Locking In With My Life System

Chapter 39: Two To Tango

Aiden stared at the quest details, a thin smile pulling on the edges of his lips.

-

[Ding!]

[Exclusive Quests Updated!]

⸢Exclusive Quests

› Spirit Week? More Like Study Week.

└ Obtain an A+ in every upcoming test – [3 LP]

-

’Well, I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.’ he inwardly remarked as he and his buddies filed out of the class.

Compared to most of his colleagues who looked like they had a guillotine over their heads though, he was not the least bit perturbed.

Casper and Clyde were equally just as relaxed, though that was because they were both professional crammers.

Theo, on the other hand, was none of that, the youth currently adjusting the strap of his worn schoolbag as he tried to walk ahead...

... only for Aiden to gently tug on his backpack, a gesture that gave him pause as a genuinely surprised expression surfaced on his features.

Despite the fact that he was now more than acquainted with all five, he hadn’t thought that they would be all that comfortable with him being seen hanging out in public with them.

Clearly, he was wrong, his surprise only increasing as Casper casually cuffed an arm around his neck and roped him into their gang as if he’d always been there.

As for Benjamin and Larry...

"Life is not daijobu..." they both droned, their expressions a mix of concerned wariness.

Then they looked over to Aiden whose visage remained wholly unperturbed, their words coming out in sync once again;

"Why aren’t you worried?!"

"Why should I be?" he replied without so much as a pause, a thin smile on his lips as he added;

"I covered a lot of our senior year curriculum over the summer break."

No sooner had he said that, the duo’s eyes widened, as did Casper and Clyde with the exception of Theo whom was currently looking down at the floor, a touched smile on his lips.

That said,

"So, you have notes?" Clyde rhetorically inquired a moment after, an affiliative smile slowly spreading across his and Casper’s lips.

For a brief moment, Larry and Benjamin lagged behind. Then their features assumed the very same smile.

To that, Aiden’s expression morphed in realization, the words already escaping his lips in response;

"You, lazy, shits."

"If it helps, I also have a couple study questions for all our subjects..." Theo quietly let out in addition, his fingers fiddling with themselves as he added;

"Most of our instructors have a certain style to the way they set questions so it’s always pretty close to the real thing..."

No sooner had all four heard that, their smiles turned utterly shameless as Casper remarked;

"Gentlemen, I think we have a plan. All in support, cheer ’hear hear’!"

"Hear, hear!" Larry, Benjamin and even Clyde chimed as they exited out the back doors, much to the startled confusion of a few of their peers whom were equally filing out the door.

And though Theo found himself chuckling in response to their shenanigans, Aiden on the other hand was shaking his head at the shamelessness of his buddies.

That said, there was a reason most of the students at Silverlake High were currently filing towards the park instead of the main gates.

Today, they were to be given a portion of the park where they were to unveil and showcase as their class themes for Spirit Week on the Park Décor Day.

Which was why, upon reaching said park, they made their way over to demarcated portions where their homeroom teachers were waiting on their arrival.

No sooner had they given them all the rules and regulations, most teachers simply left the grounds.

To that effect, more than half of the students in the junior classes equally dipped and headed home.

Given today was a Friday, they were already looking forward to the weekend. Hence, it didn’t take long before the park was scantily populated with the seniors whom were more inclined to hang around with their peers.

Seated on the well-kept lawn, a few of them were having discussions as to what they should make for their class themes and what to bring for Build Day next week.

As for the majority, they were simply frolicking about and engaging in one mundane discussion or the other while making the most of the free time they had before school really closed for the day.

Aiden’s class was much the same... though one half was actively discussing ideas for the Park Décor.

The gang, as one might expect, had fallen into the latter, though their discussion was actually pretty productive as they sat around in a circle.

"So, Theo and I came up with a fitting plot that ties well into the gameplay." Casper began, and then gestured with his palms;

"An infamous criminal and drug dealer in the underworld who gets betrayed by his old crew, and thus is out, not just for revenge, but to usurp and reclaim the criminal empire that was built on his betrayal."

"We’ve drafted out the major plot points from start to finish, so all that remains is the connecting glue." he interlocked his fingers slowly, his sky-blue irises twinkling in excitement.

To that, Aiden patted his shoulders in pride, almost as if to say; I knew I could count on you.

"That’s actually pretty neat." Larry, on the other hand remarked, he and Benjamin nodding their heads in approval.

"Yeah. Justifies all the road raging too..." Clyde tilted his head slightly in Theo’s direction, to which the youth scratched his head and quietly said;

"Casper’s actually the one who came up with most of it. I just gave a few inputs here and there."

"Don’t sell yourself short. A contribution’s still a contribution, no matter how little." Aiden commended him to which he then said;

"Besides, we’re building this all-around your core idea, remember?" the youth reminded him to which Theo sheepishly smiled.

Turning his attention to the trio, Aiden then asked;

"Anything on the sound design yet? BGM’s, maybe?"

"We recycled a few throwaway tracks recently. A couple of them have some potential but it’s still a work-in-progress." Benjamin spoke for all three as he gestured with a palm.

To that, Aiden bobbed his head slightly. Though it wasn’t much to go by, it was still an indicator that his buddies were taking this as seriously and he and Clyde were.

Speaking of seriously, a certain thought wiggled its way into Aiden’s mind, one that had him musing out loud;

"Wonder if we could add in a factory mini-game though..."

"Huh?" Casper whom was right next to him reacted, a curious expression on his features.

Hearing that, Aiden audibly spoke, bringing his idea to the forefront;

"I was thinking it’d be pretty nice if we could toss in a little management sim. You know, since the whole drug dealing, criminal underworld theme seems to be what we’ll be going for."

"Afterall, if our nameless protagonist is to recover his ’criminal empire’, wouldn’t it be fitting for him to have some shady ventures here and there?" Aiden explained with air quotes.

"Yeah, that does make a lot of sense..." Casper thoughtfully remarked, the rest of the gang similarly nodding in acknowledgement of the idea.

The only issue however...

"We won’t be able to fit it into the game in time for our planned release in March..." Theo quietly pointed out.

There was also a hint of resignation to his tone, one that seemed to come with an underlying sense of disappointment.

Not at the lack of skill to implement it, but at the lack of time.

"I feared that might be the case." Aiden also remarked, a thoughtful expression on his features.

Given Theo was the only programmer amidst them, and was the only one who had an extensive knowledge of the game’s code, he knew better than to not take his word for it.

In fact, the reason why he had even pushed to the idea out for all of them to deliberate on, was in hopes that the introverted youth might be able to signal a green light at the possibility of its inclusion in the game.

Since that wasn’t going to be the case though...

’Guess I’ll have to take matters into my own hands.’ Aiden inwardly decided and then said;

"Alright. Guess we’ll just have to scrap the idea for now."

"If we ever get around to making a second one though, we can revisit it." he gently clasped his palms together.

"Or, if the game gets successful enough, we can push it out as a free update." Theo offered to which Aiden acknowledged with a pointed finger;

"That works too."

No sooner had they sorted that out though, the gang decided to shelve their discussion and join in with their class members whom were still exchanging and dropping ideas as to what to do for their class theme.

Just before they moved over, Casper opened his bag in a way that purposely drew the gang’s attention as he spoke;

"So, about prank number four..."

Seeing the bag chockful of small packs of gummy bears, one that probably numbered in the upper tens, if not hundreds, Casper’s grin slowly widened as he said;

"This should be enough, no?"

To that, the gang looked to each other and smiled, their eyes glinting with a palpable sense of mischief.

If for one moment, their teachers had thought they could keep them on a leash during Spirit Week with their tests... well, they were about to find out that it quite literally, took two to tango.

Innocently blinking as he watched from the side, Theo looked just as confused as he was wary.

Unfortunately for the poor kid... he clearly had no idea the sort of hijinks he had signed himself up for from the very moment the gang had adopted him.