Chapter 7: The Battle of Regrets

Elara yawned as she trudged toward the Awakeners Arena, her oversized hoodie swallowing her frame as her fingers tapped away at the screen of her phone. The early morning air was crisp, but it wasn't enough to fully wake her up. If anything, it just made her want to crawl back into bed.

Her gacha pulls were terrible.

She grumbled as the summoning animation played out, only to reveal another three-star unit. "Ugh. Trash. Absolute trash. Why do I even bother?" She tapped again, rolling another ten-pull. More garbage. Her pity count was way too low to get the limited banner character before the event ended.

It was a scam. A robbery. A calculated scheme designed to keep her invested—and yet, she couldn't stop.

As she reached the arena doors, she barely glanced up, still hyper-focused on her phone. The entrance slid open with a soft hiss, and the bright artificial lights inside made her wince. She shuffled in, yawning again.

"Finally! Took you long enough!"

Elara flinched as a loud voice boomed across the training hall. She slowly lifted her head, eyes bleary, to see Choi Min-seo already in the center of the arena, stretching with the energy of someone who had consumed three energy drinks before dawn.

Elara sighed, rubbing her temple. How can she be this enthusiastic at this ungodly hour?

Min-seo was practically glowing with excitement, already hopping from foot to foot, her short hair tied back into a low ponytail. Her athletic gear fit snugly, emphasizing her lean, toned build, and her sharp eyes locked onto Elara with predatory glee.

Elara, meanwhile, was still in her hoodie and slippers, looking like she had just rolled out of bed—which, to be fair, she had.

"Oi! Put your phone away and get over here!" Min-seo shouted, hands on her hips.

Elara scowled and tucked her phone into her pocket, muttering under her breath. "So impatient..."

"What was that?" Min-seo asked, cracking her knuckles.

"Nothing," Elara said quickly, walking sluggishly toward the center of the arena. She eyed Min-seo's eager stance with mild irritation.

Why did I agree to this again?

Oh, right. Because Min-seo wouldn't take no for an answer.

Elara sighed again. This was going to be a long morning.

Elara let out another sigh as she stepped toward the weapon rack, running her fingers over the hilts of the training swords. They were well-maintained, crafted to simulate real weapons without the lethal edges. She picked one up, testing its balance. It was lighter than what she was used to, but it would do.

Min-seo, meanwhile, was bouncing on the balls of her feet, rolling her shoulders as she grinned. "You better take this seriously. I've been looking forward to this!"

Elara lazily spun the sword in her grip and tilted her head. "Yeah, yeah. I know. But I might have to end it quickly, Min-seo. I don't like dragging these things out."

Min-seo's grin widened. "Big words. Let's see if you can back them up."

The moment the starting signal rang, Min-seo vanished.

Or at least, that's how it seemed to most people. But Elara's eyes tracked the blur of movement as Min-seo shot toward her, a gust of wind trailing behind her.

Elara barely had time to lift her sword as Min-seo's strike came down. The force rattled through her arms, but she held firm, pushing back just enough to deflect the blow.

Min-seo wasn't done. She pivoted on her heel, twisting mid-air, bringing her sword around in a rapid arc toward Elara's side.

Fast.

Elara ducked, feeling the wind of the swing rush past her hair. Before Min-seo could recover, she stepped in and aimed a counter-strike toward her ribs.

Min-seo twisted her body unnaturally, just barely dodging it, and retaliated with a flurry of attacks.

The clash of their weapons echoed in the arena as the two exchanged blows at blinding speed. Sparks danced as their blades met, Min-seo's relentless offense matched by Elara's composed defense.

Elara studied Min-seo's movements as they fought, analyzing the rhythm of her strikes. The girl was aggressive, unrelenting, pushing forward with sheer speed and tenacity. It was impressive—but reckless.

"You're overextending," Elara noted, dodging a particularly wild swing and countering with a quick strike to Min-seo's shoulder.

Min-seo barely managed to parry, her breath sharp. "Shut up and fight!"

Elara chuckled. "Fine, fine. Let's wrap this up, then."

She adjusted her grip, exhaling slowly as a faint glow pulsed through her hands. A shimmering aura spread across the training sword, invisible to most, but Min-seo's instincts flared at the sudden shift in pressure.

"Wait, hold on—"

Too late.

Elara stepped in, blade humming with magic as she swung. Min-seo braced herself, bringing her sword up to block, but the moment their weapons connected, an unseen force exploded outward.

Min-seo was sent flying. She skidded across the arena floor before coming to a stop just at the edge, dazed.

Elara rested the sword against her shoulder, giving a small smile. "Told you I'd end it quickly."

Min-seo groaned, rubbing her head. "You—! Ugh, damn it..."

Elara turned away, waving over her shoulder as she headed for the exit. "Let's spar again sometime. Maybe you'll last longer."

Min-seo, still lying on the ground, watched Elara's retreating figure with a frustrated pout… but also, a small, barely-there smile of fondness.

Elara hummed to herself as she pulled out her phone, booting up her streaming app with a mischievous grin.

"Alright, everyone! Special surprise stream! This one is meant to show that I have great eating habits and live a completely healthy lifestyle," she announced, holding her phone up to capture herself walking into a convenience store.

The chat instantly reacted.

[Konqueror99: LOL, yeah right.]

[PhantomBlade: Didn't you eat cup ramen for three meals straight last week?]

[Sundaenight: This should be interesting.]

Elara coughed dramatically. "Ahem! We do not speak of the past. Today, I'm making a nutritious choice. Look, look, I'm in a convenience store instead of ordering delivery! Isn't that progress?"

She turned the camera toward the brightly lit aisles, the neatly stocked shelves lined with snacks, drinks, and instant meals. A few late-morning customers browsed lazily, but otherwise, it was quiet. Perfect for her 'educational' stream.

She made her way toward the refrigerated section and stopped in front of the onigiri display. Her eyes gleamed as she scanned the variety of flavors. There were so many choices: salmon, tuna mayo, spicy pollack roe, bulgogi, kimchi pork, shrimp tempura, umeboshi (pickled plum), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), eel teriyaki, and even some premium ones wrapped in gold-trimmed packaging.

She crouched slightly, resting her elbow on one knee as she examined them carefully. "Now, choosing the right onigiri is a serious process," she said, voice full of mock wisdom.

[ShadowFiend: You're just stalling, aren't you?]

[ZenMaster99: She's gonna stand there for 10 minutes and still pick tuna mayo.]

[GoldenDragon: Just grab one and go, woman!]

Elara scoffed. "Excuse me? Do you just grab any random item off the shelf like some kind of savage? No, no, no, dear chat, you have to take your time. This is a science."

She picked up the salmon onigiri and held it up to the camera. "Salmon—classic, rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids. Good for brain function. Excellent choice for a genius like myself."

[Konqueror99: HAHAHAHAHA]

[StarryEclipse: Genius? More like gacha addict with negative IQ.]

Elara ignored them and picked up another. "Tuna mayo. A fan favorite. High protein, some healthy fats, but a little more on the indulgent side. A solid comfort pick."

[PhantomBlade: Just say you're gonna pick that one and go.]

She moved on. "Spicy pollack roe! Adds a kick to your meal, boosts metabolism! A choice for those with refined tastes."

[ShadowFiend: Didn't you cry last time you ate something too spicy?]

Elara winced. "I-I was just emotional that day."

She grabbed the umeboshi onigiri next. "Pickled plum! A bold, tangy choice. Very traditional. Cleanses the palate and aids digestion. Great for the health-conscious."

[ZenMaster99: You're not health-conscious, though?]

"Details, details."

Next, she picked up the shrimp tempura one. "Deep-fried goodness wrapped in rice and seaweed. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. A beautiful contradiction."

[GoldenDragon: Okay, that one actually sounds good.]

She lifted the eel teriyaki onigiri. "Eel! Fancy and full of nutrients. High in vitamins, supports stamina and endurance. A noble choice."

[PhantomBlade: So you should definitely NOT pick that one.]

Elara gasped in offense. "Rude."

Finally, she grabbed the mentaiko onigiri. "And here we have spicy cod roe. Salty, spicy, full of umami flavor. A great choice for those who enjoy a bit of heat and oceanic depth."

[Sundaenight: Actually, bulgogi-flavored onigiri tend to have added sugar, which makes it a higher-carb choice rather than a protein-focused one. Also, while salmon is a great source of omega-3, store-bought ones tend to use cured salmon, which has higher sodium content, so it's not exactly the best 'brain food' unless balanced properly with other nutrients. Umeboshi is great for digestion but very high in sodium. Mentaiko also has a high salt content, so it's best eaten in moderation.]

Elara stared at the chat.

"…So what you're saying is, I was mostly right?"

[Sundaenight: No.]

Elara dramatically clutched her chest. "How could you betray me like this, Sundae?"

[GoldenDragon: SundeaNight dropping knowledge bombs as always.]

Elara huffed, turning back to the onigiri display. "Fine. I'll make my decision soon. But only after thorough consideration."

Chat collectively groaned as she continued her over-the-top analysis, much to her own amusement.

Elara stepped out of the convenience store, a plastic bag rustling in her grip, filled to the brim with neatly wrapped onigiri of every flavor. The evening air was crisp, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves along the sidewalk as she made her way home.

"Alright, chat," she said, holding up the bag to the camera. "I have acquired one of every flavor. It was a difficult decision, but I figured… why choose when I can just win?"

[GoldenDragon: That's not winning. That's gluttony.]

[Konqueror99: Bro she just speedran 10k calories.]

[Sundaenight: Actually, it's probably closer to 1,500 if we're being realistic.]

Elara grinned. "See? Only 1,500. I'll just—uh—do a push-up or something later. Balance achieved."

As she walked, she unwrapped the first onigiri—the classic salmon. She took a bite, her eyes widening as the salty richness of the fish blended perfectly with the soft rice and crisp seaweed.

"Mmmh—oh my god," she groaned dramatically, tilting her head back. "This is perfection. This is art. This is love. It's like a gentle ocean breeze kissed my soul."

[ShadowFiend: She's having a religious experience over convenience store food.]

[ZenMaster99: We should tell Michelin about this.]

Elara ignored them and eagerly unwrapped the next one—tuna mayo. The creamy, slightly tangy filling burst across her taste buds, and she let out another exaggerated moan of satisfaction.

"I swear on everything, this is what happiness tastes like. This is the comfort food."

[PhantomBlade: Bet she's gonna say that for every single one.]

"Excuse me," Elara said, stuffing the rest of the onigiri into her mouth. "I am a woman of culture who appreciates fine dining."

Next up was the spicy pollack roe. The moment the spice hit her tongue, she jolted, eyes widening as heat spread across her mouth.

"Oh—oh, it's got a kick! It's dancing on my tongue! But in a good way! Like… like an aggressive but affectionate puppy!"

[GoldenDragon: ???]

[Konqueror99: Bro what kind of analogy—]

[StarryEclipse: Aggressive but affectionate puppy, huh? That's a new one.]

Elara fanned her mouth, but instead of stopping, she dove into the next one—bulgogi. The sweet and savory marinated beef filled her mouth with a deep umami flavor, and she clutched her chest. "This… this is home. It's a warm hug from a beloved childhood memory."

[PhantomBlade: YOU JUST SAID HAPPINESS WAS TUNA MAYO FIVE MINUTES AGO.]

[Sundaenight: Bulgogi has a higher sugar content, so it makes sense it would feel more comforting to the brain's reward system.]

Elara swallowed and pointed at her phone screen. "See? Sundae gets it. They're my food analysis department now."

She grabbed the shrimp tempura onigiri next. The crispy batter had softened slightly from the rice, but the taste was still golden, rich, and full of depth. "Holy crap. This one's like a gourmet meal. If I had three of these and a miso soup, I'd ascend."

[ZenMaster99: She's actually ascending. Someone stop her.]

"Not until I finish my quest," Elara said with a determined nod.

Pickled plum was next. The moment she bit into it, her entire face scrunched up. The intense sourness hit her like a truck, making her shudder.

"Oh god—this one fights back. Why is it attacking me?"

[GoldenDragon: LOL YOU CAN'T HANDLE IT.]

[Sundaenight: Umeboshi is extremely sour due to the high level of citric acid. It's an acquired taste.]

Elara chewed through it, eyes watering. "It's… it's like eating pure heartbreak."

She moved on to the eel teriyaki, and the rich, smoky sweetness of the glazed eel melted on her tongue. "Ohhh, this one is dangerous. This is how they seduce people into overspending at fancy restaurants."

[PhantomBlade: It's literally 3 dollars.]

[ZenMaster99: What kind of restaurants are YOU going to?]

She polished off the last bite and finally reached the mentaiko. The salty, slightly spicy cod roe spread across her palate with a deep, oceanic savoriness that made her sigh in satisfaction. "Mmm. If the sea had a secret treasure chest of flavors, this would be in it."

[GoldenDragon: Alright, we did it, folks. We found Elara's new career—onigiri critic.]

[PhantomBlade: Nah, she'd just call everything either 'love' or 'an experience.']

Elara wiped her hands with a napkin and let out a deep, satisfied breath. "That was an emotional journey. I have truly been blessed today."

As she walked, she continued chatting with the stream, answering random questions and making dumb jokes until she finally reached her apartment. Unlocking the door, she stepped inside, kicking off her slippers.

"Well, folks, that's the end of today's legendary food adventure. But!" She pointed at the camera. "Tomorrow's stream is going to be even better because we have a very special guest."

[ShadowFiend: WHO WHO WHO WHO]

[ZenMaster99: It better not be another food item.]

[GoldenDragon: Plot twist, it's a bag of chips.]

Elara cackled. "You'll just have to wait and see. Stay tuned, everyone~"

With that, she ended the stream, tossing her phone onto the couch before stretching. "Whew. That was fun."

And with a happy stomach and a grin on her face, she flopped onto her bed, already thinking about what kind of chaos she'd bring to the next stream.