Morning comes, this morning is Aquamarine’s turn to make the breakfast and he is already done preparing all of it. One thing left to do is to call the other members who are not in the room right now, there is only Spec in the living room eating fruits and playing with his phone. “Buddy,” Aquamarine calls him out from the kitchen and it immediately takes his attention “Breakfast ready.” He says while bringing the food to the table. Just from that, Spec nods his head and stands up from his seat, going to call the other two members which are Elio and Howl. Done bringing all the plates on the table, Aquamarine goes to their leader room and knocks on its door. “Breakfast ready, cap!” he says while knocking on her door and waits for any response from the other side. “Coming!” He hears it out loud but he doesn’t go away from the door, instead he stays there and waits until the person comes out. Sapphire, who is in a rush to open the door, gets surprised by someone standing still in front of her with his hands on his waist. “Oop-” she yelps and looks at the face of that person confusedly “Oh, what’s up?” she asks him and closes the door behind her. Usually Aquamarine talks for a small chit-chat first but right now he goes straight to the point of where he wanted to ask her. “Is everything okay?” he asks her with full concern in his voice and worried face. Hearing his question, Sapphire can only look away from his gaze and lets out a long sigh. “We need to talk about it later.” She replies hesitantly and Aquamarine hates it when she uses that kind of voice tone, something happened, can be a bad one… “After breakfast, in your room?” He asks, looking for more detail of what they are going to talk about. Sapphire bites her lower lip and her expression becomes bitter than before. Seeing her expression become like this, it only makes Aquamarine’s chest feel tighter. “No.” First word that comes out from her right before he could say anything and it totally catches him off guard “WE need to talk about it.” She repeats it and emphasizes the word ‘we’ on it. Her answer makes him confused right now and he can’t guess what just happened to her, what kind of information that she just got. Just a minute of awkward silence there, Sapphire probably notices it as she slowly looks up to find Aquamarine’s eyes who is looking at her confused and worried. “Alright.” he finally dares to speak up even with tons of questions in his head “Take it slowly, okay?” he says and pats her back just to comfort his leader. Somehow it becomes a lot harder for her to bear it as she can only give him a weak smile and nods her head slowly in response. Even though last night Elio already gave her some unexpected comfort, she still can’t get rid of her overthinking. It’s probably because today, this morning, is the time where she needs to inform others which puts her under more pressure. Before walking away from him, she gives him one last smile and hugs him lightly. “Thank you.” She whispers, still audible, that Aquamarine can hear it clearly. “Anytime, sis.” He says and replies to her hug. As the time goes by, obviously their relationship develops into something deeper. But personally for them, they can’t put it into something as a couple or into that kind of love. Their feelings only tighten into sibling love with each other and can't go beyond that. Both of them pull away from the hug at the same time. Thankfully, it slightly lightened up the weight in her chest. Before he walks back to the dining room, he pats her head, messes with her hair, and it only makes the other person giggle as her smile starts to crawl up. “Let’s go.” he says and Sapphire nods her head as she follows right behind him. Two of them show up to the room and the other three members are already sitting at the table, looking like they are waiting for them. “Sorry for the wait, guys.” Aquamarine says as he walks toward his seat. As both of them walk to the table, Elio can’t take his eyes off of Sapphire and she notices that, probably because it’s full of concern and worries there. At the same time, she doesn’t want the other two members to become worried about her too and ruin the mood of this morning breakfast. With that in mind, she thinks the best option is to give him her best smile and nod her head, signaling him that she’s alright. But that’s probably not enough, she adds by moving her mouth as saying ‘I’m okay’ toward him. Fortunately, Elio gets that and takes his eyes away from her while nodding his head lightly. Now everyone is already on their seats, as always Sapphire will lead them before starting digging into their foods. Finishing with their food and washing the dishes, this is Sapphire’s chance to call them to get inside the planning room where they usually discuss their mission together. But the time they get inside the room, something feels off and the atmosphere is a lot different. Their seniors usually pump them up to feel energetic but it’s totally all the way round. They have that kind of serious expression and it feels completely tense up. Because of that, none of the three want to speak up first and just wait for the other two to talk or discuss about today. “Alright. Thank you for coming, everyone.” Sapphire speaks up and her voice is not the same as usual. “First of all, I’m very sorry that we have this kind of atmosphere in the room.” she continues, hoping to get a bit sympathetic from the other three members, her cubs. The room is still completely silent, only the sound of the room air conditioner running around every corner of it. They know this silence is slowly killing her from inside but saying a word in response can do anything better than this. That is why they decide to just stay silent, give time for her to speak up, and put all of their attention on her. Before she manages to inform it, Sapphire takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly from her mouth. “Second, I got a message last night. From the lions.” she finally lets it out and only from that, it’s enough to give them shivers down to their spines. They know, especially Howl who is the leader of the team, exactly what is going to happen for the next few days or weeks. Even though the last time for the three of them to get a message from the lions was 11 months ago, the intense test, near death feeling, still feels like it just happened weeks ago. Howl can feel that her hands start to tremble but she tries her best to hide and control it. Spec, who is sitting right next to her, notices what the person is feeling right now but he can’t and is afraid to do anything to comfort her. Meanwhile Elio starts to think of what is the message about which it comes to two conclusions. First one is promoting their team, probably getting into something higher which he still doesn’t know if there is a class between the tigers and lions. Second is if they are going to take another test, a deadly one, what kind of codes they want him to break out. These are the only things that Elio can think about as it gives time for Sapphire to continue the meeting. Sapphire also knows that it must be a blow for them ever since what they have been through together and based on her experience working in this place. In fact, she still can’t get used to the lions’ message toward her which she concludes by herself that it must be tough for the other three to handle it. That is why she gives herself a pause, for only a couple minutes, before continuing it. “But honestly,” She finally continues and pulls out her phone as she is connecting it through their monitor to show the message to them. The message pops out and it only makes the whole members in the room confused but also trying not to freak out. Tomorrow night, 7PM, fifth floor. Bring all the members. -Heliodor- “They didn’t tell me what it was going to be about.” Sapphire continues and looks at her members who are still paying attention to the screen. Heliodor? That must be his name. Elio’s first thought that comes through inside his mind when the message popped up. Finally getting to know one of their names, especially this company leader’s name. It’s always like this, even before their tests, they never tell them the details about it which only gives them goosebumps and confusion at the same time. “As always, if there is this kind of invitation, we need to come with the Sapphire Tiger suits and follow with the accessories as well. Don’t forget any of it.” She says as to reminding and warning the others about their strict rules. After informing them, she only receives a nod from the other four but it’s still clearly seen that they are confused and still frightened by it. Sapphire usually is the one who tries to calm and give comfort to them but today feels heavy for her too. That is why she can only offer a warmth smile to them and hopes that it can actually lift the tension from them. “Any questions guys? Before we close this meeting.” She speaks up again as breaking the silence and taking their attention back to her. “Nothing from me now.” Aquamarine is the first one to give her an answer. Elio and Spec shake his head in response, meaning he doesn’t have a question. To be clear, Elio doesn't want to ask it bluntly in front of others while Spec only wants to comfort the person who feels anxious right now. The one and only person that doesn’t give any response to Sapphire, the one who is still traumatized by everything that ever happened to her. After waiting for a minute, Sapphire patiently waits until she manages herself to finally give a response and Howl finally shakes her head as well. “Alright then. Dismissed everyone.” She says and turns off the monitor. Aquamarine is the first one leaving the room. Spec hesitates to leave the room because he wants to accompany Howl first but she stops him from doing so. She knows that he is worried about her but she wants to talk privately with her leader. Elio gets the signal of it and probably knows what she’s thinking so he decides to leave the room by dragging Spec out from it, leaving them alone there. But Elio also still has a lot of questions in his mind that he needs to ask, it keeps puzzling in his brain that he needs to prepare something for this upcoming meeting. That is why he won’t let it go easily like this, he will wait, probably after lunch, and talk privately with his leader. They get out of the room and Elio notices how Spec is fidgeting beside him. Instead of helping him out, Elio walks away and goes to his room. Well… what can he do? He also has a lot in mind and it’s probably best not to interact with others for now. In that case, he decides to just lock himself in his room, tries to figure things out as much as possible, and prepares himself for whatever is going to happen. Working and pushing himself as furnicing it to become even more perfect than ever. He knows exactly how to make it so powerful that he needs to learn and give more codes into it. With that the time marches by quickly as he spends all of it in his own room until someone knocks on his door, telling him that lunch is ready. Hearing it, he quickly gets up from his seat and opens the door, hoping that is the person he wanted to talk with ever since this morning. Unfortunately, it’s not, it’s someone who just talked to her this morning, Howlite. Because of Elio’s reaction by opening the door quickly, obviously it catches her off guard and startles her. “Woah! Sorry!” She jumps out a little and quickly apologizes without any specific reason which she just realizes that was excessive. “It’s fine.” Elio replies and closes the door behind him. Disappointed? Of course. Both of them walk together to the dining room where the other members are. Same as usual, nothing seems to change, the lively atmosphere comes back. Howl probably already got comforted by the other members which makes her able to communicate with them casually again. The only one who hasn't settled anything is him, it’s Elio who seems to have a lot in mind. But as always, Elio never shows anything to others because of his own personality and always being the quiet person. Done with their lunch, unlucky Elio is the one assigned to wash the dishes. Not certainly unlucky, on the other hand he gets a higher chance to talk with his leader privately because all of the members decide to spend their own time freely. It can be just resting in their room or going outside to take in fresh air. For example, Aquamarine is a type of person who probably can’t stay still for too long so he decides to warm him up in the practice area. After washing all of the dishes, Elio takes a few deep breaths before stepping closer to Sapphire’s room. Each step of him that is getting closer with it, the more pressured it is. Get the hang of it! He encourages himself and right now he is standing right in front of it, only a few inches away. Takes another deep breath and finally his hand is doing his job. *Knock knock* Steps back and waits patiently with the unbelievable thumping in his chest. The sound to unlock the door can be heard as it only makes him stiff and the person he is waiting for comes out from it. “Oh, hey!” She greets him with that warm smile and closes the door behind her, not totally shut so Elio can take a glimpse of her super tidy room. “What’s up?” She asks and all of Elio’s focus is on her now. “Sorry, I know this might freak you out or something.” Elio starts off and his nervousness can clearly be seen by his leader. With that, she touches his arm and gently squeezes on it. “It’s fine. I know what you were thinking.” She replies in a very comforting voice and smile that can melt any iceberg. Just before Elio thought that no one was going to notice what’s going on inside his mind but it’s wrong. The others might not know it but his leader knows him a bit too much ever since they have met. It looks like she only needs to look and watch him carefully with full attention and passion then she can understand what’s going on right away. From her reply, as Sapphire’s thought, Elio will freezed up with his mouth opened a little bit probably because she can read like a book. She gives him another sympathetic smile and walks closer to him just to be able to put her hand behind his back. “You want to talk about it in my room or you prefer in our favorite spot?” She offers him, trying to give him the comfort he might be needed for. At the moment, he is actually surprised and doesn't think that she will offer her own room to talk with him privately. “I don’t want to go out right now.” Elio replies as he is taking the chance. “Alright then.” She steps back from him and opens her room’s door “Come in.” She says, inviting him to get inside. The time he steps inside her room, he gets amazed by huge bookshelves, almost as big as he found in the library, and how she organized her room. It looks like a reading area when he gets inside and there is a thin transparent glass dividing it from her bed and her changing room which he also has in his room. The room looks classy yet has this cozy and comfortable atmosphere, perfect and peaceful. “Take a seat.” she says and points at one of the chairs in front of her “I will make the coffees.” She continues and gets out of the room. Elio nods and sits at the sofa where Sapphire just pointed out. Somehow the room itself is enough for him to feel relaxed and his mind is not working as hard as before. When she gets back in to talk with Elio, he can only ask a few things that gets through in his mind After that, the rest of the time, a couple of hours, he just enjoys reading the books that Sapphire offers to him until it’s time for them to prepare the dinner. Now the time shows it’s already 6.45PM and all of the members are ready to go for the meeting. Everyone already wears their suit, complete with the accessories as well, and they proceed to go to the fifth floor. This is their first time to ever get onto this floor, the three new members, and the atmosphere truly feels weirdly different. Sapphire pushes the ring button and just needs to wait for a moment until the door opens. One of the servants of this owner room opens the door, greets, and lets them get inside the meeting room. “Welcome! Our previous Sapphire Tiger!” This person nonetheless is Elio’s interviewer, Heliodor. “Glad still to have you here!” he continues as he is locking eyes with Elio. As always there is that woman beside him and another one that he has never seen before. A man who is staring at them with a death stare, his personality is probably almost the same with that woman. All of the Sapphire Tiger members get the seats at the opposite side from them. “Thank you for coming, everyone!” Once again, he always starts the meeting with his annoyingly cheerful expression and voice. “What a great night that we-” “Ugghh!” someone interrupts him with her loud groans as she also hardly slams the table in front of her and stands up from her seat. “Just get to the point already!” she says angrily and turns on the monitor in the room. As always again, she is always the person who rushed through things just like she really hates wasting time for a small chit chat for them, the Sapphire Tiger. “Seems like someone is already hungry~” He uses the whispering gesture to the man beside him but it’s totally audible for everyone in this room. When the monitor light is clear to show what they are going to have in the meeting, it’s something that they never thought they were planning to. It never once comes across Elio’s mind as well. “As you can see everyone.” This time is his turn to stand up and walk closer toward the screen. “One of the legendary auctions that only happened once in half a decade.” he starts off, introducing how powerful and important this auction is. “The time has finally come.” he continues and his evil grin shows up on his face, crawling almost reaching his ear to ear “The night where everything will become ours.”
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