The sun cast a golden hue over the Unit 9 training yard as six outcasts stood in formation. Their first real test as a team had arrived.
Commander Rael, cold as steel, eyed them sharply.
"Combat agility test. Teams of three. Push yourselves. No limits."
Lara twirled her staff confidently. Mira tied her hair up with a spark of energy. Nisa stretched quietly, calm yet focused.
Kevin Strath, ever the attention-seeker, ripped off his jacket.
"Time to shine. Behold—Strath Six-Pack Mode!"
Teaha Draven glanced over, unimpressed but amused.
"You count those as six?"
Kevin raised a brow. "Want a challenge?"
Just then, Bihoo , the quiet and mysterious one, pulled off his hoodie and stretched his arms. His muscles were lean but strong—battle-forged.
Kevin froze mid-flex.
"What the hell, Bihoo?!"
Even Mira and Lara went wide-eyed.
"Okay, okay... that's not gym muscle, that's real-world muscle," Mira muttered.
Teaha nodded slowly. "He trains in secret, doesn't he…"
The jokes flew until Commander Rael shouted, "Team two, sprint course. Nisa , you're up first!"
Nisa dashed forward, vaulting a high wall with ease. As she landed and rolled, her training shirt caught on a branch—lifting just enough to reveal a defined set of abs carved like marble under her fitted gear.
Bihoo, watching from the sidelines, blinked.
Kevin gasped dramatically. "Wait—NISA has abs?!"
Even Teaha let out a low whistle. "Damn."
Bihoo's sharp gaze softened for just a second. His mouth twitched like he wanted to speak—but he didn't.
Nisa stood, dusting herself off. "What?"
Mira leaned toward Lara, whispering, "Is it just me or did Bihoo look a little too surprised?"
Lara smirked. "Oh, he noticed."
Kevin waved dramatically. "This is betrayal. I trained five years for nothing!"
Everyone laughed—even Commander Rael cracked the tiniest grin.
"Abs later. Combat now," he ordered. "Move it."
They sprinted into the next challenge, the teasing behind them—but a spark of something more had already begun to form.
To be continued…