Author's Note:
Brief updates.
*Re-read of the VNs is still ongoing. Currently on the 30th day in November of Alternative.
*I've learned that the honourific for 'Instructor' isn't sensei, but rather, kyoukan. I'll be fixing the error from here on out, but it'll be a while before I revise the past chapters.
*The whole story is best read on the mobile app, as was pointed out to me. If you have a smart phone, I'd recommend you open this from there. (I'm only using this format to emulate the essence of the VN. This is experimental, although I am satisfied with the results so far (again, try this out on the app!). Should I venture into other ff's in the future, I'd be adopting the normal literary motif).
Chapter 21 – Blood, Sweat, Tears
Meiya
What is this ill-sensation that has me shaken to my very core?
A heart-wrenching feeling so foreign to this Mitsurugi.
It has me wishing to pull at my hair, and scream like I've never screamed. It leaves me short of breath, my heartbeat throbbing through my chest.
This heart-wrenching feeling—that urges me to drive these chopsticks into the Fukui girl's neck...
What is this toxic feeling that is polluting my head?
Tis not anger—I am no stranger to anger.
Nor is it hatred. I have hated and been hated before.
Fear.
Grief.
Restlessness?
No.
It is not any singular form of these negative emotions. Rather, a summation of them all.
None of the aforementioned, and yet—not or, and yet—all of those mentioned.
None, and all.
All, but none.
A paradox that has wrapped itself around my Mitsurugi pride.
This self-destructive feeling is entirely new to me...
For what reason have I become surrounded by an emotion this unhealthy?
Every second I spend around him only deepens my utter confusion...
. . .
. . .
Him... I realize.
. . .
It involves him... I should have sooner.
Perhaps what I find most maddening of all, is this unfathomable feeling of—love.
Love—for him.
For a boy I once knew, as Takeru...
Woe is me...
For this feeling of love is the reason of my woe for my proud self. For why would I fall in love with a man whom I have only just met? A man who—according to the handwriting on the wall, will be the very cause of my eternal rest?
This makes absolutely no sense.
Indeed—how pitiful of me, to so quickly and easily succumb to a tragic account of my story of—love...
And...
I cannot find rhyme.
I cannot find reason.
Other than—these unfounded visions.
Aneue... if only you were at my side...
Have you ever been as awfully befuddled as I?
Why does the mind become weak when faced with matters of the heart?
And, my... your sister's heart... is so weak that she yearns for the man she sees in her dreams, even though that man is the man who takes your sister's life...
I would like to know why...
But the more I think of it, the less I understand.
The less I understand, the more restless mine heart becomes.
Foremost, I would not have been attacked with reckless abandon by this foreign, ill-sensation were it not for this tragic account of love.
Only, and all because—my heart has known love...
Hence.
It is—maddening.
Verily perplexing.
Crippling my capacity as a human—my heart, as a woman...
Truly—what ill-sensation has taken over this love-besotted Mitsurugi?
I lay my chopsticks down on my tray of unfinished food as I stand to depart the dining hall.
My evening's appetite had been scarce before I'd taken my seat, and the arrival of Fukui had erased what little remained of it.
It need be said, that—
So consumed I was by this heart-wrenching feeling that I heard nothing of the discourse of my squadmates prior to and ensuing my leave. Even as my lips parted and closed at the questions they had directed at me, no words ever left my person.
So consumed I was that I had momentarily forgotten Shirogane's inexplicable grasp of Mugen Kidou—the sword art passed unto me by the Regent House of Koubuin through my shishou, Mitsurugi Raiden.
So consumed I was that—as I absently carried out my routine personal exercise, I failed to notice when the afternoon light had completely fallen, and the darkness of night had arisen.
Though that might be attributed to the nights growing brighter as of late.
The moon's waxing crescent has passed a phase to reveal more of its incandescent face.
One more week, I gander, until it rears itself in its entirety, so that I may once again bask in the glow of its lunar beauty.
And as I gaze at the starry night, the sky with nary a cloud in sight, so stills my rumbling heart.
Tsukuyomi? Kindly accept my sincerest apology.
No sooner had your moral lesson freed me from my fear of death than I'd been plagued by this ill-sensation. Though in my defense, this ill-sensation is more frightening than even death...
However. Tsukuyomi, and aneue—
I might not require your counsel, not on this untoward happenstance.
Loath as I am to confess, I believe the root that plagues the love-besotted me is exactly that.
None other than—love, so I believe.
Thusly, all that ought to be done is resist.
I ought to vigorously resist—this feeling of love.
Love...
For...
Takeru...
And if I can uproot and resist this forlorn love, then I may yet again free myself from this ill-sensation that is more frightening than even death.
Ah.
It has dawned on me.
I only now recognize the title of this ill-sensation.
Only now that I had thought myself retired for the day and traversed the barracks for my chambers.
In the course of my stroll, I'd encountered the man I see in my dreams, walking with purpose toward—I know not where.
He has not noticed me in turn, though that is beside the point.
As it were, the title came upon seeing Shirogane unexpectedly at this late hour, and upon seeing, I recalled how Fukui had boldly stolen him in front of me.
And its title is—Jealousy, no longer foreign to this Mitsurugi.
So this is what That feels like...
Now realizing that it is Jealousy that has been plaguing me all evening, like a shadow, I decide to soundlessly pursue the object of my forlorn love, deep into the dead of night.
Yuuko
(Shirogane)
Sensei, is this absolutely necessary for this to work...?
(Yuuko)
Why of course of course.
This is me we're talking about;
I wouldn't be expending the effort unless it was absolutely necessary.
(Yashiro)
. . .
(Yuuko)
Look at that, you two look so cute together.
Inside my office, I'm getting everything prepared for Yashiro's projection 'ceremony'.
As long as Shirogane's memory of my self from 'his world' is as intact as he claims, Yashiro should be able to find it, and hopefully project it into my own memory.
Think of this as a reinforcement.
After all, I already do have a vague impression of the anomaly in my formula. I simply need to pinpoint where the heterodox is. Everything else should fall into place thereafter.
I am that confident in my ability to piece it together.
(Shirogane)
By the way, sensei, it's been deviating too much.
So much so that I'm afraid I might be branching into a timeline I've never visited—
(Yuuko)
Do tell.
I am currently busy 'setting the mood'. This is a ceremony, as I said, so I've been rearranging my room to accommodate the ritual Yashiro is to perform.
And due to the solemnity of the circumstance, I had decided to tidy up my room just a bit.
I should've done this sooner so we wouldn't have to waste time like this, but spilt milk doesn't return to the tray.
Near the entrance at the other side of the room, Yashiro and Shirogane are seated together on the couch.
In the same spot.
On the couch.
On the same X and Z coordinates, but slightly different on the Y axis.
In layman's terms, Yashiro is sitting on Shirogane's lap.
I told them this part was important.
'Paramount,' is the exact word I had used.
'This wouldn't work any other way.'
And I wasn't lying... Not entirely...
Distance is key to Yashiro's abilities.
The closer she is to the subject, the stronger her mind reading ability.
The closer she is to the object, the more vivid her projections.
Of course this is the excuse I had said to them, but the other truth is that Yashiro does look adorable sitting on Shirogane's lap.
Her ponytails are in the way of his face.
Watching him swat it away from his nose every so often is another bonus to this amusing setting.
'Where did I put that stupid thing?'
(Shirogane)
I might've made a grave blunder...
Too many events have been happening differently...
There's no telling what consequences will come of it...
(Yuuko)
Oh? What kind of differences?
Hmm.
Sounds like Shirogane has been talking about something for a while now.
I've been casually dismissing—err, acknowledging him—because of his vapid elocution, but it's beginning to sound too sober to ignore any longer.
(Shirogane)
. . .
Are you sure you're tidying up?
(Yuuko)
Of course I am.
My definition of tidy may be different from society's, but that's exactly what I'm doing.
I had dropped a full row of books from the shelf to the floor (to explain Shirogane's offhand question).
(Shirogane)
I wasn't prepared to meet Capt. Isumi this early on.
Nor should I have met your STF.
And now, I've even gotten myself mixed up with Cookie and Ryuu—
'But we've made remarkable progress thanks to the XM3, both in the TSF and 00 Unit fronts,' I almost utter, but it is his last sentence that has grabbed my attention.
I stop shuffling the papers on my desk to stare at Shirogane.
The paper I already had in my hand is fixed in place, spared from its cursed fate of being tossed to the side.
(Yuuko)
Elaborate.
'I've even gotten myself mixed up with Cookie and Ryuu.'
It didn't have to sound strange.
There was no need for it to sound so surprising.
He was formally introduced to them, and Takahashi-kun, after their hive simulation, as approved by yours truly.
So, why the special mention?
And considering that he didn't recognize them from the outset, I can deduce with absolute certainty that their encounter is a first for Shirogane.
QED—this might be more than just a meager deviation.
That in itself isn't concerning, however, for reasons I shall explain after listening to Shirogane a bit longer.
(Shirogane)
Well, yeah, I ran into them a few times now—
(Yuuko)
Have you told them anything you shouldn't have?!
I give voice to my primary concern.
I can hear it tightening (my voice, that is), though that's beyond my control.
(Shirogane)
About myself?
Nothing, really.
I've done more listening than talking.
Hmm.
While I would like to doubt him, I don't think he's lying,
and Yashiro's mellow expression quenches my doubts.
Now.
I've never explicitly told him to keep confidential the nature of his existence.
Such an order would've been the most obvious thing to do immediately.
However, I felt like imposing something so absolute would be an exercise in futility.
Who's to say that—in a fleeting moment of weakness, Shirogane would slip up anyway?
Absolutes may be possible to impose,
but impossible to follow through and through.
Just as I, two nights ago, felt like I'd have to call Michiru to go and fetch Shirogane, our decisions as humans come to us naturally based on the moment and circumstance.
How was I to know that it didn't fall in line with Shirogane's future knowledge?
I don't know the future myself.
Thus, I'd forced no such command on Shirogane.
My decision on this matter is based on—trust.
I trust that—Shirogane will do the right thing,
and if he doesn't. Well, that would be utterly disappointing.
His battle-hardened heart may be enough to keep him from going astray.
A shell of a human—only able to see his objective and nothing else, is what I would like to think of him.
Cold of me, I am well aware.
But the plain truth is that it would be easier to manipulate him if he has thrown away his humanity. Like a puppet on strings, it'd be a lot less effort for the both of us if he just hands me the reins.
Though I don't believe he's fallen that low just yet.
I still feel resistance when I tug on a string.
In any event, I shouldn't have to state such an obvious mandate for secrecy.
I'm sure the Yuukos of other worlds have drilled that into his skull by now.
(Shirogane)
It's just... It was a mistake getting to know them,
and I've been trying to avoid them, but—
Oh. That's all it is.
Shirogane's concern is in a thread severed from mine.
A little more relieved, I toss the paper I was holding to the floor as I continue with my tidying-up, quotations implied.
(Yuuko)
That's probably for the best.
You best stay away from those kids in particular.
They tend to stick their noses in where they don't belong.
And among other things, they're dangerously perceptive.
Dangerously.
Perceptive.
I should reiterate.
(Shirogane)
That information would've been more useful earlier on.
(Yuuko)
Why's that?
(Shirogane)
They're impossible to avoid.
And to make matters worse, I had an altercation with Cookie a few hours ago—
'An altercation? Did you hurt her—,'
Errrr...
(Yuuko)
Did she hurt you?
(Shirogane)
No, no one's been hurt, but...
What do you think, sensei?
It's all too different from my past loops.
I feel it diverging too much, it might be best if I reset and—
Ouch! Kasumi!
Hoh.
Kasumi had squeezed those ugly bruises on Shirogane's forearms.
Her beady eyes are even rounder.
She looks like she wants to badly say something, yet she isn't saying anything.
(Yuuko)
Neeee Shiroganeee~.
You talk about 'resetting' like it's nothing.
I don't think Yashiro likes that.
Yashiro nods her head slowly.
(Yuuko)
And don't ever bring up 'resetting' ever again.
At least not in front of me or Yashiro.
'Thank you,' her eyes say to me.
(Yuuko)
Besides, like you said, there have been a number of deviations.
What if one of those deviations has opened up the route to the Conductor?
Ah? Yashiro?
Is there something you'd like to say?
(Shirogane)
I... suppose so...
Although...
Sensei, you're taking this more lightly than I thought you would.
(Yuuko)
Is that so?
Drawers fling open as I continue my search—I mean, 'tidying-up'.
(Shirogane)
Yeah.
Shouldn't you be worried that I might've made a change that would completely throw off everything I know about the future of this world?
I'd be useless to you then,
so I've been under the assumption that you'd show at least some concern.
(Yuuko)
Has any major event been thwarted or triggered out of schedule?
(Shirogane)
Well, no, but the consequences aren't always that obvious immediately—
(Yuuko)
Aha!
I've finally found the slippery thing.
Why do important stuff like this always disappear somehow when it's time to actually need them? There has to be a number of wormhole pockets lurking in this room.
Quickly, I bring it with me and take my spot in the seat I had set in front of the couch.
(Shirogane)
You've turned your office upside-down for that?
(Yuuko)
Save the cheeky comments for after.
Now, Yashiro, Shirogane.
Say cheese!
(Yashiro)
Cheese.
A flash of light temporarily saturates the office.
(Yuuko)
And this memento isn't for you, anyway.
I say to Shirogane to address the disbelief occupying his face, meanwhile returning the camera into my desk drawer (let's see if it slips into another wormhole and disappears another time).
I'll have the photograph developed as soon as we're through here.
(Yuuko)
It's for Yashiro.
Yashiro's rabbit ears twitch and flick the back of Shirogane's eyelids, making him rub them out of reflex.
Silly girl.
Speak up if you want to defend yourself.
(Shirogane)
Now that that's out of the way, can we please get to it?
(Yuuko)
My my.
Someone's in a hurry.
Is there somewhere you have to be after this?
I retake my seat and make myself comfortable anyway.
I've been doing a splendid job at containing my excitement so far,
but even I can't withhold it for too long.
And I have reached the point of 'too long'.
I'm practically brimming at the seams with all the pent-up excitement.
Shirogane casts me a sidelong glance as he replies,
(Shirogane)
I've yet to visit the other room today.
Ah. The 00 Unit's room.
He's been religiously visiting it every night, so it would seem.
'Religiously'.
Tch—I'm not a fan of the word, but it really does suit his nightly routine, doesn't it?
Though it won't be long before that room outlives its purpose,
when we give the Unit a proper body to contain it.
(Yuuko)
By the way.
Moving along—or rather, moving sideways before we move along,
I hazard one last question for Shirogane.
(Yuuko)
Takahashi must've been there when you encountered the Fukuis.
Is that safe to assume?
(Shirogane)
On one occasion, yes he was.
Why do you ask?
Because I'm curious.
That's all.
I'm only curious.
(Yuuko)
When you talked to Takahashi...
Did he... ever... mention... me?
(Shirogane)
Huh? He might've, a few times.
Don't get any ideas.
I'm only curious, Yashiro.
(Yashiro)
. . .
With that settled,
and without further ado—
(Yuuko)
Alright, Shirogane.
Calm your thoughts and recall the memory.
'Yashiro, you know what to do.'
(Yashiro)
Hai...
Sitting in front of their couch, I cross my legs and wait for the ceremony to unfold.
Shirogane slowly closes his eyes.
Yashiro holds on more tightly to Shirogane's arms.
. . .
For a while, nothing exciting happens.
The only observation worth noting is the sounds of our breathing.
However, for some odd reason, I am immensely conscious of that observation.
How do I put it—
As though the three of us are attempting to match each other's... rhythms?
It's not just our breathing, now that I've zoned in on this heavy ambience.
Body temperature.
Brain waves.
Pulse.
Soul?
They're all trying to—synchronize, ludicrous as it sounds.
Almost the second I think of the absurdity of that conclusion—
The world around me changes.
Struggle as I might to rationalize the science of what just occurred, no words can possibly do this justice.
A shift. In space.
That's what it felt like.
But that's not what happened.
I'm still in the office.
Yet.
I'm not in the office.
I stand up, but my body does not.
However, I really have stood up.
But—and I kid you not.
My body is still in the seat, legs crossed as I left it.
So why am I able to stand and peer down at my seated body?
I'm sorry...
I'm rambling...
Only because...
This is all too surreal...
Perhaps in the near future, when my mind has winded down, I might be able to retell these events from an objective and comprehensive point of view.
But then there's the risk that I'd forget, or miss out, some of the important details.
This narration should suffice for now, and if anything comes out incoherent—well, deal with it.
Yashiro?
She and Shirogane are also as I left them on the couch.
Unresponsive and—unmoving.
I say that because I tried waving my hands and snapping my fingers in front of their faces, to no avail.
It would appear that I am experiencing this phenomenon by my lone self.
A real world, out of body experience.
What science could possibly explain this?
Yashiro—is this the full extent of your projection ability?
(? ? ?)
Oh, and just to reiterate, I'm sure you all know this already, but this is the equation you use here—
Come to think of it, my body (the body I can control—not the one frozen in time) has a certain degree of translucency.
And now that I think about it even more, when I had said that this office is not my office—that must've been due to the fact that what looks like a translucent classroom is occupying the very same space.
Yashiro's projection is superimposing itself on top of my office.
Incredible.
An out of this world, out of body experience.
Yashiro, you've outdone yourself.
And perhaps Shirogane deserves some credit as well.
When Shirogane had mentioned that his memories are vivid, I never could've imagined that they were this vivid.
Yuuko, you magnificent genius!
I knew it was a brilliant idea to bring the two of them together!
Only I am capable of conjuring such a brilliant plan!
Hohoho~.
(? ? ?)
See the equation in the box there? It's an important one. I'll expound on it a bit over here—
Hmm?
Now that my elation has come down to earth a little, it looks like there's a teacher in front of this superimposed classroom.
Hoh—that's... me.
I'm a teacher.
Might this be... Shirogane's home world?
And would you look at that attire she has on.
This world's fashion sense is quite more luxurious, but.
That's a fantastic choice of clothes, if we do say so ourselves.
Ah—speaking of which.
Where would Shirogane be—never mind. Found him.
There's his seat.
Surrounded by his peers from Marimo's training squad.
And he has a different look on his face.
A world of difference, you might even say.
You can tell how much he's grown just by placing their faces next to each other.
Life hits you rather hard and fast, eh, Shirogane?
Hohoho~.
In any case, while I would love to dilly-dally, I need what I came for.
I'm not sure how long Yashiro could maintain this projection.
Alright Yuuko, spit it out already.
(Yuuko)
Listen up! I came up with an amazing idea!
I came up with it yesterday,
when I was playing this really boring RPG for the PlayStallion 2.
RPG? PlayStallion 2?
(Yuuko)
I'd be able to create the ultimate parallel computer with the same level of cognitive ability as any human.
Concise and to the point.
Even as a teacher, we can't help but be brilliant, can we, me?
(Yuuko)
Traditional computers work like this—
Ughh! I take it back.
Spare me the lecture!
(Yuuko)
You! Pay attention! This'll be on the test!
Aghh! Yes Ma'am!
—Wait.
(Yuuko)
Processing with several semiconductors is faster and more efficient than just one. Incidentally, this is also exactly how the human brain operates.
. . .
. . .
Nothing new so far.
(Yuuko)
But you see, the human brain is comprised of billions of neurons. It's just not feasible to get that many semiconductors and have them work together on the same problem.
For pete's sake, get to the crux, woman!
(Yuuko)
In other words, this is garbage!
Huh?
W–w–what did you call my lifelong research?!
(Yuuko)
This way of thinking is outdated!
N–n–nandeste?!
That witch!
I ought to give her a good slap—if she weren't just a projection, that is...
Matter of fact, when the war against the BETA is over, I'll have to dedicate the totality of my resources to deliver you that interdimensional slap!
Actually—even if we do end up in defeat, until my dying breath, I'll have to dedicate the totality of my resources to deliver you that interdimensional slap!
Hell hath no fury like Kouzuki Yuuko's scorn!
(Yuuko)
Which means, we need one of my strokes of genius here.
Behold—this will be the harbinger of the next generation!
Oh Yuuko, your diagrams are as elegant as ever!
Here it comes—
(Yuuko)
No matter how many neurons it might have, the brain is still one solitary, self-contained system! There's no need to force billions of semiconductors to work in harmony!
There.
(Yuuko)
It's not always a matter of quantity.
Only an idiot would think that!
You've spared yourself my interdimensional slap, woman.
For right there, in the middle of the rugged blackboard, having thrown away the most basic tenet of my parallel computing systems research, lies the key.
The key to humanity's salvation—
The missing piece to the puzzle of the 00 Unit.
Yuuko! I can almost hug you!
Eureka!
(Yuuko and Yuuko)
Yes, this is it! This is the answer!
'I should go write a thesis on this right away!', we both say simultaneously.
That feeling of elation—is coming back to me.
I can't believe it.
It was so, so very simple, yet.
I couldn't have come up with it in my world, not without that stroke of genius delivered by some R-P-G.
I could feel a voluminous laughter trying to escape me.
This is no time to dally, however.
It's too early to celebrate.
I'll pop a bottle of sake upon the completion of this onerous research.
For now, though.
'All right, Yashiro.
You can pull me out now.'
Brushing my hair back with both hands, I brace myself for the return trip, relishing in the best mood I've ever been in throughout my career.
And once again, the world around me changes.
Except.
I'm still not back in the office?
Where am I?
Another scene has superimposed itself on top of the still reflections of Shirogane, Yashiro and me.
This new scene is that of, a city in ruins?
Ara?
Why'd I come here?
Hmm...
How exactly am I supposed to let Yashiro know to reel me back to reality, anyway?
Had I known this out-of-body phenomenon would happen, I would've looked into this more thoroughly.
But I hadn't known, so I haven't prepared.
Yashiro? Can you hear me?
Haaa...
I'm in a pickle, looks like.
I try to sort out the options available to me, and in the meantime, I twirl myself around to examine my new surroundings—
. . .
In my whole life, I have never regretted satiating my curiosity.
That has held true only until this very moment, soon as I fully turned my head to what was behind me.
The grotesque picture that greeted me makes me jump back out of fear.
What the, hell?
Marimo? Marimo?
Marimo?
WHAT THE HELL HAS HAPPENED TO YOU, MARIMO?!
I—
I try to shriek, but nothing comes out of my lips.
I try to shout, but an invisible force has wrapped itself around my throat.
Marimo's once-beautiful face,
the top half mutilated and beyond recognition,
the bottom half tragically attached to the rest of her lifeless body.
Reason deserts me.
I hurl myself at the Soldier Class monstrosity that dismembered my dearest friend.
Tears uncontrollably fall, and my voice finally returns.
Though the only sound it makes is the wail of a woman's scorn...
But of course...
I slip past the projection, unable to make it disappear.
Unable.
To make it disappear.
All I could do is watch the horrid demise of my dear friend Marimo.
'SHIROGANE! WHERE WERE YOU WHEN SHE NEEDED YOU?', I yell instead at the glassy image of Shirogane, Yashiro still on his lap.
My knees feel weak, and they drop to the ground, unable to carry my weight any longer.
'Yashiro, get me out of here... please...'
Enough. I can't bear to watch any more of this...
And again...
The world around me changes.
(? ? ?)
Thank you for everything, Adjutant Commander.
What? What's this now?
(? ? ?)
I thank you for giving me honourable missions that contributed to the future of humanity.
My Captain... Michiru...
(Isumi)
You gave my life special meaning when it would have otherwise been ordinary.
ENOUGH! YASHIRO! TAKE ME OUT OF THIS SICKENING FARCE!
(Isumi)
I'll chase off the devil and his demons before you arrive—
*shift*
(? ? ?)
Speak of me with pride to your subordinates, alright?
I'm counting on you, Shirogane.
Hayase... Mitsuki...
My arms and my sword...
I don't even have the strength to protest any further...
None of these should faze me...
I know damn well what I signed up for...
I've long convinced myself that I've been able to successfully disconnect my emotions from my responsibilities...
And yet...
To witness these calamities first hand, and up close, I can't help but feel my mask crumble...
. . .
Shirogane...
Have you been carrying this with you, this whole time...?
This is what you've had to live through...?
(? ? ?)
All of you, maintain course!
Let us handle this!
. . .
Huh?
Like a fool, with my eyes closed, I've been stabbing at the air sideways with the imaginary dagger in my hand, stupidly believing that I'd eventually stab the translucent projections out of sight, out of mind.
I had lowered my head, unable to protest, unwilling to witness.
And thus I've ignored the last shift of phase.
But that voice.
That once-intimate voice...
Is a voice that spurs my heart, even to this day.
So, I had to look up, albeit with a sense of dread.
(Takahashi)
I'm counting on you—to save humanity!
Not you too...
Don't you dare leave me again, you incorrigible simpleton!
(Takahashi)
All units, get in front of the A-04!
ARGGGGGGGH!
ENOUGH!
ENOUGH! ENOUGH! ENOUGH!
ENOUUUUUGH!
(Shirogane)
Sensei?
(Yuuko)
—?
I...
I've returned...
Like I had never even left.
Like I'd been seated cross legged in the chair in front of the couch all along.
Shirogane's lips are moving, though the words are still blurred to me.
Not that I care to listen to what he has to say.
In a fraction of a second, I stand up, grab Shirogane by the shoulder, and lead him out of my offices.
It's... too bad... for these sliding mechanisms...
A slam of the door would've made for a more appropriate effect...
God—damnit...
Damn it...
Damn it...
Damn it all!
I do not wish to witness the deaths of the people I love for a second time...
But Laplace's Demon—
And determinism.
Shirogane's existence has foiled Laplace's classical definition of causality beyond a shadow of a doubt, having met different outcomes throughout his different lifetimes.
There is no one distinct, unavoidable future.
In fact, no two worlds visited by Shirogane will ever have the exact same outcome.
Each world is bound to have its own unique thumbprint, so to speak.
Even if Shirogane were to do nothing, nothing at all, and perhaps hide out and isolate himself, that world's future will still shift by virtue of his observation.
And if Shirogane were to do everything exactly as he had done in a previous world, down to the finest detail (which is downright impossible, by the way), all he can hope to achieve is increase the possibility of meeting the same fate.
For ultimately, at some point, the worlds will eventually diverge from events as miniscule as the blowing of a grain of sand, or Shirogane breathing in a different batch of air.
As such, for instance, in the quantity of parallel universes where Alternative V was activated, Shirogane himself, or those around him, might have died a different manner of death, and at a different time, in each world he has visited.
These he claims to have no memory of, and I will not push the subject on the insignificant details.
Yet another prominent evidence of this postulation is the difference between our worlds.
This world—and Shirogane's 'home world'.
When Shirogane divulged to me the histories of his home world, he pointed out that during the Second World War, the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
That hadn't been done in this reality.
And that—or more precisely, the absence of that bombing—caused a tidal effect as drastic as an alien invasion in the years that followed.
Who would've thought.
Who could've thought...
Regardless—
No two outcomes are ever absolutely the same.
That is the fact of the matter.
If all he is capable of doing is to increase the possibility of repeating an open, boundless system, then I have little hope of controlling the future we are headed for.
Shirogane's future knowledge was, is, and will always be, a bet on a possibility, at best.
Thus, as I had mentioned prior, Shirogane's worry about the deviations he's been making makes little difference to me, for I am fully aware of the futility in trying to pull the strings of one so ungraspable and limitless as the future.
The closest I can get is by betting on a possibility.
I can place my bets on Shirogane...
Although...
I had said to him that their deaths are necessary for the preservation of humanity...
That their downfalls draw out the best causalities, and grant us the best possibility, of winning the war against the BETA.
And that is my ultimate goal...
Nevertheless...
I can't erase Marimo's image from my thoughts, neither can I forget his voice...
Are the two elements truly mutually exclusive?
Truly, and absolutely—mutually exclusive?
Is there a path with the best possibility of not just the preservation of the human race, but of my... loved ones... as well?
I might be trying to bite more than I can chew,
or maybe I'm even grasping at straws here.
But—I'm a genius, damnit!
Maybe I can come up with something—
What about the Causality Conductor?
What about that?
That is another puzzle I have yet to fathom.
But Shirogane himself has admitted that we haven't found out the cause that brought about the Causality Conductor.
And any uncaused cause could destroy the universe,
so said the Greek scholars of old.
'For nothing exists or has come into being in the universe without a cause,' so said the Greek scholars of old.
'And if any uncaused movement is introduced into (the universe), it would disintegrate into pieces and cease to function, falling into chaos.'
So if I were to determine the true cause of the Conductor, then perhaps we can restore order to this world and need not worry about disrupting our best causalities—
But what of quantum indeterminism and Chaos Theory?
It would utterly destroy the best possibilities out of Shirogane and his future knowledge!
Gah!
I'm... exhausted...
I really am grasping at straws...
My head isn't thinking straight...
My emotions are clouding my mental faculties...
. . .
Ah.
Yashiro has fainted unto the couch.
But, her breathing is steady, and her cheeks are pale pink.
She's just resting...
That's—a relief. I'm tired out too, so.
Please allow me to sleep beside you for a while, Yashiro...
Perhaps I can think this more clearly come morning.
My shoes fall to the carpet as I tuck myself in with the little girl on our makeshift bed, my coat serving as our blanket...
I have never wished to be more wrong about something.
I wish... that I am terribly wrong...
Desperately wrong...
About you, Shirogane...
If there is humanity in you left...
I hope you do something... anything... about that dreadful future...
That is the last thought in my weary mind, just as sleep immediately finds me.
Mitsuki
Breathe easy, me.
If those chumps can learn it quickly, there's no reason I shouldn't be able to.
It's approaching midnight, which means I've been at it for almost eight nonstop hours.
Yet the most I've been able to accomplish is a slow walk, and I could only do so in straight lines.
Even then, I keep losing my rhythm after a short distance.
Turning is especially tedious; I lose my balance at every curve.
This is almost worse than my very first go-around with the simulators, three years back.
Thank goodness for this feedback system—my stumbles and falls no longer rock the cabin as much as it used to.
Still, I shouldn't be stumbling in the first place, as the G-forces in the real TSFs could get multiple times worse than the simulators, so I'd rather smoothen this here than out in the real thing.
It's proving rather difficult, though.
The responsiveness has been upped a notch or thirty, and the concept of 'cancels', while brilliant in theory, is harder to put into practice.
I'll worry about 'combos' later, after I have the 'cancels' down.
Now then, having said all that—
Why? Why are the Fukuis and the newbies one step ahead of me?!
(Haruka)
How are you holding up, Mitsuki?
Hmm?
The hologram of Haruka appears on my retinal projector, a hint of concern in her voice.
Concern that I don't need.
Yeah—that's the last thing I need in my current standstill.
(Mitsuki)
Shh—you're breaking my concentration.
I brush off her pity.
(Haruka)
You've been awfully quiet this whole time.
I haven't been getting any readings from you for a while now.
You're the lowest contributor for our data collection at this rate,
and I can't tweak your control settings if you don't give me something to work with.
Right. Data collection.
The dangerous notion—that my current progress is in fact due to the data shared by the rest of the test pilots, and not my own doing—comes and goes in my thoughts.
(Mitsuki)
Like I said, I've been concentrating.
(Haruka)
If you say so...
Urk!
I know I haven't said, or even moved, in the last thirty minutes, it's just...
It's mentally taxing just setting my simulated-TSF in motion, and even more taxing to maintain the pace, so every stumble hurts not only my butt, but my brain to boot.
Honestly—how did Shirogane make it look so easy?
And the younglings—how'd they pick up on it so quickly?
It's almost as if it's designed specifically for rookies, and not for veterans like me!
With this looming in my mind, I am unable to call it a day, even when Touko, Misae, and all the 207-A girls had done so over two hours ago. And with Michiru, Ryuu and Takahashi-san still practicing, Haruka has the high honour of staying over until all of us decide to retire.
Khh—
Even Takahashi-san now has progress to show, while Michiru, like me, has paused.
Though I bet she's being more constructive.
If I know her well enough, which I do (I'd like to believe), she's most likely engrossed in the control logs of someone else.
Of someone like Shirogane, perhaps.
Or even of Kukiko, or Ryuuseiu...
Speaking of... Ryuu...
That oaf.
I suppose it's not as bad as it was earlier this evening, now that his twin had left.
But—ughh!
Can he be any more flaunting with his almost-immediate mastery of this new OS?!
Look at him—he's still showing off.
One would think he'd get tired of it after dancing around all evening.
He must be doing this to spite me, right—?
(Haruka)
Don't beat yourself up if it's not clicking right off the bat.
There's a steep learning curve, but it's clear skies once you get over the top—
(Mitsuki)
Steep learning curve?
Akane didn't seem to think it was that steep!
Even Haruka's younger sister, Akane, who has been looking up to me all this time, now has me looking up at her!
(Haruka)
Ah. That's by design.
Old habits die hard, you're learning the hard way.
(Mitsuki)
Tell me something else I don't know—
I almost say, but Haruka's hologram makes me think twice with those narrow slits also known as her eyes.
However, her following words betray the admonishment I thought I'd receive for my sass.
(Haruka)
Do you remember the first time we went through the pilot aptitude test?
An unexpected direction, she has taken.
Haruka says 'we', though she really means to say just 'me', as she never went through the aptitude test herself because of her injury.
She's being considerate for my sake, and I know better than to correct her.
Like me, Haruka hates it when people show her any pity.
(Mitsuki)
Yeah, how could I forget?
What a disaster that was, ahaha~.
What else can I do but laugh at myself?
I remember my tryout, clear as mud—I mean, crystal.
Jinguuji-kyoukan declared my results the worst she'd seen in the history of surface pilots.
But I knew that myself before she'd announced it, of course.
I was a total mess and a nervous wreck the moment I first sat in the cabin's seat.
It was a whole new world to me.
The controls, the movements, not to mention the embarrassing transparency of the armoured suits—
It was too much to take in all at once.
Seriously.
I know of no other way to describe it, other than that it really was a whole new world to me.
And while everyone laughed when Kyoukan declared my disastrous results to the class, Takayuki-kun and Haruka were quick to shut them up.
I decided, then and there.
That incident embarrassed me to high heavens that I promised I'd toil myself to the bone and become the best surface pilot the world has ever seen.
(Haruka)
You spent every minute of free time practicing and studying, didn't you?
(Mitsuki)
Until my fingers started bleeding—
(Haruka)
I remember no such thing!
I never told her, or even Takayuki-kun.
It was more than enough that he and Haruka were always at my side when I needed them,
so I never wanted to worry anybody.
Haruka—back then, she was coping with the loss of her legs.
I never wanted her to worry... I never wanted her to realize that...
I was toiling myself senseless—to make up for the both of us...
Because if she would never be able to sit inside a TSF, then however great I was striving to be, I had to be twice as better, for Haruka's sake...
I had to be the best...
So that we could protect he who was precious to us...
And by the way, my fingers really did bleed at times.
From big things like smashing my fist or constantly chafing against my armoured suit, to the little things like paper cuts and nail digging.
I always had a fresh supply of band-aids then, as well as some ice and water whenever Sgt. Maj. Kyozuka had some to spare.
(Haruka)
Against all odds, we all know how you ended up,
Storm Vanguard One.
If she smiles any wider, my cheeks would get redder!
(Mitsuki)
Hmmm...
Returning to the topic at hand—
I had originally believed that Haruka brought us through memory lane because she thinks me defeated right now.
My present predicament closely resembles that of the past, I suppose.
Still—it should be even less of a reason for her concern, because she should know that I would never give up!
(Haruka)
I bet you're wishing you had this OS back then!
Ackh!
We've boarded two completely separate trains of thought!
(Mitsuki)
Why? What difference would it make?
Actually—if I had to learn something this complicated, I would've been even worse off!
(Haruka)
Not really, no.
I could see why you'd think that though.
This XM3 system is especially effective on fresh Eishis so that they'd fall right into Shirogane's default piloting style, hence why 207-A is picking it up fairly faster.
We'll need to collect more data from Shirogane himself and tweak it as we need to,
but any progress from him and everyone tonight will be stored in the library and shared in real-time.
Hoh? So that's how it works?
It almost sounds too easy, for a brand new Eishi to start off as good as Shirogane...
How would they ever come to appreciate the value of hard work?
In this regard, I've honestly developed a great respect for Shirogane.
While it is natural to only see the end result (in this case, his piloting mastery), it would be borderline insulting to pay no mind to what he has gone through to achieve that level of competence.
I would bet every strand of Haruka's hair that Shirogane had to shed a lot of blood, sweat and tears to stand where he is now.
It might be talent—maybe I could chalk it up to talent or genius, but even those won't do any good without the virtue of perseverance.
It'd be interesting to find out what hardships Shirogane had to go through...
I intuit that he has one hell of a background story.
I should remind myself to ask him if I get the chance.
'Were you kidnapped as a child and forced into elite training by some dark underground secret organization?'
That sounds like a fair question.
Yeah—that's how I'll phrase it.
Hmm...
Of course I'm complaining like this, but it's actually quite fortunate if everyone would be as proficient as him.
Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself.
Either that or I'm falling behind the times.
Incidentally, and at any rate,
Haruka does make a strong argument if you look at 207-A's remarkable progress,
but even more remarkable than theirs is...
(Mitsuki)
. . .
And—the Fukuis?
If the argument is made for green Eishis, and not for veterans like me, then why isn't it holding water for the twins?
(Haruka)
Come now, Mitsuki.
We were like sponges too when we were their age.
Tsk.
Since when did we become 'old' all of a sudden?
(Haruka)
In fact, you should ask them for a hand if you're still struggling with your footwork.
(Mitsuki)
Whoa whoa whoa—wait a minute!
I never said I needed a hand!
'Ask them for a hand,' she says.
Hah. She sounds drastic.
If I want help with my footwork, I need better feet, not hands!
(Haruka)
I thought you'd say that.
You're not used to asking for help—
That goes without saying.
After all, I didn't earn the title of Storm Vanguard One out of thin air, as I only just shared.
I'm one of the best, simply put.
And put simply—being one of the best means that I'm usually the mentor, not the pupil.
I'm the helping hand—not the hand that asks for help.
So it goes without saying that I'm not used to asking for help.
It's unheard of. Like an eagle asking pigeons how to fly.
Why should they, when eagles are king of the skies?
(Haruka)
Maybe you're right.
Eagles may be accustomed to reigning the skies,
so it wouldn't behoove them to look above, right?
But then, how'd they know when another bird flies even higher?
They'd never see the albatross when it swoops away their throne.
(Mitsuki)
The joke's on the albatross—isn't there a myth about flying too close to the sun?
(Haruka)
You're ignoring my point, Mitsuki!
There is no shame in asking for help!
Don't let your pride get in the way!
Ngh...
This isn't a matter of pride, however.
This is about—them...
Them... and... my beloved... Takayuki-kun...
(Mitsuki)
Hmph.
Be that as it may.
Maybe when heaven and earth flip over, I'd consider asking their help.
Her projection takes a deep breath, then lets it out shortly.
(Haruka)
Willful as ever, are we?
(Mitsuki)
Haruka,
I say with a bit more solemnity,
(Mitsuki)
It still—hurts...
So I admit.
Only to Haruka can I speak this openly about our common love interest.
Only to my close friend Haruka can I openly say that I miss dear Takayuki...
And that's the simple truth.
When it comes down to it—
I cannot bring myself to associate with Takayuki-kun's old squadmates...
It'd be an insult to him... I'd be betraying him, wouldn't I?
So... I just can't do it...
As much of a soldier as I think I am, I still find it unfair that he died, while they—they survived...
Especially when... they could've brought him back...
(Haruka)
I miss him too, you know... but...
Haruka continues, almost as if she's reading my mind.
(Haruka)
Are you saying that all of Squadron 8 should've died with him and Shinji?
(Mitsuki)
Gr—that's not what I said.
(Haruka)
Do you hate Ryuu, Kuki and Ichimonji-san that much,
that you'd rather die than ask for their help?
(Mitsuki)
I...
Haruka... I don't know how you've gotten over it, but...
You were always the stronger out of the two of us...
Emotionally, psychologically, and—were it not for your accident during the CCSE—physically as well.
I've been trying, and trying, and trying to forget... and yet...
How you've already forgiven them is beyond me...
(Haruka)
That settles it, then. I'll have Ryuu-kun come over.
(Mitsuki)
Wait! Don't you dare bring him here—!
Too late.
Dear me—she can be amazingly persistent at times.
And I don't understand why she persistently tries to reconcile us...
Not everyone is as strong as you, Haruka—
(Haruka)
Ehhh...
The hologram whirs back to life without warning.
She looks all bashful, for some reason.
(Haruka)
Ryuu-kun refused to lend you a hand...
Ehehe...
She follows up with a nervous laugh.
That—is not funny.
Not even close!
(Mitsuki)
He said he wouldn't help?!
Why that little—!
(Haruka)
Mitsuki, hold on, we'll think of something else—
It's Haruka's turn to be too late.
I had already unseated myself and made my way to knock on his simulator cabin.
Knock.
Knock knock.
Knock knock knock knock knock knock knock—
Until it hisses open.
Out comes the runt, dirty scarf and everything.
(Ryuuseiu)
What gives? Ughh—it's you.
I'm not sure what to make of that tone he's using.
(Mitsuki)
What's your deal, Ryuu?
You'd help out everyone else but me?
No point in pretending I hadn't noticed, because I certainly know that he was entertaining every question thrown at him by seemingly everyone else, but now that it is I who's asking—
(Ryuuseiu)
You're full of it.
(Mitsuki)
Excuse me?
(Ryuuseiu)
Am I supposed to barge my way to you like you just did, just because I see you struggling?
Get over yourself—I'm not that kind, nor caring.
If you'd asked me sooner, and more nicely, maybe I would've.
(Mitsuki)
Ask... you...?
Wait—
Haruka?
HA-RU-KA?
She said she had asked him!
What's she playing me for?!
Gah—her tab is getting longer by the minute!
(Ryuuseiu)
Whatever, I gotta get back to Aniki—
He turns to reenter his cockpit, though he doesn't move any further than his first step backward.
Actually—let me clear up that nuance.
It's not that he doesn't move any further.
The truth is that he can't.
He can't move any further.
Because I had grabbed him by the scarf.
The scarf that he doesn't allow anyone to touch.
(Ryuuseiu)
Anego, I'd let go of that, if I were you—
Sharp, threatening eyes make their way to me,
but I venture forward nonetheless.
This is more than just my pride on the line...
(Mitsuki)
I'm—asking...
I gulp the words.
(Ryuuseiu)
Are?
(Mitsuki)
Takahashi-san can now walk and run without difficulty.
I, on the other hand—I need a hand at maintaining my stride.
I'm asking—for your help.
I gulp my pride.
(Ryuuseiu)
Haaaaa—
He crosses his arms and pokes his forehead with his left index finger, overemphasizing his contemplation.
(Ryuuseiu)
Be right back.
He finally responds.
At that, he yanks the piece of cloth I had my grip on and closes the cabin door.
To my surprise.
To my humiliating surprise.
I can do nothing but jump back as it descends.
As soon as it does, however.
Knock knock knock knock knock knock knock—
*hiss*
It opens for the second time.
(Ryuuseiu)
Geez—you've never been one for patience, huh Anego?
(Mitsuki)
Patience?! You closed the door in my face!
He seriously gets on my nerves.
But.
I have to endure.
I have to get the XM3 down, or at least find my footing, else I wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.
(Ryuuseiu)
I said I'd be right back, didn't I?
If only there was something close by I could wipe that smirk off with.
Although, I don't think I heard him say that he'd be right back, or did I?
(Mitsuki)
Either way, it's rude to close the door in anyone's face.
At least I could teach him some manners.
Considering his upbringing, he might not be aware of that etiquette.
(Ryuuseiu)
Oh I know it is.
(Mitsuki)
Then—!
Nghhh...
My fist clenches but I hide it in time.
He's being rude on purpose.
How the hell did this guy get along with Takayuki-kun?
(Ryuuseiu)
I had to let Aniki know.
Turns out he's okay by himself for now.
(Mitsuki)
You had to ask Takahashi-san's permission?
What is he—your father?
Even I could hear the irritation in my voice.
(Ryuuseiu)
Aniki is Aniki, the same way you are Anego.
No one can replace anyone else, as you very well know.
(Mitsuki)
. . .
Why do I detect a reference to Takayuki-kun in that statement?
(Ryuuseiu)
Anyhow—you might want to watch what you say next.
(Mitsuki)
And why would that be?
(Ryuuseiu)
Aniki and I have switched our radios back to the common channel.
He taps the microphone on the chin of his armoured suit while pointing that out.
I thought it'd been an empty threat, but now knowing that Takahashi-san might be able to hear us, I definitely have to choose my next words wisely!
(Mitsuki)
Ah. Excuse me, Takahashi-san.
I won't be too long; you could have him back soon as I get my motions under wrap—
Earnestly, I try to apologize for my earlier comment, in case he'd take it the wrong way.
As well as for borrowing his coach for a short while.
In the middle of it though, Ryuu suddenly bursts out laughing.
(Ryuuseiu)
I can't believe you fell for it.
Aniki doesn't mind, he might've turned his radio off even.
Boy—you should've seen the look on your face!
(Mitsuki)
Grrr! That wasn't even funny...
Whatever.
Honestly, must he take every opportunity to further my disdain?
Childish antics aside, I'd rather get down to business.
So, before he gets another chance to take me for a fool again,
I grab him by the arm with the intent to get it over and done with.
'This eagle will soar high in no time, no thanks to Haruka.'
So I say to myself, but the arm I grabbed wouldn't move.
I try yanking it (without looking back).
. . .
Nope, it still won't move.
After the second attempt, I turn my eyes back to him.
The guy has planted his feet firmly on the ground.
(Mitsuki)
What's the matter?
Has he changed his mind?!
(Ryuuseiu)
Anego, I still haven't said if I've decided to help you out.
(Mitsuki)
Haa?
(Ryuuseiu)
I just don't see what I could get out of this, you know?
(Mitsuki)
Nandeste?!
Being part of the same squad isn't good enough of a reason?!
(Ryuuseiu)
Hmm, nope.
Not good enough.
How about we talk terms, then?
(Mitsuki)
Terms?
Oh.
Terms.
Obviously.
Right.
What's he talking about?
(Ryuuseiu)
Yeah, terms.
An eye for two eyes, you know?
(Mitsuki)
You might've misunderstood the context of that phrase.
(Ryuuseiu)
Really? In what way?
(Mitsuki)
Never mind—
I won't even bother pointing out the error in that.
Ughh. Everything has a cost with this brother and sister pair.
I cock my head to the side, hair blocking my eyes,
but letting him know I have an ear to listen to his terms.
(Ryuuseiu)
Alright, so let's see.
You'll do as I say, no questions asked.
(Mitsuki)
No.
I am forced to say no.
'No questions asked'?
That's too much power, isn't it?
Who knows what perverted ideas he has in mind.
Then again—I might have the perverse mind for thinking of the perverted ideas that Ryuu might have in mind.
. . .
I've been spending too much time around Misae, haven't I?
(Ryuuseiu)
Hmph. Well then.
We change our squad name back to the Camelot Knights.
(Mitsuki)
No—
He's still hung up on that?
(Ryuuseiu)
From now on, you have to call me Capt. Drachen.
(Mitsuki)
That doesn't sound too difficult, I mean—
That's ridiculous! No—
(Ryuuseiu)
I'll help you for free—
(Mitsuki)
—No.
Oops...
(Ryuuseiu)
You're determined to decline anything I say, aren't you.
(Mitsuki)
. . .
I don't know how to respond.
I'd rather not incriminate myself any more than I already have.
(Ryuuseiu)
I don't think you understand the point of a negotiation, Anego.
(Mitsuki)
Just cut this out and help me already, will you.
(Ryuuseiu)
Hmph. Whatever.
Fine.
Let's get this over with.
Heaven's sake.
I should be saying that, not him.
(Ryuuseiu)
Let's go.
(Mitsuki)
Go where?
(Ryuuseiu)
To your cockpit, featherbrain.
He waves his palm irritably.
(Mitsuki)
Oh, of course.
Alright.
Phew!
What a chore it has been to get to this point, but I'm glad we're making progress.
It might be a while, and it might be a lot later, but I'd at least be able to fall asleep tonight without being harrowed by my incompetence.
As I move along toward my cabin, Ryuu's footsteps from behind confuses me a bit.
(Mitsuki)
Uh, where are you going?
He can't possibly be thinking about going into my cabin, can he?
(Ryuuseiu)
To your cockpit, featherbrain.
You said that already.
(Mitsuki)
I know that, what I'm wondering is why.
(Ryuuseiu)
Unless there's something wrong with my ears, which I know there isn't,
didn't you say you needed my help?
(Mitsuki)
Yeah, but—
You're supposed to coach me, which you could do from your own cabin!
Just like what he's been doing with Takahashi-san.
Besides, there's only one seat per simulator cabin.
(Mitsuki)
Where do you plan to sit anyway, on my lap?
I chide him.
It probably doesn't help that I grabbed him by the arm earlier, but I only pulled it on an impulse, not because I had really meant to bring him here.
(Ryuuseiu)
Don't worry about me.
I've seen how you drive,
I'll be able to stay on my feet.
Breathe easy, me...
I only need to get over the learning curve...
I only need to endure Ryuu's taunts until then...
We arrive inside my simulator cabin, and I take my place in the pilot's seat.
As I buckle myself up—
Something else has me uneasy.
Earlier, he was wondering what he could get out of helping me.
I had offered him nothing in return, and even declined everything that he'd proposed.
I might be anxious for no reason,
but when dealing with him and his sister, it's best to stay on my toes.
(Ryuuseiu)
By the way, Anego.
(Mitsuki)
What now?
Click, goes the last clip of my belts.
(Ryuuseiu)
I need to clear something up—
I've been helping everyone, and now you.
Only because I enjoy watching someone toil, yet still fail.
And you've been stumbling a lot, Anego.
Now I get a front row view of you falling.
'Fun—in case you were wondering what I'll be getting out of this,' he finishes, as my cabin door fully closes.