Overpowers: Life Is Magical

After a few hours, as the afternoon sun dipped lower in the sky, Life could be seen exiting the school premises. He swiftly found himself mingling with a crowd of office workers, all waiting for the traffic light to change so they could cross the busy road. Amidst the hum of conversations and the occasional honking of car horns, only one thought clouded Life's mind. Man, is it just me, or are the days getting longer?

Glancing around, he noticed the variety of car models parked nearby. They all bore unimaginative brand names like PurpleCar or RedCar.

I knew working as a teacher would be dull, but I can only take so much! He sighed. It's even come to the point that I have to eavesdrop on teenage girls discussing the basics of magic just to avoid losing my mind and blowing up the school out of sheer boredom!

The traffic light turned red, halting vehicles and allowing the crowd, including Life, to cross the street. As he walked, he pulled out his phone and checked the time. Hmm, it's almost time for Judai's daily report. Hopefully, it will be something worth my time today.

Before he turned off his phone, a notification appeared: [Hey, I've just heard about...]. The message was cut off by the notification word limit. Clicking on it, Life was taken to a chat with someone under the username [ThePaleRider]. Upon seeing the name, he stared at it for a few seconds, memories flooding back to him.

The blaring sound of a car horn jolted him back to the present. Blinking rapidly, Life quickly moved to the sidewalk and ducked into the nearest alleyway. Though it wasn't the cleanest, it offered the solitude he needed. He checked the full message: [Hey, I've just heard about your latest job. How are you faring?]

For one of the rare times, Life allowed himself a genuine smile, untainted by the usual sadistic pleasure he often derived from his work. His heart warmed at the familiar digital contact, a brief respite from the isolation of his current assignment. With a speed that would have shattered a less durable device, he eagerly typed his response: [Ugh, where do I even begin... Let's just say there have been many surprises at the start (whether they're good or bad is a whole can of worms), but right now, things have just been boring. It feels like everything has slowed to a crawl. How about you? Anything more exciting on your end?]

The reply came almost instantly, a testament to their enduring bond: [Not really. It's the usual routine. One of my first cases this week was dealing with the same group of superheroes that got revived last week. Guess what happened? They got themselves killed again to boost sales... for the 10th time this year. Considering it's only April here, I'd say that's fewer than last year. Anyway, about your assignment, how did Tec manage to rope you into it without asking me to convince you?]

Seeing her message, Life felt a mixture of amusement and a pang of melancholy. Her quick response reminded him of better days, and her casual tone brought a veneer of normalcy to his otherwise tumultuous life. He could almost hear her voice, warm and familiar, cutting through the distance that separated them. This routine exchange was a precious slice of stability, a lifeline to the world he once knew.

His fingers hovered over the screen for a moment, a slight hesitation as memories of past missions and their consequences washed over him. But the need to connect, to share even the most mundane details, was overpowering. And besides if she's the one asking for it, who am I to refuse! He quickly wrote back: [Well... I don't want to go into specifics, but let's just say I might have caused something I shouldn't have... And no, before you ask, it wasn't intentional... this time.]

Her response came just as swiftly, carrying a blend of empathy and curiosity that never failed to make him feel understood: [Well, as long as you guys have settled it, I guess it's fine. I was wondering why Tec suddenly decided to "bubble wrap" our entire world against your shenanigans... I suppose this explains it.]

A chuckle escaped him. The thought of Technology literally bubble-wrapping an entire dimension was both funny and...kind of terrifying once Life considered Technology is capable of doing that if pushed enough. [What can I say? I'm full of surprises.]

[Not as much as me... Anyway, tell me, have you found anyone you can talk to? I mean, talk while being yourself.] Her words carried a deeper concern, one that Life appreciated even if he wasn't always ready to confront his own solitude.

The thought of Judai crossed his mind, a reluctant confidante amidst the chaos. [I guess? I wouldn't count him as a friend, but he's a good listener.]

[I see... That's good to hear! Honestly, I was about to suggest you find someone to talk to before you went crazy. Or, crazier than usual.] Her lighthearted jab brought a genuine laugh to his lips, easing the emotional weight he often carried but rarely acknowledged.

With a confident smile, he replied: [Oh come on, it's me you're talking about. Did you really have any doubts? Besides, we both know you wouldn't mind me going a bit crazy.]

[Y'know what? Fair enough, hahahaha. Anyway, I gotta go now. Hopefully, my next break will come sooner. Love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!] Her message, brimming with affection and playful energy, left him with a bittersweet feeling as the username [ThePaleRider] dimmed, signifying she had gone offline.

Life lingered on the screen. The light from his phone cast a soft glow on his features. The playful banter and heartfelt warmth of their exchange made his chest swell with emotions he rarely allowed himself to feel. It was a fleeting connection to a part of his life that felt genuine, a stark contrast to almost everything else that felt either fake or boring.

The irony of life itself only feeling alive when in contact with the embodiment of death wasn't lost on him. In fact, you could say it's one of the first things he realized when they first entered a relationship and he was forced to be away from her due to work, just like she is now.

Life sighed, a complex mix of satisfaction and melancholy filling the void left by her departure. The warmth of her words still lingered, like the last embers of a dying fire. With a smile tinged with sadness, he typed his final message, hoping she would see it the next time she was online: [I love you too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!].

As he pocketed his phone, the weight of his solitude pressed a little lighter against his shoulders. The alleyway, a freezing, desolate place, was still cold, but it was the nice kind of cold, where he felt it was just right. Her words had wrapped around him like a cold, comforting embrace, the kind only Death gave, which offered solace even in her absence.

For a moment, Life allowed himself to bask in the afterglow of their connection. Her virtual presence had pierced through his layers of emotional armor, reminding him that no matter how dark or lonely his path might seem, there were still moments of light and love to hold onto. It was this realization that carried him forward, providing a flicker of hope in the otherwise relentless march of his duties.

As he stepped back into the bustling world, Life felt a renewed sense of purpose. Her message was a reminder of what he fought for—not just duty and missions, but the connection that made life worth living. With that thought, he set off, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead with a more positive perspective on everything.

Back at the hotel, he sat in his worn armchair, the comforting weight of their conversation providing a fleeting sense of peace. Yet, as the minutes ticked by with no sign of Judai, agitation crept back in, gnawing at the edges of his calm. He should be here by now... Is Kurai keeping him occupied?

As minutes turned into a half-hour, worry began to overshadow his irritation. It's been thirty minutes. Where is he? The familiarity of his exchange with Death juxtaposed against the uncertainty now gnawing at him, creating a tumultuous emotional landscape.

Unable to wait any longer, Life stood up, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Yet, a moment of clarity reminded him he didn't need to be present to communicate. Raising his left hand to his ear, he chanted a spell.

[Summon Communication]

The buzzing sound of a magical phone line filled the room, its static-heavy noise a small, haunting reminder of the otherworldly nature of his powers. Just as he was about to cancel the spell, Judai's voice crackled through. Uh, hello?

Relief flooded through Life, but he masked it with a stern tone. Judai, it's me, Outsider. Where are you?

A pause, then Judai responded, Oh... I see. Sorry, I didn't realize you could communicate mentally. My bad for not anticipating it—

Impatience surged, and Life cut him off. Judai, focus! Where are you right now, and what's keeping you from reporting?

Judai's answer came hesitantly. Ah, right. I couldn't come because they have arrived.

Life's curiosity spiked. By 'they', do you mean the reinforcements Kurai called?

Precisely. In fact, I'm with the cowboy one right now.

The news was both intriguing and a relief. Wait, really? What about the others? And where are you now?

Judai explained the cowboy's confidence, he being the only one of the reinforcements who had arrived yet, and their current location outside a workshop, though details remained scarce. Life's mind raced with possibilities, intrigued by the cowboy's foresight and its implications for their confrontation with Nozomi.

As their conversation neared its end, Life's thoughts drifted back to the connection he had briefly rekindled with Death. Her words, though playful, carried a depth of concern and care that he rarely felt from others. It reminded him that even amidst missions, battles, and the chaos of life, there were moments of genuine human connection that made the struggles worth it.

Returning to the room's balcony, Life allowed the silver liquid to transform his outfit back into the cloaked hero, Outsider. With a determined breath, he leaped off the balcony and started navigating the rooftops, following the trails of life force, driven by the renewed strength their exchange had given him.