Chapter 61: Ǎ̵̳̾͒l̵̢̹͕̓͝t̶̩̽͐̓ḛ̵̟̳͌̒̎̈r̸̗̯͔̜̓̈́̊͠ḁ̷͈̤̇̀̓͗t̷̨̛̛͙͇͛͜i̶̯̬͈̒̉̔̆ȯ̵͔̉̀n̵̤͙̥̹̈̇̒ Origination
December 16th. 10:42 AM.
(Sim Room.)
[Takeru]
"Why did you tell them?" I ask a bit louder, since she seems to not have heard me well over the rumbling of the sims, as I put my hands in my jacket's pockets.
"I… I know you told me to not speak of the matter, yet I thought that, perhaps…" Meiya looks away, a hand tightly pressed against her waist, her suit reflecting off the incoming sunshine, "…you could be overburdened as of now."
I arrived just as the first session was about to end, gave the guys some pointers about their performance, and suggested them to fight as a flight now. To have a moment to speak with Meiya, to which she agreed. Kasumi gave us some space as she watched over the training, me and her were up in the railway in a corner of the almost empty room, the sounds of the sims' echoing rumble as the only background noise.
"…And that's why you broke your promise?" Her eyes widened for a moment, shivering as if we were outside.
"I only… was worried about both of you. Both Mion and Shion have a reach and position we both do not have on the base." Looking my way again, she folded her arms and gave me that worried gaze she always used to have on her whenever I was either troubled or about to do something stupid, or both. "You have… chosen to not rely on me, so I thought that speaking with people who have gone through their fair share of hardships could… somehow aid you in your efforts with Kagami."
"How does telling the Guard about my private matters help me in any way?" I can at least see that she's telling me half the truth. Yet, I can't really calm down.
Because Meiya is not someone to beat around the bush or put excuses, she would almost always just be upfront about her ideas and why she does things. And she's still with that same downcast gaze and not facing me frontally, as if she were worried… What did they tell her? What do they want with Sumika? Can I trust in her going forward; or will she just tell anything I confide with her to the Guard? Why are you hesitating, Meiya? This ain't like you at all.
"…Well, you are my fellow, so it is obvious I would be concerned. Wouldn't it be for the best if you were focusing on regaining your energy? I doubt Kagami enjoys seeing you this exhausted."
"…You got a point, I admit. I should learn to be a more responsible pilot already." After how I wrecked my Shiranui on the defense of the base, I should know better by now. Just because I got a better TSF doesn't mean I shouldn't try to polish my sour habits. And I do need to be in good shape to actually help out outside of the cockpit.
"Ah, I didn't mean to criticize-"
"You're right, as always."
"Huh? So, um…"
"But Sumika is another matter entirely." One of her brows twitched. "She needs the help, and I told you as much as I could, and that it was a secret." I look her in the eye, squinting mine. "I don't like the Guard poking their noses where they're not called."
"…They're your squadmates."
"…That may be so, but they're the liaisons from the Guard. Sumika's position is important for the UN, and I rather not bring more tension to the projects. Even if the pickles have good intentions, if they raise a question about Sumika to Sensei… things will get ugly very fast."
"Is… Kagami such an important person?"
"Sensei thinks she is, that's what matters."
"And what do you think?" Oh, now you hold my gaze!
"She's a good friend, just like Kasumi and all of you. And anyways, why did you… Sigh…"
"What is it? What has you this distraught, Takeru?"
"…You know, don't you?"
"Eh?"
I inhale slowly through my nose, again hearing the rumbling of the sims in the distance. Do I go through with this? Do I… break the ice? No… If I delay this discussion, things will only get worse. I told Sensei I would get definitive answers today. So… I lick my lips, feeling my chest shiver for a sec like a bird after a sudden rain.
"…The pickles told you something about… my past, didn't they?"
…
"I do not know why do you think such a thing happened."
"…For real?"
She looks away, her lips ever so slightly, ever so subtly twisting. She sighs and leans on the small fence, taking a step away from me. Despite the coming sunshine, I could only feel coldness all around me and all I could muster was a wringing of my hands at the space that her silence had brought between us.
"…What made you ask such a question, if I may ask?"
"Well, the pickles asked me some odd questions again." I lean on the rails too, looking up. "And all this business with the Guard has been sketchy since the start. 1st Lt. Tsukuyomi letting me keep my blade, Mion trying to kill me on the CCSE, that mock battle and their insistence on me going to the Capital, their change in attitude after I got sent to the infirmary… And Shion told me she insisted so that you told her of Sumika." Looking back at her, one of her hands was diving a bit too tightly into her arm as she folded them. "Meiya, I believe that after all the discussions and whatnot that have happened between us we can trust each other. Did the Guard really not tell you anything about me?" If they pressured her, telling her 'I' could regain my memories and become a 'true fellow' she might have felt inclined to talk out of consideration towards me, to have me 'remember' my roots. But… What does she think of me?
"I… know nothing." Closing her eyes, her tone freezes over. "Curiosity is not a sin, but you should be careful with it. I was taught that since an early age."
"…I see."
When Meiya doesn't return your gaze after such an important question…
…It means she's lying. So, that last bit wasn't about herself… but the answer in itself. They told her something she might consider 'delicate' enough to withhold it from me.
"Then, I have a favor to ask." She looks back, now being as stiff as a docked TSF. "Make sure the pickles get that they shouldn't talk about Sumika, and that they shouldn't pry into my business if I don't ask. Also, don't go telling anyone else about Sumika again. Got it?"
"…Yes, I know. However, what has got you this distraught towards the cousins?"
"…I just told you. As you said before, I wanna start over but they won't stop bringing up my past. It's a fucking bother, and now they're asking about Sumika to make matters worse." I can understand them. I get how they must want to see someone they loved again after so long. I really do.
But I can't be him.
"I see… Forgive me, I did not mean to bring such unpleasantry to you, much less on your birthday."
Sigh… Still considerate to a fault. At least she doesn't have any hidden feelings in her, I can see that now. She does know something though…
"So… Can I trust in you keeping any secrets I tell you as that from now on?"
Her eyes widened, and she remained with her mouth barely open as she stared at me for a sec. Like a penguin in a desert, or a cat hearing a thunder. Then, she bit her lips. Real tight. Like when she took me to the mountain. I'm gonna die, aren't I?
"There is no need to cast such doubts towards me." She took a step closer, almost beating a coiled hand into her chest as she did so, the purple fire blast roaring alive in her narrowed eyes and in her words, sounding as if she got hit by an arrow to the heart. "I admit I've let you down, however, I shan't make the same mistake again. No matter what others say nor how they pressure me, I shall keep any and all words you confide to me sealed within my lips. You can trust me Takeru, for I am your… fellow."
"…Why did you pause there?"
"I did not." She slightly puffs a cheek, like… whenever I beat her when we played videogames. Like when I forced her to play a snowball fight in my first loops and she got hit right in the face as soon as we started.
…Like how she always was. Haha, despite everything… she's still the same.
Sigh… Which one is it then? She's clearly as honest as always, but… Why did she hesitate right now? Arching her brows and staring at me real nasty, as if she were-
…Oh.
"Takeru? What is it?"
"…Nothing." I look up, scratching my head. "Sorry for doubting you like that, been real stressed as of late."
"It is fine, I did betray your trust." She hangs her head, taking it as hard as she would.
"Sigh… Come on, now. Chin up, we're cool." Then she nods, regular flares back in her eyes. You're so simple to please it's cute. "So, I'll leave the pickles in your hands."
"Yes, leave it to me. I'll be as clear as you were just now. However…" And again, she lags an answer. "May I ask you a personal question?" Stop hesitating. Stop giving me mood swings. Nothing good ever comes when you do that.
"Shoot it."
"About your scars…"
"…Yeah?" Where did this come from?
"…Um, forgive me for prying once more… However, Takamura mentioned to me how she thought that it was impossible for you to have been attacked with metal bats and the like during the Yukon Incident. So, well, do you think she might be mistaken?"
…
Oh shit. I had forgotten I had told Meiya of that… Wait, if Takamura were to tell the pickles… or Meiya could do so now… Lying more to cover it up just won't work in the long run, having Sensei shut the discussion down will only make the Guard more suspicious.
Oh, goddammit…
"Is it… something you're not allowed to talk about?"
"Sigh…" I run a hand over my forehead, poking the horns of the headband. "Not now, Meiya. It's… complicated."
"…How so?"
"…It has to do with… the real reason I got transferred to this place, in a way."
"Is that so?" She folds her arms, again with the worried gaze. "And you… cannot tell anyone?"
"I'd like to, one day. Now's not the time, though." I look up, moving my neck in circles. I hope there comes a day when I can confide in you like I did before, when I can decide whether I wanna stay here or return home.
"I see… Well, if you ever require an ear, all you need to do is ask." She smiled my way, giving me a short but firm nod.
"Yeah, I know. Thanks, Meiya. You're truly one hell of a confidant." I doubt anyone is gonna have the same patience and care for me as you do. Well, maybe Yuuhi would but only because she thinks I'm someone I am not. And I need to be that someone for Sumika first… Really, what would I do without you, Kasumi and Sensei.
"Mmgh…"
Huh? Meiya's lips twisted, her brows sprouted cracks as they arched, from a relaxed, free flowing river into the restrains of a bottle could be used to describe how tense she got. And of course, the purple fire along the subtle as brick wrinkles. I seem to have a death wish today.
"…I am your fellow, Takeru. Please refer to me as that."
"Okay? Do you… not like that word for some reason?"
"Nonsense, nothing of the sort." She folded her arms, raising her chin and looking slightly to the left. She's angry, then. "I simply wish for you to refer to me as I've been asking you." I nod, scratching my head, she then regains a faint smile with some traces of annoyance remaining in her eyes.
…Why did she react like this? Considering her prior hesitation… She's getting memories from last loop. I wonder why the rest aren't being affected as much as her in this regard. If the trigger are stronger feelings that have to be born from the person itself… When did this began…
…
After the General came to the base. After they told her whatever it is they told her. That's when she actually asked to call me by my name, when she still was sympathetic towards me despite my outburst towards Tsukuyomi-san in that mock battle.
So, whatever it is they told her, made her… like me. So, this world's me had qualities that Meiya would find praiseworthy. Then, she still doesn't know about… Mogami or the Swordbreakers.
Oh, wait a sec. I see… Maybe Yuuhi is using her as a mirror? To have me 'remember' the 'good old days'? Just like how the pickles seem hellbent on being nice to me… Meiya is doing so naturally… So… Even Hikami was very careful during our talk… I guess that means that, at least for now, they don't want him back in that form.
Sigh… It's a relief, if that is the case. But the problem still stands. I won't be able to run away from his life if I stay here…
"…Takeru?" A faint, barely rising voice. Almost sweet, but odd in a way.
"Hm?" I blink, returning to the sim room.
A head was slightly tilted, giving me a wide grin. Meiya had gotten closer, one of her brows was curving upwards along that creepy grin. A shiver worse than the cold hands ran a downhill on my back.
"It speaks volumes to simply ignore me in such manner." She's pouting as much as she always did whenever I did this, being so close I could smell her perfume.
That same lavender perfume filled my nose, as it did those years ago every single morning. Both in my home world and in the first loops when we were together. Always waking up with her right by my side, enveloped by that lavender perfume, before Tsukuyomi-san came to take me to my classes to learn how to help the Mitsurugi Group. Always relaxing after a hard day of word in the base, ruffling my head onto her silky hair, lost in her perfume as we simply cuddled together.
…Feeling completely enveloped by the scent, as if embraced by it… A hand on my head, softly drawing arcs on my hair. It then rubs my back in circles. I sighed slowly, relaxed, as the soft memory of only the sensations, of the pleasant moments when I had my eyes closed by her side, reiterated itself on my mind.
Warm as a hotspring was the hug, all around me. Soothing as always her perfume, I could feel my head tilting back as I breathed in. And… I felt shivers in me, my arms clutched to my body, as it felt as if someone had kissed my forehead. My heart suddenly sprung to action in my neck, as if it was playing heavy metal by itself.
But… Huh? Meiya… used to kiss my forehead? It feels so… not just relaxing… Like, when after a hard day at work you get home and get to eat some warm homemade food and just lie together in the sofa. As if I was caught in a cocoon made entirely out of soft silk.
…So serene and calming…
…I had to gulp hard and bite my lips to not give in the sudden urge to hug her, remembering our intimacy, our so precious monotony in those fleeting peaceful moments.
"…S-Sorry, I had thought I didn't space out as much." I take some steps back, losing that closeness with her perfume, managing to keep the memories in check.
"No, it is fine." Those folded arms seem to disagree with you, though. "So, what had you so distracted? You seem… well… bothered, for some reason."
"Eh… Well, nothing much. Just trying to think on why you disliked the word confidant." I chuckle, seeing my misdirection worked like a charm.
"Wha… I-I do not dislike it or anything. I merely-"
"Prefer to have me call you fellow, I get it." She groans, narrowing her eyes a bit. "Well, it's cool. Glad we could sort all this out." Chilling down a bit, she nods. "Let's just go back to the see the trainings."
"Yes, indeed."
We approach the monitors where the girls' training was being shown, me keeping some two steps from Meiya. I don't think my heart can take relieving more of those memories, and I don't know the effect that'll have on her as well. Last thing I want is to have her go through more confusing flashes of that stuff.
"So Takeru… What do you think of the current training?"
"Hmm… Kei's sniping really does suck." I sigh as we get closer to Kasumi, closer to the sims.
"Ahaha… Do not be so harsh. Ayamine is doing an earnest effort to be better. What surprises me the most is Tamase's performance as a frontliner." She locks her eyes on the two TSFs that are acting as vanguards, Tama's and Chizuru's. "Sakaki has truly sharpened her flow after our training together, but Tamase is managing to hold out very well."
"…That's more because she knows her limits. She doesn't push forward when she doesn't have to, making the flight's covering fire never be compromised." I lean on the rails, taking in the full view of the monitor. Meiya stops by my side, my nose picks up her scent. Feeling my lips plucking, I move just a bit to my right.
The TSFs fly in between some cliffs, rounding up what would be the aggressors. In a similar way to what I did in the tournament, they rebound off the dirt and stone pillars as if the machines were merely balls in a pinball game, power-sliding and doing short hops to avoid crashing instead of going for Kulbits.
"Sigh… They still can't get used to using all the speed, huh."
"I doubt many could pilot as you do." She edged closer, giving me another smile, letting her fragrance be known in my regular breathing.
"It's not about being like me." I again slightly move to my right. "They have to find their own style, while also learning to make the most of the XM3."
"…Would this training you performed with the Viking be of use for us to reach that level of aptitude?" A small purple ember in her eyes, she again edged closer.
"Hopefully it does. Though, I don't know if we should do the full thing or not." As much fun as doing a complete run with all the odd ideas I have, I don't know if we could pull that off with our sims.
"I see… Do you think it would be possible to request the Viking's aid for these sessions?"
"Hmm… Probably not, she's terribly busy. She has a lot on her plate, so let's push the Viking for this."
"You sound… oddly concerned about her." She lowers her eyelids, hiding the blazes under the veil of a gentle smile.
"She's a fellow too, right?"
"Well… That is true…"
"Takeru-san…" Kasumi walked up to us, moving her bunny ears. "Why aren't they canceling as you taught me?"
"Because they can't handle the G-forces. Also, even with the suits, we might get motion sickness when doing stunts like the ones I pull."
I then spent a while answering Meiya's and Kasumi's questions as we debated on the training, the bunny still ignoring Meiya at large despite her efforts to remain polite and welcoming.
We discussed our conclusions with the rest as they got out, Chizuru again getting down her plan didn't work out, Tama blaming herself for not doing enough, Mikoto trying to help me in shining their good moves, and Kei remained silent as she looked at nowhere. She's either super pissed at her own performance as a sniper… or, maybe something else is bothering her. Like a certain letter arriving out of the usual schedule. I'll have to try to see if I can get her to talk about it… I know Sensei would notice, but offering an ear to Kei is a priority if Sagiri decides to act.
Seeing the other squads wanting to have a go at the sims, they decided to call it a day.
"Excuse me, lieutenants." As we were going to the girls' changing rooms, still debating about the trainings, 2nd Lt. Pyatkh approached us. "Yashiro, the Professor is calling for you."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, please follow me." Pyatkh gave her a polite bow, Kasumi looked back at me.
Hey, don't worry about me. I'll be fine, Kasumi.
"Are you sure? Why don't you also come with me? We already saw Mitsurugi's intentions."
Come on, I gotta go make the food later. You just wait for me with Sumika, I'll take you some treats later.
"…Okay, if you say so."
Chin up, my angel. Unless you want me making carrot pies.
She pouts ever so slightly, a hand of hers tightening for a lil' bit as she closed her eyes.
"Well, see you later." She gave us a bow, we returned the farewell and a short salute to Pyatkh. I waved at Kasumi as she went into the hallway, and then felt the calm, tingly feeling on the back of my head for just a second. "By the way, you suck."
I love you too, Kasumi.
She then seemed to trip against the air, almost losing her balance. Pyatkh tried to help her by lending her a hand, but the bunny made honor to her nickname and picked up speed and took a turn towards the stairs. Ahaha… She can be so cute sometimes. You silly bunny.
"…Takeru, does Yashiro undergoes special missions as well?" Meiya asked me as we began to walk again.
"Huh? Well, sometimes. Most of the times though, she's just doing office work."
"Special-kun, why was Yashiro so interested in the training?"
"Why? Well, Kasumi is doing her best to become a good enough pilot. Of course she's gonna want to see some of your trainings."
"…So you think we… can trust in her?"
…
"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch your words. What was that?" Holding Kei's gaze, the slowness with which she moved to face me directly told me she's… hesitant, doubting.
"Well, according to the docs, only Japanese personnel should be part of the A-01. She's clearly not Japanese, so… our methods might clash."
"I'm teaching her myself. You have a complain with my way of fighting?"
"…Never said that. Didn't knew you were doing that. Why, though?"
"Whaddaya mean, why? She asked me to teach her, so I'm doing that. If Kasumi's piloting has something you don't like, chances are it's my fault. So, what is it?"
"C-Come on, Takeru." Mikoto slapped my shoulder as she laughed. "Kei-san is just curious because she's so much younger. And other countries do have different ways to fight, right?"
"It's just as Yoroi said, Shirogane-kun. Ayamine, you should word your questions more tactfully." Chizuru sighed, shrugging. "By the way, I'm sure this wasn't your intent, but be mindful of sounding… discriminating towards the foreigners. We already messed up badly because of that once before." Then she looks down, those brows making a tense V.
"…My bad, didn't mean it in that way." Kei gave me a short nod. "I just don't get why we'd send a little girl to the frontlines when we're here. Do you agree with this, Special-kun?"
"Sigh… If shit is gonna hit the fan, better teach her now than never. I don't know what'll happen once we march to war, so the least I could do is leave behind as much as I can in case the worst happens. And if it doesn't, we gain a great ally in the middle term. Kasumi has been here for longer than me, so you shouldn't be so cold towards her, you know." I squint my eyes, bringing my voice from my stomach, letting acid drip out in the last phrase while I tapped the space between my brows with a finger.
"Sorry, my bad." Kei sighs, then also furrows her brows. "It just… weirds me out, how everything has changed."
"What do you mean, Ayamine-san? You're not… happy to be here?" Tama asked, bringing both hands to her chest, her voice a music box running out of gas.
"It's not that… It's just…" She stops and looks up, in her eyes I see the diamond-hard resolve she usually showed despite how she's trying to keep her poker face. "Part of me still hasn't processed that we're in the STF, that the Empire owes so much to the UN. I just… have a lot on my mind right now, about how I used to see things and how everything looks now."
"…I suppose it is but a natural change of perspective." Meiya folds her arms, nodding in agreement. "We have been placed at the forefront of the war, seeing that… the UN truly did more than what we gave it credit for."
"Y-Yeah, all of this is so much larger than what we thought…" Tama barely brings the words out. "I understand why you're so conflicted, with all the arguments about our loyalty to our nation we got in after joining the UN."
"Guys… I know that, with all that has happened in the last years, you have valid reasons to distrust foreigners." They all look away, some holding their elbows, others playing with their hair, others still as they hear. "But Kasumi is the one person you can trust for sure. She's the sweetest thing in the base and she wouldn't harm anything, besides the carrots. She's really a good friend, so don't treat her coldly. Kei, I don't know what you're troubled by, but Kasumi isn't your enemy. The Empire is basically her adoptive home."
"I know…" She folds her arms tight, for a second her eyes veered away from mine before going back to her usual. "I'll just stay quiet. But… Well… Why are you being so frontal? Isn't like you." She now looks… somewhat sad, like when she thought I wasn't into her anymore back in my world whenever she saw me talking with another girl.
You idiot… I'm not holding a grudge. But I also don't want to see you… as you were during our first days together to the bunny. I sigh and then… I again tap my brows, frowning as Sensei did when she threw her papers at me.
"…Because you're gonna have to deal with me if you treat Kasumi badly, and I don't want you to do what you did to me back then to her now. She's one of us, and I want to think you learned something out of the mess that the CCSE was."
"…Sorry." She hangs her head, her mood jumping off a building and her eyes ready to follow suit.
"Hey, don't get all gloomy. Just… If you brought yourself to give me another chance, after what I did no less, why not give Kasumi the opportunity to prove herself to you?"
"Well… She was kinda awful with us back then." She scratches her head, twisting her lips. So Kei is simply at a loss on how to feel, huh.
"That is true." Meiya nods, arms folded. "Yashiro does tend to be rude even when I do an effort to be polite."
"She's just… really blunt. That's all there is to it."
"And being around you sure isn't doing her any favors!" Mikoto said with a giggle, again slapping my shoulder.
"Oi!"
"Sigh… I suppose that would explain her increasing rudeness." Meiya gave me another worried look. So you have absolutely no faith in me, huh?
"Ahaha, imagine if Yashiro-san started saying 'dude' or 'for real' as Takeru-san does." Tama, not you too!
"Oh, please no. Shirogane-kun, you better do not be-"
"I'm not being a bad influence, I swear!"
"For real, dude?" Kei said, finally giving me a smile.
"Yeah, for real." I return the smile, chuckling a bit.
"In any case, make sure to not give her any of your bad habits." She said, the finger again running circular laps.
"Yeah, Ma'am. I'll try to talk with Kasumi so that she's less cold, please just be patient with her." They all nodded, finally without any tension or hesitation in their eyes.
The air renewed, we walked the remaining distance to their changing rooms. I parted ways with them and went my way to the track field. I don't really have much free time to be outside, so let's use this time to clear my head and get back in gear to help Sumika. I also should think on what I'm cooking in a little while.
"Hmm… I wonder what I could cook…"
"Oh, perhaps a pizza would be good?"
"Nah, man. That was already on the menu." Something else… Something more… you know, complementing.
"I see… Why not simply make some fried rice with synth chicken?"
"Oh, that's a good one. Simple is best, after all. Huh?" I blink a few times, looking at the tall figure that had, at some point, began walking besides me.
"Hm? What is it, Takeru Shirogane? Done reminiscing about food?"
"Chief Yoroi?! What are you doing here?!"
"Oh, just taking a wall around the base. It is a beautiful building, after all. Top of the line tech in every corner."
"Well… Yeah, you're right in that. So, why did you sneak up on me?"
"I simply found you absentmindedly walking and thought to say hello." His gaze peering deep into my soul, it feels as if I were staring straight into a mirror without blinking for too long.
"I see. I'm going for a breather, so I'll-"
"By the way, might I ask about this… device on your head?" Narrow brows, an unwary tone paired with a hawkish gaze.
"…It's just a headband."
"I see… It resembles some sort of horns, does it not?"
"I guess…"
"I wonder what this means. Takeru Shirogane, are you a guardian angel in disguise; or a demon lurking in the shadows?" He takes a step closer, I furrow my brows and pluck my lips, doing an effort to keep my tone neutral as I speak up.
"I'm a UN soldier, working for the same side as you, I believe."
"…Is that so?"
"Well, aren't you busy? Sensei's gonna be angry if she finds you snooping around. What are you even here for?"
"Hoho, I can't tell you that. For I am a man with a mission." He gives me his usual smile, raising his hands and waving them to a side.
"Sigh… Well, I guess that's true. I'll forget we've ever saw-"
"Oh, since you insist, I suppose I could tell you."
"…Which is it?" Always marching to his own drum.
"You see, I've been tasked to deliver a certain item to this base…"
"Hmm… I suppose to Sensei?"
"Well, yes. But I suppose you could simply hand it to her."
"Why?"
"You're going to see her at some point, won't you? It makes my work easier."
"Hey, don't slack off Chief. Sensei is gonna kick you a thousand times if you keep messing around." He's doing his usual act. Why did he approach me? Is this about an item true or not? Is there… anyone else nearby? Can't feel anyone's presence… But I also couldn't hear him approaching at all.
"Haha, I suppose it is a risk I cannot take. By the way, here." He passes me a small box.
"What's this?"
"The important item I spoke about."
"Huh?! You're just handing it to me? What is this… Huh?" Touching the package, my fingers dive right in. This feels like… "Chief, this wouldn't be a dodo plushie, would it?"
"Oh?" He smiled widely for some reason. "How did you guess correctly, Takeru Shirogane?"
"Mikoto complained once about the plushie you left her for when she got commissioned. About how much you love those birds."
"Oh, yes. The dodos are fascinating, and not only because they're an extinct mystery to delve in."
"For real?"
"In any case, I suppose we should discuss the real reason I came here." …But what about the dodos? I never heard anything of the things, now that I think about it. "Here." He produced a letter from his suit and passed it to me.
"…You do know that Sensei won't like you using a middle man for the delivery, right?"
"Oh, worry not Takeru Shirogane. This letter isn't for the Professor."
"Huh? Then, who is it for?"
"Read it, and find out. I have business with the XO, so I'll take my leave here." He tips his hat, giving me a smile. "Until later, Takeru Shirogane."
"…Yeah, later."
He went his way deep into the base, towards the stairs. I suppose people will deal with him in due time, but just in case. I grab my PDA from one of my pockets, sending Sensei a mail telling her the Chief is in the base, and that he apparently has something to give her. Considering she was waiting for answers from me, she might see the thing quickly.
Now, I wonder what the hell is this letter about.
The envelop was made of a paper softer than anything I've touched before, almost feeling soft despite its sturdiness. White as the moon, it had a small burgundy ribbon on it like those congratulation letters have. Sealed with a wax seal in the same burgundy color, the pattern of the seal seems… familiar for some reason.
As I turn it around, I see another logo. A large purple marking with the image of the handguard of the Minaru Kamui. …The Koubuin House's emblem. A stamp with the IRG's patch was in a corner, looking more like a hand drawn, custom made piece rather than a mass produced stamp. Written in pristine black ink, with such a fine calligraphy that denoted not a single wasted stroke nor hesitation in the action, a name was etched on the envelope.
Recipient: Takeru Shirogane. Followed by it, the directions of the base were written under it.
Someone… sent me a letter?
Who? Uncle Koetsu is dead. Most of my friends from my world are either dead or in the base already. My family is also… Wait…
I gulped, feeling the cold hands creep back out. As if my feet were sinking in sand, I couldn't move from the spot. My fingers were distorting the edges of the envelope, not wishing to turn it around to open it and read who the sender was.
Letting some air out, leaving my mouth open, I slowly turned the thing around.
Some of my fingers blocked the writing, but I could read the name just fine. Unlike that time when I saw Sagiri's letter and got the reading wrong, I can somehow tell that this time my reading of the kanjis isn't wrong.
Looking at the sender's last name, I can, for some reason, tell I am not wrong. I can tell that these kanjis read 'Amato'.
And that is making me shiver, feeling cold all over as I begin to take breaths closer to each other with my mouth half open, a slight twinge of pain appearing right below my ear.
The view of the inside of a car zooming in somewhere pops in my mind, a woman scowling at me in some sort of garden at night, a woman with ash-gray hair pouring me some tea in an office.
And a loud explosion.
And a clouded sky.
And the begging woman.
And the gunshot.
And the school.
And…
…
I blinked, and for a second I saw the shadowy silhouettes again. Just that, this time, the scenery was different. Burnt pillars, the smell of gunpowder overflowing, but… the shadows couldn't get close.
Because a giant stone shield was, for some reason, surrounding the light that was in the area.
"If you want to cry, it has to be now. Sadly, we can expect no reinforcements from the Royal Guard. We're on our own, Takeru-kun. Trust no one from here on out."
I fell to my knees, clutching my heart and the envelope.
"Haa… Haa… God-fucking-dammit… What is today?" Things just don't stop coming, one after the other.
Come on. I gotta stand up… Right here… There might be an answer to the question Sensei asked yesterday. An answer to… some of the lakes in the memories.
I bit my lips, feeling something about to come out from my stomach. A noise buzzing in my ears, I take a deep breath.
I close my eyes and open the thing, leaning against a wall, beginning to read the letter.
A/N: Hey there. Don't know if everyone knows, but I decided to further split the story. The small sections that are there for background info of side-characters will be either one-shots or small stories. Hopefully that makes the story flow a little better.
Also, I tried to limit myself on this chapter, to try to make it shorter and faster than my usual since I'm trying to pick up the pace of the plot, fearing it might be dragging on. Does this chap flow well? Are the transitions clear enough between scenes and not rushed?
That's all for now. Thanks for reading. Stay safe.
Zuoriel