The day after our grueling training session, we all woke up sore but in surprisingly high spirits. Captain Fujimoto had given us the day off, a rare treat that we were determined to make the most of.
"Finally, a day to relax," Takeshi said, stretching out on his bed. "What should we do?"
"I've got an idea," Mei said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Let's do a dorm room makeover!"
"A what now?" Yuki asked, raising an eyebrow.
"A dorm room makeover," Mei repeated. "We spend so much time training and fighting robots. We deserve a nice, cozy space to come back to. Plus, it'll be fun!"
"I don't know," Ren said, looking skeptical. "I'm not really into interior decorating."
"Come on, it'll be great," Mei insisted. "We'll make it a team effort. Hiroto, what do you think?"
I shrugged, not wanting to disappoint Mei. "Sure, why not? It could be fun."
"Awesome!" Mei said, clapping her hands. "Let's split up and find some supplies. Meet back here in an hour."
As we left the dorm, I caught up with Akari. "So, what do you think about this whole makeover thing?"
She shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips. "It could be fun. And it's not like we have anything better to do."
"True," I said, grinning. "Let's make the most of it."
We split into pairs to search for supplies. I went with Takeshi to the storage room, while Akari and Mei headed to the arts and crafts room. Ren and Yuki went to scavenge for decorations in the academy's common areas.
"So, what exactly are we looking for?" I asked Takeshi as we rummaged through boxes.
"Anything that looks useful," he replied, holding up a roll of duct tape. "You'd be surprised what you can do with this stuff."
"Yeah, like fixing all the stuff you break," I teased.
"Hey, duct tape is a lifesaver," Takeshi said, grinning. "Never underestimate its power."
We managed to find some old posters, a couple of bean bags, and a string of fairy lights. When we got back to the dorm, Mei and Akari were already there with a pile of colorful pillows and a few cans of paint.
"Look what we found!" Mei said, beaming. "This is going to be great."
Ren and Yuki returned soon after with a collection of random knick-knacks, including a lava lamp and a fake potted plant.
"Alright, let's get started," Mei said, her enthusiasm contagious. "First, we need to decide on a theme."
"A theme?" Ren repeated, looking puzzled.
"Yeah, like a color scheme or a style," Mei explained. "How about something cozy and colorful?"
"Sounds good to me," I said, glancing at the others. "Everyone in?"
There were nods and murmurs of agreement all around. We divided up the tasks: Mei and Akari started painting an accent wall, Ren and Takeshi worked on stringing up the fairy lights, Yuki and I arranged the pillows and bean bags.
As we worked, the banter flowed freely.
"Careful with that paintbrush, Mei," Takeshi teased. "You might get more paint on yourself than on the wall."
"Oh, hush," Mei shot back, flicking a bit of paint at him. "At least I'm not just sitting around with duct tape."
"Hey, duct tape is essential," Takeshi defended, holding up a piece of tape. "It's holding up the fairy lights, see?"
"Sure, sure," Yuki said, rolling her eyes. "Just don't let it become your solution to everything."
We laughed and joked as we transformed the room. The accent wall turned out beautifully, a bright splash of color that made the space feel more cheerful. The fairy lights added a warm glow, and the bean bags and pillows created a cozy seating area.
Finally, we stepped back to admire our work.
"Wow, this actually looks pretty good," Ren admitted, looking impressed.
"See? I told you it would be fun," Mei said, grinning.
As we settled into our newly decorated space, Takeshi pulled out his laptop. "How about a movie to christen the new room?"
"Great idea," I said, flopping onto a bean bag. "What should we watch?"
"Something funny," Akari suggested. "We could all use a good laugh."
We settled on a classic comedy, and soon the room was filled with laughter. As the movie played, I glanced around at my friends, feeling a deep sense of contentment. In the midst of our chaotic lives, it was moments like these that reminded me why we fought so hard.
"Hey, Hiroto," Akari whispered, nudging me. "Thanks for going along with this. It turned out great."
I smiled, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the fairy lights. "Anytime, Akari. Anytime."