The Key Wielder

Jui couldn't believe it.

With Jui's strategic mind and Saka's willpower, Team Fun continued to win their matches. Staring at the leader board, Jui only saw one team standing in his way: Black Tide. He exhaled, feeling the exhilaration fill his body. Never in a million years would he thought that he'd be standing here in this moment, fighting alongside someone he admired. It's so strange, to feel your heart racing when you're in good company.

A blush came over Jui's cheeks as he thought of Saka, only to hear footsteps closing in behind him.

"I sure wouldn't have expected newbies to find themselves in the final round!"

Jui was startled, grasping onto his shirt. He didn't expect someone to come over and talk to him, heck the lounge was full of other gamers. Yet, when he turned around to meet the voice, he saw a young African American boy with blue eyes that matched his colorful hair. Jui's eyes began to widen, unable to speak. There's no way that his idol, the very person that he's been following on Zeem for years, could be standing in front of him...right? He had to be dreaming!

"Aren't...aren't you Mikah Wayne?! The Key Wielder?!"

Mikah smirked, pointing a finger gun at Jui. "In the flesh!"

Jui's eyes began to sparkle. OMG! OMG! OMG!

Mikah Wayne was a legendary Strike player. When he finally decided to pick up a controller and play Strike in order to get closer to Saka, he had watched Mikah in order to learn gameplay. Even though Mikah, being an American, was on a different time zone, Jui would never miss a live stream. Sometimes, if it was too late, he'd fall asleep to the sound of his characters demolishing the competition. But...he'd never tell him that.

"Hey," Jui heard Saka as he slurped his mountain dew by his side, "who's this?"

"MIKAH WAYNE! THE KEY WIELDER!" Jui blurted, still in shock.

Saka felt annoyed with the gleam in Jui's eyes. Of course, he knew the American. He must've been someone great to get that look out of the quiet Jui.

"Huh," was all Saka managed.

"Mikah," Jui said, scrambling for a pad and paper, "can I have your autograph? I'm a big fan!"

"Of course, anything for a fan! What's your name?"

"Jui Maruko."

Jui watched intently as Mikah wrote his name and drew a little emoji on his notebook. Mikah couldn't help but get a glimpse of the new gamer. He was different from the other gamers that he's met. They've usually be super unattractive back in the states, almost like the kids who never see the light of day in their grandma's basements. But Jui was different. He was slender, his clothes were neat, and hell...his hair smelled like roses. It was almost intoxicating.

The second he handed Jui his notebook, and Jui pulled away staring at the paper, disbelieving, it almost made Mikah wish he stayed closer to him. However, the glare from his teammate told him it was time to leave. They must've had a serious partnership when it came to gaming.

"Well, bring your A game tomorrow, Jui! I won't go easy on you because of this."

"We will!" Jui said, waving to Mikah as he left.

Saka scoffed, putting his hand in his pocket. "You couldn't have waited until we beat him to ask for his autograph?"

Jui shook his head, "No way! Mikah is a sore loser, so this was the only time I could've asked for this."

Saka laughed, as he guided Jui back to the center stage. Of course, Jui was always one step ahead.