As soon as Koji let out the scream, he could hear his mum and dad rushing to his room. Koji’s mum opened the door, her hair a mess and dark rings around her eyes. His dad still had the stony expression on his face that Koji was used to.

  “Koji are you alright?” asked his mum, her tiredness replaced by concern for her son.

  Ifrit was in front of the door, dancing. His hips swaying and his hands and feet pumping the air. Koji pointed at him.

  “You mean you don’t see him?”

  Koji’s mum and dad shook their head. Ifrit screamed and if his mum and dad heard it, it didn’t show on their faces. Koji’s mum was about to walk in when Koji shook his head. “It’s nothing. Just a nightmare.”

  Koji’s mum nodded. “Okay, Koji. If you need anything just call us okay.”

  His father scoffed. “He wouldn’t be getting these nightmares if it weren’t for those damn video games he plays all night.”

  Koji’s father closed the door leaving him and Ifrit alone in the room. As soon as their footsteps receded Ifrit clapped his hands.

  “It wasn’t a dream Koji my boy.”

  Koji pinched the bridge of his nose and started looking for his glasses. When he found them, Koji got up and touched Ifrit who just turned into smoke.

  “Ah, ah,” Ifrit said, wagging his fingers. “No touching.”

  “What the hell do you want?” Koji asked, keeping his voice low so as to not wake his parents.

  “Let’s just say I want my horse in the race to win,” Ifrit said, hovering over his shelf with DamGun figures and fiddling with them.

  “Leave those alone,” Koji hissed, trying to pull him away. He just disappeared into smoke and his shelf had one less DamGun figure.

  Ifrit circled the room, fiddling with the golden model’s hands.

  “That’s my limited edition golden DamGun version 8,” Koji said. “You better not break it.”

  Ifrit shrugged and placed it on the shelf with its hands splayed in different directions.

  “Besides I am going to win,” Koji said. “I’ve won plenty of fighting game tournaments.”

  “You and I both know that this tournament is much different from the ones you fought before,” Ifrit said. “And judging by the fact that you’ve been stuck at home for two months while people your age are getting laid, making friends or both I’d say your victory is not as guaranteed as you think it is.”

  “How do you know I’ve been at home?”

  Ifrit disappeared and reappeared by his side, slapping his back causing Koji to lurch forward, almost tripping on the floor. “Like I said, you’re the horse I unfortunately decided to bet on. I know everything about you Koji.”

  Hearing those words caused a sudden headache that blurred his vision. Just as soon as it appeared, though, it disappeared and Koji was left standing face to face with Ifrit.

  “What if I don’t want to participate?” Koji asked.

  Ifrit shrugged. “I’m not going to stop you,” he said. “But at least let me tell you what the reward’s going to be.”

  Koji frowned. “Fine, what’s the reward?”

  “Well,” Ifrit said with a grin, rubbing his ringed hands like a fly. “I’m a genie if you haven’t figured it out already, and my job is to grant wishes. If you win, you get to wish for anything you want.”

  …

  “There’s some creepy-looking otaku looking for you,” said the Team Captain, Nojiko.

  Misaki took a sip of water. She was having a really bad day. Her rival, Kyoko had just beaten her in training because her body was aching all over with bruises. She had a bad headache and her little brother had eaten her last chocolate mousse yogurt despite her telling him not to.

  She looked up to Nojiko and frowned. “What, senpai?”

  “There’s a creepy otaku boy who came to school for the first time in ages,” Nojiko said. “He’s been standing outside the training area the whole day waiting for you to finish training so he could talk to you.”

  Misaki removed the towel around her neck. “I’ll go talk to him.”

  Nojiko shook her head. “I don’t know. He seems very creepy.”

  Misaki shrugged. “Doesn’t seem fair to judge him without talking to him. Besides, you’ll be there.”

  Nojiko frowned. “I have clean-up duty today.”

  Misaki took out her sports shirt and placed in her locker, starting to wear her normal uniform. “But you have to take care of your prize player don’t you, senpai?”

  Nojiko winced. “After your performance today…”

  “That’s because you didn’t take good care of me,” Misaki pouted. “I’m going to tell the teachers it was all your fault.”

  Nojiko sighed. “Fine.”

  Misaki gave her a hug. “Alright, now let’s go talk to that boy.”

  …

  “A wish?” Koji asked, intrigued.

  “Yes, you both have to agree on it but once you do, I’ll grant one to the winner,” Ifrit said, hovering on the roof and circling around before landing in front of Koji.

  “Both?” Koji asked.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “You and Misaki,” Ifrit said.

  “I don’t get to change my character?” I asked.

  “She’s a living human being not a character,” Ifrit said. “And yes, once you pick a character, you’re as the kids say ‘locked in’.” Ifrit sighed. “Maybe I should’ve picked a different horse.”

  “How do I know you’re telling the truth?” Koji asked. “About this wish business?”

  “You’ve seen what I can do,” Ifrit said. “I made a whole fighting game with a design philosophy and direction, not a lot can be said about most video games nowadays.”

  “That’s great,” Koji said, nodding. “This is all good to know. I look forward to the next match but can I sleep now?”

  Koji turned around but Ifrit appeared in between him and his bed. Koji groaned. “What now?”

  “Go to school tomorrow.”

  Koji shook his head. “No.” He tried walking through Ifrit but instead bumped into a wall that turned itself back to Ifrit.

  “Ouch,” Koji said. “That hurt, asshole.” He strained his ears to make sure that noise didn’t wake his parents.

  “The only way you’re going to win is by getting to know that girl,” Ifrit said, staring at the high-end gaming PC and state of the art DamGun figures on the walls with a disapproving frown. “And judging by the room and the fact that Dr. K videos aren’t translated into Japanese…”

  Ifrit whistled. “Yeah, you’re going to need to go to school and get to know her.”

  “But I don’t want to,” Koji said.

  “It’s the only way you’ll be able to win!” Ifrit argued back.

  “If I lose, I lose,” Koji shrugged. “I don’t care that you have a horse in the race.”

  Koji hopped onto the bed and closed his eyes. Ifrit sighed.

  “If you lose, she’ll die,” Ifrit said.

  Those words snapped his eyes open.

  …

  The boy paced around the track field nervously. A gentle spring breeze rustled through the trees, bits of dust and leaves swirling across the track field. Standing by the changing rooms was her backup. She recalled asking for only Nojiko but it seemed her reputation preceded her because all of her other teammates wanted to see her talk to this boy, including her rival.

  The first thing she noticed about this boy was that she was taller than him. The boy could barelu reach her shoulders. The second thing she noticed was that he really needed to pick a style, he had long hair that curtained his face, threads of it dangling in front of his oversized square glasses that didn’t look good on his face. And the final thing she noticed was that he was as pale as a vampire and that was made worse by the fact that he had to look up to her.

  “You okay?” Misaki asked.

  “I… I…” he was stammering like a seal, words barely forming out of his mouth. His face got even paler when she asked him that.

  “Need some water?” Misaki asked. She went into her bag and pulled out a bottle of water. He grabbed it as if he were a robot programmed to do its task and by the time Misaki assisted him in finally opening up the bottle he had finally finished his sentence.

  “I’m fine,” the boy said.

  In the distance she could hear her teammates snickering. A small part of her was starting to regret giving this boy the benefit of the doubt.

  “Let’s start simple,” Misaki said. “Since my captain told me you were looking for me you must know my name. But I don’t know yours. What’s your name?”

  The boy started stammering again. Misaki sighed, eyeing the bottle of water in his hands. “Drink some water first.”

  He took a long, deep sip as if it were his own bottle and let out a relieved sigh. “My name is Koji Yuto.”

  “Alright Yuto-San,” Misaki said. “Kinda pointless but I’m Misaki Haruki. My classmates say you’ve been looking for me throughout practice?”

  Koji nodded. “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  Koji took a deep breath. “Well, I know about those dreams you’ve been having.”

  He didn’t elaborate on the sentence or anything, he just stared at her ominously through those big glasses of his.

  “Yeah,” Misaki said. “I really shouldn’t have given you the benefit of the doubt.”

  Misaki started to walk away and Koji started to do something completely uncharacteristic. He started walking after her. Her teammates couldn’t help themselves and started laughing.

  “I mean that dream you had last night!” he yelled, making her wince. Now all of her teammates’ heads were on them.

  “Do you have any idea how creepy you sound?”

  “The one with the boxer,” Koji said. “The one where you fought the boxer and you couldn’t move yourself!”

  That caught her interest. She stopped and turned around to see Koji was running out of breath.

  “I know…” Koji looked like he was gathering breath to yell out something but Misaki stopped him.

  “Keep your voice low,” she hissed. “We’ll talk somewhere privately.” She grabbed his arm much to the intrigued ‘oohs’ of all her teammates. “Follow me!”

  …

  “What do you mean she’ll die?” Koji asked.

  “Well, I wouldn’t be a genie if there wasn’t a price to my wish,” Ifrit said with a matter-of-fact shrug. “Every time someone wins well let’s just say the other fighter bites the bullet.” Ifrit raised his finger like a scholar. “Or I guess I should say fist.”

  “That means that boxer…”

  Ifrit nodded. He looked as if he felt bad.

  Koji scoffed. “I don’t believe you.”

  “Fine,” Ifrit said pointing his finger at the computer screen. “Believe this.” The computer screen turned on and on it was a series of newspaper articles all of them with the same headline: PROMISING YOUNG BOXER FOUND DEAD, MENTOR IN DISBELIEF.

  And on it was none other than Darius and, in some articles, Johnny. Koji’s stomach twisted as he read how unidentified bruises and scorch marks were found over his body. News articles went on and on about his childhood and how he was a promising upstart destined to be one of the greats like Jordan or Ali. Koji read and read until he couldn’t take it anymore. He picked up his wastebasket and hurled.

  Ifrit rubbed his back. “There, there. The only crime you committed in this case is winning.”

  He turned to Ifrit, wiping his mouth. “You monster,” he hissed.

  “That’s racist,” Ifrit yelled. “Genies are made off smoke. Monsters are birthed according to some legends!”

  “I don’t want to play your twisted game,” Koji said. “Get the fuck out of here!”

  Ifrit shrugged. “I mean you don’t have to but just know that if you don’t well…” he pointed at the articles still burned on the screen. “What happened to Darius happens to Misaki and let’s just say…” Ifrit shivered. “The body wasn’t pretty.”

  Koji tried punching him but Ifrit disappeared into smoke. “Who’s worse, a man who refuses to do the right thing or a man who could do the right thing but doesn’t do it?” Ifrit asked.

  Koji threw another punch which Ifrit avoided. “Till then, the only way for you to have any chance of winning this and keeping her alive is to get off your ass and go to school!”

  Ifrit disappeared, leaving Koji alone with the fact that he had just killed a man. The only thing Koji could do the whole night was sob till his eyes dried out.

  …

  Misaki and Koji had found an empty classroom, the evening sun casting a feint glow on the room making the desk cast large shadows on the wall. There, Koji told her about the genie, about the fighting game tournament and about the wish they were promised at the end of it.

  “So, the only way for us to win is to get to know each other better?” Misaki asked.

  Koji nodded.

  “I have no idea how something that vague translates to fighting games but if you knowing that I played volleyball made me jump higher maybe you can come watch my games?” Misaki asked. “The girls will say stuff but, hey, anything to win right?”

  “I… uh could,” Koji said. Misaki noticed he always scratched his head when he was nervous like he did now.

  Misaki tapped his shoulder which made him jump like a cat. Misaki found it kind of cute how startled he got.

  “By the way, we’re friends now, right?” Misaki asked.

  “No,” Koji said suddenly. “I mean yes… I mean we have to get to know each other.”

  Misaki giggled. “Man, you’re really awkward, aren’t you. We’ll work on that. Let’s do our introductions again, since we got off on the wrong foot.”

  She reached out her hand. “I’m Misaki Haruki, pleasure to meet you.”

  For a brief moment it seemed like Koji had no idea what to do but he took her hand and shook it. Misaki noticed his palms were very sweaty but figured it would be rude to mention.

  “I need to do some workouts at home so I have to leave now,” Misaki said, looking at the clock at the top of the chalkboard. Koji seemed somewhat relieved. He was ready to leave but Misaki had a question for him.

  “By the way, Yuto-kun, before the match ended my opponent, I can’t seem to remember his name but the other fighter, he was knocked out cold. I wanted to check on him but the smoke came. What I’m trying to ask is, is he okay?”

  Those words echoed in Koji’s mind. He could heart his heartbeat thump in his head. On his left he could see Ifrit’s grinning face phase through the chalkboard.

  “Huh, Koji-kun.”

  Koji clenched his fists. He turned to her with a smile, half his face covered by shadow. “Yes. Yes, he’s fine.”