"No way that's true!"
Before Morpheus could respond, Ritsu Tainaka shot down the idea. "Morpheus-kun's just messing around, Mio-chan. How can you fall for that? If you're this gullible, what'll you do without me?"
Morpheus had hoped to show off a bit in front of the two girls, but Ritsu wasn't buying it at all. Annoyed, he picked up a hot wing with his chopsticks and stuffed it into her mouth.
"Just eat, you little genius."
Ritsu instinctively took a bite, and an explosion of flavors she'd never experienced before burst in her mouth.
She'd had hot wings before, but none as delicious as these.
The chicken, perfectly balanced with just the right amount of spice, filled every corner of her mouth.
It wasn't so spicy that it burned her throat, nor so numbing that her tongue lost sensation.
In short: delicious. Absolutely, ridiculously delicious.
In that moment, Ritsu forgot all about bickering with Morpheus, transforming into a full-on foodie, devouring the meal with gusto.
Seeing this, Mio Akiyama shot Morpheus an apologetic glance but joined the feast at his invitation.
The three of them ate with such relish that their lips glistened with oil.
This, however, was torture for the other students in the class.
Watching the trio dig in, their own bentos suddenly seemed unappetizing, and they couldn't help but shed envious tears.
This was just too unfair.
Some shot glares at Morpheus and his friends before storming out in a huff.
They couldn't stay in that classroom a second longer.
If they did, they might turn into bandits and steal the trio's lunch.
…
Lunch break passed in a flash, and the classroom soon returned to normal.
After the afternoon classes ended, the dismissal bell rang right on cue.
High schools in Japan typically let out early, around 3:00 p.m.
Third-years might stay until around 5:00 p.m., but since Morpheus and his classmates weren't there yet, their school day ended at 3:00.
Next came club activities.
Most high schoolers joined a club, enjoying some after-school fun.
Ritsu Tainaka and Mio Akiyama, for instance, were part of the Light Music Club.
So, after school, they waved goodbye to Morpheus, grabbed their instruments, and headed straight for the clubroom.
As for Morpheus—or rather, his predecessor—he hadn't joined any clubs.
His predecessor, an exchange student, wasn't keen on club activities. Plus, after school, he had other things to do, leaving no time for clubs.
And what kept his predecessor so busy? Two words:
Part-time work.
As an exchange student, his predecessor received a monthly allowance from his family.
But that money was just enough to cover basic living expenses.
Want to buy something extra, like a gaming console, CDs, a phone, figurines, manga, or headphones? Forget it.
So, to live a bit more comfortably in Japan, his predecessor had to work.
Morpheus dug through his memories and found that his predecessor worked at a convenience store.
This was a lifestyle Morpheus had never experienced.
Even before his transmigration, he'd never worked at a convenience store. Now was his chance to try it out.
Leaving school, Morpheus didn't take long to reach the workplace.
It was a 24-hour convenience store.
As he entered, the busy clerk spotted him and called out, "Morpheus-kun, perfect timing! We're out of cola on the shelves. Hurry and restock."
Morpheus nodded, heading to the store's stockroom. He changed into his work uniform, grabbed a crate of cola, and started restocking.
Convenience store work wasn't too hectic: restocking, inventory checks, and ringing up customers.
Before he knew it, it was 5:00 p.m.
The previous clerk's shift ended, and a new employee arrived to take over.
A girl with a ponytail and a Kansai accent.
It was her—the working warrior, Nanami Aoyama.
The true working warrior might be Suzuha Amane from Steins;Gate, but Morpheus felt the title fit Nanami Aoyama just as well.
She was a workaholic, juggling multiple jobs to chase her dreams.
Calling her a working warrior was spot-on.
This was exactly why Morpheus had come to the convenience store—to experience this life.
And, let's be honest, who wouldn't want to be around a gorgeous girl like her?
Truth be told, Morpheus was quite taken with her.
"Sorry, I'm late!" After handing off with the previous clerk, Nanami Aoyama changed into the store's uniform and approached Morpheus with a bright smile.
Morpheus nodded. "Afternoon, Aoyama-san."
"Afternoon, Morpheus-kun! You seem… different somehow."
Nanami's gaze lingered on him, a hint of suspicion in her eyes.
"Different? How so?" Morpheus asked, curious.
Nanami's eyes flickered as she studied him closely. "It's like… your vibe. You seem more mature than before. Like you grew up overnight."
"Did something happen, Morpheus-kun?"
Morpheus was caught off guard. "Didn't expect you to have such a sharp eye. Yeah, some stuff happened. You know how it is with guys—sometimes we grow up in a single night."
Nanami paused, then nodded slowly. "Guess that makes sense."
She seemed to accept his explanation.
But she'd never guess the real reason for Morpheus's newfound maturity: the soul in this body had changed.
A grown man, a corporate drone who'd toiled away in the workforce, now inhabited a high schooler's body.
Even if the exterior was youthful, the aura was bound to shift a bit.
Mio Akiyama and Ritsu Tainaka had vaguely noticed something too, but they brushed it off as their imagination.
After all, they were just high schoolers.
Only Nanami Aoyama, with her wealth of experience from juggling jobs, picked up on it immediately.
That was the difference between a working warrior and an ordinary high schooler.
After the brief exchange, Nanami slipped seamlessly into work mode.
Facing a steady stream of customers, she flashed a radiant smile.
Being a worker wasn't easy.
Morpheus let out a quiet sigh.
Time flew, and soon it was time for Morpheus to clock out.
But, to his surprise, the employee meant to relieve him was late. Even now, there was no sign of them.
Was this guy ditching work?
Morpheus's expression darkened slightly. He wasn't a fan of people who couldn't keep their commitments.
Seeing this, Nanami spoke up. "Morpheus-kun, why don't you head home? I'll wait for them."
***
Bonus Chapter:
100 Power Stones = 1 BC
300 Power Stones = 2 BC
500 Power Stones = 3 BC
700 Power Stones = 4 BC
1000 Power Stones = 5 BC
***
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