Chapter One; Routine

Two years ago.

One May afternoon, towards the end of the month, a sign that the spring days had come to an end, and the afternoon hinted that summer had arrived, and soon summer vacation would come.

Classes had ended, and club practices too.

Changing my clothes, putting on my school uniform again, amid the voices of the people around me.

"Good job, let's keep it up, guys," said Haruto, the captain of the basketball club and a third-grade student at the time.

"You were great today. I'm glad to know the club is in good hands," he said, looking at me.

I had recently joined the basketball club.

I had joined over 5 sports clubs so far this year. My father told me that, given my height and physique, I should try out a sport.

I weighed 69kg and was 1.82m tall.

First, I joined the track and field club, but I got bored because they were too strict... and there were too many girls. I didn't want any misunderstandings with Chie, the girl I liked.

Then, I tried the soccer club, chess club, volleyball club, but none of them appealed to me. Finally, as I initially wanted, I joined the basketball club, where I had been for two weeks.

My friend, Haru, a guy I had met in elementary school when I had recently moved from a small rural town after my mother's death, we had been almost like brothers since then. He was a big fan of basketball and loved it. He had told me to try out other sports before deciding on basketball.

My family already had an athlete; my older sister had played on a professional basketball team. I, on the other hand, was a bit different.

I wasn't really interested in sports at all; I just wanted something to do in the afternoons. Chie and Inue, from my group of friends, were always busy with the gymnastics club. So, if they were in a club together, why not Haru and I?

Although... I had recently been enjoying the practices a lot. Exercising so much during this time had finally served a purpose other than just maintaining a good physique.

I... wished Chie would see me occasionally at practice, but unfortunately, she was always like that, committed to her own things to the core...

She was quite serious.

Although privately...

Hehehehehehe, I laughed like an idiot while putting on a stupid face.

When I thought about Chie, I couldn't think clearly and objectively; I became foolish, certainly.

"Hey Ryu, let's go!" Haru said, with a white towel on his shoulders.

His voice brought me back to reality from the thoughts that were venturing into murky territory.

He was a bit smaller than me, a guy with gray hair, 1.75m tall, with blue eyes.

He was a weird guy; I couldn't quite distinguish if he was introverted or the opposite. He acted intermittently in one way or the other...

"Mhm, let's go," I said.

He tucked his towel into the small bag, which I also carried, to hold our things, which I had done before he spoke to me.

"See you!" we said in unison.

"See you!" responded a few who were staying.

We walked together to the school exit hallway, where two girls were waiting for us.

One girl, with short blonde hair, at the height of shoulders, with honey-colored eyes, and about 1.53m tall, had beautiful facial features, round cheeks, and a baby face. She was the girl Haru liked, Inue.

Next to her was what, for me, was the definition of an angel.

An immaculate girl, neat, her voice was like the voice of a goddess on earth, soft, warm, and beautiful.

She was 1.60m tall, with pale skin, dark black eyes, long hair reaching beyond her back, looking slim but with slightly thick legs, perhaps a result of her liking for gymnastics. Her cheeks were round, making her look very cute; her gaze was like that of an angel, each and every aspect of her stood out even more with her school uniform.

She was the girl I liked, Chie Ichinose.

We were in different classes, in the first year of high school.

It had been tough months for our relationship.

It's not fair to say we had drifted apart, just that spending less time with her made it seem so.

Ah, how complicated these things are, right?

Normally, I get confessed to a lot. In these three months, five girls had confessed to me, as far as I remember, but with Chie, it was a somewhat different case.

I wanted to confess to her.

But, even though the natural order of things told me it was very likely she'd accept me, I had a great fear of her rejecting me... I probably couldn't bear it.

"Hello!" said Inue.

Inue, a cheerful, extroverted girl, was more like me. On the other hand, Haru and Chie were almost identical. You could easily say we were a symmetrical quartet, two introverts and two extroverts.

But we were crossed; I liked Chie, and Haru liked Inue.

They're right when they say "opposites attract."

Although what they were thinking, we had the same idea about being astronauts, absolutely nothing.

For both of us, it was a mystery what those two beautiful girls who were with us were thinking.

"Hello, how was it?" I asked, raising my right hand.

We joined their group of two to form one of four, and while we were still talking, we started walking home.

"Horrible," Chie replied.

"Oh, really?" Haru asked.

"The teacher was very intense. Ever since Chie told her she was leaving the club, she's been in a bit of a bad mood..." Inue said.

"You're leaving the club?" I asked Chie.

"Hey, Inue, don't just say things like that," Chie said, in a bit of a bad mood.

"Eh? Oh, sorry, sorry."

"Well, if you don't want to talk about it, just leave it. You're in a bit of a bad mood; are you on your period?" I joked.

"What kind of things do you say, idiot?!" Inue said.

Totally flushed, angry, and a little hysterical.

"You know, if you react like that, he'll make more jokes like that, Inue," Chie said.

Haru looked a little uncomfortable. He once asked me how I could be like that.

He doesn't know how cruel and lonely it can be to have four sisters, even though they no longer live with me and have moved to another city; they twisted my way of thinking 180 degrees from that of any normal high school boy.

Goodness... well, at least that's the best way to bond as a group.

"Ryu is an idiot," the three of them said at the same time.

I could only laugh at them, on my part.

We walked for a while talking about nonsensical or unimportant things under the imposing orange sun that looked like a round coin in the sky.

"It's a summer sunset..." Chie said, a bit puzzled.

Perhaps because we were already halfway through a new year, perhaps because the sun looked truly beautiful, perhaps because summer vacation was coming soon.

Whatever it was, her face being illuminated by such a large sun with summer airs was truly beautiful; her eyes sparkled and seemed to absorb the world's light.

"Speaking of summer sun... it's almost here, right? Or are we already in summer?" Inue asked.

"A few days left," Haru replied.

We were on a climb, and our pace slowed considerably.

"Mhm, speaking of summer... do you guys have plans?" Inue asked.

"Plans?" Chie asked.

"You know, to plan... things..." Inue said.

Chie turned to look at me, as if she was waiting for an answer.

Meanwhile, I could see out of the corner of my eye how Inue was looking at Chie in a somewhat curious way.

"Hmm?" I thought, but I couldn't grasp what that look meant.

"Mhmmm..." I said, putting my right hand on my chin and swinging my backpack behind my back with my left hand.

"I have plans, right, Haru?" I finally answered, turning to look at Haru and pointing at him with my right index finger, one eye half-closed, smiling a bit.

Inue's eyes widened, looking a bit shocked.

"Yes... we're going to work part-time all summer..." he said.

Inue sighed deeply, seeming somewhat relieved, apparently.

"And do chores when we're not working..." I said, finishing his sentence.

"Ehhw, that's boring... and what about a day off?" Chie asked.

"We'll have two part-time jobs!" I said.

"Ahhh?" Inue exclaimed, mouth agape.

On Chie's side, she just looked at me with a bit of disdain.

She was probably a little disappointed because we wouldn't be spending some summer days together, but it probably wouldn't affect much; past summers weren't like we went out a lot, just a few days.

Besides... I planned to do something on some Sundays, but privately and with her. Haru might have planned the same thing.

After all... everyone wants to find their happiness, right?

It's good to hang out in a group and be friends, but one shouldn't forget one's own interests, right?

"And why the rush to work so much?" Chie finally asked, after staying silent for a bit.

"Mhm... I don't know, Haru suddenly wanted to work. I'm just a good friend," I replied.

"I need..." he said softly.

"Eh?" Inue asked.

"It's nothing... I just... want to buy something," he replied.

A somewhat... soft voice spoke, for some reason.

As if... he wasn't telling the truth, nervously and awkwardly.

A bit more time passed, and we were just about to reach where we would part ways with Inue.

"Hey, and in these days... are you guys free?" she asked.

"I'm free, but I won't go if Ryu doesn't go..." Chie said.

It wasn't because she wanted to go with me; her father and my father were acquaintances and friends, for some reason, he had taken a liking to me, and he let Chie go wherever I was.

Although... the first time I met him was terrifying.

He's the male version of Chie, a tall, skinny, and somewhat eerie person.

His same black hair, with piercing black eyes staring at you...

"I... have to work, tehee," I said mockingly, mimicking a gesture from a video I had seen recently on the internet.

"Ah?" Inue said.

"I'm sorry..." Haru said.

"It's not your fault, Haru. I just want to help you," I said.

"Hmpf!" Inue grunted, looking away, until we reached the point where we would separate.

"Then... I'll go with some other friends to karaoke. If you change your mind, you can let me know!" she said.

A bit annoyed, she separated from the group, with a dejected "goodbye..."

"Oh, she's upset..." I said, scratching my cheeks.

"You're not helping either; you act as if nothing matters..." Chie said.

Haru, a bit downcast, looking at his feet.

He was a little sad.

"But... why don't you go out with Inue sometime?" I asked Chie.

She turned to look at me strangely, staring at me for a moment, then turned back down.

As she looked down and changed, she brought her right hand to her chin.

"I see..." she said.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"It's nothing, I was just seeing the benefits of being stupid," she said dryly.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." I said to Chie.

Chie was also a bit upset, from what I could see.

She was looking away, with a puffed cheek...

"Hey, Ryu... if you want, you can call the boss and tell him you can't go... you don't have to go..." he said.

"What are you talking about? I'm going because it's what I want to do," I said.

I wasn't going to change my mind; it wouldn't be fair to Haru if I went out with the girls while he worked. Besides, it would be... uncomfortable to go out with two girls at the same time. I like groups or couples, but they have to be symmetrical.

A little more walking, we were near the part where Chie would split off.

"Hey... Haru..." Chie said.

Haru and I were talking about club stuff, and she had walked ahead a bit.

When she said that, she slowed her pace until we caught up with her.

"Tell me?" he said.

"You're..."

Chie's face turned a little red, looking away, crossing her arms and putting her briefcase in front of her legs.

"Hmm?" I said, looking at her.

I wasn't used to seeing her like that.

Seeing her do things like that was actually cute; she certainly was...

"You're... in love with Inue?" she asked.

"Ehh?!" Haru and I said at the same time.

It was a bit... unexpected.

"What are you talking about, what are you talking about?" Haru asked nervously, his body trembling all over.

I suspected it, but I wasn't entirely sure...

But with his reaction, he was an open book; you could tell with one glance that it was true.

"Come on, you can say it; we won't tell anyone," I said, trying to sound cool.

"How can you imagine me with her? I... I mean, I'm me and she's she," he said.

He certainly had a point to some extent.

Inue is easily one of the most popular girls in class... although...

''What are you talking about, as if you were the worst,'' I said.

''And... if...'' he said.

''Hmm?''

''Nevermind...'' he quickly responded.

He was the kind of person impatient people would hate to talk to. There were times when even I lost my patience, leaving sentences unfinished, speaking softly, being a bit... no, wait... too withdrawn...

''Hey, you can trust us,'' Chie said.

He slowed his pace until he stopped...

''I... I'm in love with Inue.''

''Huh?! Really?!'' Chie said, surprised, opening her eyes and speaking loudly.

''You weren't sure?!'' Haru said.

He truly fell into Chie's trap.

You have to make sure you know something so the other person has no choice but to give in, something that most of the time didn't work, but in these kinds of situations, it was easy for it to work.

''Hahaha,'' I laughed, looking at Haru's incredulous face.

''You fell perfectly into her trap,'' I finished saying.

Chie looked at Haru with a somewhat mocking air.

''I've been deceived,'' Haru said.

The atmosphere shifted from Haru's discomfort to feeling a bit more... relaxed.

''See, you can trust us...'' I said.

''I suppose...'' Haru said.

Chie got a little excited.

''Say it properly that you can do it!'' she said.

''Huh?''

''It bothers me that you always seem uncomfortable or out of place with us. We're your friends, you can trust us, say you can!'' she said.

With a voice loud enough to say she was shouting but not loud enough for people around to hear.

''I'm sorry...'' he said.

''Don't apologize too much either, that bothers me too,'' Chie said.

''Come on, come on... let it go,'' I said.

Truthfully, Chie had a certain degree of reason. Haru always seemed not to feel well around us, as if something was dragging him through life without really living it.

Although... that totally disappeared when we were at the club.

He seemed more confident, more energetic, happier.

I wish he could be like that all the time, it would be great.

''No, I'm not going to let it go, understand, Haru?!'' she said.

''Yes... I'll try...'' he said.

''Say it louder,'' Chie demanded.

''Okay, I'll try!'' Haru confidently affirmed.

''Also...'' I said.

''It's not like you don't have a chance with Inue, I know you do,'' I said.

''You think?'' he said.

His eyes lit up a bit.

''I think so, at least,'' Chie added.

If Chie thinks so, maybe he does have a chance after all.

It's not like I don't believe he has a chance.

''What a surprise...'' Chie said.

''What do you mean?'' I asked.

''I thought maybe Haru liked Ichinose,'' she said.

''Ichinose?'' Haru asked.

''I'm sorry, I have to go,'' she suddenly said.

I looked towards the road, and a black car was waiting, with a tall man with a mustache staring at me from the back seat.

It was Chie's father.

Haru shrunk back a bit out of fear.

He was really scary.

''See you tomorrow!'' she said, waving her hand in farewell.

''See you tomorrow!'' I shouted, followed by Haru.

Ataraha's gaze didn't leave me for a single second during the minutes she was there.

They left, and we stayed there until the car was out of sight.

''Chie's dad is scary...'' Haru commented.

''No kidding.''

''Hey, Haru...'' I said as we walked again.

''Hmm?''

''You know, we can cancel everything and go do something with the girls...'' I said.

''I'm sorry... I really can't...'' he added.

So... it's not like he simply doesn't want to, as I thought initially.

''Well, I guess that's how it'll be,'' I said.

''Hey, Haru...'' he said.

''What's up?'' I responded.

''Do you really think I have a chance with Inue?''

''Mhmm... We've known each other since middle school... so you know her well and she knows you well too...'' I said, pausing for a moment.

''So?'' he asked, curious.

''I think so, you have a chance,'' I replied.

We arrived right at the part where he would separate from me, and I would continue on my way alone.

''I see...'' he said.

''What's wrong?''

''It's nothing...'' he said.

''Well, if you say so...'' I said.

We arrived right at the part where he would leave.

''See you, Ryu!'' he said.

''See you!''

He crossed the street running, and I watched as his back disappeared from my sight.

''Well, let's go home...'' I spoke quietly to myself.

Present day.

Over two years later.

Half asleep, drowsy, and still feeling down from the dream I had.

I felt a tear welling up in my eyelids, but it didn't quite come out.

It's so hot... damn...

I thought sleepily.

A beam of light passed around my face, burning it and causing me a headache.

I opened my eyes and scrunched my face up.

A blazing sun entered my eyes, making them hurt like hell for a few seconds...

Damn, my head hurts...

A musty smell filled my nostrils. I got up and sat on my futon, covering my face from the sun, with an insufferable headache.

''That... jerk,'' I said. In a low voice.

The neighbor, a middle-aged guy, maybe 4-6 years older than me, had wild sex all night, although it wasn't really anything out of the ordinary, considering the unusual life I'd been living lately.

After what I called ''The Week of Misfortunes,'' I had no choice but to move out and find a way to survive on my own, enduring the horrible person I am, without bothering my father anymore, who still wasn't very happy with my decision to leave.

Plus... I didn't want to bump into acquaintances every day...

''Damn it...'' I said.

I grabbed my phone to see when I had woken up, to see how much time I had before going to work, to a 24/7 store owned by an uncle, with whom my father spoke to let me work there, probably to keep an eye on me.

I had... 8 missed calls from my dad.

And something a bit strange.

17 missed calls from an unknown number, which was odd because I didn't have my old number, I only had certain people in my contacts.

''Yui'' a coworker.

''Lily'' Haru's younger sister.

''Nae'' Haru's older younger sister, older than Lily.

''Father'' obviously, my father.

And Haru's number.

But that number wasn't registered, so it must have been from someone who got it from someone else...

It could be...

''Nah, they probably dialed the wrong number, or it's one of those phone scams that are trendy lately,'' I muttered quietly, as if someone were listening.

I got up, placing my hand on my knee as I did, and shook off some dirt from my body, then headed towards the bathroom, still feeling drowsy.

It was 2:15 in the afternoon when I got up.

There were still 4 hours and 45 minutes left before I had to go to work.

I started my shift at 7 pm and got off around 3 am, straight back to my little place.

I had recently turned 18, still underage, so all I did was work, albeit under the table.

Not that I really cared, after all, even being underage, I occasionally smoked a cigarette in the park outside, sometimes switching it up with a beer.

Yeah, it was illegal, but if no one saw me, technically it didn't happen, right?

Yeah, that's how things work, basically.

''If a tree falls in a forest, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?''

You've probably heard that.

Now fully awake and contemplating the small room where I lived, about 4x4 feet, not counting the bathroom, which was the only extra room aside from the living room.

Although it worked fine for me as both a kitchen and a bedroom.

I didn't cook, but I had a small table with a chair where I usually ate instant meals. Also, a small one-burner electric stove. In the middle of the room, there was a slightly small futon where I slept, right under the lamp that illuminated the room. In a corner to the left, diagonal to the bed, was the computer I brought from home.

It was a bit old, but once it turned on, it stayed on.

Also, it was completely cluttered with trash, wrappers, garbage bags, energy drinks, sodas, a bit of everything.

Navigating through all this, I began to walk towards the bathroom, walking carelessly, scratching my right thigh with my hand, while yawning and covering my mouth with my left hand, I closed my eyes.

At the moment when I thought my foot would keep moving forward as usual, I bumped into something hard and immovable.

A garbage bag, filled with clothes I had decided to discard. But the feeling behind them, I couldn't... do it.

My eyes watched as the world flipped upside down.

I turned around, like a tire on the ground, hitting the wall of my room.

''Ugh, damn it!'' I said.

A slight pain ran through my whole back, then a shock from hitting the floor with my left arm.

''It hurts, damn it.''

The day passed miserably.

''I hope that jerk gets a testicular cramp,'' I thought, with the image of that despicable guy in my mind.

It was already 3 am, but I had probably fallen asleep around 6 because of him.

Between the awful music he played, to ''cover up'' his ''activities,'' and the actual sound he wanted to cover up, I couldn't sleep.

Headfirst, with my back against the wall, and my head on the floor, I looked at my old basketball club shirt, bringing back many good memories from the past.

''Ryu'' with the number ''23''.

Games, experiences, phrases, all that flashed through my mind for a second. As I looked beyond it, I saw another shirt of the same color.

''Haru''... with the number ''6''.

A dead gaze was directed towards that shirt, a gaze whose will to live seemed to have vanished, but still moved out of sheer inertia.

''Damn, this crappy morning couldn't get any worse,'' I said quietly, still with my head on the floor, looking at the world upside down.

I slowly got up, sore from the hit, and shook myself off, thinking, why hadn't I taken those shirts down yet?

More than a punishment, it was a reminder.

Reminding myself that my past is there, and I can't escape it. It will always be there, reminding me of how foolish I was.

''There's... nothing I can do,'' I said quietly.

I walked to the bathroom, now a little more awake from the blow.

''There,'' I yawned.

Looking at myself in the mirror once again, those dead eyes looked back at each other.

Black, black like my soul.

Dark circles, slightly long hair.

My face had changed a bit, with a bit of stubble on my chin.

I brushed my teeth first, then grabbed my razor, shaved, and just as I finished, I noticed it had deteriorated.

''Maybe... I need to buy a new one,'' I said quietly.

I stepped into the bathtub, turned on the faucet, and stood there, doing nothing.

My hair slid down to partially cover my face.

Lately, everything felt... a bit unreal.

Although it was a feeling I didn't entirely dislike, I think I had the same feeling as someone lying down taking a nap on the edge of a cliff.

I remembered the day I tried to go to the first day of the third year.

The memory of normalcy made me nauseous.

Everything... was normal, people walked normally, friends talked, classes were as usual...

The only one who felt the change was me, probably.

The only one who changed after that, was me.

''I really... don't think I want to go back,'' I thought.

After bathing, I dried off and left the room with a long black hoodie with the Adidas logo.

I grabbed my phone and called my dad.

''Ring... ring...'' the phone sounded as I waited for my dad to pick up and answer.

It rang once, twice.

Finally, he picked up.

''Hello?'' I spoke.

''You idiot! Why didn't you answer earlier?!!'' he yelled a bit angrily from the other end of the line.

''Sorry, sorry, I couldn't sleep well after work yesterday,'' I replied.

''That guy again?'' he asked.

I had mentioned to him about the neighbor next door, who was annoyed with... ''the noise.''

''Mhm,'' I commented.

''Why don't you look for another apartment?'' he suggested.

''You know it's not easy, plus... this one is perfect for what I want.''

Silence came from his end.

''Dad?'' I spoke.

''And why don't you come back?'' he said.

''I'm sorry, I can't... it's... difficult,'' I clarified.

''Mhm.''

''I'm sorry, dad,'' I said.

''Don't worry.''

''Are you sure?'' I asked.

''Young people are allowed to make mistakes, of course, it will be my duty to be there for you when you realize it,'' he said.

''Thanks, dad,'' I said.

''It's nothing, son, I just hope you don't realize it too late,'' he replied.

''Goodbye,'' he ended.

I returned the goodbye, and heard the tone of someone hanging up.

Just as he hung up, my phone received a notification of a message.

''Yui: Are you going to work today?

"Ryu: Yes, I'll play to go, thanks for asking," I replied.

Yui, my coworker for the past 4 months.

She casually talked to me from time to time, asking "what are you doing?" or "are you going to work?" was what she would often say.

Usually, I would initiate a conversation, but I had imposed a rule on myself a few months ago.

Always be the second to speak, so I can make sure they're really talking to me.

I put down my phone and left it on the table where I usually ate, went to the small, cramped kitchen, which was almost adjacent to my bedroom and living room, and took out some instant noodles and a soda from a drawer and a mini-fridge where I kept a few drinks.

I noticed some were missing, so I'd probably buy some after work.

With both things in hand, the instant noodles and the soda can, I walked to the table where I usually ate, where I had placed the phone earlier, and left the soda there. I walked to the small single-burner electric stove I had, and left my noodles heating there.

I walked to the corner, just a few meters from my bed, diagonally, to my old computer table, and took the only chair I had, walked with it to the table.

I sat down, took out a cigarette from my pocket, and put it in my mouth.

"Should I light it?" I wondered.

I don't even know why I started smoking, really.

I just felt like it and that was it.

I walked over to where my instant ramen was heating and grabbed the lighter that was next to the electric stove.

I tried to light it for the first time, but it didn't work.

One, two, three times.

The fourth finally worked.

A carmine red lit the tip of the cigarette.

Two minutes had passed.

Three minutes later, a cigarette butt already turned to ash fell on my legs.

It was my cue to know that the noodles were ready to eat.

I took the cigarette, almost finished, and rubbed it against the wall in front of me, just above the concrete bar holding the stove.

Then, I reached out my right hand to the ramen, grabbing it with my bare hands.

"Damn, it's hot," I said, wrapping my right forearm with my left hand, feeling pretty stupid.

The pain quickly passed, becoming just a nuisance.

My eyes spotted a cloth that was on the table, I grabbed it, and with it, now securely, I took the ramen.

I walked over to where the soda was waiting for me and sat there.

I peacefully ate my instant ramen.

After finishing, I got up and with one hand on my waist, I drank the soda in one go.

My throat burned.

"Well, what to do now?" I asked myself, already knowing the answer.

I took the chair from the table and headed towards the table where my computer was.

Just as I sat down and pressed the power button, my phone, still on the other table, rang with a message notification.

Already seated, waiting for the computer to turn on, I got up and headed towards the phone, looking at two messages.

One from Yui, and another from Lily, Haru's younger sister.

"Yui: What are you doing?"

"Ryu: I'm about to start playing."

"Yui: Oh, I see, sorry... enjoy!"

I sent a happy kitten emote.

"Ryu: Thanks... sorry, but see you at work, okay?"

She hesitated writing something, apparently erased it.

She started typing again.

"Yui: Yes, looking forward to it!"

I sent a kitten emoji making a 'Okay!' gesture.

I closed the chat and opened Lily's chat.

"Lily: Are we going out this month?" she asked.

"Ryu: Sure, how about Sunday?"

"Lily: Perfect!"

Lily added a kitten emoji celebrating.

"Ryu: Alright, then, in 3 days."

She replied with a kitten emoji making the 'okay' gesture.

I turned off my phone and left it on the table, but not before silencing it.

The computer started, I entered my password, and almost as if it was what I had been waiting for all day, I clicked on the icon of the game to which I had recently become a bit addicted.

It was a game called "Divine Dungeons," an MMORPG.

I created a small guild, called "55 Therks," several joined right after its creation, all of them high-ranking.

In months, I surpassed each one in power.

Just as the loading screen passed, I received a private message.

"Dorodoro-san: Hey, Ryuk, how's it going, everything okay?" he asked.

"Ryuk: Couldn't be better, how about you, old man?" I asked.

"Dorodoro-san: Something good, you're logging in late today, that's good," he asked.

"Ryuk: What do you mean?" I asked.

"Dorodoro: You know, that thing about passing us in 3 months, it's a bit wild, kid, that you slow down occasionally makes me happy."

"Ryuk: Are you my grandpa?" I asked.

"Dorodoro: Oops, looks like someone got upset, I won't talk anymore then," he said, with an emoji of a face on fire.

"Ryuk: I'm not upset or anything, but shall we play?" I asked.

"Dorodoro-san: Sure, let's go then..." he replied.

We spent the next few hours until the alarm on my phone rang, reminding me that it was time to work.

We couldn't even pass a dungeon we were trying to clear just the two of us, as a way to prove something to ourselves or each other, I don't really know.

I grabbed my phone to turn off the alarm, and once again, something terrified me.

"You have 17 missed calls" from the same number as this morning.

I also checked the time, it was 6:20 PM, I had 40 minutes before work, and it was only 3 blocks away, so there was no rush.

I typed on the phone and dialed the unknown number that kept calling me.

"Ring... Ring..." the phone rang.

Once, twice, three times.

On the fourth, someone answered.

"Hello?" I said.

"...," they breathed.

"Is anyone there?" I asked.

"...," silence.

They hung up.

"What the hell?!" I exclaimed.

Such a weird person, better silence the number.

I silenced it.

Then, I stretched in the chair where I was sitting.

"Well, time to get ready for work," I said quietly.