Warfare Augmented Intelligent Frame Unit

Chapter 50 - Bountiful Breakfast

Chapter 50 - Bountiful Breakfast

The shrill beep of my phone's alarm clock jolted me awake, its piercing tone grating enough to compel me to shut it off almost immediately. My groggy fingers fumbled over the screen, silencing the noise as I glanced at the time—6:00 a.m. Sharp. While I felt a sliver of pride for waking up on the first try, a lingering haze of drowsiness clung to me like cobwebs.

Forcing myself upright, I pushed the covers aside and shuffled to the window. Drawing back the curtains, I was greeted by a breathtaking sight: the soft, golden glow of dawn stretching across Xyraxis's metallic horizon. The sun's rays painted the reflective surface of the planet with hues of pink and amber, a rare and fleeting spectacle. It wasn't that I disliked mornings, but my habit of endlessly scrolling through social media often stole these tranquil moments away from me.

I grabbed my towel and toiletries, stepping out of my room into the silent corridors. As I walked past Neil Orbeus's door, I couldn't help but notice the stillness. Most mornings, seven out of ten to be exact, Neil would knock on my door, insisting we head to university together. Today wasn't one of those days. Neil was still in the hospital, recovering under Fei's watchful care. They'd promised to follow the licensure tournament through social media, offering their thoughts and prayers to Myrrh and me from afar.

Knowing today would be no ordinary day, I adjusted my routine accordingly. A brisk, icy shower jolted me fully awake. I shaved with precision, took care of biological necessities—one that ended up consuming far more time than expected—and returned to my room to put on my uniform. Almost an hour had passed, and my adjusted schedule was already beginning to crumble.

"Eating at the cafeteria would take too long," I muttered, brushing a hand through my damp hair. "I'll just grab a sandwich from the convenience store on the way."

Once I finished suiting up, I made my way to the nearby convenience store and picked up a ham and egg sandwich paired with a bottle of oolong jasmine tea. The tea, subtle yet refreshing, had quickly become a favorite of mine—it wasn't too sweet, sour, or bitter, making it the perfect remedy for the odd aftertaste lingering in my mouth. I silently thanked Myrrh for recommending it to me yesterday.

Feeling prepared for the day ahead, I decided to walk to the coliseum. The streets were already alive with activity, and a growing crowd lined up outside the venue, eager to secure seats in the audience. From what I'd seen on social media, the winners of this licensure tournament often gained recognition for producing high-quality WAIFUs and support units, making them valuable not only to Xyraxis government agencies but also to major corporations scouting for talent.

As I approached the coliseum, I spotted Agent Feena in the distance, easily recognizable in her signature KAWAII uniform. She stood amidst a group of similarly dressed agents, her pink hair catching the early morning light as she animatedly conversed with her colleagues. She looked busy, and since I needed to head backstage to meet Myrrh, I decided not to disturb her and continued on my way.

Just as I started to relax, a familiar voice rang out, bright and unmistakable.
"Out of the waaaaay!"

I barely had time to react before I turned to see Dianca—her vibrant blue hair bouncing with each step, her green eyes wide with determination, and, to my astonishment, a piece of toasted bread clenched between her teeth as she sprinted toward me.

"Oh crap!" I yelped. "Waaah!"

Before I could dodge, she collided with me at full speed. The impact sent us both tumbling to the ground in a chaotic blur of limbs. When the world stopped spinning, I realized I was lying flat on my back—with Dianca sprawled on top of me. My face burned as I became acutely aware of the soft, warm pressure of her medium-sized chest against me.