In the courtyard, Kay was chained to the wall, still asleep.
"What are you doing?" Mira exclaimed, seeing the scene.
"Step back," Yan ordered firmly.
"That's an order. I don't understand what he's going to do..." Kratos commented.
"A punishment? What did the rookie do?" soldiers from other squads whispered.
"This soldier disrespected his leader and our captain. On top of that, he's still sleeping while the rest of you are training! This is his second offense, and according to the rules, he must be punished!" Yan announced.
"They're destroying his honor," Slayer muttered, uneasy.
"They can't do this!" protested Mira and Sky.
"That's how the army works. If someone disrupts, they must be punished!" Ravena said, watching the scene.
"That's too harsh for a punishment!" Mira stepped in front of Kay.
Fiona and Ravena quickly grabbed her, pulling her back toward the others. Mira struggled, trying to break free, but Fiona held her firmly and covered her mouth to stop her protests.
"Quiet now," Fiona whispered. "He asked for this. It's better not to get involved."
Yan raised his hand, signaling the veterans beside him. Instantly, four soldiers raised their weapons, aiming directly at Kay, who remained chained and apparently unaware of the growing tension.
The rookies watched anxiously, while Fiona seemed to enjoy the moment. Yan lowered his hand, and in a synchronized move, the first soldier fired, followed by the others, each shot spaced by a brief pause. Mira shut her eyes, distressed.
"And nothing... not even a reaction," Yan said, frustrated.
Mira opened her eyes just in time to see Kay still asleep, motionless.
Yan raised his hand again, and the soldiers aimed once more. Mira struggled, trying to break free.
"Enough, Yan! Are you going to traumatize your rookies?" Joana, one of the squad leaders, approached.
"Stay out of this, Joana!" Yan snapped.
"Oh, you've angered the captain's daughter, you'll pay for that!" Lena, another leader, teased, releasing Mira.
"The captain put the rookies under my supervision, so don't interfere!" Yan said stubbornly.
"This rookie trained all night, Yan. Maybe you should get to know the recruits before punishing them!" Ryuji, another leader, added.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Mira rushed to free Kay from his chains.
"Return to your training!" Yan ordered, and the soldiers dispersed, though some watched from afar, curious.
"That wasn't the deal, Yan. Avoid interfering in other squads' training!" Joana said firmly.
"Do you think sleeping is enough reason for such a harsh punishment? You've already ruined the boy's reputation on his second day!" Lena protested.
"He disrespected our captain, said he didn't care, and refused to follow orders. Isn't that enough?" Yan replied heatedly.
"He said that?" Lena raised her hand. Immediately, soldiers from her squad stepped forward, aiming at Kay.
"Move aside, captain's daughter!" Lena ordered.
"No!" Mira retorted, holding Kay against her shoulder.
"Get out of the way. I don't want to hurt you!" Lena insisted, her gaze serious.
"That's unnecessary! Lower your weapon!" Joana commanded firmly.
"He tarnished our squad's honor and must be punished!" Lena insisted.
"I agree!" Yan supported.
"I'm not repeating myself. Lower that weapon!" Joana stared Lena down.
"How annoying!" Lena scoffed, lowering her hand.
Before Joana could react, Lena's soldiers fired. Mira closed her eyes, startled. Reflexively, Kay turned, even unconscious, shielding Mira—but the rubber bullets struck him.
"Kay?" Mira cried, worried.
Kay remained unconscious but had positioned himself protectively.
"Even unconscious, he protected her. Impressive!" Lena observed, surprised.
"You almost shot the captain's daughter without cause for punishment. The captain won't like this!" Joana said.
"It's your fault, Joana! I only followed your orders. You're responsible!" Lena shot back, receiving a slap from Joana.
"Can you wake him?" Joana asked Mira.
"I need to use the kitchen!" Mira said, still trembling.
"Escort her there. We'll wait here," Joana said, leaning Kay against the wall.
"No favoritism! That applies to her too!" Yan warned.
"I give permission. So does Lena!" Joana added.
"Me?" Lena looked surprised.
"Am I wrong?" Joana asked firmly.
"No, I... I allow her to use the kitchen!" Lena agreed.
"In that case, I allow it too," Ryuji supported.
"Why?" Yan asked incredulously.
"The boy just got hit by eight rubber bullets and didn't even react. Do you think you'll wake him any other way?" Ryuji said.
"Only this once!" Yan huffed, stepping away.
"Thank you!" Mira said, heading to the kitchen.
"If you're worried about him, wait here," Joana told the rookies watching the scene.
"It's normal for recruits to have conflicts, but why did you stop her? Do you despise your own teammate?" Ryuji asked Ravena.
"I prevented my colleague from being punished for his mistake. I admit I feel some repulsion, but I assure it doesn't affect my missions!" Ravena replied, saluting.
"No need to say it, it was obvious!" Ryuji noted.
"Sir?" Fiona asked, worried.
"The captain told us yesterday about the boy's special ability to detect the scent of ghouls. The captain has high hopes for him but clearly still despises him. The situation is complicated. I recommend avoiding involvement. But if you hurt the girl, you'll have problems with all the leaders here, including the captain," Joana explained with a slight smile.
"Understood!" Fiona said, frightened.
Minutes later, Mira and Yan returned, Mira ready to try waking Kay.
"What happened there? Yan seems softer!" the captains thought.
Joana extended her hand, and Mira handed her the bottle. She poured coffee into a cup, and at that moment, Kay sat up, reaching for the cup.
"He's still asleep?" Joana exclaimed.
"He's in a semi-conscious phase. He did the same to protect me; I think he acts on instinct! My mom says he looks like a sleepwalker when he smells coffee!" Mira explained.
Joana stopped moving the cup away and let Kay take it. He drank and immediately woke up.
"I already trained, Mira! Let me sleep a little longer!" Kay said, still drowsy.
"Give him another one!" Mira asked.
Joana poured again, and Kay drank, now much more awake.
"What's going on?" Kay asked, confused.
"Lend me that cup!" Fiona said.
Kay didn't understand but handed it over. She poured more coffee and drank it herself.
"Hot!" she exclaimed, taking a sip and blowing to cool it.
"Tastes good, but it seems normal. What did you put in this coffee?" Joana asked.
"Water, sugar, and coffee grounds!" Mira replied.
"Nothing else?" Joana asked.
"No!" Mira said.
"That's all she put in, but she did it carefully at every step! An impressive concentration, if you ask me!" Yan added.
"I understand. I'll talk to the captain to allow her to use the kitchen. In return, you'll obey your superiors' orders!" Joana said.
Kay looked at her, confused. Who is she? he wondered.
Joana handed Kay the bottle, but Mira took it back.
"Two cups are enough," Mira said.
"Then why make a whole bottle?" Joana exclaimed.
"To last all day!" Mira explained.
"Got it! Keep it safe; he seems to want it!" Joana said, referring to Kay.
Kay turned his face, uninterested.
"Hey, can I have some? Joana isn't much of a coffee fan!" Lena said, acting casually.
She's forgotten she almost shot me, Mira thought but said nothing, handing the cup to Lena.
Lena drank and seemed satisfied.
"That's it! You'll make my coffee too!" she declared.
"If you share the recipe, the cooks make the same flavor! I can even give you the contact for where to buy this coffee!" Mira said.
"Why does he have to have you make it?" Lena exclaimed.
"I don't know; he says it's different and doesn't have the same effect!" Mira replied.
"The flavor and smell change a bit depending on the moment. Mira can tell those moments apart!" Kay said.
"Good judgment. Then it's decided: you'll make my coffee too!" Lena declared.
"By the way, why did you wake me? It's not my training time!" Kay asked.
"Well..." Mira started.
"You'll train with the squad, so this will be your training time!" Yan interrupted.
"Then leave it for tomorrow! I already trained today!" Kay said, walking away.
Joana stepped forward to stop him.
She's quick! the recruits thought, watching.
Kay dodged her hand.