exsilium | [00:00:01] text

[Computers aren't out of the ordinary in Shibuya, but whatever this is, it's like some weird sci-fi movie device, and not anything Neku is used to. He has a computer at home that he barely uses, and it's a big, clunky thing. This thing is tiny and delicate-looking, and honestly, he feels like he might break it if he sneezes at it or something.

Typing on this... might be slow.]

so i guess no one here is from shibuya huh

[He doesn't type anything else for a few seconds, because... really, what is he supposed to say? He doesn't exactly use computers for social things.]

im neku

[--and then the video comes on, rather abruptly as his finger slips after pressing enter. There's a face visible, bleached-orange hair sticking down in front of a pair of wide blue eyes that are quickly narrowing.]

Rrgh... Where'd the text box go? Who even makes a keyboard this tiny...

[Hopefully no one gets ill from motion sickness easily, because the video suddenly skews all over the place, clearly being moved. It's over before long, though, with the video finally settling to show the front of a blue and black shirt. And just as quickly as the video feed started, it ends with the closing of the netbook.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He glances curiously at Neku, slowing down a little more. So they're walking now, huh?]

So, what, you're sick of it now? C'mon, it's not like it's that far.

I'm not sick of it. It's just no big deal whether we run or walk, right?

[Like you said, it's not that far.]

[Considers.]

Okay, fine. I guess it's not fair to race you if you don't know the way! You'd just get left in my dust.

[... what.]

No I wouldn't.

It's okay! I mean, I know you don't want to get embarrassed by losing or anything.

Yeah, right. Sorry, I don't make a habit of losing.

So you're not gonna run at all, huh? I get it. [Shaking his head in mock-sadness.]

[.........]

Fine. You're on.

Haha, you got it! Don't cry when I beat you.

Ready - set - [And he's running the moment he says:] Go!

[Nope, he was ready for that. So a split second after he notices Lea running, he takes off himself. Hopefully those three weeks in the Game paid off!]

[Neku's pretty fast, but Lea's the rough and tumble type himself - and he's been challenging Isa to races for years and years now.

Of course, Isa usually just teases him for it, but it's not like he doesn't run anyway. It's shaping up to be a close race. Lea cuts sideways into the cross-corridor leading to the market, an announcer yelling dramatically in the back of his mind.]

[Pretty much the whole time, Neku is hanging beside Lea, just behind him. Enough to be able to change his course pretty quickly if Lea does. Three weeks of thinking on his feet has made him sharp.

So, the second Lea cuts sideways, Neku is on it. He still might be hanging behind just a little, but he's doing it to save a little energy for a final burst.]

[And Lea's feet are going out from under him in surprise as Neku follows his movement faster than he'd expected. It's just a momentary stumble, but it puts Neku in the lead, and he speeds up with a desperate last burst of speed. Boy, he hopes Neku doesn't have that much energy left....]

Oh. Uh. Hadn't been expecting that, but okay! When he realizes Lea is stumbling, he hesitates, just for a split second, even though he's finally in the lead. But once Lea picks up speed again... well, shit. Time to pull out all the stops.

It'll be a very, very close call at the least.]

[A photo finish! Lea braces his hands on his knees and bends over to catch his breath as they burst into the marketplace shoulder to shoulder.]

Hey... not bad! You... almost won! [An unbiased observer might question that almost. But Lea's hardly unbiased.]

[Neku's more or less doing the same, only he's half-leaning against a wall at the same time. Running had actually made him feel pretty good!]

Heh... so did you. [He grins, glancing up. Dude, they were side-by-side. It was totally a tie.]

[He considers arguing, but hey, he just met this guy. Better be nice. Right?

Also there's that little detail of it being a tie.]

Yeah, well, next time I won't slip. [He grins at Neku, straightening back up.] Better keep practicing!

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