Mirabe gave him a good, long look before saying, "You know, people in the cafeteria can''t stop talking about you."


    Even though his presence was intimidating enough to make anyone think twice about making eye contact, it didn''t stop them from gossiping.


    James raised an eyebrow, served her a piece of fried chicken, and said slowly, "I bet they''re all saying how terrifying I am as the head instructor."


    Mirabe shot him a sidelong nce, took a bite of the chicken, and thought, well, he sure knows himself.


    "Have you ever done any training?" she asked casually after a moment.


    Even though he didn''t need to personally train the students as the head instructor, his perfect posture that morning made it clear he had some serious experience.


    "Yeah, I spent some time in boot camp," James replied, his voice smooth and nonchnt, as if he were talking about something as ordinary as the weather.


    Boot camp and regr army drills are worlds apart. What might seem grueling to the average person is nothingpared to the brutalities of special boot camps, where training is life-or-death. Those whoe out of those ces are the real deal.


    Mirabe, though she didn''t know much about the boot camps he mentioned, figured they were simr to the intense training she had gone through.


    "So, how about you? You''ve been at it all morning. How''s your stamina holding up?" James asked, shifting the focus to her.


    She straightened up and nodded, "Not bad, actually."


    After all, basic formation practice and chanting were child''s y to her.


    James didn''t eat much and soon put down his fork, wiping his mouth with a napkin. "If it gets too much, just let me know."


    Mirabe looked at him with a teasing glint in her eyes, "Head instructor, are you offering me a free pass?"


    James chuckled, leaning back on the couch, his voice warm, "Whenever you need."


    A strange feeling passed through Mirabe. She coughed, looked away, and picked up the soup from the coffee table, taking a few sips. "Nah, no special treatment for me."


    IMS


    James seemed to understand herpetitive nature and nodded, "Sure, as you wish."


    "Okay," Mirabe replied softly, her eyshes fluttering as she continued to sip her soup.


    The atmosphere in the office subtly shifted, quiet and calm. Neither of them felt the need to break the silence, and it wasn''t awkward.


    After finishing her soup, Mirabe


    felt a bit full and was about to tel James she''d head back to the dorm for a nap when he suddenly stood up, took out his phone, and walked to the window to take a call.


    Seeing this, she held back her words.


    "... Yeah, send it over as soon as possible." After talking for a few minutes, James hung up, turned to her before she could speak, and said, "Why don''t you rest here??''ve had something sent over; it should be here in about half an hour."


    He paused, then added, "Or if you''d rather go back to your dorm, that''s fine too. I


    can bring it to you this afternoon when it arrives."


    Mirabe instinctively chose the first option, "No worries, I''ll wait here."


    At her words, James'' lips curled into a smile, "Alright."


    Mirabe nced at him and suddenly felt like she was being yed yet again.