The day had finally arrived. December 12th, the day the Re:Start discord server decided to put aside their differences and finally meet in person. Tensions were high as the server members approached their designated meeting place; a small café nestled in a hidden corner of New York City.
"Why New York?" Ben thought, sighing heavily as he headed toward the shop beside Rin. "It's not my fault our resident Wrath King is too lazy to travel."
The pair had met each other in the nearby airport, having previously encountered each other on the inbound flight due to their shared English heritage. The cold night air relentlessly nipped at their heels as they continued forward, each boy staring at their respective phones without saying a word to his companion. The wind screamed and tore against their protective woolen hats and scarves, the fabric stretching and becoming taut due to the strength of the gale.
"Guys, hurry the fuck up," Ben hissed under his breath, rubbing his hands together in a desperate attempt to rekindle the fading warmth in his limbs. Ben's phone lit up, a confirmation of his greatest hope. King and Sage were on their way. "Thank God for that" he breathed, gesturing to Rin as he gratefully stepped inside the doorway of the establishment.
Rin selected a ten seater table, the largest option available. He had barely removed his coat and sank into the sofa's warm embrace before a gust of cold air blew into the café, signalling the arrival of his friends. Sage donned a standard sweater with black stripes, a print of the Witch of Envy adorning the back of the jumper.
"Good choice," Rin muttered, internally appraising Sage's choice of clothing to their meet. King followed soon after.
"Holy shit, he looks exhausted" he commented dryly. "I guess an overnight trip from the Philippines will do that to a person. God, think of the transfers" he winced, gently setting down his cap.
"I want to die," King despaired. "I don't think I've slept in two days. Ah well, it's worth it to finally put some faces to the names. Now, if only that jet lag passes, I might be able to make it through the evening without collapsing."
King crashed onto the sofa, greeting the two warmly as he did so. Moments later, Argo burst in, the door slamming behind him as he confidently approached the group.
"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes" he laughed. "And Sage! Crimson warned me that you were small, but holy fuck, you're tiny!"
"Shut up" Sage hissed, gesturing for Argonaut to take his seat. "The staff are staring."
"Probably because you're so short," he teased, taking his seat between Sage and Ben.
"I've got to say, this is a better turnout than I expected" he drawled, lazily looking around. "What have we got here, half the gang?"
"Sounds about right," King sighed heavily, sinking further into his seat.
As the group waited for the remaining members to arrive, King quickly forged a connection with Sage, taking solace in the fact that there was at least one person in the group apart from him that stood on the smaller end of the spectrum.
Din was the next to arrive, however he stumbled through the doorway so amusingly that it was literally impossible not to laugh. It was almost like he was pushed, wait, was he?
That question was answered when Legend came through the door behind him, laughing his ass off. It was clear he was pushed, and the giggling Aussie was obviously to blame.
'Good evening guys,' the pair said in tandem, King laughed upon meeting Din in the flesh, finally meeting his valued friend who adorned his phone wallpaper.
"I've got to say, you look more attractive in person," he laughed, his shoulders visibly trembling as he giggled softly to himself. King then looks at Legs, the description Legs gave was scarily accurate. It wasn't clear if what his gender or age was and the way carried himself did not give any clues.
7 people were now present, but the 3 yet to come were...interesting, to say the least.
Wannabe strolled in, gun in one hand, joint in the other. A supreme money gun hung loosely off his fake Gucci belt as he deftly removed his aviators, a shark like grin splitting his face as he surveyed his surroundings.
'
"What beta's" he sneered, much to the dismay of the assembled Sage Council.
Then, like a pair of crazy parents, Wantless and Flubaru ran in, panting.
"Lol" Wannabe said dismissively, turning his back to the commotion.
''Wannabe, put the fucking gun down man, youre gonna get arrested' Wantless roared, anger clear in his tone.
'Jesus Christ, this is ban worthy' Flubaru moaned, placing his head in his hands."If this was the Re:Zero subreddit, you would have been tempbanned by now."
Wannabe stared the pair down menacingly, throwing his joint to the ground and stamping on it.
'Still kinda cringe, bro' he muttered darkly, wiping his shoe on Sage's rucksack.
"Was this really worth it?" King contemplated quietly, absentmindedly picking at his fries. "I refuse to die over something as stupid as this" he snarled softly, "I should have just stayed home and enjoyed my coffee."
"How about we all take a deep breath and calm down?" King proclaimed, attempting to mask the rising annoyance in his tone as he addressed the group..
Ben stands up and strolls towards Wannabe, plucking the very real pistol from his small hands, handing it to the man behind the counter.
'Please sit down, man'' Ben sighed. He was on his last warning, after all.
Wannabe stomped his way to the nearest table, half occupied by a frail old couple, and took a seat, placing his dirty black air force 1's on the table. The couple looked mortified, but he didnt care, he was Wannabe after all.
Wantless and Flubaru took their seats as well. This was it, the whole gang was finally together. Ben was quietly conversing about something random and boring with Argo, King was drowning his sorrows in coffee, Sage and Din were making paper planes with napkins, Wantless was still shaken from chasing a gun-wielding teenager through NYC.
Finally, Flubaru spoke up:
'It's great to see you gu-'
'Please shut the fuck up, youre annoying' Wannabe interrupted, now very much interrupting the elderly couples meal.
'Anyway,' he continued. 'Nice to see you all, but i think we all have one topic in mind which needs to be discussed, no?'
"About how am I gonna pay for this?" King replied.
'Incorrect, i actually wanted to discuss the topic of Jesus Christ being born via asexual reproduction' Wantless chipred in, a scholarly look adorning his face.
Everyone went silent. The entire shop. The waitress dropped the teacup in her hand, a loud smash echoing.
'What, it's an important life topic' Wantless replied, genuinely confused as to why everyone was so shocked.
'Guys' the waitress called out. 'Imma have to ask you to leave, you're gonna put us out of business of you continue'
"Yep we're on our way ma'am, come on guys let's get out, I'm not paying for damage fees as well." King barks out.
''Great job Wantless really had to be a scholar, didn't you?'' sage said, genuinely trying to hold back his laughter.
The group stood up, eyes facing the floor to avoid eye contact. Wannabe fetched his gun, and they walked out of the shop clutching their stomachs, desperately trying not to busts out in laughter.
As the cold winter air hit their faces once more, they realised a huge, glaring inconsistency.
It was nightime when they entered, why the fuck is it light. In their minds they were confused but the minute their eyes opened, they almost fainted at the familiar sight of Demi humans. Ben was the first to speak, shouting loudly:
''HOLY MOTHERFUCKINGSHIT ARE WE IN LUGNICA''
The adventure began when 10 legendary figures were brought to the world of Re:Zero, the world they had obsessed over for so long. The fantasy world that had banded the gang together in the first place.
It was real, and they were about to start their adventure.
fin