Arriving at his door, Kenneth swiped his key card over the lock and entered. The dorm room was surprisingly spacious, featuring two large bedrooms, a sizable bathroom, a common area, kitchen, and storage space for their belongings. There was even a laundry room. Being the first to arrive, Kenneth chose the room closest to the door and unpacked his bag.
Kenneth didn't have many belongings with him aside from the bag, which didn't belong to him in the first place, but it was all he had for the moment. He planned to use the money he earned to purchase anything else he might need. Opening the closet, he discovered three sets of uniforms.
Uniforms came in five colours: white, light grey, dark grey, navy, and black.
Since he was a first division student, his uniform was white, naturally. The school already equipped him with three sets, all in his size. He frowned. "How were they able to guess my size so accurately?"
He shook his head, thinking it wise not to worry about how much of a huge invasion of privacy that was. He then met with a set of training clothes. A pair of short-sleeved skin shirts in black, grey, and white. A long-sleeve option that came in the same colours. Then came the bottoms, a pair of black cargo pants as well as an army green counterpart.
Kenneth didn't mind the uniform, having been accustomed to wearing one during her time in the army. However, the jumpsuits were anything but traditional. The jumpsuit itself was sleek—clean lines, high collar, and a faint sheen that hinted at a special kind of fabric. It wasn't stiff like military gear but soft and flexible, almost like second skin. It was designed to be lightweight and breathable. The top half fastened diagonally with a hidden zipper that ran from the next to the waist, while the sleeves hugged just enough to look tailored without restricting movement. Around the waist, a subtle band cinched it in, giving the uniform some structure. The pants tapered neatly into the boots, thick, black, and made of polished leader that caught the light. Silver buckles ran down the sides, each one gleaming against the dark surface. They looked heavy, but when Kenneth lifted one, he realized how surprisingly light they were. It was functional and stylish.
This was what they were required to wear outside of tactical training. It wasn't really his style, but he knew Nina would've loved to wear something like this. She always complained about how unflattering the traditional uniforms could be.
Satisfied with the options he had before him, Kenneth sat on his double bed. The sheets were white and grey, soft to the touch. He ran a hand across the fabric, appreciating the simple comfort it brought after a long day. Before he could rest his head, though, a sharp click echoed through the quiet room.
The door unlocked.
Kenneth sat up as his new roommate stepped inside. He got out to greet him and was surprised to see that it was the same guy from the Shuttle. The one with the locs tied low at the back of his head. His brown skin caught the soft overhead light, and his easy but nervous grin was exactly as Kenneth remembered. "Oh? You're already here! I thought I'd be the first," he said, stepping inside with the kind of warmth that made the sterile dorm room feel a little less empty.
His voice had a smooth and rich timbre, deep but casual, like someone who didn't take himself too seriously.
Seeing him from up close, Kenneth noticed he was much taller than he'd initially thought, and had a handsome face, a warm brown complexion that was tinged pink from embarrassment. Short locs framed his face, tied loosely at the back but with a few strands failing forward. His features were sharp but not severe, soft eyes framed by long lashes, a straight nose, and full lips that looked lit and smiled often. He had the build of someone who worked hard to stay fit, broad across the shoulders and lean through the waist. That same oversized tee hung over his frame.
Kenneth stood, brushing his hands on his pants before offering a small nod. "Guess you're my roommate then."
"Looks like it," the guy replied with a grin."Lennon."
"Kenneth."
Lennon took a quick glance around the room, then pointed to the other room. "Did you already pick a room?"
Kenneth nodded. "That's cool. I'll be taking the one by the window then."
He felt relief wash over him. For a second there, he wondered if he should've waited for his roommate to arrive to pick rooms fairly. He was glad Lennon was nonchalant about it. The last thing he wanted was to explain to this stranger how he felt safest sleeping near the door rather than the window. Being close to an exit offered a tactical advantage in case of danger, and the ability to monitor comings and goings was an added benefit that he would obviously keep to himself.
"These rooms are actually quite nice," Lennon remarked, awestruck as he surveyed his surroundings. "My last school had dorms too, but they were nothing like this. And having a built-in kitchen? That's a luxury."
Kenneth raised an eyebrow. Reflecting on Lennon's comment, he realized that kitchens in dorms back home were a rare privilege, typically reserved for officers. It wasn't until he became a platoon leader himself that he could enjoy such accommodations.
Seeing Lennon's excitement about the kitchen, Kenneth couldn't help but stare. "Do you know how to cook?"
The young man turned to look at him, his face colouring. "I wouldn't go as far as to call myself a professional cook, but I know my way around a kitchen," he admitted.
Relief flashed across Kenneth's face when hearing this. He'd never been much of a cook himself, just preparing whatever he could with whatever he had. He'd always been the guy in the crew who preferred meal rations over any real food anyway.
"I'm not too bad myself. We could take turns cooking, if you'd like."
Lennon threw him a warm smile. "Sounds good. We can make a schedule," he said, setting his belongings down on the sofa."By the way, check your mail. They've sent instructions for orientation. We'll need to be in uniform."
Kenneth frowned. "So soon?"
"It's not surprising they want us to wear them already since it's an adjustment for some people. By the way, have you seen them already?"
Kenneth nodded, gesturing to his room. "They're in the closet, ready to wear."
Lennon's brow shot up. "...They're surprisingly efficient."
Efficiency was to be expected of a military school. The problem Kenneth had was how they already knew their size. Perhaps it had been written somewhere in his file and he didn't notice it until now.
"How does it look?" Lennon asked, his brown eyes sparkling with curiosity. Kenneth had to bite back a smile. He was like a kid asking his parents what they got him as a birthday present.
"...It looks normal? It's basically the white equivalent of the light grey and dark grey uniforms we saw those older kids wear." He immediately frowned when he heard himself refer to those "kids" who were already adults.
You had to be at least twenty years old to register for the Academy.
If Lennon thought his choice of words were strange, he didn't show it as he headed to his room with an eager spring in his steps. Kenneth could hear his closet door open and the light gasp that escaped his lips when he saw the set of uniforms hanging in a neat and orderly fashion.
"Oh shit," he exclaimed. "They're kinda nice? Seeing them on someone else versus seeing them in person, like in my hand, is kind of crazy."
Kenneth couldn't hold it in any longer. He let out a soft chuckle, his lips curling in an amused smile. Yeah, this kid is a carbon copy of Darren, he thought.
The young man finally came out of his room once he was done browsing through the selection with a smile on his face. "Oh yeah, I forgot to ask you, but do you mind if I use the shower first? I've been looking forward to it all day and I can't go to bed without one."
Kenneth blinked. "..Uh, yeah..go ahead."
"You sure? I don't mind waiting a little."
"No, don't worry about me. Enjoy your shower."
Lennon nodded, flashing him another smile before leaving. As soon as Kenneth heard the bathroom door close and the click of the lock, he was on the move.
He didn't get the chance to do this earlier as he was worried about his own room first. Inspecting the place you'd be staying in was a rule of thumb for him. He'd always check for bugs, hidden cameras, anything that could be seen as compromising his safety and privacy. He knew he was being a little extreme for doing this, but it was a habit that had been ingrained in him since his cadet days.
After ensuring everything was secure, Kenneth moved to the kitchen and opened the fridge. He was pleasantly surprised to find it stocked with neatly arranged items—bottled water, various kinds of milk, fruits, vegetables, eggs, and non-perishable meats.
Thirsty, he grabbed an unopened bottle of water and took a sip.
The cold beverage went down his throat with ease, immediately quenching the thirst he didn't realize he had. The water was crisp and smooth, unlike any water he'd ever drank. It was refreshing and just the tiniest bit sweet, giving him a sudden burst of energy. He stared at the bottle with wonderment. Had he accidentally picked up something he thought was water but wasn't?
The liquid itself was clear. He stared into the bottle and put up his nose, catching a whiff. Nothing. He shook it around and the liquid ended up creating some bubbles at the top.
"If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck," he mumbled to himself. "But how can water taste this good?"