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"His name is Wikki," Asher says "Our team drone Go ahead, take a soda"

I don’t knohat to say to that, really, so I pick a can "He’s still staring at me," I murmur to Asher

"He wants to see if you like the drink"

I take a sip of the soda It’s delicious, a fizzy strawberry flavor that tickles erated sound of joy Wikki seems to take note of this, and over his head, a virtual set of info pops up:

Emika Chen | Strawberry Soda | +1

"He’ll record your food and drink preferences throughout your stay," Asher adds

A robot that tracks everyone’s info I smile at Asher, but not for the reason he thinks This is ure out how to break into Wikki’s system later

Wikki offers a soda to Asher, too, then pops its belly shut and rolls off to where a boy is sitting on the couches As I look on, the boywheel, and every now and then he h candy-colored hills, populated by giantother players easily

"Mario Kart: Link Edition, as you can see," Asher says "It’s a tradition around here"

"A tradition?"

"We play for an hour every night during training to iets pretty coether loudly and raises his voice so that it fills the dorm "Riders! Who’s here?"

The boy hears Asher first, pauses the game, pops his earphones off, and turns around on the couch to look at his captain I recognize hiht away: the world-famous Roshan Ahmadi, with his brown skin and head of thick, dark curls, representing Great Britain

"Guess who I’ve got withto my hair

"You’re so subtle, Ash," Roshan replies in a dry British accent that sounds more casual than Hideo’s He nods once atas our Shield this year," Asher adds "And he’s also the world’s top-ranked Mario Kart player, in case you’re curious"

"Hey" I take one hand out of le wave "An honor to meet you in person"

Roshan seems pleased by that He offers me a brief smile "Likewise, love"

"We’ve all clai toward the hall that branches away froest s I got the far end, which has sorades detailed specifically for es Ren’s back at the end of the hall And as for you--"

"Hey!"

A voice calls down at us fro her elbows over the balcony, loudly chewing gum Her hair is a jumble of beautiful black curls that frames her round face, and she’s dressed in an oversize, white sports jersey that contrasts with her brown skin On second look, her shirt isn’t a sports jersey at all--it’s a T-shirt that says QUIDDITCH TRYOUTS in giant sports lettering

I like her immediately

"That’s Hah so that she can hear him "Or just Hairl"