Chapter 26: Suspicions and Misunderstandings
November 22nd. Near 10 PM.
(Barracks, close to Takeru's room.)
[Mana]
"Mana-sama, the coast is clear."
"Roger, you may stand back Ebisu. Keep me updated in case anyone comes by." She nods, standing aside and retiring from this place.
With hurried steps the distance between me and that room is closed, taking a moment to glance around as I gripped the handle, a slight hesitation as his bitter expression when we spoke of food returned to my mind, the metal was twisted and I proceeded into the darkness that was covering his personal resting place.
Flickering the switch on, nothing seemed out of place. Another officer's quarter like all in the barracks. Of course, for it to belong to a cadet is nothing short of an irregularity. Only because of who belong to Squad 207 is this allowed. And yet…
"…How odd. For his bed to be properly tidied up." His desk also seems neatly organized.
No, I've no time to waste. There is one surefire way to confirm my suspicions. Turning to face the closet, closing my eyes momentarily as I opened it, an ordinary sight welcomed me once I looked into the row of clothing. Yet, as I pushed my hand into the back of it, a soft yet firm contact met my fingers. Pulling the hidden object out, gripping it with undeserved tension, perhaps doing so far slower than I should have, what could my eyes do other than imitate a full moon, what could I do other than feel a sudden shiver as seizing as a searing slash on my sides.
Quickly removing the cloth that hid it, I was left with something only a few select have in this Empire of ours. A Minaru Kamui. And not just one of the many we have…
"This is… in more than prime condition. The handle brimming with softness with not a single stain or rugged spot in its cloth, the handguard shining as dawn would, polished to perfection, the sheathe also has barely no scratches."
And then, as I drew the blade out, there was also no doubt that it had been under only the most thoughtful care one could have given it. It does look… far less sharper than what one could expect of our blades, almost as if it was dulled on purpose to not deliver on its killing intent. And yet, bringing it to eye level, swinging it twice, any doubts regarding its finesse were dashed. This blade could tear a finger from a TSF if it were necessary. Perhaps, it was repaired at some point, and for some reason someone chose to grind the edge away. I suppose, to follow the laws of where it was at the time. However… However, this… means…
"…He wasn't lying, he did possess one of our swords. However, no Minaru Kamui had left the Empire. He couldn't have received it in Yukon. Therefore… That means…"
As if trying to crack ice, my jaw mows up and down. The blade begins to clutter and resonate as my hands quiver. And, as I took in the words he pronounced into my ears once more, as the reiteration aligned perfectly with how he used to be… I simply… realized that…
"Takeru-sama… was alive all this time?"
His smile comes back, all the times he kept both Mion and Shion company, whenever he would try to cheer me up when I was overburdened with my work with what little he could cook, until he learned to make that ginger and lemon drink.
Elbows and wrists shake as if the ground were coming alive, a hand eases its hold on the handle to wipe the few tears that spawned on me. This is no lie, this is no replica. This is a legitimate Minaru Kamui, and one that was always cherished and well kept. And… And his reactions and words…
Yuuhi-sama said he had perished, that there was absolutely no conceivable way in which he could have survived, and yet…
"How could we explain this? …No, why… why did we not know?" As sudden as a summer rain, frowning much, indignation and frustration come pouring forward.
Whatever has caused this turn of events? Why was he in Yukon, and for two years? How did he keep his blade? And… And…
How was he taken from us on that accursed day of treason? Whatever athwarted him from our hands, away to Alaska? More considering how he used to be, I sincerely doubt he could-
A rumbling on my stomach slides down to my knees, leaving me little choice but to support myself on the desk. Those old days, those accursed days of endless battle. And the glare, the unspoken judgment, the adusted wreath in his stride.
Nothing of that is left in his current gaze. Takeru-sama has… been healed, somehow? Has the gash the war inflicted on him being mended after this time? He even referred to the cousins as he used to do before… Despite his situation, and mine own abrasive behavior, never once did he retaliate mirroring my intentions. Holding his elbow, simply yearning for some peace after the incidents… Alive. Takeru-sama is alive…
I pinch a cheek with much force, yet the blade in front of me does not change. There was no acting in his reactions before… Then… This is… no ploy, no attempt to deceive us? He truly was…
"For the Holy Emperor… You were alive… alone and without memories…" Quickly drowning the tears and the sigh, straightening myself up, I take one deep breath. "I have to reporting this. Yuuhi-sama has to be made aware of this, posthaste!"
I know she was most adamant in wishing for this 'faker' to be removed from this place, to be executed for the grave offense of impersonating Takeru-sama, and I am well aware that speaking against her wishes will be a tall ordeal. I doubt she will easily believe my words…
"…Yet, it is what I must do. Still, I do not have all the answers… I should be cautious in my report." Sheathing the blade and again covering it with its cloth, I place it on my person.
I would be wishing to examine this room in more detail yet I cannot risk being found out, and I must deliver the news to Yuuhi-sama.
Because our Takeru-sama is alive. And more importantly, safe, sound, healthy… and calm.
I know not of what tamed the embers in his eyes, the raging waves in his soul, however I only have thankfulness towards it. I only wish… this situation can be salvaged before it is too late.
Exiting the room, glancing to make sure no one saw me, I threw caution to the winds, the abyss, and whatever else proverbial synonyms could be used and proceeded to rush towards my room, shaving many years of use from my boots.
Next Day. Near 7 AM.
(Detention Barracks. Takeru's Cell.)
[Takeru]
Rolling to a side, to the other, rubbing my legs together to send the cold away, I try to bring my sheets closer to my face. That makes them leave my feet, and I shiver as I take in the coldness.
Opening my mouth as wide as a hippo's to yawn, stretching my stiff back, I gaze up to an unfamiliar ceiling.
"Uuugh… Right, the detention barracks." Yawning again, I sit down.
My shoulder is still hurting a bit, my back is all stiff. At least I think I had a nice dream, don't feel that heavy, cold feeling I always have when I have a nightmare.
I sit up and look around. No sign of people. I'm starving… Guess I won't get breakfast this early.
I rinse my mouth, reluctantly take another cold shower, and throw myself back in the bed, waiting until someone decides to come pay me a visit.
…
After just a short while, as I was about to doze off, I heard some steps in the distance. Three or so people, maybe? Sitting up again, I move my neck in circles to fight off the sleepiness. Three MP with rifles come up to my cell, looking at me with the friendliness of a Soldier-Class. They're nothing but dogs of the high pigs, in the end.
"Cadet Shirogane, you will come with us. We will restrain your hands now, please do not resist." I let them cuff me and we're off to wherever they're taking me.
I know I did something horrible but, do they have to look at me like that? The people that we pass on our way look at me with either frowns or as if they were smelling something that was in the fridge for too long. Those soldiers did something worse than what I did by your standards, since they harmed Meiya. Oh well, whatever. Nothing they say will hurt more than what I see in the mirror or in my dreams, anyways.
We end up going to the same interrogation room I went yesterday. They surround me, gripping their guns.
"You'll enter alone, know that we will stand guard outside. You better not try anything, we have authorization to shoot you." Yeah, keep glaring at me. Sure is Sagiri in here.
"I understand, sir."
Once they open the door, not letting me out of their sight, one pushes my back with his rifle. Sighing and shaking my head, in I go. Mooroka-san was waiting while drinking some tea, sitting as he was yesterday.
"Good morning, Cadet Shirogane. Take a seat, please."
"Good morning, Secretary." I give him a small bow, he finishes his tea and looks at me as I sit down.
"Well, let's get down to it. Due to some last minute negotiations, the HC Council has decided to give you a chance to remain in the UN. The presentation of to your contributions to the XO's missions helped much in your case, and some of the more…" He stops, drinks some more, and sighs as he placed the cup back on the table "…fervent in the organization were convinced to desist in their intentions to execute you, to avoid a needless argument between the UN and the Empire over what was nothing but an unfortunate accident, I am sure." Then, he rests a hand on his chin while looking straight at me.
"…Thank you very much, sir. I shall not let your trust go to waste."
"Yes, so I expect. Now then." He opens a folder he had by his side. "Herein lie the conditions the UN proposed to allow you to remain stationed in this base. However, let me tell you that you can refuse the terms if you wish. Nobody will force you to remain here, you can opt to go back to America if you so desire."
"Understood. What will my punishment be if I decide to stay?"
"First, regardless of your choice, the patent of your simulators will be taken by the UN. Consider this the main punishment you'll receive, and in grand part why you are given the chance to remain here. You will lose all rights regarding them, your name will not be mentioned at all in their documents, and of course you won't receive any monetary compensation. You also will be forbidden from taking them or any diagrams or documents regarding them with you if you decide to leave."
Okay, this was unexpected but welcome nonetheless. If they thought I wanted to profit from them, and did this with that in mind, it means the consoles did their work. They bought me my chance to stay here. Well done, my gaming partners. Now, let's see what are the rest of the punishments.
"I understand, sir. It is a shame that I'll lose them, but at the least I got to complete them and see them work. This isn't the end of the world. What are the rest of the punishments?"
"Alright, the rest of the punishments will only apply if you choose to stay here. For a duration of twenty days, starting today, you will be forbidden from accessing the barracks. You will have to sleep in your cell for the duration of this punishment."
Ouch, that may hurt a bit. The shower in the cell only has cold water, so that's gonna suck. Also, anyone could walk in at any time so goodbye privacy. And security, if Yuuhi sends an assassin after me I'm as good as dead. If Tsukuyomi-san got all paranoid after seeing the blade, dead I shall be.
"You will also be forbidden from entering any of the PXs on the base as well, you will lose one meal a day, so you'll only eat breakfast and dinner, and you'll have to eat the same rations that were provided to you during your CCSE."
Ok, this is a major one. So I lose lunch, I will have to eat that sorry excuse of food, and I won't be able to eat with the squad. Well, the last one might be for the best, who knows how they will react to the news of me being a murderer? Heh, for all I know Meiya and Chizuru might have gotten all negative again after letting the fact sink in and will start treating me like shit again.
"You will also be denied any free time you might have after your training drills are over. As soon as they finish, you will have to immediately report to the XO and will have to perform any duties she might have for you. To clarify this, this means that instead of having your lunch break you will have to continue to work without rest for the duration of this punishment."
I don't know if this is bad or not. I mean, that's what I've been doing since I came back, but losing all of my free time and rest during the afternoon and evening will be hard, especially if I have to eat those rations from now on.
"Those are the conditions the UN has established if you wish to stay here. Cadet, do you have an answer ready?"
Hmm… The conditions are really harsh. What I'm worried about is the fact that I'll have to remain in the detention barracks, if someone wants me dead anyone could snuck in there and shoot me while I sleep. I guess I'll have to trust in Sensei? But does she even want me here now, after all the trouble I caused? Heh, if I die I'll either loop again or stop the negativity. Win-Win for me. Though… I still wonder why she didn't vouch for me. Guess… she really will throw me away once I'm not useful anymore?
Inhaling deep, licking my lips to change rails, I return his stare and give a nod.
"I accept the terms, Secretary. Thanks for giving me another chance, I assure you I will be on my best behavior from now on." He smiles faintly and hands me a folder.
"Those are the official documents regarding your punishment, you shall be taken to the Vice Commander now, since she's your legal tutor for the time being, to have her sign them. You will probably receive your orders regarding your afternoon activities from now on then. That is all from me. Best of luck in your endeavors from now on. May we meet again on a more pleasant situation." He gets up and gives me a small nod, that I return.
As he leaves the MP enter the room, saying that they'll take me to a briefing room to meet with the XO.
We make our way there, with a tense silence hanging in the air. They're still holding their guns as if they had to shoot at any time, were they not notified about my decision? Once we arrive they give me the same talk as before and after it they open the door.
And inside the briefing room, sitting near Sensei, there was someone I did not expect to see. …What the hell?
"Oh, about time. Take a seat, Cadet Shirogane." Sensei addressed me without looking at me, waving towards a chair.
I sit down and take a quick glance to the person that was sitting to my left, who was intently staring since I entered the room. Yui Takamura, what is she doing here?
"Well, let's do this quickly. Cadet Shirogane, the mission I'll assign you for the duration of your punishment will be to aid 1st Lt. Takamura in her mission." Wait, what?
"It'll be a pleasure to work alongside you, Cadet. I'm expecting great things from you." Takamura stares into my eyes with a firm, glowing gaze and a small smile.
Okay, stop. What is happening here?
"Shirogane, to clarify what your mission entails, you'll be 1st Lieutenant Takamura's assistant for the duration of your punishment. You'll work alongside her in the development of the EML-Railgun that will take place on the same floor where you developed the simulators."
You made me Takamura's assistant? You fucking what?! I demand an explanation right now.
"Excuse me, Vice Commander. What am I supposed to do as her assistant?" I stare at her, but she doesn't even look at me as she plays with her bangs.
"Exactly what that means. You'll be her assistant, you'll help her carry documents, sort and write reports, guide her in the floor until she's familiar with it, and all kind of assistant stuff. Basically, you'll be her dog for twenty days. Also, she will oversee your training from now on when she has the time. This means she'll monitor you in the TSF simulators and mock battles you will do as part of your training course." She finally looks at me with a devilish smile, narrowing her eyes. Those violet eyes were different than her usual eyes, something was stirring in them. I don't like that look on her, at all. I've got a bad feeling about this.
"Do not worry, Cadet. I will try to not burden you much, I've heard of your… situation, so I shall try to not impose much onto you. I hope our time together can be a fruitful one." She then offers me her hand, and I shake it.
She doesn't seem… No, her firm gaze reminds me somehow of Meiya. She, too, is one of Yuuhi's pawns. Why is Sensei… Could it be? No, she… she wouldn't… Right?
"Likewise. It… It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, 1st Lieutenant." She gives me a small smile as she grips my hand. First holding it softly, and after one second she tightens her grip. A firm, resolute handshake.
"Well, let's get the paperwork done. Hand me the folder, Cadet." I give her the folder and we start with the paperwork. It wasn't that much, we finished in just a few minutes.
"Will that be all, XO?" Sensei, you have to call me to your office. I have a lot of questions and things to tell you.
"From me? Yes. However, you will remain here and answer some questions from the 1st Lt., since you'll be working together this is a good chance for you to get to know her a bit. After this, you'll go to the Storage Center for your breakfast rations and will then start assisting 1st Lt. Takamura in her mission. Was that clear?" She didn't look at me, she's looking at nowhere while slowly playing with her bangs. It's almost as if she were talking with herself.
…She's sending me to the wolves, isn't she?
"…Roger."
"Well then, I'll take my leave." She gets up and leaves with hurried steps.
Why did she do this? To leave me with Takamura, to make me her assistant… Does she not want me to stay here? Her attitude, her tone, the way she addressed me… Did she… abandon me? This is how she used to be during my last loop, why did she-
"Cadet Shirogane?"
"Y-Yes?" Crap, I forgot she was here for a sec.
"Please, do not be so stiff. I know I might look intimidating, but I do not wish to make you uncomfortable. Well then, I heard that you were also stationed at Yukon, right?"
"Yes, I was."
Dammit, if she actually starts asking me stuff like where did I eat or what did I thought of the base my cover's gonna be… Why did Sensei leave me alone with her? Why is she going to be monitoring me? I guess that… she might be considering removing me from her side.
"It must have excruciatingly arduous, to withstand all that being merely a cadet."
"Huh? Yeah, it… was really hard."
"I was also tasked with protecting the city. My squad also… was wiped out trying to stop the Red Shift. I cannot imagine what you must have went through during all this time." Closing her eyes, a hand goes to a strand of hair.
Is she making conversation to make me lower my guard? Typical, start by relaxing your opponent before sending them a tricky question. Not falling for that.
"It was indeed a hard time."
"As another survivor, I hope we can get along." And then, a small smile. "Well, first things first, what can you tell me about yourself?"
"About me? There's not much to say, 1st Lieutenant. I'm a simple guy." I really don't want to be with you, what the hell is… No, calm down. They want you to make a miss, they want a reaction out of you.
"Then, can you tell me why did you choose to come back to the Empire?"
"…Well, when Prominence was scrapped I lost any chance to keep training as I was. While I had the chance to stay in the US branch of the UN, I got a proposition from the XO to come to this base. Since I didn't have many memories about my home, I wanted to come back to find out anything I could about me."
"Hmm… Well, how has been your stay here so far? What can I expect to find in my day-to-day routine?"
"It's been fine, overall. People don't like me because I was abroad, but I got used to it. There isn't anything noteworthy about our day-to-day orders, I suppose that if you have to eat in a PX you should either go a bit earlier or a bit later since they tend to get crowded in the middle of lunchtime. Also, listen to the mechanics and engineers closely, they can get very upset about the smallest details." Just answer the questions nicely, don't be a jerk. You complained when Meiya got paranoid, don't do the same yourself. Don't give them any signs.
"Yes, I… was reprimanded by them yesterday." Nodding slowly as she crosses her arms, her brows come down a bit. "So, if you don't mind me asking, do you have… any preferences regarding your piloting career?" She slightly leans forward, moving some of her hair off her face. Why is she staring at me with such eyes? She really does remind me of Meiya, just that the fire is violet instead of purple.
"Preferences? No, I guess not. I mean, I'll probably be assigned to the frontlines since I'm here if I get commissioned."
"Well, there are other roads available to you."
"Other roads?"
"Yes, for example… Have you ever thought about becoming a test pilot?" Yes, that's what I was doing with the XM3 and the parts Sensei made with the intel I brought.
"Well, I gave it some thought, but only the best pilots get that job. I haven't even entered a simulator yet, so I have no idea how good I'll actually be." Gotta keep the mask up.
"I see, of course. But if you had the chance, would you consider it?"
"If I had the chance? Hmm…" I mean, considering the sheer amount of BETA that are out there, maybe it would be for the best if I stayed developing crazy weapons and tech on the rear.
Someone who can do the insane stunts I do would be very valuable as a test pilot. And in this world, where the Japanese see me as an enemy, it might be for the best that I stay away from the Empire after I'm done helping Sensei with the 00 Unit. I can't forget my real goal here either, I have to stabilize myself or go back to my world. So, I either erase Sumika forever… or stay here for the rest of my life. In the second road, getting out of the Empire as soon as possible becomes a top priority for me, so let's leave all the windows open, in the case I need a way to make a living here so-
No, wait. Don't forget who you're talking with. She's probably doing some scouting. If I say yes then Yuuhi will know that I want to leave the Empire. And she'll probably be more aggressive towards me. But… I probably can't hide anything for too long, I still don't know what came over Sensei. If… If Sensei is cooperating with Yuuhi now…
"Forgive the sudden question, you must be troubled with all that happened in your CCSE and I suddenly ask you such a hard question." Saved by the clock, she makes a small bow. "Well, is there anything you'd like to ask me?" Yes, why the hell are you here and why do I have to be your assistant.
"Hmm… Exactly what do you expect me to do for you, 1st Lt.?"
"I didn't expect you to be assigned as my assistant, to be honest. I requested the XO an escort to not get lost on the base, since the underground levels are like nothing I've seen. I also asked for someone who could help me with the reports and all the documentation. I never expected she would assign you to me." She… sounds as if she knew me. Let's push them buttons.
"Why did you not expect 'me' as your assistant?" I narrow my eyes as I entwine my fingers like Sensei does.
"Huh? Well, I didn't expect a Cadet-"
"You didn't say 'I didn't expect a Cadet', you said 'I didn't expect you to be assigned to me'. Did you knew of me beforehand by any chance, 1st Lt. Takamura?" She flinched. Gotcha.
"…Ahem, let me frank with you. I did hear about you before coming here." No shit, Sherlock. You're just another pawn after all. "I was notified of your exceptional results in your trainings." Wait, what? What kind of lame excuse is that?
"Of my training? If you don't mind me asking, why were you notified of my activities?"
"Please do not be alarmed. I merely heard about you because of our connection. Since you also were in Yukon, I was told of another survivor who was at the base I was going to be transferred." Nice excuse. So my cover is being used to cover you, huh?
"I see. Forgive the rude tone, I've been through a lot these last few hours." I give her a small bow. Gotta keep appearances up, no matter what she says. "So, can you tell me what you expect me to do?"
"Yes, I merely want someone who guides me around until I'm familiar with the lower floors since there are a lot of hallways and rooms. I won't ask you to write many reports, but I'll rely on you to deliver them. Also, you'll have to carry documents for me while I'm working."
She's younger than me, yet she talks as if she were in her late twenties. Being a member of the nobility must be so sad. They are always so stuck up about regulations and poise, they can't be more bothersome because the day doesn't have more hours.
"Alright. Then, about you monitoring my training… Why was that decided? Do you know?" She straightened her posture and joined her hands by her lap.
"I do not know. The XO simply wished to have someone watching over you, to avoid any incidents from happening." She's lying. How do I know? Because she's not meeting my eye and her hands are moving a bit. She got nervous when I asked her that. Got you.
"I see. I'll try to not give you any trouble 1st Lt., I'll do my best to aid you from now on." She smiles at me as her tension disappears.
…You know, she's kinda cute when she smiles like that. Sadly, she's here to either kill me or help an assassin do its job. Sensei better have a good explanation for this.
"Likewise, I might be very strict but I do wish to get along with you. The project I'll be tackling is a very important one, so if the XO trusted in you to be my assistant, it means you are a reliable person. I am expecting good things from you, Cadet Shirogane. Well, shall we go to get your breakfast?" She gets up quickly, puts a folder under her arm, and, after brushing her hair off her face, sends a small smile at me. Wait, why is she coming along?
"Um, 1st Lieutenant… I also have to go get my clothes from my room, so maybe you should-"
"Oh, do not worry. I have enough free time. I also haven't eaten breakfast yet, so maybe we can eat together while I explain you in detail your duties and the project you'll be a part of in my office. Is that alright?" She's asking me as if I could choose. She's mocking me, must be laughing at me internally going by that smile. Ugh, damn Royal… No, calm down.
"Alright, let's go then. Just one last thing."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"I have a bad habit of calling people by their first names from time to time, so sorry in advance. I might end up calling you Yui or Takamura without any honorifics at some point."
"Oh, is that so? You are aware of the habit and haven't fixed it? Well, I suppose… I shall let it slide if it happens. Just don't do it frequently."
"I'll do my best." I probably won't. Once I get tired I stop giving a damn about the poise, the manners, and all that. If Mom couldn't fix me, no one will.
"Alright then, let's go."
I leave behind her, the MP are no longer here. The storage room is in the other side of the base, this will take a while.
Sigh… I don't like this, I'm gonna die any day now if Sensei crossed me. Well, let's do all I can. On a good note, if I learn more about the railgun I might recover some memories from my time after Babylon. I am curious about that blue Takemikazuchi.
On a completely unrelated note… Takamura doesn't seem to be very strong. If I wanted to snap her neck, I could probably do it. She doesn't have her sword with her, so I could kill her if I suspect she's onto me. Though, she pretty much decided we'll be eating together and I think she'll try to keep it that way. It's like she's been ordered to monitor my every move.
If Yuuhi pressured Sensei, she probably had no choice but to comply. If the Empire becomes a hindrance to the UN, Alt. IV will suffer the consequences. In such a scenario, what will Sensei choose? To side with the leader of the nation that supports her life project? Or to protect with someone who can't prove his identity, who is being targeted by her greatest ally, who keeps giving her problems all the time? I mean, I got on the UN's bad side now, I pretty much shot myself in the foot.
Well, no point in getting depressed. Alone I arrived here and alone I'll leave. Whether I leave alive or I die trying I have no choice but to keep going. In a time of crisis, people are divided in two groups: Those who start crying and those who start selling tissues. And I'm gonna go sell all those tissues, goddammit! Though, gonna keep some for personal usage, since it seems I'm out of allies here. Sigh… I wonder if Kasumi will still be nice to me, at least?
But, anyways, I can't just give up. I have the power to loop back, and in the worst case I can pass my knowledge to another Takeru in another parallel world. It's like… It's like I could load a save and retry again. Or as if I was abusing save states. Pfft, I'm such an idiot. Well, being able to laugh in dire situations is one of my good traits.
"Cadet Shirogane? We're here."
"Oh? Sorry, I didn't notice." We already arrived? Wow, I really space out when I get lost in thought.
"I see, try to not do that please. I will need you to follow me, so it'd be a problem if you went in a different direction because you got lost in thought. Be more mindful of your surroundings, if you weren't following me you would have ended up in the other corner of the base." What's her problem? Not even Chizuru complained so much. Does she gets off when she scolds people?
"Sorry, I'll be more careful from now on." Let's get this done.
I enter the storage center and the one in charge there gave me my rations, quite harshly if I say so myself. Well, I can't complain. I did kill two of their comrades so I am the enemy now.
Whatever, I'm here to fix the causal leaks and help as much as I can. If they don't want my help, I'll just sever my connection with this world. It's not like I have anything that ties me here. Sensei is acting weird, and she did threaten my life once, my squad probably hates my guts now, Yuuhi and the Empire want my head on a silver plate, I also got the UN against me. All of this, in just a month. Great job, Takeru. Great job.
Hopefully, Sensei has an explanation for this. I still need her help to stabilize myself and either go back or stay here. I mean, she won't betray me right? She still needs me to complete the 00 Unit.
Or could she lock me up and force me to help her? That's right… The worst case here is not me dying, is me being locked up after being stabilized here. Did… Did the notes I gave her had any info about that?
No, don't get paranoid. Tonight, I'll go talk with her. That should clear up this misunderstanding. Or so I hope.
Meanwhile, let's try to get along with Takamura. I do not need more problems, I'll have to deal with a lot of shit for twenty days so hopefully everything stays calm for a few days at the least. I do need a rest from all this.
Same Day. 05:09 PM.
(Yokohama Base, B17F. Planning Room.)
"Cadet Shirogane, could you bring me report 09-11-TE?"
"Let's see… Oh, here it is." I hand Takamura the report. She starts rushing through the pages until she reaches the one she's looking for. "Sir, what could we use as a coolant for the system?" She's talking with the engineers that got put in charge of planning and assembling the railgun.
So far so good. She's strict and very noisy, but honestly she doesn't seem to be a bad person inside. I'm sure that if I weren't being chased by Yuuhi we could have been friends.
All I've been doing is hand her reports and carry documents, this is easier than I thought it would be. It's also nice to see that the engineers here still treat me normally. Well, they do have some foreigners on the team so I guess they're more open minded than the rest of the Empire.
"Shirogane, put the report on the shelve please." I grab it and stash it away, they keep debating.
"This will be tricky, 1st Lt. Takamura. I don't think we could make the rails exactly like the report specifies."
"Then, what materials could we use?"
I go near the table, they have been coming and going about a lot of things since we started working. This thing does seem terribly impractical, though. I know how awesome it is, I remember how many BETAs it killed in a single shot. But if we can't even… Hmm…
"Then, there is the problem of the ammunition. The backpack would be too expensive to build, and since we have to make special ammo for it, its cost would only grow more. There is the problem of overheating too." The Chief Engineer points to the schematics that were both in the reports and the ones they had made.
Takamura brings one finger to her lips as she scans all the papers on the table. It seems like we will have to make some compromises to get this thing running. I mean, since we have to make it again from scratch, can't we just use smaller ammo? Like, 90mm or 75mm? Pretty sure all the energy from the induction would still be enough to make mincemeat out of the BETA, going by my memories of it when I infiltrated the JFK Hive. That way we could also have the same amount of ammo, even at a smaller size. That would also lower its weight a bit, right? Hey, shouldn't I… like, speak up or something?
"Um, 1st Lt.? Can I ask you something?"
"Hm? What is it?"
"You've been talking about making the backpack smaller and shortening the rails a bit, but why don't we change the ammo the railgun would fire? According to the data, the bullets are fired with a lot of energy from it, so if we have to lower its specs, shouldn't we lower the caliber of the ammo?"
"But that would make it weaker. If we lower the amount of ammo it can carry as well as its caliber, its performance would drop significantly. It will already be less powerful since we will lower the amount of bullets per barrage it can fire, we can't make the barrages even weaker." She raises a finger as she talked. She's like a fusion between Chizuru and Meiya.
"But wouldn't that allow us to not lower the final amount of ammo? I mean, if we have to rebuild it from scratch and we already have data on how destructive it can be, can't we instead redesign it to carry 800 payloads of 90mm or 75mm ammunition? That not only would make the backpack smaller and lighter, but the rails as well since we would build them to shoot smaller payloads. Wouldn't that save us time and resources down the line?" She starts stroking her hair as she looks at the diagrams again.
"Hmm… Instead of lowering the amount of 120mm we can carry, we lower our caliber while… And we lower its weight as well… It is worth considering, I suppose. Chief, what do you think?"
"It's a neat idea, that's for sure. There is no need to recreate it exactly as it was if we don't have the resources." The Chief scratches his head as he starts doing some operations on his computer. I can't understand half of the math behind this, but it seems using common sense worked out.
"Sigh…" Takamura looked down as she crossed her arms, dejected as me when I received my math tests.
"What is it, 1st Lt.?"
"Nothing. Just… I can't believe I didn't consider lowering the caliber of the ammo before. I was so focused on bringing the railgun back that I was absorbed into making it like it was. You are right, its firepower is already great and right now we need to focus on making it practical to build. Thanks for speaking up, Cadet."
"Don't mention it, just doing my job."
"Hehehe, well I'll be damned Shirogane. Seems like we hit a gold mine." The Chief says as he grins happily. He shows us the final numbers of his calculations.
So… For one, we could actually carry eight hundred payloads in the backpack using 76.2mm ammo. That number drops to seven hundred if we want to use 90mm. The lesser weight would play in our favor too I suppose. Then, thanks to the smaller ammo, the rails can also be made a little bit smaller and more compact. According to the numbers, we could somehow manage to make them with their original length. Sure, in the end the railgun might end up being a bit weaker than how I remember it, but it's gonna be a godsend once we get to Sadogashima.
"It does seem like we found the most convenient point to sacrifice. Chief, let's redo our schematics with this in mind. Shirogane, can you bring me the last three reports again?"
"Sure, let's see… Here you go."
Two hours later…
"Mmgh… Damn, what pain." I stretch my arms to the ceiling as I walk towards the Storage Center.
My suggestion ended up being useful and the team started making all these drawings and calculations about the railgun so fast that it was honestly scary. They work fast and efficiently. That meant that I was running around delivering reports and folders for a long while. Man, that was tiring.
Well, glad I was useful. Takamura does seem like a good person, she's nothing like Meiya and Chizuru when it comes to interacting with foreigners. Shame we are on opposite teams. Oh well.
I enter the place and go to the desk where the attendant was.
"Excuse me, I'm here for my rations." I hand him my ID and he passes it through a reader. Without saying a word, he goes into the door that was behind him, connecting this little office to the actual storage room.
Well, I'm used to it by now. I'm starving, and to make matters worse Takamura wants to eat with me again. Something about having questions for me and whatnot.
The clerk comes back and hands me a small bag. It's… a bit more heavy than I thought it would be. Definitely heavier than this morning's one.
"Those are your rations, Cadet. Here's you ID Card." He hands me back my card, a small frown as he did so.
Sigh… Whatever. I leave the room, making my way towards Takamura's office. This morning she kept asking me questions about how I spent my time here, my training regimes, and what I expected to do after being commissioned. I suppose that's her job though, scouting me.
Once I finish my dinner, I'll go have a talk with Sensei. Not only I need some answers about Takamura and the chasers, but I also have to tell her of the memories I got from this world's Takeru.
Also, thanks to my interactions with Takamura today, I discovered something interesting about his feelings. He hated the Royal Guard, but not its members. When I thought about it, I realized I didn't start hating Tsukuyomi-san or Maya-san despite them being Guards here. I also don't hate Takamura or Meiya, despite them being pawns of Yuuhi. And surprisingly, I don't hate Yuuhi either, I just want her to stop trying to kill me. I mean, I'm here to help and bring some peace back to this place, and I think he also felt somewhat the same. So he didn't hate the people, he hated the way they did things.
When I saw Takamura not being an ass with the foreigners of the team, taking advice from them and not looking at me like I was some sort of psychotic murderer it dawned on me. That deep hatred I felt when I was facing the Wasp Squad, when I was fighting against Mion, I hated them because they ignited the memories of something unfair happening to me, like when the CO told us of Alt. IV being scrapped during Christmas. I think the Guard screwed him badly, but instead of hating the people he started to resent their ways.
That's why he felt alone and misunderstood. No one shared his views on how things should be done, and so he grew more and more hateful towards the Royal Guards as a whole. I mean, that's why he still wished to save the Empire. He hadn't given up on it and I don't feel like he wanted to fight against them either.
Well, not like knowing that helps in any way, since they still want to off me.
Now, if I remember correctly I have to take a turn here, and then after two hallways I gotta take another turn to the right.
"Special-kun?" Hmm? Oh, what have we here?
"Hey, Ayamine. So you guys are already back?" What's up with that patch though?
"…Where were you?" And here we go again.
I don't like her gaze. She might be making her usual poker face but I can tell by those tense brows that she's suspicious of me. I know, different people. Still hurts, though.
"I was working."
"On what? Another special mission?" Narrowing her eye, her lips plucked.
"Sigh… It's part of my punishment." Wide as a watermelon, then narrowed as if she were cutting onions, her eye remained scanning me. She must hate me now, huh?
"Punishment? You… What happened?"
"Nothing much, just sent to deliver some reports and folders around. Though, since, well, you know, I killed those soldiers, I'm under a strict overall punishment."
"…I see."
"When did you guys got here?"
"Today at morning. We got a lecture from the Instructor this afternoon." She looks down, her hands are tightening into fists. Let's not bother her anymore, I also have no permission to stand around.
"Well, congrats on passing the test. I suppose I'll see you during the lectures. Later." I knew it was gonna be like this. But man, doesn't it hurt to be treated like-
TUG
Hm? Why can't I move all of sudden? As I look behind me, Kei was holding my sleeve. Or more like, gripping it. Staring at me without looking away, her brows kinda down. I can tell she's somewhat upset. What's it gonna be? Regular throw or an STA?
"The PX is this way. Let's go." She starts pulling me in the opposite direction of where I was going. Putting some force into my feet, I manage to stop her.
"Ayamine, stop it. I can't go to the PX."
"Why?"
"It's part of my punishment. For twenty days I can't go there, that's why I have to eat the rations we were given during the CCSE." I show her the bag I was carrying. She doesn't let me go, eyes still narrowed.
"…Really?"
"Yeah, it's how it is." I shrug her hand off, looking away. "It's for the best, don't wanna be around a bunch of people who'll just talk shit behind my back anyways." I really don't. It's for the best.
"I… see." What's up with her? Holding her chin, as if she were pondering something, she stays silent.
"Well, I'll be going. Can't be found doing nothing." And anyways, it's not like there's anything we can talk-
TUG
"…Ayamine, let me go." And if you're gonna throw me, just do it already.
"Got a question."
"Sigh… What?" She probably wants to poke the wound, ask me why I murdered her 'fellows'.
"Are you still part of the squad?" She gets closer and she stares into me with that poker face of hers.
"…If you have a complain, take it to the Instructor." Maybe you'll convince her to have me train on my own, to not mix with the traitorous American.
"So, yes?"
"Sigh… Yeah, I'm still in the squad despite what I did. That all?"
"…Are you the only one getting punished?"
"Huh? Why would anyone else get punished? I was the one who acted out of place. Are… you insinuating I would push the blame onto you guys?" Biting my lips, acid again came up my throat. She lets me go, still staring at me.
"No… Just curious."
What is going on inside her head? Can't read her expression at all. She isn't upset, she would have thrown me if she were. Not picking a fight, but not feeling sorry for me either… Whatever, different people. Don't be an idiot or you'll get hurt again. Your beloved ones are gone, remember that well.
"Well, I still have to go do some work so I'll be on my way if that's all you wanted."
Sigh… Really, what's her deal? I was sure she was gonna be super pissed at me remaining in the squad, but-
TUG
"…Okay, this is getting ridiculous. What do you want now?" As I turn around, she looks right back at me, lips and brows tense into a line.
"…Why did you kill them?"
…
"…Doesn't matter. No one believed me when I told them." I shrug her off, this time with more strength. "I did it, and that's that."
"…Were you told not to talk?"
"Huh?"
"The Instructor told us to not say Mitsurugi was hurt when she came back from seeing you off. Told us we had no proof, so we better just shut up about that."
I see… So NotMarimo-chan had those orders, but didn't tell me a thing about it before I got in the chopper. Sensei's work to keep me in the dark, I'm sure. Question is, why?
"…Are you not gonna defend yourself? Not gonna call anyone from America?"
"…Look, do me a solid and don't bring it up. Stop trying to look for dirt, and just leave me alone." Of course she would come to laugh at my misery, of course she would keep being as she was. I'm an idiot for expecting otherwise. They're not who I remember them as, we're no longer in good terms. I have to stop seeing them as my allies, from here on in I have to fend for myself.
"So, you're not going back to America?"
"…Here or there, there's no one waiting for me."
"Huh?"
"Have work to do, gotta go."
Sigh… It's on me, for expecting them to change. This is how they are here, and I am not… welcome here. I am the stranger in this place. I always was an outsider.
"Hey, Special-kun."
"…What?" Turning around, she was giving me a side glance. Then, she rose a hand.
"See you tomorrow."
"…Yeah, later." Waving once at me, she then turned around and went her way.
What… was that? I don't get it. Was she… seeing my reaction? Is she still against me or not? Sigh… Understanding the inner workings of Kei's lanes would take me more time than all my loops until now, so let's cease and desist there. Let's hope she can be willing to make peace.
I made my way to Takamura's office quickly, and knock on the door once I found the place.
"It's open." I hear her voice from inside and enter the office.
"Excuse me. Good evening, 1st Lieutenant."
"Good evening, please do sit down. Well, what did you think of your first day as my assistant?"
She was eating some sort of mix of meat and potatoes. Ugh, this is torture… That thing smells really nice too. I'm stuck with this…
"It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. It's a very light work, honestly."
"Light? With all the things you had to carry around, you thought it was light?"
"I mean, compared to fighting BETA this is nothing. I wasn't even doing any math on my head or trying to figure out sizes or costs. I just ran around delivering papers, you were the one doing the hard stuff." It's honestly surprising, she really is a capable woman.
"Well, I can see what you mean. But most soldiers would think such a workload to be most tiring and bothersome. Also, the report I asked you to write was very well redacted. Did you receive any lessons for that?"
"No, I'm just used to it after stu- …I mean, after working under the Vice Commander." I almost blurted out that I went to college. I'm a walking danger when I'm hungry and tired. I open my rations and… Hm? What is this? D Rank? It's also the right amount of it. The hell?
"Of course, after working under her for a month you must have improved many of your abilities. Well, regardless, I thank you for your efforts today. Your advice on changing the ammo was truly helpful, I was too focused on making it like it was before that I didn't think of that." She gives me a small bow. Is this her plan to eventually make me lower my guard?
"Don't mention it, I'm just doing my part."
"If you say so. So, can I ask you what do you think of the railgun?"
"Hmm… It may be really expensive to build, but I believe it will be a great asset once completed. And since it will be lighter now, with the right TSF it might also be possible to move with it."
I know that blue Takemikazuchi could move in and out of a hive with it, and if we make it lighter that would get even easier. If we had it during Kashgar, the mission would have went so much more smoothly. We could have had some backpacks on the XG to recharge the thing, Tama would have made short work of all those hallways infested with BETA.
"Move with it? You think that's possible?!" She dropped her fork as her eyes widened.
"I mean… It's not impossible, right?"
"Well, theoretically… But it would be very risky. Not many TSFs could pull off such a feat."
"Couldn't the Takemikazuchi do that?"
"Hmm… It may be able to, since it is made to be more robust than all of our other TSFs… Sigh, if only we hadn't lost both prototypes…"
"1st Lt.? What is it?" Her shoulders dropped and she lowered her eyes as she finished speaking.
Oh right, they lost both prototypes of the Second during the Incident, she must have remembered that. Damn, I just had to.
"Oh, nothing. Just talking to myself. But you do have a point, if we make it lighter than it used to be, it might be possible for a high performance TSF to move with it. Anyways, you did a great job today. I hope you keep it up from now on." She smiles at me again. Really, it's a shame I have to be on my guard around you.
"I'll do my best to not disappoint."
We continue to eat with only the tickling of a clock sounding through the room, she enjoying her food, me sharpening my teeth against mine.
"I heard that tomorrow you'll have your piloting test, right?"
"Yeah, will you be monitoring my performance?"
"Yes, that's the idea. I know that it is hard to adapt to it, but don't be scared of how much it shakes. I believe that in the UN's testing they also have you pilot for awhile."
"Wait, for real?" Another difference to the list. So we will have to actually pilot for a while. Huh, neat.
"Yes, I believe they shall have you go through all the different speeds at first, and then you'll have to actually pilot in the simulator. I recall hearing it's done in this way to measure the ability of the pilot to adapt to any situation, quick thinking is crucial for survival after all. Also, it works to see how good one is when you just begin, so that when you start learning all the theory you see how much of a difference it makes." That sounds reasonable, I guess.
"Well, I hope I don't crash into a building or something."
"Ahahaha, do not worry about that. From what I've heard, not many pilots here have lasted much during their first ever simulation."
I might need to fake it here, or is it too late for that? I mean, I will eventually stop messing around so is there any point in holding back? No, if I learned anything from this loop is that I shouldn't show all my cards right away. And we will be using the old OS, so I might end up feeling uncomfortable. That might work in my favor. I'm gonna barrel roll myself into a tree or something.
"That is a relief. 1st Lt., if you don't mind me asking, how was your training regime?"
"Mine? I was one of the first women to be trained on a special school of the Empire back in Kyoto. I graduated at a very young age, that's why I already have experience despite being younger than you." That also makes sense, since this world's me was a 1st Lt. despite being only sixteen. I wonder where did he train?
"That must have been hard." I better shut up now that I think about it. She must have been in Kyoto during the fall, last thing I want is to make her remember any bad memories she might have.
"Yes, it was… However… It also gave me many teachings that forged me into who I am now. Even if I'm on the UN, my heart does not forget where it belongs." Arching her brows a bit, her tone became a bit more firm and loud.
Oh shit, here we go again. The Empire this, the Empire that. They truly do resemble a flock of sheep. Or a music box, only able to repeat the same sounds over and over again.
"I see."
"Cadet Shirogane, if I might… Can I ask you about the incidents in the CCSE?"
…
"Go ahead."
"Ahem, then… Why did you took the blame for the incidents?"
"Why? Because I was the one who did them, of course. I killed those men, I harmed another three. Regardless of why I did it, the blood is already on my hands."
"Hmm… That's a peculiar way of thinking. You still feel remorseful about killing those inexcusable soldiers?"
"I mean, of cour- …Wait, what?"
"Hm? I'm talking about the men you attacked. I understand that all of us are comrades in service of the Shogun, but you shouldn't feel bad about your actions."
"…I think we're talking about different things here."
"Huh? Were we not talking about the incidents of the CCSE?" She brings one hand to her chin as she furrows her brows.
"Yes, so why are you… Well, calling them in that way? I killed them, I have no justification for that." She closes her eyes and moves her hair our of her face. Then as she opens her eyes with a weird glow in them, she addresses me again.
"I do not think it unproper to feel guilty about that. No one likes to have to point their weapons towards a fellow, however, their actions were most shameful. You should not regret acting in self-defense to protect your squadmates."
Okay, stop. Pause. Someone tell the world to stop spinning for a sec, I need to figure out what the hell is going on here.
"1st Lt. Takamura, my punishment was given to me because I had nothing to prove that I killed them with a convincing enough reason."
"What are you talking about? I've heard from some people on the floor that you did it to save your comrades. It seems those soldiers were abusing their power when you found them, and it was what compelled you to such extremes during the fight as they did not relent in their intentions."
"How… But… When I was given my punishment, my explanations did not convince the people that were questioning me. They said I had no proof to prove that. Who was the one saying that?"
"Who? I don't know, I still don't know most faces here. When I went to the PX to get my food I overheard some people talking about you, about how they went overboard with your punishment."
How is this… No, why is this happening? Did one of the girls spoke up despite the warning of the Instructor? Maybe Sensei spread a rumor to help me? Or is Takamura lying just to get on my good side?
"Are you sure? Everybody is still treating me like they usually did, I don't think anyone thinks too highly of me. I doubt people would actually say that." Her gaze turns stern as she taps the table, with a bit too much force.
"I am telling the truth. Are you not misunderstanding your punishment, perchance?"
"No, I mean, I can't go to the PX, I can't go to my room, I lost my free time." And the consoles.
"Hmm… It is odd. Well, perhaps your superiors are trying to teach you not to be so reckless from now on? In any case, do not dwell on it with such oppression, I'd like to believe you learned a valuable lesson from this regretful turn of events." How convenient, you're awfully understanding towards me despite being a noble. I wonder why. "So long as you remember to restrain your temper I am sure you will be fine from now on. And if you need advice on your piloting training I'm more than willing to lend you a hand." Why is she beaming at me like that? She's being too obvious, does she think I won't notice how kind she sounds? Does Yuuhi suspect I'm a surface pilot?
"I guess… Maybe I'll ask the XO when I go report to her tonight. And, when you say helping me out, what do you mean exactly?"
"I could spar with you on the simulator and teach you some footing techniques I've learned, for example."
"And why would you do that? Aren't you super busy with the railgun?" Why is a Royal Guard being this nice to me, after what I did? What does she gain from this?
"Well, yes. But I'd like to thank you for your help, and… Ahem, considering your scores and numbers, I believe you have much potential. I merely wish to give you a hand." It does look like they suspect I'm a pilot. I mean… If Sensei is cooperating with them…
"Please don't trouble yourself with me. I'll manage somehow." She drops her shoulders and eyes dejectedly.
"I see. Well, I'll be monitoring your training so don't worry too much about it. In the same way you're supporting me in my project I'll support you in your training, so if you need help do not hesitate to ask." Help, huh?
"1st Lt., if I may… Could you consider helping my squad instead of just me?"
"Your squad?"
"Yes, it would be unfair if only I got to learn under you. So, if you have the time, would you spar with my squadmates as well? Of course, if it's too much of a bo-"
"Alright."
"Just like that?!"
"Well, you asked me so sincerely that I'd feel bad if I refused. And I do like to help people reach their potential. Back in Yukon, one member of my squad had…" Looking down, she squints her eyes. "some trouble with his machine. When I sparred with him, he could find a hint that drove him forward, and eventually he managed to dominate a new style fitting for his TSF. That feeling was truly… How to say it? It wasn't just rewarding… I was truly proud about that." Smiling a bit, placing a hand near her neck, she looks up once more."So, if I can do the same for you and your squad, it'll be an honor to help. After all, lending my strength to my fellows will only make us stronger. I do expect you all to take this seriously though, since I won't hold back." She crosses her arms as she stares at me again, with violet flares in her eyes.
"Oh, don't worry about that. We are used to being drilled to the ground by our Instructor." Regardless of my situation, if she's willing to help the girls that will only make them better. Even if you end up going against me, thanks for this Takamura.
We talked for a little while about my squad, who they were and how I saw them, and what I thought they needed the most help in. Thankfully, she is willing to lend me a hand in this. This will work wonders, especially for Tama.
After some small talk about today's work, once I finished my rations, I excused myself and went my ways. Walking towards the elevator on B5F, ignoring those glares people were throwing at me, the insults behind my back, I felt a small chill on me. Unable to look away from the ground, licking my lips over and over, I pick up the pace.
I guess now… It's time to see what's your take in all this, Yuuko. Are we… still in the same team?