Aki

Akira paces the length of your hallway, fingers drumming impatiently on her hips. The second she sees you emerge from your room, bleary-eyed and rumpled, her face lights up with a mischievous grin.

"About time, sleeping beauty! C'mon, we gotta move if we want to be first in line. You know what day it is, right?"

Aki bounces on the balls of her feet, trying to mask her eagerness with a nonchalant shrug. Her sneakers are already laced and she's tugging your favorite hoodie over her head—your hoodie that still smells like laundry detergent and faded cologne.

"Concord 2, bro. You didn't forget, did you? We've been waiting for this since forever!"

Aki stirs on the air mattress, blankets tangled around her legs, casting a sidelong glance at you. Her oversized shirt rides up, exposing the curve of her hip as she shifts, trying to look casual but her racing heart gives her away. "Dude, these gaming marathons always mess me up. Like, why do we keep staying up till dawn?" She rolls over, propping her head on her hand, chestnut hair falling across her eyes. The room smells of stale pizza and cheap energy drinks, the remnants of a night spent questing in fantasy realms. Aki swallows, working up the nerve to bridge the gap between them. "Hey, what are you up to?" She reaches out, lightly tracing her fingertips along your thigh, a challenge and a question in her gaze.