K.O.!!!

Games have always been a part of life, bringing fun, challenge, and valuable lessons. From childhood games like hide-and-seek to intense e-sports battles, they entertain, teach, and bring people together. They sharpen our minds, test our reflexes, and push us to think and adapt.

But what if the stakes were real?

What if you woke up trapped in a game where losing meant death? Forced into bizarre, deadly challenges. Would skill and strategy save you or would luck be your only hope?

When the game turns into a fight for survival, how do you win?

–––––––––––

The sound of a Nintendo Switch clicking filled the room as students played together, laughing and chatting between moves. Their eyes stayed glued to the screen, fingers tapping buttons with excitement, fully immersed in the game. It wasn't just about winning—it was about the fun, the competition, and the connections they built with each other.

Ace sat at his desk, blue eyes locked on his screen, fingers moving swiftly as he played.

His hand brushed through his black mullet hair as he pushed them off his forehead, wiping the streaks of sweat off his face.

Gaming wasn't just a hobby—it was his way to unwind and make money. The soft clicking of buttons filled the classroom, blending with the chatter of his classmates.

Suddenly, a hand reached out and snatched his phone.

Ace blinked, momentarily stunned, before looking up to see a girl with black and long wavy hair and bangs framing her face, standing in front of him, holding his phone with a smirk.

The game screen faded from his view, replaced by the realization that his winning streak had just been interrupted.

Ace's fingers twitched instinctively as if trying to tap buttons that were no longer there. His game was paused—no, worse, it was out of his hands. His eyes slowly lifted from the empty space where his phone had been to the girl now holding it hostage.

She twirled the device in her hand, smirking. "You're always gaming, Ace. Do you even hear anything around you?"

Ace leaned back in his chair, exhaling through his nose as he assessed the situation. She wasn't just messing around—she wanted something. "What do you want, Mia?" he asked, keeping his voice calm despite the irritation bubbling inside him.

Mia's smirk grew. "Just making sure you don't rot your brain with all these games," she teased, flipping the phone in her palm. "Maybe you should pay more attention to the real world instead of chasing virtual wins."

Ace scoffed. "And maybe you should give my phone back before I lose this match." He held out his hand expectantly.

Mia hummed, pretending to think about it. "Hmm… nah. Maybe I should keep it for a while. Might be good for you to take a break."

Ace clenched his jaw. He knew Mia well enough to understand she wouldn't just hand it back without some kind of trade. He could argue, maybe even try to grab it, but that would just entertain her more.

His eyes flicked to the screen of his still-running game. The match timer was counting down. If he didn't get his phone back soon, he was going to lose.

"Alright, what do you want?" he asked, crossing his arms.

Mia grinned, leaning down slightly. "How about… you owe me a favor?"

Ace sighed. He already knew this was going to be annoying.

Ace studied Mia's expression, searching for any hint of what she was planning. A favor from her could mean anything—carrying her books, buying her snacks, or worse, embarrassing himself in front of the entire class. His match was still running, and every second without his phone brought him closer to a loss.

He exhaled sharply. "Fine. One favor. Now, give it back."

Mia's grin widened as she twirled the phone one last time before finally handing it over. "See? That wasn't so hard."

Ace snatched it back, instantly refocusing on his screen. His character was barely hanging on, his health bar flashing red. He reacted on instinct, fingers flying over the controls, trying to salvage the match. His classmates, noticing the intensity of his gameplay, leaned in to watch.

The next few moments were pure adrenaline. He dodged an incoming attack, countered with perfect timing, and managed to execute a last-second special move. His opponent's health plummeted.

K.O.!!!

A cheer erupted from the students around him. Ace smirked in satisfaction, tilting his phone to show Mia. "Still won."

Mia rolled her eyes but didn't seem surprised. "Lucky."

"Skill," Ace corrected, locking his screen and slipping the phone into his pocket before she could try anything again. "Now, what's this favor I owe you?"

Mia tapped a finger to her chin, pretending to think. "I'll let you know… soon."

Ace narrowed his eyes. That was never a good sign.

As the bell rang, signaling the start of class, he leaned back in his chair with a sigh. He might've won the match, but something told him he'd just walked into an even bigger game—one with rules he didn't get to control.

Ace tried to push the thought aside as the teacher walked in, beginning the lesson. He kept his phone tucked safely in his pocket, but he couldn't shake the feeling that Mia was up to something. A favor from her was unpredictable—sometimes harmless, sometimes a complete nightmare.

He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. She sat with her chin resting in her palm, staring at the board, but there was a glint of amusement in her expression. That was never a good sign.

The lesson dragged on, but Ace barely paid attention. His mind drifted back to his game—how close he had been to losing, how much time he had wasted dealing with Mia's antics. If this had been a tournament match, he could've lost real money.

The thought made him grit his teeth.

Finally, after what felt like forever, the lunch bell rang. Ace was the first to stand, stretching as he pulled out his phone. He had barely taken a step when Mia's voice stopped him.

"Going somewhere?" she asked, stepping beside him with an innocent smile.

Ace didn't even look at her. "Yeah. To eat. What do you want, Mia?"

She shrugged. "Oh, nothing… just thought I'd cash in that favor."

Ace froze mid-step. "…Already?"

Mia grinned. "Yup. Come with me."

Ace sighed, slipping his phone into his pocket. "This better not be a waste of time."

"Oh, trust me," Mia said, tugging him along. "You're gonna love this."

Ace highly doubted that.

Ace let Mia drag him through the bustling hallway, dodging students as they made their way to lunch. He had a bad feeling about this. Knowing Mia, whatever she had planned would either be annoying, embarrassing, or both.

They stopped in front of a vending machine near the cafeteria. Ace raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? You wasted my favor just to get a snack?"

Mia rolled her eyes. "You wish." She pulled out her phone and tapped the screen a few times before turning it toward him. "I need you to beat this guy."

Ace squinted at the screen. It was a leaderboard from an online game—one he recognized immediately. A competitive fighting game he had played before, though not one of his main money-makers. He scanned the rankings and immediately saw the problem.

Mia was in third place.

He let out a low whistle. "Damn. You actually made it pretty far."

Mia crossed her arms. "Yeah, but I can't beat this guy." She pointed at the name in second place. "I've tried everything. He destroys me every time. But you—you're a natural at this stuff."

Ace ran a hand through his hair. "So, let me get this straight. You interrupted my match, stole my phone, made me owe you a favor… just so I could beat some random guy in a game for you?"

Mia grinned. "Pretty much."

Ace exhaled, shaking his head. "Unbelievable."

"Oh, come on," Mia said, nudging him. "You like challenges, don't you? Plus, if you win, I'll owe you a favor next time."

Ace considered it. A favor from Mia could be useful—maybe. And besides, he did love crushing overconfident players.

He cracked his knuckles. "Alright. Give me your phone."

Mia practically beamed as she handed it over. "Good luck, champ."

Ace smirked as he loaded up the game. "I don't need luck."

Ace sat down at a nearby bench, Mia leaning over his shoulder as he studied her game profile. Her match history told him everything he needed to know. She was good—better than most—but whoever this guy was, he had completely shut her down every time.

"He always plays aggressively," Mia said, pointing at one of her past losses. "I tried countering, but it's like he predicts everything I do."

Ace hummed in thought. He recognized the playstyle—fast, relentless attacks, forcing opponents into a defensive corner. It was the kind of strategy that overwhelmed average players. But Ace wasn't average.

He tapped the challenge button and cracked his fingers. "Time to teach this guy a lesson."

Mia grinned. "That's the spirit."

The match loaded. The opponent's username flashed across the screen: ShadowFang.

Ace smirked. "Sounds like one of those try-hard guys."

The countdown began. 3… 2… 1… Fight!