Unpopular
The Classroom of Greystone Elementary went about its usual activities. Daisy, Mary, and Vicky were gathered around a collection of desks, talking amongst themselves as most of the kids did, despite being new in town Daisy quickly got buddy/buddy with Mary Ann Sterling, the most popular girl in school.
In the back of the classroom sat a black bear named Stacy Osbourn, sorting a hoodie and skirt with striped leggings. she wasn't popular and didn't have any friends, Stacy kept to herself. she drew in her sketchbook, running her pencil along with the book, shading the lines as class ended.
"Come On, let's go hit the arcade, I heard they got the new 'Nitro Fist Racing' imported edition" Daisy suggested as her friends followed her. Stacy didn't join them, she wasn't in the popular crowd, she was just there and few of the kids talked to her on rare occasions but most of the time she spent by herself.
Despite that she often frequented the arcade, being what was referred to as a loner she loved anime and video games especially imported games as she made a note to check out the arcade, closing her sketchbook and placing it in her bookbag. After school was out Stacy followed the other kids to the arcade, keeping a distance between them as she put her headphones on, lifting her hood over her head.
The music played through her player as the young bear cub made her way to the local arcade, the other kids had already entered and had branched off to do their thing. Stacy walked to the token machine, reaching into her pocket, and pulling out a few Credits, putting the credits in a few smaller gold coins that came out with a crown emblem on them.
"Now What to play first," Stacy thought-feeling in her element with all the video games as she surveyed, looking for a cabinet that wasn't being occupied. Stacy walked over to 'Facepuncher III' putting her tokens in the machine which was a beat 'em up. Stacy gripped the joystick and rested her fingers on the buttons of the machine, moving her character as it traveled through the level, throwing punches at endless goons.
Stacy often escaped reality by escaping into fiction, whether it was movies, drawing, anime, or in this case video games. Stacy often frequented 'Big Willies' which on the walk home of her father let her stay out late because she never got into trouble. She just kept pounding away on the controls, getting into her fight with the first level boss.
Stacy easily beat the boss as she had hardly taken any damage. she had played these games a bunch and knew a lot of the secret moves, as she spun the joystick, pressing a sequence of a button, ending the first boss with a special finisher as she picked up the chainsaw sword he dropped.
"I got Player 2" a voice claimed to belong to a raccoon girl her age wearing cargo shorts, a sweater, and glasses as she placed a token into the machine, standing beside her, grabbing her controls. Player 2 was just a reskin of the default character as level two started. the two girls began playing.
"So, I've noticed you frequent the arcade a lot" the voice complemented as the raccoon picked up a hammer, using it to swing at the goons of the warehouse level, Stacy still using the chainsaw sword which was much more powerful as the raccoon admitted she was impressed, walking to a stack of crates, smashing them in order as a Tommy gun appeared as she picked it up.
"Names Terry" The raccoon introduced mowing down masked grunts with the guns as Stacy sliced through them in a display of violence, introducing herself, they commenting on each other's skills as the two of them worked together to easily dispose of the second level boss. Eventually, some of the kids noticed the two making their way through the third then the fourth level.
Stacy seemed to be smiling as the two played through the game, getting further than she ever did playing the game solo. It helped to have another skilled player as the two unlocked a secret level. Stacy looked around seeing a small group of kids, watching the two girls play the game and dominating.
Upon realizing they were being watched Stacy froze up nervous as her character took a hit. The bear fumbled the joystick, trying to focus on the game as she could not shake the feeling of being watched, putting a sense of peer pressure. eventually, she cracked, her character getting hit again and dying.
"Don't Worry I can take it from here" Terry said, fighting the secret boss, wielding a flame staff as fighting the enemy sprite in a close battle. Terry won the game as she put her name on the leaderboard. Stacy looked at the board, seeing the name letters on the top of the board, belonging to Terry.
The Racoon was praised for her gaming skills as she twirled her hair thanking them. After the crowd died Terry looked at the Black bear, asking what happened, she was cheesing through the level then just got distracted.
"You should have beat that easy" Terry claimed, acknowledging her skills as Stacy rubbed her shoulder, saying the crowd made her nervous. Stacy admitted she didn't like being the center of attention and guessed that Terry could have handled it by herself as she crossed her arms.
"Why should you care what they think, you're pretty good with that game, few players find the secret level" Terry complimented her skills as Stacy rubbed her shoulder nervously from her conversation with Terry, who smiled looking at her, saying she looked uneasy. Terry offered to buy her a soda as Stacy just nodded.
The two walked to the vending machine in the arcade, Terry put a credit in asking what Stacy wanted as she said that watermelon soda was her favorite flavor as Terry chuckled, earning a glance as she pushed a button as a bottle of pink soda lowered. Terry reached for the bottle, placing it under the opener and popping the cap off.
"There you go" Terry offered, putting another coin in as she purchased a second soda, opening it and taking a sip. Stacy looked at Terry asking why she was being so nice to her, considering they just met. Terry just smiled, saying it looked like she needed a friend, plus she can handle a joystick really well.
"Strangers are just friends you haven't made yet, so you want to play another game" Terry offered as Stacy took another sip of her watermelon soda smiling, asking what she wanted to play, she was nervous about personal interaction but the fact that she felt comfortable around Terry put her at ease. Terry led them to a cabinet for 'Sixstring Warriors' pulling the replica guitar off and placing it on.
"Oh, you actually have this, I only have the Gamestation port and the arcade version is so much better, with more characters and guitars to choose from, plus a bigger setlist" Stacy replied, picking up the second guitar. The two began, selecting a song as they pushed the buttons, following the beat of the song.
The two kids played one of the songs from a J-Rock band, both enjoying themselves as Stacy looked at her, complimenting her taste in J-Rock as she smiled, noticing Stacy was enjoying herself, running her fingers along the neck of her plastic guitar, playing along. a few kids passing by glanced but they did not notice.
The song ended as they put their score in. After playing 'Sixstring Warriors' they bounced between games and eventually Stacy's watch lit up, Stacy looked at Terry, saying she should head home as the raccoon understood, saying it was nice to meet her, a lot of gamer kids hung out here and she had a feeling that Stacy may fit in.
"Well, Uh, thanks but I should get going. I'll come by again sometime" Stacy replied leaving 'Big Wilie's' as she walked on the path home. Stacy was joyed about meeting another kid who seemed to like her as she headed into her house, quickly making her way upstairs, entering her room as she set her backpack down.
Her room was filled with figurines, shelves of Sketchbooks, DVD cases, and manga/comic books. giving off a nerdy vibe. she reached into her hoodie pocket, pulling out a box of Pocky, and slid one of the chocolate-covered biscuits in her mouth, laying on the bed as she turned on her Television, turning on a cartoon about a primary school cub with magical girl powers
"On Tonight's episode of Sugar Forest, Glitter Kitty. Glitter Kitty must fight against the Fatal Five, how will our hero square off against five of the dangerous villains she has ever encountered" The announcer read as Stacy sat back.
"Great, I didn't miss it," She said, eager to see this new episode of her favorite TV show.