Gadina pulled open the door of a bathroom stall, stepping into the one that she usually comes in for a smoke. However, she wasn't here to smoke today, she was here to clean. She couldn't even believe it herself.

  The girl sighed. She swept the floor around the toilet aggressively with a plastic broom, then poked her head out of the stall. "Hanister!" She yelled at the other person who was walking around outside.

  The person turned around, moving closer with a hose in her hand.

  Hanister lifted the hose and started spraying water all over the floor and walls in the stall. She and Gadina received a punishment of cleaning the bathroom for a week for getting caught red-handed when they were 'fooling around' during the swimming lessons. That was what the instructor used to describe their behaviors. In reality, both Gadina and she thought they were just swimming in a less professional way.

  In short, not only did they get punished, but they also got an entire lecture on compliant and group discipline by the instructor. Honestly, it was more of a reprimand rather than a lecture.

  "Why are we the only ones getting punished?" Gadina sulkily opened the door of another stall. "They were a lot of people slacking afterwards anyway." She complained as she continued on sweeping the floor. Her tone didn't sound like she was actually mad. It was more like she was just ranting.

  At first, she was feeling indignant about the whole thing. Not just at the person who punished her, but also the one who got her into trouble. Although technically, she didn't follow the rules of the class too.

  However, on a certain aspect, after she and Hanister completely disregarded the lesson instructor's requests and got scolded, she realized that the unbalance and grievance she felt in her heart wasn't as strong as she thought it would be. Not just because that Hanister also got punished to clean the bathroom with her, but also because...

  Because I brought this upon myself.

  Gadina couldn't help but admit. She found out that there seemed to be something special about Hanister. Something that she hates yet likes at the same time, or that she was always being affected by her inadvertently.

  Although Gadina had signed up for the S.D.A herself, she could kill to leave the environment she's in now. It was as if it wasn't her choice to join in. But it was different for Hanister. She was living her life to the fullest right now, to the extent where she was cherishing the times.

  Gadina couldn't understand how she managed, but she had categorized that as one of Hanister's million wonders.

  Million wonders?

  The corner of her lips curved up. She couldn't believe that she's seeing Hanister this way. It was as if the Star Creatures and she are the same, both not humans.

  However, she did see things on Hanister that she lacked. At first, she only thought of her as a stupid and naive girl from the country. Gradually, she started seeing more; like her guilelessness, contentment and how she amuses herself. Although these traits are considerably typical, she suspected that perhaps it was these kinds of small differences that made Hanister living more at ease compared to other people.

  "Took you long enough," Gadina said, backing out of the stall at the same time. Anyhow, there was one thing that she was certain— Whether it's for the good or bad, Hanister barged into her life without invitation. Maybe it's not as bad as it seems. She thought. In any case, she wouldn't be able to get rid of her temporarily. At least she wouldn't be able to do so before they were separated into troops.

  Gadina called out a couple more times, but she still didn't receive any response. She then walked out of the door to check. Hanister was holding the hose, standing right where she had just rinsed. She stared at the floor, zoned out.

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  "Hey!" Gadina called out annoyedly. "The water's running out."

  "Oh..." Hanister jerked a little, like she just got pulled back into reality.

  "Sorry." She pulled the hose further towards Gadina.

  "Were you spacing out?" Gadina had her hands pressed against the broom handle as she asked.

  "Uh, I was just thinking," Hanister explained while rinsing.

  "Hah, I thought you were born without a brain."

  Gadina, I'm being serious." Hanister's expression looked helpless. "I was thinking about how I'm going to spend my first break."

  "Oh..." Gadina raised one of her brows. "You're planning on going home, right?" She asked.

  "I'm considering it." The girl with a hose was clearly distressed.

  "Gamond Region is definitely far away from here, and we only have two days off." She suddenly turned around to look at Gadina. "You? Are you heading directly back to Rodenzel?"

  It was then Gadina realized that she had never thought about this before Hanister had asked. It has been three months since they first started training. According to the S.D.A's protocol, new recruits will only get two days off. After the break's over, they will officially move on to the next phase of becoming a Chaser— They are learning how to wield shells.

  "Not sure about that..." Gadina rarely seemed this unsure. Rodenzel was indeed her birthplace, but it was no longer a place that fits her. Whether it's with her mother, or the criminal organization she was in before. The city was full of memories for her, but that also included the parts where she wanted to forget.

  "I think I should—"

  "How about going back to Rodenzel together?" The idea struck Hanister. "I just remembered that my grandparents still live there."

  "Your mom's from Rodenzel?"

  The girl nodded, dropping the hose. "Yeah, why?"

  "What do you mean why?" Gadina said as she pulled open the door of another stall before walking in. "I'm not going back with you to meet your family." She started sweeping again right after she had finished.

  "To be honest, I haven't visited them in a very long time." Hanister admitted. "Mom used to take me with her there."

  "These kinds of breaks are meaningless to me," Gadina said. "It's a waste of time."

  "Why would you say that?" Hanister walked towards the sweeping girl and stood behind her, pouting. "Don't you want a chance to relax?"

  "There are a lot of ways for relaxation."

  "Liar," Hanister retorted. "I've never seen you being relaxed over here."

  Gadina turned around and glared at her.

  "If you don't want to visit my grandparents with me then we won't go." Hanister continued on suggesting. "We can visit some other places. You're probably familiar with Rodenzel, right?"

  Here we go again.

  Gadina thought Every time she tries to keep her distance from Hanister, it gets broken by her somewhat blackmailing and stubborn requests. These kinds of behavior annoyed her, but most of the time it's harmless.

  "You just want someone to show you around, huh?" Gadina exposed.

  "That's part of the reason..." Hanister nodded embarrassedly.

  Gadina placed the broom next to the door, then crossed her arms in front of her chest. She stared at Hanister for a brief second. "I can only take you to places that I've been to. I'm not familiar with every district," she stated. "And I can't promise that you're going to like all of them."

  "So..."

  "I'll take that as a yes?"

  "You better not regret this." Gadina sighed, picking up the broom once again.

  "Never!" Hanister exclaimed, a bright smile plastered on her face.