Warfare Augmented Intelligent Frame Unit

Chapter 156 - Last Ramen Date

Chapter 156 - Last Ramen Date

I forgot to close my blackout curtains last night (or morning), so the afternoon sunlight came crashing through my windows like an uninvited guest. Its harsh glare painted the walls in a fiery gold, prying my eyelids open and dragging me out of my fragile slumber. Blinking against the brightness, I fumbled for my phone on the nightstand. Two in the afternoon.

My stomach twisted and growled like a feral beast, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since—hell, I couldn't even remember. Hunger clawed at my insides, sharp and insistent.

I lay there for a moment, sinking into the sheets, trying to piece myself back together. Even though I stumbled back into the dorm at five in the morning, I'd slept like a corpse. My body was dead weight, and yet exhaustion still gripped me like chains. It felt as if last night had drained something deeper than just energy.

And then the memories surged—unbidden, merciless. The sky torn open by the birth of Planet Seraphoss. Waves upon waves of Cosmic Beasts devouring the heavens. The clash with the Cosmic Goddess, her voice echoing like the judgment of eternity. My head throbbed as fragments of last night's nightmare bled into reality.

"Neil... Fei..." The names slipped past my lips, fragile and trembling.

For a heartbeat, I wished it was just a dream. Some fevered hallucination. But the hollow ache in my chest told me the truth—they were gone. Forever.

My phone buzzed in my hand, breaking the silence. One unread message. My breath caught when I saw the name: Myrrh. Sent an hour ago.

Myrrh: Good afternoon! Are you awake already? Please reply. Agent Feena wants to talk to us tonight.

Guilt prickled through me. She'd been waiting. I didn't even hesitate—I typed back as fast as my fingers could move.

Me: Good afternoon, Myrrh. I'm sorry, I just woke up. Sure. I'll fetch you in front of your dorm later.

Almost instantly, her reply popped up on the screen, bright and warm against the dull ache in my chest.

Myrrh: Have you eaten already? Want to go eat first?

A small smile tugged at my lips.

Me: Okay. Let's have a brunch. I'll fetch you after fifteen minutes then.

Myrrh: Great! See you!

The tension knotted in my stomach began to loosen. Somehow, just seeing her messages made the shadows in my mind scatter a little. After everything that happened last night—the chaos, the loss, the war that carved scars into the sky—her words felt like sunlight breaking through storm clouds.

I couldn't deny it. I wanted to see her. Right now.

Excitement fluttered in my chest, mixing with an odd sense of relief. For a moment, I wasn't the survivor of a cosmic war. I was just... me. A guy heading to brunch with a girl who made the world seem less cruel.

I threw off the sheets, feet hitting the cold floor as I rushed to get ready. It was ridiculous, really—doing my morning routine when the sun was already leaning toward dusk. Still, I brushed my teeth, splashed water on my face, and grabbed my bath towel, swinging it over my shoulder like a soldier gearing up for battle—only this time, the enemy was messy hair and exhaustion.

With my basket of bath essentials tucked under one arm, I headed down the corridor toward the shower room. The quiet hum of the dorm felt heavier today, almost suffocating. And then, halfway there, I froze.