As the cadets left Commander Sable's office, Commander Anderson entered Commander Sable's office through the secret passageway. The two commanders exchanged a knowing glance, and Commander Anderson spoke in a low tone, "Your decision to make Mako the leader was a good one. He's shown great strength, growth, and adaptability."
Commander Sable nodded a hint of pride in his eyes. "That boy sparked something inside my heart from the moment I laid my eyes on him. His tenacity and will to keep fighting oftentimes make me feel that he is fighting for something more than just himself, but I can't seem to find out what."
"His file was quite normal and he seems like a good kid so it is a mystery for even me to find out his reasons, but nevertheless, I believe he will show them in due time and this mission will test his leadership skills, I believe in his potential." Commander Sable added.
Commander Anderson's lips curled into a small smile. "It's good to see that you're mentoring them well, Sable."
Their conversation was brief, yet their understanding of each other's sentiments was evident. With a nod, Commander Anderson left the room just as discreetly as he had entered.
****************
Meanwhile, Mako and his friends gathered in the cafeteria to celebrate their victory. The atmosphere was joyful as they laughed, shared stories, and indulged in a hearty meal.
Mako, still processing his new role, decided to treat everyone by purchasing an abundance of food with his own money card. His friends cheered in delight as plates were piled high with delicious dishes.
Oddly enough, even Nathan stayed back to celebrate with the rest of the group even though he didn't engage in any conversations at all.
After the celebratory feast, the cadets went their separate ways to prepare for the mission ahead.
Bill, feeling the effects of his injuries, made his way to the infirmary. The medical examination revealed a concussion and a collarbone fracture. However, with the help of healing pills, his injuries would be mended within a couple of hours.
As Bill lay on the infirmary bed, his body recovering from the effects of the battle, he couldn't help but replay the intense clash in his mind. The fight with the sentinel, the staredown with Mako's team, and of course his surprise takedown by Iris – it was all a whirlwind. However, amidst the lingering ache, he couldn't shake off the surprise encounter with Iris.
His thoughts were interrupted when the infirmary door softly opened, and none other than Iris walked in.
She approached his bed with a mixture of concern and genuine regret in her eyes. "Bill, I wanted to check up on you. I'm sorry about how things went down during the battle."
Bill was surprised by the amount of concern Iirs had in her eyes and managed a small smile, appreciating her concern. "No need to apologize, Iris. Battles get messy."
Her lips curved into a half-smile, her expression softening. "Still, that was... intense. I didn't mean to blast you like that."
Bill chuckled weakly, though a playful glint shone in his eyes. "Well, I'm not exactly thrilled about the whole being-blasted-down-by-heavily-presurized-water thing, but I've had worse."
Iris let out a relieved laugh, her tension easing. "You're taking it pretty well, considering... your team lost. You and Mako have an intense rivalry, I'm sure you would have been a bit salty that you didn't get picked."
Bill's eyes held a certain warmth as he looked at her while he replied, "Nah, I have played the role of the leader and commander, bossing people around for far too long, and to be honest, I was never good at it. Mako; however, is the perfect person for the job, I have no hard feelings."
They fell into a comfortable silence, the air tinged with a shared understanding. It was as if the intensity of the battle had stripped away any pretenses, leaving them both raw and vulnerable.
"Iris," Bill began, his voice softer, "I know you're strong and skilled. You just have to believe in yourself. If it wouldn't have been for you I would have died during the final horde or at least gotten eliminated but you risked yours to save mine, and I am eternally grateful to you. Don't think of yourself as weaker than any of us, heck, you just sent me to the infirmary with a single blast, I should watch out,"
Iris began to chuckle at Bill's remark, but his words impacted her deeply. Her gaze met his, and for a moment, the air between them seemed to shimmer. "You're right, Bill. I'll keep that in mind."
As they exchanged those words, an unspoken connection seemed to form, a mutual respect that went beyond the battlefield.
Bill's gaze dropped to the floor for a moment, lost in thought. When he looked up again, there was something in his eyes – a vulnerability he rarely showed. "Iris, can I ask you something personal?"
Iris nodded, her curiosity piqued. "Of course, Bill. You can ask me anything."
He took a deep breath as if steeling himself. "During our battles together, when you saved me, and even now when you came to check up on me... I felt something. Something... different."
Iris looked at him, her gaze searching his face for clarity. "Different? What do you mean?"
Bill's eyes held hers, his sincerity was evident. "I mean, I've had people in my life that care about me, but right now when you have come to visit me, it feels like there was something more – something beneath the surface. It's hard to explain, but I feel like there's more to you than meets the eye."
Iris's cheeks warmed slightly under his gaze, his words stirring something within her. "Bill, I... don't know what to say... What is it that you feel different...?"
Their eyes locked, the tension between them growing. The infirmary seemed to fade into the background as an unspoken connection crackled in the air.
Bill shifted slightly, his hand moving toward hers as if drawn by an invisible force. Iris's heart raced, her breath catching. She watched as his fingers brushed against hers, a gentle touch that sent shivers down her spine.
Their eyes held an unspoken question, and at that moment, hesitation dissolved. Bill's hand cupped her cheek, his touch gentle yet firm. Iris's heart pounded in her chest as she leaned in, her eyes closing as their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss.
It was a fleeting moment, a connection that held a world of unspoken emotions. As they pulled away, their eyes met once more, and the air seemed to shimmer with a newfound understanding.
"Bill..." Iris whispered her voice a mix of surprise and realization.
He smiled, his gaze steady. "Iris, maybe this is a sign that we're meant to understand each other on a different level."
Iris's heart swelled with a mix of emotions – surprise, curiosity, and a spark of something new and yet old and familiar. "...Maybe you're right, Bill."
As they sat there, hands still entwined, a connection had formed between them that was deeper than just being teammates. In that quiet moment, they both understood that their journey was far from over as it had just taken a completely different path, one that could extend for many years to come.
*****************
Meanwhile, as the day turned into evening, Mako returned to his room to freshen up and catch up on the notifications of the system that he had missed during the training match.
There were several notifications that Mako had to go through, but decided to leave them for later as he was itching to get into a warm shower first. He enjoyed his time in the shower and emerged completely refreshed and energized.
He put on a fresh set of clothes and was going to finally tend to the system when he unexpectedly received a message on his personal communicator that the military had provided him, it was basically just another Holophone that he could use within military grounds.
He glanced down at the screen and saw that it was from Nathan of all people, leaving Mako stunned and curious. The message was short and to the point: "Meet me in the training area at night. There's something important we need to discuss."
Mako's curiosity was immediately piqued. Nathan wasn't someone who initiated conversations, especially not outside of training sessions. The urgency in his message was noticeable, and Mako couldn't help but wonder what Nathan wanted to discuss.
With a sense of intrigue and curiosity about what Nathan wanted to talk about, Mako decided to check out the system's notifications later and instead started making his way to the training area.
As Mako arrived at the designated spot, he found Nathan leaning against a wall, his posture relaxed yet focused. Nathan's eyes met Mako's, and there was a depth to his gaze that Mako hadn't seen before.
"Nathan," Mako greeted, his voice carrying a mix of curiosity and readiness. "You wanted to talk?"
Nathan nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah, I did."
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