[Two Hours Ago]

After proudly accepting Aaron’s challenge, the trio now sat on the couch, facing the massive screen like warriors preparing for battle.

Each of them held a controller.

Well... held was a strong word.

Leo sat in the middle, posture straight, expression serious—like a tiny professional gamer about to enter a championship match.

"Mommy, Uncle... are you ready?" he asked, his voice filled with determination.

"Yes."

"Let’s go, kid."

The responses came in unison, both equally confident and competitive.

Leo blinked once. Twice. Then silently turned back to the screen.

Why do I feel like this is going to go wrong...?

Earlier, Leo had kindly given Ivy a quick tutorial—basic controls, how to move, how to jump, how not to accidentally run into a wall and embarrass yourself.

Aaron and Leo both Experts but Ivy?...A complete beginner.

But of course, she wasn’t about to admit that.

Instead, she tightened her grip on the controller and lifted her chin slightly.

You dare challenge me, you idiot? I’ll show you what I can do.

She shot Aaron a glare and the second he looked back he smirked.

Oh, she thinks glaring is going to scare me? Dreamon. I’ll destroy her so badly she’ll uninstall the game from her life.

"Don’t forget what you said downstairs," Aaron said casually, eyes still on the screen. "Whoever loses... will do anything the winner says."

Ivy’s lips twitched.

In your dreams.

Outwardly, she remained calm, composed... terrifyingly confident. But inside?

What did Leo say this button does again?

"Three... two... one... GO!" Leo announced.

The game began with Leo’s character moving smoothly across the screen, dodging obstacles with ease. Whereas Aaron’s character was even smoother. Fast, precise, deadly.

Meanwhile Ivy’s character ended up running straight into a wall.

"...That was intentional." she said with a cautious tone while pointing on the screen.

"Of course it was," Aaron nodded seriously. "Very advanced technique. Standing still. Revolutionary."

"Shut up."

She pressed another button and this time her character jumped.

Good.

Then jumped again.

Still good. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Then it walked off the edge of a platform.

"...Why would it do that?" Ivy muttered, staring at the screen like it had personally betrayed her.

"You pressed forward," Leo said gently.

"I barely touched it!" she responded innocently.

Meanwhile, Aaron zoomed past enemies like a pro, casually collecting points.

"Leo, watch this," he said smugly, executing a perfect combo.

Leo clapped. "Wow!" he cheered finding Aaron all cool.

Ivy narrowed her eyes.

Focus. You are Raven Young. You do not lose.

She pressed a button with determination and her character spun.

"What the-" she said in disbelief watching it turn, pause and then just like that sit down.

"Why is she sitting?" Ivy whispered, horrified.

Leo peeked over. "Oh... you pressed the rest button."

"There’s a REST BUTTON?! WHY IS THERE A REST BUTTON IN A FIGHTING GAME?!"

Aaron lost it.

"I can’t—HAHAHAHA—your character needed a break!"

"Keep laughing," Ivy snapped. "At least mine isn’t screaming every time it gets hit!"

"THAT’S CALLED SOUND EFFECTS!"

Round one ended with

Winner: Leo.

Second place: Aaron.

Last place: Ivy.

"...That was just practice," Ivy said immediately in her defense.

"Of course," Aaron nodded. "Practice for losing."

"Say that again."

"Losing."

Round two soon began and this time, Ivy leaned forward, eyes narrowed, fingers ready.

This time... I win.

She said pressing the button’s with sheer determination and three seconds later her character ran in the opposite direction, directly into a corner and stayed there.

"Mommy... you’re facing the wall again," Leo said carefully.

"I KNOW!"

"Then... why aren’t you moving?"

"I AM MOVING!"

Her character jumped and hit the wall.

"..."

Aaron wheezed. "She’s trying to escape reality."

"SHUT UP!"

Round two ended.

Winner: Aaron.

Second place: Leo.

Last place: Ivy.

"...The controller is faulty."

"Ah yes," Aaron nodded. "Specifically programmed to embarrass you."

Round three.

By now, Ivy was sweating while Leo was focused and Aaron was... thriving.

"Watch closely," Aaron said, cracking his knuckles. "This is how a pro plays."

He moved flawlessly—dodging, attacking, and winning points like it was second nature.

Leo followed smoothly. While Ivy once again pressed every button at once.

Her character twitched, spun, jumped, fell, and got hit.

"I don’t understand what’s happening!" she snapped.

"You’re playing," Aaron said, grinning.

"I CAN SEE THAT!"

By the fifth match, Ivy had officially lost every single round, with Aaron securing the first place and Leo second.

Meanwhile outside, Butler Rupert and the rest were feeling the tension brewing, seeing how their madam lost the match, not just once but every time.

"This doesn’t feel good," Butler Rupert muttered. They were aware of how competitive second mater can be at times, and when he stated that the loser would listen to the winner, he knew exactly what he was talking about.

However, they all jumped when they heard Aaron scream, seizing all of their attention back inside.

"I win," he screamed

Leo slowly lowered his controller, watching Aaron stand up dramatically.

"YESSSSS!" he shouted, jumping into the air like he had just won an international championship. "VICTORY IS MINE!"

He pointed at Ivy like a victorious warrior.

"BEHOLD! THE UNDISPUTED CHAMPION!"

Ivy stared at the screen.

Then at her controller.

Then back at Aaron.

Her eye twitched.

"...This game is stupid."

"YOU said yes to the challenge!"

"I WAS MISLED!"

"By WHAT? YOUR OWN CONFIDENCE?!"

Leo slowly slid off the couch.

I should leave...

Aaron placed his hands on his hips, grinning like a menace.

"Well, well," he said. "Looks like someone has to face the punishment."

Ivy slowly turned her head toward him.

Smiling dangerously.

"...Repeat that."

Aaron’s grin faltered slightly, but he quickly composed himself back.

"Loser...LOSER....LOSER."

"How dare you call me that?" Ivy’s cold voice made Leo freeze.

And just like that, the game ended. But the real battle was about to begin.

[Present]

Xander stared at the two adults sitting across from him in complete silence.

The air was thick and even tense and very, very loud—considering neither of them had said a word, yet were somehow still managing to glare at each other like they were in the middle of a heated argument.

Xander finally exhaled.

"Whose idea was it?" he asked calmly, his eyes landing on Aaron.

Aaron flinched. Actually flinched but before he could even open his mouth—

"Mine!"

A small hand shot up in the air, and all eyes turned to Leo.

"But," he added innocently, tilting his head, "the fight... Uncle Aaron started it."

Aaron: "..."

Ivy: "smirked."

Everyone else: Did the young master just throw the second master under the bus?

Aaron slowly turned his head toward Leo, his expression cracking like a betrayed soap opera character.

"My dearest nephew..." he gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. "How could you do this to me?"

He covered his mouth, eyes wide, looking seconds away from shedding invisible tears.

"I raised you better than this...!"

Leo blinked. Then—he smiled.

Cheeky.

Absolutely unapologetic smile.

"I learned it from you Uncle Aaron."