Somewhere Between the Sea and the Sky.

Episode 3: Chapter 5.

"Is this the Aurora...?"

San asked, both his mind and voice disoriented at the unknown room.

"What are you doing here?"

At that, Yeosang and Jongho looked at each other. So, for some reason San didn't remember what happened. After the Aurora came back from the depths Ateez realized it was different, somehow. Bigger, to be precise, fitted for the crew they were. There were two rooms for the crew, and they already felt something weird when San didn't say much while they decided roommates. The guy was probably still processing his encounter with a God of the sea, something they could relate to.

Jongho and Yeosang decided to give him some space, getting a few steps away from the bed, but none of them knew well what to do next.

Was he alright?

"Well, we are gonna be roommates now." Jongho started to explain, knowing well it would take ages if he didn't. "We just docked the ship, so we thought about— You know."

"I—" San narrowed his eyes, almost feeling like his previous thoughts were just a heavy dream. The sudden change of mood was killing him. "I don't know, no."

"Plans for the room." Yeosang nodded.

Because they were right. Once San stopped to think about it, there was a lot one could do with an empty room. Of course, living on the seas would take some offers out the table, but still.

"So...?" San waited, still feeling too asleep to pronounce a complete sentence.

"At first we thought about decorating, but none of us is fond of it." Jongho crossed his arms and nodded too, like he was some kind of room spokesman. "We like the empty space. It's good for exercising."

"Exercising...?" Great, San thought, his room would smell like shit. He looked at Yeosang expecting a way out. "Don't you prefer something more... prince like?"

"Nope." He shaked his head. "I've been working out less since I left Ethia, and Seonghwa's lessons are just him kicking my ass."

"Yes. So, we have a question for you."

"Wasn't the working out space the question...?"

"No, that was already decided."

"Okay, well—"

"So," Then Jongho looked at the church boy straight in the eyes, his expression was a weird mix of seriousness and excitement. "Do you want to join us?"

"... What?"

"Do you want to exercise with us?" Yeosang repeated the question.

"You are gonna do it together?"

"It's better with a buddy."

"Yeah, gets easier."

"I'm changing rooms." San said, finally getting off the bed. "You two can have this one. Enjoy."

"You prefer that hell of a room over us?" Yeosang gasped, pretending to be offended.

"Good luck there, honestly." Jongho laughed, watching the church boy open the door and walking out.

San sighed, closing the room's door behind him. Like hell would he live in a sweaty wooden box underwater. The Aurora was too different from the life he had until then, he preferred avoiding the exercise bros. The door to the other room was in front of his own, and there was no noise coming from behind it. He assumed the two rooms would be the same, so there would be another empty space with three beds. Maybe they could move one, San thought about begging at someone to trade places too. After a few more thoughts the church boy took a deep breath and knocked on the door, but he didn't even wait for an answer before opening it. One single step inside the room was enough to see how big of a mistake it was.