The cafeteria buzzed with noise. Trays clattered, students laughed, and Rift-sim chatter filled the air. Squad 5 sat gathered at the far end of the mess hall, a single table half-covered in empty dishes. Levi reenacted the fight with dramatic flair, waving his fork like a sword. David smirked, arms crossed, while Charlotte giggled into her drink.
Kael sat quieter than the rest, eating in slow bites. Not distant—just watchful.
"You know," Levi said, pointing with a half-eaten skewer, "for a random squad, we kinda worked."
Charlotte raised her glass of juice. "To not dying in our first mission."
"Cheers," David grinned, clinking his can.
Kael gave a small nod and raised his cup. Then, as the others fell into conversation, he stood.
"Water," he said, almost too quiet to hear.
No one stopped him. He walked out through the automatic doors and into the cooler corridor just beyond. The quiet was immediate, like a pressure lifting. His eyes traced the soft blue of the ceiling panels, then down the empty hall as he inhaled. Stillness suited him.
"Kael?"
He turned. Charlotte stood just a few steps behind.
"Mind if I join you?"
He didn't answer, but didn't walk away either.
She stepped beside him. For a moment, neither spoke.
"You were calm in there," she said. "Even with Riftspawn lunging at you."
"I've seen worse."
She looked up at him. "You're hard to read, you know that?"
Kael didn't respond.
Charlotte fidgeted with her sleeve, then smiled. "I'm trying to befriend you, by the way. Just making that clear."
That made him glance her way, just briefly.
She raised her phone. "So, uh—cell number?"
Kael blinked.
"You don't have to talk much," she added quickly. "I just… want to get to know you."
He hesitated a second longer, then pulled out his device and exchanged contact info.
"Thanks," she said softly.
They stood there a little longer in quiet.
Then the mess hall doors whooshed open again, Levi's voice echoing through: "KAEL! Did you run away 'cause you didn't want dessert?!"
Charlotte laughed. "Let's go before he gets dramatic again."
Kael gave smirk slightly then nod, and followed her back in.
Charlotte walked back beside him, steps light but steady. Neither said much, but something had shifted—something Levi immediately picked up on.
As the two sat back down, Levi squinted.
"What was that all about?" he asked, stabbing at his food. "You two look like you just signed a secret contract."
Charlotte smirked, lifting her phone and casually flipping the screen toward him.
"Just getting to know him better."
Levi blinked. "Wait—did you just… get his number?"
Levi said between bites. "Even I don't have your number, Kael. We've been roommates for what—two weeks? Charlotte gets it after one mission?"
Kael didn't look up from his tray. "We share a room. What would you even text me for?"
Levi raised an eyebrow. "Bro. We're in the age of war and bandwidth. Communication is survival."
David chuckled. "Guess that makes Charlotte our communication specialist."
Charlotte winked. "Or maybe I'm just friendlier than you."
Levi threw his hands up. "Unbelievable. Betrayed by charisma."
"I'm gonna pretend that it didn't sting"
Before Kael could respond, a soft ping echoed across the hall. Students turned toward a nearby wall-screen that flared to life, casting mission results in glowing gold text.
> SQUAD PERFORMANCE RANKINGS – HOLOGRAPHIC RIFT SIM SESSION 03
Squad 2 – A-Rank Composite – 91%
Squad 8 – B-Rank Assault – 89%
Squad 5 – Mixed-Rank Unit – 87%
Gasps and murmurs rippled through the tables. A few eyes turned toward Kael's group.
Charlotte blinked. "Wait, that's us."
"Third place?" David said, sitting straighter. "We beat multiple A-rank squads. That's…"
"...unexpected," Kael muttered.
Levi raised his drink bottle. "I'll take unexpected wins over expected failures."
He grinned and leaned forward.
"To Squad 5. The weirdest lineup with the cleanest finish."
Charlotte and David raised theirs.
Kael hesitated, then lifted his glass with them.
Kael said nothing. But as the glass touched his, something stirred.
Maybe… this place wouldn't be so empty after all