Day 263, 11:31 - October 26, 2030

  “Come on, 8-10! I betted on you!” Hawk screamed, tugging his hair.

  “You can do it, newbie! Beat Jiho’s ass!” Yerin cheered.

  Seohwa, Hwayeon and Rhino who had arrived at Sector A were baffled at the scene before them.

  Jiho was arm wrestling with an unfamiliar boy who had huge arms and thick thighs. He had black hair, purple eyes and was fair skinned.

  Hwayeon pointed at the arm wrestling and asked, “Is this normal?”

  Rhino’s mouth was twitching in irritation and wasn’t going to say anything but he couldn’t stand them slacking off as he yelled, “WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING INSTEAD OF TRAINING?!!”

  The four in front of them froze.

  Plop!

  Jiho who lost focus due to Rhino had lost the arm wrestling game. Hawk gasped, “What have you done Rhino?!! I bet my entire savings on this match!!!”

  “HAWK!!!”

  Hawk flinched as he realised Rhino was really mad, “…Ooook then. So, I’m feeling a little…” He fakely coughed, “…sick. I leave the cadets to you, bye!” He quickly flew off to dodge Rhino’s charge at him.

  “GET BACK HERE, YOU ASSHOLE!”

  “No way! Not until you’ve calmed down!” Hawk stuck his tongue out.

  “I AM CALM!”

  “It doesn’t look like it to me!”

  As the cadets watched their two mentors enter a cat and mouse chase, the unfamiliar cadet yawned and spoke slowly, “Is it over, pipsqueak?”

  Jiho stood up, offended, “Pipsqueak?!!”

  Yerin chuckled, “He’s right. You’re a pipsqueak and a buffoon.”

  “Excuse me?!” Jiho glared at Yerin.

  They continued to argue as Seohwa sighed and gestured to Hwayeon to give her the whipsword.

  To think I would have to introduce this grand weapon like this…

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  Seohwa got a feel for the weight of the whipsword as she pressed the top button to extend the sword into a whip and swung it, smashing the table in half and some of the floor.

  Seohwa’s eyes widened in shock, “Wow, I was not expecting that much damage.”

  “Right?” Hwayeon chuckled with pride.

  Seohwa pressed the bottom button and the whip retracted into a sword. “It’s perfect, Hwayeon.”

  “Doc designed it.” Hwayeon sheepishly replied.

  “But you made it, didn’t you? It's impressive.”

  As they talked, the unfamiliar guy towered over Seohwa and asked in a low tone, “Got a problem?”

  Seohwa stood her ground, unfazed by his size, “Yeah, I do, actually. I don’t know if it’s on purpose or not. But your words can mislead people. As fellow cadets, I want to be clear in communication. I’m 8-33. But my real name is Tang Seohwa. Age 11. You can call me Seohwa.” She reached her hand out.

  The guy in front of her shook her hand and replied in a slow, easy going pace, “4-17, Kang Taeseok. Age 15. You can call me whatever.”

  Jiho and Yerin were shocked at his sudden compliance.

  Seohwa who observed him commented, “You’re just an honest guy, aren’t you? I’m guessing Jiho over there got provoked when you called out how much smaller he is and then he demanded to spar. But it was when Hawk intervened that made you two arm wrestle, right?”

  Taeseok nodded slowly, “I was too lazy to argue.”

  !!!

  His sudden confession made Yerin and Jiho gasp.

  Jiho interjected, “Huh? But you’re not too lazy to arm wrestle?!”

  “Mhm.” Taeseok affirmed, “It wasn’t hard arm wrestling you.”

  “What was th—!”

  “Just shut up, Jiho.” Yerin sighed, covering his mouth.

  Taeseok glanced back at Seohwa and complimentef, “…You’re amazing, deducing all that with one glance.”

  “What’s amazing is that for a big guy, you sure are good at misunderstandings.” Seohwa sighed, relieved that her guess was right.

  “…I don’t mean to, really. I just like talking slowly. People just have certain ideas without trying to talk to me.” Taeseok bent his back forward like an old man, “Maybe because of my size and all…”

  Jiho had his jaw open as he face-palmed himself, “Why do I suddenly feel stupid?”

  “Because you are.” Yerin huffed.

  “What is with you, commenting on every little thing I say?” Jiho growled at Yerin.

  “…Don’t fight…” Taeseok yawned while using his hands to split the two aggressors. “Let’s all get along well.”

  Hwayeon came close to Seohwa and asked, impressed, “How did you know he was that type of person?”

  Seohwa replied, “Well, it was obvious. He was arm wrestling Jiho. Unfortunately, Jiho isn’t that strong yet. But it got me thinking, a big guy like him should have overpowered Jiho by now or even before we arrived. Yet, Jiho was tying with him? It’s either, he is actually weak, which I doubt, or, he wanted to lose to Jiho but Jiho was much weaker than he thought. Either way, he ended up winning.”

  “…Suddenly, that’s a bit scary, Seohwa.” Hwayeon chuckled, “In a good way.”

  “Ehem!” Rhino coughed after having caught the black and blue Hawk.

  Taeseok pointed, “What happened to Birdie?”

  Rhino frowned, “He may not look like much, but he is a mentor, cadet 4-17. Show some respect by at least calling him ‘Hawk’.”

  “…’kay.” Taeseok nodded.

  Rhino sighed, “Moving on… it is nearing lunch. We’ll continue with the training after lunch. What should’ve been a personal training session became an arm wrestling match… I’ll personally referee the spars later instead of this bird-brain. You’re dismissed until then.”

  They all saluted. Rhino then stopped, “Oh, by the way, the girl with gauntlets is cadet 5-03. Use this chance to get to know her and cadet 4-17. That’s all.”

  Hawk whispered weakly as he was being dragged, “…Save… me….!”

  Yerin came up to Hwayeon, “Welcome to the club, unnie.”

  After realising Taeseok didn't mean any harm, Jiho only gained a huge respect for him. He suggested, “Let’s sit together at lunch, hyung, noona.”

  Yerin and Jiho then rushed to the dining hall in a race as Seohwa ran after them, “Wait up!”

  Taeseok then faced Hwayeon, “I guess we’re the newbies then.”

  Hwayeon nodded as she looked up and reached her hand out, “Yoon Hwayeon. Age 14.”

  Taeseok smiled, shaking it, “You have pretty hands, Hwayeon.”

  Hwayeon grew flustered as she looked at her burn scars, “I… don’t think so?”

  Taeseok chuckled, “They smell good. Do you cook?”

  “…Yeah… I do.” Hwayeon glanced at him.

  “Then naturally, they’re pretty… they’re hands that provide.” Taeseok saw the others waiting for them, “Let’s go?”

  Hwayeon nodded as they all went to the cafeteria.