Chapter 7 - 7

District Wish was the name of the district where Roger lived. It was also the biggest district of three districts in the country. As it was divided by three, and while it was the biggest, it was also the weakest of them all since it was where most non-Awakens lived.

Well, not technically non-Awakens, they were just common here, and those Awakens that lived here were at least D-ranked below, rarely C-ranked.

Also, the reason why this district was where the non-Awakens commonly lived was because of the rarity of rifts that could appear.

The studies from the past gave them an idea to let the non-Awakens live here for their safety. And of course, as it was the biggest district, this was where factories existed.

Capitalists were everywhere, as well as "Big Bosses" who existed.

By that term, "Big Bosses" were meant for the unofficial organization leaders. Most commonly known as gangs.

But these gangs coexist with normal citizens. Even if there was an authority held by the government, they still couldn't capture or detain them since laws were laws. Some loopholes exist, and thus they could escape from the authorities with them.

And now, as Roger looked deeper into the map, he notably remembered that the District Wish was in the east, while the other two higher districts were in the west, which covered mostly half of the whole country.

Roger thought that there were no other things to study. Furthermore, nothing for the day.

He did some assignments after he closed the window of the map on his computer. After doing some assignments, he closed the computer and went to his bed, laying down on it.

"That was a long day, perhaps," he mumbled, then closed his eyes.

Not noticing it, Roger fell asleep, then just realized it the next morning.

He prepared for the second day of school and went to the school on his own, as his younger sister was perhaps always an hour earlier than him.

"Mom, I'm going now," he said to his mom.

"Yes, take care."

As it was just a walking distance, Roger just walked his way to school like yesterday. But in this case, it was slightly delayed as there were seven gangster-looking or rather jobless individuals with cigarettes in white undershirts.

Roger slowly stopped as he looked at them with uninterested eyes.

'Neighborhood hoodlums?'

Roger also noticed that they had some awful smells, as their atrocious tattoos looked like.

"Hey, kid. Do you have some cash?" a seemingly leader-like asked.

Roger didn't reply. Instead, he acted like he hadn't noticed them and continued walking.

Of course, the hoodlums were surprised, but this kind of attitude wasn't new to them. They would always encounter someone who would act brave, but in the end, there was nothing much they could do.

And as Roger slowly passed through them, one hoodlum tried to grab him.

Roger's eyes glared red. It was as if a light had just gleamed in his eyes. And as the hoodlums tried to forcefully grab him, he faced the hoodlums with his hands in the air.

It was unsure. No one was sure what would happen as Roger raised his left hand, and as his right arm was on the hand of the hoodlum, his left hand lay on the hoodlum's neck.

A crack sound resounded as the hoodlum's eyes turned white, indicating that he had lost consciousness from it.

"Oh... I apologize. I wasn't able to control my strength. He lost consciousness, I presume." Roger mumbled.

The hoodlums were trembling in anger. And as their eyes fell on their friend, they wanted to take revenge.

Revenge in the note that they were provoked by Roger's words. A student that wasn't even an adult dared to talk like that to them? Even though it was a stupid reaction a person would have, it was common to people.

"Hey, kid. You made a mistake, " the leader-like said.

Roger just shook his head, then slowly raised his head, glaring at him.

"I didn't make any mistakes. It was you."

Boom!

The wind in the surroundings suddenly rose as Roger moved swiftly, reaching the back of the leader-like hoodlum who was at the back of the group.

And in an instant, everyone fell down to the ground, unconscious.

"I already said that I don't make any mistakes," Roger mumbled, then looked at them from the corners of his eyes.

Now, the street looked like someplace where trash was being thrown down.

Roger sighed, then faced immediately in the direction of a tree nearby. It was just behind the wall of a neighbor, and as his eyes lay on that location, a sound of leaves brushing resounded.

"Get out now. The show is over, " Roger said.

Then, after a few seconds, someone from the wall jumped off, standing next to Roger.

"That was good. I didn't notice that you were hiding some talent, Roger."

An unfamiliar young man was talking in front of Roger. He had black hair and almond-brown eyes.

"Hm... I don't know you. Do you know me?" Roger asked.

"Ah! They said that you had lost some of your memories. Perhaps you don't remember me. I am Excel, your best friend."

Roger suddenly stopped breathing for a second. It was a gasp, actually, because of what it looked like. Roger had a friend?

Roger still couldn't believe it. Then he looked back at Excel with some doubts.

"You know, I lost my memory. Maybe you are just using it to exploit me, right? If you were really my friend, you wouldn't think for a second and would immediately help me in case of a crisis. But why didn't you help me earlier."

Excel suddenly became silent and awkwardly put his right hand on his nape. As if he was too shy to say anything, he slowly thought of a reason but couldn't come up with the words.

"The truth is, I am just like you a few years ago. A skinny. How can I help you if I don't even have the ability to do it."

Roger simply nodded.

"I see... A fake friend."

Excel immediately looked at Roger with some kind of surprise.

"How could you tell that kind of word to your friend."

"Hep! I still don't believe that you are my friend. Tell me, are you really my friend?" Roger asked.

Excel didn't think anymore, then just nodded.

"Yes. Of course, but if you are going to die, die on your own dumbass."

Roger suddenly snorted, trying to suppress his laughter.

"Now I believe that is believable."