After returning from Kuoh Academy, Morpheus slipped back into his daily routine.
He went to school on time, left on time.
He savored the student life.
How to put it? It was nostalgic. In his past life, after graduating, he never had the chance to experience the rhythm of school again.
After years of working, he couldn't help but miss those carefree days.
But nostalgia was one thing—asking him to endure three years in a school, day in and day out, with classes and breaks?
Morpheus passed.
The reason was simple: he'd already tasted the wider world. His heart was too wild for a mere school to contain.
So, after playing the good student for a few days, he grew bored and skipped class.
Well, not exactly skipped.
He sent his clone to attend in his place, so to the school, his attendance was perfect, no different from any other student.
But Morpheus himself became a wanderer, eager to explore this chaotic, stitched-together world of supernatural crossovers, curious about what secrets it still held.
One day, he roamed Tokyo in broad daylight.
Before long, he stumbled upon something intriguing.
While wandering in Shinjuku, he spotted a café.
Cafés were common in Japan. The country loved coffee, ranking among the world's top consumers.
This love for coffee traced back to the 19th century, during the Meiji Restoration.
Back then, Japan's push for Westernization and modernization was fervent.
Milk, bread, wine, whiskey—various Western foods entered Japanese diets, reshaping culinary culture.
Many iconic Japanese dishes—sushi, ramen, sukiyaki—gained prominence during that era.
Coffee, a Western import, became synonymous with sophistication, and cafés were haunts for intellectuals and artists.
What started as a trend became a habit, woven into everyday life. Cafés and coffee culture seeped into the mainstream.
In Japan, cafés were everywhere.
As long as the coffee was decent, they could thrive.
So, finding a café in Shinjuku was no surprise. There were plenty.
But this café was different.
Its name? Cat's Eye Café.
No way—this was the café run by the Cat's Eye sisters.
Morpheus pushed open the door and stepped inside. Behind the counter stood a mature, alluring woman who gave him an elegant smile.
"Welcome."
Morpheus sat at the counter. "One cappuccino, please."
The woman nodded, moving to the coffee machine with practiced ease.
Soon, she served him a cappuccino, complete with intricate latte art.
Morpheus took a sip, his eyes lighting up. "Not bad. Just my taste."
The woman smiled. "Glad you like it."
"What's your name?" Morpheus asked.
She gave him a teasing glance. "Why do you ask? Trying to hit on me?"
"You could say that," Morpheus replied with a shrug.
She chuckled, shaking her head. "Sorry, I'm not into kids like you."
"Such a shame," Morpheus nodded, playing along. "But that's fine. I'm interested in you, and that's enough."
The woman shook her head, adopting a lecturing tone. "Clinging like that won't win a girl over. It just annoys people."
Morpheus shook his head too. "You've got it wrong. My interest isn't what you think. Ever collected figurines?"
She blinked, caught off guard.
Morpheus continued, "If you've ever collected figurines, don't you want to grab the ones you love when you see them?"
Her brow furrowed, her tone cooling. "Humans aren't figurines."
"I know," Morpheus admitted candidly. "But I can't help it—I've got a bit of a collector's itch. When I see a character I like, I want to collect them."
"Miss Rui Kisugi, would you indulge me?"
The woman was, of course, Rui Kisugi, one of the Cat's Eye sisters. Morpheus recognized her the moment he saw her.
Another of his childhood idols, right up there with Ada Wong.
Rui instantly went on guard, suppressing the urge to lash out. "Who are you?"
"Just an ordinary Extra-Dimensional Demon," Morpheus said truthfully.
"Extra-Dimensional Demon?"
Rui was baffled. She knew the words, but together? They made no sense.
Morpheus clarified, "Think of me as a god."
"What?" Her expression screamed, Are you messing with me?
She hadn't expected him to claim divinity. Was this some new scam?
At first, she thought he might be some mysterious figure. Now, he just seemed unhinged.
Her tense posture relaxed.
"Sir, you're not welcome here. That coffee's on the house. Please leave."
Morpheus sighed. "Miss Rui, do you know what you're missing? Eternal life, eternal youth."
He sounded almost heartbroken.
Far from regretting her choice, Rui fought back a laugh. This guy was way too full of himself.
Unmoved, she repeated, "Sir, please leave."
Morpheus gave a wry smile, about to stand, when the café door swung open.
A stunning, long-haired woman with a fiery figure walked in.
"Nee-san, I'm back."
Her voice was listless, tinged with disappointment.
Morpheus glanced over. It was none other than Hitomi Kisugi, Rui's younger sister, the second of the Cat's Eye trio.
Even prettier than in the manga.
Morpheus couldn't help but marvel—Tsukasa Hojo sure knew how to draw beauties.
***
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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