Chapter 26: Step by Step
(Takeru's POV) (December 16, 2001 Sunday) (A-09 Barracks) (07:10 AM)
Shake shake…
Ugh… not again.
Shake shake…
Ugh… what time is it? 7-10? I still have a solid hour before roll call. Besides, today's Sunday. I don't wake up on Sundays since it's everyone's day off. I want to just sleep on my bed and forget about everything else.
"Dorya! (Wham!)" Goooh! Wha? What the hell? "Wake up Takeru chan!"
"Kasumi? Eh? Sumika?-!" It was definitely Sumika. Kasumi doesn't weight this heavy when she sits on top of me.
"Good morning Takeru chan!"
"Get off! (Ehh? Why?)" Because you're sitting directly on my stomach. "I feel like my ribs are cracking. You're too heavy… (Whaaaa!-?) I said you're too heavy! Get off me! (Wham!) Ow! Now what was that for? (Apologize!) I will once you get off of me! (Fwup)" Haaaa… she finally got off. That was a surprise. Though I was expecting it, I never got the chance to prepare. "Geez… why did you have to do that? It's barely morning"
"That's because I wanted to wake you up! Come on! Let's go and have breakfast! We have a whole day to ourselves and I don't want to waste any second of it. Come on!"
"Gah! S… stop pulling me! Alright alright… geez. Just give me a second to wash up and—eh?" Kasumi just walked through the door and her expression changed when she noticed both me and Sumika in the room. "Oh… hey there Kasumi. (…?)"
"Ah Kasumi! Mornin!" Sumika greeted her energetically. Ever since yesterday's talk, she's been like a big ball of energy from my world. Her memory is still muddled from her recreation but she seems to remember a bit of her future self. I don't know how much she remembers but I think what she has now is enough to make me happy. "Neh Takeru chan. Come on! Let's go and have breakfast"
Sumika kept pulling my arm but I quickly snatch it back in annoyance. "Alright. Just give me one second to change and I'll be right with you. Huuu… my beautiful Sunday morning… ruined. (Ruffle) Hmm? What is it Kasumi?" Now Kasumi was the one pulling my arm. That could only mean one thing. "Did Yuuko sensei ask you to get me? (Nod) Ok I'll head there right away. (Ehhh?) Sorry Sumika but duty calls. You know that I can't refuse her"
She gave me a puffed up cheek expression. "Fine. We'll go together then. (Huh?) No buts! Where you go, I go" Ahh… she's being selfish again. I guess I can understand her. It has only been 2 days since she was brought from the pod and she probably wants to spend as much time with me as possible. Even I want to spend time with her but my military side is clearly acting up against it.
I guess what they say about marrying soldiers are true… they have to make commitment to not only their family but to the nation they serve.
But I guess I have no choice. I'll have to bring her with me…
(Yuuko's office)
"Yuuko sensei, you called?"
The room was still the same as ever. Messy. If the janitors were here they'd probably be too afraid to touch anything. But I guess Mad Scientists like her can probably clean it all up later when the world is saved from the BETA. Strangely enough… I seem to be coming in and out of this room more often than before. Usually Yuuko sensei would have it lock when she's not in but now it seems like this has become my second room.
"Ah… good, you're here and—Kagami?" She darted her eyes to Sumika who seemed to be hanging on my arm.
"Morning Kouzuki sensei!" Sumika greeted. She's starting to sound more and more like her old self back in my world.
"Good morning. I see that both of you got out of bed early. That's good. (Ahehe) Nothing extreme, I hope. (Eh?) Anyway, do you two mind giving me a moment with Shirogane?" Huh? She wants to talk to me… alone? It must be something serious.
"Eh? Why can't we stay too?"
"It's a private matter. Don't worry. I won't take long"
"Guuu… but I wanna stay…"
"Sumika, listen to her. If Yuuko sensei says it's a private matter then it's best to comply. She'll probably just lecture me about quantum physics all over again. I'll be out in a few minutes"
She gave another puffed cheek expression before finally letting go of my arm. "Fine. But you better tell me what she told you neh, Takeru chan"
"Don't count on it" I teased back which she punched me back in response. "Kasumi. Do you mind keeping Sumika company for the moment? (Ok…) Thanks. I'll be out as soon as I can" After we made sure that the two of them were out of the room I quickly took a seat opposite of the Vice Commander and spoke. "So… what did you want to talk about? It must be important if you didn't want Sumika listening in on us"
"Just a minor checkup. Nothing serious. Right this moment, the high chain of command are being briefed on the upcoming operation to attack Sadogashima" The battle of Sadogashima. Just thinking about it makes my Goosebumps grow Goosebumps. "Nearly half of the Imperial Army is being committed to the assault with the assistance of U.N. forces providing support in necessary locations. (…) Though you probably know about this already, the only unit being deployed from Yokohama base is the ALTERNATVE Plan Special Task Force 9th Squadron" That's right. Out of everyone here in Yokohama base and excluding the Hive Infiltration Force Orbit Divers, we'll be the only ones sent into the battle zone. I remember this.
"So it's really happening again… this Christmas"
Yuuko nodded in reply. "Yes. Isumi will probably announce it to the group a few days before the operation. The unit will be deployed on the 24th of December and the operation will begin on the eve of 25th, Christmas Day. The Imperial Honor Guards and every soldier available in the north west will be committed to the operation" That's taking a whole chunk of resources of Japan but considering the rewards… I guess people will say that every bullet shot was worth it.
"So that must mean you're planning to get Sumika to train on the XG-70"
"Hooo? You catch on quick. That's exactly what I intend to do. She was created for that purpose after all. (…) Considering that she's more than stable at the moment, I don't think we'll encounter any problems. Kasumi has already sent me her data and right now she's more than ready to be piloting the test version we set up" Sumika will be riding that behemoth of a weapon again. The very thing that can level a BETA Hive with a single blast. It's hard to imagine that a sweet girl like her would be doing something so ridiculously impossible for any man. "I would've put her in even if she was unstable. Do you remember the day when you brought her out of that tank?"
"Yeah… what about it?"
"The completion of the 00-Unit required a lot of risks and factors that would take a single human, eons to accomplish. If we continued on from that point without stabilizing her… she may have come out as an incomplete model. (…?) Tell me… with your memories… was there a time when Sumika acted inhumane? Anything out of the ordinary" (Flash) A vivid memory appeared before my mind. I remember how Sumika was when I first met her in this world. She was unstable… almost broken, if any word had a fitting to it. She wanted nothing more but to kill BETA, train and fight. She'd shout in panic and scream out in fear like I was about to die.
"Yes… I remember" I answered back almost regretting remembering such things. "When I first met Sumika… she was… unstable. Like she was prepared to explode or something"
"Hmm… I guess that's a close enough description. If she had come out with those errors then she may have been like that. (Huh?) Before you arrived in the lab the other day when I was completing the 00-unit, a lot of known errors popped up. I thought about solving them myself eventually but then I thought that you might make a better cure. The moment you came into the room, all the errors began fixing themselves. (Really?) It's true. I guess in some ways… you're the key…"
Then that means… the reason why Sumika went mad when I came back was because I wasn't there. I wasn't there for Sumika when she was made. If I had been there she… she wouldn't have had to suffer that horrible moment. Ugh… so it was inevitable. Once again… without even knowing it… I hurt someone I loved dearly because of my cowardice. If only… if only I stayed here… things would've been different.
From the looks of it, this doesn't seem to be any different from looking at the Japanese Government of this world. Everyone here is relying so much on the Shogun. I want to break that chain and the quickest way of doing that is by destroying the BETA Hive in Sadogashima.
"So… what do you need me for today?" I asked, expecting to finally get out of here.
"Aha… I see you know that there was something else I needed from you"
"You wouldn't call me down here just to give minor lectures. I know that much. So what do you need me to do, Yuuko sensei?"
"I need you to test something for us. (Test?) I was able to procure a rather surprising bonus from the Prime Minister, Sakaki Kurechika when he visited us here. In exchange for the XM3, he gave us something that we might be able to use in the coming future. A new weapon. I specifically ordered it to be a new model for the U.N. Army massed produced unit but we don't know of its capabilities. That's why you're going to be its test driver"
"Test driver? A TSF?"
"It was an old model made by the international joint research team controlled by the U.N. held in Yukon Base, Alaska. It was a project run by both Americans and Russians in creating a better TSF. The pilot of this particular machine has… gone somewhere and we need a replacement. I recommended you for the trial. What about it?
"Sure" was my reply. "If it means helping us get better equipment for the future, I'm all for it"
"I shouldn't be surprised. After all you're the best at what you do with those machines. Come to the hanger bay on the lowest floor of the base after lunch. We'll take a look at it from there. If it passes the test, then it's an added bonus. (I see…) That will be all for today. (Ma'am…) Oh wait… before I forget… here" She handed me a lacquered wood picture frame which was wrapped with a bow and tied like a gift. "Happy birthday… (Eh?) It is your birthday… isn't it?"
"My birthday? (Flash)" Of course! December 16! That's… my birthday! I completely forgot about it. I've been so focused on my mission that I barely remembered my own birthday. "Yes… December 16. (Flash) This is the day… I was born"
"You forgot your own birthday?"
"It's just that… I've been so engrossed in things that I forget the finer things in life. I just remembered it now…" How long has it been since my last birthday? How old am I, really? And when was the last time I even received a present?
"When you first arrived here at Yokohama Base, I had your house searched. (Huh?) Apparently that picture was the only thing that survived. It took me awhile to restore it to pristine condition. I thought it would make a nice present" I quickly tore off the wrapping paper and ribbon.
"This… this is…" It was a picture of me when I was a kid. I think I was around 6 maybe 8 years old when this was taken. I was playing in the park in our neighborhood with Sumika when mom decided to snap a photo of us. She said that she wanted me to make memories with the camera but I never got any of her metaphors before… until now. That's me right there standing atop the slide and Sumika pushing me down so she would have her turn. In the background I can see the old autumn trees and the houses of my neighbors. Was I that small before? I look so stupid with that shirt. I can barely remember Kindergarten…
"They say that pictures are portals into another world" Yuuko added. I didn't even notice I was crying until she handed me a tissue. "But I guess in your case… it's more than just another metaphor"
"Yuuko sensei… I… I don't know what to say"
"Ora ora… don't get sentimental on me now. I made because I was bored and I thought it might help raise your morale a bit. Remind you of what you are fighting for"
"Yes… it really does. Thank you… sensei… I… really… appreciate this"
She gave me a smile in reply. "Go on. Take the day off. Return here at 1500 hours for the testing. There's no need to rush"
"Ma'am…" I gave out a proper salute and turned away. Ah… that was so unmanly of me. Crying like a baby just seeing something like this. I guess that's just the human side of me that I haven't outgrown yet.
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Just as I got outside, I noticed Sumika playing with something.
"Ah! Takeru chan, are you done talking with Kouzuki sensei?"
"Yeah…"
"Eh? What's the matter? Your eyes are all red. Were you crying?
"Ah… no. I was just yawning… You know how I am in mornings" I hid the picture frame on my back. It's rather embarrassing to be seen with it. "I was just thinking about the time we had together. (Time?) Yeah… it's only been a few months but I feel like we've been separated for a long while now. (…) I guess you could say I'm feeling a little home sick"
"Home sick? (Yeah…) Takeru… do you miss your home?"
"Yeah… I missed it. I haven't seen it since the few weeks before Operation Ouka. (…?) Ah… no need to think. Things will come when it comes. What about you Sumika… do you remember your home?"
"Home…" She gazed at my face trying to remember. Her memory was stored by Kasumi in the previous loop so there's a chance that she can remember a part of it. "I remember… home. (You do?) Home… is where Takeru is. (Eh?) A house is a house… but a home is when I'm with Takeru. (…?) I… don't really understand it myself… but when I say it… it feels right"
Home is where the heart is. I guess that saying holds weight here. But in her case… her home is where I am. Ahehehe… just hearing her say that makes me feel special. I guess there are just some people in the world who enjoys being wanted.
"Ahaha… yeah… I guess I understand what you're saying there, Sumika"
"Hey… (Hmm?)" Sumika pulled my sleeves shyly. "Let's go to your place. (Huh?) Today… let's go to see your home. (My home?) Yeah. Come on…"
"Ha? Ah! W… wait! Sumika!" Ah geez.
(Hiiragi City ruins)
My home… my old home. It feels like an eternity since I came back to this place. When I first stepped out of this house, everything was in mint condition. Now… it turned into this: The home of the Shirogane Takeru who died in this world. It's strange how this house stands out among the rest of the buildings around the neighborhood. Though it wasn't in the best condition, it still stood out. Heck I can even pick it out even from the rooftop of the base.
Creeeek…
The door was rusted and broken. The chain-lock which Sumika constantly picked back in the days was gone. It breaks my heart just seeing the kitchen and dining room at such a state.
How long has it been? A few months? That sounds about right. Back in my previous loop, I journeyed back and forth in that Trans Dimensional Device to recover the 100 page equation to complete the ALTERNATIVE IV project.
"…" I asked Sumika to stay outside for a minute while I checked the place. So far the building itself was stable. It was in no danger of collapsing, at least not yet.
The kitchen charred to a crisp. There was still a pot on the stove and anyone would guess what the person was cooking before he was taken away from this place. (Flash) Tsukuyomi's face appeared on that kitchen. The kind hearted Tsukuyomi, not the one here in this world. Right now I wouldn't mind tasting her famous miso soup.
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Ah… my room. It's a complete wreck. Well… I guess you could say it was cleaner than before. My room ordinarily was always a mess. The Three Idiots cleaned it sometimes but no matter what, I have a nasty habit of recreating that mess over and over.
My bed was still there… or at least what's left of it was tattered in rags. The posters that I hung on the walls were still hanging though all of them had already been worn and torn from time. I guess the Shirogane in this world had the same taste as me. Hehehe… Jet Syndrome… what a draggy title.
My old reading lamp which I never used was also there. Out of everything here, this piece of garbage was practically the only thing that was left intact. I wonder if this thing will bring me good luck too. There were a few empty cupboards, which were probably looted by scavengers for clothes and other useful items.
And finally we have… my window. My treasured window…
The window where I used to gaze in the stars once every night. The window where I get to see Sumika and talk to her before calling a day's end. How I missed it… those innocent days…
Click…
I wonder how the scenery is now…
"Boo!"
"Bwah! (Ahahahaha!) Sumika? H… how did you get over there?" She's riding on the hole of the damaged TSF next to my house.
"I climbed up here. I wanted to see how you were doing looking around your room like that"
"Get down from there. It's dangerous"
"Don't worry. I won't fall. (Hey now…) So how does it feel to be back there? (Huh?) I thought you were home sick so I thought about bringing you back home. Well?"
"Heh… to be honest… I'm not really sure. This really is my house but it feels like I've been away for so long already. Sometimes I wonder how I was able to live a day without knowing what was actually going on in the real world. Being a normal student going to school every day without even knowing what peace really meant"
"Bu buu… Takeru chan. You don't have to be sad all the time you know. (Eh?) I wanted to make you smile so I brought you here. I guess it didn't turn out that well" Hehehe… she was just trying to cheer me up. That's sweet of her. "Remember how we used to play in the part a few blocks from here? (A park?) Yeah. That's where we played when we were kids" (Flash) Of course… I remember that park. "We used to play there all the time but it's gone now"
"Yeah…" I think we passed by it on our way here. The park was surprisingly still there along with the slide and everything. It's a miracle that the place was still standing after all the BETA attacks and the G-Bombs. (Ruffle) Hmm? What's this?
"What is it? Did you find something?"
"Yeah, it's stuck to my shoe. One second…" (Ruffle) Huh? A diary? I don't remember keeping a diary before. I don't think I would ever buy something this girly and colorful in my life. Let's see…
June 10th (Rainy)
I did something terrible today. I broke an ammonite fossil. It looked really expensive and I don't know what to do. Then Takeru chan came, and I thought he was going to help me, but he tattled the teacher instead.
That was so mean…
My teacher was nice, so he said it was alright, but I still had to pay him back for it. My allowance isn't enough to pay for that~
So Takeru tried replacing it with a snail but it didn't work.
Wait a minute… this is… this Diary… this stupid drawing of me. There's no mistake. This is… Sumika's…
Then a different teacher came. A much scarier one.
Takeru chan said that the fossil had been reborn, or that it came out of its shell or something, but that just made the new teacher angrier.
But, in the end, he took the blame for me.
Thank you, Takeru chan.
I was so happy~
And…
I'm sorry…
Sumika… I remember seeing one of your diaries back in my world when I ran away.
She took you away somewhere. I hope you didn't get hurt. I asked you about it on the way home, but you wouldn't tell me anything… But I was really happy…
Thank you…
That day when I ran away… I hurt you, Marimo and everyone around me unintentionally. I hurt you because I was a coward… and tired of facing reality. (Ruffle) I flipped the page and saw a bunch of funny drawings of me… and Sumika.
March 10th (Sunny)
Oh no ~ oh no ~
This is bad! This is bad! Something happened!
Takeru chan… why'd you say you were aiming for Hakuryou? We're going to be seniors next year, so on the way home I decided to ask you about it, and you picked that place… That's horrible! You never told me about this!
I can't get into Hakuryou with my grades~
Although the way things are now, neither can you, Takeru chan. Uuuu… but I'm sure you'll be fine.
What to do~ What to do~ I have to study~
I'll study until it kills me!
Aaaaah! This is not time to be writing a diary! I'm going to bed!
Hehehe… yeah… I remember that day. I remember how I wanted to enter the most prestigious school in our town. It was a stupid dream and I just wanted to try it for fun but I never thought I would get accepted. I simply did it to get on Sumika's nerves.
February 25th (Rainy)
Yay! Yay! I did it!
I got accepted into Hakuryou! Did you see that? What did you think?
At first I was so scared I couldn't even look at the scores. Then Takeru chan said I failed, and scared me half to death! Don't joke about that~ My heart stopped you know!
I mean it! I was seriously depressed when you said that. Then Takeru chan said it must've been dumb luck.
I was overjoyed, and you ruined it.
We studied together all the time! But, now we'll be together for another three years.
What do you think of that?
Uuuuuu… I'm so happy! I might not be able to sleep tonight.
August 27th (Rainy)
It's summer! It's so hot! We went to the pool!
Takeru chan… you kept starting at women in revealing swimsuits… what's with that?
I spent a lot of time choosing my own swimsuit, you know.
You could've at least said something about it… I'll remember this next year!
Hehehe… yeah that was me alright. The pool was the best place to look at the older women. I was into swimsuits around that time so I guess I was a bit of a pervert myself. Hehehe. Boy Sumika… you really wrote about everything, did you?
I asked Takeru chan something weird today.
What would things be like if we weren't childhood friends? (Huh?)
Just kidding, I wasn't thinking straight…
Like you said Takeru chan, I couldn't imagine a world where we weren't together.
After all, we've been together foreeeeever.
Which is why… I'll never ever ever go anywhere without you, Takeru chan!
Tomorrow, and the day after that, and the week after that… and… the year after that…
And after that…
I'll be with Takeru chan for-ever!
…
…
…
Sumika… is this really how she felt about me when we were kids? Has she always held a flare for me all this time… and I just didn't notice it? No… maybe I knew about it some time ago but chose to ignore it. Maybe I was aware of her feelings for me and perhaps I just didn't know how to respond to it. Or… was it because I didn't want to ruin what we already had? I don't really know…
"Hey~~ What did you find?" I closed the picture diary and tucked it neatly in my inner coat pocket. Damn… my eyes are watering up so badly I can't stop it. "Oi… Takeru chan?"
"N… no it's nothing. Just some old books with boring words" I don't think she needs to remember all of this. I don't want her to remember every bad thing that had happened in the previous loop.
"Boring books? I guess that's ordinary for Takeru chan to keep those things. (Hey!) Ahehehe. Hey… Takeru chan… (Yeah?) Do you mind if I ask you a weird question? (Sure) What will you do after you're done with this world? (Huh?) After you defeat the BETA, what will you do?"
"After I defeat the BETA? That's still a long way to go Sumika"
"Just answer the question, idiot!"
"Ouch…" She threw a pebble at me. "What's that for? (For being an idiot!) Alright alright, geez. Let's see. If I defeat the BETA then… I'll probably go home. (…) Since I pretty much complete my mission there's no longer a reason for me to be here"
"And then… what will you do?"
"Well… I'd…" I would… relive that moment with Sumika again. "I'd probably do the thing I should've done a long time ago. (Eh?) Ahehe… I guess you could say I haven't really thought of it. The future is a fickle thing. It can change before you even know it" The future can change with the actions of one person. I already proved that theory many times in this loop.
"Heeeeeh… since when did Takeru chan get so philosophical? (Hey!)Ahahaha! I can already picture you with a long black beard and a top hat. Takeru the scholar. Ahehehe… that's just so wrong in so many ways"
"What!-? Why you little… alright get down from there so I can tickle you! (Neeeeh!) Alright, you asked for it" She stuck her tongue out to tease me. But now I was going to give her a reason to fear me. I quickly got out of my window and braced myself to jump.
"H… hey… what are you doing?"
"What does it look like? I'm going to jump over to your side. (Ehhhh!) Here goes!"
"W… wait a minute! That's dangerous! Don't do it Takeru chan!" And alley oop! (Clang) (Clack!) Uh oh… "Ahhhh! The robot! It's… it's falling apart!" Ah crud, maybe that wasn't such a good idea after all. The arm of the broken TSF literally fell off the torso. The body was still standing but I guess my weight was too much for it. Ahehehe… at least it can still hold my weight. (Creeek…) Uh oh… (Twang!) Ahhh crap! "Ah! Takeru chan!-? Are you ok?"
"Y… yeah… I'm fine. I just fell. (Idiot!) Yeah yeah, I guess that was pretty stupid of me" Oww… I grazed my hand on the metallic plates. Damn… my palm is bleeding off. That's not… (Woot…)… good? What the? Where'd the wound go? For a second there the cut just closed up by itself. How is that humanly possible? (Flash) The same thing happened back in the lab when I brought Sumika out of the tank. One of the electrical wirings burned it when lit up on fire and it charcoaled my part of elbow. But then, just like my hand just now, the wound healed itself instantly. Yuuko told me that my fast recovery takes place when I least expected it but now… I can see it happen before my very eyes.
The wound I had covered itself, leaving a small scar in its wake. Even the chest wound that I had from Susono City wasn't painful anymore but the scar still remained. What is really happening to my body? Is this the effect of being a Causality Conductor? That seems like the best answer at the moment since I don't know how instantaneous healing works anyway.
I quickly dusted away the dirt around me and made my way out of the TSF. Maybe I should stop doing reckless things or—(Wham!) Yeow! "Who the?"
"Takeru chan you idiot!"
"Yeah yeah, I got it already, I'm an idiot" Sumika was yelling directly to my ear again. "Don't worry. I'm used to getting hurt already. (Buuuu!) Anyway… thanks… Sumika… (Eh?) I guess you could say that bringing me back here really cheered me up. (Ah…) Maybe a little visit to the past was all that I needed to set me back straight"
"Ahehe… nothing cures homesickness than home" Eh? Where have I heard that before?
"Alright. It's about time we head back. I want to have lunch before the test run. (Clank) …! Who's there?" I pulled my sidearm out in reflex to the sound. After years of training you can distinguish sounds of people from the natural tinkering sounds around the area. A figure stood out along the road. "Kasumi? (…!)" The moment I mentioned her name, she quickly hid behind a pile of debris. Her bunny ears were still sticking out though so it kinda looked cute. "You can come out now, there's no point in hiding Kasumi"
"Uuuu…" The little girl tiptoed her way out and approached us.
"Ah! Kasumi chan" Sumika noted the dirt on her skirt and began patting them away. "You're all dirty. Did you crawl your way here? Ahehe… (…?)"
"Does Yuuko sensei even know you're here? You're pretty far away from the base so she might scold you when you get back. (…) Did you follow us all the way here? (Nod…) Well… we were about to head back ourselves. But I guess we could stay for awhile"
"Hey! Let's go to that park we talked about" Sumika proposed. "I'd like to stop and play there… just this once. (But…) Pleaseeeeeee~~"
I sighed off in defeat. "Fine but only for a few minutes. (Yay! Isn't that great Kasumi chan?) I don't want to stay there longer than necessary"
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The park… it's been awhile since I visited this place. The last time I was here was when I confessed my feelings to Sumika in my alternate world travel during my previous loop. How nostalgic this place feels. Heh… back then I used to call this the pee-park because when I was a kid I used to pee on the slide and the mini-igloo.
"Hey Takeru chan, look!" Sumika was riding on the slide with Kasumi. Both of them were holding onto their respective bunnies as they slid down the childish contraption. I'm amazed that thing could still hold their weight.
"Be careful. You might break the thing. (Dooh!) Ahehe… with the weight you gained, that might just be possible. (Haaaa!-?) Hahahaha… (Tap…) Hmm? What's this?" A plastic bucket? (Flash) A plastic shovel? (Flash) Wait… this area… (Flash) This must be the place where the sandbox was. It probably got destroyed during the war with the BETA. (Flash) Huh? (Flash) A sword? Here? (Flash) Meiya…
December 16… wait a second. Today is my birthday then does that also mean that… (Flash) It's also Meiya's birthday too! Crap I totally forgot about it. I wonder if I should get her something. In my world I think I got her one of those stuffed animals from the Claw Crane Machines which was actually part of a set of two. I remember that… hmm… I wonder if I can make it in time…
(Marimo's POV) (Underground TSF Hanger)(Floor B20)
"Alright, bring it in!" The Head mechanic shouted off to the crane operator as they slowly moved the extra jump thrusters to the hip of the XFJ-01. The repairs for this particular model were being handled by some of the top brass around the base so the resources being used for it was near limitless. The engineers here said that it was a heart wrenching process since the machine itself was made of parts that were pretty much built on the TSF itself. Even though they had all the resources to rebuild it, they said that there was no way to make it any faster.
"Hey boss!" Another one of the mechanics shouted as he approached the man next to me. "We already double checked with the shoulder thrusters. They've been modified just like you said"
"I knew it…" The Head Mechanic gave a sigh. "Tuning things up like they think they know every inch of the machine. They treat a tank like it's a car"
"Tuning things?" I asked.
"Customization. It's a thing that happens with many vehicles" He explained to me. "Back during World War II, tank crews and fighter pilots with basic mechanical knowledge had a tendency to tune their machines thinking they can make it better or repair it in a different way. On a rare occurrence they would prove useful but they what those idiots don't realize that it makes the mechanics back at the base will have a hard time understanding what they did with it"
"I see… so battlefield modifications"
"They tend to do it out of desperation. Haaaa… Alright, what did he do this time?"
The engineer nodded and opened up the folder he was carrying. "The intake valves were open to increase the output of the thrusters. I think the former pilot did it to boost his turning speed. Most of the systems are compatible to ours but it'll take a while to replace all the parts. As for the head unit, it seems to be equipped with active electronic scanning radar to enhance the infrared targeting acquisition system. We have no way to replicating it unless we order a new one directly from the factory"
"Haaaaa… and here we go again. Just do what you can with the parts you can repair and replace. The Vice Commander wants this unit operational by this afternoon. (Yes sir!) Haaaa…"
"You have your work cut out for you" I said to him to lessen his stress. "Maybe you should take the week off and spend it more with your wife"
"Ha! And leave these idiots to fix that thing? I'd rather have a BETA eat my head off" Hehehe… this old man still had the flare of his younger self. Despite his age he had the respect of every mechanic here in the base. "Those idiots can't put 2 and 2 together without breaking something along the way. I'll grow old and die first before I let that happen. (Whiiirr…) Oi! Move that truck out of the hanger! We need to have the whole plot cleared out before this afternoon"
"Tell me something… (Hmm?)" I asked up out of curiosity. "If this was an old model, how come it was never used for mass production? I heard that it was created by a U.N. joint project"
"Ah… that's about half true. (Eh?) The XFJ-01 was built in conjunction under the U.N. authority with the joint effort of both America and the Soviets. They had a base built right in the border and had military personnel on both sides run it to build a better and faster TSF" I heard rumors of the project. It had latent success thanks to the support of various companies that supplied it with virtually limitless resources. "To prevent prejudice both government decided that it should be run by a member of the U.N. The XFJ-01 was one of the more successful prototypes but the construction cost of building such a model escalated so much that it prevented it from being massed produced"
"I see…" So that's why I've never seen this unit before. It was a prototype. An unfinished model of the real thing. "So how did it come to the Imperial Army?"
The Head Mechanic simply shrugged his shoulder in response. "Not a clue. Last I heard the soldier who used to pilot it headed off for some ridiculous mission and was never heard of again. Nobody really knows what happened or how it just magically appeared here. It's best not to think about it. (Sigh…) But you got to admit… whatever that guy did, he must've been in one hell of a fight. This thing is so wrecked it would be better if we just scrapped the whole thing for parts. (…) Heh… it kind of reminds me of that cadet of yours. Shirogane, was it? That kid is setting all kinds of record in the simulator. If he keeps this up he might just break the record of wrecking more TSFs than a whole squad ahahaha"
Haaaa… please don't remind me. That boy had broken more TSFs than anyone in the base. Usually when a pilot dies, the TSF goes with him. It's extremely rare for a pilot to survive when his TSF is destroyed because being an Eishi means of having one of the lowest survival ratings on the battlefield.
"Oh that reminds me. Has the boy asked you out yet? (Huh?) Since the two of you are so close I thought he may have already asked you out on a date. (Clang!) Hmm?"
"Wh—wh-wha—who are you talking about?"
"Shirogane, who else?"
"Why would he and I…?"
"The other guys told me about it. (What other guys?) You two are pretty close or so I've heard. Some say that they saw both of you going into your room the other day" The other day? Wait… was it that time during lunch? Was someone watching us back then? "Ah children nowadays… it must be nice to be young and in love" What the hell is that supposed to mean? Just because of one random act I suddenly got myself a boyfriend? I just treated him for lunch and people are simply blowing things out of proportion.
"Who else knows about this?"
"Why… everyone of course… (Geh!)"
(Takeru's POV) (Barracks) (12:20 PM)
We returned to the base about an hour later from the ruins. It felt good to reattach myself to my roots, in a manner of speaking. Though I didn't get to go back to my world… it was nice to see my home once more. Maybe that was just the thing I needed to boost my morale back. I placed the photo that Yuuko sensei gave me in my room along with the picture diary I found in my house. Maybe when I have more time, I'll probably read it all.
"Hey Takeru chan. (Hmm?) Kasumi says that I have to go back downstairs now"
"Huh? Really? (Yeah…) Can it be later? I wanted to introduce you to everyone first"
"Ahehe… maybe another time. But you'll come and visit me later tonight won't you?"
"Yeah, definitely. We'll see each other during the trial later this afternoon"
Sumika blinked in surprise. "Really? I can come and watch?"
"Yeah but you have to be quiet. The people down there are really stiff and stingy about everything. They'll arrest you just by walking in a different lane and question you about everything"
"Hai hai… I will. (…) hai hai… I'm coming Kasumi chan. Neh Takeru chan… (Hmm?) Haa… no… nothing. Never mind"
"Hey now. Don't leave a phrase halfway done. Speak up. There's nothing you can't tell me. (It's nothing) That doesn't sound like nothing"
"I'll tell you some other time when you visit. Ok? Later!" Ah… hey wait! Oh come on! Now I want to know what she wanted to say earlier. Ah forget it. I should probably get to the PX for something to eat. The testing will begin in a few hours"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
But still… I'm worried about my super regenerative abilities. There really is no denying it now after that event at the ruins. When I cut myself during that fall, the palm of my hand bled for about two seconds before the wound disappeared completely. There was still blood that came out but my skin covered itself rather quickly. Only a scar remained in the aftermath. Even after pressing it, the pain was gone.
I had only speculated on Yuuko's sensei theory of my powers but seeing it for myself proved that she wasn't lying. My body wasn't normal for sure.
"Oh? This is rare, Shirogane…" Hmm?
"Oh… 1st Lieutenant Munakata"
"Oi… what did the Captain say about formalities?"
"Ah… sorry. Force of habit" Hmm… that's odd…
"What's wrong? Were you expecting someone else?" I looked around the PX trying to find a familiar green-headed girl who was always attached to Munakata.
"No… I just don't see 2nd Lieutenant Kazama. Isn't she with you?"
"Ara? So you prefer her company better than mine? (Huh?) Fine… I can take a hint when I'm not wanted around here"
"Huh? No! Wait! I didn't mean it like that. It's just that… I often see you two together so I thought she'd be with you"
"Ah… I see" She gave out a coyly smile. "I guess you're right about that. She and I are always together. After all… she is the 2nd cutest after Akane. I just can't help myself around her when she's defenseless. (…) She might be small but her techniques can make a man jealous any day. (Blink… blink…)" A rather happy thought entered my mind when she said those words. Wait… didn't I fall for this before? She's not implying about something sexually… is she? "Hehehe… just what are you imagining right now, Shirogane?"
"Huh? Ah! N… nothing! Nothing at all! It's just that you talk about that kind of stuff so… casually"
"Why not? Touku is after all the one of the most experienced snipers in the business. (Eh?) Ora… it seems like you were thinking of something else entirely 1st Lieutenant~. Very naughty…" That's because you implied it in the first place! "Hehehe… you really are a funny man. But thoughts like that could only mean that you're hungry for some action yourself. (Huh?) I can see it in your eyes. You've probably done it plenty of times yourself. (Ehhh?) A man's eyes can speak more than his mouth in a second. I can see it: The Lust… the passion, the hunger… it's all there. You're like an experienced wolf… the Alpha Male"
"Alpha Male?" Is she trying to animalize this whole conversation now?
"I can tell that you've done it with plenty of women just by looking at your arms. How you hold onto a controller is like holding onto the thigh and then plunging yourself into—"
"Ok ok, stop! Let's keep this G-rated while I'm still eating here"
She gave out a friendly laugh. "Hehe… but you get my point. I'm sure the other cadets have the same thought. (Huh? Why?) A single man in a squad full of women… what's a better word to describe you other than an Alpha Male? (Hey!) Hahaha… but you're a funny one. If you're interested in getting a big fish then ask me any time. I can get any of the girls to meet you in your room. Ah… for the exception of the captain of course. (…?) There are just some fishes in the sea that a sailor won't dare cross" I was right… she really is trying to animalize this conversation. Alpha Male, sailors, fishes… what next? Pigs?
"So what do you fancy, Shirogane? Do you prefer the weak type like 1st Lieutenant Suzumiya. Poor, defenseless… and vulnerable" Ok… I'm getting the impression that this woman is far too sex craved. "Just thinking about her in bed can make any man wet himself. (…) Or would you prefer her sister, Akane? (Geh!) Ah… I forget that you two are on bad terms but that can turn around with a simple act of aggression. She's like an untamed lion that just needs a little grooming and a lot of training. If you bound her and gagged her… she'll be yours in an instant. Ahhh~~ Akane chan…"
"Uhh… Munakata san. Are you… alright?"
"I can picture it already. Akane strapped on the bed tied on all limbs and hot red candle wax dripping on stomach" Hot wax? W… wait a minute. This conversation is getting dangerous. "Stuffed her wet panties in her mouth and chip the claws of that lion for good. Ahhhh… I will make her scream for mercy. (…h… hey now…) But obviously she'll be nothing compared to 1st Lieutenant Hayase. That woman is a gorilla. Taming her will require something more tactful. The regular techniques won't do. Even a tranquilizer won't go through that thick skull of hers. Perhaps drugging her rations, proposing a toast with her favorite drink. And then after she's down, we take her off to the ruins and chain her to a post. When she wakes up she'll be completely nude and after that… after that we… ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh… it would be… ahh… yes… call me Mistress…"
"Ok stop right there!" I yelled out finally after having her verbally describe her plans to get the others in a domination matrix. "No more, please. Do you really have to dramatize it? I'm eating here!"
"Ah… sorry about that. Sometimes when I get really hungry I often do a visualization technique to calm myself" Visua—forget it. I don't even want to think of what she's trying to say anymore.
"By the way… what are you doing here Munakata san? Didn't you have lunch already?"
"Hmm? Oh that. Well… I guess you could say that I'm hiding. (Hiding?) Yeah… I'm hiding from Hayase chan. I made some comments on the class yesterday so she's taking her anger out on me. She's probably running around the base screaming my name" I guess that explains why she wasn't eating anything at all. "Oh… by the way Shirogane san. Would you mind doing me a tiny favor? (Huh? What is it?) Would you kindly move one seat to the left? (Huh?) Please?"
"Move one seat to the left? Uh… ok… (Ruffle)There. Is that alright?"
"Yes… that's perfect. Now just sit up straight for one minute" Sit up straight? Uh… ok…
"So why do I have to—?"
"TAKE THIS! (WHAM!)" Owwww! Something round and hard whacked me right on the head! My face went first, hitting my soup bowl. Oww… was that… a volleyball? "Dammit! I missed!"
"Looks like she found me. Later Shirogane. I had a fun time with you. We should get together more often. Well, see ya"
"MU-NA-KA-TA! Come back here!"
Tap tap tap tap tap…
…
…
…
Oww… my head. I haven't had this much of a headache since forever. My whole face was covered with rice and soup and my sardine sauce was dripping from my head like egg yolk. Those two simply had their fun and abandoned me right on the spot. Couldn't they at least pretend to care?
"Ora… those two haven't changed a bit" Huh? Oba san? "Look at this. Leaving a mess while making things hard on others. If they acted any less I would say they were doing this on purpose"
"Ah… sorry about that. I'll clean that up"
"Don't bother. I'll get one of the guys to have that swapped by tonight. Here… (Ruffle) A second serving on me. (Thank you…) Don't mention it. I don't get to see you around here anymore so I was beginning to wonder where you might've gone off to. Usually I'd see you walk pass here with Meiya chan or Miki chan. But you rarely come by now"
"Yeah… sorry about that. I've been busy these past few days"
"Hehe. The Vice Commander putting working your back off? I guess that's expected of her. But still. It wouldn't hurt to have a chat with your friends once in awhile. They certainly miss you"
"Yeah… I noticed that too. I thought I'd get a chance to hang out with them today but I'm still swamped for this afternoon. (Ruffle) Hmm? What's this?" Oba san handed me a piece of cloth and some stuffing.
"Something to keep your mind off work" She answered me. "Here's a reason for you to visit your friends. Miki chan had been asking for some flower style cloth for awhile. I was able to get a hold of some earlier so make it a point to visit her when you can"
"Heh… you're not giving me a lot of options there. (There never was ahahaha!)" Ha… oba san… hmmm… wait… cloth and stuffing. Maybe… "Hey oba san. You wouldn't happen to have some leftover cloth now, would you?"
(Much later) (Underground TSF Hanger)
"Ah crap! I'm late! I never thought it would take so long!" Yuuko sensei is definitely going to yell at me again! There it is. Floor B20. This should be close to where the XG-70 is being constructed. "I'm here!"
"You're late!" And right on the bat. I knew she'd say that the moment I came in. "And here I thought you chickened out. (Ahehe…) Haaa… but anyway, get changed into the training suit and we'll get started. Come on. (Yes ma'am!)"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I quickly got into the training exosuit in the changing room and got to the control center for the training instructions. There wasn't anyone there but me, Yuuko sensei and Kasumi who was manning the projector.
"So… what are we doing here?"
"Basic management and control" Yuuko answered as she closed the lights. "The TSF we brought in isn't in its best form but the mechanics were able to get it to operational level at least. It won't break when it moves. (…?) I'll give you the rundown on the machine. (Click)" The slide opened up, revealing a blueprint of the new weapon. "This… is the XFJ-01 Shiranui Second Phase 2. Also Known As:Type-04. (Click) The unit itself was developed by a team run by three party members called Project Prominence. (Click) The XFJ-01 was made to overcome the development barrier of the Type-94 Shiranui. It was hoped to be used as an international breakthrough with the combined technology of both the Soviets and Americans. Around four companies applied for the research funds"
Wow… I never knew there was even such a group… but then again… there really are a lot of things in this world I still don't know.
"The upgrade of this unit includes increased mobility and agility to rival other 3rd Generation TSF like… (Click)… the European EF-2000 Typhoon and the American F-22 Raptor which you've probably seen already. It also has an advance power storage which allows longer field time. It also has various parts which lessen the weight of the unit, allowing heavier weapons and equipment to be loaded onto its arms and shoulders"
The must mean the engine is lighter but gives the same amount of output. Less weight, more things to carry like ammo and rockets.
"So today we'll be testing this unit to see how if it works better than what we have. Any questions?"
"Ah… just one. (Go ahead…) You said that the project was run by a member of the U.N… right? (Yeah?) Then… why don't we just order a new one rather than having this broken down unit?"
"Hooo… you actually paid attention for once. (Geh!) But you're right. We do have the plans to build it but the top brass are still working out on all the chinks in the new toy. That's why the production was delayed. Besides… I have an interest for this particular unit. (Eh?) Let's just say that the previous Eishi who piloted it made some tweaks that I would like to see for myself. (…?)"
"Vice Commander" One of the mechanics interrupted us. I didn't even notice him entering. "It's ready. We were able to put the parts together just as you asked. It'll hold but the Sergeant said not to do anything too stressful"
"That old coot likes to take things easy. That'll be up for the pilot to decide. Come on, Shirogane. It's show time. (Yes ma'am)" We got out of the room and into the hangers. There's a lot of space down here despite being underground and all. The hanger alone was big enough to hold the whole school and still had enough room to put a dozen football stadiums.
By the time we got there, the head mechanic approached us and began barraging words at Yuuko sensei. They seem to be negotiating on the terms of the trial which just so happens to be me. There were a lot of equipments being moved around and people going from place to place. They're like tiny ants from this catwalk.
"…" Hmm?
"Oh hey there Kasumi. You needed something?" The little rabbit came to me with a canteen of water. "Ah. Thanks I needed that. You're really helpful to me, you know that? (… ^_^…) But don't worry. This trial should be easy. It's not like the TSF is going to—ah…! (…?)" N… n… n… no way. (Flash) That head piece, that color code and those eyes. It… it can't be! (Flash) But… I'm pretty sure of it. That's the same unit I saw in my dream. The TSF that killed me! (Flash) There's no way I can forget about it.
"Oi… are you alright over there?" I was brought out of my frightful gaze by the professor. "What's the matter? You look like you just saw a ghost" She might be partially right there. A ghost from my dream… maybe…
"N… no it's… it's nothing. Just… surprised… that's all. (…)" She seems unconvinced. "I'm just a little tired from this morning"
"Hmm… very well then. We'll continue. Marimo will give you the rest of the details and control manual. The XM3 is already installed so simply do what you've been doing like in a Fubuki"
"Yes ma'am" And with that, the professor was off, taking Kasumi with her. (Slap, slap!) Come Shirogane, get it together. It's just a dream. It was just a dream. There's nothing for you to be worried about. Just pull yourself together and you can do this. But even so… why do I get a bad feeling near this machine?
"Ah good. You're here. This is the control manual for the XFJ. It's a little bit different thanks to the shoulder thrusters. We reconfigured everything to your control logs so it should match with your maneuvers. Everything else will be your doing"
"Alright… thanks" The cockpit block opened up with a defining hiss sound. The insides were not that different from the other TSFs I've been in but strangely enough… I get the feeling that something was wrong in that seat. The TSF was badly wrecked that much anyone could tell. The engineers seemed to have put it back together in a hurry but left most of the aesthetic bit out of the picture. The machine looked more like a zombie that's been eaten off part by part and left to rot somewhere for all eternity. I wonder what the previous pilot did that pushed the machine to this stage. The armor plating wasn't even on…
I got in and closed the hatch, tuning my suit to the machine as quick as possible to get some light in the place. I don't really know how to explain this but I get a certain feeling that something happened inside this cockpit. The joy sticks were really loose meaning that the previous pilot used it down to the bones. Even the seat felt weird. It almost feels like someone else was sitting with me. I just hope it's not a ghost because I might just ask Meiya to perform some kind of exorcism on this thing.
"This is Control Station to TST-01, do you copy?" Marimo's face appeared on my screen once more. She must be contacting me through the command station. "This is Control Station to TST-01, do you copy?"
"This is TST-01, I copy" I answered back.
"We're running a scan on the XFJ computers to discern and virus. Once completed, we will be doing basic movements and see if the XM3 is compatible with the machine. A training course has been provided. Your task will be to reach the other end of the course as fast as possible. Wait for a the signal to light up green until then"
"01, roger that. Waiting for signal to light up. (Beep)" Hmm… the controls look normal. They already reconfigured it from my damaged Fubuki and allowed the controls to sink in. I shouldn't have any problem. But still… I get the weirdest feeling when I'm riding this machine. In all my life… I've never been so afraid to be inside a TSF before. I'm not only afraid because of the strange vibes in this cockpit but also because of my dream.
I can remember it vividly. This machine was there and it was in better condition. I know that for a fact this is the first time I've actually seen this machine. In all my loops I've never seen it until now. Does my dream mean anything or is this just another one of my Causality Conductor thing? I'll probably figure it out sooner or later.
"This is Control Station to 01. Scan complete. We're releasing couplings prepare to perform basic movements"
Whirrrrr…
I saw the catwalks slowly lifted away from my screen revealing a long path for me to follow. "This is 01. All systems green. Nothing out of the ordinary"
"Roger. All couplings disabled. Perform arm and legs check. (Whirrr…) (Check…) Thrusters? (Check…) All systems are in the green. We'll now commence basic movement check. Attention all staff: Evacuate the training course immediately. We will now begin phase 3 of the trial. Obstacle course verified. Shirogane, whenever you're ready"
Ok then… let's start of things with a basic jog. (Thump… thump… thump…) Hmm… no oddities there. I'm surprised this thing can still move with all the damage it sustained. The XM3 upgraded the reaction time of movements too so I can freely move every part of the body with relative ease. Alright… that should be enough for warm up. "This is 01. I'm engaging thrusters" Here we go!
Whoosh!
Hmm… impressive. The reaction timer is almost like the Fubuki… even faster if I'm not mistaken. The built-in thrusters on the waist and shoulder provided a lot of turning power making a 360 turn all the more easier to do. I can even use the shoulder booster as extra speed, stronger breaks or soften up a landing.
Alright… now let's what we can do with quadruple spins.
(A few hours later)
Haaaaa… now… that was exhausting. Three whole hours inside a TSF with a five minute break on each hour. Yuuko said that this was going to be basic but after the first round she found the machine to be fascinating and told me to push the darn thing to its limits. I did just like she asked, putting the software and hardware to its paces but I think I may have put myself on the limit as well. My shoulders are hurting just by moving them.
"Well? How was it?" Yuuko asked the moment she approached me.
"The readings were all good" I replied while gasping on some quick breathers. "The machine's overall efficiency is a lot better than a regular Shiranui. The movements patterns and everything…"
"I see… that's good. But that wasn't what I was asking about. (Eh?) I wanted the opinion of the pilot. How did it feel to move in that TSF? Was it different in any way?"
"Different? Well… no… not really. Although… (What?) I did get a strange vibe when I was riding on the cockpit. It… felt different for some reason. (Hmm…) I had the engineer check the seating twice but they found nothing odd. (Hoo?) And… there's another thing too… but… (…?) It's not something I would like to talk up front"
Yuuko nodded in understanding. "I see. Very well then. Meet me at my office later. We can discuss things from there. Overall, the test results were excellent. But the repairs are a long way from completion. (Hmm? Why?) If you haven't noticed, this machine was fixed back together in a hurry. I wanted it to the base model for the Special Task Force but I guess it won't be happening until a few years time. What a waste of precious resources" I see. So even if this thing did past the trial, they'll still need to bring it back to tip top condition to get it approved by the U.N. council. They won't want defective or broken material on the battlefield. "Ah that also reminds me. There's no need to come here tomorrow. Take the day off and spend some time with your squad. Your new toys should be arriving soon"
"Ah…? Uh… ok… thanks…"
(PX)
Ah man… I can't believe how late it is. By the time I changed back into my military uniform from the showers, dinner was practically over. They had some leftovers at the counter for those who'd want a little midnight snack but cold food for dinner left a lot to be desired. I kind of wish I still had a cup of instant ramen back in my room. Oh well… I guess beggars can't be choosers.
I also wanted to give the girls a little gift as an apology for not spending more time with them. Kyouzuka oba san and I spent the afternoon making them. I wanted to make them some stuffed toys but there wasn't enough time or materials to make them all in the right size. So instead I decided to make it into pocket size. You can probably call them straps that kids attach to their cell phones. It wasn't much but it was the only thing I can think of.
Tip tap…
Hmm? Who's that? Ah!
"Meiya?" It is!
"Ah… Takeru. (Hey… long time no see…) Yes indeed. But what are you doing here? Have you not had dinner yet?"
"Yeah… I just got back from changing"
"Is it because of your special mission?" She pouted worryingly. "The task must be extremely difficult for you if it is taking this long for you to accomplish"
"It's not hard… just time consuming" I explained to her. "What about you? Are you just coming back from your independent training?"
"Yes. I took it easy today not to tire myself out for tomorrow. Our new TSFs will be arriving in the morning. (Eh?)" Our new TSFs? The Shiranuis? But how's that possible? They're not supposed to come until the 20th. "Did you not know? (No…) Apparently Professor Kouzuki accelerated the process of their construction. They will be arriving tomorrow at dawn. We are ordered to receive them on our Fubukis" Ah… that must be what Yuuko sensei meant when she said the 'new toys'.
"I guess that means I'll be greeting them too. I got the day off from my special mission tomorrow so I'll be joining your guys"
"Really? That's wonderful. The others will be ecstatic to see you again"
"Hey come on now. You're making it sound like I've been gone forever. It's only been a few days"
"Yes, you're right. Forgive me" She let out a soft laugh. "But it shall be wonderful to have you back in our group. Even Sakaki seems to miss you" Class rep? That'll be the day. "We had hoped that you would have time for us on the day off. I was even hoping that we would finally settle our Shogi match once and for all" Oh yeah. I recall playing a game of Shogi with Meiya when I first arrived. I haven't touched those in a long while now.
"Yeah… we haven't played those simple retro games ever since the coup. Oh… speaking of games. I got something for you. (Hmm?) But you have to close your eyes"
"Eh? Why must I? (Because it's a surprise) How can it be a surprise when you've already told me about it?" Geh! She's got a point there.
"J… just close your eyes. It's customary!"
"Takeru… you're not making sense here. (…guu…) But I shall comply this once. (Thanks!) (Blink…) Alright… my eyes are shut. What is the surprise?"
"Alright, hold on" I quickly pulled out Meiya's gift from my pocket. Out of everyone, she was the hardest to make because her personality was hard to describe. Eventually, oba san decided to make it into this. "Ok… now open your eyes. (Blink) Happy birthday, Meiya"
"Eh? This is…"
"It's a turtle dove" I answered. "It's a European bird. It's not much since I didn't have enough time to make them into life size. I thought you might like it. (…) Uh… hello? Meiya?"
"Ah… I'm sorry. I… just do not know how to react. If I had known that you would be bringing me a gift then I would've had one prepared for you as well"
Hehehe… somehow I was expecting her to say that. "No need. Besides, I made one for all of the members of our cadet squad" I showed her the straps that fit the palm of my hand. The cat was obviously for Tama, the monkey for Mikoto, the bear for Class rep and a koala for Ayamine for obvious reasons.
"I see… they are wonderful. I never imagined you could make something so artistic"
"Hey, you'd be surprise on what people can do when they're properly motivated"
"Yes… that is true" We shared a small laugh together. "But… how did you know that today was my birthday?"
"Ah… Yuuko sensei told me about it" It was the truth, somewhat. After all, if she didn't remind me of my birthday I wouldn't have remembered Meiya's birthday as well. "Sorry. I would've made something better if—(fwup) Eh?"
"No…" She held the dove to her face with a happy expression. "They are… wonderful. I am glad. But surely you should've told me first. If I had known then I would've prepared something for you as well"
"Well… that's pretty much the whole point of getting a present. They say that giving is its own reward"
"Ahaha" Oh? She laughed. "Such metaphors do not befit you. (Eh?) But… I am grateful. I will cherish it with me always. Shall I help you deliver the others as well?"
"Nah I'd rather do it in person. A gift is only as good when it's given by the giver… (…?) Wait… did that even make sense?"
"Huhuhuhu… it is good to see that you have not lost your sense of humor"
"It wasn't a joke. I was trying to be wise! (Ahuhuhuhu…) Don't laugh! Geez. Class rep told me to start acting serious but every time I do something, other people just can't take me seriously"
"Perhaps you have been afflicted with Yoroi's airheaded abilities" Whatttt!-? I take that as the greatest of all insults. I will have my—(Tug!) …! "Hmm? Takeru? Are you alright?" A migraine attack just struck me. I was lucky that I was standing next to the counter or I would've fallen on my own feet. It was another headache attack… though not as strong as before, it was still affecting me. "O… oi… what's wrong? You look rather pale…"
"It's… nothing" I waved it off. "It seems like the special mission that Yuuko sensei gave out wore me out more than I thought. I think I'll head back to my room and get some sleep"
"Yes… I believe that would benefit you well. I shall escort you to your room"
"Yeah… I'd like that. Thanks"
A/N: And that's it for Takeru's B-Day. I wanted to do more but that would extend the chapter too long. Oh well. Sadogashima is soooooooo close now. Soooo very close. I already have the events lined up in my head but will take time in getting them out. Until then, keep fighting in the name of true love!