Encounter

In this world, creatures exist that defy laws of physics—something science cannot even explain.
These are called: Anomalies.
Treat them as a bug, a glitch in the matrix, a tiny fracture in reality itself.

But you only need to know one thing.
It's not supposed to be there.
Nor it should stay.

Four figures swallowed by shadow sat at the end of the room.
Then—a loud piercing creak followed as the entrance door gradually opened.
After that—a loud thud.

A voice breaks the silence.
Coming from the entrance.

"Higher-ups."
The man says—inhaling sharply.
"Please, give me more higher-class missions!"
The man shouted, bowing.

The Four Figures murmured among themselves.
Silence pressed in.
"Agent." One of the figures said.
Their voice—cold and distant.
"If you're so insistent, then we have another mission for you."

The man—supposedly named Agent lifted his head up at last.
"And as always." The voice returns—colder.
Agent's gaze does not meet the figures.
"You have twenty-four hours."

"And failure to complete it."
A pause.
Deliberate.
"Will be addressed."

"Yes."

GAME OVER!
Bee-beep… beep… boop.
The Game Boy declared its verdict.
The three boys stared at the screen in silence.
The wind drifted through them.

"Souta... You..."
Ren turned towards the boy holding the Game Boy.
"You suck!"

"Huh?! You can't be talking!"
Souta yelled, Game Boy in his hand.
"Well, the game was pretty buggy after all so it makes sense Souta lost." Hikaru exclaimed.
"Hikaru..." Souta softly uttered—almost at the verge of his tears.

"But that's not excuse to suck THIS much." Ren voiced.
Souta pressed his shoe hard against Ren.
"Zip it."
Ren couldn't help but exclaim in pain.
"Fine! Fine! I give up!"

A long soft breath escaped Souta, as he held the Game Boy in his hand—gazing far into the horizon.
"Geez... This thing is such a scam. The shop-owner told me this was the latest hit and I fell for it!"
Souta folded his arms onto the rooftop railing—settling his chin on it.
"That's my monthly allowance down the drain... This might be the lowest point of my life..."

"Aren't you overreacting a little? It's not like it's the end of the world."
Hikaru commented—head rested on his palm.
"Cheer up a little, geez..." Ren followed.

Resting on the railing Souta finally pushed his body away and raised his gaze to the sky.
"Well it can't be undone now... just gotta accept reality."
Both of the two looked at Souta.
"Guess so... That's life!" Ren followed his gaze.

Ring... Ring...
"Someone's calling?"
Hikaru glanced over.
"Was that yours Ren?"

Ren reached for his pocket—phone vibrating in his hand.
"Urk-...!" And at that moment...
...his face darkened.
"It's... my boss."

Thousands of feathers drummed softly as birds passed overhead.
"Don't tell me..." Both of the two muttered. "You're late for work?"

Ren quickly settled the strap from his shoulder bag on his shoulder and rushed off out of the rooftop.
"Sorry! I have to go!" He called before slamming the door behind him.

Though the two couldn't make up what he said... He was already gone.
Souta looked over to Hikaru. "You heard what he said?"
He replied: "No idea."

"Geez... that guy... always working so hard."
Souta gripped the back of his neck, leaning his weight on his foot.
"Well, he has to anyway. After all..." Hikaru glanced over at the door. "It's for his mother."

"We should go home, the school is practically empty at this point."
Souta suggested, Hikaru nodded. "Yeah, Let's go."

"This is bad! This is bad! Hoshino-san is gonna kill me!"
Ren hurried off, maneuvering through crowds of people.
"Excuse me! Going through!"
A car honked right at him, he almost got ran over.
"Hey! Watch it!" The driver shouted—clearly furious. "Sorry!"
He ran, with each step a breath was taken.

And so...
Ren managed to arrive in time...
...20 minutes late.

He tumbled forward, hands on his knees, heart hammering.
"Hah... Hah... I made-... It." He raised his head.
His body felt like collapsing—he couldn't breath right, but he had to keep going.

He pushed himself upright.
Dragging his feet towards the door.
He reached for the latch—then stopped.
He swallowed hard.

"This is bad! I'm so dead! What will I even say to her?! What will be my excuse?!"
He drifted in small circles, lost in thought. "Think... Think!"
His shoulder sagged—followed by a long breath. "It's over... Isn't it?"

"I might as well get it over with..."
His hand reached for the latch once more.
Then... a soft click.
He pushed the door open—followed by a soft chime of a bell.

"You're late!" Ren flinched—startled.
His boss hurled down towards him. "You have about 20 seconds to explain yourself before I chop your head off."
"Urk-...!" Ren's breath hitched—his mouth fell open.
As he hopped backwards on tiptoes.

"Sorr-... I sincerely deeply apologize at the bottom of heart Hoshino-san!!"
His boss froze mid-step. "Huh? What's with the sudden formalness?"
"Y-you see..." Ren rubbed his finger against his thumb, eyes darting all over the room.
He had to make an excuse on the fly. Just anything... "There was a sudden traffic! Yeah...! A traffic!"

His eyes had nowhere to go.
Hand rubbing the back of his neck.
"Uh huh..." The boss's eyes narrowed.
As she glared at him sharply—piercing.
"You don't drive a car nor have I seen you with any sort of vehicle."

The boss stated, chin resting on her fingers.
"So... how do you explain that?"
His body jolted... he's been busted.

"You..."
The boss lifted a finger up at him.
"...suck at lying, Ren!"

"U-..." His eyes fell to the floor.
He couldn't really argue with that.

"Fine, fine... I give up!"
He shook his head in frustration.
"Souta and Hikaru kept me late again..."

"Them again? Geez..."
The boss clutched her hair and exhaled deeply.
"It's fine, It's fine! Just get ready!"

Ren gazed up.
Eyes bugged out.
Mouth hanging open.
"Huh...?"

"A-are you sure...?"
The boss strolled away, raising her hand up for confirmation.
"It's fine, don't worry about it. Just don't be late next time!"
Then—the boss froze.
Turned sharply at him.
"Or I'll really cut off your head for real this time."

Ren swallowed hard.
Legs shaking beneath him.
"Hoshino-san... never fails to be so scary. I thought she was gonna rip my guts out..."

Ren walked to the back, changing his attire to the job's uniform.
"No wonder why she's single."

Kuroha, with a lollipop on her mouth, noticed Ren clocking to work.
"Oh, you're here Numuta. New books just arrived a moment ago, you know what to do."
Ren fixed his collar, nodding after. "Got it."

"Well, just another day at work as usual."

The sky faded from a gentle orange, as the sun gradually folded into the horizon—marking the end of his shift.
"Good work everyone!" The boss voiced, everyone followed: "Good work!"

At the changing room.
Torika threw his arms up, stretching and loosening his joints.
"Gosh! I'm so beat!" He sighed, savoring the quiet triumph of surviving for today.
sliding his jacket on and zipping it up.

"Today... I'm gonna confess my real feelings to Kuroha!"
Torika smiled brightly—eyes shimmering.
Observing his reflection in the mirror.
"Didn't she already reject you fourteen times by now?"
Ren bluntly stated, pulling his shirt over his head then rolled the sleeves.

"A-... Well, she's bound to change her mind if I kept on trying!" Torika stammered.
Ren lifted the strap of his shoulder bag, settling it on his shoulder.
"Right, right... Well good luck with that, see ya!"

"See ya!"

Ren drifted off.
Walking back to his home.
Exhausted mentally.
"That's another day done..."

And as he walked, a convenience store came into view.
"Right... I should probably think of what to eat for dinner."

A bell chime followed as he entered through the automatic doors.
"Welcome!" The cashier whole-heartedly welcomed him.
He stepped inside, browsing for anything that's easy to cook.
"Maybe I'll go with cup noodles this time... I'm so exhausted I don't feel like cooking at all."

"Thank you for your purchase! Please come back anytime!"
Ren grabbed the plastic bag, nodded at the cashier.
"Thanks." The automatic doors slid open.
He stepped outside.
"Oh... It's dark already, I better go fast."

Ren drifted off once more.
The silence hung heavy.
Crickets, and his footsteps was the only sound present.

"After this... I need to work on my school projects..."
The street light flickered.
He stopped on a random turn.
And noticed something off in an alleyway.
"Huh...? What is that... Am I so tired I'm seeing things?"

He looked at it again, taking it in.
Before...
"Hey..."

It clicked.
"W-what... what IS that...?"
His eyes stretched open.

It was an anomaly.