Chapter 2

As the sun rises in the east, a new day began as birds chirp in the skies while the chickens welcome the sunshine.

And in a certain Japanese-style villa, a young man woke up from his dreams inside his room. He yawned as he stretched his arms up in the air.

Feeling reluctant to move, he forced himself to get out of his bed and tiredly stood up, heading straight to the washroom.

Creak~

Entering inside, he turned on the sink and splashed his face with water as the cold slightly alleviate his sleepiness.

Raising his head, he looked straight into the mirror and saw his appearance.

On the mirror was a handsome and youthful man with messy milky hair, light brown eyes, and a drowsy expression while letting out a yawn.

It took him a few minutes to finish cleaning himself up and went back to his room to grab a pair of clean clothes to wear. Only after tidying himself up did he walk out and head toward the dining room.

"Good morning, Kaminari-sama!"

"Morning, young master!"

As the young man wander around the villa, all the people he met along the way greeted him by bowing as he nodded back at them in acknowledgment.

Just the way those people acted, one could tell that the young man or Kaminari strolling around wasn't an ordinary youth and that is because he wasn't.

He comes from a prestigious and honorable clan, the Ryuji clan. One of the three great clans of Japan and their history alone spans from the Edo period, showing how ancient and noble his clan is.

But in truth, he never cared about how noble or great his clan was, he only cared about one thing and that is to surpass a certain man.

Creak~

Kaminari opened the door to the dining room and saw a series of servants laying down a variety of dishes on the table.

"You're awake, Ka-chan!"

"Hm?"

He turned around just to see a middle-aged woman wearing a kimono as she walked toward him while tying up her long black hair into a ponytail.

"Good morning, Mom"

"Good morning to you as well~"

Kaminari took a peek behind her and saw no one which made his right eyebrow slightly arch up.

"Dad isn't with you?"

"Oh, he just left earlier saying he had to deal with some emergency work or something"

"Hm, I see..."

He just shrugged his shoulders and went to sit at the dining table as the servants started to leave the room quietly.

While his mom beamed a kind smile and nodded at the servants in gratitude before she sat down on the opposite side of the table from Kaminari.

"Thank you for the food!"

The two of them started to dine on the dishes as they ate in silence and only after a few minutes did her mom suddenly looked as if she recalled something.

"That's right! Ka-chan, are you going to your high school reunion today?"

"Reunion?"

Kaminari had a confused expression and thought about it for a few seconds when an imaginary light bulb appeared above his head, finally remembering what she meant.

"Ah! now I remember..."

Kaminari faintly remembered reading an invitation letter a few days ago about a high school reunion happening this Tuesday which is today.

"Well, who knows~"

"What do you mean who knows, young man?! Don't you miss your high school friends?"

Kaminari slightly twitch when he heard the word 'friends' as he started to recall his memories of being a high school student. His experience in high school could be shortened to one word, boring.

Nothing but bland and ordinary experience, everything that was taught there, he already knows.

And what's annoying is he had to suffer the greedy and selfish bugs that constantly fly around him.

'A friend, huh...'

Truth be told, he didn't have any friends back then. Most of the people who got close to him only did it due to his background.

Although he does have one friend, specifically a childhood friend though that didn't count since they were already friends before high school even started.

"That, well... umm..."

Kaminari wanted to deny her statement saying he doesn't need friends but seeing her terrifying smile, he felt a chill pass right through his skin. He could only swallow the words he was about to say and be forced to accept the situation.

"Sigh... okay, I'll go to this reunion or whatever"

His mom smiled brightly at his son's response and felt glad that he could finally get out of his room and touch grass. She remembered that there was a term for people like him.

'Ah, yes... an otaku'

If Kaminari could hear her thoughts, he would oppose her words with all of his power.

•••

"I heard there has been an increase in dungeon breaks in the past few weeks. Make sure to be careful on the way"

"You're worrying too much, Mom"

Kaminari smiled and didn't believe that he would be unlucky enough to encounter one.

"Plus what are the chances that I'll encounter one anyway"

"Well... you can never be careful, got it?"

"Yes, yes... I understand, I'll be careful"

Kaminari assured her and gave a thumbs up with a bright smile on his face. His mom could only smile helplessly at his son's carefreeness.

"I'll be going now, bye bye~"

"Yes, make sure to be back before dinner"

Kaminari nodded and entered a black sedan as he waved out of the window at his mother goodbye. Then shortly the car started and the driver press down on the accelerator as it drives away from his home.

Vrooooom!

His mother watched as the car slowly fade in the distance. When the car couldn't be seen anymore, her demeanor suddenly changed into a serious manner.

"Jirochou"

The moment she called out a name, a person appeared right beside her in a kneeling position. She momentarily glanced at him and nodded at his arrival.

"Make sure to protect him, understood?"

"Yes, Suzuki-sama!"

The man named Jirochou instantly flickered and disappeared, leaving behind a gust of wind in the air.

•••

Inside the Car

Kaminari yawned and stretched his arms up as he gaze upon the passing buildings out of the window. He slightly frowned when noticed that the car started to accelerate faster and faster.

'I'll arrive much earlier than the planned time if this goes on which means I have to force myself to communicate with the people there while waiting for the party to start'

Imagining himself having to talk to other people he doesn't even know or care about made him groan in annoyance.

'This won't do...'

Kaminari then knocks on the partition wall that was situated between the passenger and the driver's seat.

Knock~ Knock~

The middle-aged man driving the car heard the knock behind him and immediately reacted by pressing a switch close to the wheel.

Click~

A part of the partition wall that was separating the back and front seat, opened up as the voice of the driver was let out.

"Young master, how can I help you?"

"Go slower"

The driver was slightly perplexed by the order and couldn't help but glanced at the rear-view mirror to see the young man's expression.

"W-What about your reunion party, young master?"

"It doesn't matter, just go slower"

Seeing the indifferent look on Kaminari's face, the driver swallowed the next question he was about to ask and just nodded.

"I-I understand, young master"

Pressing the switch again, the partition wall closed up, and the car which was going fast started to slow down.

Seeing this, Kaminari finally smiled and relaxed in his seat as he opened up a compartment that had drinks and soda inside it. Taking one for himself, he popped open a can and took a sip.

"Ahh~ how refreshing..."

Kaminari wasn't the least bit worried about whether this will make him late for the party or not.

As for his mother's wrath when she gets to know about it, he could just lie and say they messaged him about the party having some delays or something.

Well, he'll think about it once it happens. For now, he could just relax and enjoy the atmosphere as the cold refreshing soda slid through his throat.

"How nice~ maybe I really should go out once in a while"

While Kaminari was enjoying the view and sipping some soda, his right pocket suddenly vibrates. He paused what he was doing and took out the thing inside his pocket which was his phone.

Turning on the screen, he saw what was causing his phone to vibrate and cheekily smiled. It was an alert about a text sent from his friend.

[Edgy Tsundere: Hey! I heard that you're going to the reunion party. I thought you said you wouldn't go?]

(A/N: Edgy Tsundere is a nickname)

Reading the message, Kaminari raised his eyebrow and began typing on the keyboard to reply.

[Kaminari: Where did you hear that from?]

[Edgy Tsundere: From your mother, of course]

[Kaminari: ... ]

Kaminari face-palmed himself and felt dumb for even asking, he should have figured it out easily.

Who else would tell her about this except his mother?

The girl's literally his mom's favorite, she dotes on her like a daughter even though she's not which baffles him.

He soon shakes his head out of his thoughts and focused on his phone as he types out a reply message.

[Kaminari: Say, do you really think I would take the initiative to actually go to such a bothersome thing?]

[Edgy Tsundere: Knowing you... that'll be a no]

[Kaminari: That's right! I would rather stay in my room than waste my time over some dumb reunion]

[Edgy Tsundere: That's true, you probably got forced somehow since that was the only way you would get out of your room]

The person who was on the other side of the phone was about to continue the last text when she stopped and thought of something. She grinned and erase the message she was about to send and wrote a new one.

[Edgy Tsundere: Well... this is good as well, maybe you can finally have a friend other than me and strip your title of being the Ryuji Clan's otaku ;) ]

Kaminari slightly twitched his right eyebrow when he read the text his friend sent. He could even imagine the teasing smile she had while writing this text.

[Edgy Tsundere: Hm? Why aren't you responding? Did you not see the last text? Shall I repeat it for you?]

The person on the other side of the phone could guess what kind of face Kaminari is making right now and laugh at the thought of that. She knew how he hated that title and laughed even more just knowing about it.

[Edgy Tsundere: What I said is pretty much you being the Ryuji Clan's otaku, did you get that? ;) ]

A vein popped in Kaminari's forehead when he read the text. He can even visualize the kind of mocking tone she would have if she had said this to him.

[Kaminari: Who are you calling the Ryuji Clan's otaku!? You b*tch!]

[Edgy Tsundere: Sorry, is that some sort of otaku language you're speaking? I can't seem to understand it ;) ]

[Kaminari: Oh? Do you want me to repeat it? Then I'll repeat it. You're. A. Sh*tty. B*tch... b*tch!]

[Edgy Tsundere: Hoh, is little otaku still pissed off over my win back then... loser ;) ]

[Kaminari: Huh!? You're the loser, you jacked sh*t tomboy]

The person on the other side of the phone smiled coldly as a small vein popped on her forehead the moment she read the text.

[Edgy Tsundere: Oh? Just because I have a more defining muscle than you, doesn't mean I'm a tomboy!? I bet you're just jealous, lazy nerd]

[Kaminari: Huuuh!? For your information, I exercise every day and have abs]

[Edgy Tsundere: Yeah and they're pathetic ;) ]

[Kaminari: Now it's on, b*tch!]

Kaminari cracked his neck and knuckles as he chuckled and began tapping his fingers at the keyboard rapidly.

The two of them bickered back and forth and they couldn't even count how many messages they wrote until they finally had enough.

[Edgy Tsundere: That's it! I'm going to the reunion party to beat your *ss]

[Kaminari: Then be my guess, I'll make sure to arrange the next headline saying the new S-rank Hunter beat up a civilian]

[Edgy Tsundere: Hahaha! It won't be a civilian but the Ryuji Clan's otaku instead ;) ]

[Kaminari: You're really pissing me off with that winky face emoji!]

[Edgy Tsundere: Hm? Are you afraid?]

[Kaminari: Me? Afraid? Fine, I'll be waiting for you there! I'm already at Warabi anyway. I'm just a dozen minutes away from Kawaguchi. So come if you dare!]

Kaminari snickered and turned off the phone in annoyance as he quickly knocked at the partition wall impatiently.

Knock~ Knock~

The driver was startled by the sudden knock and immediately opened up the partition wall.

"W-What is it, young master?"

"Drive faster"

The driver had formed a confused expression on his face when he heard his order.

"B-But just earlier..."

"I said, drive faster"

Seeing the annoyed and impatient look on his young master's face, the driver gulped and could only helplessly follow his master's order again.

"U-Understood"

The driver did as he was told and pressed down on the acceleration as the car started to go faster and faster and passed by multiple cars on the way.

"Is this fast enough, young master?"

"Hmm... yes"

Hearing the response, the driver nodded and closed down the partition wall as he started to focus on driving to avoid accidents.

'With this speed, I should be able to arrive there before she comes, and with that, I'll have enough time to prepare'

While Kaminari was planning and preparing for how he can survive the fury of an S-rank Hunter, his phone vibrated which snapped him out of his thoughts.

He looked down at his phone and read the text that his friend sent as he couldn't help but form a grin on his face.

[Edgy Tsundere: Btw there has been an increase in dungeon breaks lately, try not to die on the way or I won't be able to beat you up]

"How cute..."

Kaminari's annoyance instantly disappeared and chuckled at his friend's cute behavior.

[Kaminari: You act like my mom, it's disgusting]

[Edgy Tsundere: Shut up!]

[Kaminari: Hahaha... don't worry, there's no way I'll be unlucky enough to encounter one]

[Edgy Tsundere: Famous last words...]

[Kaminari: Don't jinx me!]

Kaminari turned off the phone and tossed it beside him without looking as he returned to relaxing while he sips the soda that he wasn't able to finish earlier.

"Hmm..."

While he was waiting to arrive at their destination, he couldn't help but think about what it would feel like to fight actual monsters rather than virtual ones. Even though he was trained and taught to fight them but the truth is, he couldn't even make use of it.

Sure he could defeat an ordinary grown man with skill alone but what's the point?

This is a world where strength matters, an unawakened man like him will not be able to succeed high in this society.

Only by awakening into a hunter will he finally starts to begin his adventure but alas, that day still has not come.

"Sigh... when will I awaken?"