Gamer
Ekko sat cross-legged on his bed, lazily tossing a small tool up and catching it. The soft hum of his room filled the air, half-finished projects, blueprints pinned to the walls, and a mess of gadgets scattered across his desk.
Tikki floated nearby, nibbling on a cookie she’d somehow snuck from the kitchen.
“You really don’t need to eat, you know,” Ekko pointed out, smirking.
Tikki huffed, hugging the cookie closer. “I like eating. Besides, you didn’t finish your breakfast.”
Ekko rolled his eyes, standing up and stretching. “Yeah, yeah. I had enough.” He grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder. “C’mon, I gotta meet Scar for that history project. Pretty sure he’s gonna yell at me if I show up late again.”
Tikki giggled, floating over to hide in his jacket pocket. “Maybe if you actually did your part on time, he wouldn’t have to.”
Ekko clicked his tongue. “Wow, taking his side already ? Thought you were my friend.”
Tikki just giggled, and Ekko shook his head with a small grin before heading out the door.
Ekko strolled through the hallways, hands tucked into his pockets. He was supposed to meet Scar in the library, but as he passed the computer lab, a sudden cheer erupted from inside.
He paused. Another round of excited voices echoed through the halls, followed an electric whoosh from the game screens.
Ekko frowned. What’s all that about ?
Curious, he changed course and pushed through the crowd gathering at the entrance. Inside, rows of students were locked into intense matches of Battle Hex, their screens glowing as their in-game avatars clashed. And right near the front, leaning against a desk with his arms crossed, was Scar, watching the matches with mild interest.
Ekko made his way over. “Yo. What’s all this ?”
Scar turned, raising an eyebrow. “Didn’t think you’d care about Battle Hex.”
Ekko shrugged. “Didn’t know we were running an arena tournament in the middle of school.”
Scar smirked. “Apparently, some big event’s coming up, and the winners of today’s matches get to compete.” He tilted his head toward the game screens. “Some of these guys are taking it real seriously.”
Ekko followed his gaze, and that’s when he noticed her.
Powder was seated at one of the front stations, eyes locked on the screen, fingers moving with sharp precision. She wasn’t just playing, she was dominating. Her in-game character darted across the battlefield, weaving between attacks and landing counters with near-perfect execution.
Ekko blinked. Huh ? He had never really pictured Powder as a gamer type. Maybe before, when they were kids, but he never imagined she would still be into it. It was terribly surprising, and he could already feel his heart tightening at the idea that maybe deep down, the girl he'd known wasn't so different.
“She’s good,” he muttered.
Scar smirked. “Yeah. She’s full of surprises.”
Ekko hummed, watching as Powder scored another win. The crowd erupted into cheers, but she remained as composed as ever, barely reacting beyond a small nod before moving on to her next match. If a little of his childhood friend remained through her visible infatuation with the game, her reaction was more in keeping with the image he had of her, and who she was he supposed. He remembered how she'd laughed at him and even done a victory dance, looking down on him with a look full of pride and mischief when she'd beaten him at Mario kart by the skin of his teeth after he'd caught a blue shell at the last moment when they were little. Until they lost contact, she had continued for weeks to remind him of his defeat.
"I can't believe you just beat Ran," Lux whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. "You’ve got this, Powder !"
Powder smiled but didn’t say anything. She hadn’t expected to be the last one standing, let alone winning a spot in the finals. But she had to admit, it felt pretty good to prove herself. She didn’t really care much about the game itself, iit was more about the challenge and the thrill.
Ran, though visibly disappointed, stood up and offered a begrudging thumbs up. “You’ve got skills, Powder. I’ll admit it.”
Powder only smiled politely. “Thanks.”
Scar nudged his best friend. “You know, the winners are gonna be partners.”
Ekko stiffened. “Wait what ?”
Scar grinned. “Yep. Whoever wins today has to team up for the upcoming event. And judging by how things are going…” He nodded toward the screen. “Powder’s definitely in.”
Ekko’s mind raced . So if I win… I could team up with—
His eyes flicked back to Powder. She was focused, calm, completely in control.
For some reason, his heart skipped a beat.
Scar smirked, clearly enjoying his reaction and joked “You know, the tournament’s still open.”
Ekko hesitated—just for a second.
Then he exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders. “Alright. Where do I sign up ?”
Scar raised an eyebrow, amused. “That was fast.”
Ekko scratched his cheek. “I mean… why not ?”
Scar snorted. “Yeah. Totally random decision.” It was clear he was not taking him seriously, not believing for a second he would have the nerve to do it.
Ekko ignored him, drumming his fingers against his thigh, eyes flicking back to Powder as she continued her match. His mind raced.
A chance to spend time with Powder ? Outside of school ? Actually doing something together ? That wasn’t exactly something that happened every day.
Sure, they weren’t close or anything, but this could be the opportunity to—No, no, hold up. He shook the thought away before it could spiral.
It wasn’t a big deal. Just a game. He wasn’t even sure he could actually win anyway. But if he did…
“However, if you're serious, just so you know, this is important to Ran,” Scar’s voice cut in, dragging him out of his thoughts. It seemed that he'd realized that his friend's silence was a sign that, contrary to what he'd thought, he might actually be about to enter the competition.
Ekko blinked. “Huh ?”
Scar nodded toward the front. “He’s the best player in school, and he’s been working for months to make sure we get a solid team representing us.” He crossed his arms. “So if you’re gonna jump in, don’t half-ass it. He won’t take it easy on you.”
Ekko looked toward Ran, who stood at his station with that usual, analytical stare. He was already locked in, focused like nothing else in the world mattered while rewatching his recent match against Powder to understand when he lost and why.
Ekko huffed. Great. No pressure.
Scar wasn’t done. “And if you do win, just remember, the team that takes this tournament is gonna be representing the whole school. It’s not just for fun.”
Ekko paused. Okay, that was new information.
“Wait. You’re telling me this whole thing is for a real event ? An official event ?”
Scar smirked. “Yep. The Paris Battle Hex. It’s a big deal.”
Ekko groaned, dragging a hand down his face. He’d walked in here thinking it was just some casual competition, maybe a quick excuse to spend time with Powder. But now ? Now it was looking like actual stakes were involved. His eyes flicked to Powder again. She was still absorbed in her match, completely unfazed by everything around her.
Ekko exhaled. An opportunity like this wouldn't come along again for a while. If he did nothing, he'd never be able to approach her without an apology, and they'd remain strangers forever. Besides, it wasn't as if he was sure he'd win, so it might have no impact on Ran anyway. Better to live with having tried than with regrets, he could already see himself lamenting 10 years later that he hadn't tried, watching Powder from afar via magazines.
Mel stood tall at the front of the crowd, her voice carrying over the excited chatter of students gathered. “And with that, the winners of the Battle Hex qualification round are—”
Ekko, running purely on impulse, shot his hand up. “Wait ! I wanna participate !”
The whole room turned toward him. A mix of confusion and curiosity rippled through the crowd, Ran, standing beside Powder at the front, adjusted his glasses and frowned. “You do realize the qualification matches are over ?” His voice was flat, unimpressed. “You can’t just jump in now.”
Ekko cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, yeah, I know. But—uh—I mean, if there’s still a way to qualify…”
Mel raised a brow, glancing at Ran and Powder. “Technically, the second-place finalist can accept a last-minute challenger if they agree to it.” She turned to Ran. “It’s your call.”
Ran sighed, shaking his head. “If it amuses you, I don't mind a new game if Madame Medarda says it's part of the rules.”
Powder, who had been watching all of this unfold with quiet indifference, finally looked at Ekko. She blinked once, then simply held out her controller. “Here.”
Ekko, for all his usual confidence, felt his brain short-circuit for a second. She’s giving me her controller. Her controller. With her hands. That she was just using.
He barely managed to keep his expression neutral as he took it from her, but inside, his brain was practically screaming. He could feel the residual warmth of her fingers on the plastic, and it sent a stupid jolt of electricity through him.
Scar leaned over with a knowing smirk. “Dude, are you seriously blushing over a controller ?”
Ekko shot him a glare. “Shut up.”
Mel, unaware ( or maybe just politely ignoring ) Ekko’s mini internal crisis, nodded. “Alright, then. Ekko versus Ran. The winner will join Powder in the main event.”
Ekko took a deep breath, fingers tightening around the controller.
No going back now.
The match started fast. Too fast. Ran’s fingers flew over his controller, executing the same precise, calculated moves that had made him the best in school. His strategies were airtight, his counters flawless. He had trained for this. Prepared. And yet, Ekko was keeping up.
Not just keeping up. Beating him at his own game.
Every time Ran thought he had a winning play, Ekko flipped the script. His reflexes were razor-sharp, his adaptability unreal. He wasn’t following a pre-learned strategy, he was playing on instinct, reacting in real time, and it was working.
The match became a blur of flashing lights and split-second decisions. Ran gritted his teeth, trying to focus, but frustration crept into his movements. He could feel himself slipping. How was this happening ?
Then, in a final, brutal moment, Ekko landed a devastating combo, one Ran didn’t see coming until it was too late.
The screen froze.
KO.
The little crowd erupted into noise. Some students gasped, others outright cheered. Even Mel looked mildly impressed as she checked the final scores displayed on the screen.
Ekko blinked, taking a second to register what had just happened. Then, a wide grin spread across his face. “Yo, did I just win ?”
Scar clapped him on the back, laughing. “You didn’t just win, man. You destroyed him.”
Ekko glanced at the scoreboard. His score was ridiculously high. Higher than Powder’s, even.
Ran, meanwhile, stared at the screen in silence. His hands had gone still on the controller. He exhaled sharply, adjusting his glasses, then stood up.
“…I accept my defeat,” he said stiffly, his voice controlled but lacking its usual confidence. “You played well.”
But there was no mistaking the disappointment in his eyes as he turned on his heel and walked away. Ekko’s excitement dimmed just a little as he watched Ran go. He had been so sure he’d make it. This probably crushed him.
Meanwhile, Powder stood at the side, arms crossed, her eyes flicking back and forth between Ekko and the now-disgruntled Ran. She raised an eyebrow. Ekko had definitely done well, but this wasn’t the Ekko she expected. This side of him was unexpected, a bit cocky even. Still, Mel had an announcement to make, and she wasted no time. “And with that, our two representatives for the upcoming tournament will be Powder and Ekko. Congratulations, I hope you represent us well at the competition.”
Ekko stared after her. Then at his controller. Then back at Scar.
Scar smirked. “You’re so down bad.”
Ekko groaned, giving him a little tap on the shoulder.
Another wave of murmurs and applause rippled through the room. He felt his heart race as he realized what had just happened, he was going to have to team up with Powder, which was now approaching him.
Still unreadable as ever, she looked at Ekko. “When do you want to practice ?”
Ekko blinked, caught off guard by her nonchalant tone. Damn, no reaction at all ?
“Uh, I mean, sure, when do you—when are you free ?” He fumbled for his words, suddenly feeling self-conscious about the situation. Why is this so hard ?
Powder tilted her head slightly, as if considering. “Maybe this afternoon if it’s okay for you ?” She shifted her weight, as if she wasn’t quite sure either but wasn’t bothered by the idea. “ Otherwise I’ll let you know when I’m available. Might not be soon though”
Ekko nodded quickly, relieved she wasn’t making this weird. “Yeah, this afternoon sounds good.”
“Great,” Powder replied, her voice cool as always. Ekko nodded eagerly, not wanting to sound too enthusiastic. “How about we meet at my place ? I’ve got all the equipment set up for practice. We can go over the game some more.”
Powder glanced at him briefly, her face still calm. She seemed to consider it for a moment before responding. “Alright. Your place works.”
Ekko smiled a little too quickly, but Powder didn’t seem to react. She simply turned to gather her things, still composed as always.
“It’s a date then. I will be there at three o’clock” Powder added, her voice soft but firm. “I’ll be there.”
Ekko froze, blinking a few times. Three o’clock.Today. His heart raced, and he had to remind himself not to get too carried away. “Sounds perfect,” he replied, trying to sound casual.
Powder didn’t linger. She grabbed her bag and adjusted her jacket before turning toward the door. “I’ll see you then,” she said. She hesitated for a moment, her eyes flicking back to him with a hint of something, maybe amusement, maybe something else, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. She left without another word.
He watched her for a second longer before snapping out of it and turning to leave. His mind was still reeling from everything that had just happened. I did it. I really did it. And now I have to team up with Powder. Yeah, that didn’t sound so bad. Not bad at all. Ekko stood there, trying to process the calm, controlled exchange. She was different from how she acted when she was transformed, but there was something intriguing about her, even in this quiet, composed form. He ran a hand through his hair, his thoughts racing. She’s coming over. To my place.
As he walked home after they did their history project with Scar, hands in his pockets, he couldn't stop grinning. Powder was coming over. To his house. Sure, it was just for practice, and sure, she was insanely neutral about the whole thing, but still. That was huge.
Tikki floated out of his jacket pocket, her little wings buzzing as she drifted beside him. “You know, Ran really put a lot of effort into this competition.”
Ekko hummed absentmindedly. “Mhm.”
“He trained hard,” she continued. “And you did just jump in last minute. There were other ways you could’ve talked to Powder without—”
“Yeah, yeah, totally,” Ekko interrupted, waving her off. “But, Tikki, she’s coming over. To my house.”
Tikki gave him a deadpan look. “You’re not even listening.”
He wasn’t. Not really. His mind was already racing ahead. His room, oh shit he had to clean it. He couldn't have it looking like a mess when Powder was coming over. Not when she was so put-together, always effortlessly cool.
He grimaced, already picturing the disaster zone that was his desk. “Man, I gotta fix my whole setup.”
Tikki sighed. “You know, there are other opportunities to bond with her.”
Ekko, still not listening “I gotta make sure the place smells good too.”
Tikki shook her head. This was hopeless.
As soon as Ekko stepped into his room, his stomach dropped.
Oh. Oh no.
His place was a mess. Not just any mess, but the kind of mess that made him question how he even lived like this. His desk was buried under blueprints, unfinished gadgets, and way too many empty snack wrappers. His bed was unmade, clothes were draped over his chair, and his shelves were cluttered with random junk he’d been meaning to sort for months.
And then there was the wall.
The one with Powder’s magazine cutouts.
Not a creepy shrine or anything, just a totally normal collection of images featuring her looking cool, stylish, effortlessly composed. Y’know, casual admiration for an ex childhood friend. But now ? Now, with her literally about to step into this room ?
Yeah. This was bad.
Tikki, floating beside him, gave him a reassuring look. “Relax, Ekko. It’s not like she’s coming right now—”
DING-DONG.
Ekko froze.
Tikki blinked. Then, slowly, she turned to look at him. “Never mind.”
Ekko’s brain short-circuited. She’s here. She’s actually here.
He needed a plan. He needed several plans. He needed to get rid of half his room, set it on fire, and rebuild it from scratch—
DING-DONG !
His stomach flipped.
“C-coming !” He practically tripped over himself, scrambling to stuff everything out of sight. The blueprints ? Shoved under his bed. The clothes ? Tossed into his closet. The snacks ? He didn’t have time, he just swept them all into a drawer. And the wall, the fucking wall.
He yanked his blanket off his bed and threw it over the whole thing. Was it suspicious ? Probably. But he could not let her see that.
While Ekko was in full crisis mode in his room, Benzo opened the door, raising a curious brow when he saw the girl standing in front of him. Powder stood there, composed as ever, hands neatly clasped in front of her.
“Hello,” she greeted politely. “I’m Powder. I’m here to see Ekko, we’re partners for the Battle Hex tournament.” She recognized Benzo straight away, the man with the same gentle gaze and imposing figure that reminded her of Vander. He, however, probably didn't remember the little girl playing with his son all those years ago.
Benzo leaned against the doorframe, eyes twinkling with interest. He remembered her, you did not see a blue headed girl like her everyday after all, but since she introduced herself again, Benzo did not find it useful to mention it. The little lady grew up to be a beautiful one. “Hello there. A pair, huh ?” He hummed, clearly enjoying himself. “Well, well, that’s interesting.”
Powder nodded. “Yes. We’ll be practicing together.”
Benzo didn’t move, instead rubbing his chin as if considering something. That was the perfect occasion to help his son, he remembered how cute they'd been before, and how broken his son's heart had been when she'd disappeared, as well as his excitement when she'd returned to Paris, even though she didn't remember him, and was now a popular model. “You know, Ekko talks a lot about you.”
Powder blinked, looking slightly puzzled. It came out of nowhere, but this information had made her heart tighten slightly. He wouldn't have forgotten her after all ? Or was it just the excitement to have her, a model, in the same class ? “He does ?”
“Oh, yeah,” Benzo chuckled. “Didn’t know he was bringing his partner home today, though.”
There was something about the way he said it that made Powder feel like there was an unspoken meaning behind the word. Still, she remained perfectly neutral. “We agreed on three o’clock.”
Before Benzo could tease further, Ekko suddenly appeared behind him, clearly out of breath. “Okay, Powder, let’s go” he blurted, practically pushing past Benzo.
Benzo smirked at him knowingly. “What’s the rush, son ?”
Ekko scowled. “Nothing, we just gotta practice.” He turned to Powder, clearing his throat. “Come on. My room’s this way.”
Powder followed without question, but as she passed Benzo, she heard him chuckle behind her. “Have fun, you two !”
Ekko led Powder into his room, his heart pounding just a little too fast. His space was usually his comfort zone, but now, with her standing in it, it suddenly felt way too small.
Powder, as always, was composed, her gaze flicking across the room before settling on the gaming station. “Nice setup,” she remarked simply. He and Benzo no longer lived in the same house as they had several years earlier, and Ekko was no longer the little boy she'd spent every afternoon with, so she tried to restrain herself from observing too much of the room, which seemed so foreign to her. It was a strange situation, to be with a stranger who used to be your best friend, and to be in a new home, which only reinforced the distance that had grown between them.
Ekko rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, thanks. Uh—here, you can take the main chair.”
She sat down, adjusting the settings like it was second nature. Ekko settled beside her, trying to act normal, but then—
Tikki, peeking discreetly from his pocket, waved a tiny hand toward something on his wall.
He shot Tikki a why would you do that look ? But when he saw what she was waving him his stomach dropped.
Oh, crap.
Right there, pinned between two sketches, was a magazine picture of Powder.
He threw himself up so fast he nearly knocked over his chair. “Uh, hold on, just gotta—adjust something !”
Powder barely turned her head as he lunged toward the wall, yanking the picture down in one frantic motion. He shoved it under a pile of papers on his desk and coughed into his fist. “Okay, now we’re good.”
Powder didn’t comment. Maybe she hadn’t noticed. He hoped she hadn’t noticed.
Before the silence could stretch, a knock came at the door, and Benzo peeked inside, wearing his usual too knowing grin. “Everything going alright in here?”
Ekko tensed. “Yeah, we’re fine—”
“You kids want some cookies ?”
Powder blinked. “Cookies ?” Her eyes lit up and she remembered Benzo's delicious chocolate chip cookies like it was yesterday. No cookie could erase the taste of hers from her memory.
“Yeah, just made a fresh batch. Can’t practice on an empty stomach, after all.”
Ekko groaned, dropping his face into his hand. “Dad—” He didn't seem to notice the excitement of the girl next to him, his annoyance beginning to combine with his stress and turn into annoyance. Why is dad so persistent today ?
“That sounds nice,” Powder cut in. “Thank you.”
Benzo winked at Ekko, not even hiding the fact that he was proud of himself. “I like her. I’ll bring some in.” And with that, he was gone.
Ekko slumped back into his chair, exhaling sharply. His dad was gonna kill him. “I swear he’s doing this on purpose.”
Powder hummed. “He seems…enthusiastic.” A small smile tugged at her lips. Their relationship hadn't changed, and if their home was different it was still filled with warmth.
“That’s one way to put it,” Ekko muttered before grabbing his controller. “Alright, let’s start.”
They jumped into the game, but there was an odd awkwardness in the air. Powder was focused, as expected, making calculated plays, while Ekko, who was usually all about reflexes, kept messing up small things. His mind was all over the place. Maybe it was because they were alone in his room. Maybe it was the stupid magazine picture incident. Maybe it was the way she was so neutral about all of this while he felt like a complete mess. It was crazy how before everything passed so quickly and smoothly between them, when now he couldn't help feeling tense in her presence. At the same time, how could he not ? The girl who used to pull his hair while laughing like a little demon had come back more beautiful and more perfect than ever, while he had remained the same person, with nothing extraordinary about him.
He tried his best to stay focused on the screen, fingers moving quickly over the controls. Despite all his nerves, after some bad games his muscle memory finally kicked in, and soon he was playing like normal. Powder, on the other hand, was good, really good, but she wasn’t as fast as him. He was taking the lead, pulling off advanced moves she hadn’t quite mastered yet.
“Wow,” Powder muttered as he did a flawless combo. “You’re fast.”
Ekko swallowed hard. Not the time to think about how cool she sounded saying that.
“Yeah,” he stammered. “I, uh, I play a lot.”
“I can tell,” she said simply, her eyes still on the screen.
Meanwhile, across the city, in his dimly lit room, Ran sat at his desk, gripping his controller tightly. His eyes were glued to the blank game screen, his mind replaying the moment he had lost.
He had worked so hard for this. He had practiced, strategized, and studied every possible scenario. He should have been the one to represent the school. Instead, he had been beaten at his own game, and not just beaten. He had been humiliated.
A bitter lump rose in his throat. He had accepted defeat publicly, but inside ? Inside, it burned.
From the shadows of his room, a chilling voice slithered into his thoughts.
“Such talent… such dedication… wasted,” the voice murmured, silky and cold. “You deserved victory, didn’t you ?”
Ran stiffened, his grip tightening. “I should have won.”
“Of course you should have,” the voice purred. “But they took it from you. He took it from you. But… what if you could rewrite the game ? What if you could take control ?”
Ran’s breath hitched. His screen flickered, and in the reflection, his own face darkened, his eyes glowed an eerie purple. A dark butterfly-shaped mask spread across his face as Hawkmoth’s voice whispered in his ear.
“Gamer… I am Hawkmoth. I will grant you the power to make the game yours. With my help, no one will ever take victory from you again.”
Ran’s eyes widened as his surroundings pixelated, transforming into a game-like interface. His clothes morphed into a sleek, futuristic player suit with glowing neon lines running along his limbs. A massive, high-tech controller materialized in his hands, and his room dissolved into a virtual battleground.
A smirk stretched across his face.
“Let’s play.”
In an instant, a shockwave pulsed out from his room, spreading across the city. Every screen flickered, phones, billboards, game consoles, turning into Ran’s domain.
Paris became his arena. The game had just begun, and he was going to win this one.
Ekko and Powder, oblivious to the danger arising in the town, kept playing, and the awkwardness didn’t go away, but it wasn’t bad awkward. Powder stayed neutral, as usual, but after some time, there was something almost… comfortable about it.
Ekko, on the other hand, was dying. His brain was running a million thoughts per second. She’s in my room. We’re playing together. Maybe she’s coming over again tomorrow ? Oh crap, what if Benzo brings out baby pictures next time—
“Ekko.”
“Huh ?” Wow, his name sounded really well coming out of her lips.
Powder blinked at him. “You just ran off a cliff.”
Ekko looked back at the screen, sure enough, his character had just plummeted to their doom.
“Oh. Uh.” He forced a laugh, gripping the back of his neck. “Guess I got distracted.”
Tikki snickered quietly from his desk, clearly amused.
Powder just shrugged. “Happens.” She put her controller down, stretching slightly. “I think that’s enough for today.”
Ekko let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Yeah, yeah. That was good. We did good.”
She nodded, glancing around the room as she leaned back in her chair. Ekko watched her out of the corner of his eye, trying not to be obvious about it. It was still surreal that she was here, in his room, casually looking at his stuff like this wasn’t the first time they had ever really talked outside of the basic salutations.
Powder’s gaze landed on a stack of books shoved haphazardly on a shelf. “You read all of those ?”
Ekko blinked, caught off guard. “Uh yeah, some of them.”
She tilted her head slightly. “What kind ?”
Ekko hesitated. Did she actually want to know ? She had that usual neutral look on her face, but she was asking. It made his heart beat faster.
“Uh… a mix, I guess,” he said, rubbing his neck. “Some sci-fi, a little history—” He paused. “Mostly stuff about engineering, though.”
Powder nodded like that made sense. Ekko didn’t feel like he was talking to Powder, the perfect, untouchable girl from class. He felt like he was talking to someone from the same world. Like maybe she didn’t become so different, after all.
“What about you ?” he asked before he could stop himself. “You read much ?”
“Sometimes,” Powder said. “Not really for fun, though.”
Ekko let out a small chuckle. “Yeah. School kinda ruins that.”
A tiny huff of amusement. “Yeah.”
Silence. Not the bad kind. Just… there.
Ekko felt like he should say something else, but what ?
Before he could overthink it, Powder spoke again. “What’s your worst subject ?”
Ekko blinked. “Worst ?”
Powder nodded. “Like, the one you struggle with the most.”
He hesitated. “Uh… I dunno. Maybe french ?”
Her brow lifted slightly. “Really ?”
“I mean, it’s not bad bad,” he said quickly. “But sometimes the interpretation of texts just goes right over my head.” He let out a short laugh. “Like why would the author writing a description have more depth and meaning than just the description he gives ?”
Powder made a quiet hum, her fingers absently tapping the strap of her bag.
“You don’t struggle with anything, do you ?” Ekko asked, mostly joking.
To his surprise, she tilted her head slightly. “Public speaking.”
Ekko blinked. “Wait. For real ?” It was surprising to learn that she was struggling with something that didn't go well with her being kind of a celebrity.
Powder shrugged. “It’s annoying. And unnecessary. I hate having to participate in class and oral exams.”
Ekko let out a small laugh. “Damn. I would’ve guessed you were good at it.”
“I’m not.”
Her tone was matter-of-fact, but something about it made Ekko pause. He hadn’t really thought about it before, but it was true that Powder was always… quiet. She talked when she had to, but never more than that. Did she hate speaking in front of people that much ?
Ekko glanced at her, debating if he should say something else. But before he could, Powder stood up, grabbing her bag. “I should go.”
Ekko quickly nodded, pushing aside the weird feeling in his chest. “Yeah, yeah. Uh, same time tomorrow ?”
She nodded. “Okay.” Then, with a polite, “Thanks for having me,” she turned toward the door.
Ekko hesitated for two seconds before practically jumping to his feet. “Wait. I’ll walk you home.”
Powder paused, hand on the doorknob, and glanced at him. “You don’t have to.”
“I know,” he said quickly, rubbing the back of his neck. “But it’s getting late, and, uh, you know, safety and all.”
She looked at him for a moment, then shrugged. “Alright.”
Ekko scrambled to grab his hoodie and followed her outside. The air was cooler, and the streets were quieter than before, but there were still people walking around. Powder walked at a steady pace, her bag slung over one shoulder, while Ekko stuck just slightly behind her, trying not to overthink everything.
You’re just walking. It’s fine. Act normal.
The problem was, what was normal when he was walking Powder home ? Should he make conversation ? Stay quiet ? Bring up the tournament ?
He chanced a glance at her. She looked as composed as ever, her expression unreadable.
“So…” he tried, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “You, uh, play a lot of games ?”
“Not really,” Powder admitted. “I’ve played a few, but nothing serious.”
“Oh.” Ekko blinked. That made sense, she was naturally skilled but not experienced. “You’re still pretty good, though.”
She gave a small hum, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Silence settled again, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. Powder seemed fine with it. Ekko, on the other hand, was screaming internally. Say something, man.
“Uh, so… why’d you enter the competition ?”
She glanced at him again. “Lux told me about it. I thought it could be interesting. It just kinda happened to be honest.”
Ekko nodded, trying to act casual. “And you ended up winning.”
“It worked out,” she said simply.
Ekko wished he had her composure. He was so hyperaware of everything, the way the streetlights cast a soft glow on her face, the fact that he was actually walking her home, and that he had somehow pulled this off without embarrassing himself, yet.
As Ekko and Powder strolled down the street, the late afternoon air was crisp, the sky tinged with the soft hues of an approaching sunset. Ekko still felt a little jittery. He had actually spent time with Powder, in his room, and she didn’t seem to hate it. That was a win, right ?
But then all of a sudden, every screen in sight glitched.
Billboards, phone displays, store televisions, each one flickered, before the distorted face of Gamer appeared, his glowing visor pulsing like a loading screen. His voice echoed through the street.
“New players detected.”
Ekko barely had time to register what was happening before a massive neon-blue projectile shot toward them.
“MOVE !” Powder’s voice rang out as she grabbed Ekko’s wrist and yanked him sideways. The energy blast struck the pavement where they’d been standing just moments before, exploding into a digital ripple.
Gamer’s visor locked onto him.
"Target acquired."
Another blast shot toward them. Powder reacted first, tightening her grip on Ekko’s wrist as she ran.
“Come on !”
They darted through the streets, weaving between startled pedestrians as the city around them glitched and distorted into Gamer’s digital battlefield. More blasts rained down, pixelating the ground wherever they landed. Ekko risked a glance back. Gamer hovered above the street, riding what looked like a floating arcade console, joystick in hand, controlling the chaos like it was just another match.
Ekko grit his teeth. "That can't be good."
As they turned a corner, another explosion sent shockwaves through the air, and the impact separated them. Ekko tumbled forward, rolling to a stop near an alleyway. When he lifted his head, Powder was gone.
Gamer’s voice boomed.
“No rage-quitting Ekko.”
Ekko’s stomach dropped. "He’s locked onto me."
With no time to think, he ran.
Meanwhile, Powder had ducked into an empty shop doorway. She scanned the street, Ekko was keeping Gamer distracted.
Good.
Reaching into her jacket, she pulled out her Miraculous, letting the familiar weight settle in her palm.
Plagg emerged, stretching lazily. She rolled her eyes, then smirked faintly.
“Claws out.”
And with that, Jinx appareaded while Powder disappeared.
Ekko sprinted down the empty street, his breath coming fast as he dodged another pixelated blast. The world around him flickered, buildings, streetlights, even the pavement beneath his feet glitched as if they were inside a broken video game.
"Okay, not panicking," he muttered to himself, heart hammering. "Definitely not panicking—"
Another blast nearly clipped him. He tumbled forward, landing hard on his side. The impact dazed him, and for a second, the world swam.
That was all the time Gamer needed.
A low, robotic voice crackled through the air.
"Target immobilized. Execute capture."
Ekko barely had time to push himself up before he saw the shadow looming over him. Gamer hovered above, his oversized controller in hand, a glowing reticle locked onto Ekko. The energy blast charging at its center buzzed ominously.
Ekko's mind raced. "Think, think—"
And then, he saw who was behind the visor. His breath caught. "Ran ?"
He barely had time to process it before the energy blast surged forward, but then a blur of blue and black swooped in from above.
A flash of movement, and the attack deflected mid-air, dispersing into harmless pixels.
Ekko blinked.
Standing between him and Gamer was Jinx.
She twirled her staff lazily before resting it on her shoulder, tilting her head at Gamer.
“Hate to break it to you, but I don’t think this level has a capture pedestrian mission.” She smirked. “Maybe check your settings.”
Gamer let out a frustrated robotic growl. “Another player detected. Switching strategy.”
The moment his visor adjusted, Jinx moved. With effortless agility, she grabbed Ekko’s wrist and yanked him up.
“C’mon, pretty boy. No time to lag.”
Ekko barely had time to register what just happened before Jinx was already pulling him into a sprint.
“W-Wait what”
“No questions, just run !”
Behind them, Gamer’s digital attacks rained down, but Jinx weaved through them effortlessly, dragging Ekko along like he was just extra inventory weight.
Ekko’s mind spun. But as he stumbled forward, still gripping Jinx’s hand, he was carried away by the hurricane that she was. She moved like she had no fear, like dodging incoming attacks was just another game to her. Every step was precise, every turn calculated. She barely even looked back as she guided him through the alleyways, like she already knew exactly where she was going. There was no denying it, even if he sometimes had trouble with her extravagance, she was a good heroine. Without her, he would already be nothing more than a pile of pixels.
“Jinx—”
“No time for a fanboy moment, handsome,” she cut him off, suddenly skidding to a halt. With one sharp pull, she yanked him into a shadowed alcove between two buildings. “This is your stop.”
He barely caught his breath before she shoved him down behind a stack of crates, crouching in front of him.
“Okay, here’s the deal,” she said, tapping his forehead lightly with her finger. “You stay put. No running off, no hero moves, no ‘but I can help’ speeches, got it ?”
Ekko scowled, still trying to recover from being dragged around like a ragdoll. “I wasn’t gonna”
“Great, we’re on the same page,” Jinx interrupted cheerfully. She stood, twirling her staff. “I’ll handle the glitchy sore loser out there. You stay here and be pretty.”
Ekko glared. “I’m not helpless.”
She winked. “That’s cute. Stay put anyway.”
Before he could argue, she was already gone, vaulting back onto the rooftops with effortless grace.
Ekko clenched his fists, jaw tight as he watched Jinx disappear into the chaos. As Ekko, he’d listen. He’d stay put, just like she told him. He wasn’t reckless. He knew when to pick his battles.
But Firefly ?
Firefly didn’t have to sit back and do nothing. His heart pounded as he glanced around, making sure he was alone. The moment he was certain, he pressed a hand against his hoodie pocket, feeling the familiar weight of his Miraculous.
Jinx wanted him to stay hidden ? Fine. But she never said who had to stay hidden.
A smirk tugged at his lips as he whispered, “Tikki, time to light it up.”
In a flash of golden light, Ekko was gone. And Firefly was ready to play.
As the digital storm of Gamer’s attacks intensified, Jinx and Firefly found themselves weaving through the glitching city streets, dodging pixelated blasts and jumping across rooftops like it was just another night in Paris.
“This guy’s really committed, huh ?” Jinx huffed, skidding to a stop on a ledge. She twirled her staff, eyes flicking to Firefly. “Got a plan, partner ?”
“Yeah. We need to separate him from that controller. It’s his power source, if we break it, game over.”
Jinx grinned. “Now that sounds like my kind of fun.”
Gamer hovered above them, leveling his glowing controller. “You can’t win. I’m the strongest player now.”
Jinx scoffed. “Says every final boss before getting wrecked.”
Firefly made the first move, darting forward to grab Gamer’s attention while Jinx took the high ground. She leaped onto a rooftop, aiming for the perfect strike.
Gamer fired a barrage of energy blasts at Firefly, who dodged and rolled, buying Jinx time.
“Now !” Firefly shouted.
Jinx lunged, slamming down her staff onto the controller. Sparks flew as the device cracked apart, the screen flickering wildly before shattering completely.
Gamer froze mid-air, his form glitching. “No—!”
In an instant, the digital aura surrounding him faded, and he collapsed, the akuma fluttering free. Firefly was already on it. “No more playing around !” He captured the butterfly in one swift motion.
Jinx flipped backward, landing beside him with an easy smirk. “Nice catch.”
Firefly sighed in relief. “Let’s wrap this up. Miraculous Firefly !”
With a flick of his wrist, he purified the akuma, restoring Paris to normal. As the last remnants of Gamer’s digital influence faded, Paris returned to normal. Jinx stretched her arms over her head, letting out a satisfied breath. “Whew. Well, that’s handled.”
On the ground, Ran blinked awake, confused and disoriented. “What… happened ?”
Jinx and Firefly exchanged a look.
Jinx patted Ran’s shoulder. “You lost the game, dude. But hey, at least you didn’t have to rage-quit.”
Firefly shot her a look. “Not helping.”
Ran groaned, rubbing his head. “I should’ve been the one to represent the school…”
Jinx’s expression softened just slightly, but she didn’t linger.
“Hey, at least you put up a good fight,” Firefly offered. “That counts for something.”
Firefly glanced around, his posture tense. He had already used his power, it wouldn’t be long before he detransformed. He exhaled sharply before stepping back.
“I should go,” he said, adjusting his stance. His voice was steady, but there was an urgency to it, like he was already counting the seconds.
Jinx tilted her head slightly, watching him. “Running off already ?” she teased, though it was light.
Firefly gave her a knowing look. “You know how it is.”
Yeah, she did. His Miraculous was limited, just like hers.
He turned his attention back to Ran, his usual confidence settling into something gentler. “Look, man, don’t let this mess with your head, alright ? Next time, you’ll be even better.”
Ran sighed, still clearly upset, but there was a flicker of appreciation in his expression. “…Thanks.”
Firefly nodded once, then took a step back. “See you around.”
And with that, he took off, vaulting up onto a rooftop with ease. Jinx found herself watching him go. There was something effortless about the way he moved, like every jump, every swing, was just another part of who he was. No hesitation. No doubt. Just skill and confidence wrapped up in that damn cool mask of his. He made heroism look easy.
She shook herself, rolling her shoulders before turning back to Ran.
“You alright ?” she asked, crouching beside him.
Ran sat on the pavement, still disoriented but aware enough to groan in frustration. His hands clenched into fists on his knees. “ Yeah, just processing. I can’t believe I lost… again.”
Jinx, still in costume, regarded him with an unreadable expression. “Hey, don’t take it so hard. You were tough back there. I don’t say that to just any akumatized villain you know.”
Ran scoffed. “Doesn’t change the fact that I wasn’t good enough in the tournament.”
Before Jinx could respond, movement from an alley caught her eye. She glanced over, watching as Ekko emerged, dusting off his clothes. He had found a hidden spot to detransform, making it seem like he’d simply been in hiding.
Ekko jogged over, looking at Ran with genuine regret. “Hey, man… I just wanted to say, about the competition”
Ran looked up, his jaw tightening.
Ekko hesitated but pushed forward. “I didn’t mean to take your place. I got caught up in the moment, and I know how much this meant to you.”
Ran let out a slow breath, still visibly frustrated. “Yeah, well… what’s done is done.” His tone wasn’t aggressive, just tired.
Jinx watched silently, her arms crossed. Ekko sat down on the pavement beside him. “You’re an incredible player. I mean it. If I had known how much you worked for this, I wouldn’t have jumped in like that.”
Ran exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Doesn’t change anything, does it ?”
Ekko ran a hand over his hair. “I mean it. You’re crazy good. If I knew how hard you worked for it, I would’ve thought twice.”
Ran exhaled slowly, staring at the ground. “…Doesn’t change anything, does it ?”
“No, but…” Ekko gave a sheepish smile. “If it helps, I was panicking the whole time.”
That got a small, reluctant chuckle out of Ran.
Jinx smirked. “I can imagine.”
Ekko shot her a look, but it lacked any real bite. He turned back to Ran. “You’ll get another shot. This isn’t the end.”
The superhero added. “More seriously, I assure you that you must be very good. I may not have seen you play, but I don't need to know that, seeing as how precise you were even when akumatized.”
Ran was silent for a moment before he sighed, pushing himself up. “Guess I’ll just have to train harder.”
Ekko grinned and stood as well. “That’s the spirit.”
Jinx stretched, rolling her shoulders. “Anyway, I’m out. Try not to get zapped into a game again.”
With that, she gave a lazy salute and turned to leave, disappearing around the corner.
Ran watched her go, shaking his head. “She’s kinda weird.”
Ekko shrugged, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “Yeah… but she’s right about you being great.”
Ran didn’t answer but stood a little taller as they started walking. As Ekko and Ran walked together, still processing everything, Powder walked up to them, her usual calm demeanor intact. She dusted off her sleeves as if she had just emerged from a hiding spot. Ekko was relieved to see she was okay.
“You guys okay ?” she asked casually.
Ekko glanced at her, looking discreetly if she was injured anywhere but she seemed to be alright. He nodded, offering her a smile. Ran, however, tensed before lowering his head slightly.
“I’m… sorry,” Ran muttered. “For what happened. I wasn’t in control, but still—”
Powder waved a hand. “It’s not your fault. Akumas target strong emotions.”
Ran let out a sigh, frustration lingering in his expression. “I just… I really wanted that tournament spot.”
Powder tilted her head, considering his words. Then, as if reaching a simple conclusion, she said, “Take mine.”
Both Ekko and Ran turned to her in surprise.
“What ?” Ran frowned.
Powder shrugged. “I was going to say it earlier, but I’ve got other obligations anyway, modeling, schoolwork. It’s better if you take my spot.”
Ekko’s stomach twisted slightly, but he said nothing, watching her carefully.
Ran hesitated. “But… you won fair and square.”
“Barely,” Powder said. “You’re better than me. I just got lucky earlier.”
Ekko had thought winning the match would be the hardest part. But standing here now, listening to Powder so easily give up her spot, he felt… off. She was perfect. Too perfect. How could she just say that so easily ? How could she just give up something she’d earned without a second thought ?
She spoke with her usual calm, reserved tone, as if the decision had already been made long before she voiced it. “It just makes sense,” she said, brushing off any objections Ran might have. “You trained for this, you deserve it. And I have work, anyway.”
Ekko clenched his jaw, keeping his expression neutral. She made it sound logical, effortless. He told himself that if she didn’t care, he shouldn’t either.
But damn, he had been excited. He’d wanted to spend more time with her, even if she barely saw him as anything more than just another classmate. Getting to be her partner, to practice together, to have a reason to talk more, it had felt like a rare stroke of luck. And now, just like that, it was gone.
Ran still looked hesitant, almost guilty. “Are you sure ?”
Powder nodded, hands tucked in her pockets, her posture loose like this was the most natural thing in the world. “Completely. Besides, Ekko’s a natural. You two will make the perfect team.”
Ekko barely stopped himself from reacting. Of course, she meant it as a compliment, he knew that. But somehow, it just made the whole thing sting worse. It wasn’t just that she was giving up the competition. It was that she had never really cared about it in the first place.
And here he was, acting like an idiot for thinking this had meant something.
So he just forced a small smile, nodded along, and kept his thoughts to himself. Perfect team, huh ? Like he did everything to be with her in the first place for nothing at all.
Ekko forced himself to keep his expression neutral, even as his stomach twisted at how easily Powder had let go of her place. He shouldn’t have been surprised. She always carried herself with that same effortless composure, like nothing ever fazed her. It was part of what made her seem so untouchable.
And yet… even in his disappointment, he couldn’t help but be a little amazed.
She had won fair and square. If she had wanted to, she could have kept her spot, and no one would have questioned it. But instead, she’d stepped aside like it was nothing, like it had never even mattered to her in the first place. That was the part that really got to him.
Still, he played along, nodding when Ran hesitated. “Guess that means we’re teammates now,” he said, forcing a grin as he patted Ran’s shoulder.
Ran still looked unsure. “It doesn’t feel right. I lost.”
Powder shook her head, as composed as ever. “You didn’t. Not really. You’ve trained for this way more than me. I just got lucky.”
Ekko almost scoffed. Lucky ? He had seen her play. She wasn’t just lucky, she was good. Even if she hadn’t trained like Ran, she had something natural, instinctive. She picked things up fast, adjusted even faster.
Ran still looked hesitant, but eventually, he sighed and nodded. “Alright. If you’re sure.”
She is, Ekko thought bitterly. Of course, she is.
Powder gave a small nod, as if sealing the decision. “You two will do great.”
Ekko barely stopped himself from reacting again. He wanted to ask her why. Why she was giving this up so easily, why she didn’t seem to care at all. But he already knew he wouldn’t get an answer that would make things better for him. She just did the right thing, she wasn’t an egoist like him.
So he just grinned, acting like it didn’t matter. “Guess we’ll have to win it for you, then.”
Powder gave a small, polite smile. “Good luck.”
And just like that, it was decided. As she walked away, Ekko let out a slow breath, running a hand through his hair. His thoughts were a mess, tangled between admiration and frustration.
Ran glanced at him. “You good ?”
Ekko smirked, shrugging. “Yeah. Just… Powder’s something else, huh ?”
Because as much as he admired her, a part of him wished, just a little, that she hadn’t been this perfect. Maybe then, she wouldn’t feel so out of reach.
Ran was quiet for a moment, watching as Powder walked off, composed as ever. His eyes lingered on her, his expression shifting, softening, almost thoughtful. It wasn’t anything dramatic, just a quiet sort of realization, like he was seeing her in a new light. Ekko, still processing his own mixed feelings about Powder stepping down, almost missed it. But then Ran sighed.
"You’re right, she is really amazing."
Ekko blinked, snapping his gaze to him. "Huh ?"
Ran didn’t even look at him. His eyes were still on Powder. "Powder. She’s just... I don’t know, different. In a good way. I wasn’t expecting her to be so nice, since she’s basically a star and all, but she is actually really sweet."
Ekko squinted.
Wait.
Wait.
No.
This wasn’t happening.
"You just lost to her, man. Don’t tell me you’re catching feelings already."
Ran chuckled. "It’s not like that. I just think she’s cool."
Ekko exhaled, relieved. "Right. Okay. Cool. You had me worried for a second."
Ran hummed. "But, I mean… I wouldn’t mind getting to know her more."
Ekko stopped walking.
Looked at Ran. Looked at Powder in the distance. Looked back at Ran.
"…What ?"
Ran just shrugged. "She’s interesting."
Ekko stared at him like he’d just said an enormity. "You don’t know her. You didn’t even talk to her before today."
"And ?"
"And you’re already—" He gestured vaguely, "—thinking about her like that ?"
Ran smirked. "She gave up her spot for me. That’s not nothing."
Ekko narrowed his eyes. "She just didn’t wanna do the tournament, man."
"Maybe. Or maybe she’s just that nice."
"Oh no no no, hold up" Ekko lifted both hands like he was physically stopping the conversation from taking this direction. "What are you saying right now ?"
Ran finally turned to him, blinking in surprise at his reaction. "I’m just saying—"
"Nope."
Ran raised an eyebrow. "Why are you acting weird ?"
"Because" Ekko motioned wildly between him and Powder’s retreating figure. "—this ! You ! Her ! No ! This is illegal !"
Ran frowned, looking at him like he was crazy. Maybe he seemed a bit crazy right now. "What ?"
Ekko ran a hand down his face. "Bro, you can’t just start liking Powder. She’s—she’s Powder. A famous model !"
Ran crossed his arms, looking unimpressed. "And ?"
"And—" Ekko flailed his arms again, "—you’re Ran !"
Ran gave him a look like yeah, and you’re an idiot. "That’s how people work, Ekko. You meet someone, you talk to them, you realize they’re cool, and sometimes you like them."
Ekko let out a strangled noise, repeating himself. "You don't know her !"
"So ?"
"So, you can’t just—" He made a desperate, flustered noise. "You—didn’t even—she doesn’t even—"
Ran raised an eyebrow. "You sound real invested in this."
Ekko froze.
Oh, no. He had been doing so well at keeping it low-key. Cool. Chill. Unobvious. And now, in the span of thirty seconds, Ran was about to pull the biggest Uno Reverse card of all time.
Ekko cleared his throat. Forced a casual shrug. "I’m just sayin’, she’s kinda… hard to read, y’know ?" He waved a hand vaguely. "She’s, like… untouchable. It’s like she’s from a different world."
Ran gave him a look. "That’s what makes her interesting."
Ekko side-eyed him so hard it could have caused permanent damage.
"Right."
Ran exhaled through his nose, smirking slightly. "Don’t worry. It’s not like I’m gonna confess my undying love or anything."
Ekko’s eye twitched.
Yet.
He continued to walk, shoving his hands in his pockets. He wasn’t gonna admit it, but yeah, he was a little annoyed. Not just about Ran liking Powder, but about how easily she had given up the tournament, like it didn’t matter at all, just for him.
And maybe, deep down, about the fact that he suddenly had competition.
That evening, Powder sat on her bed, scrolling through her phone absentmindedly. The events of the day had passed smoothly, and she didn’t feel any particular way about it. It was just another day. Plagg, lazily floating above her head, stretched with a yawn before landing beside her. “You know, for someone who won fair and square, you gave up your spot pretty easily,” he mused.
Powder didn’t even glance up. “Ran wanted it more. It’s fine.”
Plagg grinned, his little paws resting on his belly. “Hmm, are you sure it’s just about that ? You’re not even a little bit disappointed ?”
Powder sighed, locking her phone and tossing it onto the bed. “It’s a video game tournament, Plagg. Not a life-or-death situation. I don’t need it.”
The kwami hummed. “Still, that Ekko kid looked like he was going to cry when you gave up your spot.”
Powder blinked, frowning. “What ?”
Plagg smirked. “Oh, come on. You didn’t see the way he looked at you ? All big eyes and completely dumbstruck ? It’s like you shattered his entire world.”
Powder gave him an unimpressed look. “You’re making things up.”
“I’m not !” Plagg floated in front of her, waving his tiny paws for emphasis. “It was almost funny. He was looking at you like you just did the most tragic yet beautiful thing ever. If that’s not a crush, I don’t know what is.”
Powder sighed, running a hand through her hair. “Ekko’s just a friend,” she said plainly. “You’re reading too much into it.”
Plagg snickered. “Suuure, keep telling yourself that.”
Powder rolled her eyes. “Even if he did like me, it doesn’t matter.” She leaned back against her pillows. “I don’t see him that way.”
Plagg crossed his tiny arms, grinning mischievously. “Because you’re too busy dreaming about the Firefly, huh ?”
At that, Powder’s expression softened ever so slightly, but she didn’t answer. Instead, she grabbed her pillow and lightly tossed it over Plagg, making him yelp as he barely dodged it.
“Hey ! Uncalled for !” he complained. Plagg huffed but didn’t push the topic further. He had all the time in the world to tease her.
“Anyway, Ekko can't be in love with me. We got a bit closer today, I think we broke the ice a bit. I'm glad to be able to say he's a friend now.” Powder smiled at the idea.
Friends, just like before.