"Ren! Ren! Wake up! You're late again!"
The voice echoed faintly in Ren's ears. His head felt heavy, his body glued to the thin mattress that smelled like a mix of sweat, dust, and maybe leftover chili sauce from last night.
"Ughhh… five more minutes… or five more hours, that works too…" Ren mumbled with his eyes still shut.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The door was banged loudly. "If you're late again, the principal might expel you, you know!"
Ren opened one eye. "Eh? Expel me? But isn't school free?"
"Free doesn't mean you can do whatever you want, idiot!" the voice outside snapped.
Ren sighed and finally sat up. His hair was a disaster, his eyes half-dead, and his so-called school uniform… well, it looked more like a rag. The white shirt had turned grayish, the top button was missing, and there was a suspicious stain on his chest.
"Well, if they expel me, that's perfect. More sleep, eat when there's food, and no more teachers nagging me."
The door swung open. A smaller boy stood there, his face panicked. He was Ren's neighbor, the one who—out of pity or stupidity—often helped Ren survive.
"You think it's that easy, huh?! If you get expelled, who's going to give you lunch every day?"
Ren froze. His mouth opened slightly. "Eh… lunch…?"
The boy sighed deeply. "Glutton."
---
Their school wasn't big, just a plain three-story building. Students came from all sorts of backgrounds—merchants' kids, fishermen's kids, and even some whose parents worked abroad.
Ren strolled into class with a massive yawn. Everyone turned their heads. Some laughed, some shook their heads.
"Ren again, late again."
"His shirt's dirty as always."
"I swear he never bathes."
The whispers weren't even subtle, but Ren didn't care. He walked straight to the back, dropped into his seat, and immediately laid his head down.
"Nap time… I'll wake up when it's PE."
The teacher entered, spotting him instantly. "Ren, do you know your test scores are on the edge of a cliff?"
Ren cracked open one eye. "A cliff? Cool. Are there monsters?"
The class erupted in laughter. The teacher pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Whatever. But if this keeps up, you'll be repeating the year."
Ren didn't reply. He was already asleep again, his face peaceful as if the only problem in life was what's for dinner tonight.
---
Lunch break.
Ren sat behind the building, away from the crowd. He carefully opened the lunchbox his neighbor had given him—warm rice, a slice of omelet, and some simple vegetables.
"Ahhh… behold, the greatest food in the world…"
His chopsticks trembled dramatically as he stared at the rice like it was the love of his life.
Just as he was about to take a bite, a delinquent strolled over.
"Oi, Ren. What are you eating?"
Ren turned with his usual blank face. "Food."
The boy scowled. "I know it's food, dumbass. I mean, share some."
Ren snapped the lid shut. "No. If I share, I'll be hungry. If I'm hungry, I'll die. If I die, who's going to laugh at my stupidity? Can you shoulder that burden?"
The boy blinked. "What kind of nonsense is that?"
Ren lowered his head gravely. "But it's the truth."
The boy groaned and walked off. "You're insane."
Ren happily resumed eating, chewing with a blissful grin as if he was dining at a king's banquet.
---
Next class was PE.
Oddly enough, while Ren was lazy in every other subject, he came alive on the field. During soccer, even though he looked clumsy, his instincts were ridiculous. He dodged tackles, read the ball's path, and even scored goals with absurd, physics-breaking kicks.
"Another goal?! He's crazy, but…"
"Don't let Ren near the ball!"
The whole field echoed with shouts.
Ren just laughed, raising both arms. "I'm a genius! A hungry genius!"
---
By afternoon, school finally ended. Kids walked home together, chatting and laughing. Ren walked alone, wearing the same relaxed expression.
"School is exhausting… too much talking, not enough eating. The balance is all wrong."
He stopped at a snack shop, pressing his face against the glass. Chips, candy, and pastries lined the shelves neatly.
Ren swallowed hard. "If I had money… I'd buy them all. And eat them all at once."
The shop owner glared. "Hey! Don't fog up my glass with your drool!"
Ren raised his hand politely. "Sorry, sir. My drool cannot be restrained."
---
By the time he reached home, the sun was already setting. Ren dropped onto his thin mattress again. His stomach was growling already.
"Tomorrow… I'll have to find more food…" he muttered.
He stared at the cracked ceiling. The evening breeze slipped in, carrying the salty scent of the ocean. Ren smiled faintly.
"If I'm still hungry tomorrow… maybe I'll just go out to sea. Maybe the fish will understand my suffering…"
His eyes slowly closed, slipping into another restless nap.
He didn't know it yet, but the boring school days were just a tiny fragment of what awaited him.
Something was already waiting—out there, in a place he could never imagine.
But for now, Ren was just a dumb, hungry kid.
---