Shoes scraped against rubber flooring.
It was Gym.
Sunlight poured through the high windows.
Ozymandis jogged on the running machine with ridiculous confidence.
One hand casually resting on his hip while the other pointed dramatically forward like he was leading an army instead of exercising.
Beside him, the strange blue sandal-shaped entity known as Baddidass hopped repeatedly on a smaller treadmill somebody had somehow modified for it.
Tiny feathers on its sides fluttered every time it bounced.
Ozymandis said with excitement,
"I am telling you both, this computer is a masterpiece. Beautiful cooling system, crystal lighting, sixteen-core processor… absolute royalty among machines."
Julio Santana glanced over while stretching her shoulders nearby.
"You bought it to work?"
Ozymandis looked offended.
"Work? No. Greater purpose. I bought it for JJ Queer Adventures! Peak human storytelling."
Near the mats, Sako Murasaki pushed himself upward from another push-up, sweat dripping from his jawline onto the floor.
"Four hundred ninety-seven. You know normal people stop at fifty." Julio counted.
Sako ignored her completely.
"Four hundred ninety-eight."
Julio crouched beside him with a grin.
"You look like your soul left your body three hundred push-ups ago."
"Four hundred ninety-nine."
Ozymandis laughed loudly from the treadmill.
"See? That stubbornness is exactly why I invited him to play with me. Competitive spirit."
Sako pushed himself up one final time and stopped.
"Five hundred."
He rose to his feet slowly. Chest rose heavily. His shirt was soaked in sweat. Despite exhaustion, his posture stayed perfectly straight.
Julio clapped twice mockingly.
"Congratulations. You have officially defeated the floor."
Sako grabbed a towel from nearby.
"I still don't have time for your childish games," he said flatly toward Ozymandis.
Ozymandis placed a hand dramatically against his chest.
"Childish? This is art and brotherhood!"
"You scream during loading screens, don't you?"
"That happened once."
"Seven times." Julio corrected immediately.
Ozymandis ignored her with dignity.
Julio walked toward the bench area and lifted a grocery bag slightly.
"Speaking of important matters. There was a huge market sale this morning. Half-price vegetables. I bought enough groceries for almost two weeks."
Ozymandis gasped.
"You went shopping without informing us?"
"You would've bought snacks only."
"That is slander."
Sako dried sweat from his neck quietly before muttering, "He's right though."
Ozymandis looked betrayed.
Even Baddidass gave a small radio-like noise beside the treadmill. Seemed like it was also agreeing with Ozy's expression.
Julio Santana leaned back against a machine and tilted her head toward Sako Murasaki with clear mischief.
"Alright, I have an important question. What kind of girl do you like?"
Sako unscrewed his water bottle.
"Thanks."
Julio blinked once. "Come on. You must have a type, Sako."
"Seize your delusions. I have no interest in joining your collection of lifeless things."
"That wasn't even an answer."
"It was. Don't act like I don't know your secret."
From the treadmill, Ozymandis laughed.
"What secret are you talking about? This man treats social interaction like military punishment."
Julio pointed immediately.
"Fine then. Your turn. What's your type?"
Ozymandis slowed the machine dramatically, stepping off like he was about to deliver philosophy to a crowd.
He began proudly, one hand over his chest,
"Well, I am already accustomed to excess unbearable noise."
He looked directly at Julio.
"For example—you."
Julio threw a towel at him.
"How rude."
"I said accustomed, not suffering. Anyway… someone caring would be nice. Self-aware too. Who understands herself instead of pretending like a big role model in a pub."
He paused, thinking properly for once.
"Maybe less talkative. But still warm with close people. Reminds me of that mongrel, Henry."
Julio raised an eyebrow.
"That sounded suspiciously specific."
Ozymandis shrugged. "Uhh, if there was a personification of Lust, it could be probably you. However, a man of vision knows peace when he imagines it."
Sako quietly drank water before muttering,
"You talk too much for someone wanting a quiet person."
Julio burst out laughing.
"There! He made a joke!"
"I didn't."
Baddidass gave a strange noise from nearby.
Ozymandis pointed at it immediately.
"Even Baddidass agrees with me. As long as Baddidass is with me, I don't need any other's opinions to care about!"
Julio Santana crossed her arms. She glanced between Ozymandis and the hopping blue creature beside him.
"You know, sometimes I genuinely can't tell which one of you owns the other."
Ozymandis narrowed his eyes immediately. He stepped down from the treadmill.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Julio pointed casually toward Baddidass, who sat beside the treadmill looking oddly dignified for something shaped vaguely like a strange sandal.
"I mean, you buy expensive gaming computers, talk dramatically for no reason and throw speeches at random walls. Meanwhile Baddidass quietly watches you like a disappointed parent."
Sako let out the slightest sound that almost resembled a laugh. That made it worse.
Ozymandis stopped completely.
"Excuse me, you may insult me if you wish. I am strong enough to endure injustice on myself. But involving Baddidass in mockery?"
He placed a hand protectively near Baddidass
"Unacceptable!"
Baddidass suddenly gave a sequence of soft clicking and radio-like chirps.
Ozymandis looked at it.
The creature nudged lightly against his leg.
He sighed.
"…Fine. Baddidass says it was merely humor. Well, I guess Baddidass felt good too."
Ozymandis began smiling again.
Julio looked victorious.
"You guys always have mood swing every second. Even your best friend has emotional maturity."
"I will let that pass." Ozymandis replied with wounded pride.
Julio stretched her arms overhead afterward and glanced toward the elevator.
"I'm heading to the terrace for some space. Gym smell is beginning to feel like punishment." said Julio.
With a small wave, she stepped into the lift.
The doors slowly closed as she disappeared upward, leaving the other two behind.
The gym felt quieter after Julio Santana left.
Ozymandis crouched beside Baddidass. Resting both elbows on his knees while the strange creature gave a few soft radio-like clicks.
"Yes, yes. Apparently I am 'overprotective.' Terrible accusation. Haha."
Baddidass bumped lightly into his arm. Ozymandis smiled despite himself.
He scratched near the stomach of Baddidass softly.
"You know, people come and go. But you… somehow stayed."
Another small signal came from Baddidass. He nodded once.
"Yeah, I am glad too!"
....
The terrace door clicked shut behind Julio Santana.
Afternoon had already begun leaning toward evening.
Warm gold stretched across the sky while long shadows spilled between distant buildings.
The smooth wind moved softly through her pale yellow hair, carrying slight traces of dust, city warmth and something green from gardens hidden far below.
Julio rested both hands against the railing and looked outward.
"Hm."
Her expression softened.
"Not bad. People keep ruining cities but somehow sunsets still show up on the schedule."
The breeze pushed lightly against her dress.
Far below, cars moved like tiny insects between roads. Seven floors down looked farther than it should have.
She leaned slightly over the edge.
"No wonder people think too much when they are high up. Everything looks small enough to forgive. Hilarious."
After a moment, she stepped away from the railing.
The atmosphere felt too nice to waste.
Without really thinking about it, Julio stepped. A slow turn first.
Then another.
Quiet movements shaped by mood alone.
Her feet tapped lightly against the concrete while her arms followed the wind more than rhythm, loose and natural. Almost playful.
For a brief moment, she laughed to herself.
"If anyone sees this, I will deny everything."
The wind hit faster than before.
Julio stopped moving. Looked upward.
The sky had become something impossibly large and orange. Her gaze lingered.
"One funny thing about the world is, it always knows how to keep growing over its own scars. Trees still bloom after fire. Oceans calm down after storms. Even broken places try again to fix themselves."
The wind curled strangely around her for a second, almost circling instead of passing.
She smiled ridiculously as the golden light of the sunset discovered her face.
She kept dancing...
"Maybe nature just understands something people don't. How to take death and make it beautiful again. However, I shall—"
BANG!!
A sound came out of nowhere.
Julio's body jerked suddenly. Her eyes widened in disbelief and shock.
And without warning, she collapsed onto the terrace floor.