Chapter 1

Akito nudged Ryohei's arm.

While the exam supervisor turned away, he whispered, "Ryohei, slide your paper over here..."

Ryohei replied, "Do it yourself," covering his completed answers with scratch paper.

Akito insisted, "Ryohei!" a bit louder, catching the supervisor's attention. Akito urgently scratched his head and whispered, "Just push your paper a bit towards me. I won't disturb your answering..."

Ryohei subtly shook his head.

Pointing at him, Akito said, "You..."

Before he could finish, a figure suddenly appeared at the door, blinded by the noon sunlight. Although his face wasn't clear, everyone in the entire building recognized him by his voice.

He shouted, "Akito, come out!"

Akito glanced at the door, muttered a curse, hurriedly wrote his name, capped his pen, handed in the paper, and rushed out.

Ryohei glanced briefly at the door, then quickly lowered his head, contemplating the next physics question.

He thought they must have gone to the small internet café near the school again.

And he was right. Nick had dragged Akito to the small internet café. That place, calling it a small internet café was already too much. It was on the second floor of a residential building on the edge of a small neighborhood. No sign hung outside, and inside, almost ten worn-out computers were crammed together.

Nick was still happily playing when Akito patted his shoulder, "Nick..."

Without turning his head, Nick asked, "What's up? I just got into the groove..."

Akito said, patting his head, "I didn't bring much money..."

Nick took out ten yuan from his pocket and tossed it to him, continuing to play.

The money hit Akito and fell to the ground. He didn't pick it up, saying, "I feel bad always using your money..."

Nick picked up the money from the ground, forcibly shoved it into Akito's hand, and when he turned back, his in-game character had lost half of its health, "Damn it..."

Without making a sound, Akito played for another hour, then forcefully returned the remaining money to Nick's pocket.

Playing the game, Akito said, "Nick, I'll definitely pay you back in the future."

Nick frowned. Without paying attention, his character lost another half-health to a monster.