When Shadows Rise | I

Ch. 38 | The Unknown

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Raph

Now that he wasn't feeling mad anymore, Raph didn't see the point of staying in his room any longer (he could still stay in it, regardless, but then he thought it would give the impression to his siblings that he was still mad and then make a whole lot of different assumptions). So he went to hang out in the living room, which currently housed Mikey on the couch playing a new game on his phone. Raph wasn't really up to anything at the moment, so he strolled over to Mikey hoping that he could guess what game he was playing. But apparently when he loomed over Mikey and saw his phone screen, he had no clue what he was seeing in front of him.

"Um, what's that?" Raph asked.

"Just a new game I downloaded," Mikey answered. He tapped his screen furiously. "Come on—come on!"

"Does this 'game' have a name?"

"It's called 'Color Coordinated.' And yeah, I know it sounds simple, but it's not; it's a puzzle game."

Raph raised a brow. "Since when were you into puzzles and brain fart games?"

"I overheard Donnie mention once about if you play enough puzzle games, your brain can become smarter. So that's what I'm doing!"

"You don't say."

"The purpose of the game is to match the incoming number of blocks with its correct amount and color to create a picture. But as you increase in level, the speed and intensity also do as well, and if you don't match the number of blocks or the color correctly—" Mikey yelped and frantically tapped away. "What?! No, no, no, no. . ." He brought his phone to his face, widening his eyes. Then came a big electronic whoop sound. "NO!" He cried. The words Game Over appeared on the screen. Mikey groaned and pressed a pillow against his face, screaming into it.

Watching Mikey's reaction, Raph didn't know whose reaction was more dramatic: Mikey's, or Leo's when that dorky sci-if show Space Heroes season three ended on a cliffhanger and Spaceniks (the fandom name for Space Heroes, according to Leo) had to wait two years for the next season. Raph remembered Leo compulsively checking the internet every minute for a year or so for an announcement.

After wallowing in his defeat, Mikey drew his head back. He sighed. "That happens," he said.

"Tragic," Raph said. "What level are you on, anyway?"

"I only started this game yesterday and already I'm on level fifty! I'm so addicted."

Raph smirked a little. "Did you already replace Super Robo Mecha Force Go The Game?"

Mikey frowned. "No way, dude—well. . . is it considered replacement if you spend more time on a new game than your 'favorite' one?"

"I don't know, Mikey, is it?"

"Super Robo Mecha Force Go The Game is great and all, but Color Coordinated. . . it just keeps you on your toes!" Mikey giggled and kicked his legs up like a little girl. "Say," he said as he glanced over at Raph, "you think if I play enough brain-stimulating games I can be even smarter than Donnie?"

"You having a bigger brain than Mr. SmartyPants?" Raph mused. "I'd kill to see that."

"Just one day I want to stump him so badly, he'll be calling me the next Einstein!" Mikey grinned and plopped his head against Raph's shoulder. "Speaking of Donnie, what do you think he's doing right now?"