Pixelate 4: Shining Star

Chapter 7: Moving Up

The next day during lunch...

William: "So we're not going to log in until Walker finishes the merge?"

Isabel: "That's the group's consensus."

Caleb joins the others at the lunch table.

Caleb: "Wh-What's going on?"

Micheal: "We've decided to wait until the games merge before we log in again."

Caleb: "Oh..."

Robert: "Were mainly using the time to study for some tests next week."

Anthony: "Yeah junior year is a lot more difficult than we expected."

They continue to eat lunch for the next twenty minutes until the bell rings.

Kyle: "(cracking knuckles) Alright, time to fall asleep in English."

Isabel: "Really?"

Everyone except Risa and Caleb head to class.

Caleb: "I-I've got a biology class to get to."

Risa: "Hold on!"

Caleb stops.

Risa: "Why don't we log in after school?"

Caleb: "But the others just said-"

Risa: "They're juniors and we don't have any tests until after the merge. Plus we don't need them to log in."

Caleb thinks for a moment.

Caleb: "O-Okay..."

The day passes on like normal. Classes come and go until the day finally ends.

Risa: "Let's go Caleb."

Caleb is holding onto Echoes tightly.

Caleb: "Should we tell the others we're going to see The Knights of Hope or something?"

Risa: "Just sent that to William."

Caleb: "He's fine with it?"

Risa: "He says they need to study with the others and I said that I'm going to get you to know them better."

Caleb: "Th-That's... actually pretty convincing."

Risa cracks her knuckles.

Risa: "Well let's go log in. We need to head over to Gamma for Rank 2, then we'll log out."

They begin to walk.

Caleb: "Really?"

Risa: "As part of the final update, each server has certain bosses on each. The only universal one is Rank 1."

Caleb: "So you just want to help me move up in the ranks before the merge?"

Risa: "Plus you shouldn't be slacking with Aegis on the loose."

They arrive at the usual login.

Caleb: "(breathing heavily) Y-Yeah..."

Risa gives Caleb a little pat as they walk in.

Risa: "Just try not to think of her as your mom and you should be okay."

They step into scanning rooms.

Caleb: "(mumbling) I hope so..."

The two log in.

Risa: "Are you ready for a nice surf?"

A spark flashes in Caleb's eyes.

Caleb: "(excited) Hell yes!"

Risa: "Good to see you have drive. Now let's go!"