"Bwaah! That really hits the spot!" Ash said as he drank from his can of beer.
We really went out together for a drink, though I told him that I'll just have some juice. "You're really missing out, Lyde. Juice are for kids, and you're already 18."
"Uhm, it's 17… I'm still underage so—"
"Hahaha! What a goody two shoes." He chuckled.
"Y-Yeah hahaha." I never really hung out with Ash before. He seems a little nicer than everyone else from the gang, but I'm quite uncomfortable with his attitude right now. Well, maybe I'm just not used to being with him.
"So, how are things with Keto lately?" He brought up.
With Keto huh… it was all too personal for Keto, and I think I don't have any right to spill anything to anyone about it. "Well, we're kind of fine, I guess?"
"I see, then he must be still in shock about it."
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"You know! The time when—oh right! You were probably not aware about it since it was something that the heads of the gang only know of."
"What is?" Ash got me really curious about it.
"Hmm, I don't know if I should tell you."
"Then it's fine. You don't really need to tell me if it's not okay."
Ash grins as he patted my back. "Ah what the heck, you're a nice guy so maybe I can trust you. Make sure not to tell anyone about it."
Oh, so he's going to tell me anyway.
"Yeah, sure."
Then he leans closer to my ear to whisper what he's going to tell me about Keto. His breath stinks, but I can manage to understand what he'll tell me. "The fight with the Black Winter caused Keto his downfall. He got beaten up by Ren because he performed pathetically."
So that was it.
It wasn't new to me since I've seen it myself, though I knew that Ash wasn't so different from Keto's situation.
"Just because he performed poorly?" I can also remember how hard it was for Keto to fight that damn bastard who beat him up. He didn't stood a chance, so why is Ren being inconsiderate. Can't he understand that it was impossible for Keto to win against the guy?
"That's right. Just because of a poor performance… but there's a great reason behind why Keto's at fault."
"What?! Keto is the one at fault?"
"You see, the Neutral Faction has a system. The audience takes their bet per group, and there's also a seperate bets when it comes to the heads of the gang. When some of the heads of the gang lose, then it's a profit loss."
"Ehh!?"
"Didn't you notice that everyone's pay last time was quite less than we had the first time? That's because Keto lose, and I also did… lost." he softly murmured about his defeat last time. Seems like it was hard for him to admit it.
However, I can't relate when it comes to the part where they received money. In fact, I received more than what I expected. Maybe that's because I bumped into someone who works there and did him a favor, so they must have paid me for my efforts.
"Yeah, I guess that's how it is." Though I shouldn't speak a word about it. It'll be really unfair for the others.
"And ever since we both lost, the whole gang has been looking down on us. We've let them down because we weren't strong enough. I've heard that Ren's going to replace us soon too." Huh?! Ren's going to replace them?!
"But! But you guys were already together since you've started building the gang! That's so unfair!"
"Yep, everything's always unfair. Though I'm just glad that some things didn't change."
"What do you mean?"
He gazed at me with a soft expression and patted my shoulder. "It's just that you didn't look down on me after what happened, I'm glad you didn't change. I really appreciate it. Thanks."
That was pretty surprising for Ash to say.
"That's nothing, I was just being myself and how I usually treat others."
"Sure." I think I can get along with Ash, he's pretty nice. "You know, if you're ever having a hard time with Keto, you can always just come to my division—that is if you want to."
"I'll think about it." Is what I replied, though I wasn't that sure if I'll ever join his group.
"Yeah, just come to me if Keto's giving you a hard time."
"I'm kind of fine with Keto these days, he's a little nicer than before."
"Oh really?…" Ash sounds like he doesn't believe it. "Maybe he got his pride hurt because of last time and caused him to mellow down for a bit. He'll revert back into his mean and selfish self in no time."
"I don't think so, I think he's really becoming a better person."
"Yeah right." He agreed sarcastically. "How can someone so evil become a better person?"
It reminded me about the time when Ash said he wasn't really friends with Keto, that they're just colleagues within the gang. "Do you hate him?"
"Of course, I do! I think we get along with hating him, that shrimp has been so mean and arrogant. I instantly hate him the first time we encountered each other."
"Really?… what did he even do to you?" I can imagine him being a spawn from hell before, but now, I think he's sincere about changing himself into someone better. Though he can't change the past, the wounds he inflicted to others might have carved into a grudge that wants revenge.
"It was exactly when the Wild Beast is starting to become a group—" his expression dims as he goes back to the past. "—after he fought with Ren, he had his eyes on me. And eventually, he challenge me to steal my position."
"Your position?"
"Yes, I was supposed to be the first squad leader."