BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
7:30. It was a fine day, and dim inside the house. The house, a quintuple-room condo, faced south towards the sandy shores of the ocean, about a thirty minute walk from the railway station downtown and about a twenty minute walk from Oceanview Highschool.
"Urgh… that marks twenty in a row…"
The boy, Ren Takashi, jolted awake from the peaceless slumber he had the night before. His heart was pounding fast and his body was soaked in sweat like he had just ran an entire marathon in one go. He felt the searing pain in his left arm from hitting his alarm clock in the midst of an incredibly vivid nightmare.
Rubbing his temples, he forced himself to calm down and take deep breaths. "It's just a dream," he reminded himself, "You're used to it by now…"
He glanced at the now broken alarm clock on his nightstand. Its red digital display was completely shattered, making it impossible to tell the time. "I'll have to head down to the department store some time to get it replaced." He thought as he stared at his pearl-colored ceiling tile.
Ren began to notice the small beams of light slowly beginning to crack through the curtains of his landscape window. He rose from his bed and went to draw them, where he was met with the sight of a clear, but dark sky. He was confused for a second. "Where did the light come from?" But he realized quickly it had come from the car headlights of his neighbor leaving for work, and his blinds were shut just as swiftly as they had been opened.
Ren looked around his room. Papers were scattered across his desk. Specifically application papers, all of which had been denied. He sighed as he turned away, not wanting to be reminded of yet another one of his many failures.
It was just another normal day for Ren. The same nightmare had been replaying itself over and over again every night inside his head for at least the last month. Nothing had been the same since the day his parents were murdered. Everything that could've gone wrong in Ren's life, began to go wrong as soon as they were absent from it. For two long years, Ren had been attempting to carry the heavy burden of raising his twin younger sisters, who quite frankly didn't respect him as a guardian, and as such it wasn't working out the way he hoped.
He had spent a good while the last couple of nights trying to find himself a stable part-time job, something that could help sustain his financial problems since the money he had inherited from his parents had begun to dry up. But in the end, he was either denied or the pay was so low he'd be living in the inner city slums by the end of the year.
Ren slowly drudged his way into the cramped bathroom across the hallway. The bathroom was as dingy and neglected as the rest of Ren's condo. The walls were stained with mildew, likely from a lack of ventilation, and the mirror was cracked in several places from a couple of his violent outbursts.
Ren stood in front of the sink, staring at his reflection in the broken mirror. His unkempt hair and tired eyes were a clear indication of how well adulting was going for him.
He ran a hand through his hair, feeling the knots and tangles. The weight of his responsibilities had taken a toll on his appearance. His once vibrant spirit from years ago seemed to have faded away, leaving behind a mere shell of the person he used to be.
Turning on the faucet, Ren splashed water onto his face, recoiling as the water came out cold.
"Damn, still no hot water, huh?" he grumbled to himself sarcastically. "Maybe next time I'll pay my bills in Monopoly money since they don't give me what I pay for anyways!"
Ren may have already paid for his hot water tank, but of course, since he lived in an older part of town that was neglected by city officials and monetary investment, improvements were rare. It took days, sometimes even weeks to see his utilities working after paying the bill.
Ren strolled into the living room, where his two younger sisters, Hazuki and Natsuki, were already awake and enraptured by a magical girl anime.
"Don't you guys ever get tired of watching this stuff?" he asked with a hint of exasperation.
"No way!" Hazuki exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.
"It's our favorite!" Natsuki added, nodding enthusiastically.
Ren shook his head, knowing there was no point in arguing with them.
He walked past them into the kitchen and grabbed the carton of orange juice from the fridge, pouring the remainder of it into a small glass. As he placed what was also the last of two frozen waffles into the toaster, he turned on the radio sitting close to the windowsill. Ren commonly listened to the radio when he woke up because there was always some sort of big story going around in the national media. As his father once said, "There was never a boring day in Sephoria."
Ren's mood shifted as he heard the voice of the Popular Minister, the leader of the nation he lived in, Sephoria. Surprisingly enough, he had gotten to meet him in the past when he accompanied his father, the former Minister of Technology, to a multitude of banquets and celebrations. He may have been a good family friend of the Takashi's, but Ren took a dislike to him. His aura had always just made him feel uncomfortable.
"My fellow citizens. I am here to address the ongoing situation with the heightening of tensions between Ichika City and the Government in Athena. We have recently secured a ceasefire between the two sides for the upcoming six months. During this time, we will be reaching out to foreign countries for humanitarian aid and support to continue supplying our residents with essential needs. Rest assured, we will do everything in our power to—"
"I don't know, Dad, seems like a pretty boring day to me..."
Ren, clearly uninterested, switched the station to one covering the recent success of his favorite American football team, the Los Angeles Wildcats.
Ren leaned against the kitchen counter, sipping his orange juice as he listened to his favorite radio announcer passionately recounting the thrilling victory of the Wildcats in their latest game. He had always dreamed of visiting America, Los Angeles in particular, to be able to see an American football game in person.
Ren's mind drifted away from his responsibilities and the gloomy reality of his life. He imagined himself in the stands, cheering alongside thousands of fans, feeling the energy and excitement pulsating through the stadium. The announcer's voice painted a vivid picture in Ren's mind, and for a moment, he could almost hear the roar of the crowds.
But just as quickly as his daydream began, the sound of Hazuki and Natsuki's laughter brought him back to reality. He glanced over at them, their eyes wide with awe as they watched their favorite magical girl defeat yet another villain.
"Wow, did you see that move? She's so cool!"
"Yeah, she totally kicked butt! I wish we had powers like her…"
Ren looked away with shame. It was his responsibility to make sure his sisters' got the lives they deserved, and he knew he was doing a terrible job of getting it for them. The thought that he may have to push aside his own aspirations for the benefit of his siblings had always worried him, and it was becoming more likely that that would be the case.
After Ren finished up his breakfast, he attempted to tidy up the kitchen as best he could in the little time he had left, humming a tune under his breath while he did so until he made it to his air duct.
"Ah!? What's this...mildew...again!?"
After spending a whole day last week cleaning out the mildew in the kitchen, it seemed as if it returned without much struggle. Ren tried to see if he could wipe it off with some paper towels that were available in the bottom kitchen cupboard. Of course, it was never going to be that easy, and he ended up tearing them to shreds.
"Dammit! I don't have time for this right now…I'll just have to deal with it later."
Just as he picked up his school bag, his sisters turned to him.
"Brother, is that your uniform you're wearing? Why?" Hazuki asked wearily.
"I'm going to school. Didn't I already tell you guys yesterday that school starts today for me?"
"What about breakfast?" Natsuki added.
"Yeah, didn't you make something for us?" Hazuki questioned.
"Nope."
"Ehhh? What are we going to eat? There's nothing left in the fridge..."
"I'll be home before noon. I'm only going to the opening ceremony for the first quarter. I promise I'll pick up lunch for you two on the way back."
"You know I would never let you go hungry. Just be patient."
Hazuki pouted, but Natsuki nudged her sister with a smile before turning to Ren with a scowl. "Fine Aniki… We can wait."
Ren quickly grabbed his school bag, checking to make sure he had all his supplies for the day ahead.
"Remember to lock the door behind me and don't open it for anyone you don't know, alright?" Ren turned around to face them, but they were already back in front of the TV screen. Ren let out a long sigh, stepped out of their small condo, and into the calm streets.
On the way to school, Ren's face twisted into a sullen expression. His high school was well within walking distance of his condo, but he still moved fast, taking strong strides with his long legs.
Looking up at the sky, the rising sun caused Ren to squint his eyes. There was a light breeze that was softly taking the cherry blossoms off the trees and onto him and his bag. The weather sure was great for today's opening ceremony.
He sighed and unconsciously pulled on his Gakuran. It was a specially fitted Gakuran he had received as a first year that negated the top buttons to include a place for a tie. With that, it could appear as if he was wearing a suit. He thought it was kind of neat even though he never thought about wearing a tie (it was too expensive for his liking). After two years though, Ren's had become a tight fit. He didn't know if it was because of his growth or if he had used the washing machine at the laundromat for too long, but what he did know was that his t-shirt was becoming visible around his waist and that he was going to need a new one soon to avoid any dress code violations.
"More money I'll have to burn…"
As Ren turned onto the next street over, he heard the sound of a familiar voice coming closer from behind him.
"Hey, Ren! Morning!"
"Morning, Kaito." Ren greeted as he looked up from his Gakuran. "What's up?"
Kaito Makoto, a tall and lanky boy similar to Ren with unruly blond hair, grinned and adjusted his bangs. "Just heading to school. Can you believe we're finally third years? Time really flies, huh?"
Ren nodded. "Yeah, it feels like just yesterday we were first years."
Kaito laughed, a sound that echoed through the empty streets. "Tell me about it. Remember that time we got lost in the school's labyrinth of corridors?"
Ren chuckled, the memory resurfacing vividly in his mind. "How could I forget? We practically wandered for hours until a teacher found us and escorted us to our classroom. No one bothered to help us because everyone thought we were delinquents skipping class."
And the worst part was, we were just trying to find the bathroom!" Kaito added, shaking his head.
"Oh man, we really were idiots back then. Good times, though."
"I mean we still are idiots, but yeah, good times!"
With a shared laugh, they continued their walk towards school.
* * *
"What?! We're in the same class as Ren? You have to be kidding me!"
"He's so tall! I'm kinda nervous..."
"Is someone going to approach him?"
"Not me, no way. He looks like he could bench-press me!"
"Why don't you go then?"
"Hey! Don't shove me! I'm not trying to die today!"
"This again?" Ren thought to himself as he walked into the classroom with an err of indifference, attempting to ignore the curious gazes of his new classmates. He sat at his desk and gazed off into the distance, his legs trembling uncontrollably.
"I'm not even surprised."
"People are quick to judge, huh?" Kaito said as he looked around the classroom, "Don't worry, it'll all get sorted out—"
"Kaito! We're in the same class this year!" A voice shouted out from behind them.
"Huh? Oh, Akari, you're also in Class 3-A?"
"You mean you only just found out?"
"My bad, I probably just skimmed over your name on the attendance sheet. What a coincidence!"
Akari turned around and faced Ren sitting at his desk.
"You're Takashi, right? Kaito's friend?" She said, pausing for a moment.
"..."
"Can I call you Takashi?"
"...Uh..."
A radiant angel suddenly appeared before Ren, her smile as dazzling as the morning sun and as comforting as the warm sunlight that filtered in through his condo' windows. The light seemed to grow stronger, overwhelming him with a sense of love and adoration so intense he couldn't help but close his eyes and bask in its warmth.
"Y-your… Akari...Misaki..., right?"
"I got the words right! But my voice just sounded so cold! Why did I have to come up with a response like that? Why couldn't I come up with something better!? Something less intimidating!? Something more..."
"You remembered my name! I thought you would've forgotten! I'm so happy!" She paused as someone on the other side of the classroom called her name.
"Oops, sorry Kaito, I have to go. I'll see you at basketball practice! …Oh! And Takashi-kun, let's talk again sometime!"
Seeing her turn around, Ren, still shocked by her reaction, slowly and awkwardly raised his arm in an attempt to stop her, but it was too late. She had already disappeared.
"Amazing! She said she was happy. She said they would talk again sometime. He finally got his wish of being in the same class as Akari. His crush! It felt… so... incredible! She said… she was happy…"
"Ren? … Hello? … Earth to Ren?"
"—Ahh!?"
Kaito suddenly appeared before his face, causing him to break free from his daydream.
"Whatcha smilin' at?" He said in a sarcastic tone.
"It's nothing."
"Oh really?"
Ren stumbled over his words as he tried to express what he wanted to say. "Kaito, you're...I mean, how should I put this...you always seem so at ease when talking to girls," Ren whispered, leaning in closer. "Especially with Akari!"
"What do you mean?"
Kaito's eyes widened behind his reading glasses. He wasn't trying to be humble; he genuinely seemed surprised.
"Looks like he doesn't realize it himself. Who knew someone so arrogant could be so dense at the same time?"
Ren couldn't help feeling a twinge of jealousy wash over him. Watching Kaito and Akari have such a natural conversation without even trying made him envious. "And it wasn't just now," he thought bitterly. Even last year, before Ren had even mustered up the courage to talk to her, Kaito had no problem striking up a conversation with her. Hell, they even ended up on the same unified basketball team! Meanwhile, Ren could only hope for a small smile or greeting from her during practice, putting in all his effort just to catch her attention. It was an effort that could move one to tears.
To use basketball as a metaphor, Ren would be a power forward who hardly ever had any chance of participating in offense. As much as he wanted a crack at the ball, his chances of getting it were miniscule at best.
It was also thanks to constantly being around Kaito and observing his cheerful conversations with Akari that Ren started to realize that he liked her and wanted to become friends with her.
Her various cheerful expressions…
Her delicate body and exaggerated movements…
Her innocent smiles and clear voice…
And despite his intimidating appearance, she still managed to keep her usual cheerfulness in his presence, even to this day…
That is just the type of person Akari Misaki is. The definition of perfect.
Ren lowered his head down onto his desk. He began listening to the multitude of conversations ongoing between his new classmates. One particular topic seemed to draw the most attention from him.
"Have you heard anything about the new transfer student?"
"Yeah, I heard she's a martial arts master from America!"
"Someone told me she's the daughter of the man in charge of the Japanese Yakuza!"
"Apparently she's extremely cute too!"
"Well, first come first serve!"
"No way man, she's all mine!"
"In your dreams!"
A transfer student, huh? It had been a long while since Oceanview had gotten a new student. Ren only cared to remember this fact because HE had originally been a transfer student to this district around two years ago. Yes, even after two full school years, he was still being treated like a delinquent.
Ren's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the bell, signaling the beginning of the opening ceremony. He began to follow the swarm of students now leaving their classroom and heading towards the courtyard for the presentation from the Headmaster.
However, before he could round the corner of the main hallway, he heard a loud bang come from one of the nearby classrooms.
"WHOA...!"
As he opened the classroom door, he was left speechless by what he saw inside...
A small girl had sent a desk (yes, you heard that right) flying into what looked like another student with a single kick.
The girl, who couldn't have been much taller than 5 feet, had a small petite figure, with short blue twin-tails and large, deep purple eyes.
Ren was taken aback by her appearance. He had never seen someone so... kittenish? Was that the word? Within those few seconds, he had already been struck down by awe. His mind went blank, his body felt paralyzed just by the sheer pressure she created. He was repelled by her glare, or to be more precise, he was repelled by the aura that emanated from her eyes.
"W-what the hell is wrong with you?!" The boy on the ground said in pure terror.
"It's your fault, you pig!"
"Aww, how cute! We won't back down that easily!" The other, larger boy said, standing next to the thrown desk.
"You're asking to die, moron!"
"Those are some big words for someone so small!" the larger boy taunted back, a malevolent grin splitting his face.
Without warning, the girl lunged at the larger boy, her small form gaining unexpected momentum. Before Ren could even blink, she had already closed the distance. The boy's smirk faded as he watched the girl's fist close in, but it was too late to dodge.
'BAM!'
The boy didn't land much further away from the one with the desk imprint in his head. He was knocked out cold.
Within seconds, the room fell into a deathly silence. The girl's small chest heaved up and down as she caught her breath, her cheeks flushed from the exertion.
Ren watched in silent amazement from his spot by the doorway. She was as adorable as a candy disguised as poison, as lovable as a flower that could kill with a single touch. It made her all the more scary.
As soon as she noticed him, Ren quickly raised his hands in a calming gesture, hoping to diffuse the situation before it escalated any further.
"You okay? You need any help?" Ren said, trying to sound as non-threatening as possible.
The girl seemed to relax slightly at his words but still spoke as aggressively as ever. "I can handle myself," she replied curtly.
"I never said you couldn't," Ren replied, "Was just checking to see if you were alright."
The girl gave him a skeptical look. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke up.
"You're an idiot," The girl muttered.
"Huh?"
"I said you're an idiot! Why are you still here? I don't need your help!" The girl said firmly as her cheeks began to puff slightly.
"Well excuse me for trying to be nice I guess."
"Why YOU...Gah!"
At that moment, the girl attempted to kick him in the chest. Shocking even himself, Ren managed to catch her leg in midair and hold onto it as she attempted to break free.
"Let me go!" The girl shouted, her face flushing bright red from embarrassment.
"Why should I? You're the one trying to attack me!"
"Let go of me, you idiot!"
As Ren continued to struggle against the fierce movements of the girl, he took another hard look at her appearance and began to correlate some of the similarities between her and the features Kaito had told him about the transfer student on the walk to school.
She shoots out words like bullets that carry a certain child-like quality to them. Her incredibly small hands roughly sweep aside her fluttering hair, while her soft eyelids hide her killing intent.
The awful thing is that she is SUPER cute! She has a pale white face, unbelievably beautiful blue twintails, and tiny limbs and shoulders, while her shiny pupils are surrounded by gentle eyelashes.
"Wait…"
"..."
"YOU'RE that new transfer stu—!?"
'WHACK!'
That "whack" was the sound of Ren being kicked in the balls by her free leg.
"Urgh…! Dammit…That HURT you know! What's your problem!"
The girl spun away from him; her arms crossed in front of her chest as she walked towards the classroom door.
"Idiot!"
And just like that, she was gone.
Ren stood there, now in the middle of the classroom, dumbfounded. He stared at the spot where the girl had been, processing what had just happened before looking back towards the two unconscious boys laid out on the floor.
"Did that really just happen?" He asked himself, still unable to comprehend how someone so petite and cutesy could be so menacing and strong enough to do THIS. Before he could get out his second thought, however, a group of students had appeared in front of the classroom door, peering in to see what the huge ruckus was about.
Ren rubbed the back of his neck and flashed an evil glare towards them, to which he was unaware he was doing such.
"Look! It's Ren! That delinquent in our class!"
"I'm not a delinquent…"
"What did you do to them?!"
"I didn't do anything…"
"Someone go get a teacher!"
"They wouldn't believe me even if I tried to explain…"
"Alright!"
Within the minute, the Headmaster came rushing in.
"Takashi, it's only your first day back, and you've already started a fight?"
"I didn't even do anything!"
"Don't try to deny it, the proof is right in front of me!"
"I'm not lying! Some girl did this to them! I was just passing by and watched it happen!"
"Like I'd believe that! You're coming with me to the office, Takashi!"
With a defeated sigh, Ren let the headmaster lead him by the collar. Catching his last glimpse of the unconscious students and the throng of horrified freshmen, he grimaced at his predicament.
"I thought this year was going to be different," he muttered under his breath. The Headmaster, completely absorbed in the chaos that had erupted in the corridors, missed his words.
Down the corridor, past the trophies glistening behind a glass case, they made it to the administration wing. Its sterile white walls, polished to a glazing shine, bore down on Ren as they climbed up a flight of stairs and into an office that was far too cheery for its role in disciplinary proceedings. The Headmaster shoved him into a plush leather chair across from a grand mahogany desk.
"Now you wait here until I come back. I have a commencement speech to give to the school." He grumbled before storming out of the room again to deal with the aftermath of what was presumed to be Ren's doing.
Left alone, Ren slumped into the chair, exhaustion seeping into his bones. The events of today so far were just an example of some of the reasons he couldn't stand coming to school. He was tired of being portrayed as some delinquent with no goal or purpose in life. He didn't understand why people always thought he was such a terrible person. Was it his deep voice? His height? His introverted personality?
Regardless of the reasons, he was sick of it. He hadn't asked to be cast as a villain, it just seemed like the role he'd landed in.
A little while later, the door opened again with an alarming creak that brought Ren back to reality. The Headmaster strode in, looking harried and flustered. Scanning a piece of paper in his hand, he glanced at Ren with a disapproving frown.
"Your temporary reprieve is over, Takashi," he grumbled, tossing the paper onto his desk. "I don't have time to deal with you right now. It seems there's still some chaos left from your... episode."
He shot Ren a pointed look before rubbing his temples. "You're being let off this time, Takashi. But don't think this means you're off the hook. I'll get to this incident when I have the time. For now, get out of my office."
Ren didn't need to be told twice. He sprung up from the chair, his tall frame towering over the Headmaster as he exited the room with a nod.
Outside, the halls were an echo chamber of rumors, whispers, and exclamations. Ren ignored them, keeping his focus straight ahead with an icy cool that did little to quell the tumult in his mind. He tried to reflect on the morning's events, still trying to piece together the puzzle that was this new girl who had gotten him into trouble.
As he walked down the hallways, Kaito quickly fell into step with him. With blonde spikes standing up like a cockatoo's plumage, and vivid green eyes glinting with a mischievous glimmer, Kaito looked ready for just about anything he was about to say.
"Dude," he began earnestly. "What happened back there? The whole school is talking about it!"
Ren shot him a sidelong look before shaking his head. "Some girl fought a couple of freshmen," he muttered, "And they think I did it."
Kaito snorted, "Typical. You always seem to get blamed for this sort of stuff."
He paused for a moment, squinting at Ren with a sly grin. "Although, if I recall correctly, weren't you the one who started the infamous 'water balloon incident' last year?"
Ren scowled at the reminder of that particular calamity. "That was different," he grumbled, recalling how it had all unfolded so hilariously. "Plus, what does that have to do with me fighting people?"
Kaito shrugged, his lips curling up in an amused grin as he leaned back against the lockers lining the corridor. "Anyway," he said, changing the subject, "this girl...any idea who she is?"
"No clue," Ren muttered, "But… for some reason, I'm kind of intrigued."
His statement was met with a raised eyebrow and a mischievous grin from Kaito. "Oh, really? 'Intrigued'? Don't tell me Ren Takashi has finally found a girl that has caught his interest?" His tone was laced heavily with amusement.
Ren shot him a sharp look, his piercing blue eyes narrowing briefly. "The hell are you on about," he retorted, quick to brush off the insinuations, "I mean I've never seen her before, don't you think it's normal?"
"I mean, I guess?"
"..."
"C'mon, lighten up, dude," Kaito said, not missing a beat as he nudged his shoulder against Ren's. "We're missing out on lunch. Let's grab a bite to eat on the way home."
At that moment, Ren remembered he had promised to pick up lunch for his sisters on the way back home.
"Ahh, sorry, I just remembered I have to pick up food for my sisters."
Kaito rolled his eyes and chuckled, giving him a playful punch in the arm.
"That's classic Ren, always thinking of others," he said with a grin. "You really are a better brother than I've ever been."
"It's not like I had a choice," Ren replied under his breath as they walked out through the front doors of the school and into the crisp, cool air of the autumn afternoon.
***
"What to make, what to make…"
"..."
After a moment of flipping through the pages of his mother's recipe book, he found what he was looking for: crabcakes.
Ren, having spent the remainder of his budget for the month on a small portion of food, had been intending to make something special for… lunch? Dinner? It wasn't exactly time for either, but he figured it may be an opportunity to break the stagnate routine of cheap, untimed meals he had been forced to have the last couple of months. He had also been waiting for the chance to practice his cooking with good ingredients for a while now, so he was ready to make use of this chance.
With a determined look on his face, Ren made his way to the kitchen. The golden light of the afternoon penetrated through the front window, highlighting his expression.
He carefully followed the directions in the recipe book, mixing minced crab meat, breadcrumbs, mayo, and seasonings. As he molded the mixture into small cakes and placed them in a pan to fry, the aroma of sizzling seafood filled his kitchen.
Next, he peeled and chopped a set of potatoes for sautéing. He added some garlic and herbs for flavor before tossing them in a hot pan with olive oil. The popping sound of the potatoes cooking made him crack a small grin as he stirred them around.
In no time, Ren had two pans full of golden-brown crabcakes and perfectly crispy potatoes.
"They should like this..." Ren muttered to himself, satisfied. He carefully plated the food and placed it on the kitchen island.
"Oi, girls! Dinner is ready!"
"..."
There was no response.
"Ignoring me again, eh?" Ren muttered, scratching his head. He'd spent hours making a meal he thought they would enjoy. And they still wouldn't even acknowledge him.
Ren's intuition getting the better of him, he stormed into the hallway and slammed open the doors to their rooms.
"Huh?"
Nobody.
A growing feeling of worry condensed in his chest. Ren had assumed that his sisters were in their rooms when he had gotten home. But the house was silent - eerily so, and they clearly weren't here. His sisters wouldn't just leave without telling him. Would they?
Ren quickly went to dial Natsuki's phone number but realized she had already left him a message.
"We went out to dinner with some of our friends. We'll be back in a few hours."
Ren's grip on the phone tightened, a grimace forming. His heart pounded like an out-of-sync metronome, filled with anger and worry. A few hours? They left without telling him beforehand. Again.
"Didn't even bother to call me," he seethed, throwing his phone onto the couch in frustration, "why do I bother setting rules if they're just going to break them anyways?!" The sound echoed sharply across the room, breaking the dead silence. His eyes darted back to the steaming food he had spent so much time preparing – crab cakes slowly losing their heat, potatoes turning soggy. An angry rant began to escape his lips.
"They act like I don't even exist! Why do I even try to be a good brother!? IT'S SUCH A GODDAMN PAIN! I'm so TIRED of being everyone's punching bag!"
In frustration, he swept his arm across the kitchen counter, sending the painstakingly prepared dishes flying. Crab cakes shattered against the wall in an explosion of breadcrumbs and minced meat. The once-crispy potatoes tumbled onto the floor in a mess of oil and herbs.
He found himself panting, his chest rising and falling erratically as he internally wrestled with his anger. He was tired – tired of being ignored, tired of trying to do his best for others just to get nothing but indifference in return.
"I'm still a kid. I didn't sign up for this..." He mumbled under his breath, his voice cracking unexpectedly.
Retreating from the scene of destruction, Ren found himself stumbling out of his condo and into the front yard. The cold air nipped at his skin as he trekked down barren streets, instinctively guiding him to the local bar.
The sounds of music drifted out through the open door, a lively jazz quartet playing a swinging rendition of an old standard. The air inside was thick with smoke and the aroma of spilled drinks. The interior of the bar was dimly lit, with low-hanging lights casting a warm glow over the wooden bar and the tables scattered about the floor. The walls were adorned with various pieces of art and memorabilia from the Jazz Age, including vintage posters and photographs of famous musicians from the time. A small stage, raised only slightly above the main floor, was positioned at the far end of the main room, surrounded by a crowd of people who seemed to be entranced by the music.
A bartender, a middle-aged woman with a friendly face, met his gaze and smiled at him as he took a seat on one of the bar stools. "What can I get you, young man?"
"Something strong," Ren muttered, resting his elbows on the counter. "And keep 'em coming."
The bartender obliged, pouring him a shot of whiskey. Ren downed it in one go, grimacing at the burning sensation that followed. He sighed heavily, rapping his knuckles against the wooden counter for another.
Onstage, the musicians had transitioned into a melancholy blues number. The sultry strains of the saxophone filled the air, its mournful notes mirroring Ren's feelings of frustration and solitude.
"Rough day?" The bartender asked, sliding him another shot.
Ren tilted his head towards her, taking in her questioning gaze with a bitter smile. "Something like that," he admitted before downing another shot.
The music continued to play, the bass line throbbing through the floor, as the bar slowly filled with more and more patrons. Ren glanced around before quickly putting his head down in an attempt to drown out the sounds with his thoughts. Without his knowledge, a shadowy figure had detached itself from the crowd and made its way towards his seat. The man was tall and bulky, with a permanent shadow cast over his eyes. His suit was immaculately tailored, but there was something about the way he moved that suggested he was more comfortable in dark alleys than in public places such as bars.
"Excuse me, sir," the man said, his voice a low rasp. "I believe you are needed at my table." He gestured at Ren to a spot across the room.
Ren exchanged a glance with the man before putting his head back down on the table.
"Go away."
The man's smile didn't falter. "If you could spare me a few moments, I think you'll find what I have to say to you intriguing."
"I don't care for what you have to say. Now leave me be already."
The man's smile drooped ever so slightly at the dismissal. "Do you think drowning your sorrows in a bottle will solve your problems, Takashi?" His tone was nonchalant, yet his words had a sharp edge to them.
Ren's eyes widened at the mention of his last name. He looked up sharply at the man, his eyebrows furrowing. "What do you want?"
"I want to have a chat."
"..."
"This better not take long."
"I assure you it won't."
As he crossed the room, the floorboards creaking beneath his feet, Ren felt the man's shadow boring into him from behind. Ren paused, unsure of what to do or say, as the tension in the air grew heavier with every passing second. Finally, the man spoke.
"Mr. Ren Takashi, am I right?" The man asked.
"!..."
Ren was caught off guard by the man knowing his full name.
"I've been... watching you for a while now," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "You appear to me as a perfect candidate."
"Perfect candidate? The hell are you talking about?" Ren replied in confusion.
The man chuckled, his laughter sounding almost sinister. "Yes, perfect for the job. You see, we're always on the lookout for people with your... circumstances."
"Circumstances?"
"The things that have set you apart from the rest."
"Alright man, get to the point. What do you want?"
The man leaned in closer, his breath hot against Ren's ear. "I'm offering you an opportunity, Takashi. A very lucrative one."
The man smiled, his expression softening. "You see, we have a list of targets. Targets that have once wronged us or are of some sort of value to us."
Ren felt a chill run down his spine as he began to realize what this "opportunity" entailed.
"All you have to do is make sure they never reach the end of it—"
"No," Ren spoke with confidence. "I refuse to hurt innocent people."
"I see…" The man revealed a sinister smile. "Perhaps this will change your mind."
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a thick envelope. It was bulging with Sephorian Arcs. Ren's eyes widened as he saw hundreds of unmarked bills. The man placed it on the table between them.
"I know what you want."
"You want to make a difference for the sake of your family."
"..."
"Or rather ... what's left of it."
"How do you—"
Ren began to say, but the man interrupted him with a raised hand.
"I have my ways," he said, his voice as cold as the grave. "And I assure you, it is as easy as breathing to get such information in my field of business."
The man paused, leaning in closer once more. "All you have to do is accept this offer. Take the envelope. I'll provide you with what you need. After that... well, the world is your oyster."
"..."
Ren's mind quickly fell into a civil war. One between his morals and his livelihood.
"What the hell!? KILLING innocent people!? You can't do this! Your parents never would have wanted it to come to this! Also, what if someone you knew found out about this!? You would be screwed! You'd never be able to look any of them in the face again!"
"But what if this really IS the opportunity you've been looking so long for? You could send your sisters to college! Live the lavish life you've always wanted or maybe even live up to your father's legacy as a minister! … You can't just sit there and ignore this like you never had the chance to change your life!"
Ren continued thinking hard, his mind racing. He couldn't deny the allure of the money, of the chance to give him the life he desired. He had worked so hard, for so long, and for what? For him to continue to struggle? To watch himself suffer, knowing that there had been a way out, but being too proud to take it, was something he would never live down.
The man's words echoed in his ears: "...Targets that have once wronged us…"
It wasn't as if Ren hadn't already thought about taking revenge on those who had hurt his family. He had spent countless sleepless nights planning and scheming. His anger and pain consumed him constantly, resulting in his present change in attitude and demeanor.
But this... this was different. This was possibly an opportunity to not only get back at the people responsible for his parents' demise but also to free his conscience. At the end of the day, as much as he was angry at his sisters for disrespecting him, he knew that it wasn't their fault, rather it was his for his lackluster parenting skills. He knew this was the chance to help give his sisters the lives they so desperately needed. To make a difference, just as his father would've always wanted.
"How do you expect me to trust you?" he finally managed to choke out.
The man's smile was cold and predatory. "You don't," he replied. "But you'll learn to live with that."
As he sat there, the weight of the envelope pressing into his palm, Ren knew that he had to make a decision. His deliberation finally ended and he came to a conclusion.
He just simply couldn't turn this down. He couldn't pretend that he didn't have the ability to make a difference. He had been given a chance to change the course of his family's future, and he refused to let it slip through his fingers, regardless of the awful actions he would have to partake in. By this point, he had already gone through enough struggles, and he was ready to finally see them begin to end.
With reluctance, Ren nodded slowly.
"Alright shady guy," he said, his voice little more than a whisper. "I'll do it. I'll accept your offer. But I'm warning you now, that if I learn that this was a mistake, I won't hesitate to pull out."
The man's smile widened. "Excellent choice," he purred. "You'll be hearing from me again soon enough, Mr. Takashi."
And like a ninja, he disappeared into the shadows of the bar without a trace.
"What the hell even just happened?" Ren just sat there as the man vanished from sight. His heart raced, and his palms were slick with sweat. He leaned back on the booth, feeling a mixture of guilt and determination welling up inside him. He knew that what he had just agreed to was wrong. But he also refused to turn his back on all that money.
Ren reached over and took the envelope from the table, careful not to touch the arcs inside. As he slid it into his jacket pocket, he felt a weight settle heavily on his chest. But he forced a smile onto his face and raised his new glass, taking a sip of his drink.
"To this opportunity," he murmured, "And to making the most of it."
The rest of the night passed in a blur. As the clock ticked closer to closing time, Ren decided to call it quits for the night and began the trek back home.
The walk home was a short one, but Ren still felt as if it was taking an eternity. The events of tonight made him feel as if time had stopped entirely. Like the lord himself was giving him all the time in the world to contemplate the outright immoral and terrible decision he had come to. He tried to focus on the stars overhead, the soft hum of crickets in the gardens, anything to distract him from the thoughts swirling in his mind.
Just as he was about to reach his door, his phone rang. His heart leaped into his throat. It couldn't be him already, could it? He glanced at the screen, revealing an unlisted number he didn't recognize. It was definitely him.
"Good god, couldn't wait for me to get home huh?"
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line. Then, the man's voice purred through.
"The envelope contains more than just money. Within it contains your equipment and targets. I'll know when you have completed your task."
Ren looked at the envelope, confused. "Wait, what?"
"I'll be speaking to you again soon Takashi."
And with that, the line went dead.
"..."
"What the hell have I gotten myself into?"
Ren entered his condo and locked the door behind him. He walked over to the living room where he turned on the overhead light and took a seat on his small couch. He slowly opened the unassuming envelope, revealing alongside one thousand Sephorian Arcs, a document, and a small metal object.
The metal object was a small, perfectly crafted microchip, barely larger than his thumb. Ren examined it carefully, turning it over in his hands. It was cold and unyielding, like the man who had just spoken to him on the phone.
"What am I meant to do with this?"
A strange sensation overtook Ren's body as he held the small metal chip in his hand. He could feel its energy pulsating through his fingers, a warmth spreading through his body. Suddenly, the chip began to transform, changing colors rapidly from blue to gold to white and back again. The room was filled with a blinding white light as if a flashbang had just gone off.
"Gah!—"
Ren closed his eyes tightly, trying to shield himself from the brightness. When he opened them again, he was greeted by the sensation of a mask pressing down on his face.
He looked down at himself through the crystal blue lenses of the mask, shocked to see his body beginning to be covered in a metallic white and golden cybernetic suit.
"W-What the hell is happening to me?!"
Ren couldn't believe his eyes as the microchip continued to grow into the suit as if it was alive, twisting and contorting itself around his figure. A multitude of small buttons on his upper forearms began to glow, pulsating in sync with its ever-changing colors.
Each new addition to the suit seemed to be made of a material that Ren had never seen before. It shimmered and glowed in the dim light of his living room. The suit was a magnificent work of art and engineering, an amalgamation of both human and machine.
Ren stood in the middle of his living room, now completely transformed by the mysterious microchip. His mind was racing, trying to make sense and figure out what had just happened to him.
"... Ah! The document!"
Ren quickly grabbed the envelope off the couch and pulled out the small piece of paper with his metallic hand.
He unfolded the paper and began to read the instructions aloud to himself:
"To activate your suit, you must turn on the microchip by continuously maintaining skin contact until the light turns blue…"
"Would've been nice to know that before I accidentally flashed myself."
"...The suit will then come to life and begin to function as directed. You will have access to a variety of abilities and weapons at your disposal, including arm-mounted guns, shields, and cybernetic enhancements. You will utilize these to complete the tasks listed on this document. To deactivate the suit, press the small golden button above your left forearm. The microchip will remain fused to the forearm unless unbonded by the activator."
Ren didn't need to finish reading. He frantically pressed the button, and as stated, the suit began to disappear and his normal appearance returned. Just like the document said, the microchip was now on his forearm, unable to be picked or scratched off no matter how hard he tried.
Ren wanted to wither away as he understood the implications of what had occurred on this terrible night: He had just become some sort of robot … assassin … thing, all because of some mysterious man in a bar and a small microchip. Just because he was a so-called 'gifted' individual. Just because he was short on cash and had problems with the people around him. The man wasn't kidding when he said he was 'perfect.'
"This has to be a dream, right? I'm dreaming right now. Yeah, that's it. I'll wake up soon…"
It was, in fact, not a dream, and he would soon learn that this was only the beginning of what was to come.