Ein hadn’t seen his old friend in a long time, but the moment they reappeared, it brought a familiar rush of emotions. He tried to act casual, greeting them with his usual arrogant tone, a smirk playing across his lips. But deep down, there was a sense of insecurity. This friend knew him well, probably too well, and Ein couldn’t help but wonder if they still saw through the layers of jokes and pranks he used to hide his true self. He was no longer the carefree prankster he used to be, though he still wore the same mask, pretending as if nothing had changed. Their arrival, however, unsettled him more than he was willing to admit.

The conversation quickly shifted into something more tense. Ein tried to assert himself, boasting about his accomplishments and his current position on the server. But his old friend wasn’t impressed. They saw right through him, reminding him of all the times he had failed or been selfish in the past. That familiar frustration welled up inside him. The way his friend spoke, so calmly, as if they knew exactly how to break through his facade, angered him. He was no longer the underdog; he was supposed to be in control. But here, in front of his old friend, he felt small again, like the boy who once wanted nothing more than their approval.

But Ein was nothing if not resilient. He quickly snapped back into his old manipulative ways, attempting to twist the conversation and play on their weaknesses. He offered them a deal, a truce, anything to regain the upper hand. Deep inside, though, the frustration was still there. His old friend had become a reminder of everything he’d done wrong, everything he could never change. In the end, Ein couldn’t allow himself to show weakness. So, with a forced smile and a hidden rage, he walked away, pretending that nothing had been affected. But deep down, a part of him knew that this encounter would linger far longer than he was willing to admit.