The Fallen War

Episode 5: The Top 5

The day after the grueling entrance exam, the academy was buzzing with activity. The intense atmosphere from the previous day had given way to a more relaxed vibe as the students began to settle into their new routines. However, for the top five scorers, it was a rare day off-an opportunity to unwind, recharge, and, most importantly, bond... except for Maiku, who preferred to stay aloof, maintaining her air of superiority.

Josh, Faye, Don, and Saye gathered in one of the academy's common rooms, a spacious area filled with comfortable chairs, a few gaming consoles, and a large table stacked with snacks. The four of them were enjoying the downtime, their weapons temporarily set aside as they focused on more mundane matters-like who could down the most potato chips in a minute.

"I'm telling you, Josh, there's no way you can beat me at this," Don declared, a mischievous grin on his face. He had already piled a mountain of chips in front of him, preparing for the ultimate showdown.

Josh raised an eyebrow, his expression as cool as ever. "You do realize this is just about who can eat faster, right?"

"That's where you're wrong!" Don said dramatically. "This is a battle of willpower, a true test of one's resolve."

Saye rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of amusement in her usually stoic expression. "Or it's just an excuse to stuff your face," she muttered.

Faye, sitting next to Josh, giggled. "Come on, Josh, you should try! It'll be fun."

Josh gave her a sideways glance, his lips twitching slightly into what might have been the beginning of a smile. "Fine," he said, grabbing a handful of chips. "But if I win, you have to stop trying to get me into these ridiculous challenges."

Don's eyes sparkled with determination. "You're on, Fale. Prepare to be defeated!"

As the countdown began, Don and Josh leaned forward, ready to attack their respective piles of chips. Faye and Sary watched with anticipation, Sary already shaking her head at the absurdity of it all.

"Three... two... one... go!"

The room filled with the sound of crunching as both Josh and Don went at it, chips flying everywhere. Faye clapped her hands, laughing as Don made a mess, crumbs littering the table and floor. Josh, on the other hand, maintained a methodical pace, his expression unchanged as he steadily worked through his chips.

After what felt like an eternity (but was really just a minute), Faye called out, "Time's up!"

Don slumped back in his chair, his face a mixture of exhaustion and defeat. Josh, still composed, casually dusted off his hands, having managed to eat just a few more chips than Don.

"Well, looks like I win," Josh said calmly, glancing at Don with a smirk.

Don groaned dramatically. "How are you so good at everything? You're like a machine, Fale."

"I just don't get distracted," Josh replied coolly, shrugging as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

Faye nudged Josh with her elbow. "You're so focused all the time. You should let loose more!"

"Yeah, Josh," Don chimed in, clearly not ready to let go of his defeat. "You're way too serious. You need to have more fun, like Faye."

Josh gave them both a level look. "I have fun. I just... have my own way of doing it."

Saye snorted. "Like what? Staring down enemies until they surrender?"

Josh's lips twitched again, that almost-smile making another appearance. "Something like that."

Just then, the door to the common room creaked open, and Maiku walked in, her usual confident stride making everyone straighten up a bit. She glanced around, noting the mess of chips and the relaxed atmosphere, and immediately frowned.

"What are you all doing?" she asked, her tone as sharp as ever.

"Enjoying our day off," Faye replied cheerfully, giving Maiku a friendly smile. "Want to join us?"

Maiku raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "I have better things to do than waste time with silly games."

Don, never one to back down from a challenge, leaned back in his chair and grinned up at Maiku. "Come on, Muki, you can't be all work and no play. Even the best need to relax."

Maiku's eyes narrowed. "Unlike you, Don, I prefer to stay sharp."

Saye gave a small smirk. "Sharp, huh? You sure it's not just that you're scared you might lose at something that isn't sniping?"

Maiku bristled at the insinuation but kept her composure. "I don't need to prove myself in trivial competitions."

Faye, sensing the tension, quickly interjected. "Maiku, we're just having some fun. You don't always have to be so serious."

Maiku's gaze softened slightly as she looked at Faye. Of all the students, Faye was the one person Maiku didn't have any real issue with-though she'd never admit it. "Maybe next time," she said curtly, turning to leave the room.

"Hey, don't be a stranger," Don called after her, his tone more teasing than serious.

Maiku ignored him, disappearing back into the hallway.

Once she was gone, Don shook his head. "Man, that girl needs to chill. It's like she's got a sniper scope glued to her forehead."

Saye chuckled. "She's just intense. I mean, she is the top scorer, after all."

"Still," Faye said thoughtfully, "it wouldn't hurt her to relax every now and then. We all need breaks."

Josh, who had been silent during the exchange, finally spoke up. "Maiku's focused on being the best. It's not wrong, just... different."

Don gave Josh a curious look. "You actually respect her, don't you?"

Josh shrugged. "She's skilled. I can respect that."

Faye smiled at her brother. "You're a good person, Josh, even if you don't show it much."

Josh gave her a rare, full smile. "I just care about what matters."

The group fell into a comfortable silence after that, each of them reflecting on their own thoughts. Despite their different personalities, there was a growing bond between them-a sense of camaraderie that only came from surviving together in a harsh environment.

Don broke the silence with a loud yawn. "Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready to take a nap. This day off stuff is hard work."

Saye rolled her eyes. "You're just lazy, Don."

"Hey, I'm conserving energy for the next big fight," Don shot back, grinning.

Faye giggled. "Whatever helps you sleep at night, Don."

As the group began to disperse, Josh lingered for a moment, looking out the window at the academy grounds. The world outside was harsh and unforgiving, but in here, with these people, there was a small slice of normalcy-a fleeting moment where they could just be kids, even if only for a little while.

Faye came up beside him, nudging his arm. "Ready to head out?"

Josh nodded, giving one last glance at the room before turning to leave with his sister. "Yeah, let's go."

As they walked down the hallway, Faye linked her arm with Josh's, leaning her head on his shoulder. "You know, even if you don't show it much, I know you care about everyone here. You're not as cold as you pretend to be."

Josh didn't respond immediately, but there was a warmth in his eyes as he looked at Faye. "Maybe," he said quietly. "But you're the one who makes it easy to care."

Faye smiled up at him, her heart swelling with affection for her brother. "Well, it's a good thing you have me around to keep you from turning into a total ice block."

Josh chuckled softly, his arm wrapping around Faye's shoulders. "Yeah, it is."

And with that, the two of them continued down the hallway, ready to face whatever came next-together.