In The Military Academy With My Gacha System

(Warning, some 18+ scenes are probably going to be in this chapter)

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Cole woke up as rays of sunlight spilled through the massive window beside his bed. His body shifted under the warmth, and he slowly pushed the covers off and sat up. Blinking away the sleep, he looked around the room. That was when he noticed two doors he hadn't seen the day before.

Curious, he got up and opened the first one. It was a closet, but not an empty one. The space was fully stocked with clothes that looked just his size, along with towels, body wash, and everything else someone would need to stay clean. After that, he opened the second door and found a bathroom. It wasn't large, but it wasn't cramped either. Inside was a toilet, a clean sink with a big mirror above it, and a walk in shower.

Without wasting any more time, Cole grabbed what he needed and took a shower.

Steam poured out as he stepped back into the room, now wearing black basketball shorts and a tight black T shirt that hugged his frame just right. The shirt was short sleeved and simple, but it fit him perfectly.

Raze was already sitting on his bed, waiting quietly with her chin resting in her palm.

"You ready?" she asked, lifting her eyes to meet his.

"Uhm, how about we eat first? I'm kinda hungry," Cole said, rubbing the side of his stomach. He hadn't eaten anything in nearly two days.

"You wanna go to the dining hall?" Raze asked, shifting her posture.

"Nah, I was thinking I'd just cook up some sausages and eggs real quick. I read somewhere that it said the food here comes from mana beasts. Like, everything has mana in it. So we don't really need to go to the dining hall unless we run out before the maintenance," Cole explained, remembering the small note he skimmed before she had come out of her room yesterday.

"Maintenance?" she asked.

"They refill the fridge every week, I guess," he said.

"Ahh, okay. Sure, let's eat here then. You know how to cook?"

"Yeah, I know a little something," he said with a small grin as they both left his room. She made herself comfortable on the couch, while he stepped into the petite kitchen.

He grabbed a pack of sausages and a carton of eggs from the fridge. With a sharp knife, he sliced the sausages down the middle, careful not to cut them apart completely. He placed them in a medium heated pan and let them cook while he turned to the eggs. Cracking them one by one into a bowl, he made sure no shells slipped in, then scrambled them quickly with a fork.

The aroma started drifting out almost instantly, filling the dorm with the smell of warm meat and eggs. He flipped the sausages over and lightly seasoned the eggs, adding just enough to bring out the flavor without overdoing it.

After a few more minutes, he turned off the stove, then scooped the scrambled eggs onto two separate plates. He grabbed a couple slices of bread, placed the sausages between them, and made two simple sandwiches. Each plate got a sandwich and a helping of eggs.

Cole picked up both plates and walked into the living area, handing one to Raze along with a fork before sitting next to her.

"Thank you!" she said, her tone a little brighter than usual as she took the plate.

"You're welcome," Cole said with a nod, then started eating his own food.

After a while, they were both done eating. Raze wiped her mouth, got up, and without needing to be asked, walked over to the sink and started washing the plates herself. Cole had tried to stop her at first, but she just waved him off and kept going like it wasn't up for debate.

When she finally finished, Cole stood up and opened the door to his room, stretching a little and glancing back at her. "Alright, I'll meet you at the Shroud Branch then?" he said, his hand resting lightly on the doorknob while he looked over his shoulder.

Raze turned around slowly and leaned back on the kitchen counter. "We might as well just go together. I don't see the point in splitting up," she said, brushing a piece of hair behind her ear as she started walking toward him.

"Oh," Cole muttered, lowering his hand from the door and stepping back into the room as she approached. "Well let's go then." He scratched the side of his neck before glancing at her again. "Do they have training clothes in the training rooms?" he asked, tilting his head slightly while watching her step into his room without hesitation.

"They should have training clothes, yeah," she replied as she walked past him, pulling the door behind her as they moved toward the hallway together. The soft hum of the building filled the air around them.

They stepped into the hallway and walked side by side toward the elevator. Once they got inside, Raze pressed the button for the ground floor. The doors slid shut, and a low beep echoed inside the boxy space as they started descending.

The elevator opened and they stepped out without a word. Jay was still asleep in his chair, leaned all the way back with his mouth hanging slightly open. Cole looked at him briefly but didn't say anything. Raze didn't look at him at all.

They just kept walking.

"I've been meaning to ask," Raze said, her voice soft but curious as she turned her head to face him while they walked down the wide hallway. "Since you have both sword and dagger affinity, which one are you going to use?" Her eyes scanned his face, watching his reaction carefully.

Cole shoved his hands into his pockets and looked up for a second as he thought about it. "Well I thought about it like this," he began slowly, glancing over at her, "since I have both, why don't I just use something that's kind of between a sword and a dagger?" He let out a small breath and shrugged. "So I'm going to use two short swords. But if I didn't have my talent, I'd probably just use one."

Raze blinked, then raised her eyebrows slightly. "Oh," she said, nodding as she smiled a little. "That's kinda smart," she added, her hands tucked behind her back as they reached the Shroud Branch.

They pushed open the wide doors and walked into the front section of the building. The space had a tall ceiling and a few tables scattered around, but the only person sitting at the desk was a man wearing glasses. He didn't even look up when they walked in.

"Um, sir," Raze said, stepping forward and clearing her throat as she approached the desk. "Can we get a medium training room with all the wooden weapons?" She leaned slightly forward as she asked, her tone polite but direct.

The man reached to the side and pulled out a keycard without bothering to look at them. "Here is the keycard," he said in a flat voice, sliding it across the counter. "Go to room three twenty three, and don't be in there too long." He went right back to looking at his papers.

Cole followed Raze out of the office. They walked side by side down the hallway, looking for the number on the signs. When they finally reached the right door, Raze held up the card and unlocked it. Cole glanced around.

Even though they called it a medium training room, it was still huge. The open space stretched like the size of a small park, maybe around ten yards across. The walls were lined with racks of weapons, wooden mannequins, and other equipment scattered around the edges.

Cole walked in slowly, his shoes making soft sounds on the smooth floor. Raze followed close behind and they each headed toward their own changing rooms, disappearing behind the doors for a few minutes.

When they came back out, Cole had on the black training clothes the school provided. He ran a hand across his forearm, getting used to the way the fabric felt. He made his way over to the weapon rack and stared at all the choices.

Eventually, he reached out and picked up two short swords. They were longer than a dagger but shorter than a sword. The handles fit perfectly into his palms, and the second he gripped them, he felt something settle in his body. Like he had been waiting to hold these for a long time.

He took a breath, then walked toward one of the wooden training dummies. It was shaped like a human, stiff but balanced, with arms and legs built to move. Cole stepped behind it and pressed a small button at the back.

The dummy clicked to life, its head jerking upright and arms lifting. Cole handed it two wooden daggers, and the dummy immediately entered a sparring stance, blades raised.

Cole instinctively mirrored the stance, his own short swords rising into a similar guard without even thinking about it. Then, without waiting, he rushed in.

The dummy reacted instantly, both daggers slicing through the air at two different angles. Cole stepped between them, blocking one slash and twisting his wrist to change grip. In a single fluid motion, he spun around the dummy and drove one of his short swords into its back.

The dummy's arm whipped backward in response, aiming a counterattack at Cole's head. But he bent low and flipped over it in one motion, both swords still in hand, then came down with an X shaped slice across the dummy's arm, wood splintering slightly under the blow.

The dummy staggered, but its other arm came up. It slashed at Cole again with the second dagger. Cole jumped into the air and blocked it mid flight, but the impact knocked him back a few feet. He landed hard, sliding a little on the floor.

"Damn, that thing has some power behind it," Cole muttered as he stood up again, shaking his arms loose.

Raze stood near the wall, her arms folded and eyes focused. She didn't say anything, but she watched him closely.

He rushed forward again, this time without hesitation. The dummy swung with the only arm it had left. Cole deflected it using one sword, then locked his blade into the dummy's arm and twisted. His body pivoted, and with a surge of motion, he drove his second short sword straight up into the dummy's chest.

The dummy froze.

Then it shut down completely.

"Hah, I win," Cole said, breathing heavily as sweat ran down the sides of his face and soaked into his collar.

He stood there with both swords still in his hands, chest rising and falling with every breath.

"Good job," Raze said with a light chuckle, stepping over to pat Cole's back firmly. Her hand lingered for a moment before she turned and casually walked toward the weapon rack. She grabbed a wooden dagger, her fingers wrapping around the handle with practiced ease. Then she moved to a dummy, pressing the small button behind its shoulder to activate it. She handed the dummy another dagger, her eyes briefly meeting its empty wooden gaze.

The dummy jerked forward, rushing toward her in a straight line and slicing at her stomach. But before the blade got close, Raze took a quick step back and suddenly vanished into a swirl of dark red smoke. It looked like she had never been there in the first place. Just like that, she was gone.

The dummy froze, its wooden feet skidding to a stop as it scanned for her. It hesitated, then a dagger slowly pierced through the center of its forehead from behind. Raze materialized out of thin air with an icy expression on her face. The robot slumped over instantly. She yanked the dagger from its skull, giving it a quick wipe with her thumb before walking toward Cole.

He was sitting against the wall, sweat pouring down his temples and jaw, chest rising with steady but heavy breaths. He watched her with half a smile, wiping his face with the back of his arm.

"Scary," Cole muttered, smirking at her as he leaned his head back against the wall again, still catching his breath.

Raze let out a soft laugh and rolled her shoulders, the tension falling from them like a shrug. "Haha, let's go. I just wanted to test something out. I wanted to see how my talent actually worked," she said as she extended a hand to help him up.

Cole grabbed her hand and pulled himself to his feet. "Yeah, I figured mine out too. I'm really good at dual wielding," he said with a bit of pride, brushing dust from his shorts. "Anyway, if you're done I wanna go change. I kinda wanna chill in the dorm before school starts in like six days."

"Kay," Raze said with a small nod, stretching her arms above her head before heading to the changing room. Cole walked to his as well.

A few minutes later, they both stepped out in the same clothes they came in with. Cole sniffed once and shook his head in mock disgust. "Come on, I have to take a shower. I smell like I just did a marathon," he said as he scratched at his jaw and headed for the exit.

Raze snorted softly. "Yeah, you definitely need to get your stamina up," she said while smirking, walking beside him with a light sway in her step.

"Says the one who just walks up to her opponent like a ghost and stabs them before they can blink," Cole said with a playful scoff, raising an eyebrow at her as they passed through the open hallway.

"Heh. Believe it or not, my talent doesn't work on people who have a higher mana rank than me," she replied with a shrug as they exited the training area and made their way down the hallway.

They dropped off the keycard to the front desk and nodded to the staff, then headed straight back toward the dorms.

(You have completed the quest: train with raze.)

(Reward: 1 GP)

'Cool' he thought as they kept walking.

They walked through the wide dormitory entrance doors together. All around them, cadets were chatting and laughing, some sitting on benches, others on their phones or tablets.

"Hey Cole, I'm going up the girls side. I have to say hey to a few of my friends," Raze said, turning to face him with one hand already raising a wave at a girl in the distance.

"Okay. I'll be in my room if you need me," Cole replied, giving her a nod as he veered off toward the elevators on the boys side.

Raze walked through the hallway on her side and spotted a group of girls near the elevator. One of them, with brown curls and glossy lips, turned and raised an eyebrow at her.

"So, Raze, who was that pretty boy you were with earlier?" the girl asked, her voice teasing.

Raze's eyes sharpened slightly, her tone cold and clipped. "Don't go near him. Don't even talk to him," she said without any trace of humor.

The girl held both hands up in mock surrender. "Haha okay okay, I won't. But at least tell me his name," she said, still trying to push a little further, her voice playful.

Raze glanced sideways at her, cold enough to make the girl blink. "I'm serious, Tasha… Anyway let's go. I have to get back to my dorm," Raze said, brushing past her and heading toward the elevators without another word.

"Ahh whatever," Tasha muttered under her breath, trailing after her.

Meanwhile, back in Cole's room, the water was running. He had just stepped into the shower, steam already clouding the glass.

As the hot water flowed down his back, he whispered to himself. "Let me go ahead and do another common draw."

Suddenly, he heard the familiar robotic voice inside his head.

(One GP has been used to buy a common Gacha draw. You have received: Manhood Upgrade.)

Cole furrowed his brow. "Manhood upgrade? The fuck does that mean?" he muttered, raising a hand to his chest. But he didn't get a chance to finish his sentence. He felt a strange heat rush through his lower body, and then something started to shift.

His Johnson began to grow. Fast. He wasn't huge before, but he wasn't tiny either. Sitting at a cool four on soft and reaching six on hard, he was perfectly average. But now? He watched in disbelief as it lengthened to seven inches soft, with noticeably thicker girth.

"So that's what it meant by manhood upgrade…" he whispered in awe. "I'm very thankful right now, system. You don't know how much of an honor it is to wield such a sword," he added with a dramatic sniff, wiping a fake tear away before laughing to himself.

After washing up and drying off, he walked out of the steamy bathroom with a towel over his head. He wore black sweatpants and a black beater, sticking with his favorite color as always. He sat down on the bed and rubbed the towel through his hair, the room feeling cool compared to the heat of the shower.

That's when Raze walked into the room, her hand on the doorframe as she leaned in casually. "Hey Cole, is it cool if I invite some of my friends over? We'll be in the living room."

"Sure yeah I don't care," he said, tossing his towel into the laundry basket. "I was just about to ask if you wanted to do a movie night or something."

Raze paused. For a moment, it looked like she was about to cancel her plans just to stay and do that, but she let out a quiet sigh and nodded instead. "Alright," she said before turning and stepping out into the hall to call her friends.

Once she left, Cole leaned back and opened up his status screen.

(Name: Cole Carrick)

(Mana Rank: low, 0 (0/1,000)

(Talent: Dual Pressure - Handles two weapons with more stability.

(Talent rank: D)

(Affinity: Swords(25%), Daggers(25%), Dual Short Swords(1,000)

(Side talents: Manhood Upgrade,)

(Occupation: cadet)

(GP:0)

He stared at the screen for a while, then leaned back against the wall with a thoughtful look. 'Maybe I should try to get with one of her friends? It doesn't seem like she wants me…' he thought to himself.

He had been watching for signs all day. But there weren't any. Not a glance, not a smile that lasted longer than it should. Nothing.

Cole didn't linger on his thoughts for too long. He clapped his hands once, slowly, and the lights in his room shut off with a soft click. A warm glow came from the television screen as he turned on a comedy show, the laughter from the sitcom bouncing off the walls while he settled deeper into the bed. His arm rested behind his head, and he let the noise distract him while his mind drifted to other things.

Meanwhile, just outside his door, Raze opened hers and let the girls into the dorm. They stepped in with wide eyes, taking in the size of the shared space, and immediately fanned out like kids entering a new house. One went straight to the bathroom, another checked out the kitchen, and the third made a full circle back to the living room.

Raze had invited three people over. The first was Tasha, the one with curly brown hair and bright yellow eyes. Her lips were full and shiny, like she had just applied a coat of gloss before stepping in. Her nails clicked lightly against her phone as she took a few pictures of the place.

(Picture Here)

Then there was Taila. She had white hair that looked like it had been cut by someone impatient, uneven and sharp. Her eyes were green, steady and calm, and her jawline gave her a tough edge that matched her tone when she spoke.

(Picture Here)

The last one was Zaria. Her brown hair flowed down in soft waves all the way to her lower back. Her eyes were pink and intense, and her expression never seemed to relax. Her chin was narrow, and everything about her face seemed to say don't play with me.

(Picture Here)

"Woah, your place is big, Raze," Tasha said as she flopped onto the couch, sinking into the cushions while glancing around with approval. Her legs crossed lazily, and her phone was already out as she took a selfie.

"Thanks, but it's not only my place…" Raze replied while rubbing the side of her arm. She gave a quick glance toward Cole's room but turned her head before it could be noticed.

"How about we do a sleepover for the whole week until school starts?" Zaria asked, looking around the space again and setting her bag down on the table beside the couch.

"I would have to ask my roommate," Raze said with a shrug, folding her arms and already expecting what came next.

"Okay let's ask him then," Taila said before anyone could stop her. She stood up casually and headed toward Cole's door. Her walk was smooth and slow, like she wasn't in a rush to get an answer. Raze sighed quietly and leaned back on the couch, letting her do what she wanted.

Taila reached the door and gave it two soft knocks. The hallway air was cooler, and her knuckles tapped gently against the wood. A second later, Cole's voice came from inside.

"Come in," he called out, his tone relaxed but clear.

Taila opened the door and felt a wave of cool air roll over her. The room was dim with only the television on, and there Cole was, lying across the bed with one hand behind his head and the other holding the remote. His legs were stretched out and crossed at the ankle. The glow from the screen reflected off his skin, casting faint shadows over his jaw.

"What's your name, miss?" Cole asked, snapping her out of her stare. His voice wasn't too deep, but it had enough weight to make her blink.

"The name's Taila," she said, straightening up a little. "I was just wondering if me and my other two friends could sleep over for the weekend." She spoke respectfully, her tone level. In this world, even though girls were stronger and had more presence, the ones who had real families often treated males with quiet respect. They had fathers. They had brothers. They understood balance.

"Yeah sure, I don't care," Cole said, waving a hand a little. Who wouldn't want four girls in their house for a week? His expression stayed calm, but inside he was already planning.

Taila nodded once and gently closed the door behind her. As soon as the latch clicked, Cole stood up and rubbed his chin. He stepped over to his closet and opened it wide, sorting through his clothes. 'Okay… plan to get one of those females. First, I need to get their attention. Grey sweatpants it is.' If you were big enough, grey sweatpants were the ultimate cheat code.

He swapped his black ones for a fresh pair of grey sweats. He didn't bother changing his shirt and kept the black beater on, his arms and shoulders slightly flexed as he pulled the waistband into place. After turning off the television with the remote, he opened the door slowly and stepped out into the living room, letting the door close softly behind him with a click.

All four girls looked toward the sound. Their eyes landed on him at once.

Cole didn't say anything. He just gave them a calm wave and headed toward the kitchen without looking back, his steps light and steady.

He opened a cabinet and grabbed a bowl. Then he took out a spoon and pulled the cereal from the shelf. After that, he opened the fridge and poured milk in with an easy rhythm. Once the bowl was ready, he put everything back exactly where it came from and leaned against the counter as he started eating.

"He's pretty good looking… Raze, how about you let me have him?" Taila whispered, leaning close to her. But before she could go on, Raze rolled her eyes and gently pushed Taila's head away with a sigh. Her face was calm, but her breath was sharper than it had been a moment ago.

"Hey, what's your name?" Tasha asked, calling over to Cole with a grin as she stretched out on the couch and watched him from across the room.

"It's Cole. You?" he replied, taking another bite from his bowl and looking her way without breaking his rhythm.

"It's Tasha. Nice to meet you, handsome," she said, giving him a slow smile that showed off her glossed lips.

Cole met her smile with one of his own, letting a little smirk play on his face. He gave her a wink and returned to his food, his eyes flicking back down to the bowl like nothing special had just happened. But inside, he was already calculating his next move, he had to put his new manhood to work somehow.

Raze saw the way Tasha looked at Cole and narrowed her eyes, her gaze sharp and heavy. Tasha didn't even notice. She was too busy watching him with that same smug little smirk on her face.

"Cole, we're watching some movies later on tonight. You wanna watch with us?" Taila said as she leaned back on the couch, her tone casual and genuine.

Cole nodded slowly while still chewing his food. He raised his bowl, drank the milk, then stood up and walked over to the sink. "Just come get me when y'all start the movies. I'll probably still be woke." His voice was calm as he rinsed out his bowl, wiping the counter down with a towel afterward.

"Kayyy, I will!" Tasha said in a playful voice, dragging the words on in a way that made it sound more flirtatious than innocent. She gave him a sly look as she stretched her legs out on the couch.

Cole didn't react to it. He just walked to his room without a word, pulled the door open, and closed it quietly behind him.

Raze watched the door close and let out a soft sigh under her breath. She knew she had lost this round. For now.

She looked back at the girls and clapped her hands together. "How about we play cards until night time when we can watch the movies?" she said while reaching into a drawer and pulling out a deck of cards.

"Yeah!" they all said almost in unison, leaning in toward the living room table as they got excited.

They started playing cards, tossing jokes and laughing with each other while the hours passed.

Meanwhile, inside Cole's room, he sat down on his bed and the moment he did, a system notification popped up in his vision.

(Daily Quest: Do 10 pushups, sit ups, and squats.)

(Reward: Depends on how much you complete + 1 GP)

(Penalty: Stay a loser)

Cole stared at it for a second, his brows lowering slightly. He rubbed his chin with one hand and muttered to himself, 'This must be one of those trick quests. The ones where you have to do more than it tells you, right? Or I might be delusional… I'm still doing more than it tells me just in case.'

He stood up, tugged his black beater off, and tossed it on the bed. Then he slipped off his grey sweatpants and put on a pair of loose workout shorts. He stretched his arms out a bit, rolled his shoulders, then got down on the floor and took a deep breath.

He started doing pushups, each one slow and controlled. By the time he hit the tenth one, his arms felt like they were just a little heavier. Not much, but enough to notice.

He kept pushing through, his breathing steady. He hit twenty, then twenty five. By the time he forced himself through thirty, his arms were shaking and his chest felt tight, but he dropped flat on the floor and rolled to the side with a grin.

Then he got back up and laid down again, this time to do sit ups. He powered through them with grit, knocking out twenty, then forty, then sixty. His body was screaming by the time he got to eighty, but he still finished every last one.

Then came the squats. He stood up, legs wobbling just a little, and bent into his first squat. Then again, and again. He got to twenty, then thirty, and finally forty. The moment the last one finished, he dropped to the ground, sweat clinging to his skin, chest rising and falling like waves.

"Phew… I never knew that doing a workout would be so tough," Cole said while staring at the system prompt that had popped up.

(Daily Quest Completed: Do 10 pushups, sit ups, and squats.)

(Reward: uncommon body enchantment 

+ 1 GP)

(Hidden Reward For doing the workout until you hit your limit: Ultimate Pleasure stick)

Cole groaned and tilted his head back. "Why is this system giving me sexual weapons instead of actual skills?" he muttered with a sigh. He didn't have the energy to even be annoyed. At least it was making him better in some way. Right?

He sat up slowly and glanced at the rewards. The uncommon reward was his first actual uncommon thing, so that was a win. He told the system to use it immediately. The hidden reward was already marked as a skill, so he didn't need to do anything to claim it.

The second he accepted the enchantment, something changed. He felt his body shift. His muscles felt lighter and heavier at the same time. Then came a strange sensation, cool smoke started rising from his skin, blue and soft, and it smelled almost sweet and icy. It wrapped around him like fog as his entire body tingled, muscles stretching and reshaping.

Then the sensation stopped.

He stood up and walked into the bathroom. When he looked into the mirror, he froze. He had grown taller. Six foot two inches. His frame was lean but filled with perfectly balanced muscle. His waist and shoulders were shaped with symmetry, and his whole figure had a sharp athletic cut. It looked like he had been carved from stone by a divine hand.

His face stayed mostly the same, just slightly more refined. His jaw was a little sharper, his eyes deeper. He stared at himself for a while, then blinked.

"Damn…" he muttered, then stepped back and shook his head.

He didn't need to shower. That blue smoke had cleaned him from the inside out. It had stripped every drop of sweat and grime from his body like magic. He walked back into his room and threw his shorts in a dirty clothes basket in his closet, then slipped back into his grey sweatpants and black beater.

He climbed into bed, arms behind his head, and stared up at the ceiling. He figured he'd take a nap until they came to get him for the movie night. But before that, he wanted to check what exactly that crazy sounding skill was.

He pulled up its description in the system.

(Ultimate Pleasure Stick: Your Johnson gives girls the ultimate pleasure the best they ever had, even if it's just the tip they might just cum)

Cole blinked.

"Oh… now you're making me want to have sex," he mumbled, dragging a hand down his face.

He closed the system tab and let his eyes close slowly.

Meanwhile with the girls, the sky had started to dim, and shadows stretched across the walls as the sun sank lower. They had spent the last hour playing every silly game they could think of. Truth or dare. Would you rather. Even some guessing games. The room was full of leftover laughter, but things were slowing down now. The mood had shifted.

"So Zaria… I heard your mother was becoming a teacher at the school? Is that true?" Taila asked, leaning back on her hands as she looked over at her.

Zaria flinched a little. She quickly turned her head and stared out the window. "Uhm… I'm not allowed to speak on that subject," she said, her voice quiet but firm.

Taila raised her brows and tilted her head with a grin. "So that's a yes? Come on, Zaria. Your mother is one of the top ten units out there right now. Can't we just know a little?" she asked, her voice teasing but curious as she leaned closer.

Units were what everyone became after graduation. There weren't any traditional ranks like general or captain. Everything was based on your placement on the unit board. And Zaria's mother, Landia Goodman, was one of the absolute best. Top ten on the board. That meant she outranked even the officers people usually saw as legends.

She also had an SSS Rank talent. There were only a handful of people in the entire world with something that rare.

Zaria sighed and sat up straighter. Her fingers fidgeted on the edge of the pillow in her lap. "I said I can't speak on it. Now go get Cole. It's getting dark. We should start the movies," she said, changing the subject immediately.

Tasha, without wasting a second, bounced up to her feet and headed straight for Cole's room.

She knocked once on the door. Then twice. Nothing. The room was completely silent. Her lips pulled into a pout, and she slowly pushed the door open. A wave of cold air hit her in the face as soon as it cracked open. Cole had his air conditioner turned low enough to make it feel like winter.

She stepped inside and spotted him lying across the bed, arms and legs sprawled out in every direction. His chest rose and fell slowly. He was knocked out. But when she got closer, her eyes widened. She could see the print through his sweats, and her hand instantly shot up to cover her mouth.

"Oh my…" she whispered, cheeks glowing red.

She cleared her throat quickly and called out louder. "Ahem… Cole!"

Cole's eyes fluttered open, and he let out a deep yawn. "Oh, is it time for the movies?" he asked as he sat up, his arms stretching far behind his back. His muscles flexed under his beater while he blinked the sleep away.

Tasha's eyes darted to his pants again.

Cole gave her a half grin and nodded toward his face. "Eyes up here," he said with amusement in his voice.

Tasha jumped a little and quickly turned around. "Ahem… yeah, we're about to start. Bring a cover or two. We already have the popcorn," she said while trying to keep her voice steady and walking out fast.

Cole chuckled quietly to himself, shaking his head. He stood up, grabbed two blankets from the top of his dresser, and followed after her. As he stepped into the hallway, he pulled the door closed behind him.

When he got back to the living room, everyone was already curled up and ready. The overhead lights were off, and only the glow from the television and the soft light of the moon through the wide living room window gave the room its quiet glow.

"So what are we watching first?" Cole asked as he dropped down at the end of the couch. He wrapped himself in one of the blankets and handed the other to Tasha, who had already plopped down next to him.

"We're watching IT first, then we'll go from there. Maybe The Matrix, and then A Quiet Place?" Taila said as she leaned against the armrest with a pillow hugged close to her chest.

"Those all sound good to me," Raze said softly, already sharing a blanket with Zaria. They were huddled up together in the corner of the couch, looking peaceful and half ready to sleep already.

The entire apartment had gone still. The only sounds were the slight hum from the air and the soft music coming from the TV's opening screen.

"I'm cool with whatever you all want to watch," Cole said with a light nod as he sank further into his blanket. Tasha was right beside him, already wrapped up tight and scooting a little closer. Taila had her own blanket and curled her legs beneath her.

"Kay," Taila said as she picked up the remote, pressed the power button, and the screen lit up with the red title of the first movie.

Two hours later, after a blur of jump scares and way too much popcorn, the credits finally rolled on the IT movie. The TV light dimmed the room in flickering reds and blacks. Tasha, somehow, had ended up underneath Cole's blanket. Her legs were tangled with his, and she was pressed right into his side. And they weren't sweating either. The house had been cold since yesterday when Cole cranked the air down. So the place was basically freezing.

"Alright! Next movie!" Tasha said, lifting her head with a bright grin as she laid deeper into Cole's chest.

Cole looked down at her and chuckled, reaching for the popcorn bowl and setting it aside.

"Alright, A Quiet Place it is," Taila said while pulling her blanket tighter. She rolled over to her side and made herself a little cocoon.

She scrolled through the movie list and clicked play. The room dimmed again with a soft hush. Only the screen flickered. As the minutes passed, everyone got quieter. Time stretched out.

About an hour and a half in, Tasha had moved again. Somehow, she had gotten even closer to Cole. Her arm was draped over his stomach, and her head was now resting just under his chin. She was basically clinging to him like it was instinct.

Cole didn't say anything. He didn't mind it, not really. But in the back of his head, he thought maybe she was pushing things a little too fast. Still, he wasn't going to tell her to stop. If anything, he might encourage it. Just a little.

The movie kept playing. Then another. And another. By the time the last one finished, it was well past midnight. Around one thirty in the morning.

Tasha was fast asleep by then. She had curled up in Cole's lap, her cheek pressed against his chest, facing into him like she belonged there.

Raze glanced over at the scene and let out a soft sigh, not loud enough for anyone to hear. "Alright, I think it's time for bed. Y'all can sleep wherever you want. You can sleep in my room if you need to. I'm going to bed. I'm tired," she said, standing up and stretching her arms above her head.

Zaria silently followed behind her, stepping away from the group and into the hallway. Taila stayed behind and made herself more comfortable on the couch.

Cole looked down at Tasha, then lightly shook her shoulder. "Where are you sleeping?" he asked, watching her stir.

"Mm, just take me to your-" she started to mumble, but she didn't finish. Before she could say more, Cole stood up with her in his arms.

She let out a soft yelp and instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, holding onto him tighter.

He carried her into his room and gently laid her on the bed, then scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Uhh, I would've said I'm gonna sleep on my couch tonight, but uhm… the couch is occupied, soo… the floor?" he said, looking around for any kind of backup plan.

Tasha blinked at him and pulled the covers up to her chest. "Just lay in the bed. No funny business though… I think," she said. The last part came out under her breath, too low for Cole to catch.

He shrugged. "Alright," he said, then grabbed a pair of shorts and headed to the bathroom.

He took a quick shower, brushed his teeth, and dropped his clothes off in the closet. When he came back, the room was dark except for a sliver of light from the hallway.

He climbed into bed beside her and pulled the blanket up to his waist.

'Guess I'm not getting any tonight. :(' he thought with a dramatic sigh inside his head. He tried to look on the bright side. At least he got to sleep in a bed tonight. With a beautiful girl.

Tasha rolled over and tucked herself into his side. Her head rested in the dip of his shoulder, and her hand found its way to his chest.

She breathed slow, already deep in sleep again.

Just as Cole let his eyes close, the system appeared.

(Quest: Get into Tasha's Panties tonight)

(Reward: losing your virginity + 1 GP)

(Penalty: Stay a LOSER)

His eye twitched. 'You really know how to piss someone off… heh. I'll accept your challenge,' he thought as he rolled slightly to face her, a sly grin already forming.

Cole put on his best look. Calm eyes. Relaxed smirk. Confident but gentle.

He lightly tapped her shoulder. Just enough to wake her.

"Hmm?" she said sleepily, blinking up at him with a dazed expression.

He grinned and held her gaze. "You know, we're laying here together, and I don't even know your last name," he said, his voice low and playful.

"Tasha Melanin," she whispered, still half asleep but smiling now.

"Cole Carrick," he replied, locking eyes with her, letting the moment stretch just enough.

She broke eye contact and blushed a little, tucking her face into the pillow.

"You know… I keep trying to behave, but you make that impossible when you're this close to me," he leaned in and whispered into her ear, his voice dipped in something softer and smoother.

She inhaled sharply, then leaned closer. Her lips brushed his ear. "Then stop behaving… ever since I saw you earlier I've been wanting you. I know Raze told me to stay away from you, but you're just too… alluring," she said, her voice almost trembling.

The word alluring caught Cole off guard. But what really surprised him was the part about Raze warning her. That was news to him. He didn't let it show on his face. He kept his expression calm.

He leaned closer. Their noses almost touched. Neither one of them blinked. Inch by inch, they moved toward each other until their lips finally met.

They pulled back slowly. Their eyes locked again. But now, there was something more there. Not just attraction.

The kind of tension that makes people stop thinking altogether.