The squad's footsteps echoed down the corridor, boots hitting metal in uneven rhythm. The lighting overhead buzzed faintly — not dim, not bright, just functional. After everything they'd just been through, even the silence between words felt lighter.
"I just miss pizza," Hannah said with a sigh. "Like real pizza. The kind that's so greasy you have to fold it." She gave a half-laugh. "Last time I went to the cafeteria, they served Japanese food."
Ren glanced over, quiet as always. "You've been to the cafeteria?"
Kenji looked her way too, his tone even. "What's wrong with Japanese food?"
The others didn't say anything, but a few of them looked.
Hannah shrugged. "Nothing's wrong with it. I'm just from America. I'm not really used to it yet."
Kenji nodded slowly, something thoughtful flickering in his eyes. "I see. Adjusting takes time."
Kaiori scoffed under her breath. "At least you had this pizza thing. Before I got here, it was tasteless paste every day."
Hannah made a face. "Tasteless paste? That sounds disgusting."
"It was," Kaiori said flatly.
A few steps behind them, Jin finally spoke. "Where even is the cafeteria? I haven't seen it since we got here."
Shiori glanced back, walking steady as ever. "Sector C, upper level. But don't get your hopes up — you'd have to take time out of your own day to go there."
Jin let out a quiet breath. "Figures."
Kenji walked silently beside him, arms folded loosely, his eyes scanning the dull hall as they turned the next corner.
For a moment, the weight of everything lifted — just a little. The mission, the pressure, the unknowns ahead… all of it faded, replaced by something simpler. Something almost normal.
They rounded the next corner. Just ahead, the familiar panel-lined doors of their quarters came into view.
Shiori glanced back. "Well, our quarters are just up here on the left. Might be a good idea to wash up first if you're thinking about going to the cafeteria."
Jin let out a groan as the door slid open with a low hiss. "Was hoping to eat first… but I gotta get this gear off."
The lights overhead blinked on — cold white and a little too bright — casting sharp lines across the plain room. Lockers lined one side, a table sat dead center, and a few scattered chairs looked like they hadn't been used in years. Doors to the personal rooms were off to the right. The training hall lay just past them, tucked behind reinforced panels and regulation silence.
The squad stepped in one by one, the room filling with the clatter of boots and the dull thud of gear hitting the floor.
Hannah let her harness fall with a tired grunt, the rest of her gear clattering to the floor right after. "Feels like I've been hauling this crap for ten years."
Kaiori shrugged off the rest of her gear and let it drop beside the table with a thud. She set her gloves on top, then waved a hand in front of her nose. "You reek of blood, Hannah."
Hannah flinched. "Hey — we all do."
Jin also took his gear off and slumped into a chair like he'd been waiting to do it all day.
Raizo followed in behind the others, silent as usual. He set his gear down by the lockers without a word, then leaned against the wall, arms folded, his eyes half-lidded like none of this concerned him.
Ren, still quiet, moved through the space like a ghost. His gear was placed down carefully, piece by piece — always neat, always the same.
Kenji peeled off his gloves slowly and set them on the bench beside his gear, stretching out his shoulders with a quiet exhale. "At least this place is quiet."
Shiori peeled off her gloves, eyes already on the hallway. "Go shower first," she said simply.
Kaiori didn't wait. "I'm first."
"Second," Jin muttered while walking towards the shower.
"I don't care what stall," Hannah said, stretching her shoulders. "Just give me hot water."
Raizo and Ren followed the others, silent as ever.
Kenji waited a beat, then moved after them with measured steps.
The water kicked on seconds later — the pipes humming low as steam began to drift back into the room, curling around the floor like mist.
Shiori stayed behind. She sat at the edge of the table, gloves in one hand, her silver-grey eyes unfocused. For once, the silence wasn't heavy. No tension. No lingering adrenaline.
Her head lifted.
The knock wasn't loud. It wasn't urgent. Just two clean, precise taps.
No one else seemed to hear it. The others were still in the showers.
Shiori stood.
She crossed the room and opened the door.
A man stood just outside. Standard black uniform. Pale skin. Posture stiff, too still. His face didn't register — no one familiar. But something about him made her spine tighten.
He tilted his head slightly.
"Are you… Shiori Asano?"
The way he said it didn't feel like a question. It felt like a line he'd been waiting to deliver.
Her eyes narrowed. "How do you know my name?"
He didn't answer. No expression. No shift in posture. Just extended an envelope toward her — crisp, white, unmarked.
She hesitated, then reached for it.
The moment her fingers brushed the edge, the man turned and walked away. No further words. No sound to his steps. Gone like he'd never been there.
Shiori stood alone in the doorway, staring at the empty hall. The envelope felt heavier than it should.
She looked down at it — her name written in small, sharp handwriting. No seal. No sender.
I'll read it later, she thought, sliding it into her jacket pocket.
But even as the door shut behind her with a soft click, something tugged at her gut. Not fear. Not exactly.
Just a feeling.
Something was off.
The stillness didn't last.
The door to the shower room creaked open, steam spilling out like mist slipping into the main room.
Ren stepped through first.
His hair was soaked, dripping onto the floor. He clutched a towel low around his waist with both hands — not tied, just held in place like it might fall apart if he breathed too hard.
His eyes flicked across the room, avoiding direct contact with anyone, and dipped quickly toward the floor.
Shiori turned at the sound.
For a second, she just looked at him.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
Ren shifted his grip on the towel. "I never really learned how to tie one," he muttered. "Because of… y'know. Before."
She didn't need the details.
The faint scar peeking along his ribs, the way his hands tensed — it said more than enough.
She nodded toward the lockers. "Clothes are in there. You'll figure it out."
Ren gave a small nod and moved past her without a word, damp footprints trailing behind him.
Then the shower room door opened again.
Raizo walked out next.
Same situation — towel untied, gripped tightly in one hand. He didn't look embarrassed, just… annoyed. As if this part of existence was more of an inconvenience than anything else.
Their eyes met briefly.
Neither said a word.
Ren let out the quietest sigh. Raizo just stared ahead.
Shiori blinked. "…Seriously?"
Neither of them answered.
Ren continued to the lockers. Raizo followed, towel barely staying in place, his expression flat as ever.
The steam hung in the air a moment longer… then faded into nothing.
The sound of lockers swinging open echoed lightly through the room. Metal on metal. Soft footsteps padded across the floor, followed by the subtle rustling of clothes being pulled free.
Ren knelt, shifting through the stack with one hand while the other clutched his towel in place.
Raizo didn't bother kneeling — he just ripped the locker door open, grabbed the first set of clothes he saw, and shut it again with a thud.
Neither said a word.
Ren stole a quick glance sideways, noticing Raizo still gripping his towel in the same death grip.
"…You don't know how to tie it either?" Ren asked quietly.
Raizo didn't look at him. "It's not important."
Ren blinked, then looked away, mumbling under his breath, "Could've just said yes…"
The soft slap of damp feet against the floor signaled someone else approaching. Laughter echoed faintly from the shower room behind them — the rest of the squad was still inside.
Shiori stayed by the table, watching the two with the faintest trace of amusement in her eyes, arms crossed loosely.
She didn't comment.
Let them have this small struggle. It was oddly… human.
Shortly after the soft slap of damp feet echoed faintly across the room, followed by the low creak of the shower room door sliding open.
Hannah stepped out first, steam curling behind her. Her towel was tied neatly at the waist, brown-black hair pulled back, still damp but swept out of her face. She paused for just a second as her eyes landed on the scene ahead.
Ren stood awkwardly near the lockers, clutching his towel with both hands like it might fall apart at any moment. Raizo was beside him, already halfway dressed — tugging on his uniform with one hand while the other kept a firm grip on his towel. His expression was flat, tinged with mild annoyance.
Hannah blinked — then let out a soft laugh. "You two are hopeless."
A second set of footsteps followed behind.
The door creaked again, and Kaiori stepped out. Her towel was tied tight, dark hair dripping water onto her shoulders. One glance at the boys and she burst out laughing.
"I leave you alone for five minutes, and you still haven't figured out how to wrap a towel?"
Raizo ignored her, tugging his uniform into place, straightening the creases and fastening the belt. The towel still clung loosely underneath, barely held in place until the uniform took over.
Ren, red-faced, muttered something and turned toward his locker, trying to change without letting go of the towel.
Hannah opened hers with a clunk. "It's really not that hard," she said, pulling out the neatly folded uniform.
Kaiori smirked, opening the locker next to hers. "Hannah tied mine."
Ren glanced over. Hannah shrugged with a light smile.
"She looked like she was about to give up."
Kaiori rolled her eyes but didn't argue. She grabbed her uniform — crisp and dark, still smelling faintly of soap — and slung the shirt over her shoulder.
Kenji stepped out next, towel tied perfectly, hair still damp but already combed back neatly. He looked between Raizo and Ren for a moment.
"You two want help, or are you planning to battle the towel until dinner?"
Raizo didn't respond.
Ren gave a faint, almost embarrassed shake of the head. "I got it…"
Kenji shrugged. "Suit yourselves," he said, walking toward his locker and pulling his uniform out in smooth, practiced motion.
Hannah tugged out her own set, flicking the pants once. "I swear they make these just uncomfortable enough to remind you you're not home."
They split off to opposite corners of the room, slipping into their clothes with ease. Towels hit the floor, buckles clicked into place, fabric rustled against skin and tile.
Ren crouched low, still juggling pants and towel like he was defusing a bomb.
Raizo slammed his locker shut and dropped onto a nearby bench, tugging the last strap of his uniform into place, face unreadable.
The room was quiet now. Lockers shut one by one. Clothes shifted. Boots scraped softly against the floor.
Kaiori leaned against the wall, arms crossed, uniform on. Her damp hair was tied back loosely.
"…Where's Jin?" she asked, glancing toward the shower room door.
Hannah was still adjusting her collar. "Still in there."
Ren finished tightening his boots. "Didn't hear the water shut off."
Raizo sat silently, elbows resting on his knees. His eyes were open but unreadable.
Kenji straightened the front of his uniform, glancing toward the door. "He's probably asleep standing up."
Shiori stood from the couch, stretched lightly, then folded her arms as her eyes moved toward the door.
"…He's taking his time," she said.
Kaiori rolled her eyes. "He's the one who wanted to go to the cafeteria so bad, and he's the last one out?"
Hannah looked toward the door. "Yeah, what's taking him?"
No one responded after that.
They just waited.
Jin finished buttoning his jacket, tugging the collar into place with a quiet huff. The locker door clicked shut behind him.
Everyone was ready now.
Kaiori pushed off the wall. "Alright. Can we go now, or is someone else gonna take a twenty-minute shower?"
Jin shot her a look but didn't answer.
Shiori adjusted the sleeve of her uniform and nodded toward the door. "Cafeteria's on the upper level of Sector C. It's a walk."
Hannah stretched her arms overhead with a soft groan. "Don't care. As long as there's food."
Ren stood, keeping close to the back of the group. Raizo didn't move until the others did.
Kenji fell in near the front, calm and collected, hands in his pockets.
The squad drifted toward the exit together, footsteps falling back into rhythm.
Leaving Shiori behind.