Rising Shards

“Why don’t we check out some spots in the void?” Ko asked. “Bet you could get some cool locations there.”

“I’d rather keep it to more stable locations,” Lillia said. “Plus, we’d have to get frequent permission for void visits. And specific equipment to be able to film there.”

“Oh, if we need the beam chasers court, I can get us in.” Ko said.

“Now that could be a good location.” Lillia said.

“Any place we’re at together is a good location,” Ko said.

“Oh, stop…” Lillia said.

Oka had a newfound appreciation for Kalei. As she followed Lillia and Ko around campus, she realized she wasn’t used to situations where she was a third wheel. Kalei likely had to put up with plenty of third wheeling with Oka and Zeta, especially when they officially became a couple.

That said, Oka was fairly certain she and Zeta at their most couple-y as much as Ko and Lillia were being at the moment. In just an hour, Oka had to listen to about fifty flirty lines from Ko, approximately twelve instances of Lillia chuckling at the flirts, five jokes that Oka wished she could unhear, twenty-three factoids from Lillia, and at least one lip bite. She wouldn’t normally mind factoids from Lillia, or Ko and Lillia’s whole deal in general, but being the only other one with them felt lonely.

At least I try to not always be fricking all over my girlfriend when other people are around. And these two aren’t even official yet!

“Do you have any ideas for what kind of project we could make, Ko?” Lillia asked.

“Well, my first thought is beam chasers cuz that’d be pretty sweet.” Ko said. “And I’d get to show off my moves, if you know what I’m saying.”

“Ohohoho…”

Oka rolled her eyes. She knew she should be more supportive of her bestie, but Ko was a huge jerk to her and Zeta fairly recently, and although things were better between everyone, Oka still wasn’t completely over that.

“I think it’d be fun to make something really funny,” Oka said. “I don’t get to flex my comedic chops in theater enough, so that’s what I wanna do with this!”

“You could be like a failed beam chasers player,” Ko suggested. “Like a goofy dude who gets injured right away.”

Why does she keep bringing up the beam chasers thing? Does she think about anything other than beam chasers? Well, she also thinks about Lillia, I guess. But still!  I don’t want to do a sports movie! Just go on a date to a beam chasers game or something!

“Maybe not that goofy for my character…” Oka said.

“Well, even if Oka’s character isn’t involved, I think with you and Kai, a beam chasers scene is required.” Lillia said.

“Kai doesn’t strike me as the acting type.” Oka said. Ko doesn’t either, but that’d probably be really mean to say to her face.

“Eh, she’s not bad.” Ko said. “She needs something to cheer her up after her injury, too.”

“Are there any others we can think of that would want to join?” Lillia asked.

“Or maybe more importantly, anyone we super don’t want?” Ko asked.

As Ko and Lillia brainstormed more, Oka felt like she was maybe being too harsh. Kalei probably would have joked a lot in her shoes, but she didn’t want to snark, partially because it’d be mean to Lillia and mostly because she was sure Ko wouldn’t understand the jokes and would get all snippy. I have been a bit of a grump, admittedly. Maybe I should do something nice just to…I dunno, not be a jerk third wheel. Instead of that, I can be a cool wingman for Lillia!

“Wait.” Oka said.

“Huh?” Ko said.

“Oh, I just thought of,” Oka said. “A maybe good idea. It’s not a video thing though.”

With Lillia and Ko looking at her intently, Oka knew she had to say it even if it made her feel even more third wheel.

“I just thought it would be kind of cute if you two went to a beam chasers game together,” Oka said.

“Like a pro game?” Ko said. “Hell yeah, that’s a great idea!”

“That could be fun,” Lillia said. “Perhaps that could be the setting for the double date.”

“The what now?” Oka said.

“It was discussed quite some time ago, and before the recent calamaties, so I don’t blame you if you forgot,” Lillia said. “I believe it would be a wonderful experience if you and Zeta went on an excursion with Ko and I."

“Even if it’s not a doubles thing, it’d be awesome to get a big group to go to a game live,” Ko said. “It’s a totally different experience than watching on TV.”

“Perhaps we could have a double date dinner before meeting up with a larger group for the game.” Lillia said.

“That could work,” Ko said. “There’s this sweet sports bar by the bean chasers arena in LE that we could hit up.”

Oka began preemptively rehearsing her apology to Zeta if this particular plan for a double date came to fruition.