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“Home sweet home,” Kuro muttered sarcastically, kicking at a loose floorboard. “More like a death trap.”

I couldn’t help but agree with him. The place looked like it might collapse if we breathed too hard. But as I glanced around at my companions’ faces, I saw a mix of emotions - disgust, fear, resignation, and in Kai’s case, determination.

“It’s not ideal,” Kai admitted, running a hand along a dusty windowsill, “but we can make it work. With some cleaning and repairs, this place could be... livable.”

Rhia snorted. “You’re optimistic to a fault, aren’t you?”

“I try to look on the bright side of things,” Kai replied with a gentle smile. “Now, let’s divide up the tasks. Kuro and Oliver, why don’t you two check the integrity of the building? Make sure it’s not going to come down on us. Mira and Rhia, you two gather water and get a fire going.”

“And what about you, oh generous leader?” Kuro snarked. “What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to go up to the main barracks and collect our belongings.”

“Belongings?” I asked, glancing at the others. “We don’t have anything.”

“Well, the RSB promised to give us shelter and money for food. So, I’m going to make sure we get the same supplies everyone else has up at the barracks and our money. Then we can get settled in and get something to eat at last. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m starving.”

Right on cue, my stomach grumbled, and I realized he was right.

“Alright everyone,” he said, clapping his hands together. “Let’s get started!”

As Kai headed back towards the main barracks, the rest of us reluctantly set about our assigned tasks. Kuro and I began inspecting the building’s structure, poking at beams and testing floorboards. To our surprise, despite its dilapidated appearance, the auxiliary barracks seemed relatively sound.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Kuro muttered, rapping his knuckles against a sturdy support beam. “This place might not collapse on us after all.”

I nodded, relief washing over me. “Maybe we got lucky?”

Kuro snorted. “Lucky? We’re in a dump in the worst part of town. I wouldn’t call that lucky.” He groaned, leaning against the outside wall with one leg propped up behind him. “How am I supposed to bring a girlfriend back to this trash heap?”

“Girlfriend? We don’t even have food to eat, and you’re worried about a girlfriend?”

“Aren’t you?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow in my direction. “Just because we have to fight for survival doesn’t mean I don’t want a little companionship at the end of the day. Doesn’t that sound like a good way to unwind? A nice drink and a pretty girl make all the stress just melt away, right?”

It was a crude implication, but I had this feeling like I’d heard the sentiment many times before, though I couldn’t remember when. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized I didn’t agree with him.

“I… I don’t think I like girls,” I said softly. For some reason I felt a tinge of fear streak through my chest. I looked up at him, my brows furrowed. “Is… Is that weird?”

Kuro just shrugged. “So, you like guys then?”

“I think so.” Then I nodded, my words ringing true in my own ears. “Yeah. I do.”

“Well, I’m sure they’ve got that at the local brothel too,” he continued. “Personally, I like a big set of honkers,” he grinned, making a squeezing gesture in front of his chest. “They’re the best. So squishy.”

I just shook my head, making a mental note to watch him around the girls. He didn’t strike me as the type to do anything bad, but his mouth was definitely going to get him in trouble.

As we continued our inspection, I could hear Mira and Rhia in the other room, struggling with the water pump and attempting to start a fire.

Rhia had taken to reassuring Mira as often as she could, trying to boost her confidence.

It was nice to hear them getting along. I’d hoped to make friends with everyone in the group at some point, but so far, the girls kept to themselves and Kuro…

well, he wasn’t exactly the easiest to get along with.

“Man, piss on this,” Kuro said, kicking one of the beams. “I’m gonna go look around.”

“But Kai told us to get to work on the place.”

“Kai schmai,” he scoffed, waving his hand dismissively. “I march to the beat of my own drum.” He glanced back at me, a mischievous look in his eyes. “You can come with me if you’re not too scared.”

“I’m not scared!” I shot back. “I just… I think we should work together on this place.”

“Suit yourself,” he shrugged. “Enjoy your dump of a new home. ”

He wandered off, disappearing around a corner while he whistled to himself.

The guy was already surprisingly irritating, and I wasn’t looking forward to working with him.

And despite what any of us thought about this place, it was our home .

At least, it was the only home we had. The choice to join the RSB had been an easy one when death from starvation or monsters was the only other choice.

So what if it was a little dusty and dirty?

It would be just as good a home as any other once we were done, right?

I turned around, staring up at the moss-covered building and tall grass. “Home,” I muttered, testing the word out on this new place.

There was a sudden rush of nostalgia and melancholy that filled my chest. Images threatened to form in my mind of my old home, the one from my previous life.

But the moment they started to materialize, they were gone.

In a matter of seconds, there was nothing there, just empty space where the feeling used to exist.

When my eyes refocused on the building in front of me once more, I realized it was the only home I’d ever known. Everything else was gone. So this, dilapidated as it might be, would have to suffice.