Hugo's hands were clammy, the controller slick with sweat as he stared at the screen with wide, disbelieving eyes.
His whole body was tense, and his heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst out of his chest.
The score on the screen was a cruel mockery of his efforts: 3-2, and not in his favor. He was losing.
'Fifty mastery points!' he screamed internally. 'I spent fifty mastery points! That's like… a fortune in gaming terms! And I'm still losing?!'
His teeth ground together as he stared at Loli, who sat serenely on the couch, her legs tucked under her, looking like a gaming goddess descended to punish mere mortals.
'No, she's not human,' Hugo decided, his thoughts spiraling. 'She's a reincarnated gaming god, summoned to this earth to humble fools like me! I mean, who else can pull off these moves?!'
He shivered at the memory of her last goal, where she'd practically broken the laws of physics to make the shot.