The training ground was silent… aside from the sound of three bodies flopping to the ground like sacks of potatoes.
Ezren lay flat on his back, arms and legs spread out like a chalk outline. Mira sat cross-legged, her usually composed face red with exhaustion. Kagetsu just collapsed face-down in the dirt like he'd been sniped.
"Okay…" Ezren wheezed. "That's enough training for… forever."
"My legs don't work anymore," Kagetsu muttered into the grass. "Just leave me, save yourself."
"No," Mira sighed. "We're all going to smell like a burnt potato if we don't wash up."
There was a beat of silence… and then the trio all slowly sat up, sweat dripping from their hair, eyes half-lidded.
"Hot spring time." Said Ezren and Kagetsu
Later That Evening...
After dragging themselves off the battlefield they called "training," the trio parted ways to grab a change of clothes.
"Alright," Kagetsu said, rubbing his shoulder. "Let's meet in front of the spring entrance at ten."
"Copy that," Ezren yawned. "I'm bringing the biggest towel I own. My dignity needs it."
Mira simply nodded and turned toward the girls' dorm, her hair swaying gently behind her.
Ten Minutes Later — In Front of the Hot Spring
The outdoor hot spring sat at the edge of the academy's inner gardens, surrounded by trees and softly glowing lanterns. The warm steam curled into the cool night air like little spirits dancing in the breeze.
Mira arrived first, dressed in a light robe and holding a simple towel over her arm.
Ezren and Kagetsu came in shortly after, each carrying a bundle of clothes and looking like sleep-deprived goblins.
"Let's split up then," Kagetsu said, pointing to the signs. "Men's to the left. Women's to the right."
Mira gave a silent nod and vanished behind the partition like a ghost.
Men's Side — Chaos in the Steam
After washing off in the shower
Ezren and Kagetsu stepped into the water with a synchronized "Aaaaaahhh…"
"Bro…" Ezren slumped back against the rock. "This is what heaven feels like. If I die here, bury me in these bubbles."
"Don't be dramatic," Kagetsu said, eyes closed. "If you die here, I'm dumping your body behind the dining hall."
They both chuckled, until—
"Well, well, well…" a smug voice echoed through the steam. "Look who crawled out of the mud."
The source? Three boys from Class A-1, lounging on the opposite end like they owned the place. All of them had those perfectly combed haircuts, smug auras, and the kind of abs that looked like they'd been drawn on by an artist with a personal vendetta.
One of them, the loudest, smirked at Kagetsu.
"You know, if I actually tried during the entrance exam, I would've taken first place."
Ezren blinked.
Kagetsu turned slowly toward Ezren.
They both looked at each other.
And then… they burst out laughing.
"Tried?!" Ezren cackled. "Dude, we were sleeping half the exam!"
"You guys serious?" one of the A-1 boys snapped.
"Dead serious," Ezren grinned.
"You talk big for someone who looked like he tripped his way through the entrance battle."
"Tripped? Nah. That was a tactical stumble," Ezren said proudly.
The steam seemed to thicken as the tension grew.
Kagetsu gave them a sly grin.
"What's wrong, Class A-1? Didn't like that your golden boy routine didn't get you top spot?"
The A-1 boys started to rise, cracking their necks and flexing like peacocks.
"You're gonna regret that."
On the other side of the wall, Mira quietly soaked in her bath, her head resting on the edge. Her lifeless eyes blinked once as she overheard the escalating argument.
She gave a soft sigh and whispered to herself:
"Those guys are idiots."