Chapter 37: Debris Junkyard
November 27th, 2001.
[Takeru]
Ugh… Chest hurts… Can't… breathe well… Where the hell am I?
Some sort of run down corridor, tilted to my left and with moonlight coming from the windows, except it's green for some reason is all I can distinguish amidst the fog.
Can't find an exit… What the hell is… happening here?
Struggling to keep walking, I realized something was looking at me at the distance.
In a flash, my feet froze up. Said something zoomed in, holding me by the wrists. Looking up at it, not recognizing what the hell it was, my feet sprung into action, kicking at the thing, pushing with all my might to release me.
The dark silhouette didn't budge, it stood still as if it were a statue. Some sort of dress was on it… and its eyes were… oddly round and big. Biting its lips, gazing into me with a look as hateful as Sumika's when she screamed bloody murder in her frenzy, its nails dug into my skin, peeling it off as if it were the foreskin of a roasted chicken.
"Gah! Let me go!"
No matter how hard I kick or struggle I can't break away. As if the thing were using charcoal instead of soap to clean my wrists, the pain doesn't end despite my efforts.
"No, you are the one who has to let go."
"…Huh?"
For some reason, I can't move again. As our eyes met, as the green moonlight grew stronger, as everything else around seemed to warp as if sucked into a twister, the… thing began to bite its lips far more strongly. It began to shake, fissures appearing on it, bits and pieces of the silhouette began to… fall off…
And the restrained but hostile expression… crumbled away to reveal a far, far more menacing glare, one that could kill in a mere glance. Those lightless eyes… that hawkish tint… where have I seen them before?
"Release me."
"What? …You are the one that's-"
"I told you to release me!"
One arm was raised, twisting into some eldritch, jagged shape, as the other kept me in place. Barely raising my free arm to protect me, the impact sent me flying away. Despite being hit on the face, what hurts the most is my chest. Feel as if I had taken a hundred slashes right at the heart, as if she had hurled the charcoal she was using to wash my hands right at my chest.
"Cough… Cough…"
Hurts… Everything hurts… Shivering and doing hiccups, trying to stand up and look around, my hands make contact with… something.
"What the hell is… going on…" Hunched over, as I blink I realize I'm on the… ground.
Dirt, grass… Standing up, looking around, I don't know where this is. Bare patches of dirt, humid and rugged, some grass here and there… and a bunch of stone slabs. In rows, some creaking, others crumbling. Some had vases near them, with dying, drying flowers in them. Some had sunflowers, other had lilies, others were too dry to tell.
As I glanced around, within this thick fog and the same green moonlight, walking around, hearing literally nothing but my steps, the rows just have no end to them.
The silhouette wasn't around anymore, yet I couldn't shake the feeling that something was close by despite the silence.
This place looks like a graveyard, and yet I hear no crows, no other steps, no… nothing.
Licking my lips, I pick up my pace. Glancing back, I don't see the silhouette from before.
And yet, no matter how much I walk, there is no end to this place. The temperature seemed to be cooling down, I could see my breath as I rubbed my arm. It feels as if someone had given me a hug after touching snow.
"Heey! Is anyone here?!"
Gasping as a dog after running in summer, I keep changing directions, yet I find no one here.
No matter how much I scream, no one answers me back.
There is no one… no one left… lost in a graveyard…
Wait…
Looking at the graves around me as I slowed down to catch my breath… I know these names, don't I?
Sumika, Meiya, Kei, Chizuru, Tama, Marimo-chan… with the dates of the accidents back in my world, and those in last loop as well.
Again, the charcoal hit my chest as their voices began to echo around me, as those moments returned to me.
The wings of fire cover those two graves, a thunderbolt falls on another, the smaller one is crushed down, other begins to slowly freeze over while the last one explodes. And all the while, their voices kept echoing about.
Inhaling sharply, rubbing my forehead, I managed to drown out those voices once I ran away from those graves' side… But as I did, my ears picked up a noise rising in intensity around the place as the fog became thicker and a cold shiver ran up my back.
Somebody else… A voice… A cold, ruthless, and enraged voice.
"Thereby, I declare you to be removed from the inner echelons of our fellowship."
The ground began to shake, yet not as violently as my knees. The clouds began to swirl, cover the sky. The grass on the ground began to dry up, the ground cracked up, resembling a wasteland, the vases broke down, the flowers within crumbled to ashes.
Gasping for air, feeling something else coming closer, I broke into a sprint.
"You shall be stripped of the honor of carrying my house's emblem on you henceforth."
As I kept running away, the voice followed me. Glancing around, nothing was nearby, no silhouettes or anything, but the voice was still there. As if breathing down my neck, as if aiming for my nape. Not paying attention, a rock found my feet as I sprinted, sending me to the ground.
"You shall forthwith regain your past station, along the obligations that with it come."
Looking up, a grave was right in front of me.
It was cracked, the round arc on top broken in places, and it also was almost wholly covered in moss, as if nobody had come to take care of it in years.
No flowers were nearby, it didn't even have a vase or anything. The area around it was mossy as well, grass sprouting to its sides.
Losing my breath, clawing at the ground, I couldn't even blink to release myself from what read on the stone slab.
Takeru Shirogane
December 16th, 1982 – June 29th, 1998
"Farewell, Ta… Shirogane."
Then, the ground teared itself open. Roots shoot out at me, trying to drag me into the hole.
"Guh… Damn it, what the fuck is this?! I'm not dead!"
Trying to take the vines off me, my feet sink into the ground. My joints getting bent into stiffness, my neck beginning to be pulled backwards towards the hole, I dug the fingers of my only free hand into the dirt, trying to rise back.
As I did, it seemed as if the green moonlight began to shine in between the dark clouds above. In sync with that, another voice… one that I think I recognize began to speak from somewhere.
"This is no time to be spawning rifts in our ranks. Come with me, and I shall aid you in your apology."
For some reason, I can't help but to grit my teeth, frown at the tone of the voice.. all-knowing… superior… Apologize for what? I did nothing wrong…
"You have fifteen minutes, I shall take my leave afterwards. Choose wisely, Takeru. This might be the only chance you have to correct your mistakes."
That… condescending… cold… and prideful tone… It pisses me off.
"I didn't do anything wrong! I'm only… trying to save as many as I can…"
That's why I push forward… That's why I keep moving on… Because there's no joy in martyrdom… There's no boon that could outweight all the lives that we've lost to this war…
I can see them again… the last transmission… the reactor room… The bloodstained face. I can hear their cries, of laughter when we met, of pain when we parted.
"I've nothing to apologize for. I'll keep struggling until I reach my peaceful world! You and your holier-than-thou act of superiority can go fuck themselves for all I care! Go and leave if you want, I'll cleave a path forward by myself if I have to!"
Not a second after I said that, the clouds covered the moon again. And as it was obscured in its entirety, the ground began to close up, the vines pulled with far more strength than I was ready to endure.
My fingers getting caught in the closing edges of the ground, as if they got stuck in a closing cockpit, made them gave up and I fell down into the dark, cold underground. Everything in utter silence, the walls began to close in, more and more, until my limbs began to turn in angles that shouldn't be possible.
Ugh… S-Stop… C-Can't breathe… The vines keep pushing me down, yet I feel like I can finally begin to resist their hold, pushing and kicking in what little space I have left.
Let me go… I haven't… fixed anything yet… This can't… won't end like this… I am not allowing these setbacks to get in the way anymore… this accursed war… all these sacrifices…
Something begins to push my back as the thrashing of the vines eases up, yet I still can't see anything, can't breathe well.
It hurts… It's so cold… Feels so… empty… so lonely…
"…ru-san."
Ugh… Gotta get out… Can't die… here… I haven't… accomplished anything yet… Like hell I'll surrender like they did… I won't forget, I won't forgive…
"Takeru-san!"
THUD!
"Guh… Huh?"
…What am I doing on the floor? Ugh… Head hurts… Chest too, can't breath well. My limbs feel numb, as if I were sleeping in an odd position. Ugh…
Taking some breaths, blinking a bit, it looks like I just fell from my bed. Why didn't I hear Kasumi waking me up? …What was I dreaming about?
Ugh… Shit, my head feels so heavy… Think there's a buzz in my ears zooming in too…
I feel a hand atop my hair, ruffling it slowly.
"Takeru-san, did you have another nightmare?"
"…Yeah." She softly pats my head for a while, I close my eyes as she does. "Thanks, Kasumi." Slowly getting up, feeling my ankles wobbling as if made of jelly, I sit on my bed. She looks super worried, eyes focused right into mine.
"Do you want me to suppress the memory?"
"No… It's… It's fine."
Inhaling deeply a few times in a row, rubbing my eyes and my nose, I finally manage to exhale a long, heavy sigh. A few tears running out as I did, I rose my arms to stretch and get rid of the stiffness in me.
"What was it this time? Are you truly alright?"
"Yeah, I'm… okay. Still, I… don't really recall what I'm dreaming about as of late. It's just… this suffocating feeling, this tension on my back." Though, it's the first time I fall off my bed because of a nightmare.
Yawning and then exhaling a sigh at the tail end of it, resting my arms on my legs, the more I try to remember the less I do. All that's left is… this empty feeling on my heart, like those days when I didn't had the willpower to get out of my bed back in my world after all the accidents.
Again, Kasumi pats my head. Giving me a smile, she takes a step closer and grabs one of my hands. As she does, very slowly, the tingly feeling comes back to the back of my head, and as it does, images of my life back in my world come back to me. The last games we played in the arcade, the times we met up after we got into college, the fun we had in school, and also… the other worlds where I could choose someone to be with.
Visiting art galleries with Chizuru, going to different restaurants with Kei, playing videogames with Meiya or having snowball fights against each other, helping to find homes for stray cats with Tama, and messing around with Sumika as we took our vacations from college, placing which sauce we would use for dinner as the prize of our usual squabbles.
…We really enjoyed ourselves back then… didn't we?
"…Thanks Kasumi, I'm alright for real now." This must be hard on her, to bring back these many images this early.
"I see. Your mind still feels tired. Should we postpone today's recovery session?"
"…Actually, there was something I wanted to see. So, if I'm still feeling fine by night, let's give it a go." She held my gaze for a sec, scanning me. Then, she gave a nod.
"Very well."
"Alright… Sigh, I'll get ready. You can go back now."
"Okay, have a nice day. Bye bye." Waving at me, I do the same as she goes her way.
And once she does, I let out a huge sigh out. Getting up and splashing my face with cold water, rinsing my mouth, and hesitating for a moment before getting on the shower, the heaviness on my shoulders refused to leave.
…Those days were truly blessed… Just spending time with my beloved, despite the arguments we had every now and then… Yeah, focus on what you can do… No idea what this nightmare was about, but hell if I let it bring me down. After all that happened, after how useless I was last loop to aid my squadmates, and after the accidents that befell my world…
"Yeah… I've got a mess to fix. I'll despair after I'm dead." Because I can work towards saving them, because the reset will fix my world.
Getting out, drying myself up, and putting on my uniform, that I should send to the laundry after this training, I leave my cell and go to pick up my breakfast. Better hurry or I'll miss the morning trainings.
Maybe I'll ask Sensei for permission bring some dumbbells with me to the office she gave me, I feel like I'm starting to lose muscle since I can't go to run or exercise at my leisure anymore.
(Same Day. A few minutes past Noon.)
(Sim Room.)
"Sei!" I dash forward and slash at the enemy. One less, two remaining.
"Shirogane-san, you're leaving my range!"
"Sorry, Tama. I'll pull back now, cover me." I back-boost towards her position. The next one should come right… Ah, there it is. Tama took down the stock Fubuki that was coming at me from behind a building in no time.
I hear Meiya charging to my left, shooting at the last one, then the message of BETA alert appears on my view and I quickly shoot at the silhouette of the Heavy Laser-Class. A message appears, informing us that we cleared the exercise.
"Good job, you three." The Instructor informs us, a smirk in her face as big as the horizon from atop the hill. "You've completed Level C-5, return to your starting point and we'll finish this session."
"Understood!"
And with that, the stock city vanishes from my view, the data link with the sim is ended, and I'm back at the cockpit. Unbolting myself out of the seat, I sigh for a sec as I comfortably lean back on it.
Thanks to my knowledge of the exercises, I could guide the girls towards victory without looking like I'm cruising through this thing, and I can leave the rough spots to them, forcing them to improve. So far, the plan is going well.
Today we did some drills for the Feedback Protector during early morning after the lecture on how to properly use it, the same question of what we would do if we were stranded on it in the middle of the class, and then NotMarimo-chan had the girls have a go at Level D's final courses while she had me take on the FP course by myself.
Once that was done, she put us in two teams of three and we've been going at it since. To be honest we're making decent progress, better than last loop even, despite Tama still being reluctant to go into CQC or long dashes and Meiya's propensity to do the opposite to cover us, hesitating a lot when she was left without choice but to engage in long range. Both of them need that awareness, the first about the closer space, and the other about the surrounding area, to grow into the pilots they need to be. But, well, one step at a time.
I get out of my pod just as the other three were also going out.
"I told you to cover Yoroi!" Chizuru chased after Ayamine, who let out a heavy sigh, slowly turning towards her while taking a hand to her chin.
"The attacks were coming from our right, I was in a better position to strike both of them, so you should have covered my advance." Despite having her usual calm face, it was obvious she wasn't in a good mood. This is just like when we had to work together during my first loop.
"No, you should have sticked to the plan. Enemies won't stay put in the middle of battle, charging alone just because you thought it was a good idea will only bring us down!" She berated her while making circles in the air, stomping the back of one of her feet on the floor.
"We wouldn't have lost if you had covered her, you failed." Kei shrugs as she looks away and tries to go her way, only for Chizuru to step in front of her.
"What was that?! You're the one that-"
"Chizuru-san, Kei-san, please stop fighting! I was the one that couldn't dodge both bombs, so I'm the one who caused us to lose."
"Yoroi, stay quiet. That wouldn't have happened if Ayamine hadn't gone rogue, placing herself and the mission in danger."
"Your addiction to rules and the 'proper way' to do things is gonna get us killed in real life."
"And your tendency to do whatever you want is gonna get many people killed. You're a soldier, you have to follow your leader's orders! How are we supposed to work together if you don't?"
"Not if those orders will get me killed pointlessly. I train to save lives, not to die to stroke your boner for defensive and coward tactics." Chizuru's eyes blaze up and she was almost about to strike Kei as the Instructor spoke up.
"Squad, line up!" We all quickly form a line by the side of the sim pods. She's staring at Chizuru and Kei smirking from ear to ear.
"We've all finished the drill, Instructor." Chizuru does the usual talk, but her hands are still shaking.
"Good job. Sakaki, Ayamine, Yoroi, while you barely passed it, it is amazing you completed Level C-5 in only your second day. Mitsurugi, Tamase, Shirogane, your teamwork was marvelous, you completely dominated the course." Her smirk eases up, nodding our way. "I said it yesterday but you're all breaking the records of all previous squads I trained, so keep it up." They all smile, even Kei and Chizuru. Finally seeing their training bear fruit is one very important step to forge them into the pilots we need them to be. "However… Shirogane, I have a few questions for you." Now what did I do?
"What is it?"
"What exactly were you doing?"
"Huh? What are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about your moves. I've never seen someone move in such patterns, it's reckless to be honest. Could you explain to me what were you trying to achieve?"
Right, not only I am still relearning how to move with the old OS, but I also have been trying some of his movements these days. The sidesteps are really useful since I can't cancel now that I got the timings figured out. Oh well, let's explain to her all the concepts of Valgern-On.
One long explanation later…
"…This sounds terribly complicated. Where did you learn of this?"
"Nowhere, I just thought it was a good idea." Can't say a thing about the consoles now.
"Hmm… It does seem like you're onto something here. Do keep these new moves to a minimum, understood?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Then, since we still have some time, let's proceed towards Level C-4. This time you'll fight against seven AI controlled TSFs, so be careful. Same teams and pods as before, move along!"
"Roger!"
We get back into the sim pods, I take a look at the other three before entering myself. Kei and Chizuru were, as usual, not looking at each other or even talking. Sigh… Considering our talk yesterday, Kei might just be on edge. Even more considering how this world is, but when I talked she was clearly shutting herself away. If things keep going like this, I'll have to rely on Tama and Meiya to clear the air between those two.
After properly bolting myself to the seat, I press the button and the visage comes to my sight. Another generic ruined city… Can't we get anything different? Like some giant dome, a battle on the shore, or a forest on the mountains? This isn't preparing us well to fight the BETA. Sigh…
"Shirogane, Tamase, report your status." Meiya's face appeared on my view, the data link to my team formed.
"05 Tamase, all green."
"06 Shirogane, all green."
"So, do any of you have a proposal for how we should operate for this mission?"
If I recall correctly, there's five of them in the middle of the city waiting to ambush us. When two of them came scouting near us, I remember that I started chasing after them and Tama had to save me from all the other ones during my first loop. Let's force Tama to take care of this one, to get her some more confidence in her belt.
"06, I'll go scouting near our position. 02, can you remain close by in case I spot the enemy?"
"Hmm… What about 05?"
"Tama can remain farther behind us since she's got the range to back us up, and if someone goes after her, you would still be close enough to cover her until I rejoin you." I believe it's a good excuse, today I want to make Tama get as much experience as I can.
"I have no objections. 05, what do you think?"
"I also agree with 06's plan."
"Alright. Then, 06, taking off."
After a long dash, I boost jump landing myself near a couple of tall buildings. Meiya was slowly coming towards my position. Taking some air in, trying to remember how this training went, shrugging off the heaviness that still lingered on my shoulders, after a look at the map my Fubuki slowly walks further into the city.
Checking my radar as I go, taking a turn to my left, I still see nothing. I do wonder if we're gonna fight against the AI that Sensei pitted against me in the Gekishin at some point. That was nuts, how they locked me down in a few minutes. It would be awesome if the rest could-
A beep in my radar snaps me out of dreamland, there they are. The signals of the enemy start moving towards me, spraying their ammo upon me as they appear on my sight. Since the delay is still on, my Fubuki could buckle and dodge easily, lazily returning a few volleys to make a convincing act to those watching the monitor.
"06, found two! Currently engaging them."
"02, roger that. I'll go cover you. Move towards these coordinates." A cross appears on my radar, an open park to the west of my position. I see, to allow Tama to snipe them. I knew I could count on you, Meiya.
I backboost while shooting at them, just so that they don't get too close. Doing some jumps and trying to do some cancel moves, I manage to avoid most shots while also doing some damage to their hands. As one got a bit too close, fire opened from my right. Meiya had joined and we retreated to the park while keeping the two of them from shooting at us.
The thing is, the park is near the center of the city, and if I'm not wrong the other five TSFs are probably somewhere near there, waiting for us. Dashing towards the park through the half-broken streets while I keep a close eye on the radar and our surroundings, the other five TSFs appear as soon as we enter the open space. Taking two seconds, they start shooting at us.
"Damn, we got ambushed! 06, fall back!" Meiya starts retreating, but I take a forward dash and slash at one of our first chasers that got too close, knocking it out.
"No, we can take them! 05, can you snipe them from your position?"
"Eh?! I… I think." Her brows arched down, lips moved slowly in hesitation.
"Then go for it, we can hold out for a while. The enemies will get exposed as they try to get a clear shot at us."
"06, I am the leader of- Ugh!" She had to crouch and retreat behind a building as she was targeted by the TSFs.
"Let Tama try to nullify them, if we can break through their ambush they're done for." I boost jump and take cover behind a building to Meiya's three. Then, one of the ambushers gets taken down. Atta girl, Tama.
"06, let's focus our fire on the ones to our three. 05, aim at the ones to our nine." Quick as always, my dear Meiya.
"Roger!"
I shoot a 120mm at the one that was chasing us while Meiya distracts him, taking it down. Tama took down another one to our left. Then, Meiya boost jumped towards the two on our right, guns blazing. Sending a few volleys towards the broken buildings near the stock Fubukis, the resulting collapse caused their firing to get delayed long enough to allow her to get close safely, I then get back behind the building to reload.
Once she landed, the radar showed me Meiya dashed at both of them. Looking her way once more to support the charge, Meiya was in the middle of drawing her sword. She took down one with a downwards slash, and followed it with a dash and a wide slash aimed at the waist of the second one. The second Fubuki, however, back-dashed out of her range behind a building. Meiya tried to follow, but ended up smacking herself onto the building, and the TSF quickly aimed and shot at her at point blank before I could lock onto it. I finish it off from afar, as Tama also snipes the other one to our left.
The usual green message appears on my view, mission complete.
"Good job, squad. Return to your initial positions." We acknowledge our orders, the ruined city vanishes from view.
"Tama, good job with those shots." She appears in my view with a small cat-like smile.
"Oh, it was nothing. You and Mitsurugi-san endured their fire despite being so close."
"Nah, if it weren't for your marksmanship we would have lost this round. Don't go all modest on us, you can be proud of this result." She giggles as she smiles, scratching one of her ears.
However, Meiya hasn't chimed in and she's not in view either.
"Hey, Meiya. Good job covering me."
…No answer. She must be very upset.
After removing the bolts, I exit the pod. Tama was already outside nervously playing with the end of her hair. Meiya was giving me her back, so I can't tell what kind of face she's making.
"Hey Meiya, what's up? Are you upset?"
"I am not." She faces me, folding her arms and pursing her lips. Yeah, no. You're super upset.
"Thanks for covering me, and sorry for not being able to do the same for you at the end." I did hold back, to let her take all the glory. But that seems to have backfired.
"Do not apologize, I was the one who overestimated my own dexterity. If this had been a real fight, I would have died."
"D-Don't be so hard on yourself, Mitsurugi-san. I was able to land all of my shots because you two did a wonderful work holding out against so many enemies." Tama beams at her, but Meiya looks away as she sighs looking downwards, tilting her head to a side.
"Hey, you can always improve. We're making superb progress, so don't get all down. We all are making great progress so far, right?" I give her a pat on the shoulder, causing her to look up, recovering a bit of her usual shine.
"I… Thanks, Shirogane. Forgive me for being down, I just expected more of myself."
"…Does this has anything to do with the buff man that came on Sunday?"
"Buff man?" Tama tilted her head, narrowing her brows.
"Oh… Yes, it is related to that matter." Sobering up, she sighs as she caresses her air intakes. "I merely wish to complete the basic training as best as I can. A most harsh test is lying in wait for me, so I might have been too reckless today due to my own anxiety. Forgive me." She bows to us, shame flooding her face.
"No, Mitsurugi-san, you still did very well! Let's keep improving together, yes?" We're lucky to have such a sweetheart in the group.
"Thank you, Tamase. Even so… You never cease to amaze me, Shirogane." She folds her arms again as she stares at me, sparkly eyed.
"Yeah, you immediately took charge of the situation, you kept your pursuers at bay, you even managed to hold out in the park, we wouldn't have been able to clear this level without you, Shirogane-san."
"Tama, don't be like that. You could have done a good enough run without me." Because you did in all previous loops and you're better in this one. Sigh… Sure, I am pushing you forward, but these victories are all you.
"Nonsense. You keep surpassing all the expectations I place on you, I cannot believe we actually managed to hold them off together. Only you would try such a reckless course of action."
"Says the one who jumped ready to sword her way through a building to destroy her enemies." I smile at her, causing Tama to laugh. Meiya blushes, her lips shaking as she struggles to find a retort.
"That was… I merely was trying to do my share."
"Mitsurugi-san, I think you were trying to copy Shirogane-san's style. You still did very well, considering how weird his moves are." Tama giggles again, making Meiya's face go crimson.
"Tamase, I am not being influenced by him! He's just…" She closes her eyes and breathes deeply. "Just look at his performance, he's still keeping up with us despite the setbacks he's facing. Truly, you're still as amazing as you were during basic."
"Hey, I'm just doing my best. Stop putting me atop an altar." I really do not like how she idolizes me this time around.
"If you're there, it's because you yourself keep going further beyond than what we can expect. Your movements during this last exercise were also marvelous, I couldn't keep up with you as we retreated. Compared to that, you surely found my maneuvers most lacking." She sighs as she drops her shoulders.
"Don't start with that again. I'm doing my best to support you guys." Not lying, I am making an effort to let you make the most out of our trainings while I get used to the old OS again.
"That's why Mitsurugi-san is praising you so much. You're always driving us forward, making us do things we didn't think we could do. We're flying through Level C thanks to you." Smiling widely, she then scratched her head, unable to hold my gaze anymore. Uh… You're so sweet, Tama. "When you told me to snipe those TSFs I was kinda nervous, but I believed you'd pull through and knew I had to respond with my best effort. Thankfully I didn't fail this time, they were just little dots on the horizon… Haaauuu… I still can't believe I hit the mark." She starts shaking left to right as her eyes became whirlwinds.
"Don't worry Tama, you did great. And I'm glad to be helping out, so let's just keep doing our best." She stops shaking and gives me a nod as her eyes return to normal. "By the way, you really should try to fire a tad bit faster. The automated systems will correct a slight error anyways."
"Yeah, I know. I guess I'm just kind of used to have to zoom in clearly before pulling the trigger."
"About that, Meiya, you also should try to manage your barrages a bit better. Don't just aim at the enemy, try to use the terrain to your advantage."
"Well, I did not think it wise to further damage the city. Our mission was to defend it, after all." Arms folded, she plucked her lips just a tiny bit.
"Still, you ended up crashing. With no one around to get caught in the fight, more broken buildings are better than failing the mission or losing a comrade."
"I suppose… Forgive me, I was so throughly comcentrated on mine own performance that I misjudged my options." Damn, don't get so down, dear. Goes to show she's more devoted to her duty and role in this world.
"Come on, now. It's just advice, don't get this bummed."
"Bummed?"
"You know, dejected." Again, she sighs as she shakes her head.
"By the by, your jumps were very good all day long, Shirogane-san. On which page of the manual are the details for that?"
"Oh… It's actually not in the books." I scratch my head, looking up. "I, uh, am just putting to practice what my old squadmates told me about their trainings."
"Huh?! Really?" Tama seemed surprised, not as much as Meiya though. "Even the sniping?"
"Yeah, for real. I actually learned all I know about sniping from one very good squadmate I had back then."
"Oh, I see. Did you learn about the automated aim from that person, too?"
"Well, no, that was just me being a nerd about framerates and junk. But she was a great help in learning how to handle a gun, and her words of advice still help me a ton today." I really don't know what I'd had done without your tutoring, Tama. And despite all my loops, I'm sure you can be so much better than I am now.
"She must have been a great person."
"Yeah, she was. I still think she was better than me, I never could beat her in a sniping run. So, if I could get this good, you can too, Tama. Once you get your gears in order, I bet you'll surpass my sniping."
"C-Come on… That's not true." Scratching her ear, she looks down.
"Nah, you'll totally get there. Just keep it up, and remember the bits of advice I gave you and you'll be golden." Winking at her with a smile, she mutters a thanks as she can't meet my gaze. Uh, you're such a sweetheart.
"Ahem!" Meiya coughed loudly, startling me a bit. "Just as you said, so long as we continue to hone ourselves we shall reach our commission." Arms still folded, her brows were down and a bit tense.
"Right. Just don't make any reckless moves, that's my job." Both of them chuckle, Meiya loosening up her tension.
"Well, it's thanks to you that I have the confidence to do things like that. I know you're behind me giving me cover, therefore I believe myself able to perform those dangerous moves because I know you'll be there."
"Exactly! Since you're here we can rely on your quick decisions and moves to aid us, Shirogane-san."
"Well, glad to see you're comfortable with my style."
"It is not your style, but you yourself what gives us reassurance." Meiya confidently said as she strokes her hair. "Since I know how fast you are, I simply know you'll react in time." Her eyes sparkle at me as she gives me that classic confident smile she always used to have.
Why was she so down before? During this morning, while I was still kinda down, she did seem bothered too. Yesterday, she was rather nervous after the drills until me and Mikoto began to fool around, and since I told her of what happened to the sword I've found her staring at me sometimes. Maybe she's still holding some suspicions towards me? I mean, me not having the blade confirms I'm not a fellow. I have such a hard time reading her face… Meiya usually is just frontal with her woes, so no idea why she isn't bringing up what she has on her mind.
But it's a good thing she doesn't seem to be affected by any more weird visions, since we can talk normally without her blushing or stuttering like after her first simulation. Same for the rest, they're all interacting normally with me now. Save for Kei, who is still eyeing me sideways from time to time.
"I mean, I'm not that good really. I still can improve a lot with enough time and training. There's a lot of pieces of advice from my old squadmates that I haven't put into practice, after all." Let's start building up the excuse for my soon to come jump in skill once I stop holding back, and for when I change back to the XM3.
"Of course, that's obvious." Arms folding again, a brow lowering, her eyes remained closed for a second. "But it is still a great relief to be able to fight by your side. It truly is a relief, especially after what happened." Meiya then looked down, sobering up again.
"Come on… I'm just glad to be here. Let's all just do our best together, yeah?" She stares at me for a sec, then nods along Tama.
"I only hope Sakaki-san and Ayamine-san don't keep fighting." You can say that again, Tama. Really, those two will be another problem.
"Regardless, I'll be relying on you for the remaining training courses, Shirogane. Let's clear all the records they have!" Meiya places her hands on her waist, looking upwards with a smirk. Tama does a little jump while raising a fist, smiling at us.
"Yeah, let's go for it." If they have a clear, hard goal to pursue they will become even better than before, maybe more than what I expected.
After a little while of waiting, the other pods open and Kei and Chizuru get out looking completely exhausted. Mikoto gets out sighing.
"Good job, squad. Let's review your results." The Instructor came towards us, bearing a severe expression. "First, Mitsurugi's team, you broke another record. You got the fastest clear time of this exercise. Well done, you're on the right track."
She smiles at us, I can see the girls' eyes light up proudly as a small smile appears on their faces. However, the Instructor's smile turns into a tight line as her eyes flare up, and a small shadow appears above them.
"On the other hand, Sakaki's team failed the exercise. Ayamine, I know you dislike taking a reactive approach, however, if you keep acting on your own without even telling your squadmates what you want to do, you'll keep bringing them down, even when your idea is the better one. Sakaki, you also should refrain from screaming at her all the time. Being the Squad Leader doesn't give you the right to always harass her, even when you're only keeping the order in the mission. Yoroi, you're the only one actually doing something for the team, but you also tend to get distracted and not follow Sakaki's orders as she asks you to. Start paying more attention to your surroundings and try to understand what Sakaki asks of you. We'll end today's morning session here. We'll follow up with more simulations in two hours. Be here at the ready by then, and don't forget to go do your laps before going for your lunch. Dismissed!"
"Salute!"
The Instructor nods and then leaves. Chizuru sighs audibly, rubbing her forehead.
"Sakaki, Ayamine, what gave you so much trouble?"
"Mitsurugi, the question here is how did you break the record." Chizuru crosses her arms as her expression gets mired by dark clouds.
"It was all thanks to Tama." I pat the little girl's shoulder causing her to twitch.
"Eh?" Her eyes start widening.
"Miki-san, you're amazing! So, you were the star player?"
"Eh? No, nothing like that. I did play a key role, but I wasn't-"
"Nonsense. Tamase performed admirably in the last simulation." Meiya also went and patted Tama's shoulder, making the little one blush and look down.
"I see… With Tamase supporting you it's obvious you could fight more efficiently. Sadly, I couldn't do the same for my team." She sighs again as she takes her glasses off and rubs her eyes.
"We just got scattered, that's all!" Mikoto tried to cheer her up but only caused those eyes to flare up again, those brows to tense down into a V.
"No, that's not it at all. Ayamine didn't do as I asked her and did her own thing again, she ended up being taken out, and as we tried to get to her we got surrounded. All that chasing around was pointless."
"Only because your plan of sticking together and advance slowly would have gotten all of us surrounded anyways." Kei, why do you always have to antagonize her so much?
"You don't know that. My plan was the safer for all of us to gather info and then proceed with an offensive approach." She started doing circles on the air again as the patience was leaving her tone.
"There was nothing to gain from sitting around waiting for the enemy to bombard us. Given the urban layout, using a hit and run approach would have given us the same intel of their placement while taking care of some of them. My plan was better." Kei seemed to have taken offense at Chizuru's tone. It's just been two days, for God's sake.
"And how did that turn out in the end? All you accomplished was to become cannon fodder." Chizuru shrugs as she looks slightly to her left.
"You just don't want to admit your plans are worse, that's why you don't support my ideas." Chizuru's eyes snap wide open, but before she opens her mouth I raise my voice as I take one step forward towards them.
"Alright, you two. That's enough. Unless you want the Instructor to be all over you with a lecture again, stop it." They click their tongues and look away "Discussing this without sending knives at each other isn't out of your reach. Both of you have the same goals, to save as many people as you can, right?" Chizuru nods, crossing her arms. Kei closes her eyes and remains in her poker face, unmoving. "I know your approaches don't mix, but no one can progress alone. There has to be a way in which you can find a superior alternative without either of you feeling screwed over."
"…Don't talk so high and mighty." Kei muttered under her breath, her brows coming down and melting the poker face.
"If I was wrong in anything, feel free to rebuke me, Ayamine."
Then, she shot me a glare, a hand on her chin as she took a single step forward.
"You have no business telling us what to do."
"I'm just trying to help you guys out. Things won't be fine if you keep butting heads like this. You didn't pass the CCSE for this, right?"
"Yeah, I didn't. I also didn't train to be lectured by an American that killed Japanese soldiers."
"K-Kei-san! They told us that-"
"Shut it." Frowning at Mikoto, she then returned her eyes towards mine. "You have no right to tell us what to do when you showed us how you clearly prefer to solve your missions. Why would I take advice from you?"
…
I know. She isn't my Kei.
The edge of my lips returned inwards. My gaze went downwards.
I know. This is another world, one vastly different to the one I've been to.
But it still hurts, to see her face like this.
I miss my cocky, teasing Kei, all the BS she threw at me, the one-liners I always walked right into. Sigh…
"Ayamine, we told you what had happened." Chizuru frowned at her, Kei looked away and left to the changing rooms.
"Sigh… I suppose Ayamine is still reluctant to see you as a squadmate." Meiya shook her head, sighing.
"…It's cool. She has the right reasons not to trust in me."
"T-That's not true, Shirogane-san!"
"Yeah, she's merely doing whatever she wants without a care for the team." Chizuru also shakes her head, sighing.
"I don't… think she's uncaring, but…" Mikoto looks down, a finger scratching her nose. "…I guess it'll take some time."
"It's alright, guys. Don't pressure Ayamine anymore. That'll only backfire as things stand." I know how she is, better to give her some space.
She might have gone along the joke yesterday, but every time I begin to fight well or answer the hard questions right her eyes again get sharp and distrustful. I don't know that to do anymore about her.
"We did tell her you weren't at fault, Shirogane-kun. And, well, you wouldn't attack anyone so aggressively again, right?" Holding my gaze, her tone slowed down and sobered up.
"Of course not. Sure, I might be willing to make sacrifices to achieve my mission, but… I don't want to have a repeat of what happened during the CCSE." I fight to save people, to bring back peace. There will be times when shit will hit the fan, times where nothing will be enough… However, in no way would I support such cutthroat approaches to be the norm.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"It' cool Sakaki, for real. We should get going, though." They nod and we begin to make our way to the changing rooms.
This is one setback I was not expecting. Why does Kei refuse the orders like this? She wasn't that much of a prick in our past loops, she was clearly challenging Chizuru's authority and methods. I know she has a problem with authority due to her Dad causing casualties to the UN or something like that, but maybe things are worse for her this time around too? I wonder if I'll be able to bridge the gap between them this time…
Also, I wonder if we'll ever get along again…
Same day. A few minutes past 8 PM.
(Sim Room.)
[Meiya]
"That will be all for today. Dismissed!" We salute 1st Lt. Takamura who returns the gesture before leaving.
Barely a soul remains of the sim room at this hour, since it is almost at the end of our usual curfew. The few that still remain here are waiting for their comrades to end their simulations, others are merely watching the runs as they drink something along their companions.
Having no more business here, we five march out towards the changing room to finish our day. Sakaki and Ayamine haven't directed a word to one another to mend their discussion, they even decided to be in different teams during this evening training.
Ayamine also did not apologize to Shirogane, no matter how we tried to approach the subject. While Tamase was sent with her and Sakaki during the afternoon, their cooperation did not improve in the slightest. While I normally would favor Ayamine in employing a more offensive plan, Shirogane's proposal for a reactive tactic during the afternoon proved itself as the superior alternative. His and Yoroi's marksmanship is truly a wonderment to observe, even if she tends to ignore our orders at times.
"Sigh… Today's session was intense." Yoroi cracked her knuckles as she moved her neck in circles.
"Hauuu… I really screwed up. Sorry." Tamase hanged her head low, eyes closed.
"Tamase, do not be so harsh on yourself. Takamura went too far today." I truly cannot believe she made us fight against thirteen enemies on our very first training, yet I suppose it was her way to ascertain our current skill level.
She especially pushed Tamase today, making half of them take sniping positions. If only Takeru were with us… No! I cannot allow myself to fall into that sinkhole, I myself have to step up when the need calls. Becoming overdependent on him is a mistake I must not make, even if Takeru is more skilled than me.
Ugh, I'm calling him Takeru again. What is wrong with me? I shouldn't be referring to him in such a way, but for some reason I keep doing so. Today I was careful to not say it out loud, but it doesn't help that he's been so nice to us since we came back, despite all that he's going through.
It truly is a shame he couldn't keep his Minaru Kamui, I was convinced Tsukuyomi was wishing to induct him into the Guard. Why did she react so badly when I tried to approach him then? Could it be that they have revised their opinion on him after the CCSE?
"I agree with Mitsurugi. You did very well today Tamase." Tapping her glasses, she gives her a nod. Ayamine pats the little one's shoulders as she smiles, causing Tamase to blush and look down. "Still, I can't believe someone more pushing than the Instructor exists. Though I do wonder why she offered to lend a hand in the evening drills. Why would she bother with us?"
Yes, it is odd. She does drag Takeru with her during lunch time and after our afternoon training is over due to the punishment. I can only hope she's treating him well, considering she's also a member of the Guard I wouldn't put it past her to be cruel to him given his current situation.
"B-But because I couldn't take out the snipers we failed the course. If I was better…" Tamase's slow, small wailing stopped as Ayamine petted her head.
"Don't worry. We'll clear it next time." She smiled at her small trembling frame, making Tamase finally give us a smile.
Unlike when she's paired with Sakaki, Ayamine didn't disobey her orders. I suppose it all comes down to their differing views of how to proceed with a mission. I wonder if there is anything I could do to stop these petty discussions of them…
"We'll keep improving the more we train, so we have to make sure to make the most out of this." Sakaki's finger traces circles again. When did she develop this habit? "We have to be grateful 1st Lt. Takamura is going out of her way to train us, despite her reasons to do so. I saved some documents in the library's computers before coming to train, they have some tactical reviews and movements I thought were interesting, so give them a read when you have the time. We cannot let Shirogane-kun get the number one spot again."
"Chizuru-san, do you still resent Takeru?" Yoroi asked her, without breaking eye contact.
"Of course not. I simply don't want to have him shoulder everything again. I think all of us have taken a look at his control logs, right?" She looks around, we all give a nod. "Not only his piloting style is extremely complicated to understand, but his pacing and footing is incredibly good."
"I wonder why that is…" Ayamine put both hands behind her head, rolling her eyes.
"We already told you that-"
"Sakaki, do not retort." She furrows her brows, sighing. "Ayamine, you as well. What were you trying to accomplish with that comment?"
"Just telling the truth. Special-kun always comes out with minimal damage despite all those reckless charges he does. Don't you find it odd?" She looks directly into my eyes, remaining as collected as habitual.
"…I do notice his skill. However, as I told you before, he isn't hiding anything odd from us."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I… believe he didn't lie during our talk, so I again must ask of you to refrain from displaying such hostility towards him."
"…Fine, I'll try."
Sigh… Why must you hoist such doubts? We have told you many times he has no ill intent towards us.
"Ahem…" Tapping her glasses, she then gave us all a look. "So, I'm sure all of us want to get as closer to his level before we get commissioned. We don't know where we'll end up after that, so I believe we have to make the most out of this trainings, especially once we begin to pilot our Fubukis."
We all nod in agreement, even Ayamine, to her words. Soon after, we reach the changing room and go inside. For a moment, no words were said as we got out of our suits.
Sakaki is right, we don't know for how longer we will have him by our side. There is still much I wish to learn about him, I also want to have a proper duel with him. Grasping the reasoning behind his movements is something I cannot seem to do, so just copying them is pointless. Should I ask him for a duel in the simulator? I do wish to see how I hold up against him.
"Say guys, did you see them already?" Tamase spoke up as she finished getting out of her suit.
"See what?" Ayamine was getting in her fatigues, but froze as she looked at Tamase.
"Today I went for a walk to the hangar, and there I saw them as they finished painting them. There were ten Takemikazuchis painted in UN colors, with the insignia and all!" She smiled slightly, moving both hands in the air.
"Eh?! I didn't knew we had… Mitsurugi, do you know anything about this?" Sakaki was undoing her tied up hair, her eyes were widening by the second.
"No, I have no idea why they are here. If you're implying I had a hand in this, allow me to clarify that in no way I have the power to do such a thing." My voice sounded drier and sharper than I expected. Sakaki looked away and gave me a small bow.
"F-Forgive me. I didn't mean to imply anything."
Sigh… In the end you're like the rest. It's not like I'm not used to being treated so formally, but I had believed we had formed some trust for you to not feel obligated to show this unnecessary respect.
"It is alright. I have not taken offense, it just baffles me is all. I am no less surprised by this than any of you."
Even more by the fact that Master, Mion and Shion were sent to deliver them. I know I still need to face Master, but there was no need to send this many Takemikazuchi to give them an excuse to come here, or for you to send your personal unit to me. Whatever would you do if danger goes your way?!
"So even you don't know? Wow, this must be some secret deal, right?!" Yoroi had finished changing and was staring upwards with stars in her eyes.
"How many times must I have to tell you that I am merely a civilian? I am no noble so-" However, Yoroi's ramblings covered my voice.
"The Type-00 is like our most powerful TSF, right? Do you think we're getting ready for some super mission?! Oooohh, I wanna see it fly!" She once more gets lost in her own world. She does enjoy talking about TSFs for some reason.
"Yes, it is our most powerful weapon. With its deployment during the Battle of Kyoto and Operation Lucifer it became clear it could stand toe to toe with America's and the European's 3rd Gen TSFs." Sakaki remarked as she tried to close her jacket.
"Exactly! Imagine if we could see a mock battle of them!" Yoroi started shivering, her eyes shining bright as a blistering shooting star.
"Yeah, it is a relief to have them here for sure." Tamase put on her boots, finishing changing.
"I do agree it's a relief. However, it is still concerning. If they are indeed painted in the UN's colors, that means they're recognized as UN's TSFs. I cannot fathom why the Empire would relinquish its most prized weapon to the UN in such manner."
"Same. It's weird." Ayamine nodded in agreement.
"Well, on one hand you're right." She rearranged her glasses after making her ponytails. "But so long as the pilots are Japanese I think it isn't so much of a problem. I don't think they just handed them out, the Empire must have received something in return."
"Yes, I suppose you're right." Sister wouldn't do something so naive. It is still worrying though. It is too soon to start deploying another domestic TSF, if the Takemikazuchi's weakness get exposed to the foreigners…
"Anyways! We can rest easy because we have Japan's best sword in the base to keep us safe!" Tamase brightly smiled at us, clearing the stagnant air that had started to form as me and Sakaki spoke.
"Yeah! I can't wait to see it fly! It's gonna be awesome!" I wonder how Yoroi can remain standing despite being shaking so much.
"Well, talking about flying… I think it's just a matter of time before we get to ride our TSFs for the first time now." All of us stand in attention at her words. "I know we have been progressing fine for now, but we must not get overconfident. I believe that in one or two days we will get our first real piloting test, so let's polish our skill as much as we can these last days. Let's aim at clearing Level C before we take our first ride!"
"Roger!"
"That's all I wanted to say. Let's enjoy what little free time we still have, today was a harsh day after all." She raises both arms upwards as I hear her shoulders crack.
We leave the changing room. Tamase and Ayamine went to the library to read up on something, Yoroi dashed towards the hangar to take a look at the Takemikazuchis, and Sakaki went back to her room. I suppose I'll go for a jog again. And so, I begin making my way to the track field.
…My first run, I can't wait until I finally get to actually pilot. If I defeat Master in our duel I'll finally be recognized as a member of the Tozama, this shall be the first real step to achieving my goal. Please be patient Sister, I won't disappoint you. However, I cannot believe you sent your own TSF to me. Am I so weak you felt the need to send a clear sign of my standing, to ward off possible enemies? Mion and Shion must have reported my failure during the CCSE, I shiver to think how upset you must have been at your sorry excuse of a sister. Does she even see me as her sister though? Sigh…
And yet, I cannot excel in my trainings, Takeru is still above me in everything. To think I barely am able to keep Sakaki and Ayamine from further bickering among themselves, to fail at conveying how much Takeru aided us during the CCSE. And… I'm also disgusted at myself, to have such a vision during my aptitude test. I did not think myself to be such a lascivious person, why did I think about Takeru doing… Ugh, no! Don't think about it anymore! I am a blade! These thoughts are in the way.
Except I can't stop my gaze to wander to his side. He's amazing, in more ways than one. Sister needs a stronger version of myself, I should be thankful to have Takeru by my side.
Sigh… I can't believe I refer to him as Takeru within myself. I do want us to be friends, but even so… Well, he does call me Meiya, so this is only fair for me.
Even so… I do not know how to feel now. I feared he could replace me, but after the CCSE I… started to see why he would make a good Royal Guard. Someone who isn't afraid of bloodying his hands for the right cause, someone so skilled and so resolute. He also remains most afflicted by the CCSE, and today again showed he doesn't take pride in the decision he had to make. Takeru didn't simply murder without thought, and yet, somehow, the fire within his eyes… that light that he chases after… hasn't left. I wonder what could it be, whatever motivates him to push forward.
Did Tsukuyomi took his blade because he killed those soldiers? She should know why, she should know it was my miss what caused that outcome now that the cousins are in the base.
He doesn't deserve this. Takeru should be getting praised instead, with how great he acted, how he's enduring the whispers behind his back, and how he's keeping up on the trainings despite how he has to live now. I'm so glad we can fight together. Having him by my side is truly a relief.
Takeru… by my side… No, don't think about it. Don't think about him in the suit, don't think about us in the sim pod. I want him as my fellow, the partner in my element. Nothing more.
"Sigh… Takeru, what did you do to me? Why do you spawn these feelings within me?" I hug my sides tightly. I refuse to lose myself to these feelings, I must not lose composure.
I do not wish to lose his aid, I doubt I could find a better sparring partner than him. I should be ashamed of myself, to look at him in such a salacious way. He's my comrade in arms, not someone I should desire. I'm the Shogun's blade first and foremost, I cannot let myself be led astray by such temptations. Even if I do admire him, it's a completely different thing to desire him in that way. I am not like that.
And furthermore…
I look at my arms, tight and rough. The clear shape of my muscles, the way I speak, how I fight and carry myself. A knot again makes its way to my stomach. I always knew I'm not that feminine. If I compare myself to Sister, or even to Tamase, I can tell I do not look like a lady. I doubt he finds me attractive.
Especially since it would seem his eyes are locked onto another. Now I'm convinced of it, the one who bested him soundly was that same woman he spoke of today. The cheer, the sheer elation in his voice, that same light on his eyes, they're the same of those in our first bout. And when he spoke of how she taught him, it was just as when he spoke of her during the CCSE.
Someone so dear to him, who taught him this much, only for Shirogane to have to mercy kill her. And then… that would imply the Minaru Kamui he had belonged to this woman, I am certain of it now.
Still, who was she? To hold his gaze captive in such way, to invigorate his voice with such passion… Adept with a sword, with a finesse in sniping, perhaps also a polished sense for tactics. And for her sword to have been given to him… He did mention the handguard tradition, now that I remember.
T-Then… Does he… know of the implications of such a-
"Meiya-sama? Are you alright?"
"Huh?! Oh, Tsukuyomi… 1st Lt., what did you need of me?" What foul timing. I can only hope she doesn't notice anything odd with me.
"Well, it seemed as if you were in pain. Is anything troubling you, perhaps?"
"Thanks for worrying, but I am fine. I'm on my way to do some jogging, so if you'd excuse me." I try to leave, but she steps in front of me.
"Ahem, we need to talk. Could you follow me to my room?"
"What is this about?"
"You'll know once we get there. Now, let us go." She turns to the hallway to my left, and I follow suit.
What does she want to talk with me to come out and face me so openly? Did I… Did I make a miss? Did Sister… No, Her Highness sent a punishment for me? Or am I being sent back to the mansion? Master did come here some days ago…
We reach her room on the far west of the barracks, where the usual trio salute me as they move aside. As we enter I see three figures dressed in red sitting around a small table, drinking some tea.
"Good evening, Meiya-sama." Master, Mion and Shion give me a bow, that I return before sitting along Tsukuyomi.
"Good evening to you all. What did you require of me?" Master lays his cup on the table and fixes his posture.
"Ahem… First, I wished to inform you that we will have our duel in two days. I just got confirmation from the XO of this base."
"Eh?! Two days? But I haven't piloted a TSF yet."
"That means you'll get your piloting debut before that. I believe you had plenty of simulator training already." Not changing his tone, he stares at me. If this is how it is, I'll cleave through you then. I can't lose any more time.
"Understood. If that is what's been decided, I shall face you with all I've got."
"Ahaha! Good answer, grasshopper!" Smiling as I know he does, then nodding a few times my way, he again drinks some tea. "Now then, into the less pleasant talks…"
His smile was as brief as steam, I've never seen Master's eyes lacking so much cheer. Looking at them, both Mion and Shion have remained oddly silent and look far too solemn for them. Even Tsukuyomi seems to be rather tense. Master coughs, then sighs as it would seem he is hesitating. Looking at me, his eyes squinting, he leans forward.
"Meiya-sama, could you tell us what you know of Cadet Takeru Shirogane?"