Warfare Augmented Intelligent Frame Unit

Chapter 5 - Asshole with a Heart

Chapter 5 – Asshole with a Heart

The tutorial tests had finally ended, and with it, my first day at Orbital Tech. By two in the afternoon, the halls were already starting to empty as our classes wrapped up. It was a sharp contrast to high school. There were no tight-knit groups hanging around or lingering by lockers. Here, everyone seemed to have their own agenda, disappearing from the campus with nothing more than a quick nod to their partners.

Still, about half of the students stayed behind, chatting easily with one another. Just ahead of me, I overheard two of my classmates.

"Hey, Fei, there's this ramen place everyone's talking about. Want to check it out? I'd like to get to know my partner for the term a bit better," my male classmate proposed, scratching the back of his head, his brown hair falling into his eyes.

Fei, tall and graceful with her long hair swaying as she turned, smiled. "Ramen's nice and all, Neil, but I'm in the mood for grilled pork belly. There's a spot two blocks from here."

"Grilled pork belly? Yeah, I'm in!" Neil beamed, and they walked off together, their conversation dissolving into laughter as they left the classroom.

I watched them go, a small knot forming in my stomach. If only my partner were someone like Fei—sweet, easygoing. Instead, I was stuck with her. The so-called prima donna from high school, whose shadow I couldn't escape.

I sighed, stuffing my books into my bag. Just as I was about to head out and make a beeline for the dorms—

"Wait."

The voice was unmistakable. I paused, turning slightly to see Myrrh standing there, her arms crossed tightly against her chest. She had the look of someone ready to deliver a lecture—like a parent about to scold their child for misbehaving.

And maybe I deserved it. I had intentionally screwed up earlier in the tutorial session, and now, here she was. But this wasn't high school anymore. She wasn't part of the student council here, and that thought gave me a smug sense of satisfaction. "This is college, she has no power here." I muttered under my breath.

"I don't like what you pulled during the tutorial tests," she said, her brows knitting together, her icy blue eyes boring into me with the kind of intensity that could kill. "You might think you got away with it, but I was the one who smoothed things over. I won't stand for that kind of backstabbing, you snake."

"FYI, snakes can't actually stab people in the back," I shot back, letting sarcasm coat my words.

She huffed, a pout forming on her lips, which for a moment made her look... almost cute. "You know what I mean. That's why I'm reaching out now. I want to talk things through, like adults."

"We're talking, aren't we?" I said, leaning into my smart-aleck tone.

Myrrh glanced around the room, taking note of the few students still lingering. Then her gaze settled back on me, a flicker of determination in her eyes. "Let's go grab some tea. I know a place."

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I trailed behind Myrrh as we left the university grounds. For all my frustration with her, I had to admit, I was grateful she knew her way around. It was my first day on planet Xyraxis, and everything felt foreign.

The city unfolded before us—a sprawling cyberpunk metropolis. Neon lights flickered overhead, casting a colorful glow on the streets, even though it was still afternoon. Skyscrapers shot up into the sky, their metallic exteriors gleaming in the light. Pedestrians moved in perfect rhythm with the traffic signals, while CCTV cameras, perched on every corner, scanned the crowds with quiet precision.