Roselle stood frozen for a moment. It couldn't be her sister, Risebell, yet, the resembnce was undeniable.

  Michigo, notig Roselle looking off in the distance, asked, "Hey, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."

  Roselle shook her head, "I... I thought I saw someone who looked like my sister. It 't be her, but... the resembnce was uny."

  Michigo frowned and pced her hands on her sides. "Wait, what are you talking about? You're an only child, Roselle. I've known you for a while, and you've never mentioned a sister."

  "Oh, sorry, Michigo," Roselle stammered with a low chuckle. "I must have misspoken. It was just a girl who looked simir to someone I used to know, but she's not my sister. My bad."

  Michigo, though still someuzzled, nodded. "No problem, Roselle. It happens to the best of us. Anyway, let's get back to our mission and find this mystery guy. We 't afford any more distras."

  Roselle and Michigo had been making their way through the school, asking about the mysterious boy with blonde hair and pierg blue eyes. Most of the students they approached seemed either genuinely clueless or oddly fearful, reag as if they had heard about him but didn't want to discuss him.

  Frustration was starting to set ihey came across a girl whose appearance immediately marked her as a gamihusiast. Her ized school uniform bore the insignia of various games. She wore knee-high socks and sneakers, clearly ready for both school and virtual adventures.

  Michigo approached her. "Hey, excuse me. We're looking for someone, a guy with blonde hair and blue eyes. He's been described as a bit of a 'bad boy' type. Have you heard of him?"

  The gaming addict raised an eyebrow. She darted her eyes between Roselle and Michigo.

  "A bad boy type in this school? You've got my attention," she remarked, then raised one finger. “Yamer’s right? Then I think you might actually be talking about a character from Epic Quest: Realm of Shadows. It's this epitasy RPG where you go os, battle monsters, and uncover mysteries. There's even a storylih shape-shifting vilins who try to deceive the heroes. It's got a huge following, and there's even an MMO game about to unch with the same cept."

  .

  Roselle and Michigo exged puzzled gnces. Michigo scratched her head and asked, “Wait, so you’re saying the guy we’re looking for is in a game?”

  The gamihusiast nodded enthusiastically. “Yep, Epic Quest: Realm of Shadows. It’s where you’ll find characters like the one you’re describing. Trust me, it’s got everything: quests, mysteries, and even shape-shifting vilins. It's practically a fantasy world all on its own.”

  Roselle furrowed her brow. “No, no, we’re not talking about a game character. We’re looking for an actual student here at school.”

  The girl’s eyes widened. “Oh, sorry! I thought you meant you were on a quest fame-reted character. My bad. But if you’re looking for someone who fits that description, I think I still help.”

  Michigo looking more curious replied. “Okay, so what does this game have to do with finding our student?”

  The gamihusiast leaned in, l her speech to a whisper. “Well, the game's not officially out yet. There were some beta tests a while back, but the coders are w on it in the gamers club tonight. You might find some ahere. They’ve been known to get a little carried away with their game-reted gossip.”

  Roselle’s eyes widened with realization. “So, if we go to the gamers club tonight, we might find out more about this student?”

  The girl nodded eagerly. “Exactly. It’s your best shot. The game's supposed to be a mix of fantasy and real life, so maybe they’ve picked up something about your student while developing it.”

  Michiged. “Ahhh what the hell... Let’s see if we uncover anything useful.”

  With this promising lead, Roselle and Miade a mental o attend the gamer club meeting after school.

  When the day came to a close, the two friends made their way to the exit of the school building. The chatter of students filled the hallways, and the anticipation for the uping gamer club meeting.

  Michigo turo Roselle with a grin on her face, "This is it, Roselle. Our ce to get some answers and maybe find out more about this 'bad boy' hot guy and the strange happenings around us."

  Roselle gave her a smile. "I 't believe we might find some answers in a video game of all pces. But at this point, I'm willing to try anything."

  Roselle suddenly gasped. Her face seemed troubled when looking towards Michigo. "I o make a phone call, Michigo. It's important. I borrow your phone for a moment? I kind of…fot mine…"

  Michigo handed her phoo Roselle without hesitation. "No prob, Roselle. Take all the time you need."

  With Michigo's phone in hand, Roselle stepped away. She dialed up Harty's number.

  "Hey, Harty," she began. "I'm sorry, but I 't make it to the detective club today. Something... something came up, and I 't expin right now. I'll fill you in ter."

  She could sense Harty's through the phone. He pressed for more information. Roselle wao tell him everything, but she k was too risky at the moment.

  “Sorry… you wait until the meeting? I’ll tell you what I find then.”

  "Alright, Roselle. Just take care of yourself, okay? We'll catch up ter," Harty replied.

  Roselle hung up the phone aur to Michigo.

  Michigo fshed a mischievous grin at Roselle. "So, was that your boyfriend on the phone or something?"

  Roselle shot Michigo an evil gre. Her cheeks were burning red. "Michigo, stop it," she scolded.

  Michigo ughed in response, "Okay, okay, I'll stop!"

  Roselle’s face was still flushed from the phone call.

  "Seriously, though," Michigo said with a grin, "if that Harty guy was your boyfriend, you’d be a lot cooler in my book. I mean, he’s iective club, right? That’s pretty impressive!"

  Roselle tried hard but she couldn’t stop a smile from ing to her face. "Michigo, stop making assumptions. It’s just a phone call. He’s a friend, and that’s all there is to it."

  "Uh-huh, sure. If you say so. Just remember, if you ever o spy on him, I’m yirl. I’m excellent at sneaking around."

  Roselle lowered her eyes and held a smile. “If that was true, you’d probably be better off joining a spy agency than a karate club…"

  The Gamer's Club was a haven for students who lived for the thrill of video games. As Roselle and Michigo ehe room, they were immediately hit by the cacophony of sounds and the atmosphere. The walls were adorned with posters of legendary video games, and the rge monitors dispyed epic battles and stunning game worlds.

  At the ter of the room, they spotted the gamer-girl they had spoken to earlier. She was hunched over a high-end gaming puter. Her nimble fingers danced across the keyboard in a fast-paced first-person shooter.

  The girl’s fiery red hair framed her face, and she had a fiertensity while pying. There were shouts and cheers from the other club members, who were engrossed in their own digital adventures.

  When the girl finished her game, she turo Roselle and Michigo, a friendly smile. "Hey, you two newbies made it! Wele to the Gamer's Club. I'm Angie, by the way."

  Roselle and Michigo exged introdus with Angie, and the gamer-girl seemed genuinely excited to show them around. She led them to a quieter er of the room where they could talk without shouting over the noise.

  Angie gestured to the array of gamiups. "We have all sorts of games here, from epitasy RPGs to intense shooters. It's a gamer's paradise.”

  Angie tinued, "Now, about the guy you're looking for, he's usually right over there." She poio a er where a group of students were gathered around a puter, engrossed in an intetle in Epic Quest: Realm of Shadows’ beta multipyer mode.

  The guy iion, with blonde hair and pierg blue eyes, was taking on a girl who wore a top hat and had a mystic-like cloak. The battle was fierce, and the tension was in the room. They cshed swords, cast spells, and summoned mystical creatures.

  When the duel came to an end, Alex emerged victorious. His character stood tall and the oppo's character fell to the virtual ground. The girl iop hat sighed and said, "My magic failed me today. Yood, Alex."

  Roselle, Michigo, and Angie observed this from a distanoting the guy's impressive gaming skills and charismatic prese was clear that he was well-known in the Gamer's Club.

  Angie whispered to Roselle and Michigo, "That's Alex. He is a popur pro-gamer here.”

  Alex leaned ba his chair and looked around the room. "Who's the victim?"

  Roselle took a bold step forward and moved to stand beside Alex. A out a soft gasp before approag Roselle and whispering urgently, "Roselle, that's a dangerous move! Alex is not someone you want to mess with in a game, especially when you don’t know how to py the game!"

  Michigo quickly followed Roselle. She kept a close eye on Alex.

  Alex raised an eyebrow when he saw Roselle standing beside him. "Hey, someone like you wouldn't be caught dead in a pce like this, would you?"

  Roselle hesitated for a moment before responding, "Look, I o talk to you about something important."

  Alex looked at Roselle with a hint of amusement." Iing… You want to talk to me, but you're not even a gamer, are you? Well, I might eain the idea if you're willing to py a game with me… but I don’t like b matches with newbies. You have to make it iing."

  Roselle sidered her options. She wasn't a gamer, but her desire to find Tina pushed her forward. She met Alex's gaze and said, "I'll py, but only if there are stakes involved. I want information, and I'm willing to wager something iurn."

  Roselle squared her shoulders. “Fine... How about a stake?"

  Alex's eyes lit up with i. "Ah, now we're talking! I only py for stakes that are worth my time. So… hit me.”

  Roselle took a deep breath. "If I win, you give me information about Tina. But if I lose, I'll owe you a favor. Deal?"

  Alex's eyes widened in shock. "Tina?! Y-You know her?"

  Roselle nodded firmly. "Yes, I do. So, are you in or not?"

  Michigo pulled Roselle aside. "Ni, Roselle, Very well thought out, 10/10..." Michigo said started in a sweet tohen she nearly shouted, "Have you lost your damn mind?!"

  Roselle looked at her friend, slightly taken aback. "Michigo, I know it’s a risk, but—"

  "No 'but's," Michigo interrupted. "You’re seriously throwing yourself into danger here! We don’t even know what this guy could do. He’s a pro at this game, and you’ve barely touched a sole in your life in parison to him. You’re setting yourself up for failure."

  Roselle stood firm. "Look, Michigo, I’ve been practig. I’ve spent alot of time with Hashta, learning the basid gettier. I ’t let this ce slip away."

  Michigo’s eyes narrowed. “Roselle, pying a game and mastering it are two different things. You’re talking about a high-stakes match against someone who’s probably been gaming since before you knew what a troller was!”

  Before Roselle could respond, Angie, who had been listening in, stepped forward. “She’s right, you know. Alex is known for being not just good, but exceptionally skilled. He’s taken on aen some of the best pyers. If you’re not prepared, this could end badly.”

  "I'll be fine, really. I o find out about Tina, and this is the only lead we have. I do this," Roselle decred.

  Roselle took a deep breath and forced a fident smile, though her mind was rag. ‘Why did I just decre that so boldly?’