TIME SKIP 1

Time passed swiftly, marking the passage of a month within the confines of the training facility. The blaring siren disrupted the morning calm, and Ashley irritated, vented her frustration by slamming her fist on the pillow. Meanwhile, Myra, already prepared for the day, tried to motivate her roommate.

"You know you have to get up soon," she reminded Ashley, who groaned into the pillow in response.

A recent act of defiance by Ashley lingered in the air, the memory of days when she intentionally defied the midday summons, prompting the soldiers to barge into her room and physically drag her to the training grounds. It became an unusual spectacle for those fortunate or unfortunate enough to witness.

As Ashley reluctantly surrendered to the obligations of the day, retreating to the bathroom for a momentary escape, Myra, efficient as always, used her innate ability to restore order to their shared living space before making her way to the cafeteria.

Thomas, the first to join Myra at the table, greeted her with a customary "Good morning." However, an undercurrent of nervousness ran through him, his feelings for Myra unrequited but ever-present.

He subtly probed about Ashley's impending arrival. "Is Ashley coming?" he inquired, seeking assurance.

Myra, with a touch of amusement, responded, "Unless she wants to be dragged out again, she'll be here soon."

A pause settled over the table as Thomas and Myra, cautious of their surroundings, kept their conversation within the boundaries set by the presence of the others. Myra, perhaps to ease the tension, retrieved her phone, revealing a wallpaper that piqued Thomas's interest.

"You watch Fairy Tail?" he asked, finally finding common ground.

Their discussion shifted to anime, and, engrossed in the conversation, they failed to notice the gradual arrival of the remaining group.

As Ashley finally joined the table, an unexpected scene unfolded. Myra, usually tethered to Dylan like a sidekick, was engrossed in conversation with Thomas, sparking an undercurrent of tension. Josh, the silent observer, met Ashley's puzzled expression with a casual shrug.

"What's up with those two?" Ashley inquired, her gaze oscillating between Myra and Thomas.

Josh, maintaining his cool demeanor, simply replied, "They were like this when I got here."

Sliding into her seat, Ashley sensed the lingering unease. Myra, once the Dylan devotee, now appeared cozy with Thomas. Dylan, masking his discomfort behind a façade of nonchalance, couldn't quite conceal the uneasiness in his eyes.

Breaking the silence, Ashley tapped Myra on the shoulder. "Spill the tea," she demanded, her eyes darting between Myra and Dylan. Josh, ever the detached commentator, watched the drama unfold.

Myra, seemingly genuinely surprised, said, "Oh, when did you guys get here?" Josh, in his role as the laid-back narrator, casually mentioned they'd been around for a bit.

Dylan, attempting to steer the narrative elsewhere, asked, "What were you guys talking about?" hoping to redirect attention.

Myra, either oblivious or deliberately sidestepping the tension, threw a curveball. "Nothing much. But did you know Thomas is an anime geek?" she revealed, injecting an unexpected twist.

Dylan didn't know. "Yes," he lied, "We used to watch it together."

Myra, not missing a beat, teased, "Why didn't you tell me you liked anime too?" attempting to shift the spotlight.

Dylan, maintaining his cool, retorted, "I didn't know you liked anime."

Thomas knew Dylan didn't like or watch anime but he knew better than to expose him. He lightened the mood by revealing a nugget about Myra's family. "Did you know she has four brothers?" he added, aiming for a touch of levity.

Dylan, committed to the deadpan act, responded, "Yes, and one little sister too." The tension, though not entirely dissipated, loosened its grip as banter resumed its usual rhythm.

---

They went for their meals and returned to the table. They were already used to the difference between their meals and Myra's, so they weren't surprised.

"I've always wanted to ask, you guys are in the same room, so why does Myra always arrive before you, Ashley?" Thomas inquired.

"She's lazy," Dylan answered, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Ha, no. Myra just gets up very early," Ashley interjected, dismissing Dylan's remark. "Like, before the siren goes off, she's already done dressing up."

"Really?" Thomas turned his attention to Myra.

"Well, yeah. I don't want the hot water to be used up," Myra explained casually, taking a sip of her drink.

The table fell silent, the revelation about the hot water causing a mix of surprise and curiosity.

"There's hot water in the mornings?" Ashley asked in an eerily calm tone.

Myra repeated, "Yes," seemingly unfazed by the reaction.

"Why didn't you say something?" Ashley questioned, her calm demeanor contrasting with her words.

"I thought you knew; you guys were here before me," Myra replied, looking genuinely surprised.

Ashley took deep breaths to calm herself. "Anything else I should know?" she asked, a hint of sarcasm in her tone.

"Um, Andrea knows about it too," Myra added casually.

Ashley resisted the urge to facepalm.

"So, all this time, we could have had hot showers in the mornings," Josh mumbled, shaking his head in disbelief.

"What time do you go there?" Thomas asked Myra, intrigued by the prospect of warm morning showers.

Myra raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

The tension lingered at the table as the revelation about the morning hot water ritual sank in. The guys, particularly Dylan and Josh, treated it as a matter of utmost importance.

"Does that matter?" Myra nonchalantly asked, breaking the silence.

Ashley was quick to respond, "Speak, woman, this is a matter of life and death."

Myra sighed, "Four thereabouts."

"Exact time, please," Josh stressed.

Myra, seemingly annoyed, disclosed, "Four fifteen."

Dylan, taking it quite seriously, pulled out his phone to set an alarm for the specified time.

Meanwhile, Ashley calmly instructed, "Wake me up when you do."