-Guess hookers and booze didn’t do it for you.-

-You should try something else next time.-

-Maybe you can have that bony freak cook something for you.-

-Something that would make you feel just a little better.-

-Something that would make you forget.-

-Not that you need anything for that.-

-You’ve always been pretty good at it.-

Catching movement at the edge of his absolute awareness, Dante snapped out of his thoughts. He felt the scalding water raining on him from above just then and recalled that he was in the shower. Soon after, he heard a knock on the door.

"William? Are you in there?"

-Maybe you shouldn’t have given her that name after all.-

"Yeah, it’s me."

He turned off the water and grabbed a nearby towel, using it to wipe his head. Normally, he would Equip some underwear right after. He wasn’t in his apartment, however.

"Good morning."

Sandra met him with a beaming smile. In her hands, she held the clothes he had left on the floor near the bed.

"You are up early." He said.

"Did you think I would let you leave just like that?"

Holding back a sigh, Dante took the pile and put it on one piece at a time. The tanned bartender seemed to notice his bad mood, causing her expression to darken.

"You... didn’t miss your flight, did you?" She asked.

"No."

"I see..."

Dante’s curt reply made things more awkward between them, and seeing her cast her gaze down, he realized he couldn’t care less.

"I... just wanted to thank you." She said. "Last night was... amazing..."

"Em."

"I... never knew cyborgs could all that."

"Em."

Silence lingered as he slipped his shoes on. As he stood up, the gorgeous bartender asked the question she was holding back this entire time.

"Will you... Will you visit again soon?

"I..."

Once again, Dante found himself thinking back to the previous night. If he had to be honest, he would say he enjoyed himself quite a bit. Sandra was an amazing dancer, and so was Camila. Them being mother and daughter added to the excitement as well. Though the headache tormented him into regretting everything he did, Dante still felt that he wouldn’t mind doing it all over again.

-Yeah, those whores were pretty good.-

-You should keep them around.-

-Play with them whenever you feel like it.-

-You got all the money you need now.-

-It wouldn’t hurt to have some fun from time to time.-

-It’s not like you have something important to do.-

-Something you have been putting off all this time.-

-Go on. Just keep at it.-

-Drink some more.-

-Fuck some whores.-

-Enjoy your life.-

-Forget about everything else.-

-A failure like you should just sit back and enjoy what he has.-

-At least you won’t ruin anyone’s life that way.-

-Just sit back and rust away.-

-You don’t have to do anything.-

-Nothing you do will matter in the end.-

-That’s why you should do nothing.-

-Don’t try anything.-

-Don’t bother anyone.-

-Trying is what got you here.-

-If you just kept to yourself...-

-If you just knew your place...-

"William?"

Looking up with a start, Dante turned to the tanned woman. He realized that he had spaced out once more, but thankfully, it seemed that he hadn’t lost control over his bloodlust. Still, when he looked at the gorgeous bartender...

"I... I’m fine..."

Unable to stand her presence, he averted his gaze, feeling a wave of disgust rise from the depths of his stomach.

"I... I see..."

Dante stood there for a moment, but then he willed his legs to move. He wanted nothing more than to teleport away, but equipping his armor had to wait.

Exiting the building, he stopped at the roadside and heaved a long sigh. The sound of seagles reached him once more, then the whispers of the waves. Recalling why he came all the way to this part of the world, he turned to face the ocean, then walked, only to stop after a few steps.

Once again, he noticed something at the edge of his Absolute Awareness. Having maintained its maximum range this entire time, he was a bit relieved that it was finally paying off. A command brought up a map of the area, and going by the red dots scattered around, he could guess who it was that came to get him so early in the morning.

Dante didn’t feel like beating them last night, and that hadn’t changed this morning. Still, if it’s a fight they’re looking for, then it’s a fight they’ll get. Pretending not to have noticed them, he resumed walking, keeping an eye on the red dots. Some followed after him right away, but the rest seemed to move in the opposite direction. Realizing where they were heading, Dante stopped in his tracks.

-Well, would you look at that.-

Turns out he should’ve given those idiots a little more credit. Their behavior aside, they were still professionals, and one wouldn’t make it in their field without the ability to make a proper risk assessment. The old guy who spoke for them was the leader of the group. He likely noticed his bionics and immediately knew that they were no match for him, leading to their retreat. That should have been the end of it, but from the looks of it, Dante was the only one who had thought that.

-Here we go again.-

-What did you think would happen?-

-That they would just forget and move on with their lives?-

-When did that ever happen?-

-Will you ever learn?-

-It’s because you keep getting involved that the lives around you keep getting ruined.-

-Everything you touch is ultimately destroyed.-

-It’s all your fault.-

Clicking his tongue, Dante made a sharp turn and entered a narrow alleyway. The group that had been following him came running soon after, but by the time they made it to the entrance, they were shocked to find nothing but a dead end. Dante spared them a glance from above, and with a mental command, he equipped his oni mask. He had woken up on the wrong side of the bed that morning, and those corporate dogs were about to learn why they should’ve gone on with their lives instead of holding on to a petty grudge.