Not Long After
"...eh?" A glasses-wearing man with dark blue hair can be seen looking at the monitor displaying 'Error' text on its screen. Caelus can be seen standing at the center with multiple devices scanning his body.
As for why is he doing this? The device is a more advanced Ether Aptitude Testing device developed for any government's official Hollow-related business organizations, such as HIA, HAND, New Eridu's Public Security, and others.
Each of them has an additional function that has been modified into their existing functions. For HIA, it's to scan the physical body so it could integrate into HIA's most prized technology, the Virtual Reality Simulations.
HIA is also known for its video game club, as its virtual reality simulation is often used for games. But, the virtual reality simulation is also used to train any high Ether aptitude individuals for training or combat simulations.
Currently, they're facing a particular issue where the Ether Aptitude testing device seems not to be working on Caelus. This honestly confused Caelus. Sure, the system had displayed that particular stat as 'Error', but he was expecting the device to show 100 Ether Aptitude, like in the hospital.
Then, he remembers that during his information gathering, it was said that the hospital's testing device is a bit outdated due to how rarely it is used.
[Remembrance (LVL 0): 820/1000]
'Okay, now this feels like it was teasing me for being forgetful most of the time.' Caelus deadpans as the man adjusts his glasses before trying to type more on the computer, but judging from how his eyes twitch uncontrollably, it seems that it doesn't work at all.
"A-ahem, I'm sorry for the delay..." After Caelus was scanned for the umptenth time, the man had seemingly given up. "It seems... that our devices had some...errors. Is it okay for us to check your medical records for the Ether Aptitude?"
"..." Caelus rubs the bridge of his nose, wondering if getting registered to HIA is a good idea in the first place before agreeing. The man types something on his computer, and Caelus notices how his eyes bulge out of his sockets.
"...you're Caelus?" The man squeaks.
"Yes?" Caelus merely nods, seemingly confused by his attitude. Also, he wonders how he didn't even know the name of the person who was about to join their own club before realizing he didn't exactly introduce himself, just filling down the membership form and his identification card ID numbers.
"I-I'm so sorry!" Caelus yelps as the man bows down. "I-I didn't expect the hero of the Canvas Street to visit this humble abode!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Easy there," Caelus waves his hands in an attempt to calm the man down. "First of all, drop the entire attitude. Second, hero of the Canvas Street? Where did that title even come from!?!"
"You...don't know?" The man blinks before pulling out his phone and displaying an article regarding yesterday's incident, causing Caelus's eyes to twitch in disbelief. "Your involvement and your achievement have been the talk of everyone!"
"...when did this article even get published?" Caelus was certain he hadn't seen this article last night, and he was fairly certain he hadn't mentioned his name to any of the reporters from yesterday's incident.
"It's midnight! Apparently, the article was at first from the Inter-Knot before it got officially published!" The man exclaims.
'...so much for my privacy.' Caelus deadpans before covering his face and letting out a groan.
[Elation (LVL 0): 750/1000]
'Oh, fuck you AHA!'
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Later
"...you know, of all the things we expect when registering ourselves for HIA membership, this is not what I had in mind," Wise comments as he and Belle sit next to Caelus, who's covering his face in despair, while every member in the club is constantly glancing at Caelus, whispering about yesterday's incident in excitement.
"Wise, he beat you in popularity," Belle teases while nudging her brother with her elbow.
"Belle, we're not trying to get any attention," Wise says helplessly.
"Says you," Belle pouts. "Our video stores didn't get any attention at all. With our monthly electric bills, we need to earn more money with our video store business."
"Given the lack of marketing you guys did to promote your own video store, I'm surprised if your business is booming," Caelus deadpans.
"Geez, rude much," Belle pouts
.
"I'm stating the obvious," Caelus retorts. "The lack of promotional posters or advertisements on any social media. It's a surprise people are visiting your store."
"Actually, we once did make some advertisements through posters. Unfortunately, no one seems to appreciate the poster," Wise says.
"Wise, the reason why there's a lack of appreciation is due to your edits on our poster." Belle deadpans. "And to make it worse, you didn't let me do the editing for you."
"I-I did?" Wise asks, blinking owlishly.
"Yes," Belle replies.
"...my editing can't be that bad, right?" Wise asks. Belle merely gave him a deadpan stare before pulling out her phone and letting Caelus see it. Caelus blinks as he looks at the screen before wincing and rubbing his eyes.
"...I can see why you stop promoting with a poster," Caelus mutters. "With that kind of thing, it ruined the store's reputation and sent it plummeting through the ground. You have my condolences."
Wise merely sulks at the insult while Belle giggles. Not long after, Phil walks out of the room holding an HIA card on his short arms and approaches the group.
"Caelus, you really screwed me over!" Phil exclaims dramatically. "The entire session for my member registration ends up becoming Q&A about you, and they won't stop asking me trivia regarding you! All because I was seen tagging along with you!"
"...sorry," Caelus winces before Belle giggles even more.
"...it's not that I'm jealous, everyone's being annoying about it," Phil mutters, sounding like someone had accused him.
"We didn't say anything," Belle replies while still giggling, causing Phil's face to turn red.
"Phil, your virtual reality simulation trial is about to begin. Make sure to prepare yourself. If you plan to go to the bathroom, I recommend you do it now." One of the HIA club members approaches them and reminds the bunny before glancing at Caelus.
"...Mr. Caelus, may you spare us a minute to discuss a possible membership upgrade along with some extra benefits?" The person says in a salesman's tone, causing Belle and Phil to face fault while Wise merely chuckles nervously.
"...I appreciate it, but no thanks," Caelus says while waving his hands. "Besides, not trying to sound like a Karen, but I was pretty sure I signed up for the VR simulator trial along with Phil."
Upon hearing this, the club member started to sweat nervously, his eyes closed shut while forcing himself to smile. The quartet immediately figures out something is wrong here.
"...sir, let's not beat around the bush, what happened?" Caelus asks with an edge in his tone, causing the man to flinch as he raises his wooden clipboard, covering his fearful face.
"M-my apologies, but...we can't let you try the VR simulator...." The man stutters, causing the quartet to raise their eyebrow in confusion. "W-we're not doing this out of malice, but it's due to the fear that something harmful might happen when using it."
"...elaborate," Caelus demands.
"W-we always scan whoever wants to try our VR simulator to create a perfect replica of a virtual body, allowing the players in the virtual reality to move as naturally as they are in the real world." The man stammers. "Our program will adjust to match based on the data of each member's physical body to avoid mass complaints."
"...ah, the error during my scans," Caelus mutters before rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Y-yes, for whatever reason, our scans are unable to gather any data from your body.c The man explains. "We're unsure what caused it, and we'd rather not risk causing any harm to you. P-please understand sir..."
"...I suppose it couldn't be helped." Caelus looks like a mature person from the outside, but in his mind, he wails like a newborn baby. Getting to play a virtual reality simulation in a world filled with highly advanced tech straight out of a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world is one of the things he put on his bucket list, and getting denied the chance to experience it feels like a gigaton weight crashing onto him.
"A-as a compensation, you could watch the simulations along with the admins," The man offers, and Caelus smiles it off. To him, it was the worst offer they could give him. Getting denied to play VR due to safety concerns is one thing, but watching others enjoy something that you're not even allowed to feel like an endless bitchslap to the face.
"T-thank you for the understanding," The man stutters before walking away, albeit a bit too fast. Meanwhile, Caelus simply stands there in silence.
This makes Phil and Belle a bit concerned as they try to get his attention, but to no avail. They try to get his attention again, but they notice a single tear threatening to escape the corner of Caelus' left eye, which silences both of them.
In the end, both Phil and Belle simply shake their head in sympathy and pat his back to comfort him. But, for Caelus, it doesn't feel like one, but more like an insult. Wise watches the entire scene from a distance, sweatdropping at the dramatic scene displayed right in front of him.
'What in the world am I witnessing? A theatre play? Or a slapstick from an anime?' Wise thought as he can see a dark aura emitting from Caelus along with the vertical lines and badly drawn spirals surrounding the walking supernova.
'...yeah, it's a slapstick from an anime.'
To be Continued