Chapter 29: Morning in the Dorms

Wilt PoV

Wilt yawned as he woke up. It took him a while to realize he was in his dorm room and not back in his bedroom.

The morning light filtered through the blinds, casting a warm glow across the room. Wilt stretched, his muscles aching pleasantly from the previous day's workout of carrying his couch and other belongings into dorm. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood, the coolness of the floor a stark contrast to the warmth of his bed.

Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he made his way to the small bathroom attached to their dorm room. He turned on the shower, letting the water heat up while he brushed his teeth, the minty paste waking up his senses. Once satisfied, he stepped into the shower, the hot water cascading over him, washing away the last remnants of sleep.

He let the water run over his body for a few minutes, enjoying the sensation. After lathering up with soap and rinsing off, he turned off the water and grabbed a towel, drying himself off with brisk motions. He wrapped the towel around his waist and wiped the fog from the mirror, giving himself a quick once-over before heading back into the bedroom to get dressed for the day ahead.

Feeling refreshed and ready, Wilt considered what to make for breakfast.

Wilt, now dressed in comfortable workout gear, stepped out of his room and made his way to the kitchen. The dorm suite was quiet, the only sound the distant soft purring of Dusk and the the breathing of his slumbering owner.

He opened the fridge and scanned the contents. They had stocked up well the previous day, and now he had plenty of options. Eggs, whole-grain bread, and some fresh fruit seemed like a good start for a nutritious breakfast. He gathered the ingredients, setting them on the counter.

As he cracked the eggs into a bowl, he decided to whip up an omelette. He whisked the eggs vigorously, adding a splash of milk to make them fluffy. He then chopped up some bell peppers and spinach to toss into the mix, along with a sprinkle of low-fat cheese for flavor.

The sizzle of the eggs hitting the hot pan was a satisfying sound, and the aroma quickly filled the kitchen. Wilt flipped the omelette with practiced ease, his thoughts drifting to the day's schedule. Practice would be intense, and he needed all the energy he could get.

He plated the omelette and toasted a couple of slices of whole-grain bread, spreading a thin layer of avocado on top for a healthy fat. With a bowl of mixed berries on the side, it was the perfect athlete's breakfast.

Just as he was about to sit down and eat, Loxus emerged from his room, his black hair disheveled and his golden eyes still heavy with sleep. "Smells good," he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

Wilt nodded, gesturing to the stove. "There's enough for two. Help yourself."

Loxus grunted his thanks and began preparing his own plate. The two sat down at the small kitchen table, eating in silence as the morning light grew stronger, signaling the start of a new day.

Wilt smiled as Dusk poked his head out from Loxus's hoodie.

The kitten's curious eyes met Wilt's, and a soft meow broke the silence of the morning. Loxus, noticing the interaction, cracked a sleepy smile and reached into his hoodie to gently scoop out Dusk. He set the kitten down on his lap, where it promptly began to knead with tiny paws, settling comfortably.

Wilt watched the scene, a chuckle escaping him. "Looks like Dusk is ready for breakfast too," he said, pushing his chair back from the table. "I'll get him some of that chicken we cooked up last night."

Loxus nodded, his attention divided between his meal and the contented kitten. "Thanks. He's been a good little guy. Deserves a treat."

Wilt retrieved a small portion of the chicken from the fridge, cutting it into kitten-sized pieces. He placed them in a small dish and set it down next to Dusk, who immediately began to eat with enthusiasm.

As they finished their breakfast, the dorm room felt more like a home than ever before. The presence of Dusk, the shared meals, and even the banter with Loxus—it all contributed to a sense of camaraderie Wilt hadn't expected to find.

Loxus finished his meal and stretched, a sign that he was finally waking up fully. "Well, I'm gonna hit the shower and read some manga."

Wilt snickered. "You read manga?"

He blushed. Loxus cleared his throat, the blush on his cheeks deepening. "Yeah, so what? It's not like it's a crime," he said defensively, standing up to take his plate to the sink.

Wilt held up his hands in a gesture of peace. "Hey, no judgment here. I was just surprised, that's all. What do you read?"

Loxus hesitated, then shrugged as if deciding it wasn't worth hiding. "Mostly shonen stuff. You know, action, adventure... that kind of thing."

Wilt nodded, intrigued. "Cool. I've read a bit of that myself. I like sports ones the best."

Loxus's eyes seemed to light up a bit at the mention of sports manga. "Yeah, those can be pretty intense. There's one I've been following, 'Slam Dunk Spirits'. It's about this underdog team that makes it to the national championships. The artwork is amazing, and the matches are so well-written, you feel like you're right there on the court."

Wilt leaned forward, his interest piqued. "I read that one as a kid. Currently, I've been reading 'Ace of the Court' myself. It's about a tennis player, but the dedication and training he goes through are pretty inspiring."

Loxus nodded as he rinsed his plate. "I've heard of that one. It's got some crazy good reviews. Might give it a read after I'm done with the current arc in 'Slam Dunk Spirits'."

The two continued to chat about their favorite series, the conversation flowing easily. It was a side of Loxus that Wilt hadn't seen before, and he found himself enjoying the company of his roommate more than he had expected.

After Loxus left for the shower, Wilt cleaned up the remaining dishes and headed out. He was gonna go head to the gym to get some practice in. He wondered if any of the other first years on the team had moved in yet. His sister told him that Drew and Sylvester had made the team, but he had yet to run into them.

He wanted a one on one match against Drew. They were former rivals after all. And he always wanted to know which of the two was stronger individually. 

Wilt chuckled to himself. This year was sure to be full of excitement.