"Oh, this flavor is good."
"Try this one too, it's great."
Sitting down on the fried chicken restaurant, we ordered different types of chicken flavors and fries. Now that the food's here, it's time for me to work. After all, dining together would always be the best way to bond.
Although Ilyas' first impression of Cedric and Xain wasn't the best, it hadn't plummeted into the point of no return.
"Cedric, put down your phone and try this one."
"Alright, don't treat me like a kid."
"You're a kid in my eyes."
"Shut it, I'm older than you."
Luckily, this time, Xain and Cedric were cooperative in terms of attitude. These guys weren't inherently evil in the first place, their rational mind was messed up by illness caused by impurities which made them snap at the smallest things.
But through our time together, I knew they had the potential to change. And as Ilyas guided us more extensively, these guys' emotional fluctuation would return to normal.
"This guy right here is a real nutjob. He brought us to a meditation center and told us to cleanse our minds. Does he think we are crazy or something?" Xain said angrily.
"Even worse, he made us stay until our legs cramped right after he forced me to the gym." Followed by Cedric, who was nibbling his chicken.
Suddenly becoming the target of their conversation, I wouldn't back down just being accused, so I replied in a serious manner, "It's for the greater good of humanity."
Both of them shot me a weird look.
"Pfft! Haha!"
Hearing our arguments, Ilyas laughed out loud.
"Hey! What's so funny about this! We are suffering right here!"
I clicked my tongue, "Yes, you guys are suffering from success."
I stood up from my chair and went behind Xain and Cedric, "I mean, look at you, Xain has more charm if he was calmer, and Cedric looks even more amazing if he has biceps to flex on. This is great in the long run!" I said excitedly, as if proudly presenting my students in front of the class.
"Really? I'm more charming that way?" Xain stared at me with sparkling eyes, as if asking for confirmation.
"He's gaslighting you Xain." Cedric said, which was met with my glare.
Noticing it, Cedric averted his eyes and mumbled, "On second thought, Ethan's right, you are more charming if you are calmer. Maybe you'll gain more fans that way."
Xain's eyes widened, as if being dreamy. My gaslighting had wonderfully succeeded.
This made Ilyas laugh even more. He wiped his face as tears had started pooling in his eyes.
Seeing Ilyas didn't stop laughing, Xain scratched his head in embarrassment, "Ah, really, what's so funny about this?"
I tapped their shoulder firmly, "Anyway, don't think about it too much. As your captain, all I do is for your own good. So just trust the process, okay?"
They both grumbled for a bit before continuing to eat their chicken.
It didn't take long for the four of us to finish our plates. I initiated small conversations to connect them with Ilyas, once again reminding them of a guide's right and planting seeds of friendship between the three of them.
It is beneficial to get them to know each other and set up boundaries for our team's future relationship.
By the time we came out of the restaurant, it's already 5 o'clock. But if someone asked me whether this outing was a success in building friendship or not, I would say with 1000% confidence that it was.
The proof was the three of them in front of me talking in peace right now.
"Ilyas, you should come hang out in the gym too, just look at that scrawny body of yours!"
"I don't think I can use any esper gyms with a civilian body."
"True, don't say nonsense Xain, he would die from exhaustion by the time we finish our sets."
Hearing them joke with each other made me nod to myself. It might look small, but it's the first step toward the right direction.
'Hm?'
Sensing the change of vibrations in the air, I stopped in my track. Cedric and Xain also stood still to watch. Ilyas was the only one confused.
"What's wrong?"
Following our gaze, Ilyas also looked up. The sky that looked clear had distorted as cracks formed on it.
"Rupture."
Different than gates, which opened by absorbing the frequency of its surroundings – creating an artificial space with an environment of its own. Rupture was a phenomenon where our world was connected to other world as a result of a collision in the universe.
Mostly those that came out of the rupture were mindless monsters that attacked everything in their path – whether it was building or people.
RIINGGG!
Alarm blared from speakers planted on the street around us. A mechanical voice then came out from it, looping its message.
"Rupture is detected nearby, please evacuate to the nearest shelter. I repeat…"
Hearing the announcement and sensing the urgency of the situation, Ilyas timidly asked, "Um, what should we do?"
Though his words didn't specify who he was talking to, his eyes were directed at me – asking me to make a decision.
Technically, if a rupture happened, any esper within the area had the obligation to subjugate the monsters that came out of it. And that applied to us too.
So there's no need to avoid it, especially with three S-ranks gathered here. Our help would make the subjugation ended faster and minimize the damage to our surroundings.
With a grin on my face, I asked my members, "What do you guys think? Why don't we do some after-meal exercise?"
"Let's finish this fast."
"Heck yeah! I want to move my body around!"
I nodded, "Then it's decided, let's get this over with and quickly go home."
The rupture slowly cracked open, revealing its bloody red insides. From beyond it, monsters with horns and wings came out. In term of appearance, it resembled a gargoyle, but instead of hard stones, their body were made from flesh and bones.
Hundreds of it came out from the rupture. Though numerous, it posed no problem for Cedric and his wide area skills.
The bad news was, it didn't just stop there.
Large hands grabbed the edge of the crack, trying to enter through it. Followed by a giant head emerging from it. Turning the sky dark just from its presence.
A boss-level monster had emerged.
"Oh, shit."
I shouldn't have said that I wanted to go home quickly.
I jinxed myself.