A New Friend - The Dormitories

"Wasn't Lieutenant Frost really scary?"

"I think we got unlucky with the instructor."

"I've heard from the other classes that their mentors were different."

"That can't be true, I'm sure that this is the standard throughout the Academy."

"If you're afraid for having an instructor like that, then you shouldn't be here."

A few minutes after Lieutenant Frost left the class, murmurs and conversations popped up on what just happened. Though I guess it may be a surprised to a lot of people that things would be like that in the Academy, and they should have expected that. Blocking all the noise around and some of the cadets starting to leave, I stood up and tried to find where she is.

"There, she's on her way out", I mutter.

This might be the right time to talk to her and form the bond that would hopefully solve the puzzle inside me. I followed after her with the intention of asking her to explore the Academy with me. After going outside, I see her walking down the hallway heading west, the girls dormitories. I move swiftly behind her and tried calling out to her...

"Hey, wait!" raising my hand unconciously without even me realizing.

She turns around to her sideways as her bob cut hair sways with the motion. Facing me eye to eye, and carrying a rucksack with both her hands, I was startled. I scratch my head as I went blank in what I was suppose to say, while she stares at me in confusion after tilting her head.

"Umm... yeah", I scratch my head as I look to the other side. "God damn, what was I supposed to say?"

"Kaori, hey! I told you to wait for me!" a young girl passes me and takes her hand. She changes her focus to the young girl as I also wonder who this newcomer might be.

"Jeez, you always forget who your friends are. Remember, we're now in the Academy, it's best for us both to stick together." So she's Kaori's friend, and that must be her name.

"Julia, I'm sorry, I thought we would meet up again later." Kaori says earnestly as she apologizes to her friend.

"Heh, don't worry about it. I was just excited that we can finally tour this place. And... who's this guy?" Finally noticing me, Julia looks at me while she asks Kaori the question. Kaori looks at me and I see her start wondering if she has seen me from somewhere.

"You're..."

"Ah, don't worry about it! I can introduce myself some other time, sorry for bother you guys." I immediately interrupted her before she could answer. Turning around, I started walking the other leaving the two girls behind.

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"And he's gone, just like that. Kaori, who was that?" Julia asks me. I think for a moment before I answer because I'm definitely familiar with him because we went to the same home-school together.

"Just an acquaintance." I look at Julia with a big smile on my face as I wonder what he was about to ask me. And for the sole reason I am here in this Academy.

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"Goddamit, that was stupid of me. Of course she had a friend she went with. It was ignorant of me to think that she enrolled to this Academy alone, known for having high standards and cruel training. I guess I was too eager to expect that I could finally get to know her this day."

I look down at my steps as I headed west of the hallway from our classroom, to my room. Dormitories for the girls and boys are separated into the western section and eastern section. In heading there, you'd have to pass an overpass which is guarded by a serviceman that checks whether you belong in the Academy or not, and of course to prevent sexes from both sides on visiting each other.

One of the ways to verify yourself as a serviceman is through the unique insignia that was provided by the institution beforehand, and that you must wear at all cost during the stay here. You can also use the handbook as proof which is neat, I guess Lieutenant Frost was right, this is in a way, evidence of our existence here.

After showing the serviceman assigned to check our verification, I headed to my room number, which is also found in the handbook. Taking my time to looking at it, this was also a good time to see what facilities the Academy provides.

"Training ground, strategy course, military literacy, cqc training..." Most that I can see here relates to anything that would improve your capability as a serviceman, which is expected.

"But, hmm?" I spot something interested, there's an entirely different section found near the end of the handbook which details a program slightly different from what you've find from the earlier parts.

"The Manchester Training?" Curious at the interesting sounding name, I look through the details as to what it is about.

"Only for those who seek to become something more than serves humanity...", In order to be eligible you must first succeed in becoming a serviceman. After that you will take an intensive physical and mental exam to test whether your body and mind is fit to become part of this elite group of men.

"Well, it's hard enough to pass being as a serviceman with how it is." I turned to the last page to see if there are anymore details that would serve to explain what this course was about.

"Ten percent survival rate...", ten percent? And it says survival, not passing rate. As I stare into this page I grow more curious to what the Manchester Training was about. Pondering on what it might be, it looks like I've reached my destination.

"Room 192, huh." Looking at the door, I can only explain it as durable, since it's made from titanium steel.

"I guess this place does live up to the standard as an elite institution." Furthermore, it doesn't seem like there are any doorknobs to be seen, other than a strange engraving found in the center of the thick plating. That's when I remembered that you needed the insignia to unlock the door. Removing the golden metallic piece from my chest, I was about to attached it to the hole when...

"Where is it! Where is it!", I look to my right and see a kid tapping his whole body as if he had lost something. Well, he did, and I can only guess as to what it was. 

"You lost your insignia?" I went closer and asked him.

"Huh? My insignia? How did you know?" He looks at me confused. And since he was a bit shorter than me by about 3 inches, he was looking up at me with teary eyes.

"Well, it's the most plausible thing that came to my mind." I said shortly

"Yeah, I must've lost it on the way here. Because I remember having it on me during class." He rummages through his pockets as he turns and squirms around. I remember this kid, we're cadet mates.

"You're the one from earlier?" I asked the concerned kid as he looks at me again.

"Huh? What do you mean?" He answers while tilting his head.

"Professor Frost, were in the same class. You're the one who asks her the question earlier." I explain.

"Right, the question about the handbook, that was indeed me. So you're in the same class too. But, oh the irony, I can't believe I actually lost something, what's more, it's more important than the handbook. I'm so dumb for loosing the insignia on my first day, I'm actually doomed." He looks down while pitying himself.

"Well, it's not too late, it should just be around here somewhere. Unless you went to other people before going here."

"I don't think I have... wait!" He immediately turns around and heads towards the dormitory overpass. Following behind him shortly, we arrive at the boy's bathroom.

"I took a pee earlier, I just remembered. It must be around here somewhere." We headed inside and the smell of chloroform spreaded throughout the bathroom. I know this was for ventilation but it certainly gives the place an artificial feel to it. The marble floor is squeeky clean and you can see stalls and bathrooms lined up on all the sides, with a bunch of shower heads hanged in the middle.

"As expected, even the bathroom is amazing, much better than what we have at home", I muttered. "But does this mean that we all take baths together? What about the girls?"

"What did you say? Did you find my insignia?"

"Uh, not yet. I'm looking now." I just realized, I wonder what his name is? We also didn't have proper introductions in class earlier.

"It should be around here somewhere... there!" You can hear the delight in his voice as if he found a long lost treasure.

"I swear, I'll never let go of you every again." The boy presses the golden insignia against his cheeks while clasping on to it in prayer. Well that's all and good now.

"Thank you! Thank you!" after placing his insignia somewhere safe in his belongings, he gets closer to me and starts shaking my hand.

"No, I merely just... You found it on your own."

"If you hadn't calmed me down and made me trace back my steps, I wouldn't have found it. I'd probably be screwed right now. Thank you again.

I'm not sure if I did much to an extent, but I guess if he points it out that way, it makes sense. But at the very least, this interaction would probably lead us to being friends.

"What's your name?" He stops shaking his hand and stares at me in wonder. Did I say something wrong? I'm pretty sure this is normal.

"You want to know my name? But no has ask my name before. Are you sure?" He clarifes as if what I just asked was absurd. I tilt my head slightly making me second guess if my judgement was wrong.

"Ahhh! Forget I said that! It's Jack! My name is Jack!" Still gripping my hand, he shakes it wildly. The sudden change in reaction confuses me for a bit but I return the proper response.

"Jack, nice to meet you. My name is..."