# DANIEL !

Weeks after, M/n returned to his usual work schedule.

He was stationed to one of the streamers, they were both petite-looking girls with a lot of energy. But they looked a little lacking in the physical department.

That must be why Samuel thought it was best to have him guard people who are somehow similar to him.

But nonetheless, M/n was looking forward to his new role.

Standing outside the door, the boy was bored out of his mind and his legs were starting to shake and falter thanks to the amount of time he's been spending on firmly standing straight.

He also had an earpiece in case of personal commands.

Hearing a knock by the inside of the door he was guarding, it signaled him that they just finished streaming. He was still skeptical with how it worked but he believes he caught the gist of it.

Opening the door with a key, he entered the make-believe room that was just a studio in reality. It was made to purposely trick the viewers. Working conditions were tough and he doesn't know why they even signed an agreement but he promised to get information out of it.

"You two hungry?" He casually threw the question, and to the two girls, he appeared more laid-back than the previous guards they had.

The two hesitantly nodded. Was he as harsh as the previous ones as well?

"Alright, what do you want to have? Chicken? Beef? Steak? Or are you vegetarian? You can eat grass too." M/n was utterly clueless in their preferences and it shows.

They even get to pick what they eat? There must be some kind of mistake.

"Chicken!" One exclaimed, overexcitedly.

"Sounds good." He shrugged before turning to the other one. "You?"

"Meat. . ."

He figured they were timid because of past experience. He was a little sorry. M/n then approached slowly before seating himself on a nearby chair, closing the door behind him.

"I heard your name's 'like what' and 'so funny'? That's two ridiculous names." M/n shamelessly laughed off.

He was careless too. He wasn't uptight like the others and he seems way more immature than they were too. Was this really a trusted guard of the workers? Hard to believe.

"So. . . Why did you even sign the contract if you're gonna live like rats in this confined space?" M/n went straight to the point, making sure his pen got it all. This time around, he'll definitely get valuable information.

"We didn't know."

"Pfft— don't you read contracts? Detect something sketchy? Or even get bad guts? I don't get why people fall for these kinds of things." M/n huffed. He was so looking down on the whole system.

His eyes then landed on a small car toy at the floor. Like a child easily attracted to toys, he bent down to pick it up, only to feel a rope suddenly attach his foot and bring him upside down. He was floating now.

He can't believe he fell for such a dumb trick.

"I'm sorry! That was supposed to be for the previous guard!" 'Like what' was quick to move on her feet and cut down the rope. They didn't think anyone would fall for such a small trick involving a toy. And yet, here they were.

As soon as she cut down the rope, M/n fell head first, earning them grunts and a string of uncreative curses.

"Fucking hell." He rubbed his head, he's sure it's gonna grow a bump and he'll have an uneven head forever. (He doesn't know how it works.) "That should count as attempted murder."

"We're sorry!"

"A serious offense." He added before picking himself up, staggering slightly. "Ah, shit— I shouldn't have stood up so quickly." There was a short moment of losing his vision, making him a little dizzy before it returned.

There, he felt a lot more better now.

"Whatever. The chicken will be delivered at any second now. Eat up and start streaming again." He advised, looking at the sheet he was given for instructions.

"What's your name, mister?" 'So what' asked eagerly.

M/n rubbed his head a little before pondering. "Wait, what was my name again?" He murmured to himself before he lit up like a light bulb. "Ah, right—" he then turned to them. "M/n L/n is the name of this very talented, brilliant, and smart guy." He grinned.

He was feeding his ego again.

The two girls only sweatdropped.

He was certainly a mystery though. Someone so easygoing and untalented managed to land an important role in the workers, he must be someone lucky.

There was a knock on the door. M/n turned his head and furrowed his brows.

That isn't the knocking pattern.

"Chicken delivery."

M/n got even more suspicious when he heard the voice. Too shallow. Someone who works in the workers wouldn't say something so catchy, and deliveries aren't supposed to be handed by the delivery employees themselves. This was restricted area.

"Who's there?" He demanded.

He doesn't think he should open the door.

"With extra cheese." The person outside added, thinking it would help the situation. How ridiculous. . .

How ridiculously brilliant.

In a matter of seconds, M/n opened the door, but instead of the glorious cheese that was supposed to greet him. It was a delivery guy who immediately placed down the plastic bag and kneed him personally.

And when he says it hurts like shit. It hurts like shit.

M/n staggered back, clutching the area around his stomach. The air was knocked out of him and since he was not the most solid person out there, it easily affected him.

The stanger forced himself inside the room with the food and shut the door close, avoiding suspicion.

"Mr. M/n!" 'Like what' and 'So funny' yelled in sync, worry evident in their eyes.

"Holy shit, that hurts like a bitch." M/n muttered another string of curses, clutching his stomach as he glared at the stranger. "What the hell was that for?!"

"Chicken delivery, to leave your stomach filled." The rather big stranger pushed up his glasses, acting badass. "So, your name is M/n? Let 'Like what' and 'So funny' go."

M/n stood up, ignoring the ache in his abdomen.

"Sorry, buddy— but I can't do that or else I'll get into serious trouble." He wiped his mouth with his sleeves. "What's your name?"

"Daniel."

Was the name familiar? Not at all. It did not spike any recognition in M/n.

"I'm sorry, Daniel. I get that these girls are pretty and all— but I can't let you take them, it's against the protocol. They already signed a contract." He shrugged, soon stretching his back. "At least that's what I would say if I win this fight."

"You're on." Daniel was equally as determined.

He threw the first move, trying to land several jabs. But M/n was just hella slippery, he realized that the boy was just anticipating his movement— and although he was physically not that capable, by predicting ahead, he'll have enough time to evade.

It seems like he wasn't as much of a big idiot as Daniel originally thought.

"You're good." He admitted.

"Oh? Thanks! I really appreciate the compliment. But I'm kinda called the best around here." M/n started. "I scored 10 on a punching machine at one arcade. Impressive, huh?" He bragged.

But isn't the punching machines' highest point 1000? Daniel wondered.

Daniel attempts to swing his leg under M/n to make him lose his balance, and he nearly achieved it. But the thing was,  M/n already had a foot behind his knees and he was quicker to trip him before pulling his arm forcefully, stretching it before setting him on the ground.

But there was something strange about it.

"You're supposed to pin someone down after tripping them." Daniel mumbled. Instead of pinning him down, M/n placed him under a chair as he sat on it, it was evil enough.

"Right, well— Gun told me I can't pin anyone down." The boy recalled.

Gun? As in the same Gun who gave him the black badge?

"Gun? The one with black eyes?"

"Yes, that one! He's a great guardian but he's a pain in my ass." M/n ranted. Daniel couldn't believe it, he didn't really think he had such connections.

So, M/n's teacher is Gun? It must explain the series of techniques. It made up for his lack in physical strength and durability. But a person who is bellow average in fighting spiking Gun's interest? That was new. He always thought the man was a fighting maniac.

"Oh, that's a secret by the way. Forget I said anything." M/n realized.

How can he forget something like that?!

Nonetheless. M/n easily won against him since Daniel did underestimate him thanks to his figure. He didn't look like someone who knows anything about fighting. And that was true. But his mind made up for it.

He might appear like an idiot but Daniel can see that there's something more beneath the surface.

He was erratic. His train of thoughts was unpredictable and Daniel was used to fighting those who know fighting in a pattern. But M/n, he just does everything that pops up at the last second. How can he predict someone like that?

"You win." Daniel sighed. It was a fair fight. "Are you gonna turn me in?"

"I'm not quite sure. You seem like a heroic guy and it'd be a waste." M/n sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I really don't know. But whatever, I'm leaving— I need to take a piss after that." He rubbed his stomach.

A lot of damages in one day. How exhausting, was he gonna keep this up?

As soon as he left the room, the three were left stunned. Did he really just leave that opportunity to eliminate the intruder? He was truly strange.

There was something odd about him. He made it clear that he had different goals. Was it somehow similar to his? Daniel will never know but he was willing to find out about this mysterious person.