An idea drops in Ren's head. He parks his bicycle at the stand and walks over to the group of girls.
"Hey, girls," Ren calls out, his voice smooth as he approaches the ground.
The girls stop and turns to him. They glance at his delivery uniform and exchange quick, amused looks. A delivery guy interrupting their game? This should be interesting. One of the girls, tall with blonde hair tied in a high ponytail, steps forward, holding the basketball.
"Uh, can i help you?" she asks, looking at him.
Ren grins, trying to appear chalant. "I was watching you guys play. And it seemed quite boring. How about i make things a little more interesting for you guys?"
The girls exchange confused glances. "No man, you can go?" one of them, a brunette with a confident stance, says skeptically.
Ren gestures to the hoop. "Wait a minute. It'll be profitable for you guys. It'll be a little competition? For every time you outscore me in long throw, I'll give you ten dollars." He pulls out his wallet, showing a small stash of bills, enough to get their attention.
The blonde girl narrows her eyes, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "You think you can beat all of us? In that?" She nods toward his delivery uniform, clearly doubting his abilities.
Ren chuckles. "Why not? Think of it as a way to earn some easy cash. And you don't have to give me anything if you lose."
He smirks, "What do you say? Think you can beat me."
The girls huddle together for a moment, whispering among themselves, before the brunette looks back at him. "Alright, you're on. Let's see what you've got, delivery guy."
Ren steps onto the court, feeling the weight of their gazes on him. The girls clearly don't expect much, but that's what makes this all the more fun. He knows he can manipulate the game without even lifting a finger—literally. He can win without even breaking a sweat.
Then, one of the girls set the first distance with a chawk. The brunette girl steps up, taking aim and takes the shot. The ball flies up and Goal.
Ren stares at her, looking the way her body is flexing, her tight legs.
Damn, that's hot
The first girl steps up, taking aim. She misses, the ball bouncing off the rim. Another girl follows, this one managing to make a clean shot. They cheer for her, and Ren smiles, his mind already working.
When it's his turn, Ren casually lines up his shot. With the tiniest flick of his thoughts, the ball sails toward the hoop, guided by his telekinesis. It sinks through the net with perfect precision.
The girls look impressed, but not overly concerned. "Beginner's luck," the blonde girl mutters under her breath.
As the game continues, Ren starts playing with his telekinesis more subtly, pushing their shots off course just enough to make them miss. Meanwhile, his own shots glide through the air as if guided by an unseen hand, landing perfectly every time.
"How are you doing that?" one of the girls asks, her voice tinged with frustration as Ren sinks yet another shot from a longer distance.
He shrugs with an innocent smile. "I guess I'm just having a good day."
They don't know it, but Ren is relishing every moment of this. With each shot, he feels their frustration building, their disbelief growing. He watches their reactions closely, especially when they miss—how their expressions shift from confidence to confusion, then to disbelief as he nails yet another shot.
It's not just about winning, though. Ren's eyes drift over their forms as they move across the court, the way their bodies shift and stretch as they jump for the ball. He feels a dark thrill in watching them, knowing he's in control—of the game, of the outcome, of everything. His thoughts grow darker, more lustful, as he imagines just how much more control he could take if he wanted to.
The blonde girl takes another shot, her frustration visible now as she glares at Ren, determined to outscore him. But with a subtle push of his mind, her shot veers off course, the ball hitting the rim and bouncing away.
"Unlucky," Ren says with a smirk, watching her frown deepen. He can't help but enjoy the power he holds in this moment—manipulating not only the game but their emotions as well. He sees the way their confidence wavers with each miss, the way their eyes follow him with growing suspicion and confusion.
By the time they've increased the distance to an almost ridiculous level, Ren is still landing his shots, while the girls struggle to keep up. They've long since stopped laughing, now staring at him with a mix of disbelief and irritation.
"Alright, this is getting ridiculous," one of them mutters, crossing her arms. "How are you doing this?"
Ren just shrugs again, his smile widening. "Maybe I'm just better than you thought."
The blonde girl narrows her eyes, clearly not buying it. "Yeah, or maybe you're cheating."
Ren raises his eyebrows, feigning innocence. "Cheating? How could I possibly cheat? It's just a basketball game."
The girls exchange glances, clearly frustrated, but they can't accuse him of anything without proof. After all, as far as they can see, Ren isn't doing anything out of the ordinary.
But he knows better. He can feel his powers growing, expanding beyond what he thought possible. The game has been the perfect opportunity to test his limits—using telekinesis without gestures, controlling objects with just a thought. The thrill of it is intoxicating, and the sight of the girls' growing frustration only adds to his enjoyment.
After the final shot, which Ren sinks effortlessly from an impossible distance, the girls throw up their hands in defeat.
"Alright, we give up," the brunette says, shaking her head in disbelief. "I don't know how you're doing it, but you win."
Ren smiles, pocketing his wallet without handing over any money. "Good game, girls. Maybe next time you'll stand a chance."
As he turns to leave, Ren catches the blonde girl's eye one last time. Her gaze is sharp, suspicious, but there's something else there too—something that suggests she's still trying to figure him out. Ren gives her a wink before walking away, a satisfied smirk on his lips.
---
The rest of the day passes uneventfully, Ren making a few more deliveries before returning to the restaurant. The place feels quieter without Nathan, and Eva's frustration is palpable. She doesn't say anything to Ren, but he can feel her mood lingering in the air. He wonders how long it'll be before she snaps.
By the time his shift ends, Ren is tired but satisfied. The day has been productive in more ways than one. He's tested his powers, pushed his limits, and watched the reactions of those around him with a growing sense of confidence.
As he heads home, Ren's thoughts drift back to the basketball court, to the group of girls and the way they looked at him. There's a dark part of him that relishes the control he had over them, the power to manipulate not just their game, but their emotions, their minds.
And this is just the beginning.
Ren's lips curl into a smirk as he steps into his apartment, the thrill of the day's events still coursing through him. His powers are growing, and with them, so is his hunger—for control, for power, and for something darker.
The world doesn't know it yet, but soon, Ren will be unstoppable.