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“23........24....25...”
Setsu let out one final grunt, as they forced themselves off the floor and stretched themselves. Their tired muscles released all their tension at once and the soldier let out a tired gasp, as they walked towards the counter to their bedroom in order to take a drink from their bottle.
Grabbing the lid, they took a sip of the bottle and briefly glanced at their reflection. Their black top highlighted their wide shoulders and toned arms really well, their chest moving up and down, as their lungs were trying to return to their usual pace.
Evening exercising was something of a tradition for Setsu. Being in the military already meant to dedicate yourself to fitness and physical health, yet Setsu found themselves dissatisfied with their usual exercises. That's why they recently added push-ups to their nighttime routine, followed by a warm and hot shower, which the soldier was always looking especially forward to.
Sitting down on the bed, the soldier moved their fingers through their sweaty hair and let out a sigh, grimacing briefly when they thought about today’s practice session.
It was a normal day of combat practice and Setsu had tried to work on their own reflexes. Fighting against cybernetic training dummies that learned from the user’s movements and skills, allowed one to train and improve much quicker than it would have been back when there were only unanimated training dummies. Hitting those dummies brought them a certain kind of catharsis and relief, they didn't find much in their daily busy life as a soldier.
Though, that catharsis didn’t turn out nearly as satisfying today, when one of her colleagues, a brash and cocky womanizer soldier named Lang entered the training room. His shoulders broad, his stench unbearable and his confidence misplaced and irritating, he approached Setsu quickly.
“Gotta say, you’re looking real good kicking those clankers and wearing that outfit of yours.”, he began with a perverted grin, showing off several golden teeth. Taking a deep breath, the soldier tried to remain composed, when they replied.
“Thank you. But that outfit is simply the training uniform. One that you are wearing as well, mind you.”
“Right, right....but you look so steaming hot like that. I bet you have tons of admirers, ain’t ya?”
Tightening their fist, Setsu walked away and approached the locker room. But Lang, being the perverted annoyance they were, didn’t want to let up and followed them like a dirty dog.
“Hey, hey. Where are you going?”
“To the locker. I need to take a shower and then change into my uniform.”, Setsu told him, rolling their eyes.
“Come on.....Why don’t you and I...have some fun...later?”, he proposed, clenching his teeth.
“I am not interested in your idea of, ‘fun’. And I never will be.”
“Hah! That’s what all women say!”, Lang boasted, his sunglasses slipping off his nose a little, revealing a prosthetic eye. “But ya only say that, cuz you haven’t found the right one. I can give you a really good time, you know.”
The urge to break his golden teeth was there. And that urge was getting stronger and stronger, the more he was rambling on about his non-existent sex life and his size. But Setsu was able to remain calm. They had dealt with people like them before, even way back then at the academy. Labeling themselves as Non-Binary drove most of the creeps away and yet, some like Lang, were still unable to accept their boundaries.
Grabbing the handle, Setsu turned to the cocky lieutenant and glared.
“Instead of boasting, I’d recommend you to actually exercise with those dummies. Otherwise, the general will chew you out again. Remember that.”
Lang’s jolly and overbearing demeanor, came crashing down, as he yelped and dashed to his training dummy, in order to knock some sense into it. Setsu used the chance, to enter the locker room, take a quick shower, change into their uniform and then leave.
Even though it's been a half a day since then, the irritation remained and wouldn't leave so quickly. It was the year 3020 and yet, in spite of all the groundbreaking achievements in science and culture, they were people that still couldn’t accept the fact that Setsu had zero interest in sexual activity. They were asexual, after all.
Ever since they were 12, they had begun to realise that the idea of sexual relationships were nothing for them. Their guardians did chalk it up to puberty and the other girls and boys did treat Setsu differently as a result, labeling them a doll or a robot. But they didn’t flinch or back down.
Even if it meant, being labeled “loner” or “nerd”. As they glanced at the clock above the door, they noticed that it was nearly 9 PM. They should get to shower.
As they walked towards the shower room, Setsu did wonder if it were possible to find someone to love and to not have a sexual relationship with. The universe was large, so it certainly was not out of the question. But for now, they should get to shower and focus on their duties, as a soldier first and foremost.