Chapter 19: Sync Rates (2)
Later during lunch time.
Lanz sat at his usual spot, one leg curled under the bench, elbow resting beside a half-eaten meat bun that barely qualified as food.
Kenji had already dropped into the seat across from him, animatedly describing a dungeon clip he saw that morning where some dual-scythe freak managed to backflip off a wyvern, which, according to Kenji, was peak agility.
Hiro was fiddling with the wrapper on his egg sandwich, half-listening, while Leo sipped from his drink pouch like he was judging its flavor profile for a competition.
For a while, it was normal, almost boring in the best way. That is, until the table in front of them suddenly became too interested.
One of the guys, someone Lanz didn’t even really know by name, just the type who always talked like his jokes were auditions, leaned back in his chair, clearly angling for volume over subtlety.
"Hey, FFF—ailure, Monarch," he called without even turning around. "What’s it like being stuck at the tutorial screen in real life?"
The words weren’t clever, but they were loud enough to get a few laughs from his side of the table.
Lanz didn’t flinch, but the familiar taste of dull irritation settled at the back of his mouth. He wasn’t even surprised anymore, the nickname had stuck too well, it’s easy and punchy.
It didn’t matter that he hadn’t done anything recently to earn it again, old news stayed sticky.
Before Lanz could even open his mouth — not that he was sure he would have... let’s be honest he would — Kenji shifted his weight forward, arms on the table, tone quiet but clear.
"Maybe knock it off," he said without raising his voice. "We get it, you’re b*tchless. We also know the only b*tch that you have is your mother. I’m just kidding, maybe your mother is nice, but still, you’re a b*tch."