#022. Kurose Ritsu
Click—As soon as I entered the voice chat room, voices from several people chimed in.
"Hello~"
"Ah, hello..."
It still felt a bit awkward. Our team had two guys and three girls. We were the only team out of the five with more female players than males.
"This is our first time voice chatting like this, right? Hey, Neru."
"Ah, y-yes! Hello, sunbae-nim..."
Kurose Ritsu. A first-gen senior from my Universe group. But since almost everyone knew she'd been working with Yuseol from way back, she was basically treated like a zeroth-gen member.
I'd once asked Yuseol about Ritsu.
—"President, what's Ritsu sunbae like?"
—"Ritsu? She seems super laid-back and soft on the outside, but once you get to know her... hmm, like a snake, I guess?"
—"A snake...?"
I hadn't met her in person yet, so I didn't know exactly. But hearing her voice directly like this, there was something about her vibe. Not overwhelming like Yuseol, but quietly cold. Snake-like, or like a villainous noble lady from a romance novel.
"I'm so thrilled to be on the same team as you, Neru. Was this Captain SenT's doing?"
"Haha, well... to synergize, I suppose."
We decided to start with simple introductions.
"Hello. Top laner Kang Hyun here. Diamond 2 tier, I can handle tanks or bruisers no problem."
"SenT here. I'll be taking captain. Hope to lead us all to victory."
"Kurose Ritsu, active as a Universe first-gen. Since we're in it, let's aim for a good result."
"Hi everyone! Dalgisoda here! I'll do whatever you tell me, let's fight!"
"Hanako Neru, active as a Universe second-gen..."
After introductions, talk naturally shifted to our previous scrims. SenT lightened the mood by pointing out each person's strengths.
Kang Hyun was a solid tier-1 top, with standout sense from laning to teamfights compared to other tops. Ritsu didn't rack up solo kills in lane, but she was stable with low variance and held the center well. Dalgisoda talked a lot, but the point was her skill was decent for tier 5.
"And Neru... I've praised you plenty before."
"Ah, yeah... I heard it all..."
"Great calls, solid map reading, accurate skillshots. Vision control could use work, but that's just practice."
I could focus on vision if I tried. But I figured roaming for an extra kill was better use of that time. Plus, I kept forgetting that my teammates couldn't predict enemy paths in real-time like I could.
"Anyway, we need to submit a team name. Any ideas?"
"Hmm..."
We all pondered. Then Dalgisoda, who'd been umming and ahhing, piped up brightly.
"How about Universe Strongest?! Mixing Universe, strong, SenT—"
"Uh... that doesn't include you, DalgSoda."
"Ah, my real name's Choi Wooju."
"Oh ho."
Not bad at all. Most seemed positive.
"Sounds good. Universe Strongest it is. Now, hop into the Discord chat and list your strong picks—champs you're good at."
"Ah, got it."
Time passed. Our top Kang Hyun listed about five meta picks. SenT skipped since he was ex-pro with too many. Ritsu had three mage champs. Dalgisoda three meta ones. I put down Thalia, Screwloose Fate, Frey, Shell, Lena—five total. Skipped Park since I didn't play it much.
Feels like I'm sticking out.
With off-meta picks in the list, it felt awkward. But I'd proven myself in scrims, so no backing down.
"Mm, okay. Honestly, looking at picks, we can't do much right now. Scrims start the day after tomorrow, so we'll gauge power levels there, give immediate feedback, and figure out what to work on."
"Ah, got it."
"Sounds good."
We chatted more, then scheduled scrims for two days later.
But the next day, Ritsu messaged first.
A pretty unexpected offer. I'm not the proactive type, so while I thought I should get closer to teammates—especially fellow Universe member Ritsu—I lacked the guts to suggest it first. Ritsu couldn't read my mind, but her taking the initiative was a relief.
Well, if she insisted. I sent an OK and prepped for RoyalGround collab. Just the two of us this time. I secretly DM'd Yuseol about Ritsu.
"Heek."
Had she predicted my move? Goosebumps prickled all over.
"Uuu... scary..."
In first-gen collabs I'd seen, Ritsu just seemed like a reliable big sis. She talked so casually then. Why different with me? Like girls trash-talking vibes.
......
Kurose Ritsu. Before joining Universe, she'd edited videos for Yuseol's NewTube channel. They'd worked together before Universe was even planned, and they were the same age. So she and Yuseol were like real friends. But on stream, it was president-member dynamic.
When selecting first-gens before second-gens, Yuseol consulted Ritsu—they had that high trust. Before starting streams, Ritsu was healing by rewatching Neru's VODs.
Usually sharp and mom-like, she had a secret hobby: hardcore Neru fan.
When did it start? Probably watching first-gens' first meet with Neru VOD alongside Yuseol.
—"She seems like she'd sing great, right?"
—"Yeah, definitely cute."
She'd said that casually in front of Yuseol. But inside, she desperately wished Neru would join Universe.
"Look at her flustered. Makes me wanna tease her so bad."
What to say. She'd never seen her IRL, but streams matched. Neru's design hit Ritsu's tastes dead-on. If such a creature existed for real, she'd pop her in her mouth and guzzle—
"...Ahem. But no such thing exists."
First-gens had tantrums early on, but now they were just brats. Ritsu didn't like overt brattiness. She didn't realize she exuded it herself. Neru's antics nailed that.
"That's the appeal. Wait, what am I saying."
So far, second-gens Ren and Neru fit best, but Neru's design sniped perfectly, drawing her in. And lucking into the same Zzzk Cup team gave an excuse to get close.
"Ehehe."
Just thinking of teasing Neru made her mouth water. Of course, on stream, her personality flipped.
"Get close in today's collab, then after Zzzk Cup, excuse of a meetup to see her IRL..."
She'd bond like crazy. Ritsu indulged in happy fantasies.
"Oh right, gotta seal the president's lips first."
She'd heard Neru asked Yuseol tons. If Neru inquired about her, her subtle(?) fangirling might leak. Preemptive gag order.
Before teaching Neru RioCham, Yuseol had thought pairing her with Ritsu as mentor might crush her—for this reason. The kid had subtle perv vibes. But intense junior love wasn't a problem, so Yuseol magnanimously understood.
Of course, unwitting Neru was shivering in fear.