The living room of the hotel suite overlooked Tokyo's nightscape through its floor-to-ceiling windows. The lights of countless homes cast hazy halos across the glass. The curtains were open, and the city lights streamed in, mingling with the glow of the television screen and bathing the entire room in warm hues.
Lu Mingfei sat cross-legged on the carpet in front of the sofa, staring at the screen as his fingers hammered the controller with rapid clicks.
Erii sat beside him, also cross-legged, her knees nearly touching his. Clutching her controller, she leaned slightly forward, her eyes brimming with fierce fighting spirit.
The screen displayed a match from The King of Fighters '97.
Iori Yagami versus Mai Shiranui.
Lu Mingfei's Iori Yagami pressed hard. A three-hit Sunflower combo followed by Scum Gale trapped Erii's Mai Shiranui in the corner, leaving her unable to move. He had not actually gone all out, slowing down by half a beat to leave Erii an opening to evade.
But Erii did not dodge.
Iori Yagami unleashed a super move, and crimson flames swallowed the entire screen.
KO----
Erii stared blankly at the "K.0." on the screen for a second, then turned to look at Lu Mingfei. Her expression was earnest, as though she were studying some grave matter.
"Mingming, amazing," she said.
Lu Mingfei scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "Not really. I've just played it a lot."
The game screen gradually blurred, as did the halo of light cast in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The scene changed.
They stood beneath a Ferris wheel at an amusement park. Dusk painted everything in warm orange-red hues. Erii pulled him by the hand and ran inside, her red hair brushing over Lu Mingfei's cheek and making it itch.
She pointed at the highest gondola, then raised her