The recruits were lined up in the mess hall after another grueling day of training. Sergeant Relk stood at the front, barking orders as always, his sharp voice cutting through the murmur of exhausted chatter.
"Listen up, maggots!" Relk shouted, his eyes scanning the rows of recruits. "Today, you'll be assigned your permanent quarters. I don't want to hear any whining about who you're roomed with. This isn't a goddamn summer camp! You'll make it work, or I'll make your lives even more miserable than they already are!"
Kikidori stood near the back of the line, his arms crossed as he glared at the floor. He could still feel the sting of mud in his knees from the obstacle course earlier, and his muscles ached from the seemingly endless pushups Relk had demanded.
"Permanent quarters," he muttered to himself. "Great. I can't wait to see what fresh hell this brings."
Quinn stood beside him, his expression calm as always, though there was a faint tension in his jaw.
"You're going to have to learn to stop complaining," Quinn said quietly, not even looking at Kikidori. "The more you curse this place, the more it'll chew you up."
"Yeah, well, excuse me for not being a fan of this stupid program," Kikidori shot back under his breath. "I didn't ask to be dragged here, and I sure as hell didn't ask for Relk breathing down my neck every second."
Quinn glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "None of us asked for this."
Before Kikidori could respond, Relk began calling out names and room assignments.
"Vorden Blade, Peter Chuck, Room 3B," Relk barked.
Peter let out an audible groan, earning a sharp glare from Relk. Vorden, on the other hand, clapped Peter on the shoulder with his usual grin. "Looks like we're roommates, buddy! Don't worry, I don't snore… much."
"Great," Peter muttered, trudging off toward their assigned room.
"Erin Heley, Layla Munrow, Room 4A," Relk continued.
The two girls exchanged a glance before heading off without a word, Erin leading the way with her usual air of confidence.
Finally, Relk's gaze landed on Kikidori and Quinn.
"Kikidori, Quinn Talen, Room 2C," he announced, his voice dripping with disdain as he said Kikidori's name.
Kikidori felt a flush of embarrassment as a few of the other recruits snickered. He clenched his fists but didn't say anything, instead glancing at Quinn, who simply nodded and started walking toward their room.
Room 2C was as bleak and utilitarian as Kikidori had expected. The walls were bare metal, and the only furniture was two small cots pushed against opposite walls, each with a narrow locker at the foot. A single overhead light cast a harsh, yellowish glow over the space.
Quinn walked in first, setting his bag down on the cot to the right. He didn't say a word as he began unpacking, his movements methodical and precise.
Kikidori hesitated in the doorway, taking in the cramped quarters. "Home sweet home," he muttered sarcastically, tossing his bag onto the other cot.
Quinn didn't respond.
For a few minutes, the room was silent except for the sound of rustling fabric and the occasional creak of the cots as they settled in. Kikidori watched Quinn out of the corner of his eye, wondering what the other boy was thinking.
"So," Kikidori said finally, breaking the silence. "Guess we're stuck together, huh?"
Quinn glanced up, his expression neutral. "Looks that way."
Kikidori sat down on his cot, leaning back against the wall. "You're not much of a talker, are you?"
"I talk when there's something worth saying," Quinn replied, his tone matter-of-fact.
"Fair enough," Kikidori said, though he couldn't help but feel a little irritated by the response.
Quinn finished unpacking and sat down on his own cot, pulling out a small notebook. He flipped it open and began writing, his pen moving quickly across the page.
"What's that?" Kikidori asked, nodding toward the notebook.
"Notes," Quinn said without looking up.
"Notes on what?"
"Things I've observed. Strategies, techniques, powers…"
Kikidori raised an eyebrow. "You're keeping track of everyone's powers?"
Quinn nodded. "It's important to know what people are capable of. You never know when that information might come in handy."
Kikidori frowned, leaning forward. "And what about me? What'd you write down about me?"
Quinn paused, his pen hovering over the page. He looked up, meeting Kikidori's gaze. "Nothing yet."
The words stung more than Kikidori expected, though he wasn't sure why.
"Figures," he muttered, leaning back again. "Not much to write about a level-one nobody like me, right?"
Quinn didn't respond, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—sympathy, maybe, or understanding.
That night, as Kikidori lay awake in his cot, staring at the ceiling, he couldn't stop his mind from racing. The day's events played over and over in his head—Relk's harsh words, the brutal training, the snickers from the other recruits.
He clenched his fists, his anger simmering just beneath the surface.
"This place is a nightmare," he muttered under his breath. "Fucking hell."
"You're not wrong. You know, you have a potty mouth for your skill level" Quinn said suddenly, his voice cutting through the darkness.
Kikidori turned his head, surprised to see that Quinn was still awake, lying on his back with his hands behind his head.
"You think this is bad now," Quinn continued, his tone calm. "Wait until we're out there, fighting the Dalki. This is nothing compared to what's coming."
Kikidori frowned. "That's supposed to make me feel better?"
"No," Quinn said simply. "But it's the truth."
For a moment, neither of them said anything. The faint hum of the overhead light filled the silence, and Kikidori could hear the muffled sounds of other recruits moving around in their rooms.
Finally, Quinn spoke again. "Why are you here, Kikidori?"
Kikidori blinked, caught off guard by the question. "What do you mean? I didn't have a choice. They dragged me here, same as you."
"That's not what I'm asking," Quinn said, turning his head to look at him. "I'm asking why you're still here. Why you're trying, even when it's clear they don't expect anything from you."
Kikidori opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat. He didn't know what to say.
Quinn nodded, as if he'd expected the silence. "You should think about that. Figure out what you want, and why you're willing to fight for it. Because if you don't, this place will break you."
Kikidori stared at him, unsure of how to respond. Finally, he rolled over, pulling the thin blanket up to his shoulders.
"Good talk," he muttered.
Quinn didn't respond, but Kikidori could feel his gaze lingering for a moment before he turned back to his notebook.
As Kikidori lay in the darkness, his mind raced with questions he didn't have answers to.
The End of Chapter 14.