Asaba walked out the door leaving me with more questions than answers. I followed Asaba's footsteps until I got out of the enclosure, I looked everywhere looking for where he could have gone but apparently I lost track of him.
- Here you are," Sergio said from behind me.
- Have you already finished the test - I asked.
- A while ago- He answered- I think I passed it by the skin of my teeth- He let out a nervous chuckle giving me a clear indication that I had done worse than I thought.
I nodded my head as I didn't know how to respond to that. I looked up at the sky and saw that it was already starting to cloud over and darken.
- And it didn't look like it was going to rain... - I muttered.
Sergio was pensive, at his own pace.
- What else do we have to do today before the end of the routine," I asked to get Sergio out of his thoughts.
He shook his head and looked at me so he could answer me:
- This... - He looked at the floor - I think it's time for physical exercise again - He answered.
I narrowed my eyes, hiding the inner rage I had from seeing that the day seemed endless.
- We'd better go to the training camp," he said.
- Yes," I answered.
We both shook hands to encourage each other so we could continue the day without a problem.
***
After two long hours of exercise we finally reached what seemed like the end of the daily routine. All of us on the dirt field were exhausted, sweating like there was no tomorrow for it and others lying on the ground like corpses after a heavy firefight.
I was sitting on the ground trying to recover the air that my body was urgently asking me to recover. I felt my lungs burning inside me.
- I'm sick of all this exercise shit," said Sergio.
Even though it's true that I didn't find it as hard as he did to exercise, it's true that today had been a complete hell even for the hardest of the place
- I want to die- I said with little strength in my voice.
- OK, LISTEN UP!" shouted the general.
We all got up quickly and stood as firm as we could.
- We are done for the day," he said, "I understand that many of you found today's training difficult, but I was asked to do it. That said, anyone who hasn't been able to endure it should start to get psyched up and stop being a crybaby, okay? That was the last thing he said before he announced that we could leave for dinner.
It is true that the day was one of the longest of all the days I had spent here but, at the end, it was over.
- What time is it," I asked.
- I think it's about... 19:00" he answered. 19:00- He answered.
So soon we had finished? how strange...
I began to feel the light breeze that used to come through here every time it started to get dark. My hairs stood up, causing me to feel even uncomfortable.
I rested my hand on Sergio's shoulder.
- We'd better get some dinner before they take everything away from us," I said as an excuse to get going.
Sergio nodded and started walking without looking back, leaving me in place.
- It's not for you to run, either," I said.
With a light step we started walking. Sergio was looking straight ahead without worrying about what was around while I was looking carefully at the whole base illuminated by tall street lamps that gave enough light to be able to orient myself, it felt like walking around a modern town away from society.
- I love the base at night, don't you?
Sergio laughed ironically.
- Sure, yes, I love it," he replied.
We both continued changing until we reached the mess hall, where most of the soldiers were enjoying their last meal of the day. Sergio and I approached the bar to receive our dinner. Sergio stepped forward with a lighter step, grabbed a tray and placed himself in front of the chef.
- Good evening," Sergio said with mischievous tact.
"Don't bother me, he's going to start throwing chips now," I thought to myself.
- Today's special dinner is you," I asked while winking at him.
- Sergio, not now..." Bianca whispered.
She only served dinner at night, that's why Sergio is usually in such a hurry to come to dinner every day. Even if they say they are nothing and are mutually disinterested it is clear that in reality those two hide some relationship other than friendship.
They both continued talking until after about 5 minutes or so they stopped talking and it was my turn to receive my food ration.
- Good evening, Bianca- I greeted.
- Good evening, Lucas," she greeted back.
I didn't have a great relationship with her, in fact I began to think that she had had a crush on me for a long time, but I didn't know why.
- How was your day today - I asked to generate some kind of conversation.
Bianca threw my food ration on the tray and looked at me with slight contempt in her eyes.
- Fine," she replied dryly.
It was that answer that gave me to understand that I had to stop talking to her immediately so without saying anything else I grabbed my tray and started walking to the table where Sergio and I used to sit every day but on the way I heard someone calling my name.
- Lucas," a male voice shouted.
I looked around to see who was calling my name until I saw him. My eyes widened in surprise, I didn't expect him to call my name.
- Asaba...- I muttered.
I turned my gaze to Sergio who was looking at me with a sinister but convinced smile, he nodded his head giving me to understand that he would let me approach the Division's table without any problem. With a gesture I thanked him and approached Asaba. When I arrived, I stood with my tray in my hand, like a child standing before his elders at a family meal.
- Lucas! I'm glad you're here, come sit with us.
- Really, Asaba, now you let anyone sit at this table," Alex asked.
- Well, you're not going to die for once, are you?
Alex turned his gaze back to the plate of food and continued eating.
Asaba's gaze conveyed a certain intrigue, but he didn't quite know what it was about.
- Are you just going to stand there? Come on, have a seat," Asaba said.
I looked from the beginning of the table to the end of the table in search of a seat until I could see a free seat at the other end of the table.
I moved with some nervousness in my body, I could see how Yanaghi and even Miyabi looked at me with some curiosity, it was clear that I had no place at this table.
When I reached the free space I sat down and looked at the food, without looking up, afraid to cross glances with anyone in this place.
- And what does he have to sit next to us," asked Alex.
Asaba sighed, clearly tired of Alex's repetitive questions.
- Because I want him to be here, is there a problem with that?" he asked with a warm smile but with a certain annoyance in the background.
- Only the active members of division 6 can sit at this table- Alex gave a sigh- Well, what difference does it make, he was welcome- He said at last.
I couldn't understand why his behavior was so against my stay at this table, it was as if he had taken a dislike to me from one moment of the day to another, or maybe it was just his personality?
- TEAM! - Soukaku shouted with joy.
- SOUKAKU!" they all shouted in unison.
Alex got up from his seat and happily hugged Soukaku as if they were lifelong friends. There they were chatting for a while while I looked at the table where Sergio was having dinner. Without realizing it, I began to stir the food in circles, showing the discomfort of the moment and the regret of having sat here until I heard his voice near me.
- Bon appetit," Soukaku said with his cheerful tone, "I hope you are enjoying eating here.
I looked up, watching as she sat down to dinner next to me. My gaze was completely lost in her deep orange eyes but luckily, I was able to recover before she noticed.
- Y-yes, of course I'm enjoying it- No matter how hard I tried to hide it, I couldn't manage to speak without getting nervous.
Soukaku let out a small laugh as he diverted his gaze to the food, grabbed the bread and took a bite.
- Hehe, you're a liar, I can tell you're not," he said.
In a certain part I loved to find myself dining together with the best soldiers of the best division in the world but I was aware that this was not my place, at least not yet.
- Well... It's beyond me to know that I'm not in the right place, it's nothing more, for the rest believe me I'm very well here- I said
Soukaku continued to gobble the food as if he had never in his life done something like this.
- Asaba has a slight appreciation for you from what I see- He mumbled with the food in his mouth- What have you done?
I stood thoughtfully, staring at the metal table on which I stood.
- He saw me do the shooting test- I answered- I surprised him, or at least I think so.
As she finished her plate she pushed it away from her and looked at me with a lot of excitement in her eyes, as if she would never run out.
- That's great! If Asaba has his eye on you that's that you did great- She said patting me on the back.
I had to admit that his energy in the middle of dinner was making me a little nervous but at the same time it generated a sense of comfort.
I finished eating while looking at Soukaku out of the corner of my eye, I don't know what it was about him that I couldn't stop looking at, I felt strange. When I finished everything I got up from the table and thanked everyone for letting me eat at this table. Everyone in the division nodded in a "You're welcome" manner and continued with their conversation. Just as I was about to leave that place to join Serguio, I noticed how someone grabbed my arm.
- What's the hurry," asked Soukaku.
I gave a long sigh, tired, wanting to throw myself on the bed.
- I'm... I'm tired, yes, that's right - I answered
Soukaku raised an eyebrow, curious.
- Hey...- He muttered- If you feel uncomfortable just say so, only I will know, no one else.
I wasn't sure whether to say it or not. My dream has always been to be together with the members of the division but all this was too rushed, it made me nervous.
- No, really, I'm just tired, that's all, I swear," I said.
- Well, if that's all it is..." He murmured slowly letting go of my arm and looking towards Alex, continuing with their conversation that they had left half way through a while ago.
With a light step I went to Sergio's table and sat next to him while I covered my face from embarrassment.
- The whole dining room has been staring at you," Sergio said ironically.
- Oh, really? Wow... What a smart guy- I said, also, ironically.
- And to think that you abandoned me only to come out shitting all over the legs of the big guys' table.
- Shut your mouth, if it had been you I'm sure you would have melted with shame before you even sat down to eat.
Sergio finished his meal and put a hand on my back.
- Come on, let's go, we have important things to do- He said
- Important things? Like what? - I asked without knowing what he meant.
Sergio came close to my ear and whispered to me:
- There is poker tournament in the module, whoever wins gets off guard, and whoever loses, gets to stand guard- He said with a mysterious tone.
My eyes widened with happiness, poker with colleagues? It was hard to refuse something like that.
- Yes, we have important things to do, come on, let's go- I got up from the table and followed Sergio to leave the tray and go to the module.