Shadow Slave

Winter had grasped the streets of NQSC with frigid fingers, making people on the streets shiver from the chill and hurry to get inside. The sky was distant and cold, full of icy clouds.

In one of the more prosperous districts of the city, a splendid-looking young man was sitting on a rusty bench, cradling a cup of luxurious plant-based coffee in his hand. Despite being dressed in light clothes, he didn't seem to be bothered by the cold. In fact, he looked like nothing in this world could bother him.

The people rushing past the park couldn't help but throw furtive glances at the young man. His expensive clothes, lithe figure, alabaster skin, gleaming onyx eyes, and lustrous raven-black hair... but, most of all, the aura of confidence and subdued power emanating from him... made the young man look out of place.

It was as if he belonged in a marble palace instead of this small and bleak park.

Taking a sip of his coffee, Sunny grimaced and shook his head.

"...Still bitter."

Standing up, he tossed the empty cup into a trash bin and crossed the street.

There, a convenience store invited potential customers to come inside with a colorful sign. Sunny hesitated for a moment, then opened the door and did just that.

The bell fixed above the door rang melodiously, announcing his arrival to the clerk.

Ignoring the clerk, who was staring at him with wide eyes, Sunny looked around the modest store. There were all kinds of food items on the shelves, from cheap synthpaste rations to more extravagant natural snacks. This district was mostly visited by a somewhat affluent crowd, so there was a lot to choose from.

That said, Sunny did not really know what to buy. Despite having been an affluent person himself, once, he had rarely visited stores like this. Most of his time had been spent in the Dream Realm, anyway, and here in the waking world, he would usually either eat at the Academy or cook something up back home.

'Hmm.'

Sunny stared at the shelves for a while, then turned to the window, where a small dining surface was arranged for those who wanted to grab a quick bite right here in the store.

Currently, there was only one person sitting in front of the window. It was a pretty young woman in a neat school uniform, who was absentmindedly eating cup ramen while studying the screen of her communicator with a serious expression. She had pale skin and black hair, just like him.

In fact, one could even say that the two of them looked quite alike.

Sunny cleared his throat and then asked in a neutral tone:

"Hey. What's good here?"

The girl was distracted from her communicator and turned to him, still engrossed in whatever it was she had been reading.

"What?"

froze, looking at him with wide

bit bothersome before he Transcended,

He smiled politely.

would

to

acting

"Ah... yes... sir."

better than "brat", I

purchase himself the same type of cup ramen. Pouring boiling water into the cup, he sat down on the chair next to the young woman — there were only

a few moments of silence, the girl asked

ask, sir...

at her, then opened the steaming cup of ramen and

"Oh? Sure."

slurped a generous portion of noodles and chewed them

This

at him strangely, and then suddenly asked in

do

remained silent for a few

lightly shook

don't think you do. I mean, why would you? I'm quite a memorable

looked away in embarrassment, Sunny

"Why do you ask?"

girl shook

look familiar, sir. I must have mistook you

couple more seconds, then

worry. I won't hold

to his food, while the young woman finished hers. They

you a local here, in

at

the government. So, with everything that is going on, he is being sent to a new post. We'll be leaving in

Sunny sighed.

I'll be leaving on a

down, then

far away from