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00:00Hi, I'm Marie. Growing up, I liked all things geeky. Comic books, anime, and most of all, video games.
00:09I was the kid in elementary school that would sneak behind some trees during recess to play my Nintendo DS instead of socializing.
00:16So I never really had any friends. And home wasn't so peachy either.
00:21Dad left soon after my sister Ava was born, and Mom, well, let's just say she tries.
00:27She worked as an attorney at some huge firm, so she always had money, just not enough time to look after two kids.
00:35What's wrong?
00:36Mom's cooking again. She watched some stupid show on TV, the one where they wear big hats and cook fancy meals, and now she thinks she can do the same.
00:45She's gonna burn the house down, Marie. I'm scared.
00:49I rushed to the kitchen, only to see the stove on fire, and Mom desperately trying to put it out.
00:54I immediately grabbed a damp towel and threw it on top of the flames. And that wasn't all.
01:01Once, Mom tried fixing an exposed wire and ended up short-circuiting the entire house.
01:07Another time, she decided to grow her own vegetables. But a month later, she quit.
01:12And now we have a half-dug garden that turns into a swampy mud pit every time it rains.
01:18At least if you guys like and subscribe to MSA, it'll make all this a little more worth it.
01:22I always had to be the adult around at home, and basically brought up Ava all by myself.
01:28But even though my real life wasn't very cool, I kicked butt in the online realm.
01:33Video games were my thing, and no one could beat me at that. Except Hero.
01:39The first time we met was on the first day of high school.
01:43He was new, and the teacher asked me to help him catch up.
01:45And I quickly found out that, just like me, Hero loved video games.
01:51His mom didn't make a lot, so he was always jumping from one part-time job to another.
01:56And it was his dream to become a world-famous gamer.
02:00Slowly, we became friends. And every weekend, I'd invite him over, and we'd go bonkers on my gaming system.
02:07Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. I'm the winner, you're just lazy.
02:11That's not even a phrase.
02:12But you get the point, right?
02:14So, yeah. Having Hero around was fun, and I was glad to finally have a friend.
02:20But then I turned 18, and things kind of glitched.
02:24Hero and I had planned on checking out this new game store in town, and I was waiting for him at school, but he never showed up.
02:30I even tried his cell, but he didn't answer, and his social media accounts were gone.
02:35He disappeared without a trace.
02:37And as weird as it was, I decided to stop chasing after him and move on.
02:42I threw myself into my studies, topped my class, and got into a good college.
02:48With Ava in high school now, I figured she could handle herself, and I could finally get a fresh start away from home.
02:55Then one night, I was in my dorm playing video games, and I got stuck on this one particular level.
03:01After my fifth attempt, I was ready to throw my controller out the window when I heard someone behind me.
03:08Need a hand?
03:09I turned around and found myself looking up at Adam, a senior, and easily the most charming guy on campus.
03:17What are you doing in my room?
03:19Just came by to say hi to a friend down the hall.
03:21And then I saw you struggling, so I figured I'd stop and help.
03:26I appreciate your not-so-called-for help, but hey!
03:31Adam had snatched the controller from my hands and started pressing buttons like a pro.
03:37Within minutes, it cleared the level like it was nothing.
03:40The trick is all in the NPC interactions.
03:43They each have coded movement loops that line up with the mission objectives.
03:47You pick up on those patterns, follow the right ones, and they practically guide you to the finish line.
03:52Pfft, of course I knew that! I was just trying to improve my timing.
03:58Right.
03:59You know, my friends and I are playing at the video game arcade tomorrow. You can join us if you want.
04:04Thanks, but I like to play alone.
04:06Suit yourself, but just in case you change your mind...
04:10And he wrote his number on my desk and left.
04:13I tried to shake off his offer, but then I thought it had been a while since I was playing solo and maybe teaming up with others wouldn't be so bad.
04:21So, the next day I called him and he sent me the address.
04:26I expected it would be a casual gaming session with a few friends, but I was stunned to see that it was a massive gaming tournament.
04:34Hundreds of gamers sat around, dead serious, fingers flying over controllers, and eyes glued to screens.
04:42Just then, Adam spotted me and ran over.
04:44Hey, perfect timing. You're playing with me.
04:47I nodded and took a seat next to him. And together, we breezed through every challenge.
04:53The games were tough, but our sync was on point. And by the end of the tournament, Adam and I were on top of the leaderboard.
05:01That was incredible. I knew you had skills, but this is next level.
05:07I couldn't even tell it was our first time playing together.
05:10You know what? You've got to meet my dad.
05:12I don't think I should, but Adam was already pulling me through the crowd before stopping in front of this tall man who looked like he ate gigabytes for breakfast.
05:22Dad, this is Mari. I think she'd be perfect for a team.
05:26Ah, such a pleasure to meet young prodigies like yourself.
05:30Tell me, Maria, has the world of digital gaming always intrigued you?
05:35It's Mari.
05:35I know. But I prefer Maria. It has a certain melody to it. Like the soft patter of keys under one's finger in the heat of play.
05:47Sorry, what?
05:49He just means you have a nice name. Anyway, dad's a game developer and a professional gamer himself. He's the reason I picked up gaming. He's my hero. The legend. The person I look up to the most. Also, he'll be coaching us.
06:03For what?
06:04The tournaments, of course.
06:06Adam told me he played for an international esports team. They traveled the world, competed in the biggest tournaments, and now they wanted me to join them.
06:16Playing international esports had always been my dream, so it didn't take me long to say yes, and the next few months turned into a wild roller coaster.
06:26We traveled from one tournament to the next, diving headfirst into the intense, fast-paced life of esports. And while I loved competing, Adam's dad made things really complicated.
06:39Our primary objective is to establish dominance in the early stages by monopolizing resource nodes and obstructing adversarial progression.
06:49What is he saying?
06:50He wants us to capture as many resource points as we can at the start and block the other team.
06:55Why doesn't he just say that?
06:57That's just how he talks. You'll get used to it.
06:59But Adam's dad's constant hovering and descriptive plans made every practice session feel like a mental marathon, and I just couldn't keep up.
07:09Then one day, after a grueling practice, I was scrolling through my phone when I came across an invite to the closed beta test of Infinity Mickey, a game that had been making waves as the coziest open-world experience out there.
07:23I was tired of playing endless battles and high-stake combat games with Adam, and I was looking for something that felt more comforting and fun.
07:32And the game seemed like the perfect escape. So I enrolled for access to the closed beta, got in, and boy, was that the best decision ever.
07:42The game took me into the magical world of Mirrorland, where Nikki, the main character, went on amazing quests with her cute companion Momo.
07:51The coolest part of the game were the ability outfits that helped Nikki navigate Mirrorland, gather resources, and complete quests.
07:58I got to explore dungeons, tackle boss battles, ride vehicles, and even capture beautiful moments with the photo feature.
08:07It was so much more than a dress-up game. It was pure magic.
08:13I was so amazed by it, I even joined Infinity Nikki fan forums to know more about shortcuts and outfit combos.
08:19And I found myself chatting regularly with one user in particular, Silent Warrior.
08:25Oh my god, Momo camera is so cute. I could pose in front of that forever.
08:31Oh, but here's something that makes it even better.
08:35Usually, you can only take pictures of the scenery in Nikki, but there are certain spots on the map where this fawish sprite,
08:42Dekabo, will suddenly pop up and look straight at the camera while you're capturing the shot.
08:47I swear, it's the funniest and most unexpected thing ever.
08:52No way! How did you even figure that out?
08:54Spent hours wandering the map, taking random shots.
08:58The first time Dekabo appeared, I almost dropped my controller.
09:01You've got to try it. It's seriously worth it.
09:05Well, since you've been so helpful, I've got news for you too.
09:09December 6th is actually Nikki's birthday, and to celebrate that special day,
09:13all Infinity Nikki players will be getting this stunning new dress called Starlit Celebration.
09:19Absolutely free of charge. I mean, talk about a sweet deal.
09:24But you have to log into the game before December 19th to redeem it, so tell all your friends to download it now.
09:30I've already told mine.
09:32It felt like I'd found someone who spoke my gaming language, and I really wanted to meet him.
09:37So, naturally, a week later, I was one of the top players invited to play Infinity Nikki live at an exclusive arena.
09:45I walked in feeling excited, and I was at the snack bar getting a soda when another hand reached for the same can.
09:53I looked up and froze as I saw Hero smiling at me.
09:57Didn't realize this one was yours.
09:58Well, it certainly doesn't have your name on it.
10:02Just then, the announcer called all gamers to the stage for a quick face-off, and I hurried to the stage.
10:08I was settling down in my seat when Hero pulled up the chair next to mine.
10:13He opened his mouth to say something, but I shushed him and focused on my game.
10:17I entered the breezy meadow, collected a bunch of daisies, and was just enjoying my walk through the vibrant flowers
10:23when Momo told me that there was a wind star nearby.
10:26So, I hurried through the meadow, collected the whip star, and upgraded to a new outfit.
10:32Wow, you're still as good as I remember.
10:34Oh, so you do remember me.
10:37I thought the way you vanished, you probably forgot all about me.
10:41Okay, yes, I deserve that, but I had a reason for leaving so suddenly, Mari.
10:46That's when Hero told me that his mom had lost her job, and since they lived in her employer's house,
10:51they had to pack up and move to a new town, almost overnight.
10:55Wait, you could have dropped a text, at least.
10:58I just couldn't find the time to.
11:00I had to pick up jobs to help mom out, until I figured out a way to make money through gaming.
11:05You have no idea how many times I thought about calling you, but I just didn't know what to say.
11:11So, when I saw your name on the Infinity Nikki forum, I decided to send you a message, as Silent underscore Warrior.
11:18Wait, you're Silent Warrior? So you took me for a fool not once, but twice?
11:26That feels good.
11:27I'm sorry, I just didn't know if you'd talk to me.
11:31I even learned the whole game just to get to this live event and meet you, Mari.
11:35So, what do you say? Can we restart? I kinda miss you.
11:40Okay, yeah. I missed him too.
11:43Hero was the one person who always understood me, and he did genuinely sound sorry for the way he'd acted.
11:49So, I agreed, and we reconnected.
11:53We spent hours chatting about games, and I told him everything about my new team and life at college.
11:58Our conversations felt effortless, and I was happy to have him back in my life.
12:04But, while things with Hero got better, with Adam, it only got more tense.
12:09Maria, grab the plasma cannon next to you. You're wasting essential resources.
12:13I'm pinned down by these two enemies. I need to deal with them first to advance.
12:18Incorrect. Your role is to support Adam. He's leading the mission.
12:23Provide suppressing fire, and use that weapon to neutralize the opposition.
12:27But if I expose myself, I'll get eliminated.
12:30Then strategize smarter. Honestly, you're making me question your tactical skills.
12:35Did we make a mistake by bringing you onto the team, Maria?
12:38Oh, I don't know. Sire, maybe you did.
12:42So, why don't you go ahead and find someone who's better than me, and can understand what you're actually talking about?
12:48Yeah, for the record, my name is Mari.
12:52And I just threw the controller down and walked out. And seconds later, Adam followed.
13:02How dare you talk to my dad like that?
13:04He's constantly breathing down my neck, Adam. It's annoying.
13:08He just wants you to do better. And honestly, Mari, you could use a little extra practice.
13:14Dad doesn't think you're ready for the tournament, and he might be right.
13:18Your dad thinks no one is ever ready. And every time I talk to him, I feel like I'm in the middle of a test I didn't prepare for.
13:25I don't think I can play like this.
13:27And before Adam could get out another word, I flung my bag over my shoulder and left.
13:32I was so distracted that evening, I could barely focus on my game with Hero.
13:37I had to jump through some glowing hoops in a sequence before the time ended, and I just couldn't keep up.
13:43Hero immediately understood something was off, and asked me what happened. And I told him everything.
13:50Why are you even with them if they don't value your skills?
13:53It's not all bad. The rest of the guys on the team are great, and Adam's a bit edgy.
13:58But he's a good player. It's his dad who gives me the ick.
14:02My mom's a saint compared to him. At least she never trash-talked me the way he does.
14:06Mari, you're a great player. And from what you're telling me, this Adam sounds like a jerk.
14:12I think you should just quit and play with me instead. We're good.
14:16I just laughed at Hero's suggestion. He was clearly joking.
14:20There's no way he'd actually expect me to quit my team at the last minute.
14:24Although, I'll admit, the idea was kind of tempting,
14:28considering how Adam being on the team was seriously getting on my nerves lately.
14:33Later, I ended up talking to my sister Ava about it.
14:36And the next day, she and mom showed up at my dorm with dinner to cheer me up.
14:41I was struggling through the lasagna mom made, when suddenly there was a knock at the door.
14:46Hero? What are you doing here?
14:48Okay, don't freak out. But I kind of put our names down together for the tournament tomorrow.
14:54What? Why?
14:55Because your team sucks, Mari.
14:58Adam and his dad are dragging you down, and it's obvious you're not happy.
15:02But playing Infinity Nikki with you these past few days made me realize how amazing we are together.
15:08If we team up, we actually have a chance of winning.
15:11And I found out from my sources, and the prize money on this tournament is insane.
15:16Hero, I...
15:17Planning to ditch me at the last minute?
15:19I saw Adam standing behind Hero with a hard expression on his face.
15:24You're taking this the wrong way.
15:25Oh, am I? Wasn't he just telling you to leave us and join him?
15:30My dad gave you the opportunity to be a great gamer,
15:33and you tossed that aside to play Infinity Nikki with him?
15:37It's that same dress-up game you keep raving about, right?
15:40It's more than a dress-up game, Adam. It teaches you about friendship, care, and warmth.
15:46And it tests your skills and presence of mind.
15:48You have to strategize your way through each puzzle. It's not easy.
15:52Sounds like a pretty easy game to me.
15:54Really? Then why don't you and I go head-to-head?
15:58First one to complete his quest wins, and Mari joins the winner's team.
16:02That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.
16:05Why? Scared I'll kick his butt? We'll see about that.
16:08But the food's getting cold.
16:11Believe me, Mom. No one wants to eat that.
16:14And this is way too entertaining.
16:16Adam shoved me aside and took over my gaming system while Hero pulled out his laptop.
16:21And they both dove into the game.
16:24Hero skillfully switched between Nikki's ability outfits,
16:27jumping between platforms with precise timing.
16:30The puzzles were tough.
16:32Rotating tiles that moved unpredictably,
16:35hidden traps waiting to catch him off guard,
16:37narrow pathways requiring precision,
16:40and lasers that could slice through in an instant.
16:43But Hero kept his pace steady.
16:45Adam, on the other hand, was clearly struggling.
16:49The caged greed towered over him,
16:52and he just couldn't figure out how to break through its defenses.
16:54While Hero completed his challenges with absolute ease.
17:03This is not fair.
17:04I was just getting the hang of the game.
17:06Besides, you already knew the shortcuts and how to switch between the ability outfits.
17:11Fine.
17:12Then how about we do a dress-up contest?
17:14Mari can rate which dress combo looks nicer.
17:17Does that sound fair to you?
17:19Huh.
17:19I breathe fashion.
17:21Bring it on.
17:22The combat started, and just like before,
17:25Hero nailed this one, too.
17:27He carefully curated a stunning look.
17:30A bright yellow play suit called the Sunny Agenda,
17:33paired with a set of elegant stockings and white high-top sneakers.
17:37He finished the outfit with a sleek ponytail and the sweetest headband,
17:41creating a perfectly coordinated ensemble.
17:44I was just watching him work in awe when Adam jumped up.
17:49That's how you do it, baby!
17:50Uh, Adam, why have you paired the red shimmery gown with the green shimmer jacket?
17:56And what's up with these blue glitter stockings?
18:00So?
18:01It's all glitter, and I know girls like glitter a lot.
18:04Yeah, if you're five and dressing up your doll,
18:07your outfit has no synchrony, Adam.
18:10Everything looks great individually,
18:12but together, it looks like Nikki fell into a pool of glitter.
18:16It doesn't make any sense.
18:18And that's why I vote for Hero.
18:20Hero smiled at me proudly,
18:22and I was about to shake hands with him,
18:24when Adam jumped in between.
18:26You're a cheat.
18:27Obviously, you'll vote for Hero because you like him.
18:30Hero won because he's good,
18:33and he genuinely made an effort to learn the game.
18:36Yeah, right, liar.
18:38What's your problem, dude?
18:39I beat you in two games straight,
18:41and you're still crying like a baby.
18:43Be a man and just admit you suck.
18:46What did you just say to me?
18:48And with that, Adam launched himself at Hero,
18:50grabbed his laptop,
18:52and threw it across the room.
18:54Hero lost his mind,
18:55swung back,
18:56and the two of them got into a fight.
18:58I tried to stop them,
19:00but they kept swinging at each other.
19:02And then, Hero pushed Adam,
19:04and he went flying into the table with all the food.
19:06Oh, my God.
19:08I made that with my own two hands.
19:11It took me hours to get the flavor on point.
19:13And somehow, it still sucked.
19:16What did you just say to me?
19:17Ah!
19:18Shut it!
19:19All of you!
19:20What is wrong with y'all?
19:22And Mom,
19:23I love you,
19:24and I'm happy you're here,
19:25but you've got to stop cooking.
19:27As for you two,
19:29I'm not teaming up with either of you.
19:31I've decided to go solo.
19:33What?
19:34Oh, don't look surprised, Adam.
19:36After the way you and your dad have pushed us around,
19:39it's a miracle I stayed as long as I did.
19:42But I'm a gamer with ethics,
19:44so I stuck it out for my team when it mattered.
19:47And Hero,
19:48these past few days have been fun,
19:50but you can't just show up
19:52and expect me to jump on your team.
19:54You didn't even know about this tournament
19:55until I mentioned it,
19:57and now you want to participate for the prize money?
20:00I get that it's a big opportunity,
20:02but I can't make decisions like that on a whim.
20:05Maybe someday we'll team up again,
20:07but for now,
20:08I need to do this my own way.
20:10And I totally respect your decision.
20:13I don't.
20:14It's a stupid decision,
20:15and I'm not letting you get away that easily.
20:18Adam grabbed my hand,
20:19but I twisted his arm around in one swift motion,
20:22and he winced in pain.
20:24Guess I picked up a thing or two
20:26from your so-called combat games.
20:28Maybe you could learn a little something
20:30from Infinity Nikki
20:31and handle defeat with a little grace,
20:34instead of throwing a tantrum
20:35every time things don't go your way.
20:37Wait till my dad hears about this.
20:39You and your dad can both eat slugs for all I care.
20:42Now get out,
20:43and don't come back.
20:45Adam left that night,
20:46but I knew he wasn't gonna stay quiet.
20:49Not that I cared.
20:50I'd already made up my mind
20:52to pull my name from that stupid tournament.
20:55I didn't want to be part of something
20:56that sucked the joy out of the one thing I loved.
20:59It was time to take back my happiness,
21:02to focus on what made me feel alive again.
21:05And for the first time in weeks,
21:07I felt free.
21:09It's showtime, baby.
21:11It's showtime, baby.