The X-Mansion was still wrapped in the hazy glow of dawn, yet people were already rushing in and out of the kitchen and dining hall. It was a school day, after all.

Some were holding mugs of coffee or tea, others carried plates stacked with toast or scrambled eggs. A few sat at the long dining tables, savoring their meals and enjoying the morning mingling before class.

The aroma of sizzling bacon, fresh-baked bread, and brewed coffee filled the air, weaving through the chaotic sounds of the morning: the scrape of chairs across wooden floors, the clatter of dishes, the footsteps, chatters and the laughters.

Jean brought in her stack of pancakes, sharing with the people sitting at her table. Kurt, who had finished his bagel and was now happily munching on a banana. Gambit sat at the far end, savouring his plate of Cajun scramble, and occasionally offering Rogue a bite. Rogue leaned back in her chair, trying to ignore Gambit’s playful attempts to charm her, though her small smiles gave her away.

On the other side of the room was Jubilee, who happily munched on her Pop-Tart and sipped on the orange juice, while chatting with fellow students.

Then there was Scott, who had already finished eating and begun reviewing the schedule on his tablet away from the kids. Logan, still sipping on his coffee, gave the younger ones a gruff nod but kept mostly to himself. Ororo placed a bowl of freshly scrambled eggs in front of him without a word, and he nodded in thanks.

In the corner of the dining hall, Hank sat with research papers in one hand, the other carefully balancing a bowl of oatmeal. Every now and then, he’d glance up from the page to make a wry comment about some article or another, drawing out soft chuckles from those within earshot.

Charles lingered at the edge of it all, seated near one of the arched windows away from the crowd, having already finished his breakfast. His wheelchair was still, one hand loosely clasped over a cup of tea while he read the morning newspaper.

The day had only just begun.