Rin returned to the Sector-7 dormitory as the dome's artificial sun began to dim. A sign of evening turning into night.
She walked through the corridor with a full mind.Her left hand still felt warm. The green pattern under the freshly applied gel from Mei was still moving, but slower than before. The earlier training helped. At least now she could hear the network's voice without panicking immediately.
But that didn't mean she could fully control it yet.
Two more days.
After that, I have to find another way.
As she neared the dormitory, she saw Akira standing in front of the door, talking to someone.
A man in a Dome Defense Council uniform.A black jacket with the dome's logo on the chest, and a tablet in hand.
Rin stopped at a distance,observing.
The man gave something to Akira.A small identity card.
Akira took it hesitantly.His face looked confused, as if unsure what to do.
Then the man spoke.Rin couldn't hear the words, but she could see Akira's expression change. From confused to afraid.
The man patted Akira's shoulder once,then left.
Akira stood still,staring at the card with an empty gaze.
Rin walked closer."Akira? Who was that?"
Akira flinched,immediately hiding the card in his pocket. "No one. Just an administrative officer."
"An administrative officer?"Rin looked at Akira suspiciously. "Why would they come to the dormitory?"
Akira fell silent,then answered in an unconvincing tone. "Just updating Frontliner data. Not important."
Rin knew Akira was lying.
But she didn't know what to say.
"Okay,"Rin finally said. "If there's anything, tell me."
Akira nodded,but didn't look at Rin.
They entered the dormitory together,but there was a distance between them now.
An invisible distance,but felt.
That night, Rin lay on her bed with a chaotic mind.
She stared at the ceiling with open eyes,unable to sleep.
In the next bed,Akira was already asleep, or at least pretending to sleep. His breathing sounded regular, but his body was tense, as if he couldn't sleep either.
Rin glanced towards Akira's bed and saw something that had fallen from his pants pocket.
A small identity card.
Rin was silent for a moment,then slowly got out of bed, walking carefully towards the card.
She picked it up with a trembling hand.
Then read it.
DOME DEFENSE COUNCIL
INTERNAL SURVEILLANCE DIVISION
Subject Report: Asakura Rin
Status: UNDER OBSERVATION. HIGH PRIORITY LEVEL
Reporter: [Shen Akira]
Instructions:
Report any changes in behavior or unnatural abilities.
Report contact with suspicious individuals, including Kurohana Mei.
Do not inform the subject of this surveillance.
Compensation:
Relocation to Sector-4 after training completion.
DomeMarkCredit (DMC) 50,000 for family.
Full protection from the Dome Council.
Rin felt her chest tighten.
Akira… reported me?
She glanced at the next bed.Akira was still turned away, not moving.
But Rin knew.Neither of them was sleeping.
Rin placed the card back on the floor,exactly in its original position, then returned to her bed.
She lay down,staring at the ceiling with mixed feelings.
Anger.Disappointment. Confusion.
But…could she blame him?
He was afraid.He didn't know what was happening to her.
And he…was trying to protect himself.
Rin closed her eyes,but couldn't sleep.
Because now she knew.
She couldn't trust anyone.
Not even her best friend.
The next morning, the first day of intensive training.
Rin woke up earlier than usual.Akira was still asleep, or still pretending to sleep.
Rin didn't wake him.She just left the room quietly.
Outside,the dome's sky was still dark. The artificial lights weren't fully on yet. The atmosphere in Sector-7 that morning was quiet and cold.
Rin walked towards the Main Training Field,but her mind wasn't focused.
What should I do about Akira?
Should I confront him, or just let it be?
If I confront him, he might become more afraid and report more.
But if I let it be, he'll continue to be a spy for the Dome Council.
Rin had no answer.
Main Training Field, 07:00.
All Frontliner Cadets,the 97 people who passed the selection, gathered on a vast field with hard ground and large obstacles in various corners.
The dome's sky above looked gray.The artificial lights glowed dimly, creating a misty morning atmosphere.
Team 07 gathered in one corner of the field,but not as they usually did.
Jian stood alone,staring at the field with an empty gaze. Shun sat on a bench with a tablet in hand, not looking at anyone. Mei stood a bit further away, arms crossed, her face flat as usual.
And Akira stood several meters from Rin,not looking at her at all.
Kai still hadn't returned.
No news about her since three days ago.
Rin felt her chest tighten,not from spore mist, but from guilt.
If I hadn't used that power, maybe Kai wouldn't have been separated.
If I had been more careful, maybe this team wouldn't have broken apart.
Before Rin could sink deeper into her thoughts.
A loud voice echoed from the field's speakers.
"ALL FRONTLINER CADETS,FALL IN!"
Everyone immediately moved,forming neat rows in the center of the field.
In front of the formation stood Commissioner Lian Shu in her perfectly neat black-silver uniform.Beside her were Instructor Yashida and several other instructors.
Lian looked at the entire formation with a sharp gaze,like a hawk observing prey.
"Good morning,"she said in a formal but cold tone. "All of you have passed the three selection stages. That means you have the potential to become Frontliners. But potential alone is not enough."
She paused,letting the words sink in.
"Starting today,you will undergo three weeks of intensive training. You will learn combat tactics, survival strategies, Mycelite analysis, and most importantly, teamwork."
Lian looked at the formation with a more serious gaze.
"Because in the Yellow Zone,you will not survive alone. You need a team. And your team needs you." She paused for a moment. "But if you cannot cooperate, you will die. Together."
Total silence.
Lian continued."Today, you will undergo the First Team Coordination Test. Each team will face a small-scale combat simulation. Your mission is simple. Survive for 30 minutes against waves of Class-D and C Mycelites. Teams that fail to survive will be disqualified."
The crowd began to murmur,whispering anxiously.
"Prepare yourselves,"Lian said. "The test begins in 10 minutes."
The screen went dark.
Everyone began to disperse,returning to their respective groups to prepare.
Team 07 gathered in a corner of the field,but not as they usually did.
No one spoke.
Jian checked his machete with an empty gaze.Shun held his tablet with trembling hands. Mei stood quietly, looking towards the field.
Akira stood at the edge of the group,far from Rin.
Rin looked at them all with a heavy feeling.
This team is no longer whole.
Finally,Rin spoke up. Her voice was soft but firm.
"We need to talk."
No one answered.
"I know…you're all suspicious of me," Rin continued. "I know you've seen something wrong. But if we want to survive today, we have to be able to cooperate. Like before."
Jian finally looked at Rin.His gaze was sharp. "Like before? You think everything can go back to how it was after what happened?"
"What do you mean?"Rin asked, even though she already knew the answer.
"Kai is gone,"Jian answered coldly. "She was separated because of an anomaly in her body. And we all know, she's not the only one with an anomaly in this team."
Silence.
Jian continued."I saw what you did in the simulation. The green roots coming out of your hand. How you knew the Titan's weak points. How you commanded that Titan to retreat." He stepped closer. "You're not an ordinary human anymore, are you?"
Rin tensed,but she didn't answer.
Because she couldn't lie.
Shun spoke with a trembling voice."I-I saw it too, and I'm scared. I'm scared that one day you'll turn into them."
Akira finally spoke up.His voice was soft, but full of pain.
"Rin…why didn't you tell us from the start? Why did you hide this from us?"
Rin looked at Akira,and for the first time she saw disappointment in her best friend's eyes.
And something else.Guilt.
He knows I know.
He knows I found the card.
"Because I was afraid,"Rin answered honestly. Her voice almost trembled. "I was afraid you would be afraid of me. I was afraid you would leave me. I was afraid you would see me as a monster."
Silence for a moment.
Then Akira answered in a tone colder than Rin had ever heard.
"But you're already a monster,Rin. You just don't realize it yet."
Those words hit Rin like a physical blow.
She wanted to deny it,but the words wouldn't come out.
Because part of her knew Akira was right.
And another part of her was angry.
Angry because Akira said that.
Akira who reported me to the Dome Council.
Akira who betrayed me.
Rin looked directly at Akira,and for the first time since they had been friends.
She saw Akira as an enemy.
"You have no right to say that,"Rin said softly, but with a sharpness she had never used with Akira before.
Akira tensed."What do you mean?"
Rin didn't answer directly.She just looked at Akira with a gaze that made Akira take a step back.
Before the situation could worsen.
The speaker echoed again.
"TEAM 07,ENTER SIMULATION ARENA-C. TEST BEGINS IN 2 MINUTES."
Mei finally spoke up.Her tone was cold but firm.
"We'll discuss this later.Right now we have to survive. If we fail today, everything will be pointless."
Jian looked at Mei,then nodded slowly. "She's right. Let's go."
They all walked towards Simulation Arena-C.A closed-off area with high metal walls, hard ground, and artificial obstacles scattered in various corners.
But they weren't walking as a team.
They were walking as five people forced to cooperate.
And among them.
There was a crack that could not be mended.