We left the cafe.

It was still early so I can take my time going to the office.

Sip

Aaah... Coffee is the best. Finally some peace.

Kyle: "Oh yeah, I just received a message from Team Leader, wants you to come to his office first thing in the morning."

Michael: "Ugh, seriously?"

And my day is ruined.

Team Leader: "You're fired."

Michael: "Excuse me?"

I arrived at the office early and went to the team leader's office. What awaited me was a flurry of complaints and my papers being thrown at me. Apparently, some of my paperwork yesterday was wrong. However,

Michael: "With all due respect, I have double-checked my papers. There should be no errors."

Team Leader: "I got yelled at yesterday evening because of your papers! If not for a mistake, then I don't know what is!"

This can't be! I'm sure there are no errors!

Michael: "But sir!"

Team Leader: "Get out! You are fired! Effective immediately! Pack your shit and - "

He grabs a stapler on his desk...

Team Leader: "GET OUT! YOU USELESS VOID!"

...Throws it at me. It hits me in the chest.

Urk!

He chases me out of the office and slurs at me.

I pack the stuff on my desk onto a box. My chest still hurts from the stapler.

I can't believe I get fired first thing in the morning. And here I thought today was a good day.

I hear footsteps coming near my desk. I turn to look and see one of my coworkers.

Coworker: "Maaan~ I heard you got fired~? Sucks to be you maaaan~"

He drops some of my stationaries. I crouch down to pick them up, but...

He stomps on my hand.

Coworker: "Serves you right, you void."

He lefts while laughing.

I just sigh.

After packing my shit, I left the office.

After a few steps, I suddenly hear my coworkers.

Hey! I won the bet! He left! Ha ha ha! I told you he'd get fired because of that paper.

Thank me later, I submitted that shit of a paper. Serves him right.

Pretty cocky for a void. I'm glad he's gone now!

I hear their jovial laughter.

I grip the box I held, and I prepare to leave once again.

???: "Please wait!"

But before I can even take a step, I heard a familiar voice. It was one of the few coworkers (aside from Kyle anyways) that treats me fairly.

Michael: "Sarah..."

Sarah: "I heard about what happened. I'm sorry. I couldn't do anything."

Michael: "It's fine. There's nothing that can be done anyways. I'm a void, it was bound to happen."

She looked like she would cry any moment. She handed me something from her pocket.

Sarah: "Take this. It's a sort of charm. I hope it helps."

Michael: "Sarah... No, take it. You need it more than I do."

I gently reject her hand. She needs it more than I do because this office is crawling with those void haters. Since she was seen associating with me, she may become a target of their contempt.

Michael: "Take care, Sarah. Thanks for the company."

Sarrah: "Un... You too. Take care."

Since I have a lot of stuff, I should probably take a cab.

Kyle: "Heeeey! Wait wait wait!"

Michael: "Sir Kyle?"

Kyle: "Hey hey stop with the formality! Aren't we friends?"

Michael: "What are you doing here?"

Kyle: "I heard you got fired so I ran to find you!"

Michael: "What about work?"

Kyle: "Don't worry! My team can handle that! I'm only there to receive their reports anyways."

Michael: "So, what do you want with me?"

Kyle: "You going home? I'll drive you there."

Michael: "You have a car?"

Kyle: "Yeah, it's being repaired but I think it's done now. Let's go!"

With an easygoing attitude, Kyle drags me to the auto repair a few blocks away.

Upon arriving at the shop...

Kyle: "Hey Richard! Is my car repaired?"

Richard: "Ou! It is!"

Kyle: "Awright! Michael, this is Richard. He's helped me quite a lot because my car keeps breaking down. Richard, this is my friend Michael."

Richard: "Ou! Nice to meet'cha lad!"

Michael: "Hello."

How can I say this? Richard is... muscular. And tall. He has tanned skin and wears a tank top paired with cargo pants and boots.

Michael: "Are you from Euzonia?"

Richard: "Ya can tell? I am, but I'm from the provinces so I hope ya don't mind my speech."

Michael: "It's fine. Nice to meet you."

Richard: "Ou! Ha ha ha!"

His presence is what I would call enormous. Even his laugh is impactful.

Kyle: "Here's the payment, Richard."

Kyle sends the payment from his terminal to Richard's.

Richard: "I got the money. Here, your keys. Be careful, will you? I don't know how but you always wreck your car in the craziest ways."

Kyle: "Ha ha, yeah, will do. But it's not like I do it on purpose you know!"

Richard leads us to the garage and opens the garage doors.

Kyle starts the engine of his car and drives off, waving to Richard.

I sit in the front passenger seat.

Kyle: "Do you wanna go straight home? Or do you want to stop by anywhere?"

Michael: "The cafe this morning. I'll order one more coffee before going home."

Kyle: "Okay, to the cafe we go!"

While driving, Kyle turns on the radio.

Today, a group known as The Hollow Order attacked Perridge City. They attacked a terminal factory and destroyed 3 warehouses. Authorities suspected they also stole a considerable amount of terminals. Fortunately, there were no deaths, and only a few were injured. In other news...

Kyle: "Isn't Perridge City near the capital? Yikes, must be rough."

Michael: "The Hollow Order, was it?"

Kyle: "Yep. A group of Voids that attacks magic supremacists. They also recently took down a company that gives absurd prices to voids."

Michael: "I wonder how are they able to fend off the guards."

Kyle: "Probably infiltration? There were no deaths after all. They're the reason why most people are very wary of voids nowadays. I once saw a man got beaten up in a store just because he was a void."

Michael: "That's really bad. I guess it agitated the people."

Kyle: "Yeah. I hope the situation gets better. Oh, we're here."

We arrived at the cafe while talking. Kyle said he'd park the car nearby since there was no parking space here. I got off and went inside.

Employee: "Oh, hello sir! Aren't you back so soon?"

Michael: "Yeah, well. I got fired."

Employee: "Eeeeh?!"

Michael: "Don't worry about it. The people there kind of hated me anyways."

Employee: "E-even, the person earlier this morning?"

Michael: "Ah, no. He's a friend, I guess?"

Employee: "Oh, is that so! Thank goodness! Oh, um... so what will be your order?"

Michael: "The same as always, please."

Employee: "Okay! One cold brew venti with less ice, coming up!"

I paid with my terminal and sat near a table.

Kyle sure is taking his time. Aren't there nearby parking spaces here?

While wondering that, someone approached my table and placed my order on the table.

Lady: "One cold brew venti, less ice."

Michael: "Oh, thank you."

When I looked over, it was the newly hired barista that handed me my order.

Lady: "Can we talk for a bit? In private."

Oh.

Oh boy.

Another problem showed up.

Isn't this like, a really bad day for me?