"Wait, I'm Supposed to Become a Goddess?! But I'm a Guy!"

Derek Nolan was the kind of guy who always flew under the radar. To most, he was just another face in the crowd—a bit of a nerd with a passion for gaming that bordered on obsession.

People didn't know that Derek had built a successful career as a day trader. He had a keen eye for the market, pulling in more than enough to live comfortably, but his social skills—especially with women—left much to be explored, or even desired.

With no love life to speak of, he buried himself in the virtual world, particularly in League of Mythic, where he'd earned the nickname "The King of Laning" for his almost unbeatable performance in the early phases of the game. He majored in several tournaments before, the name resounded loud and far, but really... no one other than those who were the same as him would care.

He wasn't exactly a looker. Average height, a bit of a paunch from too many late-night snacks, and perpetually tousled brown hair that seemed immune to the concept of styling.

His rectangular glasses often sat crooked on his face, and his wardrobe was as basic as it got—jeans, old graphic tees, and hoodies.

Tonight was no different.

Derek sat in his usual spot at the cyber café, hunched over his keyboard, his fingers flying as he guided his character through another match.

His headset was glued to his head, the mic in front of his mouth as he let loose a string of frustrated curses.

"Are you serious, you brain-dead idiot?!" Derek shouted into the mic, his voice thick with irritation. "You missed the stun! How hard is it to click?! I swear, I'm playing with a bunch of chimps!"

The rest of his team could hear him loud and clear, but Derek didn't care. This was his outlet—his way of releasing the tension from the market's volatility, and the endless pressure of making the right trades.

"Top's feeding again! What are you doing up there?!" he continued, the rage in his voice matching the intensity of the game.

He barely noticed the other people in the café, he was so focused on the screen. His champion darted around the map, and for a moment, it seemed like his team might pull off a comeback.

Suddenly, a hand nudged his shoulder.

"What the hell?" Derek muttered, his eyes still glued to the screen, fingers mid-action. His champion had just landed a perfect ability chain, and the game was too tense to be distracted now.

He didn't look up, assuming it was just some random person trying to get his attention.

"Why are you bothering me right now?" Derek growled, his voice a mix of confusion and annoyance.

Derek's eyes widened as the words left her lips, echoing in his head like a dream.

"Umm, are you the so-called King of Laning that I heard about?"

For a second, he froze. The voice—soft, delicate, and somehow carrying that crisp charm—hit him like a ton of bricks.

He wasn't used to beautiful women approaching him, much less talking about his in-game achievements.

A shaky smile forced itself onto his face, but it quickly became genuine as he nodded furiously.

"Y-yes, it's me. It's me!" He repeated himself, almost stammering, his heart racing like he was mid-game.

'No way… no freaking way! This can't be happening. Someone like her… is talking to me? About League of Mythic? Am I dreaming?!'

His mind was in overdrive, the usual nerves that twisted his stomach returning tenfold, but this was a different kind of excitement. She wasn't asking for directions.

She wasn't even brushing him off like so many had before. She was interested in the game, his game, and that sent waves of shock through him.

Then she smiled—a soft, enticing smile that made him almost dizzy with disbelief as he turned his head.

"Would you mind if I played a game with you? I've been hearing a lot about you, and I think I could learn a thing or two." She tilted her head, her long hair cascading over her shoulders, and Derek felt his knees go weak—though he was already sitting down.

"A-a game with me?" Derek's voice cracked slightly. He cleared his throat and glanced around nervously at his team still playing on screen, feeling the importance of the request sinking in.

"Yeah... yeah! Of course! I'd love that!" His hands darted to the keyboard, quickly opening the party menu and scrolling to the bottom of the team list.

One teammate in particular had been underperforming for the past few rounds anyway.

"Sorry, buddy," Derek whispered under his breath as he kicked the unfortunate player from his team. Without missing a beat, he gestured to the empty seat next to him. "You can sit here. I'll walk you through the basics."

Mize smiled warmly and shyly as she slid into the chair beside him. Her movements were graceful, deliberate—everything about her radiated elegance, and Derek, for all his gaming prowess, felt awkwardly clumsy next to her.

He adjusted his glasses, trying to focus on the screen, but her presence was tickled him somewhere he doesn't know or even aware of.

As the game loaded, Derek explained the basic mechanics, pointing out the map, her character's abilities, and how landing worked.

"So, in League of Mythic, you're going to want to stay in lane and get as much gold as possible while denying the enemy team their gold. I'll keep an eye on you while you're learning. I'll play jungler, and you can go mid-lane, okay?"

Mize nodded, her eyes seemingly glued to the screen, but Derek couldn't help but notice her leaning in slightly, her shoulder just barely brushing against his. His heart skipped a beat.

It was a classic game, the account was borrowed from him to her for free, and the two began to play.

The match began, and Derek, despite his nervousness, quickly got into his usual rhythm. His character, an armored knight wielding a massive lance, charged down the middle lane, engaging in a furious back-and-forth with the enemy mid-laner, helping Mize to ward off the enemy from gaining the upper hand.

Meanwhile, Mize had chosen a mage, a princess-like character clad in an ethereal, shimmering gown, wielding a staff that glowed with a radiant light. She was a support class, despite being in the mid-lane, and as Derek took glances at her screen, he noticed she was doing surprisingly well for a beginner.

"You're a natural," Derek commented with a chuckle as he watched her mage land a stunning spell that immobilized an enemy.

Mize turned to him with a soft crips laugh, her eyes twinkling. "Oh? Well, I have a great teacher. Thank you"

That laugh. It sent a strange warmth flooding through him. He smiled—genuinely this time. She complimented him, and his brain buzzed with an unfamiliar, almost euphoric sensation.

In the game, Derek's knight dived into a skirmish near the bottom lane where Mize's princess character was cornered by two enemy champions. Without hesitation, Derek charged forward.

"Don't worry, I've got you!" he yelled, his knight crashing through the bushes, knocking the enemies back with his lance.

Mize's mage cast a barrier around herself just as Derek's knight blocked a powerful spell aimed at her. 

Another teammate spoke up in voice chat. "Yo, Derek—who's the new girl? She's killing it!"

Derek chuckled, "A friend... she's just learning."

The match continued, with Mize throwing out occasional compliments, and Derek, in turn, found himself explaining more than necessary just to keep the conversation going. She laughed at his jokes, listened intently to his tips, and, at one point, leaned over to give him a teasing nudge with her elbow. Derek could barely concentrate on the game.

Toward the end, the two of them had won their lane and were closing in on the enemy's base. The final team fight broke out, and Derek's knight leaped in front of Mize's mage to tank all the damage, allowing her to cast a devastating ultimate spell that wiped out most of the opposing team.

"Nice work!" Derek exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear.

"All thanks to you," Mize responded with a smile, her voice smooth and sweet as silk.

His teammates couldn't help but notice the dynamic. "Yo, Derek's got a princess!" one of them teased over the mic, causing the rest of the team to burst into laughter.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up," Derek replied, but the grin never left his face.

As the game ended, Mize stretched his arms languidly and slid off the headset. He had enjoyed himself more than expected, but he'd gotten what he came for attention and, more importantly, points. Now, it was time to move on.

"Well, that was fun," Mize said, his voice light and casual. He glanced toward Derek, who was still buzzing with excitement from their victory.

"Y-yeah! You were amazing," Derek stammered, his fingers nervously fidgeting with the mouse. He'd been watching Mize closely the entire game, caught in a strange mix of admiration and disbelief. She was beautiful—out of his league, honestly.

But here she was, talking to him, playing games with him. He couldn't let this chance slip through his fingers.

Mize began gathering his things, the movement signaling that he was about to leave. Derek's heart raced, he had to say something, ask for something more, or lose this moment forever. Taking a deep breath, he summoned his courage.

"Uh, h-hey!" Derek blurted out, standing abruptly as Mize slung the strap of his small, stylish bag over his shoulder. "Before you go… I mean, uh… would it be okay if I… you know, got your number?"

Mize paused, turning slowly to face Derek. Internally, a sly smile tugged at the corners of his mind, amused. Yet on the outside, his expression shifted into one of mild surprise, as if he hadn't seen it coming.

"My number?" Mize echoed, feigning hesitation. His ruby-red eyes widened just enough to appear innocent, his lips parting slightly as if he were considering the offer. "I suppose... sure, why not?"

Derek nearly exploded with joy. His hand shook as he fumbled to open his phone, and Mize, with a graceful flick of his wrist, recited the number smoothly.

As Derek typed it in, it felt like he was etching a miracle into his contacts list. A dream come true, he thought.

"Thank you! I—I'll text you later if that's cool?" Derek's face was flushed, his excitement barely contained.

Mize nodded, offering a soft smile. "Sure, I'll look out for it."

Just as Mize turned to leave, Derek's voice caught him again. His words were hurried, and awkward, but there was something urgent in his tone. "Uh, wait—before you go… are you, um… single?"

The question hung in the air for a moment. Mize raised an eyebrow, letting a small laugh escape. "Single? Well…" He tilted his head, savoring Derek's anticipation. "Yes, I am."