, and walked into the room with the children. To most it would be a ray of sunshine, gleaming on anyone who were to witness the wonderful ignorant lives the children were having, thinking only what they would do the next day.

But to Effryn, and although he loved their carefree playing, it was pure proactive hell.

Not to get him mixed up with hating kids having fun in general, he loved the idea of children enjoying their lives, with each day being a better adventure than the last. It was best if children could grow up in a happy and friendly environment, so he was pleased the orphanage offered kids with the chance to grow up with a pleasant memory of their childhood.

But there was one thing Effryn just couldn’t keep up with, no matter how mentally prepared he gets-the extreme amounts of sociability and energy the children had each day. It was like a never ending Adrenaline shot from Left for dead.

Whenever Frael tried to play with kids, Effryn attempted, too. While it was reasonable for Frael to get tired easily, Effryn had a hard time keeping up with them. He often wondered how could kids get so much stamina to even surpass someone who was older than them, albeit said person was only good at games.

Thinking for a bit, only one answer-person comes to mind-Evvryn.

A speed devil herself, filled with boundless amounts of energy, she had to be the root cause.

Each time they came to visit and finished helping clean around, she played with the kids acting as some kind of Physical coach ring leader. She made the kids do various exercises, like run laps outside around the courtyard, test their strength with push-ups, and see who could survive the longest in dodgeball.

Effryn urged Frael to let the kids do whatever ungodly things they were up to with Evvryn and for her to relax for the day, but she always wanted to play with the other kids more, to not get left out.

Even when Frael went to play with the children, Effryn went along to keep her company, so that meant him getting dragged into whatever Evvryn had planned up next.

And then each time whenever Frael did play with the other kids, she would get tired just after beginning, and would quit and watch the other kids play with Evvryn.

Of course, Evvryn could excuse Frael because she had often got sick, so it was reasonable to let her come in she wanted to.

Effryn, on the other hand, wasn’t so lucky.

If he joined in with Frael, it was a commitment-meaning just because he was with a Frael didn’t automatically make his own health bad. He was actually in somewhat good condition for being someone who plays games for most his days. So, whether he wanted to or not, he was stuck in with the other kids if he joined in.

And what made it worse was Evvryn purposely choosing events Effryn had trouble doing. Whenever Effryn couldn’t keep up with it, she would stand over him, yelling “How unfit does a man have to be for them to fail at doing basic cardiovascular training!! Get a move on soldier!” each time he was unable to do the activity perfectly.

Aghh, what a pain she can be…a necessary, cute one, I guess.

While on his way to the backroom where Freal often slept, children began to swarm him, shooting questions like:

“Hey Effryn, here to see Frael?”

“Where’s Evvryn at, is she here?!”

“Isn’t it late for you to come visit?”

“Are we gonna do another exercise run before bed?”

“Being a pervert again I see…”

...huh?

“H-hey you! Did Evvryn tell you that!? Don’t listen to her, she doesn’t know what she’s saying!” Effryn panicked, trying to clear his name from an accusation that was absolutely false.

I swear Evvryn, just what do you teach these kids…

It wasn’t rare for the children to say whatever Evvryn said, adopting it into their own little way of speaking. It’s only natural for a kid to grow up on whatever’s the most interesting around them, eventually taking some form of shape of it.

But seriously...why tell them I’m a pervert? They might actually start to believe it…

Effryn cut off his trail of thinking. It wasn’t ‘get assaulted by children ⅓ his age’ time, it was Frael time. One of the times he looks forward to the most.

Ignoring the beckoning kids behind him, he knocks on the door.

“Frael, It’s me Effryn. Is it ok if I come in?”

Waiting for a few seconds, Effryn hears no response, thinking maybe she’s fallen asleep. Until…

“S-sorry, Frael’ll get the door for you!” A voice filled with a stuffy squeak erupts from inside.

“Ah, ok” Effryn sighed with relief.

Why lock the door when your sick? He thought, but decided she had reason for doing so. He probably knew what she was up to anyways-making some contraption out of her toys.

Frael is actually pretty smart in making things, while also learning the components of things, and how they work-or, how to use them to make something else out of them.

Lck

Peeking out, came spiky, pearlescent hair sticking out.

“Welcome home, onii-san!” Frael says with a cough.

A sweet and honorable welcome home, one any man would die just to hear. Well, any non-normally functional human being that is.

“Ekkkkk!! Frael you wonderous human creation! Every welcome home is a blessing from the gods!” Having his cuteness meter reaching levels inconceivable to man, Effryn nearly about broke down in tears. Tears a man could enjoy after achieving a hard days work. Tears a man made after pulling off the impossible. Tears a man could make after witnessing their first born child-something which could bring a grown man to their knees.

“ehehe...Frael still doesn’t know what that means, but Effy seems to enjoy it” Coughing again, she responded sounding unsure about what she said.

Yep, as disgusting and weebish as it sounds, Effryn makes Frael call him oniichan-well, likes her to at least-as a greeting without any context to what she was saying. She didn’t think it was anything bad, so she happily agreed.

The first time she welcomed him, Effryn jumped ecstatically with joy, while Evvryn was shocked at what she had just heard, and could shake her head in disappointment. “Effryn, you weird, stupid, sad sack of shit. I swear…”

Being scared by what Evvryn said, Frael fastly apologized “F-frael is sooo sorrrryy! I’ll make my mouth shut next time, I swear!” all while Effryn was feeling giddy about his new feeling of ecstasy.

While shaking her head with disgust, Evvryn came up with a little plan. “Hey Frael, what you said is ok...for the most part. Next time though, say san instead of chan, okay?

Frael nodded her head, “Okay, but is there any difference?”

“Yeah, but you shouldn’t worry about something like this” Evvryn smirked, still leaving Frael in the dark.

The next time they visited, Effryn’s joy was shot down like a bomber in ww2. He froze in place, not knowing whether or not he heard what Frael said correctly.

“Eck, come again?” Genuinely confused, or hurt, Effryn wanted to hear what Frael said again.

“Uuuu-welcome home oniisan!” Frael said in her vibrant voice.

Pain shot Effryns heart after being betrayed by the one thing he deemed worshipable in this world. That was until he heard the laughing of the devil herself-Evvryn.

“Haha, hehe-it suits you well, shorty!”

“W-why you...Frael! Don’t listen to a thing this witch has to say. Everything that comes out of her mouth is pure heresy!”

“Frael, don’t listen to what this boy has to say! All he wants so do is have his younger fantasies come to fruition!”

“Aaaaaaaaaaa! I don’t know what to think! All these big words are hurting my head…” Frael exclaims, trying to piece together the words so she could understand and make a coherent sentence she could understand from them.

Of course, an eleven year old couldn’t understand something like this. And if there is one...then props to them.

After saying sorry repeatedly, Effryn tried to get her to say chan instead, but Evvryn ended up putting up more resistance. Frael ended going with a ‘san’ now each time they meet, with Evvryn dying laughing “Ha! It suits you too good for nearly being at her height!”

Eventually, although painfully, Effryn got use to it, letting cuteness overcome harassment.

And to this day, Frael still has no idea what she’s saying.

“Frael, thank you for being the goddess this world needs.” Expressing his overly joyful glee, Effryn gave Freal a headpat. “And for each good deed you do, you deserve more pat points!”

“Pat points?” Frael questions him, while unknowingly tilting her head.

Pure eye heaven!

“BONUS PAT POINTS!!!” Dying from the adorable being while defying newton himself, he gives points galore.

“T-thank you E-erruuuuuu-Mr.Bubbles!”

Stunned, Effryn stopped all head pat action immediately. Many emotions stormed through his head and heart right now, but only one could be easily picked out.

Pure astonishment.

“Ahhhhhhh everything you just said completely melt my soul.” At this point Evvryn had fallen to the ground, squirming with all the cute attacking him. “And the fact you have no idea where that’s from makes it soo much more better and wholesome. INFINITE PAT POINTS!!!”

Thank god she learns only the wholesomeness of things, even if its origin isn’t so much, she changes the whole concept!!

After patting to his heart's content, Effryn warmed up some tea for Frael, who was now lying in bed. She was still sick after all.

“So when did this mean sickness spring out at you?”

Effryn set the tea next to Fraels mat, and checked her forehead to see if she had a fever.

“Uuuuuuu...Frael thinks two days.” Coughing after finishing, she lifts herself up to drink.

“Well good news is you’re not running a fever so you should be fine for now. Just don’t overdo anything, ok?”

Frael nods silently, taking a sip from her cup.

That’s a pat for later.

“Effy, where is Evvy at?” She tilts her head, Effryn still not knowing whether it’s on purpose or not.

“Eck, errr…” Trying to form a some kind of response for Frael, Effryn stumbles on his words.

But before he could get anything in…

“Did you two have a fight?”

“N-n-no! Definitely not! She’s was just busy today is all…” He scratches his head, trying to put into words that she can understand. “It’s just that...I went out with a friend today, and well, I guess there’s been a lot on my mind recently, and it would be hard to talk to her about it.”

Am I really about to start venting to a child right now…

Frael kicks her legs in the air, puzzled by what he said “Well, it would be better to talk to somewhere close like her for this, uuu?”

“Ahh w-well, usually, yes! But that’s the thing. The thing on my mind recently is her.”

Frael tries to understand, but only looks more puzzled than before.

But soon after, a worried expression comes across Frael’s face. “Oh no, is something wrong with Evvryn?”

“Y-yeah she’s ok physically, so need to worry about that.” Effryn says trying to ease Frael. “It’s just that…”

How exactly would I word this for Frael to understand?

“It’s just what? If she’s not hurt, then what’s stopping you from talking to her about this?”

Effryn sighs, bracing himself for every embarrassing thing he’s about to say, especially the fact he’s telling this all to a child.

“Well Frael, usually I would talk to Evvryn for just about anything or problem I would need help on. But as of late, a friend help put in my head some weird things, making it difficult for me to confront her about and asking her thoughts on it.”

Taking a deep breath, he continued “And if I were to tell her these feelings-err-thoughts, there could be a chance things would get awkward between us. So I’ve been thinking on whether or not I should actually say anything to her.” And breathe out.

I really just vented to a kid...god I’m sad.

Frael was just looking at Effryn, giving off the impression she was thinking her uuuuu.

Effryn let Frael think for a while, letting her sort out everything she had just heard. Honestly, he didn’t think she would come up with anything at all. But…

“Well Effy, how can you actually be sure she would get weirded out by what you have to say to her?” She breaks the silence, questioning Effryn.

“W-well Frael, this is one of those things you wouldn’t understand until your older, so it may take some time before you full understand the severity of the situation.”

“Whatever you have to say Effy, I’m sure she’ll understand it some way. She’s been your bestest friend for as long as I can remember…” Longer than your birth, actually. “And even if some reason she doesn’t, then how would you know? It’s not like you’re trying.”

Huh?

Effryn was taken by surprise. A stealth attack.

“There’s no way of knowing how she feels unless you go to her directly and talk to her yourself Effy. That’s the only way you can understand what she’s thinking.”

“...”

…

“...Effy?”

“H-h-huh!?

How can someone so young come up with an answer like that? And she doesn’t even know exactly what this is about!!

Speechless, Effryn stood dead still. What could he do? He had no words to tell how he felt. Webster themselves probably couldn’t find the right words to accurately depict what he’d heard.

“Effy...if you don’t do what you want to now, then why hurt your head thinking about them if you’re gonna do nothing about it?”

So I’m getting lectured by a kid now, am I? Great, my life seems to be going great.

As much as it hurt for Effryn to take Frael’s attacks, she was right. Why overthink on something if it only is going to bring pain. Although maybe she even didn’t understand the full implications of what she said, it was still painfully true.

“...thank you...Frael” Finally able to push out words, Effryn was able to push out something, even while his mind was a complete mess.

“W-what did I do...and why are you crying!?”

Frael panicked, trying to understand what she said to make him cry.

But Effryn just smiled, with tears surfing down his cheek, and gave pats to Fraels head. Maybe he was overthinking the whole thing, abusing his own mind with just probabilities. It was up to him to actually see these possibilities through, and see if he can get the best one possible-Evvryn.

“N-nothing, just your cuteness being overpowered again.”

Looking at him with unknowing but curious eyes, Frael tilt her head, trying to understand what Effryn meant.

After a while, the stream finally stopped, and Effryn began tucking Frael in for bed, while occasionally swapping warm wet rags for her temperature.

Taking her words as if it was a prophets, which they probably were, Effryn made it his goal to live by her words for as long as he lived!

But one thing was on his mind-where did she come up with that? It’s unlikely he could have taught her that, with him just praising her cuteness and patting her. Evvryn couldn’t be the one, she just commendered the kids into newly trained soldiers.

“Hey Frael, who taught you this stuff?”

Frael looked into space, as if she were thinking hard about the question.

“Uuuuuu…Just from someone who was like an older sister to me.” She responded to him, sounding a little distraught. “Almost like how I see you as a brother now. She was someone who Frael looked up to very much before coming here.”

“F-frael..? Is she someone who’s gone now?” Effryn asked timidly, hoping he wasn’t asking something painful from her.

“Frael doesn’t really know herself...everyone just tells me she was sent to somewhere else because of how she was hurt.”

Effryn was even more worried about her now. He never really knew the past of Frael’s life before the orphanage, only that she’s been here for a little over a year. He never bothered to ask what the past experiences of kids who were orphaned. He had no need to.

So, as usual, Effryn kept his mouth shut on it, and decided not to pressure on the topic.

“Well, I’m sure she’s somewhere out there, worried about you too.” Effryn wanted to comfort her any shape possible, even just in small amounts. “I bet she’s doing fine, and someday, she’ll do great things.”

From her distraught expressions, Frael came back to her usual self, giving cheerful smiles.

“Frael thinks so too, she did always say nothing in life would stop her, so she has to be safe!”

An angel sent from the heavens, almost like their lost property or something…

“Jeez, it sounds like you learned a lot from this person.”

Effryn thought about how much of a blessing Frael had been to the planet, thanking the gods for her everyday. But if she had someone close to her before, then one of his ideas might just be a possibility-two godly cute human beings. The idea of so much cuteness stemming from another root isn’t normally impossible, but if it were the case, then the cute range would be colateral! “I wouldn’t mind meeting her oneday if she ever comes back!”

There was no way could he miss an a chance to be killed by over-cuteness! Who could?

“W-well ok...whatever that means..?”

Patting Frael’s head again, Effryn ruffled her hair.

Then, in the next room...

“Okay everybody!” The mother cried out to the children, clapping her hands. “We finished washing the mats for everybody, so can everyone line up one by one and come get a mat!”

It sounded like all the kids stopped what they were doing, and in unison yelled “Okay!”

“Well Frael, I think it’s time for some bed.” Effryn calmly said, switching out the final rag for her. “I guess it’s somewhat convenient to have a mat already made, isn’t it?

Spacing out, Frael went Uuuuuuuuu like she always had, and shook her head when she broke out.

“Heh, it’s alright. Just get some rest, and don’t push yourself tomorrow, OK?”

“Yes sir!”

“Whaaa...is Evvryn getting to you?! We might need to get away from her to preserve all cute cargo…”

“N-no! I just hear the others say that when they having fun with her.”

“Aghh, more like training them…” He muttered to himself, reminded by the harsh routine she usually has planned out. “Well anyways, I’ll be back sooner or later, so just keep being an angel.”

Smiling, he head patted Frael one last time, and got up to leave. “Goodnight, my living, breathing, essense of love.”

“Goodnight Effy, Frael will get better.” Before leaving the room, Frael got in one last piece, or jab, at Effryn. “Uuuu, and don’t forget to trust Evvy, even if it might hurt you.”

Hearing those heart filled words, Effryn turned back before closing the door, to seeing Fraels’ finger pointing at his soul.

“You had to get one last mark, along with a stretch of adorableness, didn’t you?”

Looking at Effryn with her questioning eyes, she just tilted her head in wonder.

“Ahh well, night.”

“Nighty night!”

And Effryn slowly closed the door behind him, to let the angel get some much needed rest.

All the children around him were in their mats, each slowly drifting off to sleep.

Before leaving to home, Effryn said his goodbyes to the mother and father, who were hard at work in getting the smaller ones to bed.

And to which, he left the orphanage, off to his home where he needed some time to think.

Thinking about one thing, or rather, person. Someone who he’d lived with and knew his entire life-Evvryn.

So. I finally have some guts for coming back. Even if it took an hour or so, I still managed to come home somehow…

Standing before the door to their apartment, one obstacle still remained-the biggest one yet.

Taking a deep breath in, Effryn opened the door, ready for anything and everything to came at him...

“Effryn!? What in the hell of hell took you so long? I was getting sooo bored with just screaming at my screen. I’m glad you finally came back, I really needed a destress human.”

“D-didn’t I say I was going out today?”

“Didya now? I can’t seem to recall such words. And I doubt you even have a fraction of the balls to consider going outside for any reason.”

“H-hey! I’m not completely puss Evvryn! I can do normal things like everyone else...about six percent of the time…”

Why am I being trapped the moment I walk in!?

“Like hell! That's wayyy too high!”

Assault like this was normal for Effryn, even if he left the apartment in every lifetime or so. He never thought it was intentionally meant to hurt him, so why should he get mad over it? This is someone who he grew up with, always teasing him about every little thing about him, whether it be big or small.

And so, he took every word, thus having made it into an everyday occurrence. That's just how Evvryn is he thought to himself.

“So what, went to see Eizer again?”

“O-oh, yeah for bit. I also went to see Frael afterwards too.”

“Awww. So first you went to see your lover in a faraway maintenance shithole, then you got your fetishes on with a little girl? Yep, sounds Just. LIke. You.” She said, looking down at Effryn with a face of pure disgust.

“Waitwaitwait, what?!?! Why would I think like that?! Frael is an innocent little girl the entire world needs to get behind and defend! AT ALL COST!!!”

Standing behind his very own pillars, he was going to defend them at all cost. It was practically a religious point to protect everything Frael for him.

“So...I don’t think it’s entirely normal to get that worked up for some little girl…” Effryn could see the absolute disgust in her face, almost enough to be one of the most horrid things she’s ever seen in her life. “Yep, you need psychiatric help…”

“If it were to make her smile even for a second, I would do it in a nanosecond.”

“I really hope the FBI is listening to this. It would sure be a shame if someone here happened to get swatted for a form of loli love.”

“If I must defeat the government itself to see Frael shine, then I would do what needs to be done. Even if God challenged me for her, I would still stand strong against it, all for her!” Effryn exclaimed while pointing up at the heavens.

“Sheesh...You definitely have an exponential amount of screws loose.”

After getting into the debate of deep human desires and what man should truly deem precious, Evvryn sits down on to continue playing, with Effryn finding a comfortable spot next to her.

It was what he had always done; sit next to her and watch, or play something of his own.

But something was off. It was as if his body was slowing down, while everything moved faster.

What is...this?

The world itself seemed as if it were offset, more distant from Effryn than he ever felt. Yet only one thing remained close enough to feel real, realer than anything else going through his mind.

“...Evvryn.”

“What now kiddo. You gonna talk about how much you love Eizer now? Please, enlighten me on what position you take, top or bottom?”

Unknowingly saying her name softly, Effryn rammed his brain for anything to come out to pull out, with a slight pitch of disgust from what Evvryn hinted at.

“W-wait...what?! Uhhhhh… So you did your weekly yet for Gambit yet?”

Why...how could I say that out loud..? And why would you say something like that as a response?!

“Did you lose a few brain cells in the last couple of minutes or something? We did them at the start of reset, so I’m just doing the daily for now. And besides, even though we both hardly do things together on this game, we can both agree that Gambit is complete ass.”

“W-well...you’re not wrong there.”

“Definitely not. Why even consider putting something like that into the game?”

“Especially if everyone uses some kind of linear fusion rifle, like where’s all the fun in that? Although to be fair, Crucible does have its majority shotgun rule, so it’s not to far off either.”

“Like hell crucible’s anything near that mode! Only virgins and pussies use a shotgun, real men use snipers!!!”

“B-but doesn’t that just mean there is a certain way to play those games, or modes, and you’re only limiting yourself if you don’t play the conventional way?”

“Well sure, there is a sort a meta to how it’s played, which kinda sucks when you die by the same weapon or thing time and time again. But that’s what makes using different weapons so much fun, especially when you come out on top going against the meta. It’s actually a pretty kickass feeling!”

So going against a whole party of shotgunners with just a sniper, and pulling out on top, is all it takes for someone to have fun going the unconventional route? Maybe that’s why people still have fun on games with metas’.

“Maybe so, but I guess if the people playing the meta have fun, then is there really a problem for anyone if you’re all enjoying your time?”

Evvryn stopped what she was doing, and began glaring at Effryn with all intent of harm.

“Those who still follow the crowd just to win deserve the death penalty.” And just continued where she left off.

“...that’s a bit harsh for some people, when it’s all for fu-”

“Do not even think of it as fun!! They do it for an easy win!! Only the worst fall to levels that low!” Evvryn blew off some rage, seeming as she just got sniped by a sleeper.

“O-ok!”

Rage inducing aside, Effryn didn’t see much difference in what other players perfered play style was. As long as the more people had fun, the better.

Evvryn on the other hand wasn’t too appreciative on everyone following a bandwagon just to win. Although he wasn’t to keen on her entire view, there was one he could kind of see-why go through so much just to win?

Maybe they saw winning as their only fun in game, but then depending on your win/loss ratio, say, if you lose roughly 60% of the time, you’ll have one majority experience filled with yelling at teammates.

But if you have 60-no-80% win rate, then boy o boy, either you have some great luck, or just stupid dumb talent. Which also puts you having an ecstasy of time.

But if you win to much...won’t that make winning feel numb..?

...

Aggghhhhh!! All this brain working is giving my head an ache! Why even worry myself about something like this!? Just play how you see fit, dangit!!

Still… Effryn stared at the ever vibrant Evvryn, yelling everything going wrong in her game. All this talk of what players rights should be, and if they should or should not have fun, allowed his mind to doze off for a bit.

But the question still pursued:

What...should I do?

Effryn watched her as she continued expressing her open minded feelings toward the enemy team, while her hair flew through the air covering half her face, with the computer screen illuminating the golden strands.

He had no idea what, how, and if he talk about what’s been on his mind-he really didn’t.

But he couldn’t ignore the possible chance of regret he might feel from rejection, and everything wrong afterwards. If it proved to be a total failure, God knows what might happen.

But if nothing happens, then nothing happens. No progress will ever be made. He’ll just have to live with these feelings buried up inside-for the rest of his life, or maybe forget them through time.

But is that really what I want to do?

Both options scared Effryn, but he couldn’t quite tell which one scared him the most-Not being able to talk to Evvryn in the same in a negative away again. Or forever keeping his feelings to himself.

-“There’s no way of knowing how she feels unless you go to her directly and talk to her yourself” Fraels words stormed through his mind, interrupting his trains of thought.

Aghh, maybe I should listen to her? Her existence might just very well be the breakthrough I needed for this!!

Mentally building up his defences, Effryn took a deep breath.

This could be it. Her match just ended, with her barely doing enough Dps to finish off their teams boss. Just enough to calm her down into sensible levels.

Maybe with the power of Fraels cuteness-and a tad bit of luck-he could say something to her. Anything that could tell her how he felt, even if just a fraction of it.

C’mon Frael, you better be right!!! Or I swear I’ll...I’ll...head pat you…

…

Enough thinking about that!! Screw it!! In the name of Frael I will do this!!!

Taking his second deep breath, he...

“E-Ev-”

“Oooo! I forgot to tell you, I’ve got some Godly news!!”

...tried to something, anything. But ended up getting interrupted before he could.

“O-o-o-oh yeah?! W-what is it?” He could feel his heart pulsating, and his face burning up.

“Well…” Turning towards him, Evvryn beamed with excitement, and grinned with a happy tone from lip to lip. “A God got accepted into a tournament thingy for some VR game coming out soon!!!”

“...”

…

“Effryn, are you even listening!! Why aren’t you saying anything, or are you jealous that you could never be as good as me? Well it’s okay, maybe if you practice long enoug-”

Stopping what she was saying, she grew silent, watching Effryn.

Scooting next to him, Evvryn smiled, putting one arm around him.

“Jeez...when will you ever stop being a baby…” She said, patting his head, while he silently cried happily for Evvryn.