3

The sun was shining bright as the warm smell of bread from inside the bakery was replaced with fresh smell of dewdrops hanging on the leaves of nearby plants outside.

Ren closes the door to the bakery and locks the door. He then looks over to Leah beside him, carrying a plastic bag with small paper bags inside of it.

Ren asks Leah with worry in his voice.

"Are you sure you'll be alright?"

Leah let's out a cute pout before it transforms into a reassuring smile.

"Onii-chan. I'll be fine, really."

Ren, seeing his sister's determination was forced to swallow his worry.

"... Alright, just be careful, okay?"

Leah shows a wide smile as she starts to walk a bit faster than usual, her cane clacking on the ground sounding a bit more giddy than usual.

"I will!"

Ren watches Leah wave goodbye to him as she slowly walks off. He lets out a small sigh, perhaps from a tint of nostalgia, as he sees her figure slowly disappear.

Back then she could barely leave the house and would usually stick with me for fun... Now she's going to school, making new friends, and even became student council president... She's really growing up.

A proud smile forms in Ren's lips as he sees his once fragile little sister becoming more and more stronger. He could barely imagine what she would become in the future, but regardless what it is, he'll be there for her, like he always has.

****************************

The metal rails on the tram screeches as it makes a stop on the station.

Ren gets off of the tram and he takes his time going to school.

Walking in the sidewalk, Ren slowly takes in the sunlight warming up his skin and the sounds of birds chirping in the sky and trees, mixed with the sound of cars driving and honking on the road.

Unlike his district of 'Kumachinko' which was an entertainment district, The school's district of 'Asougi' was an academic district.

This meant that unlike Kumachinko that was filled with buildings, stalls and trash around every corner. Asougi had more 'natural' stuff compared to Kumachinko.

Ren distracted himself with these mundane thoughts because he had plenty of free time to spare.

Because of his sister Leah insistance to do the deliveries, Ren suddenly had a lot more free time than he knew what to do.

He could just go to school now and spend time there, but after yesterday's events he believes it will be better to avoid school for now.

Ren has always tried to avoid conflicts like the one from yesterday from happening. He would usually not interact with anyone unless it was necessary or they interacted with him first. And he would usually go to school right as the bell rang, and leave just as soon.

Maybe it's for that reason he has never made any friends, but for a school with 99.99% of its student body having talents and him alone being the only one without, the chances of him making a friend are very low. So instead, Ren chose to focus on his studies and forgo social interactions entirely.

Ren notices a convience store with its name plastered on a sign right on top of it 'JiJiBu Store'. Ren of course knows this store because there's another branch of it in Kumachinko.

But what really catches his attention was a man that looked like he was around his late 40s with spiky grey hair and a lab coat, face planted on the ground right outside of the convenience store.

"...."

The hell?

"Hey uncle you alright?!"

Ren gets closer to the man on the ground, kneeling beside him. The man's body can be raising and lowering, meaning he was breathing.

He's still breathing at least.

The man's body then starts to twitch and slowly move.

"Ughh... Food...."

Food? I don't enough to buy him something from the store... But I do have my lunch.

Ren reaches for his bag and pulls out a plastic container. When he opens the container, the distinct smell of warm baked bread fills the air and rushes to the man's nose. The man's body rises sharply and suddenly, like he was zombie from a zombie movie.

He took the bread out of the container like a hungry animal and starts to eat it like one.

There goes my lunch...

Eventually after the man finished Ren's lunch, he lets out a satisfied sigh while patting his belly.

"Ah, Sorry about that young man. But not eating after 2 weeks straight and not sleeping at the same time, does things to your body."

"Uh huh... So why were you half dying in front of a convience store?"

"Haaa... Well, if you must know I was looking for a way to test a new invention I made. And I supposed my half-crazed state decided it was a good idea to do it in a convience store."

"Invention? What are you an inventor?"

The man as if taking what I just said as a challenge, stands up.

"Inventor? If I can prove my invention works, I will become the start of a new scientific breakthrough! I won't just be any ordinary inventor. My invention will create a new world order!"

"....."

That sounds like my cue to get out of here.

"Well that sounds amazing, but I'm running late to class so-"

"Hold on a second young man."

Just as Ren got up, the person suddenly stops him in his tracks. His lab coat dramatically swaying in the wind as he held out his hand to stop him.

"How would you like to help me... No. Help mankind itself?"

"I politely refuse."

"Now hold on, don't be hasty just think about it-"

"No."

The man suddenly drops to the ground and clings on to Ren's leg.

"Hey?! Get off of me!"

"Please I'm begging you!!! The scientific committee shutted down my entire project! If I could show them that it works, they'll have to give me back my funding-OW! OW! Stop trying to kick me!"

"Get the hell off of me!!!"

Ren wildly kicks his feet trying kick the scientist off of him.

"WAAGGGHHHH! PLEASE I'M BEGGING YOU I LICK YOUR BOOTS! MY ENTIRE LIVELIHOOD DEPENDS ON IT WAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!"

The person then started to cry and scream like a baby while clinging on to Ren's legs, snot and tears staining his pants.

"Get a hold of yourself! Your like what?! 40?! And you're acting like this?!"

The scientist, with snot still dripping in his nose and tears in his eyes, his face was scrunched up like a much uglier version of gollum from LOTR.

"But! But!!! I don't have a- a- WAGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

The scientist starts to cry again like a child throwing a tantrum.

Several passerbys watch the scene unfold. One could only wonder what they we're thinking of as they gave weirded out looks at the scene, making Ren feel embarrassed.

"Okay! Okay! I'll do it alright?! So can you please get up from the ground?!"

"*sniff* R-really?"

The scientist gave Ren the puppy dog eyes look. Normally one would think such a look would be cute. But since the person giving the look was a middle-aged man...

"If you don't drop that stare, I'm stomping your head in the ground."

Ren says with a cold and frustrated look.

"*sniff* Y-yeah I got it."

The scientist gets up from the ground, letting go of Ren's leg.

With a sigh of defeat Ren tries to kick the snot out of his pants in vain, leaving him in disgust.

"Eugh... Anyways what the hell is the invention you were talking about anyways? And before you do any weird experiments, I'm Talentless so I have nothing interesting to give you."

The scientist rubs his tear and snot-stained face on the sleeve of his lab coat before replying to Ren.

"*sniff* N-no that's even better actually. Since my invention main targets are Talentless. Then, as a Talentless, what do you think is the biggest problem of our society right now?"

"Inflation, corrupt officials, poverty, hunger, discrim, crime rates rising, organized crime, unemployment, expensive healthcare..."

"Talents damn it!!"

"...Sure. I'll bite. What do you mean Talents?"

"Almost 80% of the world has a Talent and society itself was created around people with Talents. But what about the remaining 20% of people that are Talentless?"

Ren's suddenly became a bit more interested with scientist's words.

(Scientist) "I'll tell you what happens to them. Most of them fall into poverty and homelessness. If they apply for a job, even if they have a Master's degree, they would be passed over for someone with a useful Talent. And since most Talentless people are living in poverty and unemployed. Society view them as lazy and useless."

Ren raises an eyebrow at the scientist, intrigued at his knowledge.

"You're pretty knowledgeable with this stuff. Are you actually a political scientist?"

Ren sarcastically remarks.

(Scientist) "Hardly. I'm Talentless myself, so this is just my first-hand experience. I had to fight tooth and nail to get to my position and had to watch my younger and more inexperienced juniors get promoted before me."

The scientist sighs, seeming as if he's remembering some of those memories.

"Sorry to hear that."

"It's alright. Anyways back to the topic at hand. I believe my invention is the key to solving this problem."

The scientist then retrieves a small vial from under his coat.

Ren raises his eyebrow, skeptical at the scientist's words but interested in it.

"So what is it?"

The scientist shows a toothy grin as he confidently reveals.

"It's a way for Talentless people to get Talents."