In the end, towards Agent K’s offer, Heath said that this decision was not his alone, since he lived with his cousin who knew nothing of the I-9 class's true nature. Which is why he couldn’t just put his signature on it yet, thankfully, the smiley man agreed to let him go.“You can just send me an email of it when you have the time. Please consider my sincere offer wisely, Sagara-san. After all, you’ve worked hard when it should have been our responsibility.”His words seemed well-intended, and a bright smile was present, but for a moment there, Agent K's smile looked absurdly evil. Heath couldn’t hide his flinch as he tried to mask the blaring alarm in his head at the sight with his own smile. The juxtaposition of the agent's demeanor with the sinister undertones was unsettling.He had wondered why Agent K switched up so fast all of a sudden. But now he realized why the smiley man, who never seemed to actually smile with his eyes, hadn’t been grilling him further despite the chances.
“Henhen?”“Hmm?”“What are you doing, man?”“Resting.”Heath sighed as he turned to his right, where the blonde man lay down. “You do realize this bed has no space for two grown-up men, right? Why are you here?”Henko just grinned as he looked to his left. “If we sleep on our sides, it’s possible!”“Haa… geez.” The brunet facepalmed before chuckling. “A sleepover at this age, my dude?”“Sleepovers aren’t limited by age.”Heath sweatdropped at the curt reply. “Can I at least get why you insisted? Aren’t I usually the one being all clingy?”“Yeah, yeah, you are. So it’s my turn now.”“But I’m still sick. Weren’t you the one who told me to sleep early today?” Heath arched a brow, questioning. Yet Henko remained quiet.“?”Not only did the blonde ignore that question, but he was also actively avoiding the topic without avoiding Heath entirely.“Henko?” Heath prompted, concern creeping into his voice.Henko sighed deeply, staring at the ceiling as if it held the answers he was searching fo
"It's the end..." At last, he had managed to avenge his fallen comrades and bring an end to Nyxen's tyranny over this once lush land. Glancing over the bloodied room, the swordsman had always been terrified of the moment he would become the king. It had been a fate he had avoided, being the only prince of this cursed kingdom. Yet, had he known that relinquishing his rights would result in this ring of fire, he would never have run away. If only he had known the number of souls sacrificed and the losses he would endure. 'If only I could turn back time and stop being a coward...' However, that was nothing more than wishful thinking. After all, he couldn't possibly turn back time. Even with all the existing magic, including vile elements itself and the Quadradirmia, there had never been a way to alter the flow of time. It was something beyond human jurisdiction. "Congratulations, Your Majesty. You finally did it," that short comment was uttered by none other than his sworn brother, Er
"Ah... so this is it?" He had always pondered the fate of people after death, offering prayers each night as he relentlessly fought for the war to come to an end. His fervent wishes were for his cherished loved ones to be relieved of their suffering. ‘I suppose... At least death brings tranquility.’ Setting aside the anguish of betrayal he had endured, there was a peculiar sense of solace in being slain by Ernesh. After all, there was no one left to hold on to, and living with the burden of guilt weighing on his soul... perhaps departing from that world now that he had reclaimed the throne wasn't such a terrible outcome. ‘I mean, at least I didn’t leave my role behind on purpose this time?’ As he drifted into what appeared to be an unending abyss, a bitter smile graced his lips… … Or that was until— . . . . . "WAKE UP, MADAFAKA!!!" WHACK! "Ack!" That brunet exclaimed as he clutched his throbbing head. "The fuck!? Who–!?" Blinking excessively, those brown eyes widened i
"Oh, you're actually cleaning the room?" The surprised voice of the still unnamed man caught Heath's attention. He responded with a quiet hum and a quick nod, continuing his task of collecting the empty bottles. "um, do you need help?" the man offered. After thinking it over for a bit, Heath agreed, "I'm going for a deep clean," which meant he would be throwing away a lot of garbage. Although he inherited the memories stored in this body, it would still take some time to recall all of them one by one. ‘Besides, he offered first.’ The quicker they finished the task, the sooner they could have a meal. However, Heath was not expecting the surprised look on the blond man's face. "What?" "Uh, oh, nothing. I just wasn't expecting that answer," he answered sheepishly before entering the room properly. Raising a brow, Heath finally took a proper look at the man. "He looked somewhat familiar." In his previous life, he did not have any blood relatives, at least none that he knew of after
"Right. So, before we eat, here," Heath said, handing the blond man a piece of paper and a pen. "What's this?" Confusion was crystal clear on his face, but Heath only sat there, smiling innocently, without saying much. The blond man couldn't help but feel slightly alarmed as he witnessed the pure smile on the brunet's face, considering the recent downfall the younger had experienced. A tingling sensation in his head urged him to run. However, despite the warning signals from his fight-or-flight instincts, curiosity grew even stronger, ultimately winning over. He finally made up his mind and took the paper and pen offered to him. "Write your full name there," Heath instructed curtly. Still suspicious, the blond man gazed at Heath and asked discreetly, "My name? What's this for?" However, the brunet didn't give him a moment to ponder further and pressed a bit, saying, "I'll tell you once you write it, so just do it." "Tch. I swear, if this is some kind of prank," the jade-eyed ind
"Right, so I can't seem to remember what's so important this time around that you hit me on the head with a dictionary. What's today's occasion, Hen-hen?" Musashi Henko, as indicated by the name he had written on the paper earlier, was now affectionately referred to as Hen-hen by Heath. This nickname perfectly captured his caring and nurturing nature, akin to that of a mother hen, always attentive and protective of those around him. It was a fitting moniker for someone who had been a constant presence in his counterpart's life, looking out for him like family. In a way, Henko was more than just a friend or cousin. Through the maternal line, he had a distant familial connection with Heath, making their bond even stronger. They had shared countless memories and experiences, growing up together from a very young age. This long history of companionship had forged a deep understanding and closeness between them. Hearing this, Heath wasn't surprised anymore that he and his parallel self w
"H-How...?" His jaw dropped. Henko did not expect such a drastic change simply from a change of clothes. "Hmm?" "How the fuck did you just transform from a nerdy dork to this?" In his stunning transformation, Heath emerged in a crisp, tailored suit that effortlessly enhanced his once nerdy figure into a captivating and sharp look. The suit, expertly crafted from a luxurious fabric, draped his frame with precision and elegance. Its deep navy hue conveyed a sense of authority and sophistication, perfectly complementing his newfound confidence. The jacket, meticulously tailored to fit his form, featured a slim cut and structured shoulders that accentuated his broadened physique. The lapels, sleek and refined, gracefully framed his face, drawing attention to his strong jawline. The crisp white dress shirt, flawlessly pressed, added a touch of refinement and contrasted beautifully against the rich, dark shade of the suit. Completing the ensemble, a slim, silk tie in a complementary sha