Chapter 4: Beautiful world

Isaac shifted on his feet as he peered into the early afternoon sky. "So, what are we doing today?" he asked, his voice carrying a hint of excitement.

Shiki shrugged nonchalantly. "Don’t know. We’ll just walk until we find something interesting."

Vanessa, ever the pragmatist, glanced at Isaac with a concerned look. "Hey Isaac, you sure your dad is okay with you skipping church... again?"

Isaac waved a hand dismissively. "Eh, it’s fine. He gets a bit annoyed sometimes, but he’s pretty chill about it."

Shiki’s eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke. "Damn, must be nice having a parent, right? Not all of us have that luxury."

Vanessa shot Shiki a sharp look. "SHIKI!!! You’re making this so awkward now."

Shiki raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, I’m sorry, okay?"

Vanessa’s expression softened, but her tone was somber. "On a serious note, though, Shiki is right. Us orphans, we're society’s outcasts, cast into the world’s shadow. There’s probably no future for us."

Isaac, clearly distressed by the conversation, interjected abruptly, "GUYS, THERE’S NO NEED TO BE SO NEGATIVE! If you have God in your heart, the road to glory will be clear."

Shiki snorted softly. "God? Oh yeah, he still exists, huh?"

Isaac frowned. "Shiki??"

Shiki waved a hand dismissively. "Ehhh, nothing. Look, let’s just go to Old Man Greg's arcade."

Isaac groaned. "Huh, Old Man Greg's again? We go there every time."

Shiki’s demeanor shifted to serious. "Hey, Isaac, it’s finally out."

Isaac’s curiosity was piqued. "What do you mean, 'it’s out'?"

Shiki smirked, relishing the moment. "No, Isaac. 'It’s out.'"

Isaac gasped, his eyes widening. "Wait, you don’t mean it’s out, do you?"

Shiki nodded vigorously. "I do... it’s here at last."

Isaac was incredulous. "B-b-but that’s impossible! HOW?!"

Vanessa looked between them, confused. "What are you weirdos talking about?"

Isaac and Shiki exchanged bewildered glances before Isaac exclaimed, "VANESSA, YOU DON’T KNOW?!!"

Vanessa’s patience wore thin. "WHAT IS IT ALREADY, YOU CHUMPS?!!!"

Shiki grinned widely. "The game 'Death Battle Infinite 2' is out."

Vanessa’s response was a shrug. "Huh, a stupid video game."

Isaac and Shiki were taken aback. "WHAT?! A STUPID VIDEO GAME!!!"

Isaac’s face was a mix of disbelief and frustration. "A STUPID VIDEO GAME?! VANESSA, IT’S LITERALLY ONE OF THE GREATEST GAMES EVER!"

Shiki’s voice grew more intense. "THOSE WORDS ARE A SIN, VANESSA!"

Vanessa, rolling her eyes, relented. "Fine, it’s a good game, weirdos."

Isaac and Shiki beamed in unison. "It’s the best game."

Shiki clapped his hands together, signaling a move. "Alright, let’s go. The day won’t last forever, will it?"

The friends made their way to Old Man Greg's arcade, only to be met with an unexpected surprise.

Isaac's eyes widened in shock as he read the sign. "What the hell is this? $80 per person, per hour just to play a game?"

Shiki’s face twisted in outrage. "You stingy old gremlin, what level of capitalism is this?!"

Old Man Greg, peering over his glasses, grumbled, "If you kids don’t like it, then just leave already."

Shiki, unfazed, shrugged. "Honestly, I can’t blame him. There are only supposed to be ten copies of the game left. It makes sense."

Isaac sighed, deflated. "It’s over, man. It’s just too expensive."

Shiki, however, brightened. "Don’t worry, Isaac. I’ve got this. It’s on me."

Isaac stared, amazed. "Bro, you’ve got money?! Where’d you get that?"

Shiki smirked. "I’m a hustler, bro. Got other jobs."

Isaac raised an eyebrow. "Other jobs... mmm, can I join?"

Vanessa shook her head. "Uhm, I don’t think you would fit in."

Isaac was taken aback. "Vanessa, you’re there too?"

Shiki coughed lightly. "What Vanessa’s trying to say is that the job only takes people over the age of 16, and you’re like 14."

Shiki then clapped Isaac on the back. "Let’s just play the game to prove to Vanessa that it’s cool."

The three friends spent hours immersed in the game, the outside world fading into the background. As the evening drew close, they headed out into the town to enjoy the nighttime festivals. The air was filled with the buzz of celebration, and the friends reveled in the atmosphere as if it were their last.

Isaac, scanning the crowd, asked, "Where’s Vanessa at, bro?"

Shiki shrugged. "Ehhh, she got a little bit drunk."

Isaac frowned. "Never understood why you guys drink that stuff."

Vanessa stumbled over, her speech slurred. "H-h-hey guys, want to have more fun?!"

Shiki waved her off gently. "Nah, we’re gonna chill here."

Vanessa pouted. "Huhhhhh, okay."

As they settled on a bench, Shiki broached a more serious topic. "Hey Isaac, you still haven’t told your dad we drank, right?"

Isaac shook his head. "Not really. If I did, he’d think you guys are a bad influence. He’s pretty religious that way."

Shiki nodded in agreement. "Maybe, but he is still a good father and a great man. Always working hard for the church and the other orphans."

Isaac smiled. "He sure is, isn’t he?"

Shiki hesitated before asking, "Hey Isaac, got another question."

Isaac yawned. "Ask away, man."

Shiki’s voice grew contemplative. "Where do you think we’ll be in ten years?"

Isaac looked thoughtful. "Wow, that’s a crazy question. Don’t really know, though."

Shiki pressed on. "Come on, man. Don’t you have any aspirations or something?"

Isaac’s gaze turned hopeful. "Well, not much, but all I know is that God will light my path to success."

Shiki sighed. "Yeah, I suppose that would work for you, huh?"

Isaac’s gaze softened. "Don’t you mean us?"

Shiki’s silence spoke volumes, and Isaac noticed. "Shiki, you okay?"

Shiki took a deep breath, his expression serious. "Isaac, I wanted to tell you this under better circumstances, but it really doesn’t matter now. The thing is, I don’t believe in God or any of this biblical nonsense."

Isaac’s face fell, the weight of Shiki’s confession sinking in. The night continued around them, the festival lights casting their fleeting glow over three friends grappling with the complexities of their own beliefs and futures.