for real

Just then, he heard a knocking sound at the door.

However, despite that, Ryner closed his eyes, and,

"......"

He ignored the knocking.

The knocking at the door continued.

"......"

More knocking.

"......"

More knocking.

"... Leave me alone."

More knocking.

"For crying out loud, there's nobody in the room right now!"

Ryner replied.

However, he then thought over it a bit, and,

"Ah, but if you're the food delivery guy, then feel free to come in!"

He said such things.

However, in response, the knocking continued.

Ryner scowled at the sound, and,

"Damn it, fine—who is it?"

He asked.

However, there was no response.

He raised his head at that.

He looked at the door with tired eyes.

"Ferris?"

He asked, but,

"......"

Unsurprisingly, there was no answer.

"Kiefer?"

"......"

"Don't tell me you're an assassin sent by Vois...?"

He said something like that, though he knew that that wasn't the case.

After all, he couldn't feel any killing intent from whoever was on the other side of the door. Their presence was also rough. He really didn't think that whoever it was intended on assassinating him.

In that case,

"Who is it?"

He said, getting up and moving off the bed.

The presence on the other side of the door made itself known again, as the knocking resumed.

Ryner frowned at that, and,

"I said, who is it? It's the middle of the night, y'know? You're being a nuisance to the neighbours,"

He said, to which the other party—

"Haha, what are you talking about? A nuisance to the neighbours?"

They said, laughing.

It was a male voice.

Moreover, it was a voice he recognized.

And regarding that, Ryner—

"......"

He was rendered silence at the man's voice.

Rather, his entire body tensed all of a sudden, and so he was unable to move.

After all, the owner of that voice wasn't someone who belonged here.

After all, there was no way the owner of that voice could be here.

In spite of that, the man spoke.

"Hurry up and open the door. It'll be troubling if I'm discovered by the guards, won't it?"

That voice that was far too familiar spoke.

At that, Ryner said,

"... D-Don't even try to pull that crap. Who the hell are you?"

As he asked that, the man replied.

"It's me, Ryner."

In response, Ryner spoke.

In a trembling voice, he asked this to the man on the other side of the door.

"... Sion?"

The man easily—

"Yeah, it's me,"

He said.

"Surprised?"

He said such a thing in a cheerful voice.

In response,

"......"

Ryner said nothing, however.

It was obvious that this shouldn't be happening. If that guy could come here so easily, then there was no reason for Ryner to work so hard.

It was so that he could meet with him again that he persevered so desperately.

So that Ryner could reach where he was one more time, he persevered.

"......"

Despite that, this guy claimed to be Sion.

On top of that, he introduced himself as Ryner's close friend with a voice that was just like Sion's.

"... What kind of hallucination is this?"

Ryner muttered.

"Someone sent from the Goddesses again?"

He said, gathering his strength as he prepared to fight.

And narrowing his eyes sharply,

"You're an idiot. Mimicking Sion like that... that's a bad joke. Even I get pissed off at something like that..."

He said, but then the doorknob turned, and,

"Ah, sorry, Ryner. The door was open,"

The man said such a thing.

"Can I come in?"

The man said such a thing.

Ryner didn't answer that.

If, by any chance, Sion truly had come here, he didn't know what kind of face he should be making.

On the other hand, if it were an assassin sent by the Goddesses, they should already be aware of Ryner's power, and so it'd be a risky situation as they tried to kill one another.

"......"

Either way, due to his tenseness, Ryner couldn't move.

However, not caring about Ryner's feelings on the matter, the door opened.

Slowly, it opened.

From the other side, a sole man appeared.

Long silver hair that gave off a noble air, and sharp, strong-willed golden eyes.

It was his face.

He was here.

That appearance.

Though Ryner didn't know whether it was the genuine article or not, at the sight of Sion's appeareance, Ryner felt as if he were about to cry for some reason.

Furthermore, as the man looked his way, he smiled happily.

With a look of genuine happiness, he looked at Ryner's face, and,

"Hey, Ryner. Long time no see,"

He spoke with a nostalgic expression.

"......"

Nevertheless, Ryner didn't respond.

He opened his eyes wide. And he invoked the power of his eyes.

He invoked his eyes of the Solver of All Equations that could see through everything in the world.

In the center of his black eyes, a glowing, iridescent tear-shaped pattern appeared.

And with those eyes, Ryner looked at the man's appearance.

He stared at the appearance of Sion.

"......"

But even as he looked with those eyes, it didn't seem as if this man was an assassin sent from the Goddesses.

Without a doubt, this man was Sion.

That work-crazed, almighty bully of a king.

At that, unsurprisingly, Ryner couldn't move.

He looked at the face of Sion who'd suddenly appeared.

He looked at the face of his close friend.

"... Is it really you, Sion?"

"Yeah."

"Why are you here?"

"You ask why—to work Ryner to the bone, of course~."

"Don't screw around."

At that, Sion's expression became somewhat timid, and,

"... Yeah, right. You're right. Sorry,"

He actually apologized.

And in response, Ryner became frantic.

"Ah, no, that's not..."

He began, but Sion shook his head at that.

"It's fine. After all, I know why you're mad, Ryner. But it's too late now, isn't it?"

"......"

"Is it too late for us to be friends again?"

He said such a thing.

Ryner frowned at that. As much as he willed himself not to, he felt like crying again, and so he frowned in order to ward that off.

And glaring at Sion,

"Seriously, what's with you? You just selfishly disappeared from our lives, and now you're waltzing back in at your own convenience? What the hell are you thinking?"

Again,

"I'm sorry,"

Sion apologized.

At that, Ryner spoke.

"Honestly. Do you have any idea how much you made us worry..."

"Sorry."

"Ah, I told you—"

"I'm sorry, Ryner,"

Sion said.

At that, Ryner's words were again lost. With an exasperated expression, he let out a sigh. And,

"... Ah, it's fine. Anyway, so what? Uh, explain yourself. What the hell is going on with you? Actually, wait, why the hell have you chosen now of all times to show up?"

He asked, at which Sion smiled wryly, and,

"A few problems are cropping up. The situation's changed."

"What situation..."

"Ah, can I come in first?"

"That's not important... No, like I said, hurry up and explain yourself."

At that, Sion entered the room. Looking at the bed that was covered in books and documents,

"This is far too messy."

"Because there's too much help."

"Haha, well, it's not that different from my office~. Though you would know, Ryner."

"Geez, didn't I tell you!? Hurry up and explain yourself!"

Ryner said.

In response, Sion looked Ryner's way, and with a gentle smile—