Warfare Augmented Intelligent Frame Unit

Chapter 82 - Office Romance

Chapter 82 - Office Romance

I woke up with a heavy sigh, disappointment settling deep in my chest. I know I'm an asshole, but Myrrh giving me X-chocolates yesterday was... unexpected. She's never been the type to do something so openly considerate, and now it's gnawing at me. I can't just let it slide—I have to do something in return, even if it's just to ease the weight of this unfamiliar guilt.

Today marked the last day of classes at Orbital Tech before the long-awaited holiday break. The morning unfolded like any other—routine lectures, the usual hum of students pretending to take notes, and the professors clearly as eager as we were to end the semester. Fei was absent, which was a stroke of luck considering there were no practical exams or dreaded calculus quizzes. Just a simple day that blurred past in a haze of spoken theories and half-filled notebooks. By some miracle, we were dismissed before lunch, the early freedom feeling like an unearned gift.

As soon as class let out, I made my way into the bustling streets outside the university. The air was still crisp from the lingering echoes of X-mas celebrations, neon lights from lingering holiday decor flickering against the glass storefronts. My goal was clear—I needed something small but meaningful. Something that wouldn't scream "I'm trying too hard" but would still carry weight. After browsing through stalls, I found what I was looking for—a tiny bouquet of cyberflowers, their bioluminescent petals pulsing faintly with artificial life. The bouquet wasn't extravagant, just the length of my hand, wrapped in a soft cotton cloth that gave it a more personal touch.

Luck was on my side—I managed to snag it at half price, a post-celebration discount that made the decision easier. I carefully placed the bouquet inside an old shoebox, adjusting it until it fit snugly in my backpack, ensuring it wouldn't get crushed before I could hand it over.

With my purchase secured, I turned back toward the Orbital Tech grounds, my next destination set—the KAWAII headquarters, where my part-time job awaited.

I haven't talked much about my internship there, mostly because there's not much to say. The mission with the Void Box had been an anomaly—an adrenaline spike in an otherwise monotonous routine. Most days, we were stuck doing office work, menial tasks that felt far removed from the high-stakes operations I'd imagined. Meanwhile, Agent Feena was always out in the field, handling the real missions, navigating the dangerous underbelly of Xyraxis while we stayed behind, pushing papers and pretending we were part of something bigger.

When I stepped into the KAWAII headquarters, the familiar hum of machinery and the faint scent of synthetic coffee filled the air. At the front desk, poised like she belonged on the cover of an in-flight magazine, was Myrrh.

Her lime-blonde hair was tied neatly in a ponytail, black ribbons securing it in place. The dark blue blazer she wore hugged her form just right, and the short skirt added a professional sharpness to her look. If I hadn't known better, I'd have mistaken her for a high-class flight attendant—elegant, poised, and undeniably striking.

"Good afternoon, Zaft." Myrrh greeted me with a small smile, her voice carrying that usual refined tone. "I went ahead and punched you in since you disappeared the moment class ended. Where did you run off to?"

"Just an errand," I replied with a shrug. "Since the holidays start tomorrow, I figured I'd head back to Earth for a bit."

"I see." She gave a slight nod before smoothly shifting topics. "Oh, this might be a little late, but Fei told me she already went back to Earth. Something urgent came up with her family, so that's why she was absent today."

I raised an eyebrow. "Family business?" I leaned forward with a smirk. "Family business, or heartbrokenness?"

Myrrh's smile flattened, and she crossed her arms. "You are an insensitive goon, you know that?" she scolded, her sharp eyes narrowing. "Fei has a gentle heart—soft, kind. She does not deserve what Neil said to her yesterday. Maybe stop joking about her pain for once?"