Chapter 125 - Let The Games Begin! (1/2)

Gray woke up early, alone, and felt a little lonely since he had started to get used to sleeping with Yurika. He hadn't heard from Yurika or anyone else last night about what happened to Edward Teach, but today was the day of the tournament finally.

Gray got dressed, cleaned up and went to the cafeteria for breakfast as usual. Everyone except Jono and Yurika were present. Jono was no big surprise as he still lived in the virtual world and said he wouldn't show up until a few minutes before it was time.

”Gray! How'd it go yesterday with Yurika's parents?” Stacia said excitedly.

”Yeah, we took bets on what they were like. Most of us pictured her Dad as a hardcore military fanatic while her mother was mild-mannered, polite, but very attractive with the same kind of hair!” Geoff said while Caleb and Paul nodded in agreement.

”No! We picture her Dad as a career military man that is kind and doting while her mother is the true leader that is strong, passionate, empowering, and can kick ass and cook at the same time!” Stacia said while Xyra backed her up.

Gray thought about it for a moment and figured they were both correct partially.

”Well, I'd have to say this would be a tie then because you're both half correct. Her dad was a career soldier and now he's a fanatic of it, but he keeps himself in shape. Her mother…” Gray paused while trying to figure out how to word it so everyone could understand.

”What about her Mother?” Stacia asked, leaning in so she didn't miss anything.

Gray laughed slightly and said, ”Her mother scares the crap out of me. You are right in that she is very polite and beautiful, but Yurika gets her temper from her mother as well as her talent for fighting. She also flipped me over on a table like a pancake!”

”I can see that… my only question is what did you do to deserve it?” Stacia asked.

”Nothing! I mean… I may have worn video game themed socks, but that was only made known after I was flipped over on my back. Not only that, her mom actually liked them and was wearing a pair as well! She thought I was questioning her abilities, but I hadn't said a thing!”

”So were you questioning her abilities?” Caleb asked this time after having become a little familiar with Gray's natural bad habit of liking to cause trouble for people.

”I may have thought about it, but I didn't say anything, honest!”

”Hah! You THOUGHT about it!” Stacia said triumphantly.

Gray rolled his eyes at Stacia and said, ”Can't I think whatever I want to think? Don't tell me her mother can read minds.”

”You can think what you want, she can't read minds, but you make this face when you're about to question something.” Stacia said.

”Really?” Gray said skeptically.

”Yes! That face!” Stacia said while pointing at Gray's face.

Geoff, Paul, Xyra, and Caleb looked at his face as well. ”Yeah, it basically screams that you're about to question something out of disbelief.” Caleb chimed in.

”Whatever, anyways for our team and the 4 mech lineup, I was thinking Yurika, Caleb, Geoff, and myself. Thoughts?” Gray asked everyone else.

Paul shrugged and said, ”I get it, you guys have known each other the longest and Stacia is the most timid out of you 5.”

”Actually it has nothing to do with that, I based it upon your personalities and preferences. The matches are short so it won't leave hardly any time to set anything up so I went with who would best fit those. Paul, you're very defensive and we won't have time for that. Stacia and Xyra are too passive for a quick and fast match as well.”

”Hmm… fair point, my best mech is quite slow after all.” Paul replied, satisfied that Gray didn't choose the group of 4 out of favoritism.

”You would have put Yurika on the team even if she was awful though, right?” Geoff said wryly.

”Duh, she would kick my ass if I didn't!”

Paul looked at Xyra with a slight smile and said, ”I think we need to find another team, again…”

Xyra gave a light chuckle then softly said, ”I like this team.”

__________

It was now 9:40 am and the tournament would start in 20 minutes. Many players began queuing up with their teams as early as 9:00 am.

Surprisingly to Gray, Jono had shown up on time, but what Gray was really worried about was that Yurika still wasn't there yet. Gray and the others were nervously watching the time and waiting for Yurika.

Kelly sent Gray a message that said, ”You have 5 minutes to get in a simulator pod and confirm your entry, I will kill you if you are late and cause us to be disqualified!”