The dorm alarm blared at six sharp, slicing through the fragile threads of sleep. Rika sat up with a start, her body stiff, her mind fogged. For a second, she almost convinced herself it had all been a nightmare, the culling, the matchup, Mikako's hawk-like stare.
But the knot in her stomach reminded her it was real.
In the bunks around her, the others stirred. Hina mumbled incoherently into her pillow before dragging herself upright, hair sticking in every direction like a frazzled chick. Akari was already up, stretching with feline ease, a mischievous grin tugging at her lips despite the exhaustion still under her eyes.
Kana, of course, was calmly braiding her hair in the mirror, as if the day ahead weren't loaded like a ticking time bomb.
"Morning, Rika," Hina whispered, her voice small but warm. She rubbed her eyes, then yawned so wide it made Rika almost smile despite the weight in her chest. Almost.
The intercom crackled.
