As the limousine glided through the street, Soma turned his gaze to look outside. A glimpse of a passing car and the row of the building filled his eyes. The window that separates him from the outside world gives him a sense of detachment from the real world because of the comfy feeling he experiences inside with the soft sponge and the warm conversation with the Akabane family.
Hina is the only exception. She turned her attention toward the window as if bored, supported by her right hand that was holding her right cheek. Her face was inches away from the window glass, not uttering a single word, and didn't plan to mix with the other, isolating herself in the corner while sometimes she just tinkering with her phone. Probably replying to a message from her friend.
After thirty minutes that felt short, because of the comfy feeling and the hustle from the conversation. The limousine slowed its speed, then it stopped completely in front of a white building that stood towering in the middle of the capital city.
The butler opened up his door before hurried himself to open the door for the passenger and greeted all of us with his composed smile.
"We have arrived, everyone".
Hiroshi nodded his head before stepping outside followed by Hina. Then Hisako turned her gaze at Soma and he replied by shaking his head vertically.
After coming out of the limousine, Soma's heart sank as a lingering attachment to the limousine inside was still ingrained in his mind. That was the most comfortable ride he could ever feel in his life.
"Everyone, please proceed inside. The president is waiting".
"Okay, Thanks for the ride, and let's go everyone".
Hiroshi nodded his head, before turning to the other and leading the group.
Soma turns his gaze up observing the white building before him. It was a fifty-floor building, that was made from a reinforced material they could get from the gate or dungeon. Stood towering among the other. It was enveloped by a curtain of glass reflecting a ray of sunlight and the other buildings around it with a dazzling array of colors.
He raised his leg and began to enter the building. Once inside Soma was greeted by a vast lobby with bustling people walking around who seemed busy with their work.
In the corner from his left side. Separated by a transparent barrier, strong enough it could survive a bullet from a rifle. Soma could catch a glimpse of a Cafe-like place where there were many visitors and employees talking boisterously sitting on the wooden chair that surrounded a small round table accompanied by a cup of black drink.
"You guys go on without me. I will wait there".
Hina after finishing her sentence. Began to distance herself without waiting for an answer from her parents. The parents smiled wryly seeing the retreating figure of their daughter that entered the place with a daunting gait.
"Geez that girl, Let's go, Soma".
Hisako grabbed Soma's left hand and began to drag his way past the people and arrive at the receptionist. Hiroshi, the one at the front, began to approach one of the receptionist women who sat behind the desk while wearing her business smile.
"What can I help you sir?".
"Ah, My name is Akabane Hiroshi, and we already have an appointment with the president, could you please inform him that we have already arrived".
"Please wait for a bit while I doing my report".
"Understood".
The receptionist woman began to raise her hand to grab the company phone and dial some number. Then after she finished the report, she put away the phone before opening her mouth. "Thanks for the wait. Everyone, you could go toward the elevator on the right side over there, and go to the forty-eight floor to meet the president. He is already waiting for your arrival". She raised her left hand and pointed it at the double twin doors that were plastered on the wall on their right side, not forgetting to show her business-like smile.
"Okay, thank you very much".
Hiroshi nodded his head and then began to lead the others toward the elevator door on the right side.
Arriving in front of the elevator. Hroshi, raised his hand to push the button that was painted between the door and after waiting for dozens of seconds, the door on the left side opened and showed an empty space inside.
They began to step inside and push the button that showed the number forty-eight on the side of the wall before the door closed and the floating sensation began to envelop all of them.
While waiting in the quiet narrow space. The sound of beeping could be heard every time the elevator ascended on the floor, and it became the ringtone in their ears, giving the space some life.
Then after the number of forty-eight buttons shone the elevator went ting, before it opened the double doors and revealed a wide hall that stretched in a straight way, and a single double door stood tall in the innermost part of the room entered their sight.
Stepping out from the elevator. The three of them began to walk and arrived at the double wooden black door that stood at the far end of the corridor.
Hiroshi raised his right hand began to knock on the door, and opened his mouth to inform the person inside of their arrival.
"President Ito, we have arrived".
"Come inside".
A hoarse voice reverberated from behind the door. Hiroshi grabbed the door handle and began to push the door inside, as the creaking sound began to alarm the person inside.
"Welcome".
Inside, behind the desk stood a gentleman in his mid-fifties with a stern face and opened his arms. He is 190 cm in height with a bulky strong physique that could not be hidden even after wearing some clothes. His black hair swiped back tainted with a grayish color on the side described his neat and stylish appearance.
Wearing a white shirt with an open button on the neck. While its sleeves were tucked until the elbow. On the lower part, he was wearing black long pants and military leather boots.
"Please, have a seat!".
The gentleman welcomed the visitors as he told them to take their respective seats.
There are four two-seater sofas surrounding a rectangle table standing on the round red leather mat that looks expensive upon sight.
The three of them nodded their heads and began to approach their respective seat and sat on them burying their butts on the soft sponge. Hiroshi and Hisako took the sofa that was on the right. As for Soma, he is sitting alone on the two-seater sofa that faces the door.
"Would you like to drink?".
"Ah, no president, let me do it".
As the president wanted to prepare the drink for the guest, Hisako stood up from the sofa and offered herself to do it.
"Okay, I leave it to you. A black coffee for me, you guys?".
"Then, I will take up on your offer, I want a cup of coffee too".
Hisako nodded her head, before turning her gaze to Soma.
"Soma What do you want to drink?".
"Mm, then me too the same one, please".
"Okay".
Soma could only smile wryly, upon the hospitality he received. He turned his gaze to the surroundings and found the interior of the room was quite spacious.
On the right side of the room. Soma could see a lineup of bookshelves that brimmed with a book. On the left side, there is a wide cabinet drawer, where Hisako is preparing the drink. As for in front of him there is a desk drawer with a personal computer and stacked documents that are already finished.
The president began to take action as he submerged himself in the Sofa. Sitting on the opposite side from Soma.
No one opened their mouth to start the discussion. So, Soma just wandered his eyes over the room as he waited for the other to open the talk.
Then the screeching voice began to fill the quiet room as Hisako began to prepare the drink for the other and herself. After finishing the preparation, She placed the four hot cups on the metal tray. Hisako began to deliver the finished Coffee with additional sugar and cream on it.
Putting the metal tray on the rectangle table she began to distribute the coffee to each of the people present.
"Please enjoy".
"Thank, Miss Hisako".
Hiroshi just nodded his head, and she began to place the third cup before Soma. Didn't forget to add some sugar cubes and cream near his cup.
"Thanks, Miss Hisako".
"Enjoy it!".
Hisako began to take her seat on Soma's left side across from her husband. The fragrant scent of the branded coffee drifted in the air. It began to fill the stilled room with a relaxed atmosphere.
The president, who noticed the change in the atmosphere, began to open his mouth and cast his gaze straight at Soma.
Soma's body tensed. An overwhelming feeling crept up. He felt like a frog being stared at by its predator. He raised his guard up and raced his mind in case his assumption might be spot on.
"First of all, let me thank all of you for coming to this place from my invitation, and…".
The president raised the corner of his mouth as he stared at Soma's tensed body. Soma squinted his eyes as he began to prepare for what was coming, only to find the president of the awakeners association bowed his upper body before him, and he opened his eyes wide, barely holding his jaw to drop onto the floor witnessing this spectacle unfolding before him.
"Let me thank you, as the representative of the awakeners association that is affiliated in Japan. Thank you for protecting the lives of the two S-rank awakeners in our country".
"..? Ah, ..You're welcome?".