Zain didn't wait to be told.
That would have required restraint.
He reached forward, took a tray from the line, and helped himself without a word.
A bite.
A pause.
"…Mm."
He chewed slowly, considering.
"…Aggressively average."
Jet didn't look up.
"…It's food."
"Let's not be hasty," Zain replied, already taking another bite. "It is technically edible, which is promising. But I wouldn't call it a success story just yet."
Across from him, Sunny sat still.
He wasn't eating.
He was watching.
Zain noticed immediately.
Of course he did.
"…You stare a lot," Zain said, gesturing lazily with his fork.
"I think a lot," Sunny replied.
"…Unfortunate," Zain said. "That's usually how problems start."
Jet exhaled.
Long.
Tired.
"…Can you not start something for five minutes?"
Zain tilted his head slightly.
"…I'm not starting anything."
A pause.
"…This is continuity."
"…That's worse."
Zain smiled faintly.
"…I've been upgraded."
Sunny's gaze didn't waver.
"…You talk too much."
Zain pointed his fork at him.
"And you don't talk enough."
A beat.
"…Between us, we almost make one functional person."
Jet stood abruptly.
"Done. Move."
Zain looked up, mildly disappointed.
"…Already? I was getting attached."
"…Move."
He sighed.
Softly.
"…Cruel world."
Still, he stood.
Sunny followed.
Silent as ever.
The Machine
The moment they stepped outside—
The air changed.
Cold.
Sharp.
Real.
Zain inhaled slowly.
"…Better."
Then he saw it.
The car.
The car was a monolith of black, heavy, angular steel. A G-Wagon that looked like it had been designed for urban warfare rather than a commute. Zain stopped mid-step, circling it slowly like a predator evaluating a new rival.
Zain stopped.
"…Oh."
Jet kept walking.
"…Get in."
Zain circled it once, slow and thoughtful.
"…So everyone's rich."
"No," Jet said flatly.
"…Just the people responsible for you."
Zain nodded.
"…Understandable. I am expensive."
Sunny opened the back door.
Zain ignored him.
Instead—
He opened the front.
Sat down.
Jet stopped.
"…That's not your—"
"Too late," Zain said, leaning back. "…Driver gets lonely."
Sunny silently closed the door and got in the back.
Jet stood there for a moment.
Then got in.
"…You're exhausting."
Zain smiled.
"…And we just met."
The engine started.
Low.
Smooth.
Zain glanced around the interior.
"…Nice."
Then—
Without hesitation—
He reached forward.
Pressed a button.
Music filled the car.
"Sin City" — Chrishan ( Feat. Ty Dolla $ign)
Jet's hands tightened slightly.
"…Don't touch things."
Zain didn't respond.
He leaned back.
Closed his eyes.
Then, quietly—
He sang.
"Sin…
Sin City wasn't made for you…
Angels like you
Oh you know it (whoa)s
Oh you know it (whoa)s..."
Just that part.
Soft.
Amused.
With his best deep Voice.
Silence followed.
Jet stared straight ahead.
Sunny stared at him through the mirror.
Zain opened one eye.
"…What?"
"…Nothing," Jet said.
"…You're weird," Sunny added.
Zain smiled faintly.
"…I prefer interesting."
The Fortress
The city changed as they drove.
The slums faded.
The decay disappeared.
Glass replaced rust.
Order replaced chaos.
Then—
It appeared.
The Academy.
It didn't look like a school.
It looked like a fortress.
Massive walls of reinforced concrete and glass rose into the sky, cold and absolute. Towers stood like watchful sentinels, connected by steel walkways and surveillance systems. Everything about it was precise. Controlled.
A place that didn't tolerate weakness.
"…Ah," Zain murmured.
"…this looks unpleasant."
"Good," Jet said.
"You'll fit in."
The car stopped.
Jet turned to them.
Her expression changed.
Colder.
Sharper.
"…Listen carefully."
Silence settled.
"You came from nothing," she said. "Slums. Scraps. Survival."
Her eyes hardened.
"That doesn't matter here."
A pause.
"Here, you're not special."
"Not unique."
"Not important."
Her voice dropped.
"You're just more rats that crawled out of the gutter and got lucky."
Sunny didn't react.
Zain smiled.
"…Rats survive everything."
Jet's gaze sharpened.
"Then prove it."
Zain opened the door.
"…No."
He stepped out.
"…I don't think I will."
A pause.
"…I'll just enjoy it."
The Silver Girl
Sunny stepped out behind him—
And Zain noticed her immediately.
She stood apart from the others.
Still.
Silent.
Waiting.
A girl.
Tall.
Elegant.
Her silver hair fell down her back like a quiet flame, untouched by the wind. Her posture was straight, almost regal, her presence calm in a way that made everything around her feel… lesser.
Her face was beautiful.
But cold.
Distant.
Untouchable.
"…Oh."
Zain's eyes brightened slightly.
"…Now that's interesting."
Sunny saw her too.
Froze slightly.
"…Don't."
Zain ignored him.
Of course.
He walked over.
Stopped in front of her.
Tilted his head.
"…You look like trouble."
Silence.
No reaction.
Zain smiled.
"…My favorite kind."
The girl moved.
Her eyes shifted.
Looked at him.
Once.
Up.
Down.
Measured.
Then—
Dismissed.
She walked past him.
Like he didn't exist.
Silence lingered.
Zain stood still for a moment.
Then—
He smiled.
"…Rude."
He turned slightly, watching her go.
"…I like her."
Behind him, Sunny sighed.
"…You're going to die."
Zain chuckled softly.
"…Eventually."
A pause.
"…But not before this gets interesting."