@extra_ordinary shithead, didn't even tell us ur in a contest livestream

And he wouldn't even voice chat with us and puts his account on hiatus. Im hurt

how could you :'''(

Stop whining ok:')

I'm gonna be back online after this is over. With voice chats

you better. squirt.

Oi.I'm regular height. that interviewer is just tall

I slipped my phone back in my pocket, while Marius was undoubtedly insulting my average height some more. But we wouldn't be ourselves if we weren't talking shit about each other all the time.

Them knowing my face hadn't changed anything. They were still the same as always, and it gave me some sense of hope. Things were going okay. Not great, but okay.

I'd been playing it extremely safe this tournament. After all, if I used unorthodox weapons or took stupid risks like I did online, chances were I could wave my gaming computer goodbye.

The duller but more stable strategies had to do. Even if some viewers complained I wasn't putting up enough of a show.

Rolf had made one attempt to distract me, simply by standing behind me and looking while I played. He'd had made me sweat for a few minutes, but quickly got told to take more distance from the currently in-game players by a staff member. I saw him talking with an official later.

I tried my best to ignore Rolf, but was always aware of where he was. It was a constant distraction but I, unsurprisingly according to the other players hanging around, made it to the stage.

Even so, I found my eyes darting to Rolf while I was watching an ongoing match on the tv screen in the lobby.

There'd been some recaps of my gameplay during the break, but there was still no word from Asa or Cindy.

A contest official marched my way.

"Extra Ordinary? You're up after the current match," he warned me. "I'll call you when it's time to go downstairs."

"Okay, uh, thanks."

An icy-hot surge of nerves shot through by body, leaving goosebumps in its wake. Behind closed doors was all fine and dandy, but the stage? That scared me.

"Hey, you got this." A friendly older guy who went by the username Paradox slapped my arm with the back of his hand. He smiled. "Your stats are way better than anyone's here."

I tentatively returned his smile. "Thanks," I said again, this time more sincere.

Paradox's nose suddenly wrinkled as he looked at something behind me. "Oh, fuck, they're back again. Is this really necessary?"

Paradox promptly jumped up and hurried to the drink stand while I turned in my seat and saw the camera crew.

"Oh crap," I muttered under my breath when the crew spotted me too. They made a beeline for me, cornering me before I could do anything.

Okay. It's just part of the show. What does it matter now? Your face has already been on screen anyway.

"Extra Ordinary!" The interview guy greeted me. "Or, Gabriel, as that's your real name. Congratulations, you made it to the next round. As expected, honestly. How is the day going so far?"

"I can't complain," I replied with a fake, trembling smile. "I wasn't at my best. Mistaking debris in space for another player and giving away my position was unfortunate - lost some valuable points there. But hey, I made it to the next round."

"That's absolutely right!" The interviewer replied. "And it's normal to be nervous at your first tournament, especially in your position."

The interviewer's smiled broadened. "We've spoken to one of your classmates who's also here today and on to the next round. Is it true you've stepped out of the shadows and decided to come today to represent the LGBT+ community at gaming events?"

"I-- what?" I sputtered, tensing.

"You're gay, right?"

My eyes jolted from the interviewer to the camera still aimed at my face. This was a live stream. The hateful comments on my channels that would follow this flashed through my mind.

"I-I guess?" I lamely pressed out after the silence had already lasted a few seconds.

"Well, we're happy to have you here, Gabriel. Good for you." The interviewer gave my shoulder a firm pat. "But, the sentiments are divided. There have also been some accusations that you're not really Extra Ordinary. Your play style today just doesn't match up with how you play on your channel. And since we've never seen your face before, it's hard to prove them wrong. What would you like to say to these people?"

My facial muscles trembled and twitched. It was really hard to keep a neutral expression plastered on. To keep looking calm while things were full chaos and panic on the inside.

"No. No, I am Extra Ordinary. It's--" I took a deep breath to keep my voice from cracking. "It's just nerves. That's all."

"Well, good luck in the finals, Gabriel. We'll be rooting for a good show like you put on online!"

"I-I will try my best."

The camera was finally out of my face, but there was no moment to relax or recover. I couldn't even if I wanted to. Not after being questioned, knowing people would know everything about me now. My guts twisted, and I tasted metal in my throat.

The stage director, or whoever she was, pushed her way through the contestants. "You're up next, Extra Ordinary!" she told me. "Come with me."

The hasty woman placed her hand on my back and pushed me along when I didn't automatically move.

I felt eyes on me as I was being marched through the lobby. People were watching me. Their gazes suddenly felt accusative and pricked on my skin, through my skin, straight to my nervous system.

We passed Rolf on our way to the elevator. In a flash, I caught a glimpse of his devilish grin before the elevator doors closed.

Him. It was him.

Rolf was trying to get me out of it, psych me out.

It was working.

When I arrived downstairs and got walked to the stage, everything felt like blur. Faces blended together. My limbs felt weak.

I took a seat in the chair I was directed to, and despite the noise of the crowd and music I knew had to be there, I only heard blood pumping through my ears and my own loud breathing.

Some presenter yelling my name and my opponents name in the mic vaguely penetrated the fog in my mind, and the world was spinning as the game started.

"Hi there viewers! Thanks for tuning in. My my name is Brad and I'm reporting in live from the Brown convention centre, where the much anticipated first high-level Double Singularity competition and convention is being held. I'm here together with Jolene." Brad turned to Jolene. "Jolene, what are your first impressions from the contest today?"

"We have some very interesting newcomers. Definitely keep your eye on Paradox and FateXX - I think these two players have a good shot at taking home that trophy today. But, of course, we all know the real talk of the day was Extra Ordinary."

Brad's face scrunched up. "Going straight for the elephant in the room, eh?"

"Well, we can't get around it, Brad. His stage match was a let down to say the least. Mistake after mistake after mistake."

"That's right. We already saw that beginner's mistake in the preliminaries from Extra Ordinary- mistaking debris for his opponent. He did it again in his match against Lars, who immediately went for the kill."

"I felt like he was rushing too much," Jolene added. "Like he went into tunnel vision and forget to check his surroundings - around corners. His observatory use was terrible. All mistakes a player at his level simply can't be excused for anymore."

Brad chuckled. "Come on now, Jolene. Cut the boy some slack. He said he was nervous in an interview beforehand, and the kid came out here as an openly gay gamer and did a face reveal. That's brave."

"Hey, it's not me," Jolene defended herself. "There are some serious accusations going around, fuelled by Extra Ordinary's poor performance, that this guy was not Extra Ordinary but rather someone who had bought the account. Officials haven't commented much beyond saying they'll investigate the claims. But the fact that there will be a serious investigation says enough, doesn't it?"

"Yikes. Cheating in the first big league would leave a stain on the game's name. Let's hope the situation gets resolved quickly."

I turned the volume down as the bus arrived and stopped near me.

I felt empty. Simply... empty, as I walked in and took a seat in the front, keeping my face down and hoping nobody would recognise me. At the same time my ears were involuntarily on sharp. I listening to the conversations around me, trying to figure out if anyone was talking about me.

I didn't hear my name. But I knew people out there were talking about me. I was in Brad and Jolene's show and many more. People had seen the live stream.

What were people saying right now?

I didn't want to know. The pure and utter shock still had me in a vice grip and numbed me. I didn't want it to let go before I got home.

My Discord chat with the guys was going wild, but I hadn't opened it. I didn't dare to open any of my other accounts either. Didn't answer the phone when Landon then my mom called.

Even Rolf had left me a message: you owe me a gaming pc, faggot.

And from Asa's side?

Only radio silence.

Tears stung behind my eyes, but I fervently blinked them away. Not in public.

Damn it, what was Asa doing?

Why was he promising me support, with kissing and everything, then bailing? Why was he talking me up?

It would've been fine if he'd just told me he didn't want to come. I could've told myself it was better not to go. A conclusion I probably would have reached with on my own.

At least I would've known from the start that I was alone and when it came down to it, had no one.