"What do you think of him? Orpheus."
"Master... I have seen and met many kinds of people in my life. Yet this boy... He is the only boy I found interesting."
"Oh? That's new."
"I observed every single footage I have on him. I watched every bit of movement he made. He is a unique character, Master. He is like a coin. Two sides and whenever he desires it. He flips that coin, turning him from a rather goofy character into a total sadist."
"So it is not a waste lifting up his penalty. Great! Continue to observe him, Orpheus."
"Yes, master."
--
"Kenma-kun. In the village, what entertainment do you usually have?" Inu-chan suddenly asked me after the school bell rang, ending the day.
The classmates were accepting my presence, deleting the fact that I should've been punished for what I committed. At first they asked me how I got away with it, but they soon got bored of me answering the same thing; 'I don't know'.
They were grateful. All of them became my friends and the classroom became surprisingly louder than before because now they had the freedom to go anywhere they like and talk to whoever and whatever they like without the restriction of those Rulers.
I finally answered Inu's question, "Hmm? I read novels. Many used novels and clothes were dumped in my hometown."
"Novels? Were there any Japanese ones?" Inu asked.
"No. Only English."
Inu-chan's eyes suddenly lit up a mysterious radiant spark.
"Then, Kenma-kun, do you know what 'anime' is?"
Kota suddenly looked at us in an urgent manner.
"Mhm. I saw them on my phone." I slipped my hand into my pocket and pulled out an ancient smartphone which no one had heard of.
"Wh- what is that junk?" Inu said.
'Eh? Junk?' I thought with visible confusion on my face.
"Urgh nevermind. Just look at this!" She went by my side and showed me her phone screen. Inu's phone was clearly far more advanced than mine; it has a tiny bezel and far sharper graphics.
What was shown on the screen was a huge title 'One Piece' and there's sounds of music supporting the atmosphere the title is giving.
"What is this, Inu-chan?!" I asked excitedly.
"This? Hoho… This is the best Anime. PEAK FICTIONNNNN!" She shouted while forming her fingers into a 'V' sign and positioning it in between her right eye.
"P- Peak fiction?!"
"Haha… Yare yare daze. I shall enlighten you, Kenma-kun, with a lesson you shan't forget."
"Wooo! Cool!"
"Ahh… Shit. Kenma don't get-
"Show me more!"
"He's long gone." I ignored Kota's warning.
Phone speaker:
The weird boy suddenly grew in size and bounced with right hand open palm stretched up front facing a weird clown like being. His left hand was clenched into a fist besides his face facing the clown.
"Wh- what is this?! Is this sorcery?!" I asked.
"Hehe… This, Kenma-kun, is called devil fruit. A power that can abolish any evil at sight!" Inu said with her hands still attached between her right eye.
"A- amazing!"
"Yeah. But they're fiction so they don't exist." She confirmed.
"I know that, but still the graphics rendered in so much better than my phone. It almost looks realistic." I said, then looked closely at the weird boy's way of fighting.
After around 20 minutes of watching and paying close attention. All classmates including Kota left the class. Leaving me and Inu-chan alone watching this anime.
I told her several times that she should go with her brother but she said that giving me knowledge about anime is way more important than going home.
Oh well… What else can I do to this stubborn girl?
Nevertheless, the anime was great! Unfortunately using my archaic phone, I wasn't able to access the same amount of resolution Inu's phone gave.
So she offered me to go over to her house to watch anime with her. She said it with her face blushing from ears to ears. How cute…
"S-so… That's all from one episode. I- i-i-if you want to see more, I-I allow you to go to my house!" She said nervously but then suddenly gained her previous confidence back but still subconsciously blushed and said, "Haha! You now have to prostrate before me if you want me to show you more quality anime!"
"Haha… Very well then, My Lady…" I bowed jokingly.
"Wh-wh-what are you doing?!"
"Huh? I thought you said that I have to prostrate before you."
"That was a joke!" She said, losing her confident posture.
"Well anyways we should be getting home soon." I said and Inu nodded and quietly followed me walking outside the classroom adjacently.
First day of school:
Success!
--
After I sent Inu home, I went straight back to my boarding house where 3 roommates shared each other's rent prices.
The first roommate is a man in his 40's who was divorced by his wife and now half of his wealth was legally taken by his wife. He spent all his money cleaning up his wife's debt and now he's an alcoholic. All the roommates call him Tetsu-san. No one knows his full name.
The second roommate is a boy in his 18's who pursued his dreams no matter the obstacle. His dream is to become… a pro hacker. His name is Kageru Mashima. If I were to describe him, I would describe him as a very quirky and a very hardworking boy. I wish him luck on his journey to become a pro hacker, whatever that is…
The third and last one is also a boy in his 20's. He is a uni student studying to become an accountant. He is also hard working. His name is Teko Hashimori.
I am the last and the newest to be here. They welcomed me with a merry smile and were always kind to me.
As I reached the doorstep of the boarding house, I heard Kageru-kun arguing with Teko-san as usual. I open the door with a smile.
"I'm home!"
"AH KENMA-KUN!" 2x. Teko-san and Kageru-kun shouted.
"Yo!" I waved my hand and went to my room where there is a private bathroom. Each room has it. I flared out my clothes and went to shower.
–
10 minutes later,
I got out of my shower still drying my long hair and quickly flopped down on my bed with only my pants on. When abruptly, a knock resonated from the door of my room.
I got up and opened the door and saw Teko-san holding a brown box in his hand.
"Umm… Kenma-kun. There is a packet sent to you. Did you order anything online?" Teko-san said.
"Hmm? I didn't though."
"Oh? That's weird. Must've been a mistake. I'll-
"Oh wait! Now that you mentioned it. The school said that they forgot to send me one more book. I think this is it!" I lied. I didn't know what this box was, but I have a gut feeling that it has something to do with the Ruler system.
"Oh. Ok then." He gave me the box and continued his quarrel with Kageru-kun.
I took a small knife I plan to use on cooking and stabbed it into the box, gently.
I sliced it open and took a little peek at what's inside.
There's a black case with a sign that says 'for Ruler: Kenma Houtarou.'
Yup I knew it.
I pick up the case and place it on my lap.
I opened the case and there it was revealed, another small rectangular box with a very sophisticated business card on the side of it.
I read the card. It said:
'Welcome to Rulers.
Kenma Houtarou.'
I was confused. I wonder what's inside of this little box that it requires extra safety.
I pulled the box out of the case and opened it.
"A- a phone?!"