Cain slurped the remaining jelly in his hand, causing it to wilt. The four beside him exchange glances before turning to their leader, who stares ahead at General Dosh, mouth agape.
Vacation, according to what was in his head. As cadets in the training facility, they would get their quota. But there was a time for it, usually between mid-year and the end of the year, which made the current situation too difficult for Cain to swallow.
It wasn't that he rejected the vacation itself. Yet he was worried that the sudden intent from the man somehow aroused a tingling unease feeling in his heart, as if all this was coming to cover up something bigger happening behind the scenes.
He pulled the empty packaging in his hand and opened his mouth.
"Why so sudden? Did something happen while I was asleep?"
Cain shot a glare at the man's face, causing the mood to turn heavy in stifling silence.
"There's no other intention. This is just my gift for your hard work."
General Dosh just smiled, his calm voice breaking the silence that struck. The man shook his head, telling Cain that everything was fine. However, behind his slight smile, a faint shadow of unspoken truth was visible, which caughtCain's attention, causing him to exhale sharply.
'Hmph, is this some form of concern for us, or?'
"Vacation, huh. It feels like a long time since I felt my mother's cooking. Right, Rika?"
Abel asked, his expression bright as the sunrise from the east, bringing color to the world. Meanwhile, the girl next to him nodded slowly, her lips pursed, as if she felt awkward.
"Y-Yeah, you said a long time ago, but we just separated from them a few months ago."
Rika tried to cover up the darkness on her face by reprimanding the blonde boy who was scratching his cheek, acting bashful.
Meanwhile, Peter crossed his arms over his chest, frowning. He stared at the ceiling.
"Hmm, vacation huh. How will I spend it?"
"Um, oh, what do you mean by that, Peter? Don't you miss your own home?"
Chloe interjected, making the blue-haired boy flinch. He glanced at his sister; her parted lips and narrowed eyes seemed to indicate something. Peter gulped. He raised both hands in surrender.
"Of course, I'm going home. How about you, Louise?"
Not wanting to deal with his sister any further, Peter turned to his side, making the poor girl freeze with a pale expression.
Louise poked her index fingers together, casting her gaze down as all eyes in the room turned to her. She looked down and spoke in a tiny, inaudible voice.
"...W-Well, I-I want to visit my family, too."
"Why do you burden the little girl there? Peter, as I recall, I taught you to be kind and always protect a girl near you. Isn't it the opposite of what you're doing now?"
From that, Peter realized that the theory implanted in his brain since childhood resurfaced, bringing back a bitter memory that twisted his face. Beside him, his sister smiled, but it didn't apply to her eyes.
Cold sweat began to pour down his back. Peter averted his gaze sideways and accidentally made eye contact with Cain, who gave a thumbs-up. Blood began to drain from his face, and his body started to tremble.
He looked at his other comrades, and everyone shifted their gaze to the side, not wanting to deal with family matters. From that awkwardness, Louise shook her head furiously and opened her quivering lips.
"T-That's not it, Senior. I-I was just surprised and happy that someone talked to me about vacation."
"Ooh, how sweet. Your name is Louise, right?"
Unbeknownst to anyone, Chloe, who had been next to Dosh, disappeared and appeared next to Louise's chair, holding the shoulders of the brown-haired girl.
"U-Um? Yes, S-Senior?"
Chloe was silent, her sharp blue eyes stared straight at Louise, whose face was burning with embarrassment. After a few seconds, she pulled Louise closer, hugging her tightly while pressing their cheeks together, her face melting.
"Oow, how sweet. I've always adored an obedient little sister, but instead I got a snotty brat."
"S-Senior?"
"B-Big sis, please don't embarrass me in front of my friend."
While the right side of Cain was having a debate between siblings, he let out a long sigh, leaning his back against the chair, then looking towards Dosh.
They stared for dozens of seconds until Chloe, who was pampering Louise, straightened her posture. The brown-haired girl exhaled softly, trying to catch her breath from the stuffy affection of Chloe, who treated her like a little sister.
Chloe turned her gaze and looked towards the General as she opened her mouth.
"Good, I've decided. General Dosh."
Dosh glanced towards the blue-haired girl, his expression calm as if unaffected by all the events around him.
"What is it, Cadet Chloe?"
"I want to take a few days off with them."
The atmosphere froze, Peter and the other three comrades widened their eyes, struggling to hold their jaws from dropping to the floor.
Cain gazed at the man, who was holding his chin, staring at the silver round table that reflected the shadow of his stern face. Dosh raised his gaze and nodded.
"Why not, after all, you rarely take leave, the situation is also not too critical so use this opportunity to spread your wings."
"Fufufu, thank you. What about you, Luna?"
This time, the attention shifted to the silver-haired girl who had been silent all this time. She was observing the others chat while sipping her meal in silence.
A slight ripple emerged on her ethereal blue eyes, causing Cain to gulp. She opened her mouth but closed it midway and shifted to the man beside her.
"Why not, besides, you asked me for seven days leave, but you came back in three."
The sharp corner of her eye softened, revealing a gentle expression that was soothing, like the arrival of spring after a torturous winter. Luna smiled faintly, her melodious voice resonating throughout the other.
"Thank you, General Dosh."
Then, after saying her piece, Luna turned to Cain, causing his calm heart to jolt faster, seeing the sweet smile on her cold face. Cain wrinkled his eyebrows, wondering why Senior Luna was looking at him.
He swallowed hard. He didn't know why, but behind Luna's seemingly cold expression, there was a rare warmth like a fire in the middle of the dark night that accompanied Cain in the darkness.
The silver-haired girl smiled faintly, hoping for something from him. However, Cain, who had missed Luna's intent, gave a slight nod, which made the girl's eyes widen and her smile blossom.
A loud thump from his heart prompted him to reach out to his chest. His calm heart was pounding fast like beating a war drum.
His eyebrow twitched as a fragmented memory appeared in his head. The memory showed a glimpse of a dim, narrow alley, the screams of adults, full of malice, aimed at him as he ran, holding someone's hand.
"Cain?"
A soft voice from his side snapped him out of his reverie and erased the memory that was trying to resurface. Cain let out a short sigh and turned to his left side and found Rika holding his shoulder, her face wrinkled with worry.
Cain nodded and patted the red-haired girl's hand.
"I'm fine. I was just thinking about something."
Rika stared at Cain's face for a few seconds, her eyes narrowed for a moment before exhaling.
"Alright."
The boy smiled wryly, then looked towards General Dosh, who nodded deeply.
"As I expected, you really need more rest. So tomorrow I will come here again and give you something before you go to your respective homes."
"Understood."
All the cadets, including the seniors, answered. Their voices were cheerful, echoing in the spacious and empty room. The golden light radiating from the window cast their stretched shadows into the corner.
From the warmth that described togetherness, only Cain was silent. He threw his gaze towards the window, staring at the horizon far from his grasp while whispering in his heart.
'Oh yeah, where is my home?'