Time for the New Recruit

Date: September 11

Place: Kyoto Headquarters

[Rei]

As soon as I stepped foot, he spoke aloud.

"I'll have no choice but to approve your request," he says holding the paperwork that I have submitted even before my temporary member got an audience.

"Thank you" I reluctantly looked directly at him who was already staring at me.

"As if I had any reason to reject your proposal, you'd even do me a big favor" he undeniably sighed and placed the folder down. He lifted his right hand and gestured like he was shooing a stray animal from his sight.

I bowed and silently turned my back from him and walked towards the door.

~skip~

[???]

I went back to the Kyoto Headquarters and headed straight to my room and previous workplace to gather some of my things.

I just grabbed my work uniform and a few papers and stationaries, not that it's a lot to begin with.

"Good luck buddy," one of my colleagues saw me tidying my things up as he stepped closer to me and patted my shoulder. "You'll finally be able to go somewhere you were made for," he sighed and gave me a warm smile.

He was one of the work buddies that I have gotten close to in my time here at this hell hole. He's also quite skinny and light-skinned as me but always smeared by dirt from head to toe, we both work by carrying boxes here and there, sometimes even cleaning places that no one would want to even step in.

Our department does the safe and little work that nobody notices.

"What do you mean," I gave him a light nudge as I completely packed everything. "I'd rather work here forever than go outside that dangerous workplace" his eyes widened in surprise then turned into a pitied look.

"You can be honest to yourself sometimes you know," he pulled me in for a tight hug. "Don't die" I can feel his grip on my dirty and almost rugged uniform from behind.

"Hey! That's a bad omen George!" despite my insensitive reply, I also returned his hug and messed up his hair after it.

That's when I noticed the few bruises that he was trying to hide; in his neck, lower lips, arms, and the side of his stomach as I caressed it slightly.

It was certainly the work of those want-to-be-thugs in our group. And now that I'm leaving...he'll be all alone.

Both of us went silent until I broke it."When was this?" I looked straight into his eyes as I tried to recall the last time we were beat up together which was three days ago.

"It's fine," he tugged my hands away. But I didn't break eye contact to force the truth out of him. "It was when you were summoned" he sighed and scratched the back of his head.

"Look" he tried to divert my attention. "I'm fine" he tried to reassure me by flexing his nonexistent biceps. "I'll do fine" he laughed to mask the awkward atmosphere I've created.

I just smiled and hugged him one more time and he flinched while returning it.

"Alright, I'm gonna go now," he followed me and cracked up a few jokes while we walked to the lobby.

"Ohh! This one's sure to make you laugh" he cleared his throat while we were both waiting for the elevator to arrive. "What do you call a snake that's 3.14cm long?" he grinned and snickered a little when he couldn't contain the laugh.

"I'm not sure" I rolled my eyes.

"It's a pie-thon!" he yelled that made some of the bystanders look at us funny. But he just laughed at his joke while I giggled about this situation.

"I got another one," he bragged as I just nodded and prepared myself.

"What are the strongest days of the week?" he stuffed his laugh with his palm.

"What?" I went along with him.

"Saturday and Sunday" he paused which made me question as I didn't get it.

"Why?" I turned to him in utter confusion.

"Because other than those two are weak-days" he finally got his laugh out while I just stared at him in amazement at how he found those amusing.

The elevator rang open. "I'll see you around, and don't forget to drop by sometimes" he started waving me goodbye as I hopped in and pushed the button to the hallways of where the 'Reaper's office is.

I could sense his faint begging to not leave him alone there but also the relief that I was going somewhere far from where he was.

"I will," I say as the door slowly closed and I couldn't keep my eyes away from his neck and lower lips where I was reminded of his fresh and new bruises.

I don't even want to think about how he'll be the only one to get those harsh beatings without me to share it.

After a few more minutes of checking on the floor map near the elevator, I memorized the path I should take to the lounge.

This hallway is new to me.

I see everyone in their respective uniforms, clothes that look like it was made from high-quality materials, well-kept hair, movements that look refined, and body types that scream perfection.

And this is the exact moment that I feel like my nickname; 'Puny' suits me perfectly compared to the people here. What am I even doing in a place like this?

I suddenly just avoided everyone's gazes while I stared at the floor unconsciously.

"Did you lose something?" The sharp and confident tone of voice pulled me back to my senses when she implied how low my head dropped. "You won't be able to find the lounge at that state" She repeated as I found myself slowly raising my head to face her.

Her expressionless face calmed my thoughts.

"Miss Rei" I blurted out without thinking.

"Drop the honorifics, I even despise being called Captain" she sighed.

"Rei" I mumbled, looking around just to avoid her scary stares.

"You were taking so long so I came to find you" she explained while I tailed her as she walked towards our destination.

"I'm sorry, my friend and I chatted for quite a while" I answered as I couldn't help but notice the eyes of others.

Earlier when I was alone, they didn't pay attention to me at all.

However this time, it's as if their eyes were about to pierce us.

Their eyes were going crazy glaring at Rei and me, going back and forth but mostly at her.

"Who's that?" I hear them whisper while judging my figure.

"New victim?" Another adds, giggling at my sight.

"Doesn't she get tired of it?" Some judgmental comments are hard to miss. They were almost practically screaming it.

But Rei wasn't at all interested in any of it when I saw her just walking straight while also keeping her head straight.

"Why isn't she dead yet?"

"Her members are so unlucky to be assigned to her"

"Shouldn't we save that frail-looking boy?"

They kept gossiping in earshot, giggling and waiting for any sign of reaction from her.

"You didn't tell your friend, right?" suddenly, her voice was all I could hear.

I didn't take a single minute to process her question when I instantly reassured her. "Of course not!" I panicked.

"Good" she paused at the doorstep.

I didn't even notice that we already arrived.

"Now keep that to yourself, and only yourself" She didn't give me enough time to respond when she opened the door and two great-looking men awaited us from the other side.