Ethan walked through the silent, empty hallway and entered the cafeteria. The vast room echoed faintly with his footsteps. He scanned the area before spotting a door with a faded sign that read "Staff Only."
Ethan: (That must be the kitchen.)
Ignoring the sign, he opened the door.
Ethan stepped into the kitchen, the door swinging shut behind him.
A few cabinets hung open, some shelves half-empty, but the essentials were still there. The air smelled faintly stale.
He removed his hoodie and started washing his hands, thoroughly.
Then he began checking supplies.
Rice—still sealed.
Curry roux blocks—unopened.
Onions and carrots—soft around the edges, but usable.
Canned meat stacked neatly in a corner.
Ethan nodded to himself.
He moved with practiced efficiency, setting everything out before starting. Knife in hand, he tested the vegetables carefully, trimming away anything questionable without hesitation.
He worked mostly with one hand, compensating naturally, the motions smooth despite his injury. The knife rose and fell in a steady rhythm, onions sliced cleanly, carrots cut evenly.
Soon, a pot was heating on the stove.
He added curry roux blocks along with the packet of spices that came with the roux blocks.
Carrots followed. Then the canned meat.
He adjusted the flame, tasting once, adding a little water, then waiting.
When the pot began to simmer, he broke the curry blocks apart carefully and dropped them in, stirring until the liquid thickened into a rich, dark sauce.
Ethan watched it bubble, arms crossed.
While the curry cooked, he rinsed rice and set it to steam. When the rice was ready, he fluffed it gently, letting out excess steam.
Everything was plated neatly.
Curry poured carefully on top of the rice, not drowning it.
He stepped back and looked proud at the result.
Ethan exhaled quietly, a small sense of control returning to him.
Then he transferred the meals one by one to a table.
Ethan: (Let's hope Elin's gotten up by now.)
He left the cafeteria and walked down the familiar, quiet hallway.
As he entered the room, he immediately spotted Dylan on the floor, doing push-ups.
Ethan: "Lunch is ready."
Dylan: "Great. I'm almost done anyway."
Dylan pushed himself up and stood. Ethan noticed he was drenched in sweat.
Ethan: "On second thought… you should take a bath first."
Dylan frowned, raised his arm, and sniffed himself.
Dylan: "—Ugh. Yeah. Sure."
He walked towards the door, then stopped.
Dylan: "Wait. Where am I supposed to bathe? And what about clothes?"
Ethan: "…"
Ethan: "This hotel probably has a sento. As for clothes, there should be staff uniforms somewhere."
They stepped out into the hallway together. Passing the cafeteria, they continued until they reached the end, where two doors stood side by side—one draped with blue cloth, the other with red.
Ethan: "These must be the changing rooms. The sento should be ahead."
He looked around briefly, then nodded.
Ethan: "You go ahead and bathe. I'll find some clothes."
Dylan: "Ok."
Ethan turned back and headed toward the lobby.
Behind the front counter, he noticed another door labeled 'Staff Only.'
Ethan: (How did I miss this?)
He climbed over the counter and tried pulling the door open. It didn't budge.
Ethan: (Is it locked?)
He tried pushing instead.
The door swung open.
Ethan: "…"
Ethan: (Good thing Dylan didn't see that.)
Inside was a locker room filled with staff uniforms. Most lockers were unlocked—likely left that way during the evacuation.
After searching for a bit, Ethan found one that looked about Dylan's size.
Ethan: (This should fit him.)
He grabbed the uniform and retraced his steps.
Outside the bath area, he picked up a nearby stool, placed it just outside the entrance, and laid the clothes on top.
Ethan: "I FOUND A CHANGE OF CLOTHES. IT'S RIGHT OUTSIDE. AFTER YOU'RE DONE, COME TO THE CAFETERIA ACROSS THE WASHROOM."
Dylan: "OK!"
Ethan turned and walked away.
Ethan: (I should wake Elin up.)
He entered the room and looked at Elin, still completely unconscious.
Ethan: (Now… How do I wake her up?)
After a moment of thought, Ethan reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He cranked the volume to maximum and opened the clock app.
Ethan: (Let's try this.)
He set the alarm to ring immediately and braced himself.
The phone erupted with a piercing alarm, shattering the silence.
Ethan flinched, grimacing at the noise.
Elin didn't move an inch.
Ethan: (Doesn't look like it's working.)
He turned off the alarm and slipped the phone back into his pocket.
Next, he gently nudged her.
Instantly, Elin grabbed his hand and shoved his index finger into her mouth.
Elin: "Avama…"
Unrecognizable words spilled out.
Ethan: "What?"
She bit down. She probably ment to say "thank you for the meal'".
Ethan: "—OUCH!"
He pulled his hand free with great effort.
Ethan: "Ow—ow—!"
He holds his finger, then immediately leaves it in disgust because of the saliva.
Ethan: "Gross."
He pulled out a handkerchief, wiped his hand, and wrapped his finger.
Ethan looked genuinely pissed.
Ethan: (She's not unconscious, she'sjust SLEEPING!.)
He walked out of the room and headed to the washroom, scrubbing his hands aggressively under running water.
He stared into the sink, his reflection looking like a complete villain.
Ethan: "Fuck it."
Ethan: (I'm not going easy anymore.)
He returned to the lobby, grabbed a small decorative vase, and filled it with water.
Without hesitation, he walked back into the room, stood beside Elin's bed, and slowly poured the water onto her face.
The next moment—
Elin jolted upright, coughing violently as water splashed everywhere.