The days had become harder for Riku. His classmates, those who had once been his peers, were now turning their backs on him. Whenever he walked through the bustling streets of Tokyo, he could feel the weight of their gazes upon him—gazes full of judgment, mockery, and pity.
The whispers followed him wherever he went.
"D Rank. No Essence. What a joke."
"Isn't he a joke for even trying to be a hunter? He's just wasting his time."
It wasn't just the kids at school. The higher-ups had started to approach him, too. And their words were even harsher.
"You're going to get yourself killed," one of the senior warriors, a member of the Elite Hunter Guild, had told him bluntly. "By the end of this year, you'll either be fired or wiped out by a Beast or a Villain. You have no power to survive this world. Why don't you just quit while you're ahead?"
Riku had stood there, nodding silently, not because he agreed with them, but because he knew there was nothing else to say. His voice felt trapped in his chest, his mind clouded with frustration. They were right, in a way. His situation was hopeless, and yet… he couldn't bring himself to give up.
That evening, as the sky dimmed into a stormy twilight, Riku sat on the roof of his small apartment building, staring out at the city lights below. The soft hum of the rain against the concrete mixed with the distant sounds of cars and sirens. Tokyo felt so far away from him now. It was a place where dreams were made, but Riku felt like he was stuck on the outside, looking in.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed in his pocket. Riku pulled it out, surprised to see an unfamiliar number.
"Hello?" he answered, his voice low and uncertain.
"Riku Hayashi?" The voice on the other end was calm but firm.
"Yes?"
"We've got a mission for you," the voice continued. "We need you to report to the Essence Hunter's Guild Headquarters immediately. You've been assigned to a mission team. Be there in twenty minutes."
Riku blinked, his heart racing. A mission? He hadn't been on a real mission in years.
"But… I—" He wanted to ask about the mission, about who he'd be working with, but the call had already ended. The line went dead.
His mind raced as he stood up, the cold rain now soaking through his clothes. A mission. This could be his chance to prove himself. To show everyone he wasn't just some kid with no Essence.
Without another thought, he rushed downstairs and out into the storm, heading toward the guild headquarters.
The headquarters was a towering building, one of the most prestigious locations for Hunters in Tokyo. As Riku entered the main lobby, he was greeted by a few guild members who gave him curious glances. Some of them recognized him, but most just ignored him.
"Riku Hayashi?" A tall, broad-shouldered man with a sharp gaze called out, stepping forward from the shadows. "You're late. Follow me."
Riku nodded, his mind still swirling. As he was led through the building's grand halls, he tried to calm his nerves. This was it. This could be his turning point.
He was taken into a small briefing room, where three familiar faces were already waiting. His heart dropped as he recognized them.
Daigo, Shun, and Miki—the three boys who had beaten him up three years ago. They sat there, looking casual, but there was a certain coldness to their smiles. They had grown stronger in the past three years.
"Hey, look who finally showed up," Daigo sneered, crossing his arms. He was an A Rank now, with his dark hair slicked back and his expression arrogant. "Still no power, huh?"
Shun, his sharp features betraying a smug look, added, "Didn't think they'd let a lowlife like you on a mission. You should be cleaning up after the real warriors."
Miki, the third of the trio, chuckled quietly. "Guess we'll just have to protect you. Wouldn't want you to die out there."
Riku clenched his fists but didn't respond. The last thing he wanted to do was give them the satisfaction of seeing him angry. He had to focus on the mission.
"Enough," the guild member who had led him in said sternly, glancing at Daigo and his friends. "This mission isn't about personal grudges. It's a dangerous one. A Beast has been spotted near the outskirts of the Rift Zone. Your job is to eliminate it."
The room fell silent as the weight of the task hit everyone. Daigo's smirk faded slightly, and Shun's posture stiffened. Even Miki looked less relaxed.
"You'll be working together," the guild member continued. "This isn't about who's the strongest. If any of you fail to work as a team, you'll all fail. Understand?"
Riku nodded. He didn't care who his teammates were. He wasn't going to back down. This was his chance.
"Good," the guild member said, stepping aside. "You leave tomorrow at dawn. Prepare yourselves."
As Riku walked out of the briefing room, his heart was still pounding. Daigo, Shun, and Miki had already started talking amongst themselves, but Riku didn't care. They were his teammates now, for better or worse.
He had no Essence, no rank, but this was his moment. He would prove them all wrong.