Chapter 7:

MORTALITY

STAR AWESOME

Ren flopped onto the bed, adjusting to find the right spot. He stared at the ceiling, his body giving in to exhaustion.

I am glad the princess suggested that I return. I had no idea I was this tired.

He closed his eyes. A lot happened today; in the end, I still don’t know how I ended up here. He shifted to his side.

Damn, I can’t fall asleep; I miss my old bed. He sat down, scratching his head, and glanced over at the wall clock...11:30. Maybe I can hang out with someone.

His heart skipped a beat; he clenched his chest. 'I guess I am nervous and anxious about this new world,' he thought.

Getting off the bed, he went to the door. He noticed his hand was slightly shaking. I wish anxiety didn’t exist in this world. Aha, meeting new people is hard, but I want to try changing.

He entered the corridor, which seemed almost lifeless, making his way to the lounge. Sen sent me back, but he went back to the ball.

He sighed, turning around the corner. Some of them did return, even Riley came back, but I can’t have a girl accompany me at night.

He entered the lounge, and not even a lingering soul was present. He hopped onto the couch. Should I turn on the TV? Let’s not; some of them must be asleep. I will just eat the snacks.

11:40 He munched on the chips as he went through the magazines he found behind one of the cushions.

At 11:45, he found a magazine with pictures that were embarrassing but entertaining. He began going through the magazine, examining, analysing, and of course admiring everything. For some reason, it gives Yuzuru vibes.

“It's 12:1, can’t sleep?” A voice came from behind.

Ren’s eyes widened as his heart pulsated hard. They’ll think I am a pervert reading this late at night. In an attempt to hide it, he turned around, trying to shove it behind the cushion.

“Oh, that’s Cero’s,” the guy said in a calm tone. “Hehe, he thought he lost it.”

Ren looked at this white-haired person; he had not noticed him before, not at lunch, nor the palace, and not even at dinner.

His purple eyes widened, and he looked at Ren, his cheeks red. “A-are you new?”

“Yes,” Ren replied nervously. Everyone I met was already informed about me.

His white hair flopped as he leaned closer to Ren. “I—I am Toby. Ah, welcome to Star Awesome, and, uh, what's your name?”

I—I am,” This is that Toby.

“When did you come? Did they show you around...and the badge...you got it...and how’s your life going? I hope you adjusted.” He gasped for breath, as he forgot to breathe when he said all that.

“I came today, I got the badge, and day one went well.”

Toby looked at him blankly as if he was waiting for Ren to continue speaking.

“What?” Ren looked at his blank look

“You didn’t tell me if you were shown around?” He added, even more bashful than before.

“Yeah, somewhat,” Ren smiled back. I guess he asked me this when he spoke breathlessly; no wonder others think he is dumb.

“Toby, where were you the whole day? I didn’t see you around?”

Toby looked at him blankly. “I was here, in my room.”

Maybe he tries to avoid other members. I feel bad for him. Ren got up and reached out to his shoulder, but Toby took a step back. I think I scared him. “I am sorry.”

Toby looked at him with a smile on his face. “It’s okay, and it's better if you don’t reach out to me.”

“Huh?” Ren tried to grasp his words.

“So, Ren, did you make any friends?” He spoke, tilting his head to the side. Though his gestures were calm and he was cheerful, his eyes were dead; it seemed like he had a hard time here.

“I made friends with Riley.”

Toby smiled. “Riley is nice; she can be a bit too boyish at times, but you will enjoy her company.”

Sen came to his mind: “I am not sure what Sen thinks of me, but I would call him my friend.”

“Sen, friend,” Toby added blankly, “that’s rare; his only friend is Yuzuru, and I guess Soren.”

“Yeah, I noticed everyone behaving shocked when they saw Sen with me,” Ren recalled all the expressions they all made.

“Sen isn’t a bad person, but he can be really scary,” Toby said in a daze. He finally smiled. “But don’t worry, he is nice to his friends.”

Toby noticed the clock. “Oh, it's already 1:18. I should be going back before 1:21, and it was nice meeting you.”

Ren couldn’t truly understand Toby. “Toby, can I visit you sometime if you are lonely?”

Toby paused, without looking at Ren. “It’s better if you keep a distance from my room.” Toby went into the corridor, and Ren tried to see where he went, but he was already gone.

Ren looked at the time. “It’s already 1:21; I should go.”

Ren opened his room and stepped in. It was dark. “Huh, I don’t recall turning it off.”

“Idiot, the computer did it. What a disappointment.”

“S-sen, you are in here, when?”

Ren heard the ruffling of clothes, but none of them spoke, nor did they do anything about the light. Ren stood silently; he could hear his breath.

Thud

What was that?

Creak

Ren could hear footsteps. “S-sen, is that you?”

“Yes,” the voice was right next to him.

Something sharp touched his stomach, piercing into him.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaarghhhhhhhhhh……………..” Was that me? His voice sounded more hoarse than usual.

The thing was pulled out in a swift motion, and Ren could feel the warmth of liquid on him. This feeling was followed by a deep sense of nostalgia.

The pain spread all over his body. Ren tried to cry out, but a hand covered his mouth. Tears flowed out of his eyes, and his vision blurred.

“Computer, turn on the lights,” Sen’s voice came hovering above him.

The lights illuminated the room, and Sen held a knife... drenched. Even his clothes had stains. Sen smirked, a look Ren had assumed he saw before he went for lunch.

“Let me have a good look, and scream all you want; this room is one of the soundproof rooms.”

He lifted his hand, and Ren’s lips quivered; he was the one who gave me this room. Ren growled in agony, unable to believe his fate.

Sen let out a hysterical laugh. “Ah, I love it when they make this face.”

Crazy bastard, his body shivered as his body temperature dropped drastically. “W-why?”

Sen looked at him, making firm eye contact, “Oh, because I wanted to see the look of betrayal in your face.” He paused as if he were making a portrait.

“I couldn’t kill the other members; everyone would be mad,” he let out a laugh. “But a newbie whom they met for a day is perfect; no one cares about you.”

Ren couldn’t believe his words.

“Even Riley would be mad for a day or two, but you are just like a random dude a person meets for maybe an hour, compared to how long we lived.”

His vision blurred as his senses dulled.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarg, another piercing.

The new pain brought him back to his senses.

“I wasn’t done talking,” Sen glared. “You won’t believe it, but I was behind the whole silent treatment. I told Yuzuru to suggest it so I could stand up for you.” He sounded so proud of his work.

Psycho— Ren wanted to say it out loud, but his body was losing control.

Sen smiled. “I even texted, ‘Let’s not.”

Ren remembered only one text against the silent treatment. D-disgusting. Another stab

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrghhhhhhhhhhhhh

Ren huffed, gasping for air; his eyes met Sen’s eyes. No sign of guilt.

Sen got up. “You can hate me or even try killing me.”

I-i wish I could-

“To think you trusted me, ah, idiot~”

Ren couldn’t hold back any longer. He mustered all his remaining strength to only shout, “W-why wou- yo-…you d-…blurgh.”

Sen looked at him as if the answer was right in front, “Because I wanted to see what face a person makes when they betray. I think I said it before, and, ah, you made my girl cry."

I wanted to be a hero…

I wanted to express myself…..

I wanted a second chance at life…

"I—I did it. I killed Ren. Now Dac has to come, then we'll know the truth." Sen's voice echoed in his head.

"More...the truth, they...they'll.......... reveal..."

“B-brother…”

Red and blue lights flashed, and there was a lot of commotion

“Come quick, he was shot.”

“B-brother…” Ren’s voice echoed.

Ah, right, I was going to my brother’s grave. He ran away from home when I was six because he loved a man. My parents were completely against it.

They only thought about him.

He, a runaway son, was on their mind