Ohayo!!

The day started with a surprise that sent Nuts' heart into overdrive. As he strolled into class, still groggy from a night of tossing and turning, Coyra was already at her desk. She glanced up, her soft eyes meeting his for just a moment before she smiled.

"Ohayo, Nuts," she said gently, her voice like a melody.

Nuts froze, his mind blanking entirely. He was pretty sure his brain short-circuited because all he could manage was a strangled, "Oh-Ohayo!"

Coyra giggled, hiding her smile behind her notebook as Nuts hurried to his seat by the window, his face burning like the sun. Why did she have to say it like that? How was he supposed to function for the rest of the day now?

A Shortcut to Trouble

Despite Coyra's sweet greeting, the day went downhill fast. By lunchtime, Nuts was starving and decided to take a shortcut through the campus gym to save time. It seemed like a good idea until he accidentally bumped into Robby, a hulking figure known for his short temper.

"Watch it, window boy," Robby growled, towering over him.

"Sorry," Nuts mumbled, trying to walk away.

But Robby wasn't one to let things slide. "What's with the attitude? Think you're better than me?"

"No, no, I didn't mean—" Nuts began, but Robby shoved him, hard enough to send him stumbling into a stack of water bottles, knocking them over.

"Oh, great," Nuts muttered under his breath, his heart pounding.

Before he could figure out how to defuse the situation, a familiar voice cut through the tension.

"Leave him alone," Macber said, stepping into the scene like a shadow.

The Silent Monster Steps In

Macber stood there, tall and unyielding, his brown hair partially covering his eyes. He didn't need to say much to command attention—his presence alone was enough to make Robby pause.

"And who are you supposed to be?" Robby sneered, trying to maintain his bravado.

Macber didn't flinch. "Someone you don't want to mess with," he said quietly, his voice calm but firm.

Robby laughed, though it sounded nervous. "You think you can take me on?"

Macber didn't answer, his gaze locked on Robby. The silence stretched, heavy and oppressive, until Robby finally backed off with a muttered, "Whatever."

Once Robby was gone, Macber turned to Nuts, his expression softening. "You okay?"

"Yeah, thanks to you," Nuts said, still a little shaken.

Macber nodded. "Let's get out of here."

An Invitation

As they walked out of the gym, Nuts couldn't help but feel grateful. "You really saved me back there," he said. "Thanks, Macber."

Macber shrugged. "You'd do the same for me."

"Honestly, I don't know if I'd have the guts," Nuts admitted with a laugh.

"You don't need guts," Macber said. "You just need good timing."

They walked in silence for a bit before Macber spoke again. "What are you doing after class?"

"Nothing planned," Nuts said. "Why?"

"Come over," Macber said. "We'll play some games. You could use a break."

Nuts grinned. "Sounds good."

The Gaming Session

Later that afternoon, Nuts arrived at Macber's house and was immediately impressed by his setup. A sleek PlayStation sat at the center of a well-organized desk, surrounded by neatly arranged controllers and games.

"This is amazing," Nuts said, his eyes wide.

Macber handed him a controller. "Pick a game."

They started with a racing game, and it quickly became clear that Macber was not just good—he was a master.

"How are you so good at this?" Nuts asked after losing three matches in a row.

"Practice," Macber said with a smirk.

"Alright, let's see how you do in a fighting game," Nuts challenged, selecting a new game from the stack.

Chaos Unleashed

What followed was an hour of shouting, laughing, and furious button-mashing. Nuts discovered that Macber's reputation as the "Silent Monster" extended to video games as well—his calm demeanor masked a relentless competitive streak.

"Unbelievable!" Nuts exclaimed after Macber defeated him with a last-minute combo. "Do you ever lose?"

"Not often," Macber said, his smirk widening.

"Oh, it's on now," Nuts declared, starting another round.

The match was intense, with both of them pulling off incredible moves and taunts. For a moment, Nuts thought he might actually win, but Macber, true to form, pulled off a surprise attack and claimed victory yet again.

"You're cheating, aren't you?" Nuts accused, laughing despite himself.

Macber chuckled. "Just better."

A Moment of Reflection

After hours of gaming, they finally called a truce and settled on the couch with some snacks. The atmosphere was relaxed, the earlier tension from the gym long forgotten.

"You know," Nuts said, popping a chip into his mouth, "I didn't think we'd ever be friends when we first met."

"Why not?" Macber asked, genuinely curious.

"I don't know," Nuts admitted. "You seemed so... distant. I thought you didn't like anyone."

Macber shrugged. "I'm not good with words. But I don't dislike people."

Nuts smiled. "Yeah, I've figured that out now."

For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence, the soft hum of the PlayStation menu filling the room.

"Thanks again for helping me today," Nuts said, breaking the silence.

Macber glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "That's what friends are for."

Nuts felt a warmth in his chest. He didn't say it out loud, but he was glad to have someone like Macber in his corner.

Coyra on His Mind

As Nuts walked home later that evening, he couldn't stop replaying the day's events in his mind. Coyra's "Ohayo," the fight with Robby, the intense gaming session with Macber—it had been a chaotic day, but one he wouldn't trade for anything.

A small smile crept onto his face as he thought about Coyra again. Her shy smile, her laugh—he couldn't wait to see her tomorrow. Maybe, just maybe, he'd finally have the courage to talk to her properly.

For now, though, he was content. He had friends he could count on, and that made all the difference.