Ren stood in front of the mirror, turning slightly left, then right.
The plain white tee hugged his chest and shoulders. Black jeans. White sneakers.
His hair was swept back with just enough product to look effortless. The light jacket hung over one arm, ready in case the evening cooled.
『B was right. Why the hell would she call me over for science revision the day after I confessed? 』
The system chimed softly in his head.
[Points Balance: 3,000. Tier 1 Gear Store now accessible.]
『Not now. 』
He reached for the small bottle of perfume on the nightstand, spritzing once at his neck and once at his wrists.
Then the die-with-a-smile ringtone exploded.
♡Izzy♡
Ren was already grinning, half-singing the melody under his breath as he answered.
"Z," He tapped speaker and set the phone on the bed, watching his own reflection as he moved.
"Hey." Her voice filled the room. "How are you?"
"I’m good, Z." He studied the way his mouth moved in the mirror, the slight tension at the corner of his jaw. "Was actually about to call you."
"Sorry, your voice is really low."
He picked the phone up fast, bringing it closer to his mouth. "I said I was about to call you."
"Mhm. Called to remind you, actually."
"Yeah, I’m on my way." He checked his eyes in the glass, trying to lock in calm confidence. "Be there soon."
"Okay. I’m waiting."
Neither of them hung up.
Ren looked at himself and smiled, small, private, hopeful.
『This is going smoother than I expected. 』
***
Across town, Izzy lay on her bed, phone still pressed to her ear, staring at the ceiling.
『Why aren’t you hanging up? 』
The line finally clicked dead. She sat up, hair falling across her face. She killed the screen and stared at her reflection in the dark glass, flushed cheeks, slightly parted lips, eyes too wide.
『Don’t look like you tried too hard. 』
The phone rang again. Unknown caller. The same number from six hours ago.
『Marvin?!! I’m not answering you. 』
She hadn’t saved it. Her thumb moved anyway.
"Isabella Garcia." Marvin’s voice slid through the speaker, calm and controlled.
"Hey."
"How’s your evening looking?"
"Kind of locked in."
"How locked... in?"
"Got a meeting with a friend."
"A friend?" A faint note of amusement colored his tone. "I thought you were busy with bigger things."
"I—"
"Can I see you in twenty minutes? I’m in Central Mayvel right now."
"Honestly, I—" The words tangled on her tongue.
"Don’t keep me waiting, please." He didn’t wait for her answer. "I want us at the Lady Vega presentation tonight. Live. You’ll meet some big brands. This is your introduction to the industry."
"Sir—"
"Where do I find you?"
"....Mayvel Centre."
"Good. Setting off now."
The line went dead.
Izzy stood frozen in the middle of her room, heart hammering. The black dress she’d laid out earlier hung on the chair. She had plans with Ren. Now Marvin had dropped this on her like it was already decided.
『You think you can throw a plan at me with zero notice and I just show up? That’s not how this works. 』
She didn’t move.
『Lady Vega’s premiere. Live. Meeting licensed heroes. This is the dream. The literal dream. 』
Her eyes dropped to the phone in her hand.
『Just call Ren. Cancel. It’s one night. Izzy, make a decision. 』
She tapped his name. The screen lit up. It rang once. Twice.
Then his voice filled her ear, casual and recorded:
"This is Ren. If you’re in the hero industry and disturbing my phone, fuck you. If you’re not, I’m really sorry. Leave a message, I’ll get back to you."
Beep.
『 』
***
Ren reached Izzy’s house as the young night settled over the neighborhood.
The sky still held traces of deep orange and purple along the horizon, not yet fully surrendered to darkness.
This was a familiar plsce. The same faded blue door he and Bishop had knocked on since they were kids. The same sidewalk where they used to race bikes.
He knocked. Three solid raps.
Waited, and knocked again, harder. Ten minutes crawled by. Nothing, no footsteps, no voice. The house sat silent.
He tried the handle. Locked.
『What’s going on, Z? Is something wrong? 』
Ren stepped back, scanning the windows. Lights were still on inside, warm yellow spilling through the curtains.
He walked around the side, sneakers quiet on the grass, and stopped beneath her bedroom window. The same one he’d climbed through twice before, back when things between them were simpler, reckless.
『What if something actually happened to her. 』
He scaled the wall fast, fingers gripping the familiar grooves in the brick, sneakers scraping for purchase. Muscle memory took over. He reached the window, slid it open, and slipped inside.
The room smelled thick with fresh perfume. Sweet, floral, expensive. A handheld mirror lay face-up on the bed, reflecting the ceiling light.
"Izzy?"
Silence answered.
He pulled out his phone, which he’d turned off earlier to keep the night clean. The screen lit up as it powered on. A voice note from Izzy waited at the top.
He tapped it.
"Hey... it’s me." Her voice filled the quiet room, hesitant. "Something important came up—"
Ren paused it. His thumb hovered. The perfume wrapped around him like a taunt.
『Important? 』
He pressed play again.
"I’m really sorry, Ren. I was calling to tell you not to come. I’ll explain later, okay? Just... yeah. I’m sorry."
The message ended.
Ren’s hand closed into a tight fist at his side. He stared at the mirror on the bed, jaw locked so hard it ached. The empty room seemed to press in on him, the faint indent on the mattress where she’d been lying, the scent of her still hanging in the air.
『Noel Cavinel. 』
Bishop’s voice echoed in his head. Noel is moving, man.
Ren climbed back out the window, easing it shut behind him. He dropped to the grass, landing in a crouch. Anger sat hot and heavy in his chest.
『I didn’t make the plan. You made it. You called me. And then—』
The system chimed.
[Points Balance: 3,000. Tier 1 Gear Store now accessible.]
Ren’s eyes hardened.
"Notify all my followers," he said, voice low and sharp. "Going live in thirty minutes."
[Done.]
『Fine. This is what matters now anyway. 』
He walked away from the house without looking back. The young night wrapped around him as streetlights glowed brighter overhead.
Thirty minutes. He was ready to make the night burn.