Chapter 22
The next day, Sonny meets with Bull, Jess, and Thomas in a quiet corner of the library. They spread notebooks and a rough map of the test crypt across the table like they are planning a heist.
Jess taps the page. "Okay. Roles. If we don’t decide now, Bull is going to try to do everything himself."
Bull scoffs sarcastically. "Aren’t you funny."
Thomas clears his throat. "I can do defense and support. Shields. Reinforcement. Things like that. I have some enhancement spells too."
Bull nods slowly. "Those will come in handy."
Jess looks to Sonny. "What do you want to do?"
Sonny answers calmly. "Recon. Rear guard. Healer if needed."
Bull raises an eyebrow. He figures Sonny would fit the vanguard because strong.
Jess points her pen at Sonny. "Recon means you go scope out the floor first, alone. You’re okay with that?"
"Yes," Sonny says. "I’ll find the safest, quickest route for us."
Thomas looks uneasy. "If you’re alone, what if you get jumped?"
Sonny’s expression stays blank. "That won’t happen. Stealth is one of my greatest attributes."
Jess snorts. "That is a very Sonny answer."
Sonny continues as if she didn’t speak. "I provide recon and layout, locate the floor boss, and find the path with the fewest engagements. Bull and Jess are vanguard. Thomas supports them. If I cannot locate the boss quickly, we move toward the area with the highest monster density. That’s usually an indicator of the boss location"
Bull leans in despite himself. "That’s actually a solid plan."
Jess nods. "I like it. Simple."
Thomas hesitates. "What if we get stuck. Or someone gets hurt."
Sonny looks at him. "Then we retreat. Teleporters exist for a reason. No need to be a hero in a school test crypt. Plus, if we don’t pass, we get another attempt."
Bull opens his mouth like he wants to argue, but Jess cuts him off. "He’s right," she says. "There are no scouts in a crypt. No one is there to impress by looking cool." Bull grumbles, but he nods in agreement.
They spend the next hour sketching routes, calling out roles, and listing what they need to bring. The plan stays simple on purpose.
When they finish, Jess closes her notebook. "We meet twice a week until our slot. We train together. We will refine the plan as needed."
Thomas nods quickly. "I can do that."
Bull stands. "Fine. But when we get in there, I’m still taking the bosses."
Sonny looks up at him. "If that is the best choice at the time, yes."
Bull blinks. He expected pushback. Sonny just agreed like it’s a normal statement.
"See," Jess says, amused. "Teamwork. It’s happening."
They split up, and the day rolls forward.
That evening, Ellie walks back toward the apartment with a bounce in her step. She is excited about the date. She keeps wondering what Sonny chooses and whether it will be awkward or weird or somehow both.
When she opens the door, Sonny is already there, fresh out of the shower. His hair is damp.He looks unusually put together for a weeknight.
Ellie smiles. "So. What’s the plan for this big date?"
Sonny answers like it’s obvious. "Bowling."
Ellie pauses. "Bowling."
"Bull recommended it," Sonny says. "It seems acceptable for a date."
“You sound like a robot.” Ellie laughs. "It is acceptable. I just haven’t been bowling since I was a kid." She grabs her jacket. "Okay. Let’s go."
They walk to a bowling alley not far from campus. The building smells like popcorn, oil, and old carpet. Ellie loves it immediately. It feels normal.
They check in, grab shoes, and find their lane.
Ellie picks a ball and rolls it in her palms like she remembers the weight.
"How do you play?" Sonny asks.
Ellie points to the pins. "You roll the ball and knock those down. Two tries per frame. Try not to throw it into the gutter."
Sonny gives a short nod. "Seems simple enough."
Ellie adds quickly, "And no powers."
Sonny inclines his head again. "Bull said the same thing. Understood."
Ellie goes first. The ball thumps down the lane and knocks four pins over.
Sonny claps once. "Wow. Nice job."
Ellie groans. "That’s not nice. That’s embarrassing."
Her second roll knocks down four more. Sonny steps up. His first roll hits two pins.
He turns to Ellie. "Good or bad?"
"Bad," Ellie says, smiling and giggling.
Sonny tries again and throws a gutter ball. It slides into the channel and vanishes.
Ellie laughs, loud enough to get a couple looks from nearby lanes. "We found something you’re not good at."
Sonny’s mouth lifts slightly. "Room for improvement for sure."
They keep playing. Ellie improves slowly. Sonny improves in waves. One frame he hits nothing, the next he knocks down nine like he finally understands angles. Between turns, they talk.
Ellie says, "Jess told me you’re on a crypt diving team together."
Sonny nods once. "Yes. Bull. Jess. Thomas. Me."
Ellie raises an eyebrow. "And you’re rear guard?"
"Recon and rear guard," Sonny says.
"Thomas supports. Bull and Jess push the front."
Ellie nods slowly. "That makes sense. Jess told me Thomas seems nervous though."
"He is," Sonny says. "He’s timid because he’s the lowest rank in the class. Rank doesn’t matter in a dungeon though."
Ellie points at him with her finger like she is scolding. "Then tell him it doesn’t. Build up his confidence. You would be the right person to do that, considering your ranking journey."
Sonny considers it. "Okay. I’ll see what I can do to help him."
They finish a couple games, return their shoes, and step back outside into cold air.
Ellie stretches. "I want ice cream."
Sonny blinks. "I have never had ice cream."
Ellie stops walking. "What?"
Sonny looks confused by her reaction. "What."
Ellie grabs his hand and starts pulling him down the sidewalk. "No. We’re fixing that right now."
They reach a small creamery near campus. Ellie orders cookies and cream. She orders Sonny plain vanilla. Sonny takes one bite.
His eyes widen slightly. "Wow."
Ellie grins. "Right?"
Sonny starts eating faster.
Ellie swats his wrist. "Slow down. You’re going to freeze your brain." Sonny slows, reluctantly.
"Can I try yours?" he asks.
Ellie scoops a bite and holds it out. "Here."
Sonny tastes it and nods. "That is delicious."
Sonny offers her his cup. "Want to try?"
Ellie declines for a reason. "No. You feed me."
Sonny pauses, then does it without complaint. Ellie tastes vanilla and smiles. "It’s good."
"Very." Sonny agrees. They finish their ice cream and walk home side by side.
Sonny’s voice is quiet but honest. "I had fun."
Ellie smiles up at him. "Me too."
They reach the apartment, and for once, the night feels simple.
