a/n Another chapter for you guys! I actually had a sort of writer's block for the first time since I'm writing this (although I LOVED writing the Haru parts) , but I still hope you will enjoy your read. I will probably upload chapter 8 around the same time next week, so stay tuned!
"You're late, Joker." Morgana lazily turned his head towards the boy, who just entered the room with another fat tuna on the plate "Haru, can you please convince him to hurry up next time?
"Wrrrr..." Haru muttered and reached out for the boy.
"NO! MONA-SAN, PLEASE!" Ren backed a few steps away "I'LL BE QUICKER! I'LL GET BETTER FISH FOR YOU NEXT TIME! PLEASE, DON'T MAKE HER DO THIS AGAIN!"
"Haru, please pick up the plate and bring it here."
The muscular 18-year old grabbed the plate forcefully, almost making Ren collapse in the process and handed it over to the cat, who was laying like a king in Ren's bed. Morgana smiled, but then looked at the young man with a stern expression.
"Dismissed." Morgana said harshly.
"But Morgana-sensei." The boy bowed down "Where am I supposed to go? This is my room..."
"No, this is MY room now." The cat hissed "Go get me some fish. Do you want Haru to show you the way to the fridge?"
"But you already have a fish right there..."
"JOOOOKKKKEEERRRR!"
"YES!" The boy bowed down three times "I'm going! One plate full of extra fatty tunas coming right up!"
Ren turned around as quickly as possible and, terrified, ran downstairs with great speed. Haru turned to the cat.
"Geez, Mona-chan." The girl said in her manly voice and sat near the cat, causing the bed to shift considerably "I appreciate your generous payment, but that boy is a chicken. Are you really sure you need my assistance? Not to mention, I have a target in Seychelles I should be working on now."
"Don't worry, Haru. I know about your busy schedule... after all, with such reputation, how could it be any different. I will pay you tripple for that job."
"Where did you get all those money from, though?"
"Crafting."
"Oh."
"Besides, remember what I told you?About your father's palace? We can do it, Haru. As soon as we teach Joker a lesson, we can enter Okumura's Palace and will be able to change his heart."
"And then I won't have to marry that bastard?"
"Exactly!"
"Well then, I'll be counting on you, Mona-chan."
At the same time, Ren entered the attic once again, this time holding a gigantic plate full of Sprats The plate was truly huge, and the boy had problems keeping his balance. Finally he reached the bed and placed the plate right before the cat.
"What the hell is this?" Morgana hissed,
"Sprats..." Ren whispered and winced in fear,
"IS THIS A JOKE!?" Morgana angrily flipped the plate "You were supposed to get me some tuna!:"
"There isn't anymore tuna!" Ren fell to his knees "Mona-san, please!"
"HARRRUUUU!"
"NO! I Beg you! Sojiro, HELP!"
Haru calmly stood up, as Ren backed up against the wall. The girl roled her sleeves up, and Ren could clearly see how muscular her hands really were. She slowly approached Ren step after step, and the boy felt he was about to collapes from fear.
"Finish him, Haru!" Morgana yelled.
The girl raised her fist, but at the same time quick steps were heard on the staircase and Sojiro entered the room, panicked.
"What's wrong!?" The man asked "I heard some shouting!"
The old man and Haru looked at each other for the first time. At the moment their eyes meet, the teenager slowly lowered her fist. The two stood there for a good moment, doing nothing but looking at each other.
"Oh..." Sojiro finally stuttered "I didn't know you had a guest."
"Yes." Haru said in a absent voice "He invited me."
"Well then." The old man took a few steps towards her. "May I?"
Sakura gently picked her hands and kissed both of her palms.
"My name is Sojiro Sakura." The old man said, not letting go of Haru's hands "I am the owner of this restaurant."
"Duuuudeee..." Ren muttered slowly, observing the scene.
"Haru Okumura." The girl blushed a bit "Pleasure to meet you, Sakura-san."
"No, no, the pleasure is all mine."
"...whaaatt..," Morgana muttered just as slowly, if not slower.
"Forgive me if I sound... wrong, but... I never suspected this Kid" Sojiro glanced at the teenage boy and finally let go of Haru's palms "Would be friends with someone so... charming."
For some reason, Haru giggled stupidly, covering her mouth with one of her hands.
"...the..." Ren's eyes were as wide as the plate he brought to the room
"You don't really mean that, Sakura-san." Haru finally said, her face now as red as a tomato.
"Of course I do!" The man kissed her hand again "Your charm outweights even the charm of the most beautiful butterfly, flying lonely above the forest in the search of Hope."
"Oh, Sakura-san..." Haru giggled again
"What do you say if I were to invite you downstairs for some coffe and curry? I know a few special recipes... I'll lock the store, too."
"Well... I guess I can't say no to such... intriguing man."
"Well then, shall we?" Sojiro gesticulated for Haru to go first. Soon, they both vanished downstairs, not paying attention to the boy or the cat.
"...Hell!?" Morgana and Ren said in unison.
LINE BREAK
Ren was not happy. Within less then a week, the relationship between Sojiro and Haru intensified so much, that now the man allowed someone three times younger to call him "Soji-kun." Maybe he would be able to at least tolerate it, hadn't Sojiro constantly sneak in to his room at nights - after, supposedly, closing the shop and leaving -to browse through Ren's stuff and picking up souvenir's for Haru. Ren actually warned the old man that the next time he does that it will be his last, but Sojiro only murmured something about "True love conquering death itself" and told him to shut up, causing the boy to lose his sense of advantage over the old bartender.
Having someone who constantly cheats at his favourite game in the Arcades and insta-kills him exactly five seconds after starting a new game didn't help his mental situation either. He was actually passing near the arcade, when he heard a conversation that interested him, so the boy decided to enter,
"Who's that kid?" A young man asked his friend.
"That's the King. He's amazing." The other boy replied.
"Oh, I heard about him! He's just a little guy, though... must still be in grade school..."
The King suddenly paused the game. He slowly turned around, revealing himself to be a kid about 7-8 years younger then Ren.
"Whom are you calling a little guy?" He neared at the young man and raised his gun-game controller "Want a solo, asswipe?"
"No. please!" The teenager raised his hands and backed away from the gun. "I was just joking! You're the best, Shinya-san!"
"That's what I thought." The boy, Shinya, nodded and returned to his game.
Ren observed the scene with interest.
"He's dualwielding?" Somebody else asked with disbelief.
"Yeah. He's playing two opponents at once - and it's still too easy for him."
The black haired boy took a few steps forward.
"I'd like to play with you."
The King turned around once again and carefully eyed Ren with an condemning look on his face. Finally, he snorted and turned back to the screen.
"No, thanks." The boy said "I don't play with peasants."
Everyone gasped, and Ren felt red on the face.
"What did you just call me?"
"You heard me, cocksucker. Get the fuck out of here." The boy responded without turning around.
"Hey!" Ren hissed "Watch your language, Kid!"
"Suck a dick, retard."
"You little..." Ren grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him a few times "Do you know who I am!? You have no idea what happens to the people who cross me."
"What part of go eat shit don't you understand?"
"That does it!" Ren pushed him forcefully, causing the kid to drop the controllers and a game over sound emanated from the machine.
"I lost the fucking game because of you, shitbrain!" Shinya kicked him in the groin.
"OOOWWW!" Ren bent down in pain "You...punk..."
"That's right, just bent down, faggot." The 9 year oldboy calmly picked the controllers returned to the machine.
Ren turned his eyes to the machine and something... something didn't feel right. It all came together in his brain when he noticed the nickname the King used in the game. He immediately stood back up.
"You... YOU'RE THE CHEATER..." he pointed at the younger boy in a dramatic way.
The room instantly felt quiet. The boy paused the game. He slowly turned around again.
"If I am, then what?"
"What!?" Ren was furious "You ruined my entertainemnt!"
"Maybe I am the goddamn cheater, and maybe I am not. Not one of your fucking buissness, shitty n00b."
Ren could not control himself anymore. Sojiro's situation, the kid's rudeness, Takamaki getting a better score in the midterms... it all added up and now, finally the volcano named Ren Amamiya was about to explode."
"I WILL KILL YOOOOUUUU!"
Before the King could react, he was being attacked from behind. Ren Amamiya jumped on his back, which of course caused the nine year old to fall over. He tried to get up, but the teenager held him down. Somehow, a 1vs1 mode in the game was activated.
With his free hand, Ren grabbed one controller and shoot a few times in the direction of the screen. He did not do massive damage, but he scored 200 points. Despite thinking he was starting to get the hang of it, the teen stoped abruptly when he was forced to drop the controller after a kick to the jaw sent him to the ground.
"Fucking asshole!" Shinya grunted, but managed to get the controller from the floor "I will fucking rip your throat open!"
The young boy changed the hands in which he was holding the "gun" and pointed to the screen. He instantly dealt 500 points worth of damage
"AAARRGGGHH!" Ren yelled in pain, seeing his character's life bar going down more and more. He grabbed the King's hair and started to pull it. He managed to wrench some of them, but he quickly tossed them away and landed a gigantic punch on the boy's cheek, causing him to wince in pain and drop the controller
"You're dead, kid!" Ren, laying on his back, pointed at the screen. Another 800 points meant Shinya's health was halfway depleted.
"Son of a bitch!" The King was now laying on top of him, trying to get the controller back "I will bathe in your guts for the rest of my goddamn life!"
He managed to win back the device after his knee deeply entered Ren's stomach. However, the moment he scored 500 points more, he was pushed heavily and sent to the other end of the room.
Using this occassion, Ren managed to score 600 points more, when Shinya attempted to do the same with him. The teenager managed to counter the attack, but in the process he lost the controller which now was directly between them. The boys looked each other in the eyes and jumped at the same time.
Ren was the faster one. He managed to grab the controller. With three shots, he brought Shinya's life bar to the minimum.
The public - which by now was estimated to be around 500 people - gasped as Ren pointed at the screen again. But then, he heard some quiet sobs behind him. He turned around.
"Please..." Shinya had tears in his eyes and was shielding himself with one hand "Please... I don't wanna die..."
Ren's hand trembled a bit. and felt his finger... unwilling to cooperate. So he decided to hold the gun in his other hand.
"You... wouldn't shoot a child, would you?" The King begged, tears strolling down his cheek.
Ren took a good look at his opponent. That's true, Shinya did piss him off. And insult him. And apparently thought the whole death battle thing was for real. And he was also a cheater- someone who the Teenager hated the most. But he was still a kid.
"Please... have mercy"
The way he was pleading for mercy was almost pathetic. Mercy. It almost reminded Ren of something else... oh, that's right, the way some Shadows tried to beg him in the Metaverse. He looked at the boy. And smiled.
"AAAARRRRRGHHHHHH!" Shinya yelled as his character on the screen died a painful death "What have you doonnnee!? Oh my God, Oh my God... YOU HAVE KILLLEEED MEEEEE!"
Ren calmly put down the controllers and looked at the crying kid.
"That will teach you not to cheat."
"NO! NO! NO!" Shinya cried,pounding his fists against the floor "Now everyone will know that I'm a zero!"
"Of course you are."
Ren nodded to the boy and then went to answer some questions, as a few news anchors showed up to interview him.
LINE BREAK
For some unknown reason, the next day at School Ren felt like he achieved something great yesterday. Also, according to the news, over 200people were killed or injured during a skyscraper fire in Osaka. The morning could not have started better for Ren Amamiya. However, he wasn't prepared to what he was about to see. A familiar face - yet not the one he grew used to see in the school, was kneeling a few steps before him, and apparently, sniffing flowers.
"Oh, hello, Amamiya-kun." Haru Okumura noticed him and smiled "It's a nice day, isn't it?"
"Yes." Ren suddenly felt less confident. He wanted to say something, but was way too terrified.
"Those flowers smell so beautiful..." The girl sniffed again.
"Did... Morgana... send you?" Ren managed to ask.
"Huh?" The girl looked at him and blinked a few times
And then, for the first time, Haru Okumura laughed. And because her laugh was more similar to the one of a laugh of fully grown male then 18 year old teenager, something in it spooked Ren even more.
"No, it's nothing like that." Haru stood up "I don't do stuff like that anymore. I transferred here."
Now it was the boy's time to blink.
"Transfer? You mean, like..."
"Yes, of course. I am 18 years old, after all." Suddenly, she seemed upset "Listen, I am sorry about before. Mona-chan paid me good money... but I really am done with this stuff for good. I won't bully you anymore."
"That's good, but why... if I may ask?"
Haru laughed again.
"Oh, silly Amamiya-kun. I can't keep doing this. Me and Soji-kun have to get everything prepared, after all."
Some alarm bells ringed in the boy's mind
"Wait... prepared for what?"
Haru raised her eyebrows and looked at the teenager like he was mentally handicapped. Soon however, her new , honest and creepy smile returned to her face.
"Well, for our wedding, duh! You're such a dummy sometimes, Ren-kun!" she shook her head "Anyway, I'd better get going, I have I.T next! Feel invited to our wedding!"
And with that, Ren was left with his mouth hanging open, until the muscular silhuette of Haru Okumura vanished from his line of sight. He suddenly felt the tremendous need to sit down, but there weren't any benches, so he just slid down the wall. The boy brought his hands to his face and closed his eyes.
"Dude..." Ren whispered "I don't follow this shitty storyline at all..."