Ren was standing in a elevator as it counted numbers down, he had his hands in the pocket of the black hoody he was wearing as he avoided the gaze of the girl standing next to him.
The girl had raven-black hair with a single streak of blood-red, violet eyes which were watching him intensely without turning her head directly.
As numbers in the elevator reached one, the doors opened and Ren was first to walk out, then he exited the building.
The whole area outside was bathed in the warm glow of the rising sun.
Ren started walking down the pavement as he unlocked his phone and called Rick
It took less than three seconds Rick answered the call, " I just got out the my apartment, where are we meeting? "
" Good morning, boss man, " Rick answered in his morning voice. " I think we should meet up at the sunny center, "
" Why there? " Ren asked as he avoided walking into a poll.
" Well, there's something I want to buy and all the places I have planned for today are there. "
" Sounds reasonable enough, I'll meet you guys there in about ten minutes. " Ren said before cutting the call and continued walking.
As Ren was walking, he walked passed by a woman struggling with heavy bags on one hand and a crying child on the other her face looking exhausted but hides it with smile.
Then as he walked a little further where he saw an elderly man sitting still on a bench, his eyes staring Infront fixed on nothing, it was like there was no life behind them.
Nearby, a delivery driver kept clicking the crosswalk button, his shaky movements betraying the silent panic about being late.
Ren watched all of it in silence his red eyes reflecting everything little thing, his expression unreadable, ' so many characters, ' he thought, ' created just to be abandoned, will my wish end all of this '
Later that morning, Ren had just arrived at the sunny center, lots of cars were parked and most of the different shops where just opening and the middle near a fountain stood Rick.
The black jacket he wore paired well with his sky blue eyes and gray hair.
As soon as Rick noticed, Ren he approaching him his face lite up.
" Boss man, you sure took your time, I thought I'd find you here. " Rick stated, before they started walking towards a bench.
" Well, thoughts are not reality, where's Tatsuya? " Ren asked in a calm tone.
" He'll be here in just a few minutes. " Rick answered hesitantly while rubbing the back of his neck.
" Did he stay up all night again or something? " Ren asked as they say down the bench.
" Knowing him probably. Well it's the weekend after all, he needs to maintain his creepiness bar, " Rick said in a playfully tone.
Ren didn't respond at Rick's remark.
Rick then turned his gaze towards Ren, " Boss man, did you hear about the students who passed out at school yesterday? " He asked in low slightly serious tone.
" No I didn't what happened? " Ren answered calmly.
" They collapsed one by one, heard they were dropping like flies, two in hallway and one was found in the bathroom stall. " Rick explained slowly as he leaned back his seat.
' actually, I did hear about the story from Horikita, I just wanted to compare the details but looks like you didn't have much, ' Ren's eyes studied Rick as they narrowed slightly. '...it was a strange story, and it was the first time I'd heard Horikita sound almost panicked. '
" That nothing too strange but is troublesome, " Ren commented before getting his phone out of his pocket. " What do you think about that whole situation? "
" Well, the most obvious part is that all cases are connected somehow and... and, " he stopped mid explanation his eyes narrowing as his expression faltered.
Then his tone became serious as he asked. " Boss man, do think this situation might be my fault? "
" How so? " Ren asked his voice calm as he clicked on his phone.
" I just think that with what happened with my quest, maybe these are consequences of not completing my quest properly. " Rick explained then waited for Ren's response his eyes looking eager.
Ren explained slowly his eyes neutral, " Problems will always keep coming I can assure with that, If you kill a boss that doesn't mean the game has ended, a bigger and harder one will spawn in whether you like it or not. I'm certain you have nothing to do with it. "
" Do you think this is just something that was meant to happen whether I played a part or not, " Rick asked as he slowly processed the information. " well, maybe in a way you are right. "
" Just leave the thinking part to me and everything will be alright. " Ren added without looking away from his phone.
" I suppose you are right, I can't argue with that. " Rick replied as a smile appeared on his face.
It didn't take long as they talked for Tatsuya to come in sight. Then he saw them sitting down he started walking towards them.
When reached where the two sat he asked while looking down at Rick, " I could have come sooner but I couldn't stop sneezing while I was at home, was someone talking trash about me? "
" Who has that much time just talk about a weeb, " Rick taunted a sly grin playing on face as he looked at the mask Tatsuya was wearing. " What's up with face mask? you look dumber than usual. "
" I think maybe a caught a cold or something. But I feel fine so I should be alright, " he ignored the first remark when he answered then turned his gaze towards Ren. " Ren, how's the morning treating you? "
" It's alright but I guess the same can't be said about you, you don't look too good. " Ren replied as lifted his head up looking at Tatsuya.
" Yes sadly, " Tatsuya said as he adjusted his white shirt and sat down next to Ren.
Tatsuya eyes widened as he stared down and thought to himself. ' in truth it's not that sad because it's my fault for not sleeping but the words ' you have potential ' kept echoing in my head, it's the thing I've heard the most in the past week. '
" So Ren, when do you think we might get another quest? " Tatsuya asked as he straightened his pose.
" It will happen soon, the upgrade is still new to us and the last quests where our biggest quests so far, maybe it's giving us a breather. " Ren explained before he stood up.
" True but let's not forget about the possibility of Rick's quest having a cause, it's a delay due to app figuring out the new possibilities. " Tatsuya added his own knowledge.
" Hey don't try to pin this on me. " Rick interrupted as he got up too.
Then Tatsuya followed and they began walking as he added, " No one is, moron. "
Rick let out a chuckle at Tatsuya remark.
" Either way, it doesn't matter just try to relax for today, I don't want you two idiots overwhelming yourselves when the game is about to get serious. " Ren instructed as he put his phone back in his pocket.
They didn't walk a long distance as they passed a group of people who made a sly grin appear on Rick's face.
The group had some who were wearing armor, other has tails and ear of different animals while other even carried swords.
Rick was the first to comment, " Aren't you going to join the freak parade Tats? "
Tatsuya's eyebrow twitched at the nickname as he answered, " No, I want nothing to do that. "
Rick's mouth hang wide open, " what do you mean? You're a weeb you're suppose to like cosplay. "
" I don't hate cosplay, I just don't like other anime fans, especially the ones of nowadays. " Tatsuya explained.
Rick's eyes popped wide open, Ren didn't react he just kept walking and listening.
" What that does that even mean? You're rejecting you own kind. " Ren asked in a curious voice, " but you can't do that, how am I suppose to make fun of you? " Rick complained as if it was something important.
" Too bad for you and I'm not rejecting them, I just hate those who became anime fans after the great shift, " Tatsuya stated as he pulled down his face mask. " Let me explain why. "
He started his explanation as the trio entered a high story building.