[Music Recommendation: "Happy Journey" by Yu-Peng Chen (Genshin Impact OST)-available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~

As Kai suggested, I tried writing a story. I wasn't familiar on how to create my own world, and characters yet, so I began writing a fan fiction of Armageddon—the story mode one. Plus, he was familiar with the game so it would be easier for him to judge it, right? So I spent the rest of July, the whole of August, and beginning of September writing my first fanfic. Would it still be considered fanfic though, even if I didn't like how the story progressed? Oh well, since I play the game and quite enjoy it, it might still be fair to call it that. By the way, we managed to celebrate mom's birthday without a hitch—no irritating scammers to visit us since they'd been dealt with by the government.

The days passed by quickly as I wrote my version of the story. I scheduled writing everyday, after doing my assignments and projects. Sometimes, I would write at school, too, during free time like when the teacher was out or we got free periods. I started bringing an extra notebook just for it—a cute one with an iridescent hard cover. Hora and Ken wondered what it was that I'm getting busy with, but I didn't tell them yet. I said that I'd only say it once I'm finished with it, and I'd show them. They let me off the hook, thankfully, and they even helped me do other menial tasks so I could focus on what I'm doing.

Having done it myself, I could say the author of those books I read were all so brilliant! Writing a story wasn't easy at all! I mean, yes, you could just spout nonsense in writing but that would give you a crap story. If I wanted to write something worth reading, then I had to put lots of efforts in it—efforts, creativity, originality, and many others. I still remembered the very first time I tried to write. I was on such a loss that I didn't know what to write—how to begin the story, how to plot it so it would go to the point of the story I wanted it to be, and lots of stuff. I researched writing techniques and tips just to be able to start my story.

Once I managed to start it somehow, words just ran through me like magic. I was even surprised by myself how I did it. But starting a story, and continuing it until the ending, were two entirely different things. For me at least, continuing the story until the ending was the hardest part. Especially since it was fantasy and I had to be really careful in plotting it out—when to give hints for foreshadowing, dropping facts, being careful of loopholes, and many more.

At last, after months of rigorous work, I finally finished my first fanfic! Yay! I felt so excited. It was the 12th of September, Saturday morning. I ended up pulling an all-nighter because I was too engrossed in writing the ending. In my excitement, I quickly logged in Armageddon and checked if Kai was online. I had to reduce my playing time with him this past few months but we still do boss hunting from time to time. And from all the times we played, I still didn't manage to ask for his other form of contact—I was still too shy to ask. Maybe I'll do it this time since I would need to send him my story right? I could ask for his email, right?

As I logged in, I just remembered his detest of mornings—he said that to me once while we were playing. I felt sad knowing he won't be online, and prepared myself to log out as soon as it opened. To my surprise, he was logged in and currently playing!

"Someone put an all-nighter like me," I pinged him.

Okay… wait for a few seconds and -

"Busted," he replied. Always the lazy typer.

I chuckled at his response. "Call?" I made sure to beat him this time. He always asked for a call since he's too lazy to type. Yeah, right. But when it comes to playing, he was never lazy. Imagine having to tap buttons multiple times! I shrugged at the thought of it.

Without further ado, he called me.

"Hi," he greeted. His voice sounded a bit hoarse, making it sound sexier than usual.

'Was it a morning voice? Wait, did I just think that his voice sounded sexy? What? For real, Sena? Don't tell me you're crushing over a voice? Oh my goodness! No—definitely not. He's a friend, okay? He just had a really nice voice, that's why.'

"Hello," I greeted back, sounding a bit shy because of all the things I just thought. My voice was a bit rough, too, I just noticed it when I spoke.

"Why didn't you sleep?" he asked. "If you keep that up, you won't grow any taller."

"Ha-ha! I'm quite fine with my 5'7 height. And you? You're the one who needs to grow more since you're a boy."

"I'm tall enough already. I'm not aiming to be a 6-footer. I'm already getting enough invites to join the varsity and lots of other sports clubs. If I grow any taller, they won't stop pestering me."

"Why? What's your height right now?"

"5'9."

"Wow! That's tall! No wonder you're getting lots of invites. Too bad, you're too lazy to join any of them, right?"

"Hah! Yeah," he chuckled. "And did you just say you're 5'7? You were only 5'6 a few months ago."

"See? I told you I'm growing quite well. I think I'll be 5'8 or maybe even 5'9 before I turn 18. I hope I don't grow too tall though." Honestly, I knew I really won't. I only reached 5'8 in my past life, so it would probably be the same on this one since I had the same body.

"Why not?"

"It will be hard for me to look for a partner in the future. Not many of my fellow countrymen will be tall enough for me. And I'm not too sure if I want to marry into a foreigner's family, you know."

"Pft! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!" and he laughed at me, real hard, as if my concern was unimportant.

"Hey! Why are you laughing at me? It's reason enough!"