I was literally building an extraction network. Prioritizing targets by tier and ability value. Running calculations on who to approach next based on optimal point returns.
Belle was Bronze. Naomi was Silver. Aurora was Silver. Hikaru was Gold.
The math was simple. Higher tiers ant more days. More points. Better abilities. Basic resource managent.
But Naomi wasn’t wrong about Wednesday night mattering either.
"You were the first person at this school who gave a shit about ," I said. "Rember Theory? When I looked like I was dying during that diagnostic? You checked on . Asked if I was okay. Offered to study together."
Naomi’s eyes widened slightly. Like she hadn’t expected to rember that.
"I hadn’t done anything for you yet. Hadn’t proven I was worth knowing. You just. Decided I was worth your ti."
"That’s because you seed lost."
"Everyone was lost. You picked ."
I reached over. Took her hand. Her fingers were cold. Slightly damp from wiping her eyes.
She didn’t pull away.
"That night. The sanctum. Everything that happened after. That wasn’t just extraction. If it was just about points I would’ve rushed through it. Got what I needed. Moved on."
"But you didn’t."
"No."
I squeezed her fingers gently. Felt her pulse in her wrist.
"I kissed your forehead. Asked you to stay. Made you breakfast the next morning. Those weren’t extraction chanics. That was actually liking you."
Naomi’s breath caught. A small sound in the back of her throat.
"And yeah. I’m gonna do this with other girls. Because I’ll die if I don’t. But that doesn’t an you’re replaceable."
"How can I not be replaceable when you’re literally replacing with Belle? And whoever else you find?"
Valid question. No good answer. Not one she’d want to hear anyway.
I tried anyway.
"You rember that speech about chicken salad sandwiches?"
Naomi blinked. Her confusion was genuine.
"What?"
"That ti at lunch. Belle went on this whole thing about how chicken salad sandwiches are superior to chicken and salad separately. Had this whole philosophy about it."
"I rember thinking she was ridiculous."
"Right. But then I got the sandwich. Because I was hungry and it sounded good. Not because I was trying to copy her or because her theory converted ."
Naomi frowned. Her nose scrunched up in that way it did when she was processing sothing.
"I don’t understand what sandwiches have to do with this."
"Multiple things can be good at the sa ti. The sandwich was good. My separate chicken and salad was also good. They served different purposes. Satisfied different cravings."
Understanding dawned across her face. Then imdiately turned into horror.
"Did you just compare to food?"
"I compared our entire situation to food. There’s a difference."
"That’s worse."
"Probably."
Naomi pulled her hand back. But she was smiling now. Small. Reluctant. Fighting to stay serious. But real.
"You’re terrible at this."
"At what?"
"Being. I don’t know. A boyfriend? Partner? Whatever you are."
"Yeah. I’m aware."
I ate more eggs. Let the silence settle into sothing less sharp. Less raw. The dining hall noise filtered back in gradually.
Naomi picked up her spoon finally. Took an actual bite of oatal. Chewed. Swallowed. Her throat worked visibly.
"Belle texted at midnight. Said you were. Good to her. That you took your ti. Made sure she. Finished. Before you did."
Jesus Christ this conversation.
"She also said you have a massive dick and she could barely walk after."
I choked on my protein shake.
Naomi’s expression remained completely innocent. Like she’d just comnted on the weather.
"Just thought you should know she’s telling everything."
"Why."
"Because we made an agreent. If you’re going to be with both of us. We’re going to be honest with each other about it. No secrets. No lying. Just. Transparency."
That was. Surprisingly mature actually. Also terrifying.
"So just so you’re aware," Naomi continued. "When you inevitably do this with soone else? I’m going to know about it. Belle’s going to know about it. And we’re probably going to talk about it extensively over coffee."
"You two are plotting against ."
"No. We’re establishing boundaries so none of us end up hating you or each other."
"That’s just plotting with better PR."
Naomi smiled wider. Her whole face lit up with it.
"Maybe."
Belle appeared at our table. Set down her tray without asking permission. The plates and silverware clattered together.
She sat on Naomi’s other side. Looked at . Looked at Naomi. Her amber eyes were sharp. Calculating.
"We good?"
Naomi nodded once. Firm.
"We’re good."
"Cool."
Belle stabbed her fork into a waffle with unnecessary aggression. The tines sank deep into the soft bread.
"So. Noon. Results posting. We celebrating our top five finish or planning my funeral?"
"Celebrating," I said.
"Confident."
"We earned it."
Belle chewed thoughtfully. Syrup clung to her bottom lip.
"If we actually pulled this off. If we’re top five after that A-rank clear. Blair’s going to lose her entire mind."
"Good."
"You realize she’s going to make your life hell right?"
"She’s already trying. Hasn’t worked yet."
Naomi touched my arm. Her fingers were warm now. Gentle.
"Jace maybe you should. I don’t know. Be careful? Blair’s family has actual power. Not just academy influence. Real world connections."
"I’m aware."
"And you’re still going to antagonize her?"
"She started it."
Belle snorted. Nearly choked on her waffle.
"That’s your defense? She started it?"
"It’s a good defense."
"It’s a five-year-old’s defense."
"Then I’m a five-year-old who killed an alpha Crawler and cleared a gate with an A-rank rating."
Naomi squeezed my forearm gently. Her thumb rubbed small circles on my sleeve.
"We cleared it. Together. As a team."
Right. The Midnight Foxes. Not Jace Monroe’s solo adventure.
I looked at both of them. Belle with her blue hair and calculating eyes. Already planning three moves ahead while eating waffles.
Naomi with her pink and black stripes and genuine concern. Actually worried about my safety instead of just the strategic implications.
Two different won. Two different approaches. Both here. Both mine.
For now.
"Sorry," I said. "You’re right. We did it together."
Belle pointed her fork at . A piece of waffle still stuck to the tines.
"Don’t forget that. Your ego’s getting big enough to need its own zip code."
"My ego kept us alive yesterday."
"Your spear work kept us alive. Your ego almost got you killed when you broke formation to help ."
"You were surrounded by three Crawlers."
"I had it handled."
"You were screaming."
"Tactical screaming. To disorient the enemy."
Naomi covered her mouth. Her shoulders shook with silent laughter. The sound leaked out anyway. High and bright.
Belle glared.
"What."
"Nothing. Just. You two are. Really sothing."
"We’re a disaster," Belle corrected.
"A functional disaster," I added.
"Still a disaster."
Jordan appeared like a ghost. Looked half-dead. Collapsed into the chair across from . His grey eyes were bloodshot.
He stared at my plate.
"Can I have your bacon."
"No."
"Why not."
"Because I’m eating it."
"Selfish."
He laid his head on the table with a soft thunk. His ssy brown hair stuck up in every direction.
Belle pushed her own bacon toward him without comnt.
Jordan looked up. Genuine gratitude in his grey eyes. Like she’d just saved his life.
"You’re my favorite person."
"I know."
He grabbed the bacon and ate it like he hadn’t seen food in days.
Naomi checked her phone. The screen lit up her face.
"Misato says et at the arena at eleven. Final debrief before results."
"What’s there to debrief?" Jordan mumbled through bacon. "We either made top five or we’re screwed."
"Misato wants to review footage. See what we did right. What we can improve."
Belle groaned. Actually groaned. Loud enough that people at nearby tables looked over.
"Can’t we just. Enjoy the win for five minutes before she starts critiquing our footwork?"
"No," I said. "Because she’s Misato and improvent never stops."
"I hate that you’re right."
My phone buzzed against the table. The vibration made my fork rattle.
Aurora.
morning sleepyhead
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