Kaizen laid lazily on his bed, scrolling through his phone like it owed him answers to his life. His thumb moved through the screen, lazily dragging through it.
Scroll. Meme. Scroll. Drama post. Scroll. Someone flexing their new rank-up certificate.
"Another useless feed… another boring post… damn, my life's really a joke," he muttered.
His ceiling fan spun above him in lazy circles. The hum of its blades was the only comfort in his pathetic little corner of the world.
Suddenly, the burst of giggles and shrieks came cutting through his sulking from down the hallway. It was his sister and her group of friends. The giggling was loud. Too loud.
"Here we go again… witches' hour." he groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Just when things could not get any worse, when he tried adjusting the pillow the door swung open. Four shadows slipped right in, like predators stalking a prey.
"Kaizen~!" one of them sang as they piled onto his bed.
Within seconds, he was surrounded — two at his sides, one spread across his legs, and the last boldly climbing up until her face hovered inches from his. It was the kind of scene only found in cheap harem mangas — except this was his real life, and he was the unwilling protagonist.
Kaizen stiffened, frozen between limbs and perfume."…What is this? Some kind of prank?"
One sighed, her smirk wicked. "Too bad you're an F-rank. If you were a bit higher, I would've considered keeping you as my pet."
Kaizen blinked, surprised. "...What does that even mean?"
Another leaned in close as she slid his hand towards her waist. "Go on. I dare you to pin me on my waist right here-" she paused daring him with a grin then leaning closer and whispering into his ear, she continued "~Kaizen."
His cheeks and his entire face turned red. "Are you insane?! I'm not touching you."
"OHHH? Chickening out already? Poor shame, I won't be able to see your little buddy down there wake up and say hello."
Kaizen choked. "Wha—?! Who even says that?!"
Before he could recover, he felt a hot breath against his ear. Then-bite.
"AHHH! What the—?!" he yelped as the third girl giggled, her teeth had sunk into his ear in a nasty, teasing nip.
"You taste like disappointment," she said teasing, then winking then whispered, only audible for the girls and him to hear. "Maybe, try getting a little stronger, then maybe...just maybe you'll see us in something...tighter or in nothing at all" she said giggling, the girls laughed.
Kaizen jumped to his feet, clutching his ear, his heart pounding like a war drum. "The hell's wrong with you psychos?!"
One of them walked towards him, using her index finger to trace down his shirt. "Psychos? Hate to break it to you, but this is the closest you'll ever get. Get stronger… and maybe, just maybe, we'll show you what real madness looks like." Her finger paused right over his chest. She leaned in, whispering:"…In bed." she ended then walked towards her friends.
His sister, Reina simply smirked. "Brother. Too bad you're F-rank. If you were at least E… they'd be moaning your name by now."
The girls just laughed, standing and sauntering toward the door, hips swaying like they'd won some battle.
"See you later, husband," one of them sarcastically said.
The door slammed shut behind them, leaving Kaizen breathless, humiliated, and steaming.
"What the actual fuck was that? Do they think this is some kind of harem audition? And husband?! Seriously?!" he said, collapsing back on his bed.
Just then— ding. A text popped up on his phone.
Ren: Yo, come check this out.
Kaizen froze, but his fingers flew over his screen texting.
Me (Kaizen): The fuck am I supposed to check, Ren?
The reply came faster than he expected.
Ren: Relax. Don't worry. Our pals are coming too. Just get your ass here now.
Kaizen stared at the message. Something about it felt… off. Not like Ren's usual trash talk.
He exhaled slowly, unease crawling in his gut. Tossing his phone onto the bed, he grabbed his jacket and stood.
"Guess I'll find out..."
He shut the door behind him.
Completely unaware… that tonight would be the start of something that would tear apart his boring F-rank life and throw him into a world beyond anything he'd ever imagined.