Chapter 2 | Roommates

Chapter 2: Chapter 2 | Roommates

After registration, they handed him a key card and a dorm assignment slip.

Room 714. Seventh floor. Corridor C.

He found it at the end of a hallway that smelled of fresh paint, though it couldn’t quite hide the older scent lingering beneath.

He swiped the card.

Opened the door.

And stopped.

The entire right wall was covered in posters, printouts, and laminated artwork, packed so tightly that barely an inch of paint showed through.

Every single one featured a girl. Most wore swimsuits or bikinis, and nearly all of them had impossibly large breasts that looked more like an artist’s wishful thinking than anything nature would allow.

The display stretched from floor to ceiling, arranged with almost obsessive precision. Characters from the same series were grouped together, while the largest posters occupied the center like featured exhibits in a museum curated by someone with very specific tastes.

Zane stood in the doorway for four full seconds.

A lanky guy sat at the desk on the right, long legs stretched out beneath it. He looked to be around 185 centimeters tall, with his chin resting on one hand as he studied Zane with quiet curiosity.

"New roommate?" he asked.

"Looks like it," Zane replied, eyes still moving across the wall.

The boy watched him take it in. Still unbothered.

Like this was a completely standard greeting situation.

"So," he asked casually, "what’s your type?"

Zane turned to him.

The guy pointed at the wall, completely serious. He wasn’t trying to mess with him. He genuinely wanted to know.

What kind of question is that for a first meeting? Zane thought.

"...Big breasts." Zane whispered in a low tone.

The guy’s eyes lit up with unmistakable satisfaction. He sat up, grinned, and held out a hand.

"Dex," he said. "I think we’re gonna get along just fine."

"Zane shook it. "Zane Calloway."

Something flickered in Dex’s eyes at the name. Just for a second. Then it was gone and he was already turning back to his laptop.

"The left side’s yours," he said. "Don’t touch the wall."

"Wasn’t planning to," Zane said.

He dropped his bag on the left bed and sat down.

『 New individual in proximity. 』

『 Sigil Detected: IMPACT BREAKER — C-RANK 』

『 Description: User generates concentrated shockwaves through direct hand contact. Output scales with physical force applied. 』

『 Acquisition available upon approval. 』

’Not yet,’ Zane thought.

『 Noted. 』

He stared at the notification for a moment.

’Wait,’ he thought. ’You can give a full description of someone’s Sigil just from proximity?’

『 Within limitations, yes. 』

’What limitations?’

『 Sigil descriptions are currently available up to C-rank. Higher ranked Sigils will only display name and rank until further system upgrades are unlocked. 』

’So you’re telling me you can scout anyone in range and pull their Sigil data automatically.’

『 Correct. 』

’That’s actually incredibly useful,’ Zane thought.

『 You are welcome. 』

A low grinding wheeze started up from somewhere inside the wall above his head.

Zane looked up.

"That’s Gerald," Dex said without turning around.

"You named the vent."

"He’s been here longer than both of us." Dex shrugged. "Show some respect."

Zane looked at the ceiling. Gerald wheezed again.

He turned his head toward the vent. It was a standard metal grate, painted over so many times the screws had practically disappeared into the layers. Whatever was dying inside there had clearly been dying for a long time.

’What exactly is in there,’ he thought.

He sat up slightly and leaned toward it.

Gerald wheezed louder. Like a warning.

Zane leaned back.

’Never mind,’ he thought.’This is going to be a long year,’ he thought.

"Second year?" Zane asked.

"Yeah." Dex spun his chair around to face him properly. "They pair us with first years when intake numbers are odd. Supposed to help you adjust."

Zane looked him over with a relaxed posture.

Zero first day energy. The kind of calm that only came from already knowing exactly where everything was. "You don’t look new."

Dex tilted his head. "Second year. Already told you that."

"I meant to this room specifically," Zane said.

"Oh." Dex glanced around like he was seeing it fresh. "Yeah I had the same room last year. Requested to keep it." He shrugged. "Gerald and I have quite an understanding."

"You requested to stay in a room with a broken vent."

"Gerald is not broken," Dex said firmly. "He just communicates differently."

Zane stared at him.

He tilted his head. "You don’t look like you need adjusting either."

"I don’t," Zane said.

Dex nodded like that was acceptable.

"Girls dorm is the east wing by the way. It’s a Separate building.The Security man uses his sigil on the main entrance, restricted access after Ten." He said it completely casually. "Not that I’ve ever attempted anything."

"Obviously I’ll trust a guy with nude figurines and wallpaper collection as decor on his room," Zane said.

"Four times," Dex added. "The security Sigil on that door is genuinely disrespectful."

Zane looked at him." I see no reason for restriction we’re all adults and basically know what we want".

"The school board won’t want training pregnant geeks I guess" dex chuckled while focusing back to his laptop. At complete peace.

’This is going to be one interesting year,’ Zane thought.

『 Bond depth with DEX: 4%. 』

『 System Note: Not a Bound Target candidate. However he is the first person today who spoke to you without an agenda. That is worth something. 』

’Are you capable of just giving me information without the commentary?’ Zane thought.

『 No. 』

Gerald wheezed.

Zane unzipped his bag and started unpacking. There wasn’t much. A few changes of clothes, some toiletries, a worn notebook he’d been using to map out everything he’d learned about this world since waking up in it. He folded what needed folding and stacked the rest. It took less than ten minutes.

He was sliding the empty bag under the bed when Dex’s chair creaked.

"Hey," Dex said, not looking up from his screen.

"What."

"Hope you’re ready for your ranking exams." Dex clicked something on his laptop. "Hope you get a good rank."

Zane paused.

No edge to it. No pity either. Just said it the way you’d tell someone to eat before a long day.

"Thanks," Zane said. Casually continued what he was unpacking.

"I’m serious by the way." Dex leaned back in his chair. "The top three ranked students in the intake year get priority seating in every class. First pick during team assignments. Access to the private training facilities and dedicated instructor sessions." He paused. "Oh and the NSA stipend. Makes the standard scholarship look like lunch money."

Zane looked at him. "You’re very well informed."

"I’m a second year obviously," Dex said simply. "It happens every year." He spun back to face his screen. "Oh and the rooms. The top three get single occupancy suites on the third floor with private bathrooms."

Zane looked up at Gerald like adding a bathroom was necessary."It’s alright I’ll do my best...".

Gerald wheezed.

"No offence," Dex added.

"None taken," Zane said quietly.

’One thing at a time,’ he thought.