The alarm clock on the nightstand glowed a dim blue.
03:30 AM.
Rei stared at it in silence, then signed.
"I really need to see a doctor…"
His voice sounded hoarse.
He pushed the blanket off and sat up slowly. The night was quiet. The kind of artificial quiet that only existed inside monitored facilities.
His eyes drifted to the door across the room.
"...I'm assuming that's the bathroom."
He stood, joints stiff, still wearing yesterday's uniform. White shirt creased. Black pants wrinkled. Tie loose around his collar. He hadn't even taken it off before collapsing.
Rei walked over and opened the door.
He blinked.
"...Okay."
The bathroom was sleek, polished white and grey. Clean lines. Marble floor. A built-in bathtub sunken into the center. A glass walled shower in the corner. Large mirror above a floating sink. Everything minimalist and expensive.
Rei let out a low whistle.
"Nice bathroom… but where's the toilet?"
A smaller door sat near the far wall.
Rei opened it.
Inside was an expansive, overly modern toilet room. Heated seat, digital panel, and more buttons than necessary.
He stared at it.
"...is Miss Satsuki rich or something?"
He closed the door slowly. Then glanced down at himself.
"...I've been wearing this since morning."
He loosened the tie and let it drop. The white shirt followed. Then the pants. Socks.
The uniform piled at his feet.
Rei stepped into the shower and turned the handle. Water poured down over him.
For a second, his shoulders relaxed.
He tilted his head back slightly, letting the water run over his face.
"I think water isn't that scary after all."
His eyes closed.
Steam built slowly. His breathing steadied.
Then.
He opened his eyes. And froze.
Pairs of purple eyes stared back at him from the ceiling.
Dozen of them, wide, watching him.
Rei took a small step back, water still cascading over him.
"...it's too early for hallucinations."
The eyes didn't blink.
Then hands began pressing against the shower glass.
Dozens of them.
Pale fingers dragging downward slowly, leaving foggy streaks in the steam.
Rei just sighed.
"...You're getting lazy."
He reached forward and wiped the steam from the glass with his palm.
The hands vanished, the eyes also disappeared.
Just his own reflection stared back at him.
Thin frame, sharp collarbone, dark circles under his eyes, and water trailing down his skin.
He looked at himself for a moment, then looked away.
Rei turned off the shower and stepped out. Grabbing a towel from the rack, he dried his hair first, rubbing it roughly. Then his shoulders, arms, chest, and legs.
When he walked back into the bedroom, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist.
Someone was sitting at his desk, spinning slowly in the chair. A dark silhouette. Purple eyes glowing faintly in the dim light.
Vaelion.
Rei didn't even flinch.
"Knock that off."
The chair stopped spinning.
Vaelion tilted his head slightly, a smile stretching lazily across his shadowy face.
"Oh… is that the way to speak to your partner?"
Rei walked past him toward the wardrobe.
"Why are you even here?"
Vaelion rested his chin on one hand.
"I can see the hallucinations have gotten stronger."
His eyes gleamed faintly.
"But nothing you aren't used to, right?"
Rei opened the wardrobe and stared at the neatly folded clothes inside.
Rei answered flatly.
"I guess I can blame you for my hallucinations."
Vaelion chuckled softly.
"The shadows have been here since I was ten."
Rei continued quietly.
"Annoying, yes. But nothing new."
Vaelion's smile sharpened.
"Oh, Rei… if you knew the truth."
Knock. Knock.
The door opened before he could respond.
"Rei, here's a change of clothes. I'll get you some uniforms later…"
Satsuki stepped inside. She paused. Her red eyes landed directly on Rei.
Rei froze, still wearing the towel.
"...Good morning, ma'am."
His face turned bright red instantly. He tried to stand straight, and the towel nearly slipped.
Satsuki blinked once, then laughed.
"You're really skinny, kid."
Vaelion leaned back in the chair, visibly entertained.
Rei grabbed the towel tighter.
"I… I didn't know you'd just open the door."
Satsuki walked forward casually, as if nothing was wrong.
"You're under supervision."
She stopped in front of him, looking him over.
"You need to put on some muscle if you want to survive in the field."
Rei stiffened.
"I'm going to the field?"
Satsuki ignored that.
She lifted one hand and lightly ran a finger across his chest.
"Look at you. All bones. Barely any muscle."
Rei's brain short-circuited.
Vaelion laughed quietly.
Rei shot him a glare that Satsuki couldn't see.
Satsuki stepped back satisfied.
"There's your clothes."
She gestured toward the neatly folded set on the bed. Black slacks, fitted compression shirt, and a lightweight jacket.
"Get dressed. Breakfast in ten."
She turned toward the door.
Then paused.
"And Rei?"
He looked up.
"Try not to trigger a level 7 before noon."
The door closed, silence filled the room. Rei stood there for a second, then slowly lowered his shoulders.
"...I don't like this place."
Vaelion's voice slid into his mind.
"You don't dislike it, you're getting attached."
Rei didn't answer. He glanced down at his own thin frame.
Ayame teasing him lightly. Tōma and Setsuna's quiet observation.
While him, a weak body, unstable mind, and dangerous power.
Rei exhaled.
Then he walked to the bed and picked up the clothes.
"Whatever."
He started dressing.
Outside the door, unseen, a small indicator light above the frame shifted from blue.
Then faint yellow.
Cognitive fluctuations detected.
And somewhere deep in the building's systems, data updated.
Rei Mizunagi baseline output increased by 0.3, without activation.
Rei adjusted the collar of his new shirt and stepped out of his room.
Vaelion drifted behind him like a loose shadow, hands folded behind his back.
Rei glanced sideways.
"Miss Satsuki can't see you, right?"
Vaelion smirked lazily.
"No one can."
He paused.
"They just assume you're mentally insane."
Rei exhaled.
"...Great."
He walked down the hallway toward the kitchen, still trying to process something.
Who has an entire five-floor building as their home?
The kitchen doors slid open automatically.
Rei stopped.
"...You've got to be kidding me."
The space was massive. Marble countertops. A central island larger than his dorm room. Polished cabinets. Built-in appliances that probably cost more than a car.
He choked slightly.
"This is three times the size of my room."
Then.
Something smelled wrong, burning.
Rei's head snapped toward the stove.
Satsuki stood there, back turned, hair slightly disheveled, and one hand flipping something in a pan with intense focus.
Smoke curled upward.
Rei slowly walked to the kitchen island, pulled out a chair, then sat down.
"Uh… Ma'am?"
She didn't turn.
"Are you… okay over there?"
A loud sizzle answered him.
"I thought you could cook."
The stove clicked off.
Satsuki grabbed a plate stiffly and stacked several pancakes onto it.
She turned around, face faintly red. Then walked over, and placed the plate directly in front of him.
"I can cook."
Rei stared down.
The pancakes were dark. Not toasted. Dark.
He looked up at her slowly.
"Ma'am."
"Yes?"
"...Permission to skip breakfast."
Her eye twitched.
She slammed her palm on the table.
Like hell you are!"
Rei flinched.
"The only option here."
She said firmly, leaning slightly forward.
"Is to eat what's in front of you."
Rei stared at the pancakes again.
I'm going to die before training even starts.
Vaelion chuckled softly.
"This may finally finish you."
Rei swallowed.
"Wait. Ma'am."
She narrowed her eyes.
"What?"
"Permission to cook?"
She stared at him in silence.
"I'll make it quick."
Satsuki folded her arms.
"Oh? Mister Ungrateful thinks he can do better?"
Rei stood immediately.
"Yes."
Vaelion leaned against the counter, amused.
Satsuki stepped aside with exaggerated grace.
"Fine. Impress me."
Rei grabbed the bowl of leftover batter, checked the consistency, added a small splash of milk, and whisked it properly.
He reheated the pan. Controlled the flame, and waited. Poured evenly sized circles.
He let them bubble. Then flipped cleanly.
Golden brown, and soft edges.
Within minutes, two fluffy pancakes sat on a clean plate.
Rei placed it in front of her.
"There you go, Ma'am."
He gestured politely.
"Enjoy."
Satsuki stared at the pancakes.
Then at him. Then back at the pancakes.
This brat showed me up in my own kitchen.
She picked up the fork. Cut a piece, then took a bite. Her eyes widened for half a second.
Then she forced her expression flat.
"...it's not that good."
Rei smiled faintly.
"I'll take that."
Vaelion laughed openly now.
Satsuki coughed lightly, regaining composure.
"Where did you learn to cook?"
Rei shrugged.
"After my parents died… I had to."
The air shifted slighter.
Satsuki didn't respond immediately.
She took another bite.
"...They're fluffy."
Rei nodded.
"Low heat and patience.
She glanced at him.
"...You're surprisingly domestic."
He raised an eyebrow.
"You burned the batter."
She pointed her fork at him.
"Careful."
Rei smiled nervously.
As he sat back down with his own properly cooked plate, he thought quietly.
She's not bad after all.
Across the room, unseen by Satsuki, Vaelion watched them both.
"Attachment… nothing you held onto ever lasts."
Rei ignored him.
For now, it was just breakfast. And the world wasn't ending.
Yet.