Chapter 9: Chapter 9: New Beginnings
Luc's peaceful day was soon interrupted when there was a knock at the door.
He groaned, not wanting to get up from the comfort of his couch, but the persistent knocking grew louder.
"Alright, alright, I'm coming," Luc muttered, begrudgingly getting up. He opened the door to find Takeshi standing there, a grin on his face.
"Luc! I've got good news for you!" Takeshi said with enthusiasm, stepping into the apartment without waiting for a response.
Luc raised an eyebrow, trying to hide his curiosity. "What now? Did you win the lottery or something?"
Takeshi shook his head, practically bouncing on his heels. "Better! You've been accepted into school!"
Luc blinked, confused. "What? Wait, what are you talking about?"
Takeshi chuckled, crossing his arms. "You know, we talked about it before. Getting you into school. Well, I pulled a few strings and made it happen. You're all set!"
Luc stood there for a moment, processing the information. School? He hadn't thought about it in a while. The idea of returning to a place with rules, structure, and assignments felt like a distant memory. But somehow, it was also… appealing.
"Wait, hold on. You mean I'm actually going?" Luc asked, his voice more curious than excited.
"Yeah!" Takeshi grinned. "I talked to the admissions office. You're good to go. You'll even have classmates! They'll be around your age. You're not going to be stuck alone."
A flashback hit Luc as he thought back to the days when he had tried to convince Takeshi to help him get into school.
---
Flashback:
"Come on, Takeshi, please," Luc had begged, pacing around the small store. "I need this. I can't keep living like this. I can't just keep being a cashier. I need… more. I need to learn."
Takeshi had been leaning against the counter, watching him with a raised eyebrow. "You really want to go to school? After everything you've been through?"
Luc had paused, his eyes downcast. "I don't know if I can go back to that world, but… I need to try. I need to feel like I'm part of something. Something normal."
Takeshi had sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Fine. I'll see what I can do, but don't get your hopes up too high. You'll have to adjust to it."
---
Now, standing in front of Luc in the present, Takeshi's grin was wide, and Luc felt the weight of the decision sink in.
"That's amazing, Takeshi," Luc said after a long pause, his voice soft with a hint of gratitude. "But… who's going to manage the store while I'm at school?"
Takeshi waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry about that. We can just open the shop on Sundays and Saturdays, or better yet, we can hire someone to help out. You don't have to worry about it."
Luc raised an eyebrow. "You really want to hire someone? I mean, I guess that works. But it'll be weird having someone else take over."
Takeshi grinned even wider, showing no hesitation. "I'm the boss around here, right? I'll figure it out. You just focus on school, okay?"
Luc let out a breath, the weight of the decision slowly lifting. "Alright, alright. If you say so."
Luc smiled faintly, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness about the upcoming changes. School, a normal life, and a chance at something new—it was all happening so fast.
"Thanks, Takeshi. You really came through," Luc said.
Takeshi clapped him on the back, his grin never fading. "No problem, buddy. You deserve it. Now, go pack your things. You've got a new chapter to start."
As Luc watched Takeshi leave, he couldn't help but feel a sense of hope creeping into his chest. He was about to start something entirely new. And for the first time in a long while, it felt like he had a future to look forward to.
It wasn't just about escaping the Demon Realm life anymore. It was about finding his place in the world.