Rising Shards

Oka and I left the Koridia gym and headed back downstairs to the den.

“Ahhh, I feel so much better already,” Oka said. “Like you just lifted so much off of me.”

“Talking it out is really good, I think.” I said.

Giggly Oka started to make her triumphant return from the week before. She teased doing a somersault down the stairs which really freaked me out, but in a sort of fun way that had me laughing really hard by the time we rejoined the others, who were all playing the racing game together. Kalei paused the game.

“Welcome back!” Kalei said. “So, are we all good now? We all cried out? Anyone wanna yell at me one more time?”

“We’re good here!” Oka said, proudly holding up our clasped hands.

“Good,” Kalei said. “I was like worried about the one percent chance you guys would randomly actually break up.”

“Nope!” I said, pulling Oka close and hugging her. “I’m not letting go of my sun kissed gem that easily.”

Oka’s eyes teared up. “Oh…I really like that.”

“It’s better than starlight boo, that’s for sure.” Kalei said.

Oka needed one more tissue to blow her nose, but she laughed afterward. “Shut up.”

“Anyone else? Offer’s still on the table to shout it out if you gotta.” Kalei said.

“I’m gonna yell at you for using the orange clam powerup on me on the last race,” Kai said. “Put me in second to last place. That was low.”

“I,” Lillia said. “Am fantastic.”

Lillia sat by Ko, who was slumped over in a bean bag chair. Ko's face hadn't gotten much more swelled, mostly due to the ice pack Mahina got for her, saying something about having to have extra first aid ready whenever the Matora sisters were around.

“I’m…still really sorry.” Ko said. “But don’t take that as a sign of weakness that I’m going to go easier on anyone if we do more races in Farty Karty.”

“Farty Karty?” Oka said.

“Dumb nickname for Farlet Kart online,” Kalei said. She grinned. “OK, dumb, but funny.”

Latte hugged her new coffee maker Mahina had gifted her.

“Can we put the game back on now?” Roux asked.

Kalei gave us controllers. “I’ve always wanted to do a full eight player game in person. But there’s still pizza too if anyone’s hungry.”

“I hope you’re all ready to experience my intense craving for high velocities.” Oka said.

“Pfftt,” Kai said. “Some big words, there.”

“Don’t underestimate her.” Lillia said.

“Do you have a game where we could all team up together?” I asked. “That also doesn’t involve me doing a bunch of random things over and over so you can get gold armor?”

“Farlet Kart does have a team mode.” Lillia said.

“Oh, Zeta and Oka should be on the same team so Zeta can actually win a game today.” Kalei said.

“Hey!” I said. “Oh, you’re so on, I’m gonna race real good!”

Farlet Kart’s team mode was a lot better for me, as I got to just handle throwing powerups as Oka got to satisfy her intense craving for high velocities as the driver. The other team ups didn’t go easy on us, so I did my best to not let Oka down. Even though I did forgive Ko, it was still very satisfying when I was able to throw the purple ooze thing at the team of Ko and Lillia, especially after Ko was bragging no one could hit them. Kalei and Kai played how I imagined they played beam chasers together, in perfect tandem without even speaking. Roux and Latte were more chaotic when they played, a lot of weird maneuvers that didn’t seem to have any immediate benefit, and only rarely did their moves actually pay off positively for them.

After a bit of racing, we all just ate pizza and chatted normally. Oka and I were obviously still a bit tense with Ko, but things didn’t remotely reach where they were before. Someone suggested putting a movie on, something we could all joke around during, so we ended up watching You Were the Darkest Darkness, a vampire movie that we all could quote and laugh at for being over the top and weird.  

I had been sitting next to Oka since we got back, so for the movie I moved behind her to give her a back rub. As the others were busy doing their best imitation of the main character, I hugged Oka and leaned in close.

“Hey,” I whispered. “I really love you.”

“Aw,” Oka whispered back. “I love you too.”