The sun peeked through the window of the NCGO dorm training hall. Light hit Shunya's face as he held up a broomstick like a sword.
"Hiyaaa!" he yelled and swung clumsily at the air. The broom slipped from his hand and clattered across the floor.
"...You're hopeless," a sharp voice said.
Naomi stood nearby, arms folded. She wore her usual training uniform, not a wrinkle out of place. Her long hair was tied into a high ponytail, and her expression looked like someone had just insulted her ancestors.
"I was not asking for your opinion," Shunya said, picking up the broom again.
She walked over, sighed, and flicked his forehead with two fingers. "That was not a swing. That was a leaf dancing in the wind."
"Ow," Shunya rubbed his forehead. "I was trying something new."
"You were trying to die early," she muttered.
They stared at each other for a second. Then she handed him a real practice sword.
"Here. If you are going to embarrass yourself, at least do it with a weapon that's not used to clean floors."
Shunya blinked. "Did… you just help me?"
Naomi looked away. "It was painful to watch. That's all."
They started sparring lightly. Well, Shunya tried to. Naomi moved like lightning. Every time he blinked, she had already dodged or smacked the sword out of his hands.
After fifteen minutes, Shunya collapsed on the floor, breathing like an old vacuum cleaner.
"I hate this," he mumbled.
Naomi knelt down beside him and tossed a towel on his face. "You will live."
"You say that like you're disappointed."
She did not answer. Instead, she pulled out a small first aid kit. Shunya blinked in surprise.
"You carry that?"
"Some people like being prepared," she said, cleaning up a small scrape on his wrist. "Unlike you, who charges into things with no idea what he is doing."
Shunya stared at her. "You know, you would be nicer if you did not talk so much."
Naomi froze for a moment, then gave him the sharpest death glare she could muster. "You want me to stop talking? Fine."
"I was kidding!"
She stood and turned her back, crossing her arms. "Tch."
Silence stretched for a few seconds.
"…Thanks," Shunya said, sitting up. "I mean it. You did not have to help."
Naomi did not turn around, but she muttered, "You are not the worst person here."
Shunya grinned. "That is the nicest thing anyone's said to me today."
From the hallway, a soft knock echoed.
"Excuse me?"
It was Vikoria.
She peeked inside, holding two cups of tea in shaky hands.
"Oh, I thought… you might want a break," she said. Her voice was gentle as always.
Naomi glanced back. Her eyes narrowed for half a second.
"Oh! Tea sounds amazing," Shunya said, jumping up and wiping his face with his sleeve.
Vikoria walked in and handed him a cup. She offered one to Naomi too, but Naomi raised an eyebrow. "I do not drink during cooldowns."
"…Okay," Vikoria said softly and sat beside Shunya on the bench.
Shunya blew on his tea and sipped. "Ahhh, that's perfect. Thanks, Vikoria."
"You are welcome," she said, smiling faintly.
They sat like that for a moment, side by side, just enjoying the quiet.
Naomi stood a few feet away, her arms still crossed. She looked out the window.
It was the first time she felt… left out.
And she hated it.
Suddenly, the system pinged in Shunya's mind.
[Side Interaction Complete! Small affection gain from Naomi + Vikoria.]
[Triangle Route unlocked: "Two Hearts, One Dense Potato."]
[Warning: Emotional collisions may occur soon.]
Shunya blinked.
"Did… my system just call me a potato?"
"Hmm?" Vikoria tilted her head.
"Nothing. Just system nonsense."
Naomi, without looking back, muttered under her breath.
"…More like rotten potato."