Chapter 9 - "Night Air"
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A few days passed in the most boring, soul-crushing routine imaginable.
Wake up. Akane at the door with the schedule. Private lessons with Aya (who was still way too nice and kept smiling like she actually cared if I Understand Subjects). Combat drills with Rei (who corrected my stance with short, sharp commands and zero small talk). Back to the room. Eat whatever they sent up. Stare at the ceiling. Sleep.
Repeat.
Just endless structure. Endless rules. Endless feeling like a fancy pet being trained.
I hated it.
I wasn't built for this. Back home I spent my days avoiding people, gaming, reading manga, and generally existing in my own little bubble. Now I was trapped in a bubble made of glass walls, security drones, and people who looked at me like I was the last piece of cake at a party.
By the fifth night, the boredom had turned into full-on frustration.
I paced the room like a caged animal. The city lights outside the window looked mocking. Freedom. Right there. Untouchable.
*Why the hell did they give me a balcony if I'm not supposed to use it?*
I stared at the door. Then the window. Then the decorative ledge running along the building.
Screw it.
I slipped on my shoes, eased the balcony door open, and climbed over the railing. The drop looked worse up close, but there was a sloped service roof below, then grass. I'd seen maintenance bots use it.
One deep breath.
I jumped.
Landed hard. Slid. Caught myself on the pipe. Heart in my throat.
Then I was down.
Grass under my feet. Cool night air. No alarms. No Akane. Just quiet.
I ran.
Through shadowed paths, past glowing flower beds and quiet fountains. I didn't know where I was going. I just needed to move. Needed to breathe air that didn't come through filters.
I slowed near a secluded corner of the garden—small fountain bubbling, tree with soft lights strung through the branches, stone bench.
And there she was.
Rei.
Sitting alone on the bench, silver hair loose over her shoulders instead of tied up. Simple black jacket and pants. No combat gear. No instructor vibe. Just… sitting. Staring at the water like it held answers.
I froze.
She noticed me immediately. Head turned. Body tensed slightly, like she was ready to stand.
"You're out after curfew," she said quietly. "Male quarters are restricted at night. Security risk."
"Yeah," I said, stepping closer. "I got tired of being locked up like a lab sample."
Rei studied me for a long second. No anger. No lecture. Just that calm, unreadable look she always had.
I gestured to the empty space on the bench. "Mind if I…?"
She shifted slightly. Made room.
I sat. Not too close. Just enough to feel like I wasn't alone.
Silence settled.
The fountain trickled. Leaves rustled. A soft breeze moved the lights above us.
I leaned back, looking up at the fake stars.
"You come here a lot?" I asked.
"When I can."
"To get away?"
"Yes."
I nodded. "Same."
More quiet.
Minutes passed. No orders. No corrections. No protocol.
Just two people sitting in the dark.
I glanced at her.
She was looking at the fountain, expression softer than I'd ever seen during training. Almost peaceful.
I smiled a little. Couldn't help it.
"Nice out here," I said.
Rei turned her head. Met my eyes.
The corner of her mouth lifted—just the tiniest bit. Not a big smile. But real.
"It is."
Something warm bloomed in my chest. Simple. Quiet. Human.
We sat like that for a while longer.
Neither of us said anything else.
We didn't need to.
For the first time since I'd woken up in this future, I didn't feel like a stranger.
And when Rei's small smile stayed, I found myself smiling back.
Just breathing.
Just being.
Together.
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*End*