“Bullshit! That’s the fairest tackle I’ve ever seen! Rigged. Rigged!” Kaigo screamed at the TV screen. Droplets of beer stained his shirt as he sloshed it around in his rage.

“What’s going on?” Valentina gave up counting he change and pushed a fistfull of paper at the pizza delivery and kicked the door closed. “The sleeper game of the century and something happenes the moment I look away.”

Vigo leaned forward from his armchair and picked up the peanut bowl from the cluttered coffee table. “I bet the whole game is fixed. They are just passing the ball back and forth.”

It was football night at Valentina’s apartment. The better half of the Anti Kaiju Taskfroce were gathered to watch the national finals between Kaleido Stars and Aires FC. After a day of planning and training they enjoyed a night of drinks, shit talk, and the gearsiest pizza the city had to offer.

As the judge blew the whistle for half-time Kaigo headed into the kitchen and searched feverishly through the fridge. “Hey, Tina times two, do you really have nothing but light beer? Where the booze? And I don’t see a single redbull in here.”

“Energy drinks are absolute garbage. Idiots like you should not be drinking in the first place.”

“Then let me have my garbage! I know you are going to say “Kaigo, you need to be battle ready” but hear me out. I’m down too bad. Withdrawal will make me even worse so I actually need to be juiced up”

“Then at least don’t mix energy drinks with alcohol it litteraly says on the can not to do that.”

“I’m an alpha chad. I died and came back. I fear nothing. Except maybe being all fucked up by ichor that’s the one substance I’ll say I don’t want to snort.”

Valentina kicked Kaigo’s side while rummaging the cupboards for plates. “As your coach I should smash your head into a wall. The damage could only improve your current condition. As your friend I should throw you out of my house for using the term “alpha chad”.

Kaigo snorted out a laugh before Valentina leaned down towards him with her imposing frame. “Lastly, as someone who gives cares about your little shit-head, how long are you going to continue to insist that we just let the Guide run free? You promised he’d be back.”

Kaigo frowned. “Yeah. I thought he’d just run out and come back like he did before. But Vigo is cool as a cucumber so it can’t be that bad. I mean Belaphorde would not be so stupid as to just run away.”

Valentina slammed her fist against the counter. “This isin’t some fucking game. We finally have a Guide who can make sure you don’t have to be in that awful ichor shit -”

“Dhawww, you care about me?”

“Yeah shithead I do. But I will say that I don’t trust Belaphorde with anything. He’s a criminal. I saw him trying to run away with your bike back in the Knave dungeon fight after knocking you out. He should be on a leash and watched from what I’ve seen. I can’t be as cool about this as the rest of you since I can’t stop thinking about how we can lose everything.”

“Just like how we almost lost everything… “ Kaigo sighed and stood up. “It’s really too bad. In another story you would have been the hero who ran in and fought the Knave. You and Tina got good hearts and your heads are properly screwed on, unlike the rest of us. Belive me I’d give up my powers if I could make you an S-rank. But no, you will have to deal with the fact that I’m the main character of this story, and I make bad decisions; like falling for the mafia bad-boy letting him do whatever and craving redbull.”

Normally Valentina would have laughed at her best friend. She loved the idiot and had been by his side since they first wrestled over a toy car on the playground in preschool. But with the Kaiju threat she didin’t have it in her. It was difficult enough to try and act normal during their football evenings.

“What’s taking so long? They are about to start!” Vigo shouted from the livingroom. He and Tina had been discussing their favourite snacks and making fun of the commercials.

Valentina stomped out to the old veteran. “Where is Belaphorde?”

“Babe?” Tina timmidly reached out and layed a hand on Valentinas bicep.

“Are we fighting over this again, coach?” Vigo meet Valentina’s hard gaze. The kickoff went by unnoticed.

“If the boy was here we would not have to continue having this conversation.”

“Then I will tell you again; my trust in Belaphorde is rock solid. He is doing what he knows is best and will come to us when the time is right.”

“I want some reasurance right now or I will contact HQ and get they Guide back with force if I need to. The signs are there. The Kaiju could show up at any time. I don’t care to play nice with you and Kaigo anymore.”

Vigo raised from his chair and was about to speak before Kaigo cut in.

“Alright. Everyone calm down. I know how we are going to do this.” Kaigo said while slurping up a pizza slice. “I have come to the conclusion that we might have acted stupid. I got over trusting as I wanted to follow Vigo’s lead. I realize now that he is way too good for our grumpy sad boi who is running around doing who know’s what. And I want to support a bit of chaotic behaviour.”

“Is there a point to this?” Valentina snapped.

“So what I purpose is that I can Vigo go out and get Belaphorde back. No need to make everyone else at the Guild nervous by admitting that we don’t know where our golden goose is. With Vigo’s powers and knowledge this should be easy. We head out first thing tomorrow so we can sleep off the food and booze.”

“You want me to trust our most important combatants to head out on their own? It’s like a warzone out there!”

“Babe,” Tina called in a honey smooth voice which instantly melted Valentina’s anger. “I know you want to do the right thing, but sending out an army to collect Guide Belaphorde is riskier then letting the two of them scout alone. It’s a risk either way, but Kaigo is strong and Vigo can get through anything with his ghost runner powers. It was foolish to not get Belaphorde earlier but this is the logical action right now.”

Valentina growled. She knew her wife was almost always right.

“Awesome. Glad that’s over. We are heading out on a trip Vigo. We’ll bond, and talk. It’ll be great. Now try this awful pizza it’s so bad it’s good.” Kaigo handed over a slice the sight of which immediately offended Vigo’s pizza shaped childhood. They laughed and talked shit, though the air remained heavy over the apartment. Time was running out, as it often does for those who spill it.