Martian Archer

Leon stood outside the academy's training hall, his heart racing.

"Iris… will she be my tanker?"

The doors slid open.

Inside, two figures stood waiting.

Leon's heart sank.

Neither of them was Iris.

Instead, he saw

A middle-aged man with a bulky frame, wearing a military training uniform that barely fit over his wide belly. He had graying hair, tired eyes, and an easy-going grin.

And next to him, a young woman with short, dark blue hair, standing with her arms crossed. She wore a fitted combat suit, her sword strapped to her back. Her sharp eyes barely acknowledged Leon's presence.

"These are my teammates?"

The man stepped forward, offering a hand.

"Yo! You must be our archer. The name's Goro! Goro Nakamura!"

Leon shook his hand hesitantly.

"Aren't all recruits supposed to be students? This guy looks like he's in his 40s…"

Leon glanced at the woman.

"And you?"

She barely looked at him.

"Rei."

That was it. No introduction, no handshake.

Leon blinked.

" Well… that's awkward."

Goro stretched, groaning as he rolled his shoulders.

"Man, I never thought I'd be back in school. I left my corporate job for this, y'know?"

Leon raised an eyebrow.

"You were a salaryman?"

Goro laughed.

"Yeah! Fifteen years in sales. Boring as hell. One day, I realized I'd rather dodge bullets than sit through another three-hour meeting, so here I am!"

Leon didn't know whether to be impressed or horrified.

"And you passed the exam?"

Goro rubbed his neck sheepishly.

"Well… barely. I got in because I tanked the written exam. Years of corporate nonsense made me great at memorizing manuals."

"But what about the physical test?"

Goro grinned.

"Eh, I scraped by. I might not be in shape now, but give me a few months, and I'll be a damn wall!"

Leon wasn't convinced.

"A tank that's out of shape?"

They were supposed to take on elite warriors, and Leon's frontliner could barely run a mile.

"This is gonna be rough."

Leon turned to the last member of their team.

"So, Rei… what's your story?"

She barely reacted.

"Nothing special."

Leon waited for more. It never came.

"Uh… okay. What made you join the academy?"

"To get stronger."

Short, cold, and to the point.

Goro laughed.

"Don't take it personally, kid. Rei's not the chatty type."

Leon sighed.

"Great. My tanker's a former salesman, and my attacker doesn't talk."

Leon sat down, rubbing his face.

This wasn't what he expected.

No Iris. No elite teammates.

Just a tired office worker and a silent swordsman.

But…

His fingers curled into a fist.

"It doesn't matter."

"We'll make this work."

No matter what.