FIVE [ R ]

Ryohei didn't have the memories of the past — of the original Ryohei's past. His mind remained a blank slate, only recalling fragments when he saw familiar faces. But his body was different. It moved with an unsettling certainty, such as instinctively guiding him to his desk, or somehow knowing the route to his workplace. The memories weren't his, but his body remembered. 

What was even more unsettling was that his body seemed to know who was an enemy and who was an ally. The shift in atmosphere or the tension in his chest revealed the emotions the original Ryohei must have felt towards the person.

Just like now.

The man in front of him looked distressed, yet Ryohei felt a strange sense of joy, even relief, though he had no idea why. The name slipped from his lips before he could stop it. He didn't recognise the man, but somehow, his mind did.

"Lev?" Ryohei called, feeling surprisingly calm. He didn't know who the exasperated man in front of him was, but his mind reminded him that he was a friend — one of the few people who had shown him respect in this world. The man in front of him even called Ryohei—

"—Senior!"

Ryohei blinked in surprise at being referred to as such. Sure, his mind had reminded his consciousness beforehand, but it still felt new — especially compared to the cold welcome he'd received earlier that day.

Ryohei smiled wider.

"What're you doing here, Lev—?"

"Why didn't you tell me you were coming today?!" Lev exclaimed, cutting Ryohei off and surprising him. "I promised we'd walk to the office together! That way, they wouldn't try any funny stunts on you! I even prepared my bodyguard stance just for today, but you went in by yourself anyway! I called for you outside the office so many times, Senior!"

Ah, was that what it was?

Ryohei vaguely recalled hearing his name being called in the lobby, but he had brushed it off, thinking his mind was playing tricks on him. He watched Lev ramble animatedly, not even stepping aside as the elevator doors kept trying to close.

Ryohei placed his attention back to Lev, who was still rambling, though it sounded more like a gentle scolding. The youthful energy of the man reminded Ryohei of an adorable child, or an eager puppy even, full of boundless enthusiasm. He chuckled softly at the comparison, catching Lev off guard.

"What's so funny, Senior?!" Lev asked, his face flushed with embarrassment. "I'm really worried about you, you know!"

"I know, I know," Ryohei laughed. "But are you going to keep blocking the elevator?"

Lev jumped in embarrassment before scurrying into the lift, standing next to his senior. Ryohei laughed again before finally closing the doors, glancing at his colleague — or junior?

"Sorry for not telling you, Lev. But look, I'm fine," Ryohei said, holding his arms out with a grin.

Ryohei might not have known about the promise, but he couldn't bring himself to upset the colleague who the original Ryohei had been so close with.

Lev stood silently next to him, the low hum of the elevator filling the air. His earlier rambling had stopped, but only momentarily.

"I saw what happened earlier. The moment I arrived, they were already messing with you. But before I could do anything, the director stepped in."

He paused, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

"I'm sorry, Senior. I wasn't fast enough. Even Kana was blaming herself for being late to work — we didn't know you were coming today."

Kana?

The name felt familiar, but Ryohei couldn't place a face to it. Still, the warmth in his chest grew. Among his colleagues, at least two seemed to care about him.

"You two worry too much. I'm not a child, you know," Ryohei chuckled, trying to reassure his colleague.

Lev blinked, staring at him for a moment.

"I was thinking about it earlier, but you seem different, Senior."

Ryohei turned to him, raising an eyebrow, and Lev's eyes widened as if realising what he had just said.

"Uh— I didn't mean it in a bad way! It's good! Not that you weren't good before, b-but—"

Ryohei's laugh interrupted him, loud and genuine. "Hahaha!"

Lev's face flushed in embarrassment as he continued to ramble. But in the midst of his nervous chatter, his expression softened when he saw Ryohei's relaxed face. It had been so long since his senior laughed this freely in the office.

Lev wondered what Ryohei had done during his two-month break, but whatever it was, it seemed like a much-needed escape. The Ryohei in front of him felt unfamiliar, but he didn't dislike it. He was glad to see his senior finding joy, even in such a toxic environment.

Ryohei's laugh slowly faltered as he glanced at Lev, feeling a sense of gratitude for his colleague's presence. Did Lev follow me to the director's office out of worry?

The elevator doors finally slid open, revealing their office floor. He took a breath, preparing to face the office and its stifling atmosphere. Despite the suffocating air that greeted him, Ryohei felt more at ease with Lev by his side; Lev who made the atmosphere feel less tense than before. Perhaps it was the youthful energy radiating from him that brought Ryohei this comfort.

He glanced at his junior, who was now quiet and lost in his own thoughts. A sense of calmness settled over Ryohei as he considered how glad he was. He didn't expect the original Ryohei to have many friends, but he was beyond thankful to have someone who felt comfortable with him, even if it was just one. Having someone to talk to in this universe felt... relieving, especially as the weight of solitude he had unknowingly carried began to lift, even if just slightly.

"Ah," Lev muttered, suddenly stopping in his tracks. "I forgot to mention..."

Ryohei raised an eyebrow but kept walking. But as soon as he opened the office door, the sight in front of him caught him off guard. The area where his desk was supposed to be, there were… metallic walls surrounding it like a shield. Ryohei could hear Lev's awkward chuckle coming from behind him, and could almost feel his eyes shifting away.

"Kana was looking after your desk to make sure no one messed with it while you were at the director's," Lev explained, stepping forward. "Both of us took turns guarding it when you were away. Anytime someone dumped files on it, we put them right back." He sighed. "It was clear last Friday, but they're relentless."

Ryohei stared at the metallic shield for a moment longer. Was this Kana's power? His chest warmed, realising that despite everything, he had people who cared about him in this hostile environment. Still, wasn't this too much?

His thoughts were cut off when he noticed a familiar short-haired woman seated nearby, her posture tense, eyes locked on him like a hawk. There was no mistaking her presence — Kana, his mind recalled. Before Ryohei could fully register what was happening, she was already on her feet, marching towards him with fiery steps.

"H-huh—?"

"—Ryohei Senior!" Her aggressive tone made the said name finally recognise her. Huh... wasn't Kana a friend? Ryohei found himself backing away slightly, intimidated by the shorter yet fierce woman in front of him. 

"Why didn't you tell me your break was over?!" she shouted, hitting him lightly on the arm. Ryohei blinked, bewildered. Sure, her approach was fiery, but he couldn't sense any hostility behind it. 

"If you had told us earlier, I wouldn't have taken my time coming in today! How could you keep us in the dark?!" Unlike Lev, who wore his worry on his sleeve, Kana was full of energy and frustration. But somehow, Ryohei knew she wasn't really mad at him. 

He found himself chuckling, just like he had with Lev earlier. But instead of embarrassment, Kana's fury only grew.

"What's so funny?! Do you think this is a joke?!" Kana fumed, her words spilling out in a flurry. "What would've happened if the director hadn't stepped in?"

Her rambling should have been annoying, but to Ryohei, it felt oddly warm. A quiet guilt crept in for finding the situation so amusing, yet he couldn't help but smile. If Lev was like a puppy, Kana was definitely a cat.

"Stop furrowing your brows," Ryohei teased gently. "There's no joy in life if you worry too much, you know."

Kana abruptly stopped, her eyes widening as she stared at him.

"I thought you seemed different," she said, her tone suddenly sincere. "But I was wrong." She smiled, softer now. "You still try to find joy, even when the world treats you horribly."

Ryohei's smile lingered as he closed his eyes. You know… I'm really starting to think Ryohei and Reika are the same person.

"What's with the serious tone?" Ryohei teased, opening his eyes. "Is that why you call me 'Senior'? Because you thought I was cool?" His playful tone eased the atmosphere, and as expected, Kana's fiery attitude returned, making Ryohei chuckle.

As their light-hearted banter continued, Ryohei's gaze shifted to the rest of the office. His colleagues were staring, and not all the looks were friendly.

"Hey," Ryohei started, his tone quieter now. "Is it really okay for you two to be around me like this? Won't you guys get isolated from the rest of the office?"

"Who cares?" Kana scoffed, turning to glare at them. "It's more fun to be with Ryohei Senior, anyway."

"Oh, aren't you cheeky," Ryohei laughed, lightly tapping her temple, earning a flustered blush from Kana and a laugh from Lev.

"Besides," Lev chimed in, "We have a higher rank than them. They wouldn't mess with us."

Ryohei blinked, his curiosity piqued. "Hm?" 

Lev glanced at his senior, a look of surprise on his face when he noticed Ryohei's confused look. "Oh, were you not aware of it?" He paused, then added, "The two of us are C-rankers. Almost everyone else here is D-rank."

Ryohei blinked again. Hey, hey, Ryohei. You're pretty impressive, huh? Two C-rankers as your loyal bodyguards... Just who are you?

He chuckled inwardly. He had always assumed his 'bullies' were far above him, probably B-ranks, judging by the way they treated him. To think they were only one rank higher. It almost made him laugh out loud.

Ryohei sighed, amusement bubbling beneath the surface. He placed a palm over his face, hiding the wide smirk that was threatening to show.

What's this? He couldn't stop grinning. Isn't this just too funny?

◆◆◆

"Finally," Ryohei sighed in relief, "I'm alone."

He turned off the tap before staring at his reflection in the mirror. It wasn't that he was avoiding Kana and Lev, but they hadn't left his side since they met up earlier. He knew they were only trying to protect him, but he still needed some personal space. It even took some convincing just to stop Lev from following him to the restroom.

Maybe because Kana and Lev were glued to his side, but no one bothered him after his return from the director's office. While he was glad about it, having the two stick to him at all times felt rather excessive. But still, his mind was preoccupied with something else the entire time: his workload. Before coming to this world, he was just a normal university student. Now, he was an office worker in the sales department — apparently a senior, too.

If there was one thing to be grateful for, it was that his body remembered how to do his job. Somehow, the knowledge flowed naturally, saving him from needing to ask for help. Asking Lev or Kana was out of the question — they were his juniors after all. And as for the others? Definitely not.

Ryohei sighed, running a hand through his hair. His thoughts flickered back to the conversation earlier. D-rank, huh? His lips twitched into a smirk before he caught himself, quickly covering it with his hand.

"Ah, not again," he muttered, chuckling softly. They almost saw me earlier. It wouldn't be good if they had caught that.

He still couldn't explain why, but amusement kept creeping in — an amusement he knew he shouldn't show in front of anyone. He had planned to act like the original Ryohei, but after today, he figured it was better to pretend the original Ryohei had gone through an upgrade instead. It wouldn't do him good if he were to start laughing over trivial things like his colleagues' ranks.

With another sigh, he turned the tap on again, splashing water onto his face. Hopefully, that would cool the grin tugging at his lips. He stared at his reflection, and a thought bubbled up.

Aren't people here a little too obsessed with ranks?

He had noticed it all day. Everyone seemed to revolve everything around ranks like it was the only thing that mattered. The higher you were, the more control you had over others. Sure, he understood it, but was it really that serious?

He found it funny but understood how easily people could become influenced by such a mindset. Still, there was something he couldn't shake off.

Why was Ryohei an E-rank?

He glanced at his hand. "Ranking is based on your understanding of your power and how well you control it," he muttered. "But Ryohei knew his power well. And it's strong, too." So why...? Did he have trouble controlling it before?

Ryohei sighed once more, straightening up. It had barely been three days since he'd came here. Rushing into things wouldn't help. Besides, he wasn't on any clock. No point in stressing himself out. After all, he hated dealing with unnecessary hassle.

Too troublesome.

"Ah, there you are."

Ryohei's thoughts were cut short as the restroom door creaked open, revealing three unfamiliar men by the entrance. Their grins were sharp, malice radiating from them. He could feel the hostility from them before they even spoke.

"We've been wanting to talk to you," the man in front paused, stepping into the restroom. "But your two little bodyguards kept getting in the way. Now, finally, you're alone."

They approached with smug expressions, closing the distance.

"Hey, do you remember me?" the man asked, a grin playing on his lips.

Ryohei glanced briefly at him before looking away. "Sorry…"

The word seemed to fuel the man's ego as his grin widened. "What was that? Are you scared—"

"Sorry, but," Ryohei cut him off, locking eyes with him. "Who are you again?"

A brief pause followed, the man processing the question. Ryohei knew it wasn't the best time for this, but his mind genuinely drew a blank. A third-rate villain, perhaps?

"What did you say?!" the man exclaimed, his face flushing red with embarrassment. "Are you trying to act all tough?"

"No," Ryohei replied, his tone flat. "I just don't remember you."

The man's face twisted in anger. "It's Lucas!"

Ryohei's eyes flickered for a moment, trying to place the name. Lucas watched intently, pride swelling in his chest as he saw the flicker of recognition.

"Did you finally remember?" Lucas asked, his voice dripping with mockery. "Remember what I did to you—"

"Sorry, but I really don't know you," Ryohei interrupted again, his brow furrowing. Even he was surprised by how little his mind recalled. Must've been insignificant.

Lucas stammered, clearly frustrated. "Y-You—"

Ryohei glanced at the two men behind him. "And them? Your… minions?"

Their reactions flared with anger, but Ryohei felt only amusement. What is this? A group of high school bullies?

"Nevermind," Ryohei shrugged. "I don't think I need to know."

Ryohei was caught off guard when Lucas shoved him into the wall. He stumbled but quickly regained his balance. Before he could even process it, Lucas grabbed his shirt, yanking him forward. Ryohei could now see Lucas' furious eyes up close, the tension of clenched teeth visible in his face.

"You think you're all tough now because you've got a couple of high rankers protecting you?" Lucas spat through his teeth. "What? Did you go through some confidence training during your little break?"

Ryohei's gaze flicked over Lucas' shoulder, catching the other two men standing silently, watching, their smug faces failing to intimidate him. Even in this situation, he couldn't take it seriously. Yet, he knew better than to make a scene here.

"Did you miss me or something?" Ryohei chuckled, his voice low as he pried Lucas' hand off his shirt. "If you want to be friends, just say so."

Something inside Ryohei felt different — he wasn't just confident. He felt no fear. If he were still Reika, this situation would've terrified him. But now? He didn't feel like he was an actor playing a scene, but rather a spectator watching an old scene play out. 

To think I'm not afraid anymore...

Lucas snarled, shoving him into the wall again, harder this time. His face twisted with fury, yet his lips curled into a mocking grin. "You think I'd wanna be friends with an E-rank? I'd rather see you off this earth. That'd make me the happiest."

A flicker of anger surged inside Ryohei, but he kept it under control. He sighed, stepping away from the wall, brushing the creases from his shirt. "Can you stop pushing me? It's getting annoying."

Lucas clenched his fists, knuckles whitening. "Cocky, aren't you?" His grin widened. "Let's see if you're still cocky after I break your face!"

Suddenly, a flicker of memory flashed in Ryohei's mind, catching him off guard. A slightly younger version of himself appeared — on his knees, begging. 

"S-Stop... P-Please..." 

Desperation.

Ryohei begged, curled on the ground as laughter echoed around him. As if it was a response to his desperate pleas, another punch landed in his stomach, knocking the air from his lungs. He felt liquid dripping down his temple — it was blood.

Pain. 

"Can't even handle a single punch?" A man's laughter rang out, towering over him. His eyes were filled with malice, and his grin was full of mocking happiness. 

Anger.

"How weak."

BOOM

Lucas' punch came, but Ryohei didn't flinch. His hand shot out instead, grabbing Lucas' fist effortlessly, the force absorbed like it was nothing.

Lucas' eyes widened. "W-What—"

"Ah," Ryohei exhaled slowly. "I remember you now."

Lucas stumbled back, but Ryohei didn't release his grip, his hand tightening around Lucas' fist instead. The man's smug expression collapsed into panic as pain flickered across his face. Ryohei squeezed harder, crystals threatening to appear from his skin, watching the man before him wince.

Lucas yanked his hand free, stepping back in shock. "Y-You…" He cleared his throat and straightened his posture, trying to appear confident. "You finally remembered me, huh?"

Ryohei's gaze slid away, dismissive. "Took me a while, but yeah. I remember who you are now."

Lucas' face twitched, ready to retort, but Ryohei cut him off.

"You sure gave me hell," Ryohei's voice was calm yet cold. He took a step towards the door without looking back. "Hey, leave me alone from now on, will you?"

Lucas sneered, trying to mask the fear he felt creeping up. "What? Are you scared?"

Ryohei's footsteps echoed as he reached the door. Laughter echoed behind him — the same laughter from his newfound memories. A flicker of anger sparked inside him.

Then, it happened.

A dark, suffocating aura filled the restroom, freezing Lucas in place. His chest tightened as if the air had turned to iron. His breath hitched. And then, pain — sharp and unrelenting, as if something had pierced straight through him.

Lucas' eyes widened, terror overtaking his face when he glanced down. A black spear protruded from the ground and straight through his chest. There were black crystals crawling up its shaft, shimmering under the dim light. His heart pounded as the world seemed to collapse around him. But when he blinked, it was gone. Everything was back to how it was before.

He stared at Ryohei in horror, the pain still pulsing through his body.

"W-What…" he stammered, his eyes wide with fear as his knees threatened to buckle. "What did you do?"

"Consider this your only warning," Ryohei murmured, his eyes hard as they met Lucas'. 

"I might have my fun next time."