Leveling Up with Leviathan

You were sprawled comfortably across your bed, surrounded by posters of your favorite anime and a variety of manga piled high on your bedside table. It was one of those rare days where you had the entire afternoon to yourself, and you decided to dive into a new series you had been meaning to start.

As you turned the pages, your mind began to wander, thinking about the others back at the House of Lamentation. Leviathan, in particular, came to mind. The way he always seemed so engrossed in his otaku world, the way his indigo hair framed his face when he was deep in thought, or how his orange eyes sparkled with excitement during a particularly thrilling scene in whatever anime he was watching. You couldn’t help but smile.

Suddenly, a knock on your door interrupted your thoughts. “H-Hey! It’s me!” Leviathan’s voice called out, a bit too loud and awkward, making you chuckle. You got up and opened the door to find him standing there, his face slightly flushed, holding a few DVDs awkwardly in his hands.

“Uh, I was, um, wondering if you’d like to watch some stuff with me,” he stammered, avoiding your gaze, his usual bravado crumbling a bit. “Not that I’m asking you to! I just thought you might want to… you know, enjoy quality content, and I have some really good series lined up!”

You grinned at his typical tsundere behavior, enjoying the way he tried to hide his excitement behind a facade of cool indifference. “I’d love to! What do you have?”

He shifted nervously, and you could see his pale skin turning just a bit pinker. “W-Well, I’ve got this new fantasy series that just came out. And there’s a few episodes of that mecha anime you said you liked…” His voice trailed off, and he glanced at you, half-expecting a rejection.

“Sounds perfect! Let’s do it!” you exclaimed, stepping aside to let him in. His mood visibly brightened at your response.

A few moments later, the two of you were settled on the floor of your room, a pile of snacks scattered around you. Leviathan had set up the projector, the room dimming as the first episode began to roll. You could feel his excitement radiating through the air as he talked about character designs and plot points, his passion drawing you in.

As the episode played, you noticed him stealing glances at you, his expression a mix of admiration and embarrassment. You couldn’t help but smile at how adorable he was when he tried to hide it. “You know,” you said gently, “you can always share your thoughts with me. I promise I won’t judge.”

He turned away instantly, his indigo hair falling partially over his face. “W-Who says I need your approval? I just… can’t help it if I’m better at gaming and anime than… than socializing!”

You laughed softly, and it seemed to break his tension. “You really are a character, you know that?”

“Sh-Shut up!” he snapped, though a hint of a smile tugged at his lips. “You’re just lucky I’m even spending time with you, dork!”

Time passed as you both got lost in the world of anime, discussing scenes, critiquing characters, and occasionally snickering at the overarching tropes. The laughter and warmth began to fill the room, creating a comfortable bubble around the two of you.

Eventually, during a particularly touching moment on screen, you felt Leviathan’s shoulder brush against yours. You caught him glancing at you, and for a moment, the playful banter stopped. His gaze shifted, a softness in his eyes as he spoke. “I’m really glad you’re here. I don’t think I could enjoy this as much with anyone else.”

You felt your heart flutter. “Me too, Levi. Thanks for inviting me.”

His face turned beet red, and he quickly looked away, trying to regain his composure. “I-it’s not like I wanted to! I just thought you’d appreciate the good content!”

The two of you ended the day with silly bickering, but deep down, you both knew you were leveling up your friendship into something special. The world outside faded away, and all that mattered was the time spent together in your little slice of paradise.

At that moment, it was clear: you had found a truly unique bond, one that was as entertaining as the shows you both cherished. And maybe, just maybe, it held the potential to blossom into something even more.