Nelly had been feeling the weight of everything: Miro, the betrayal, and the constant confusion brought by Mira's presence. His friends, knowing he needed a break from all the mess in his head, had taken him out for a day at the arcade. The idea was simple—get Nelly to let loose, laugh a bit, and maybe even break through some of his emotions without even realizing it.
"Where is Amadeus and Hiro?" Nelly asked.
"Oh they have student council work so they won't make it on the arcade" Beru replied.
Dan, Ryan, Shin, Ein, Neisan, and Beru were all gathered around the basketball machine, watching as Nelly prepared to shoot. Nelly wasn't exactly known for his athletic prowess. In fact, his form left everyone in stitches.
"Bro, are you trying to shoot the ball or your soul out of your body?" Ryan laughed, holding his stomach.
Nelly, determined, wound up and shot the ball, his entire body moving in one exaggerated motion. The ball soared toward the hoop and... bounced off the rim.
Dan shook his head, chuckling. "Nelly, man, you're using way too much body, not enough leg."
Nelly grinned sheepishly, "What do you expect? I'm a lover, not a baller."
Everyone burst out laughing, the tension in Nelly's chest loosening just a little bit.
Punching Machine: The Release
The next game was the classic punching machine. Nelly eyed it, his fists tightening as memories of Miro started creeping back into his mind. The betrayal. The lies. The heartbreak.
"Alright, let's see what you got, bro!" Beru slapped Nelly's back, a mischievous grin on his face.
Nelly grabbed the gloves, taking a swing. The first punch landed clean—900 points. The second, even better—995. The group cheered him on, but Nelly wasn't satisfied.
Beru, sensing Nelly's inner turmoil, nudged him. "Release it all, bro. Forget the gloves. Let it out."
Nelly hesitated for a moment, but the pain inside him was too much. He slipped the gloves off, bare-knuckled now, and prepared for another punch. His friends exchanged worried glances but didn't stop him. This wasn't just about a game anymore—it was about Nelly confronting everything.
He pictured Miro's face. He saw the guy she left him for. The promises that shattered like glass. He pulled back his fist, his entire body shaking with emotion, and released everything he had into one devastating punch.
BAM!
The machine's score skyrocketed to 4200 points. But Nelly wasn't done. He went for another punch, this time even harder, but the machine couldn't take it. The score froze at 3800 before the machine gave up completely. It was broken.
"Uh... time to leave," Ein said, and the group burst out laughing before sprinting to the next game—axe throwing.
Axe Throwing and the Whisper
The axe-throwing game was supposed to be simple fun, but for Nelly, it became a different way to vent his frustrations. The rubber axes were heavy, but Nelly handled them with surprising ease, hitting perfect shots on the first two throws.
"Yo, Nelly's on fire today," Dan grinned, impressed.
Just then, Dan noticed something. Mira and her friends, Annika, Ran, and Mash, had entered the arcade. His eyes widened with a mischievous glint. "Hey, guys. Let's mess with Nelly."
Dan whispered something to Mira, who giggled. She slowly approached Nelly as he prepared for his final throw. His focus was on the target, the last remnants of his emotional turmoil fueling his determination. He didn't notice Mira until she was right behind him.
YOU ARE READING
EX-istential Crisis
RomanceNelly thought his world had shattered when the love of his life, cheated on him with someone new. Heartbroken, betrayed, and struggling to move on, Nelly questions whether he'll ever be able to trust again. But just when he's at his lowest, life thr...
