The Cobra King's Return

Summer of Peak and Friendship #2

Peti and Hokori walked into the Gamer Place-walls glowing with neon lights, VR rigs humming in rows, holograms of game characters greeting guests at the entrance. It was every gamer's dream turned physical.

As they soaked in the atmosphere, Peti grinned. "This place is perfect."

He walked straight up to the front desk and asked for the boss. A few minutes later, a middle-aged man with slicked-back hair and a suspicious frown walked out, wiping his hands with a microfiber cloth.

"Yeah? You two wanna book something?"

Peti nodded. "Actually... me and my buddy here wanna stay for a few weeks. Nonstop gaming marathon. VR, arcade, console, PC-everything. We want full access."

The boss scoffed. "Weeks? This isn't a hotel, kid. We've got other guests, schedules, events. Can't just let two punks take over the place."

Peti glanced at Hokori, then leaned in. "Can we talk in private?"

Curious-and slightly annoyed-the boss led Peti to his office. A few minutes passed. Hokori waited, watching a trailer for a new VR sword game on loop.

When the door opened again, the boss looked pale... and stunned. He gave Hokori a quick nod, almost in disbelief.

"Gentlemen," he said, now smiling like a man who had just seen a mountain of gold. "You'll have the entire Level X Suite. VIP access. Unlimited time. And I'll have new systems brought in personally for you. Enjoy your stay."

As he walked off, still shaking his head, Hokori raised an eyebrow at Peti. "What did you tell him?"

Peti winked. "I told him I'd pay him the full profit he'd make in the next ten years-max projection. Plus some. And I showed him my account."

"You... have infinite money?"

"Yeah. Weird glitch in reality. Guess the universe owes me for surviving literal hell."

Hokori just laughed. "Alright, then. Let the marathon begin... in style."

And with that, they entered the VIP suite-massive screens, full-body VR, auto-snack dispensers, reclining gamer thrones, the works. The ultimate gamer haven was theirs.

And they hadn't even picked the first game yet.

The morning sun poured gently through the tinted windows of their VIP suite, casting a soft golden hue over the room. Peti stretched with a yawn, his hair messy from sleep, while Hokori rubbed his eyes and smiled lazily.

"Let's start this day right," Peti said, cracking his knuckles. "Game fuel breakfast?"

"Absolutely," Hokori nodded.

Soon, their breakfast cart arrived-smelling like heaven.

On one side, tall stacks of Japanese fluffy pancakes, soft and jiggly like clouds, dusted with powdered sugar and topped with fresh strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream. On the other, thick American-style pancakes, golden and buttery, soaked in warm juhar (maple) syrup and dotted with chocolate chips.

They stacked a combo: fluffy on bottom, classic on top-layers alternating-drizzled with more syrup, sprinkled with crushed nuts, and finished off with a cherry on top.

Next to it? Two tall, ice-cold milkshakes-vanilla for Hokori, cookies & cream for Peti-each with a swirl of cream and a small gamer-themed straw sticking out.

As they clinked forks together like swords, Peti grinned. "To good food, wild dreams, and ridiculous gaming marathons."

Hokori chuckled. "And The Best Buddies Gaming!"