The Crazy Four

Chapter 6: A Different Kind of Cool

The atmosphere filled with tension as Kazuha and Eunchae exchanged barbed words, their voices sharp enough to cut diamonds. Sakura stood frozen, caught in the crossfire of their rivalry. It was like watching a tennis match, her head swiveling back and forth as each girl delivered a verbal volley.

Finally, Kazuha let out a long, exaggerated sigh. "Look," she said, her voice laced with boredom, "I'd love to stand here and trade insults all day, but I actually have better things to do. Unlike some people, I have a very busy schedule."

She turned to her team, her expression softening slightly. "Nice job, everyone," she said, her gaze sweeping over them. "Thanks for the good game."

As she passed Sakura, she paused, her hand reaching out to give her a light, almost playful punch on the arm. "That was a nice goal, for a first year," she said, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "Keep it up."

And then she was gone, disappearing into the throng of students heading towards the locker rooms. Just like that, the tension evaporated, the air left buzzing with excited chatter and post-game analysis.

Eunchae turned to leave, her yellow hoodie swallowing her up as she melted back into the crowd. Sakura watched her go, a strange mix of emotions swirling inside her. She was still reeling from the realization that Rabid Hong, the legendary, untouchable Hoverblitz prodigy, was actually... Eunchae. The girl who'd struggled to beat a console game boss in the City Hall lobby. The girl whose hand she'd held in a moment of shared victory.

"Eunchae!"

The word burst from Sakura's lips before she could stop it.

Eunchae paused, glancing back over her shoulder. She raised a hand in a lazy wave. "You're welcome," she said, her voice cool and distant. And then she continued walking, disappearing into the hallway.

Sakura stared after her, a knot of disappointment tightening in her chest. Had Eunchae not recognized her? Or was she just... ignoring her? Maybe she didn't want to be associated with a lowly first-year Tuner, especially not in front of her North Wing crew.

Sakura felt a surge of frustration, mixed with a strange urge to prove herself, to make Eunchae acknowledge her.

"Manchae!" she called out, the nickname slipping out before she could think better of it.

Eunchae's body stiffened. She stopped dead in her tracks, then whirled around, her eyes widening in disbelief. She rushed back towards Sakura, her expression a mixture of shock and suspicion.

"How did you..." she hissed, her voice barely a whisper. "How do you know that name?"

Sakura reached up and flipped open her visor, then pulled off her helmet, letting her long hair tumble down her back. "I heard your mom call you that," she said, trying to sound casual. "At the City Hall, after the Youth Briefing. Remember?"

Eunchae's eyes widened, a flicker of recognition crossing her face. "Wait... you're the Last Fantasy girl?" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of surprise and amusement. "The one who saved my butt from that stupid boss?"

"It's Sakura," Sakura reminded her, a little annoyed that she'd been reduced to a console game reference.

"Right, right, Sakura," Eunchae repeated, but her cheeks were turning a faint shade of pink, and she was avoiding Sakura's gaze. "Of course I remember."

Sakura wasn't so sure. Eunchae's expression was carefully blank, her voice guarded. It was like she was trying to distance herself, to erase that moment of connection they'd shared in the City Hall lobby.

An awkward silence stretched between them, the excited chatter of the other students fading into background noise. Sakura shifted from foot to foot, suddenly wishing she'd never called out to Eunchae in the first place.