Chapter 128 - Inspiration (2/2)

”I'm not trying to accomplish anything, I just want to keep everyone alive.”

Kelly smacked Gray on the backside of the head, but since it was a virtual lobby, Gray didn't feel it but he still knew she did it.

”What was that for?” Gray said with a slightly hurt tone in his voice.

”That type of wishful thinking will get more people killed. You may save your friend's lives, but what about everyone else?” Kelly started to raise her voice slightly with Gray, drawing the attention of everyone else.

”I'm not so naïve to think I can save everyone, but I will put my friends ahead of strangers, I'm not a soldier that can be heartless and put the mission above all else!”

At this point everyone was watching Gray and Kelly. Even Kelly was surprised because the Gray she used to know never yelled once and rarely was confrontational.

Kelly decided to take the opportunity to push Gray a little. ”Soldiers are not heartless! It is because of their heart that they are willing to put their lives on the line to protect their home! If you can't even do that then why are you here?”

Gray couldn't respond to that one right away. Thinking about it, he was only here because he didn't have a choice. He remembered Major Valen giving him information about setting up a Mercenary Group that wouldn't be dependent upon the military, but now he realized that even with that he was doing it just because it was suggested to him.

”Am I really such a pushover?” Gray thought to himself. ”What do I WANT to do with this life that was given to me?”

Kelly watched Gray lose himself in thought and knew she finally got through to him. Kelly reached out and put her hand on Gray's shoulder and said, ”Gray… you are my friend. As a friend, I'm just trying to help you see the bigger picture, make your own choices, and not just be comfortable with the status quo because it is easier. You have plenty to think about but know that I am on your side always.”

Gray nodded and smiled at Kelly and he put his hand on hers and gave it a squeeze.

What Gray and Kelly didn't see was Xyra and Stacia holding Yurika back due to some instinct warning Yurika that she needed to attack Kelly.

Gray removed his hand and Kelly removed hers, then Kelly said to Gray, ”Remember, you're our commander today! Also, check out who we're facing in the quarter finals.”

Gray started to look through the lineup now that the results were finally out for the preliminaries. His vision suddenly went dark and he stopped focusing on his screen to see that Yurika had came over and was now squeezing him. Gray was thankful you couldn't feel anything, nor did you need to breathe in the pregame lobby.

Yurika glared daggers at Kelly and mouthed, ”My Wife!”

Kelly smiled at Yurika and mouthed back, ”I know, sorry.”

Yurika released Gray from a hug that would've probably suffocated him had she smooshed his face in her chest like she just did in the real world.

Gray pretended like he was suffocating though and let out a deep breath and inhaled sharply like he was running out of air. ”I almost died!”

Yurika laughed and flicked his forehead, ”If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead.”

Kelly felt a little uncomfortable with hearing that because she felt like Yurika wasn't joking, but she chose to ignore it as Gray always had a weird sense of humor so it would be no surprise that those around him would also have the same.

”Ahem” Kelly coughed to interrupt the happy pink environment that Gray and Yurika somehow were creating that made everyone feel uncomfortable. ”Our next opponent is one of the 6 remaining teams in the military. 'The Foolhardies', and despite the strange name they're still part of our elites in the military.”

”Any information on them that might be useful?” Gray asked, the looked around and saw everyone else suddenly turn away as if they weren't watching them earlier. ”Ok guys, bring it in, might as well learn what we can.”

Kelly looked at Gray then the others from Gray's team and said ”To begin with… this will be your hardest battle yet…”