Ren stood there, leaned slightly forward, his hands in pockets, his school jacket moving at the wind passing through.
" You have a habit of waiting too long, Rick. " He said, in a serious voice. He was facing down his expression unreadable.
" I remember telling you that timing is everything. " He added as he lifted his head and faced Kiyomasa, his single uncovered practically glowing red eye staring with intensity.
Kiyomasa subconsciously moved a few steps back at his gazed.
' How scary..... I did not sign up for this, ' Hanemiya thought as he looked at Ren.
No one was making a movement, it was like any movement might get his attention. A silent understanding that the person in the middle was on another level.
So everyone stood or sat perfectly still.
The first person to move was Rick who appeared from the back of the corner, walking slowly.
' Did I wait too long? the boss man just appeared, ' he thought as he approached Ren. ' Things are not looking good for these guys. '
" Ren, I'm glad you stepped in.... but there was no need," Rick stated his voice a bit hesitant. " I had the situation under control. "
" Yeah I know, " Ren said as he walked past Rick and walked towards Kiyomasa. " But first. "
Kiyomasa's eyes widen at the sight of Ren approaching, his muscles tensing. ' What is this? It's like every cell in my body is screaming for me to run....'
' But who gives a damn, I'm among this school's strongest and he's just a nobody I'm sure can handle him, ' his eyes became serious as he entered a fighting stance.
He then threw a punch aiming Ren's head.
Ren dodged easily with a small tilt of his head at insane speed that it appeared that Kiyomasa's punch passed through him.
' What just happened? I was sure my punch was going to connect but it was like I passed through his body.' a cold sweat ran down his forehead.
' Ren's simple tilt was so fast that it looked like he didn't move at all, even I only managed to catch a glimpse of him moving, ' Rick analyzed.
' and he didn't even stop walking, now I can see why I never stood a chance. '
Ren continued walking slowly.
Then was reached in close to Kiyomasa, which made Kiyomasa flinched and want to moved back and create some space.
But the next he knew there was a hand on his face, pushing him down. ' What the.... how is moving so fast? '
before he could finish his thought, his head was smashed into the ground, small cracks appeared in the pavement at the impact.
The hit immediately knocked Kiyomasa out.
Upon putting Kiyomasa's head in the ground, Ren got up and straightened his uniform, " I trust you'll handle the rest of the mobs. " He said as he started to walk away.
Rick nodded his eyes widened, then he immediately started pulling up the sleeves of his shirt.
And with that Ren walked away leaving Rick to handle the clean up.
The moment Ren was out of sight, everyone let out a deep breath, it was as if they had been holding their breaths the entire time.
Hanemiya causally walked over to Kiyomasa's lifeless body on the ground, he squatted down, his staring at him his eyes almost looking upset.
Hanemiya started putting Kiyomasa's hand over his shoulder then he faced Rick and asked, " don't tell you me you want to fight? Your buddy is bleeding out. " .
Before Rick could respond all the others boy started standing in front of Hanemiya and Kiyomasa making a blockade.
" Hey now, don't tell me you're thinking of getting away, my part was just starting let me at least bashed his face in a little, " Rick charged towards the students who blocked the path between.
' There are at least five of them, I should be able to tear through them. '
They all moved in their fighting stances as they positioned their fists to cover their faces.
Rick drove his fist in the face of one of the boys.
The boy tried to duck but fist connected faster than he could move.
Upon impact the boy lost his footing and fell.
As Rick turned his head and a kick a few inches away his face.
He side stepped with no effort. ' Nope, not the face. ' he thought
The kick only managed to connect with the air.
He then took few steps back making room, then instantly closed the distance again with a mean uppercut to the one of the boys.
when it connected Immediately knocked the wind out of the boy.
But then two of the boys lunged at him with all their full weight trying to slam their bodies into him.
Rick responded did a backflip, avoiding them easily.
but mid flip responded to their attack with a heel kick and upper kick to their faces.
Sending one crashing in the ground and the other falling backwards.
Then Rick landed and he saw the bodies he just attacked laying on the ground but Hanemiya, Kiyomasa and few others had disappeared.
' What, they disappeared? ' He looked around, but their were no where in sight.
' Was my fight just a distraction?.... Well they did fight like they were trying to restrain me more than attack. ' he concluded.
As he turned to where Ken was on the ground his phone ring and he saw a notification from the Guide app.
' Did that finished the job? I thought they'd a big bad somewhere ' his thought stopped as he opened the Guide app.
The quest completion read, ( quest progress, 80% )
' As I thought there is still more to done, ' he thought as he quickly grabbed Ken who was breathing heavily off the ground to helped him walk.
" There there, you look terrible but you're going to be alright. "
" I've been in... in worse conditions and thank you for.. for help me. " Ken forced his voice through the pain in his stomach.
" You should be thanking the boss man I didn't do much, also don't force yourself to talk. "
As they talked Rick's helped Ken get to the school clinic.
As the sun was setting school had already come to an end and most of the students had already vacated the school premises.
The trio were walking together again for the first time in while, the road was filled with lots, some coming back from work and others just starting their shifts.
" Still no progress, of course what would you expect 2D lover, who's the useless one now? " Rick taunted, while making a smug face and his tone amused.
" Shut up idiot, I'm making a lot of progress it's just that these quests are unclear and you're one to talk you haven't completed your quest either, so as far as I'm concerned we are still same. " Tatsuya countered, his hand scratching the back of his head.
" Oh nice one, did your 3D girlfriend teach you that... Tats? " Rick mocked while looking at Ren who was walking slightly in front.
Tatsuya felt the burn in his chest, the words hurt more than he expected.
" Don't even joke about that... it's not funny., " Tatsuya responded, his tone defensive.
Rick let a small laugh, " Why so defensive? only the guilty act like that. "
Tatsuya clenched his fist and his eyebrows twitching," Why youuu? "
The two continued like that through road but Ren was he was quiet, quieter than usual.
His gaze was focused in front of him, ' did I interfere in something that had nothing to me, ' he thought as he remembered the fight earlier.
' For an NPC? No that situation looked a bit familiar. ' he thought as he glanced at Tatsuya for a moment before he felt something bumped into him.
It was a lady and upon impact she started falling.
As she was falling,The world around Rick slowed down to a crawl, to him the lady appeared like she was falling in slow motion.
' Looks like my brain is still hyper from the fight earlier... this character looks worse than Tatsuya on weekends. ' he thought as he looked at her.
' She looks like hasn't slept in days and those feet look like they hurt. That suit makes her look like an office lady...wait she holding something in her hand. Am triggering an event right now? ' he asked himself.
Before he she landed on the ground, he grabbed her hand and pulled her up straight.
The lady immediately shoved the paper, she had at his face.
The two stopped right at Ren side quietly after they noticed what just unfolded.
" Hm, have you... Have you seen my little boy? " She asked her voice low and weak.
Ren didn't respond.
" Sorry miss we haven't " Rick immediately stepped in,it was like he was the one she asked.
" Oh is that so.." her expression darken and tears forming behind her eyes, " well if.... if you do see him please call this number or the police. " She said her voice barely above a whisper before walking away slowly.
The boys stood in silence as they watched her walk away. Ren didn't wait too long as he started walking again.
' It's hard to read the boss in a situation is like that. ' Rick noted as they followed behind him.
After that the rest of the walk was silent until they reached their usual place the cafe.
They found the doors closed and their was a sign which read, " Kiyoko's cafe is under going maintenance right now, we'll be open again in a few days. "
" That hasn't happened in a before... " Rick said taking out his phone. " Let's go to my place then... First tell me tell them I'm bringing some friends. "
He looked at his phone the Guide app was on his screen, ' hmmm still at eighty percent, what could be missing? ' he wondered.
As he was looking at the percentage.
A message suddenly popped up and it read, " QUEST COMPLETED, +150 POINTS. "
And immediately all their phones buzzed simultaneously.