I am 15 chapters ahead on my patreón, check it out if you are interested.
https://www.patréon.com/emperordragon
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Chapter 74: Riley's Test
Sam's Perspective
The air inside the anime store was heavy with a mix of nostalgia and artificial sweetness, the kind that lingered in your nose just long enough to transport Sam back to whe she was thirteen years old. The scent—bubblegum-scented air freshener, specifically—was trying its hardest to compete with the mustiness of old plastic packaging and the faint hum of an overworked air conditioner. Every surface of the place seemed drenched in color: glossy posters of wide-eyed anime heroes and heroines were plastered across the walls, shelves sagged under the weight of neatly arranged manga volumes, and display cases showcased figurines frozen mid-battle pose. Somewhere in the background, a dramatic anime opening theme blared from a tiny TV hooked up to a DVD player, giving the whole scene a theatrical vibe.
Sam stood near the gacha machines, those brightly lit capsules of random collectible joy, arms crossed and posture still. Her eyes flitted from customer to customer, casually yet attentively scanning the entrance like she was waiting for something—or someone. Beside her, Riley was already showing signs of restlessness. She shifted her weight from foot to foot and made a show of examining the machine's offerings, but Sam could tell her patience was running thin.
"Why did you have to call your boyfriend?" Riley groaned, the word 'boyfriend' exaggerated as if it were physically painful to say. "It's hard enough getting any time with you now that you've got a boyfriend-shaped shadow following you around."
Sam exhaled slowly, not annoyed but definitely bracing herself. She recognized this energy. "You're the one who insisted on meeting him, remember?"
Riley whipped her dark curls over her shoulder with a dramatic flair and gestured to the sky—or maybe just the ceiling tiles—as if invoking divine justification. "Yes, because I need to identify his weaknesses and dismantle him systematically. Standard friend procedure. You don't just let some charming guy walk into your best friend's life and claim them like a claw machine prize without a proper vetting process. There's a protocol, Sam."
Sam's phone buzzed. She didn't need to check to know who it was, but she looked anyway. A smile curled at the corners of her lips. "Well, get ready, then. He says he'll be here in ten."
Riley cracked her knuckles like she was about to step into a boxing ring. "Excellent. Let the games begin."
Sam rolled her eyes, but affection was written all over her face. This was classic Riley—witty, dramatic, fiercely loyal, and just a little bit extra in the most entertaining way. They'd been close since middle school, surviving awkward years, math teachers they both loathed, and countless inside jokes. Even after Riley had transferred to another school, they'd never lost touch. If anything, Riley's protectiveness over their friendship had only intensified—especially now that Jon was in the picture.
Ten minutes later, almost to the second, the front door of the store jingled and Jon stepped in. He looked effortlessly casual, his hands shoved deep into his hoodie pockets, the wind from outside having tousled his dark hair in that naturally cinematic way that made Sam's stomach do that small, happy somersault. His sharp blue eyes scanned the store for just a moment before they found her, and when they did, his whole expression shifted—his face relaxed into a grin that was meant for her and no one else.
Sam stepped forward to meet him halfway. "Hey," she greeted softly, rising on her toes to press a quick kiss to his cheek. Then, without missing a beat, she turned to her best friend. "Jon, this is Riley. Riley, Jon."
Jon offered his hand politely, friendly but not overly enthusiastic. "Nice to meet you."
Riley shook it, but her eyes narrowed slightly, like she was trying to peer into his soul. "Likewise," she said coolly.
Jon took a moment to glance around. "This place is awesome. I haven't seen this many oversized eyes since Manny left the TV on overnight and it got stuck on a Sailor Moon marathon."
Sam let out a small laugh. Riley tilted her head, scrutinizing. "Do you actually like anime, or are you just pretending so I'll like you?"
Jon flashed a smirk. "I plead the fifth."
Riley raised her eyebrows. "Hmph. He's clever. I hate him already."
Sam gave her a pointed look. "Behave."
Riley scoffed. "Never."
Jon, seemingly unfazed, nodded toward a shelf of boxed figurines. "So how do you two know each other?"
Sam smiled. "Same homeroom in middle school. Riley moved schools after that, but we kept in touch."
Jon's eyes twinkled. "Makes sense. You two have that chaotic best friend energy. Like you could take over the world if you ever stopped making fun of it."
Riley paused. "That's… actually a great line. Where was that when I needed a new Myspace bio?"
Sam nudged her with her elbow, trying not to laugh.
As they continued wandering through the store, Jon stayed engaged, asking questions mostly directed at Sam, but occasionally throwing in little comments toward Riley. He handled her sharp jabs like someone who'd played this game before—not defensive, not flustered, just smooth deflections and the occasional witty comeback. Even Riley had to acknowledge, with a barely suppressed grin, that he held his own.
At one point, while Jon was crouched near a display of One Piece DVDs, reading the back cover like it might hold ancient wisdom, Riley leaned in toward Sam, voice pitched low.
"Okay, I have a confession," she muttered. "Where do I get one like him?"
Sam gave her a sly look. "Weren't you going to destroy him?"
"I was," Riley admitted. "But now I want to clone him. For science. He's got balance—funny, smart, tolerates my nonsense. Very rare."
"Too late," Sam said with a grin. "He's already spoken for."
Riley sighed dramatically. "Figures. You always win the best prizes."
Sam turned her gaze back to Jon. There was something surreal about the way he looked in that moment—totally focused on some obscure anime title, completely at ease in the setting, standing comfortably in the strange, chaotic triangle of their little group. He didn't just fit in; he belonged.
Sam didn't say anything, just let herself feel the quiet warmth that settled deep in her chest. It wasn't loud or dramatic or movie-montage-level obvious. It was just real.
Riley approved.
That meant more than she could say.
Everything else was just the icing on the cake.