Risebelle entered her home cautiously. She looked for any signs of her mother. The house had all the lights off and it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

  Her gaze landed on her father who was there with the couch with a newspaper covering his face. He was sound asleep. Risebelle moved quietly, trying not to disturb him.

  Still on guard, she glanced around for any sign of her mother. She didn’t look like she was downstairs.

  ‘Good. Operation ‘sneak to my room’ is a go,’ she whispered.

  Risebelle tiptoed into her room believing she had avoided the wrath of her mother, but hell froze over on the spot for her as she saw her mother sitting there on her bed with her arms folded. ‘Damn it, of course.’ she thought.

  Her mother's gaze bore into her with an intensity that made Risebelle squirm without even trying. Her mother gestured for her to sit down, and Risebelle obediently took a seat with her heart beating 1 million miles per hour.

  Risebelle's mother began the conversation with a measured tone, her gaze unwavering. "Risebelle, do you have any idea what time it is?"

  Risebelle bit her lower lip, "I...I lost track of time, Mom. I was with some friends, and we were--"

  "--You know damn well that your studies should always come first, especially in your final year of school! I expect you to maintain straight A's, Risebelle no matter what happens."

  Risebelle nodded. "I understand, Mom. I'll make sure to focus more on my studies."

  Her mother's sternness seemed to intensify as she continued. "And what about your father? He's been worried sick about you. He doesn't need the added stress, especially with his health."

  Risebelle clenched her jaw. "Well, if he drank less, he wouldn’t have those problems.”

  SMACK!

  Her mother's palm struck her cheek. The impact sent a sting through Risebelle's face. She told herself to stay strong. Don't flinch. Don’t let her see you break.

  But despite her best efforts, she faltered. Her fingers curled into the fabric of her skirt.

  Her mother spoke coldly with her hands now on her hips. "You will study tonight. Even if I have to sit right here and watch you do it. Straight A’s, Risebelle. Nothing less."

  Risebelle lowered her head. Despite it being midnight, she knew there was no arguing. She would be studying tonight. Whether she liked it or not.

  The Next Day:

  Risebelle slumped against the hallway lockers at school with her arms hanging limply at her sides. Dark circles under her eyes, sluggish movements—she looked like a character who had just barely survived a raid with no potions left.

  Enter Angie.

  With her hands in her hoodie pockets, she strolled up to Risebelle and analyzed her. "Damn, you look like you’ve got, what, 10 HP left?"

  Risebelle exhaled through her nose. "More like 1. And I’m out of revives."

  Angie smirked and pulled something from her pocket. "Here. Emergency rations."

  She tossed a candy bar into Risebelle’s hands.

  Risebelle unwrapped it instantly and took a bite. The sugar barely made a dent in her exhaustion, but at least it was something.

  Angie leaned against the lockers. "So? What’s up? Who hit you with the debuffs?"

  Risebelle sighed. "Had to sit through my mom’s scolding all night. Also… lost my bag. That added to the pain."

  Angie winced. "Oof. That's rough. But, at least tell me you found what you were looking for the other day?"

  Risebelle hesitated. "Nope... dead end..."

  Angie’s eyes narrowed. "Liar."

  Risebelle groaned. "Fine. I’ll tell you. But don’t get all weird about it."

  Risebelle leaned against the lockers, munching on the candy bar as she recounted the entire arcade incident—finding the hidden room, getting trapped, crawling under the machine and of course, the mysterious list with names crossed out.

  By the time she finished, Angie had her arms crossed while looking suprised. "Damn. That sounds like a whole anime episode."

  She suddenly snapped her fingers. "Actually, that reminds me of this game—Epic Quest: Realm of Shadows! It’s this crazy RPG where you fight against doppelgangers, but the twist is, the doppelgangers evolve based on your choices. Like, if you go full attack mode, they counter with defense builds. If you try magic, they start using anti-magic strategies! It’s so good!"

  Angie was getting animated now. "This game got so popular that the devs are actually thinking of making a full-blown VRMMO out of it! Can you imagine? Actually moving your hands and spellcasting? Summoning cannons and soliders with your own hands and not a controller? UGH! It’d be so legendary!"

  She finally noticed Risebelle’s deadpan look and her excitement deflated. She slumped her shoulders. "Right. Forgot you look like a zombie. I’ll shut up now."

  The school bell rang. Risebelle let out a quiet sigh, already dreading whatever lesson was about to drain what little energy she had left.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  ‘Doppelgangers that evolve based on choices… Mind games and counterplay…’ The thought filled Risebelle’s mind.

  Checking the game out couldn’t hurt. Maybe there was something in Epic Quest: Realm of Shadows that could give her some insight into Rosebelle’s tactics.

  Angie stretched her arms before heading toward the classroom. "Hey, if you do get the game, send me your friend tag. We can totally team up sometime."

  Risebelle raised an eyebrow. "Games support that these days?"

  Angie gave her an incredulous look. "Duh. Of course they do. Welcome to modern gaming, grandma!"

  Class began and it dragged on at a snail’s pace. Risebelle could feel her energy bar depleting with every passing minute. Mr. Sanders, however was practically glowing with excitement, rambling about some historial conflicts like he was narrating a battle anime. It was the only reason she wasn’t immediately called out for dozing off.

  Angie, on the other hand, had plenty of time to notice.

  Flick.

  A small folded piece of paper bounced off Risebelle’s forehead.

  She groggily opened one eye, shooting a half-hearted glare at Angie who smirked from her seat.

  Flick. Another paper.

  Risebelle’s fingers twitched.

  Flick.

  Before Risebelle could toss the paper full force at the back of Angie’s head, Mr. Sanders' voice suddenly boomed, "Miss Angie, if you’re going to pass notes, at least be subtle about it."

  Angie blinked. "Wha— I wasn’t—"

  "No excuses!" Mr. Sanders grinned. "You can entertain your classmates after my lesson on the legendary war of the 2000’s is finished."

  Eventually, the bell rang and Lunch finally started.

  Risebelle went and sat at her usual lunch table, staring down at the spaghetti on her tray. She had money. She could’ve bought something better—hell, she could’ve gotten the best meal in this entire cafeteria if she wanted. But today, she had resigned herself to the standard lunch menu like some commoner suffering through life’s cruel injustices.

  The spaghetti was... edible. Barely. The sauce tasted like someone had whispered "tomato" over a pot of red-tinted water, and the noodles were like chewing rocks rather than what would be a regular slurp. She chewed with the enthusiasm of a prisoner eating their last meal, but she finished it.

  Now, sitting there with her chin propped against her hand, she found her mind drifting.

  The Doppelganger.

  That mysterious girl who looked just like her. The way she carried herself, the way she spoke—nothing about her was normal. And that list on her phone... the names crossed out, Jess’ name among them.

  Risebelle's brows furrowed slightly. There was a reason behind it, one she had to figure out.

  She exhaled while staring down at her empty tray, Her mind drifted deeper into the tangled mess of thoughts circling her Doppelganger.

  Roselle.

  She knew one Roselle—her Roselle. The bratty, na?ve girl who clung to her side like an annoying younger sister. The Roselle who—despite her frustrating personality—had grown on her.

  But this Roselle? The one from her past life?

  Risebelle didn't know her, but she had an idea of what she might have been like. If that Doppelganger was anything to go by, then maybe—just maybe—this past-life Roselle was a whole different beast.

  Should she try to find her?

  The question lingered in her mind like an unresolved choice in a game menu. There was a chance that digging deeper would open doors she might regret walking through.

  But could she ignore it?

  Before she could answer herself, a familiar presence crashed into her personal space.

  Jess.

  Daring as ever, she slid her arms around Risebelle’s shoulders and pecked her cheek in broad daylight.

  “Oh, my Knighty,” Jess purred. “You looked lonely, so I thought I'd make your day.”

  Risebelle's eye twitched.

  She was so tired of Jess.

  Risebelle’s fist flew out before she even had time to fully process what was happening and hit Jess across the face which sent her crashing into the side of the lunch table. The tray clattered to the floor and sent leftover bits of spaghetti and mashed potatoes tumbling across the cafeteria floor and on Jess’ skirt.

  Jess was stunned. Her eyes opened wide in surprise while wiping the corner of her lip where the punch had landed. She looked up at Risebelle.

  Risebelle’s heart skipped a beat. ‘Oh, Goddess, why’d I do that?!’

  All eyes in the cafeteria shifted toward Risebelle and a murmur of whispers spread across the room as some students began to laugh while others gawked in disbelief.

  Jess, still a bit dazed but already recovering blinked twice. Her face twisted into a face of hurt. "Woah, okay, Knighty. What did I do to piss you off?”

  Risebelle’s face turned crimson and she stammered. "I—Jess, I didn’t—I mean, I—"

  Jess tilted her head in confusion. "What? You didn’t mean to punch me? Was I supposed to be... flattered?"

  Risebelle opened her mouth to say something, anything that would somehow explain the outburst, but the moment she tried to speak, nothing came out.

  Jess sighed and dropped her shoulders with the playful edge gone from her speech. "I get it, Knighty. You’ve got enough on your plate without me getting in the way."

  She started to stand up and tried to brush the mashed potatoes off her lap.

  Risebelle instinctively stretched a hand toward her. "Jess... I didn’t—"

  But Jess was already walking off toward another table with her head down.

  Risebelle’s hand fell back to the table.

  "Just… frikin’…great…Ruined that too."

  The girl sunk deeper into her own head. She wanted to go and say it wasn’t what it looked like, that it wasn’t her fault—hell, maybe just tell her she didn’t mean to hit her in the first place. But Jess was already... well, gone. The last thing Risebelle wanted to do was look like an ass begging for forgiveness.

  But then, out of nowhere---

  "Well, that was a thing," Jess said while plopping down across from Risebelle on the bench. making her choke on her own breath. "Guess I’ve got to teach you some manners now, huh?"

  Risebelle blinked. "I—what—?"

  Jess grinned and grabbed the remains of Risebelle’s untouched drink, taking a long sip. "I’ll let it slide, Knighty. For now, anyway."

  She leaned back in the seat, relaxed, like nothing had ever happened and it made Risebelle feel just a little bit lighter. Maybe Jess wasn’t as upset as she thought...

  Risebelle felt herself sigh in relief.

  "I… I’m sorry," Risebelle muttered while feeling her own face flush slightly. "Just don’t sneak up and kiss me like that in public, okay? Not like that."

  Jess’s eyes sparkled mischievously. "Aww, come on, Knighty. I thought I was cheering you up. But if that’s what you want…" She leaned in close and dropped her speech to a teasing whisper, "Does that mean we can kiss in private?"

  Risebelle’s face turned a shade of red so deep it could probably set a whole building on fire. Her thoughts turned into a jumbled mess of what, how and nope.“I-I—" she stammered. “You’re… you’re insufferable! What am I gonna do with you?!”

  Jess grinned. "I dunno, Knighty. Maybe you could finally admit you love me. That’d be a good start."

  "There are so many ways I could tell you ‘no’ right now, Jess,” Risebelle said after taking a deep sigh. "Hell, I could probably say it in a different language just to make you stop—"

  She stopped herself. She couldn't even bring herself to be genuinely mad at Jess. So, instead, she sighed again and looked Jess straight in the eye.

  "Thank you," she said softly.

  Jess’ grin widened. "Aww, look at you, Knighty. That’s all I needed to hear."

  Risebelle rolled her eyes and half-smiled. "You’re still a pain in my ass, though."

  Jess winked. "Only because you secretly love it."

  Just when things were starting to settle into a strange kind of normal, Angie strolled up to the table with her chin raised slightly and spoke with slight anger, “Yo, Bitchface. What the hell did you do to Risebelle?”

  Jess turned to Angie with her face darkening. "Oh, great. The bitch has entered the chat."

  Angie didn’t flinch. In fact, she casually leaned against the table with her arms crossed. "Pfft. At least I’m the final boss and not some useless NPC in your story, Jess. You’re still stuck in tutorial mode in life."

  Risebelle groaned internally. ‘Uh oh... when these two meet, it's never good.’

  She could already feel the impending disaster coming.