CH2: An order, not a request

Ray let out a deep sigh of relief as his heavy eyelids slowly fluttered open, revealing his surroundings. He found himself in the familiar comfort of his hostel apartment, which he shared with his close friend and course mate, Henry.

The soft glow of the evening sun cast a warm ambiance through the room, and the sound of gentle humming could be heard from the bathroom.

Just then, Henry emerged from the bathroom, wrapped snugly in a towel, with his toothbrush still clutched in his hand. His eyes lit up with a warm smile as he caught sight of Ray waking up from his evening nap. "Hey, you're awake?" Henry asked, his voice tinged with a hint of surprise.

Without waiting for a reply, Henry had continued, "I have to head out and see someone, so I might be running a bit late tonight." He paused, gesturing towards the kitchen. "I've already prepared some noodles for us, I already ate mine, so feel free to grab yours whenever you're ready." With that, Henry turned and headed back into the bathroom, adding, "I'm going to take a quick shower before I head out."

Henry had articulated everything he needed to convey, but Ray remained eerily silent, his voice trapped in his throat. The reason for his uncharacteristic silence lay not in indifference, but in the turbulent storm brewing within him.

As he watched Henry disappear into the bathroom, Ray's fists clenched into tight balls, his knuckles whitening with restrained fury. Every fiber of his being screamed for him to lunge at Henry, to unleash the pent-up anger and frustration that had been simmering beneath the surface.

But Ray's rational mind managed to exert a tenuous grip on his emotions, holding him back from committing an act of unbridled violence. The justification for his ire, however, was unmistakable.

Henry, the affable roommate and coursemate who had shared countless moments of camaraderie with Ray, harbored a shocking secret: he was the very same hero protagonist who had callously extinguished Ray's life in all of his previous incarnations.

Ray let out a deep, resigned sigh as memories of his first reincarnation came flooding back. He recalled the familiar setting of this very house, where he had initially reawakened with a sense of trepidation and uncertainty.

Upon laying eyes on a youthful, vulnerable Henry, Ray's instincts had gotten the better of him, prompting him to engage in a reckless fight. However, the outcome had been disastrous: as he had ended up dying sooner than in his original life.

The bitter taste of defeat still lingered, serving as a stark reminder of the importance of restraint. "Right, I must keep my anger within myself for now," Ray admonished himself, his voice barely above a whisper.

"This is my last chance; I simply cannot afford to mess it up. I have to defeat him, no matter the cost." With newfound determination etched on his face, Ray rose from his bed and began to pace slowly toward Henry's bed, which stood opposite his own.

Ray's eyes narrowed as he carefully picked up Henry's phone, his fingers moving swiftly to unlock the device. With the phone now accessible, Ray began to scroll through Henry's texts, his gaze scanning the conversations until he found the one he was looking for.

Michelle's name had caught his attention - one of the renowned Heroines and, more significantly, the first girl Henry would ever date.

Without hesitation, Ray clicked on Michelle's chat and began typing a message, his fingers flying across the keyboard.

"Hi, change of location. Let's meet at Ragnarok street. There's something I'd like to show you." He paused for a moment before hitting the send button.

The response from Michelle was almost instantaneous - a casual "okayyy" that seemed to convey a sense of excitement and anticipation.

A sly smile spread across Ray's face as he contemplated the success of his plan. By changing the location of Henry's meeting with Michelle, Ray had effectively prevented the two from crossing paths, at least for the time being.

This was merely the first step in Ray's grand scheme to seduce all of the Heroines, thereby disrupting the natural course of events and potentially altering the outcome of his own destiny.

A pivotal incident was destined to unfold at the location where Henry would be meeting with Michelle, one that would entwine the lives of them both in a profound way.

The consequences of this event would lead to an invitation from the esteemed HAHA group - Heroes And Heroines Association - an organization that brought together the world's most exceptional heroes and heroines, who in the next few years to come, will have the world and its balancing in their control.

However, Ray was resolute in his determination to disrupt this sequence of events. By manipulating their meeting place, he aimed to prevent Michelle from being present at the crucial moment, thereby altering the course of their destinies.

To achieve this end, Ray had crafted a deceitful message, informing Michelle of a change in location. Her response, a casual"okayyy," had been precisely what he had anticipated.

Ensuring that his meddling remained undetected, Ray had meticulously deleted the chat history, erasing any evidence of his interference.

With his plan set in motion, Ray retreated to the sanctuary of his bed, wrapping himself in a blanket as he settled in to await the unfolding of events.

Moments later, Henry emerged from the bathroom, his gaze instinctively drifting toward his phone, which had pinged as soon as he approached it.

"Oh, Michelle has texted," Henry announced, his voice tinged with excitement, as he picked up his phone from the bed.

Ray's eyes snapped open, his attention piqued by the mention of Michelle's name. He had assumed that his clandestine conversation with her was already concluded, leaving him perplexed as to why she would be texting Henry again.

A flurry of questions swirled in his mind: Was there something more she wanted to discuss? Had she forgotten a crucial detail?

As Ray's thoughts unraveled, his eyes widened further, struck by a disturbing realization. What if Michelle was inquiring about the new location he had mentioned to her?

The implications were dire: if Henry were to become aware of what he had done, Ray's carefully laid plans would be jeopardized, potentially upending the delicate balance of events he had sought to manipulate. It would seem odd to Henry since they had planned to meet in an entirely different place.

Ray sprang out of his bed with alacrity, his movements swift and deliberate as he strode toward Henry. Reaching out, he grasped Henry's shoulder from behind, his grip firm but friendly.

"Talking to another girl, hmm?" Ray said, his voice laced with a playful, teasing tone, as he attempted to conceal his genuine concern.

Henry turned to face Ray, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Haha, you know I'm not as good as you when it comes to talking to girls," he replied, his voice tinged with a hint of admiration. "And besides, it's the same girl I told you about – Michelle."

Ray's curiosity was piqued, and he probed further, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Oh, the girl you met at the school gym last week? What did she say?" He asked.

As Henry began to respond, Ray's gaze surreptitiously darted toward Henry's phone, his eyes scanning the screen for any revealing information. His gaze was met with a text message from Michelle, the words"I'm already on my way" gleaming on the screen.

As Ray discreetly viewed the chats on Henry's phone, Henry felt compelled to elaborate on his plans. "We're scheduled to meet at the Queens this evening," he explained, a hint of nervous enthusiasm creeping into his voice.

"I'm planning to ask her out, and I really hope everything goes smoothly for us tonight. You know, a man's got to muster up the courage to take the leap." He chuckled, his eyes gleaming with determination.

Ray responded with a wry smile, his voice laced with amusement. "Yeah, you're right. Man's also got to have some feminine energy around him sometimes." He offered Henry a nod of encouragement. "I'm wishing you the best of luck on this one, man. Have a fantastic time on your date."

Henry grinned, appearing relieved by Ray's supportive words. "Thanks, my guy," he replied, before turning his attention to dressing up for his evening out.

Ray returned to his bed, but not before heaving a silent sigh of relief. For a heart-stopping moment, he had feared that his clandestine plan had been compromised.

Fortunately, it seemed that his secret remained safe, and Henry remained oblivious to the subtle manipulation that had taken place.

With the last text from Michelle still lingering on Henry's phone, a reassuring silence had ensued, indicating that all was well. Neither Henry nor Michelle had initiated further conversation, allowing Ray to breathe a sigh of relief.

Moreover, Ray's vigilant gaze had caught a crucial detail that had escaped Henry's notice: the dwindling battery life of his phone. It was only a matter of time before the device runs out of light.

Henry, now impeccably dressed, made his final preparations before departing. He said his goodbyes and had immediately left, boarding a taxi to where he was meant to meet with Michelle.

Moreover, his swift exit had been promptly followed by Ray's own metamorphosis, who had instantly donned his finest attire, carefully selecting a pair of sleek shades and a stylish wristwatch to complement his outfit.

Next, he retreated to his wardrobe and retrieved an exclusive, high-end perfume, its expensive aroma wafting through the air as he sprayed it liberally onto himself.

As a scion of a wealthy family, Ray's financial resources knew no bounds, affording him the luxury of acquiring the finest things life had to offer.

This starkly contrasted with Henry's more humble upbringing, his circumstances a far cry from the privileged world Ray inhabited.

Ray strode confidently toward the parking lot, his eyes fixed on his sleek, supermodel car, its sleek design and vibrant color a testament to his family's wealth.

With a swift gesture, he unlocked the vehicle using his fingerprint, the doors swinging open with a soft hiss. Slipping into the driver's seat, he felt a surge of adrenaline as he prepared to set his plan in motion.

"Alright, time for action!" Ray declared, his voice low and determined, as he placed his shades on the bridge of his nose.

Just as he was about to start the engine, a familiar ringing tone pierced the air, interrupting his momentum. Ray's gaze dropped to the screen of his phone, his eyes narrowing slightly as he saw his father's name flashing on the display.

A hint of annoyance flickered across his face. "What on earth does this old man want?" Ray muttered to himself, his tone tinged with a mix of frustration and resignation, before he reluctantly picked up the call.

A thunderous voice bellowed through the phone, causing Ray to flinch slightly, his ears recoiling from the onslaught.

"You damn brat! How dare you flirt with the wife of one of our contractors?!" The words were laced with anger, each syllable dripping with indignation and outrage.

Ray's frustration boiled over, his teeth gritting in exasperation. 'Why now, of all times, does this old man have to call me? And about something so stupid?' he silently fumed, his mind raging with anger.

Ray's attempt to defend himself was swiftly curtailed as his father's harsh words continued unabated.

"Father, it's not what you think—" Ray began, but his words were unceremoniously cut off.

"Come home right now!" his father thundered, his tone brooking no argument.

"You refused to join the family business, and now you're damaging my business and reputation?!" The accusation hung in the air, heavy with recrimination.

Ray endeavored to maintain a composed tone, carefully choosing his words to avoid inflaming his father's ire.

"Father, I'm afraid I won't be able to come home immediately. I'm currently in my car, I have an appointment to attend to. I'll make sure to visit as soon as I've concluded my business here," he explained, his voice measured and even.

However, Ray's attempt at placation fell on deaf ears. His father, John Chester, was a man notorious for his unyielding nature and exacting standards.

"I didn't ask for excuses, and I won't tolerate disobedience," John retorted, his commanding tone brooking no dissent. "You'll be meeting me at home in ten minutes. That's not a request, it's an order and a recurring fact!" With that, the call was abruptly terminated.

Ray's countenance darkened as he reflected on the conversation. While he was often regarded as intimidating, his father was a force to be reckoned with – a man whose ruthlessness and cunning inspired awe and trepidation in equal measure.

It was only just a few seconds after the call had ended, and something strange had started happening. The doors and windows of the car he was in had instantly been shut closed. And a female robotic voice could suddenly be heard speaking.

"Car is now being automatically steered to the Chester's mansion. All doors and windows have been locked. Seatbelt has been placed on to ensure the user's safety. Do have a nice ride home!"