I stood back in my room just in utter shock, simply unable to take in what I was seeing.

I was back? How? Why? I didn't even make a wish this time! Yet again, seemingly without rhyme or reason, I was once more taken into a different world. I sighed, burying my face in my hands. "Yep, this is my body alright." While I was decently fit, there was a noticeable difference between Aero's muscles and my own. His body looking similar to a professional boxer's and mine...not so much. My room looked a little different as well, all of my games were neatly organized and shelved. The carpet was nice and tidy and the dressers were thoroughly scrubbed giving off a faint shine. Even though I knew this was my room...it almost didn't feel like it.

"I guess this pretty much proves it. Aero really was in my body during this time." Though upset at the current situation, I couldn't help but feel a little relieved. After having possessed Aero, part of me worried he had simply stopped existing. It was an unpleasant feeling that had been gnawing at me since this whole fiasco had started. Making my way to the bathroom, I stared at my reflection, seeing my familiar face. Stroking my chin, pushing back my hair and observing myself. I had gotten used to seeing Aero's reflection over the month. Having my own reflection looking a little unfamiliar to me felt unsettling to say the least.

"I wonder, did Cameron notice the difference between me and Aero? Does he even know I was gone? What did Aero do in my body the entire time he was in it?" There were too many questions I didn't know. Fortunately, there was one person I knew who could answer them.

I stepped out of the bathroom, entering the living room. Like clockwork, Cameron was there sitting at the table working on his laptop. I could hear the subtle clacking of keys as his fingers played across the board. To the right of his device was a cup of half-finished coffee. His eyes briefly flickered to me before returning back to the screen. "Hello Aero."

He knows? Well...that settles that then. I sat next to Cameron, giving him a smug grin as he went to drink his coffee.

"Sup nerd."

The sounds of clacking keys suddenly stopped, and Cameron's eyes widened. Slowly lifting his head, he looked at me shock apparent on his face. "What...did you just say?"

"I said, sup nerd. I WAS worried about the rent falling apart when I left, but now? I'm more concerned about you working yourself to death again." There was thud as Cameron dropped his coffee cup, the porcelain cup spilling onto the carpet. However, he didn't seem to notice, his eyes locked onto me the entire time. "Miss me?"

"You asshole!"

"Augh?!"

I was suddenly caught off guard as Cameron tackled me out of my chair

.
.

Aero blinked in surprise, having woken up from that strange dream. Pushing the covers off of himself, he sat up mulling it over. "I saw...myself. My REAL self..." he murmured scratching his head. "Ow." Aero winced as his hand used more force than expected, causing him a slight amount of pain. "What the?"

After he has been put into Nathaniel's body, it took time for him to be able to adjust. With Nathaniel possessing a weaker body than his own, a good deal more effort had to be put in to get his expected result of force. Yet now that had all changed. With the pain snapping him out of being half-awake, he finally realized something.

"My alarm didn't go off." And indeed it didn't, but that wasn't all. Looking around the room, this wasn't Nathaniel's room to which he had become accustomed to waking up in. This wasn't even HIS original room from home. Aero's eyes soon landed on three other beds in the room, each with someone on them. It took all he had not to exclaim in surprise.

'What's going on?! No I...this has happened before. The first time I woke up in Nate's room, in another world. Assuming this happened again, then I'm back in my original body. But why are there three others in here too?!'

Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself, trying to think logically.

'I switched bodies right before Beacon's exam. Nate must have gotten dragged along into this and forced to take it. From what I understand, Nate has little to no battle experience. So that means he must've gotten lucky, obtaining powerful teammates to pass the exam for him.'

Aero nodded, satisfied with that explanation, before his face became gloomy again causing him to groan. A black-haired man turned over in his sleep, giving Aero a smile, while putting a finger to his lips, motioning him to be silent. Not knowing what else to do, Aero merely nodded. Quietly getting dressed, he left the room.

"So...I'm back in my own world." He thought, a twinge of sadness striking him. Looking down at his body, he confirmed that this was the case. "I suppose I should be happy..." The man sighed, walking all alone in Beacon's halls. His quiet footsteps the only sound accompanying him. "I dragged Nathaniel into this mess and put his life at stake because I ran from my problems. The universe was kind enough to grant my wish for a month...I should be satisfied with that much."

Aero balled his hands into fists, resigning himself to his new life. "It's time to move on."

"That's quite a dour expression you are wearing young man." An older looking man with gray hair appeared around the corner, walking the same hallway. "Seeing a student all by themselves with a gloomy look..." The man raised a brow at him. "It's often not a good sign. Is there something on your mind that's troubling you?"

Aero contemplated for a moment before shaking his head. "There's no need for that."

"Are you sure?"

"It's...fine. You wouldn't understand anyway."

Ozpin smirked at Aero, coming to a stop in front of him. "My boy, with the experiences I've had, there is seldom something I don't understand. That being said, if this is a matter you do not wish to share, I certainly won't force you."

"Thank you sir, but it's complicated." Aero shook his head murmuring to himself. "Even I can hardly believe it..."

The headmaster was hesitant at first, but otherwise nodded. "Very well then. You should get going, if I'm not mistaken your first class today with Glynda is it not?"

"Ah...yeah." Aero nervously rubbed the back of his head. "Where's that again?"

Ozpin quirked a brow, eyeing the unusual student. "You don't know where your own class is? You've been here for some time and should know by now should you not?"

"I just...I'm groggy right now. Still in the middle of waking up."

"I see." Ozpin didn't press the matter any further, giving Aero directions to the class. Aero politely thanked him and left, passing a student in the hall. Ozpin watched the boy disappear around the corner before turning away with a thoughtful expression.

"There you are!" Glynda glowered at Aero just arriving. "I was starting to think you planned on skipping today's class."

Aero shrugged. "Sorry." he said simply. Aero didn't have a good explanation, not being able to tell her he didn't know she was his next class. Taking a seat next to his team like nothing was wrong.

This however only seemed to irritate the teacher as her eyes narrowed. "Is that so?" She asked crossing her arms. "Well, that reminds me, up an till this point you also seem to have avoided coming up for a combat demonstration. Why don't you rectify that now?"

'Nathaniel's been avoiding combat demonstrations?' He thought, quirking a brow. 'Guess I can understand why.' Aero only gave a nod, standing up, but Nora seemed far more enthusiastic. "Go get em Aero!" she cried giving him a rough slap on the back. Aero jerked at the sudden force on his back, nearly losing his balance and almost falling down the stairs. Steadying himself, he shot a glare backward at her. Nora shrank back with an apologetic smile. "Sorry..."

Though caught off guard by the unexpected turn of events, Aero was somewhat grateful. Right now his mind was absolutely filled with questions, regrets, and all sorts of other thoughts. 'A good sweat is exactly what I need right now to take my mind off of things.' he thought, coming to the front and getting on stage.

"Alright then, now, who to pick..." Glynda looked down at her datapad, thumbing through it."

At the back of the class, Cardin nudged Russel, gesturing with his head towards Aero before dragging his finger across his neck. His teammate nodded with a conniving smile. "I'll do it." Russel called out, standing up.

"Russel Thrush? Very well, please come up."

"With pleasure..." Russel cracked his knuckles, smirking as he made his way up. "So, looks like I'm gonna be the one to deal with you huh? This must be my lucky day."

"That's right." Aero wore a neutral smile, readying his spear and taking his stance. "Thank you for the opportunity to battle."

"...What?"

"You may begin." Glynda announced, raising her left hand.

Russel wasted no time, immediately drawing his daggers, he playfully twirled before his expression turned into that of a sneer. Darting forward, he made his way toward Aero, jilting to the side to narrowly avoid a thrust from his opponent's spear. As Russel closed the gap between them, Aero's expression became focused. Pulling the spear close to his body, he held it vertically with the blade pointed towards the ceiling. As Russel stabbed his daggers forward, Aero shifted his weapon side to side with minimal movements knocking his opponent's thrusts to the side. He watched his opponent, taking a step back with every step forward Russel took to maintain a set distance.

Russel soon became impatient, giving a low growl. Planting his feet, he prepared to lunge himself at his opponent

However this is what the spear user had been waiting for. Slightly rotating his weapon to the side, he aimed the bottom of spear at his opponent's leg before firing the grappling claw just as Russel sprung forward. As his opponent leapt, Aero swiveled to the side fiercely tugging his weapon upward.

"WhaAAAAAAAAA!"

Russel cried out in surprise as he was thrown into the air flailing around until Aero yanked the chain downwards slamming him into the ground. Immediately, Aero ran forward to take advantage of his downed opponent, slashing his mid-section just as Russel threw one of his daggers at him. This caught Aero off guard as he didn't think his opponent would so easily release his weapon. The dagger hit its mark and Russel took this opportunity to roll to his feet and pry the claw off of his leg.

Pressing a button on his spear the chain immediately retracted back into the weapon as his opponent recovered his thrown dagger.

"HAAAAAAAAAAA!" Russel grit his teeth sprinting forward towards Aero not wanting to give him enough time to recover his chain. Lunging forward, Russel used this momentum, tucking himself into a ball. Holding a dagger above and below him he whirled towards Aero like a large saw blade. Aero pulled his spear in to guard against the blades. But unexpectedly, Russel changed his position at the last second. Kicking out with his legs, both feet slammed squarely into Aero's chest, the sheer force of it throwing him back and sending him crashing into the wall.

Russel watched with satisfaction as his opponent grunted pulling himself from the wall, a little shaky on his feet. "Had enough yet?"

Aero chuckled, steadying himself once more. "That was a good kick." He cracked his neck, a wide smile breaking across his face. "I had forgotten how much I missed this. I guess a tiger can't change their stripes so easily..."

He bolted forward, swinging his weapon at Russel who blocked it. Pressing the button on his spear twice in rapid succession, he reversed the direction of his swing. The first button press fired out the claw from the bottom of his spear, while the immediate second press stopped the claw mid-fire allowing it to dangle a single foot from the end of the weapon.

"Wha?!" Russel was caught off guard as the improvised flail cracked him across the head. He was quickly forced on the back foot as Aero whirled his spear around. Alternating his attacks from the blade of his weapon and the claw acting as a flail, throwing him off between the straight and curved trajectories.

"Whoa!" Nora elbowed Jaune as she pointed down to Aero on the stage. "I've never seen him do that before."

"You and me both..." Jaune muttered in surprise, the three of them watching Aero wail on Russel. With one last crack with the claw flail, Russel was sent tumbling to the ground.

"You..." Russel grit his teeth in embarrassment, casting a glance at Cardin up in the stands. Cardin sneered as he looked down on his teammate. Forcing himself up, he tensed his legs, once more shooting his entire body forward and rotating like a saw. Aero's eyes narrowed, taking a hand off of his spear, he pointed at his incoming opponent. "Huh?" Russel couldn't help but cry out in surprise as he collided with a transparent barrier that suddenly appeared in front of him, stopping the student in his tracks. Immediately after, another barrier appeared behind him, the two pressing together and pinning him midair.

"No way..." Jaune couldn't tear his eyes away from the fight, as Aero had somehow frozen his opponent into the air. The transparent barriers were only visible to Russel, since he was close enough. "He has a semblance?" But as Jaune looked to see Aero's expression, it wasn't one of shock or surprise as one might have when first unlocking their semblance. Aero's face didn't change in the slightest, unphased by the turn of events as if this was only expected. In fact, he wielded his new power with calm and expertise as if he were completely used to it.

Nora let out a loud gasp, a large grin on her face as she watched.

Aero meanwhile pressed the button on his weapon twice once more. The first press retracting the chain, and the second firing it again. The chain wrapping around the stuck Russel, the transparent barriers disappearing, only having lasted a few seconds. And with another press, Russel was reeled in flying towards his opponent. Aero ran towards the tied up Russel coming at him. Gripping his weapon tightly, he struck with a thunderous blow, their combined speeds crashing into Aero's opponent and briefly creating a shockwave. Russel let out a weak groan as he sailed upwards before crashing to the ground like a broken kite, his aura entering the red.

"That's enough!" Glynda announced, stepping in. "You two may return to your seats."

Russel immediately grumbled, picking himself up while holding his stomach and getting off of the stage, but Aero hesitated, looking at his aura gauge on the screen.

"Instructor Glynda, I can keep going."

"I beg your pardon?" the blonde woman asked, turning to him and quirking a brow. Aero pointed to the screen showing he still had two-thirds of his aura.

"We can continue to battle until our aura enters the red portion of the gauge, correct? That means I can keep going."

The teacher narrowed her eyes at his unusual response. "What are you playing at?"

"Nothing. This is my first time coming up since the school year started right? Why don't I make up for lost time?" In truth however, Aero was simply enjoying himself. Having grown up with constant training, it had become routine to him. And while he quite enjoyed his time as Nathaniel, there was always that constant itch for battle in the back of his mind he felt needed to be scratched. One that he had been reminded of after taking down the robbers in that other world.

"Really?" Ms. Goodwitch hesitated, there wasn't really any harm in his continuing right? If he wanted to keep going, so long as it didn't cut into her lesson it should be fine. "...very well." she acquiesced. "Does anyone want to-"

"Right here." No sooner had she spoken when Cardin immediately volunteered, and moving to the front of the class before anyone else had a chance to say anything. "If he needs an opponent, I'll gladly help him out."

Glynda turned to Aero. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Of course." he nodded, turning to Cardin who wore a sinister smile. "Thank you for this opportunity," he said, giving a light bow to his opponent. "I wish you well."

Cardin for his part merely raised a brow in confusion before readying himself. "Whatever." he snorted.

"Begin!"

No sooner had she spoken when Cardin's mace crashed down towards Aero's head. Aero kept his cool, holding his spear horizontally, he shifted his weapon to the side, deflecting the blow. Bringing his spear back, he quickly pressed the button on his weapon turning the claw into a flail and striking at his opponent.

Lowering his head, he dodged the attack as the flail swung over him, planting his foot into Aero's chest and kicking him back. As the two disengaged, Aero fired the claw at Cardin. "Hmph!" Gripping his mace in both hands, Cardin swung hard at the claw coming at him like a baseball bat, knocking it to the side. Turning his attention to Aero, he charged at his with his weapon raised over his head.

Rather than press the button to recall his chain, Aero fiercely yanked his weapon backward, manually pulling it back to him. Shifting to a one-handed grip on his weapon, Aero's free hand whirled around the chain coming at him, collecting onto his arm.

As Cardin's weapon came at him, Aero blocked it with the chain wrapped around his arm as if it were a metal gauntlet. "Huh?" Cardin was briefly caught be surprise, unable to react as Aero's weapon struck him across the face.

He staggered back before his expression became one of rage. "AAAAAAAAH!" he shouted running forward and slamming his mace down. Aero tried to block the weapon, however, an explosion occurred when Cardin's weapon touched his, sending him flying. Like a berserker, Cardin, didn't relent. Rushing forward like a madman, he swung his heavy weapon left and right. Aero moved back, on the defensive, deciding to dodge rather than block again. Jumping into the air, he feigned a downward strike at Cardin, who raised his weapon to meet it with an attack of his own.

A moment before impact, a clear barrier appeared to the left of Aero and he kicked off of it midair, changing his trajectory and dodging the attack. Cardin's weapon was met with empty air while Aero's weapon struck true, slashing his foe and knocking him down.

Cardin growled and attempted to climb to his feet, but a transparent barrier appeared in front of his chest, preventing him from sitting up. "Arrrrgh! That cheating!" Pinned to the ground, Cardin was barely able to move his weapon to defend himself allowing Aero to get a few hits in. Gritting his teeth, he ignored his own safety, smashing his mace on the ground next to himself and causing an explosion. Although this ended up injuring him, it also shattered the barrier that made it hard for him to move. Seemingly having lost it, he ran in with mad strikes at his opponent.

Aero calmly stopped each attack, using his claw chain to change for various attacks. Flail, whip, gauntlet, spear. His weapon shifting, and striking Cardin from short, medium, and long-range whenever needed before knocking him in air.

"Now! "Aero, seeing his chance, fired the claw at his opponent.

"That's not going to work again!" Cardin raised his weapon to strike it away, however, two transparent barriers appeared pinning him together and briefly immobilizing him. These barriers could only last a few seconds at most, but that was all the time Aero needed as the chain wrapped around his opponent. Yanking his weapon downward, Cardin sailed from above, yelling at the top of his lungs before he was slammed into ground, a buzzing sound ringing out.

"That's enough." Glynda announced the end of the spar, looking at Aero with an odd expression.

"Dang it!" Cardin still picking himself up, pounded the ground in frustration. His opponent however, appeared very refreshed. It had been so long since he had gone all out and had a really good match. Aero felt as though his frustrations had been blown away. Seeing his opponent on the ground, Aero approached him.

"You did really well." he said offering him a hand up. "You've got a lot of raw power, I was impressed when you blew me away earlier."

Cardin stared in at the hand Aero offered him, confusion apparent on his face. Contrary to his expectations Aero didn't laugh in his face or try to embarrass him despite obviously trying to make trouble for him. "You're talking to me?"

"Yeah?" Seeing how Cardin didn't move, he grabbed his hand anyway, pulling him to his feet. Giving him a pat on the back, he began to head towards his seat. "We should do this again sometime. Let me know if you ever want a rematch."

Cardin stared blankly at Aero's back, he frowned, wearing a thoughtful expression on his way back to his seat. "Hey, don't sweat it." Dove lightly elbowed their leader, keeping his voice a whisper. "We'll get this guy back. Punk just got lucky this time, it won't happen again."

"No." Cardin firmly shook his head, before looking at his team. "We're done."

"Are...are you okay? You didn't hit your head too hard right?"

Cardin glancing over at Aero sitting in his seat and taking notes like nothing had happened. "I don't feel like it anymore..."

"How did you do all that?!" Nora asked whispering loudly. She glanced at the teacher, making sure they weren't being watched. "You beat up Russel and Cardin all by yourself, and you...froze them?!"

Aero nodded. "Sort of. I didn't freeze them exactly, instead using my barriers to press against them from the front and the back to halt their movements. You likely didn't see them because they're transparent and are very hard to see from a distance."

Nora just gaped at him with her mouth open while Ren asked the obvious question. "How long have you had your semblance?"

"For years." he said raising a brow, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Whaaa? But earlier you said-"

"Wait..." the three of them turned to Jaune, who had spoken up, wearing a frustrated expression. "Are you telling us, that all this time you were this strong? That at any moment you could have fought like you just did? That you were always capable of using your semblance..." His eyes bored into Aero's as if demanding an answer. "Is that what you're telling me?"

"Yes?" Aero looked at Jaune confused by Jaune flaring up. "Why does that matter?"

Jaune didn't respond, turning away from Aero, he ignored him and began paying attention to Glynda's lecture. Even after the class had ended, and the students packed up readying to leave, he refused to even look at him. Silently leaving without another word.

About an hour later, as the last student had left the room, Ozpin leisurely strolled in, while Glynda was still working on grades. The woman looked up, faintly smiling as the headmaster handed her a cup of coffee. Immediately taking a sip of the hot drink before setting it on her desk.

"Thank you, I don't know how we'd survive without this stuff. Still..." the woman put down one the papers she was grading, turning her attention to Ozpin. "I'm assuming you didn't come here just to give me that."

The headmaster chuckled. "I might have some other time, however in this case you are correct. Glynda, what do we have on Aero Cairn?"

"Mr. Cairn?" Glynda raised a brow before tapping her holopad and pulling up his profile. "Honestly, quite a mixed bag of information, most deal of his data seems to conflict with itself."

"Really?" Ozpin asked raising a brow. "Is the information wrong?"

"No, it's been double-checked and it's not wrong per se, it's just not consistent. Why do you ask?"

"I'm likely overthinking it, however it doesn't hurt to check any oddities. I recently had an interesting conversation with the young man this morning, and he seemed rather off. "

"That should come as no surprise, something is very unusual about that boy. And it's been apparent since his exam." clicking on one of the links, she pulled up the data turning it towards him. "Aero's grades in his combat school before Beacon were good in both the physical and mental aspects of his time there. However, while taking this school's entrance exam it has become abundantly clear that his performance does not match that which was shown at the academy. I do realize Beacon's standards are higher, but there is absolutely no excuse for this."

"I see, quite the mystery indeed." Ozpin said, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Hardly!" the woman remarked, with a scowl. "If you ask me, he's intentionally putting on a bad show in an attempt to drop out. He refused to show up for last year's exam, and tried to run away from this year's too. It's a wonder Mr. Cairn is even here. If I hadn't seen his performance in today's sparring session, I would have thought that the Aero Cairn that attended Signal Academy and the one currently attending Beacon were two different people."

The headmaster raised a brow at this. "A different person?" he asked thoughtfully, seeming to be speaking to himself.

"Sir?" Glynda looked at Ozpin. "Did you want me to keep an eye on him.

Ozpin was silent for a moment longer, seemingly lost in thought before smiling. "No, I don't believe that will be necessary for now."

"Okay. So, basically, you switched bodies with Aero and you've been in his world this entire time?"

I gave a brief nod. "Yes."

"...But why?"

"I have no idea. I thought it was because of a twisted wish I made that brought me there. But then I got taken back here to my world regardless of the wish. So I'm not sure what to think."

Cameron frowned, leaning against his hand. "I...I don't get any of this." He shook his head. "But what matters is you're back home where you belong."

"...Home?" Why was I so shocked to hear that? I saw that I was back in my world, but it was almost like it didn't register until Cameron had spoken it out loud. Even after returning, the first thing I did was tease him about it instead of feeling excited."Yeah...I guess I'm back."

"Well you don't need to sound so happy all at once." Cameron quipped sarcastically.

"Ah, sorry you're right. I AM glad to be back, honestly, I was worried about you freaking out."

"That's it?" Cameron took a step back. "You were worried about me?!" He leveled a finger at my chest. "What about YOU?! You were stranded in a world of danger and monsters! You very nearly died a couple of times! Why are you so nonchalant about all of this?"

"Well...to be honest, I liked being in that workd. It's hard to explain."

"The hell it is! It's simple! You're Nathaniel, not Aero! This is your life where you belong! Here!" I could feel my emotions start to boil as he spoke. I knew he was right. That Aero's life wasn't mine to take, that living here was safer, and arguably smarter. But I didn't care about any of this. "What's so hard about that?" Cameron finished, anger in his tone.

"Well maybe I don't WANT to be Nathaniel! Did you ever think of that?!"

"W-what?"

"Maybe I don't want to live this boring life. Where NOTHING I do matters. Where I do that same menial job day in and day out. Come home to barely afford rent and just sit around while my life wastes away. I want to do something important! To make a difference! Over there, in that world I actually mean something! I'm more than just Nathaniel the cafe boy. I'm someone who can save people."

My roommate gawked at me in surprise at my outburst without a word. Neither of us said anything in this moment, the atmosphere becoming tense. He abrupt closed his eyes, taking a deep breath, and slowly letting it out.

"I...I get it, you're stressed." He said slowly, trying to rationalize things. "You came back after having a near-death experience and just need time to readjust.

"Cameron, I-"

"I don't want to hear it." he said, raising a hand. "Just...take your time, and talk to me after you've cooled down in a day or two. I'll be in my room."

I sighed as he left, plopping down on the couch, suddenly feeling exhausted. Was I wrong? This IS my life, and in the beginning, I did want to give this life back to Aero before I took Beacon's entrance exam. But over time, things had...changed. Getting a goal I had a burning ambition for, something I haven't felt in a while. Working on improving myself, despite the pain and sweat. Even happy to do so.

"I know I'm being selfish, but...is that so wrong?"

BRIBRI BRIBRI BRIBRI BRIBRI

A ringing noise came from my body, snapping me out of me reverie. Pulling a phone out of my pocket, it seemed an alarm had been set. 10:00 am. Bus 17 departing in half an hour. "What?" Did Aero set this? It was probably so he could travel to work since it was a little far. "Work..."

That wasn't something I wanted to think about. It'd been a month since I worked there and I had just adjusted to life in Remnant. Now I was forced to switch gears and pick up right where I left off here? What a sick joke. What was the point of bringing there, and giving me hope for a new life, only to snatch it away after I'd gotten a taste. Still...

I begrudgingly picked myself off of the couch to go get ready. Reality was a cruel mistress, and it didn't matter if you could accept what happened. It wouldn't change that it was real. Honestly I should be grateful Aero took care of things decently well while I was gone. At least he managed not to lose my job in that time. Snagging by backpack hanging off of the doorknob with my uniform in it, I headed to the bus stop.

The sight of the Count's Cafe greeted me upon arriving. A one story building with tan walls, lots of windows, and the smell of coffee. I hadn't even entered the building yet, and I could still smell the freshly brewed drink. It was exactly as I remember it, but felt odd at the same time returning. "C'mon, don't be such a baby, you were only gone for a month."

Steeling myself, I took a deep breath, pushing open the door and stepping inside. The smell of coffee became stronger, and a few pairs of eyes landed on me as I entered.

"Hey, good to see you Nathan." A woman with bobbed brown hair greeted me with a smile. "Ready to start the day?"

"Yeah..." To be honest, I don't really remember her name. She and I don't talk much, same with the other employees, excluding my boss Maurice.

"You came at the perfect time, just made a fresh pot. Got a cup for you to help start your morning." Or at least, we didn't? I looked on with mild confusion as she handed me a cup. Looking at the drink, the coffee was pitch black with absolutely no cream. Who the hell would drink this?! "Black, just like you like it." The woman gave me a friendly smile before gesturing for me to head around back into the kitchen to work.

"I guess...Aero drinks this..." Taking a tiny sip of the drink, my face scrunched up as the bitter liquid hit my tongue. Shaking my head, I gingerly set it down on the counter, putting on an apron.

The next fifteen minutes or so was spent in complete silence. Turning off the detergent and letting the water fill the sink. Setting out the washed plates to be ready to use. Turning on the bathroom lights as well as other tasks to open up the shop. All of these things done relatively quickly and easily, having done them literally hundreds of times. Moving the entrance of the shop, I could spot an elderly couple already outside waiting for us. Turning the closed sign around, I opened the door for them.

"Good morning Nathan." The older gentleman greeted with a warm smile before walking in with his wife. "I'll have the usual."

'The usual? These people know me too? Just how social WAS Aero in my body?' "Er, yes." Trying not to look too awkward, I led them to a seat by the window. "Now what was the usual again? I'm not as young as I used to be."

Fortunately, the couple laughed at my joke and played along, telling me their usual order. Taking their order to the back and handing it off, the bell on the door rung signifying another customer.

"Hello, welcome to the Count's Cafe."

"Eyyyyy~! It's Nathan."

"..."

To say work was tiring today would be an understatement. For whatever reason, my hours had doubled, going from part-time to full time in my absence. On top of that, about two-thirds of the customers seemed to know me. Incessantly starting up conversations about themselves and their family I had no idea about. Smiling and pretending to know what they were talking about and not exposing myself proved mentally tiring in and of itself.

"Am I going to have to deal with their every day?!" Aside from being tiring, it's also kind of disheartening. These people like the fake me even more than the real me. Even though I've come back, I've still been replaced by Aero in their minds. It's as if I've become a stranger in my own world.

"Coming back here should be a good thing, but now it's only reminding me why I wanted to leave in the first place!" Things were the same, before I left, yet they had somehow also changed.

'I wonder how my team is doing. If they've even noticed something is off between the real Aero and me. The real Aero is stronger than I am. Maybe they'll like him more too.'

"Just...stop." If I continued on with this kind of thinking, I'd drive myself mad.

Not wanting to go home, I found myself back at my favorite store, Fast Stop. The familiar store always being my go to place when I needed a pick me up. But part of me was scared to enter, scared to find things had changed.

The automatic doors opened, as soon as I stepped towards the door, and the sight of a semi cluttered store appeared before me. The same middle-aged woman with black hair and glasses turned to look at me from her chair at the register. Her eyes widening as soon as she saw me and waving. "There you are! I was starting to think you'd moved away or something.

I couldn't help but subconsciously smile at the fact Aero never came here. "At least this didn't change when I was gone..."