While Haruto and the others waited and got settled in with their new roommates, the politicians over in ARUS were deliberating. Everyone had seen the glorious meha suits fighting against the Dorssian invasion. Young JIORans who had not yet learned of their country's secret had recorded what they could and posted it to the WIRED. It was allowed past the censors and had been seen by the other modules.

Now they had a decision to make. They could side with Dorssia, who had attacked them in the recent past. But there was no guarantee that Dorssia wouldn't try and engulf them in the process. The other option was JIOR but they not only withheld secrets that violated a treaty but used a high school as a base, where children were. It wasn't an easy choice and they couldn't afford to remain neutral.

"I think we should go with Dorssia on this one. They've proved themselves to be formidable. As far as JIOR goes, they were only able to save one module", one man made his opinion known to the president.

"I disagree", another spoke up. "Dorssia has been hostile to us before. We should put our faith into these new machines that JIOR has made."

Jeffery Anderson, the president was reviewing some of the video captured of the fight within the module. Satellites had picked up a battle on the outside of it as well. His cabinet continued to discuss the pros and cons of either side before he claimed their attention.

"Our biggest enemy right now is Dorssia. Which means JIOR has the potential to be a powerful ally. We will offer our aid to them."

With that affirmation, the meeting disassembled to figure out just how they would provide assistance to the rising military power.

Module 77 had changed to a state of war. Not much was different, but the government was preparing a press release to explain the situation to their own citizens. Prime Minister Sashinami Ryuji was working on a speech. It had to be said in a way that kept JIORans on their side, despite a majority of them being kept in the dark about the operations being conducted with students.

Meanwhile, a new day had begun and the Valvrave pilots were getting more acquainted with their new roommates. Haruto watched L-elf from his bunk while the other sat at a desk, typing something away on a tablet.

"If you have something to say, just say it."

Haruto flustered and tried to look like he wasn't just boring holes into L-elf's head for the past five minutes. L-elf could only sigh, thinking only a JIORan would be this indirect.

"I was just wondering...why they would put us together like this. If it was random, or..."

"You are Tokishima Haruto. Your father is the scientist heading the VVV project and you are the lead pilot. I am the captain of my squad. It only makes sense that we are together."

"I'm not really a leader", Haruto denied. In most situations, he deferred to Inuzuka for guidance. Perhaps that would change, considering it really was a war now. But Haruto wasn't sure if he was ready for that. "What about the others?"

"I don't yet know the other pilots well enough to determine why they were paired in such a way", L-elf admitted. Surely there must be a reason that he wasn't realizing yet. But it didn't matter. He'd understand soon enough.

Inuzuka and Q-vier got along fine. The younger was a little enthusiastic about fighting but other than that, Inuzuka saw no problem with him. Yamada never let his eyes off of X-eins and he kept looking for a reason to punch the Dorssian in the face. Although X-eins had yet to give him one. The atmosphere in Saki and A-drei's room was tense through a constant back and forth of haughty comments.

H-neun had his room to himself for a while before going back to the robot to ask when Akira was going to come down and go to bed. She didn't answer and he left it at that. Shoko had noticed decided to enact a plan. She went to Haruto first and entered without even knocking.

"You need to kick that bad habit", he scolded without any real fire behind it. He could never be mad at her, truly. "What if we were changing?"

"I've seen it all before", Shoko declared unashamed.

"That's not a good reason! And what about L-elf?"

Shoko looked to the young man as if just now noticing him and blinked. "I haven't seen him naked before."

"That's why you shouldn't go in without knocking."

"You just said that wasn't a good enough reason!", she argued.

"Forget it. Why are you here?", Haruto asked.

"I want us to have a party. To welcome our new guests and to celebrate a victory!"

He had to smile at that. It was just the thing she would do. "It might be a little early to call all of this a success, but you're right. At the very least, we should welcome the Dorssians."

"Great! And since you guys are already paired, I split the shopping list." Shoko handed Haruto a small sheet of paper. "With our allowances combined, we should be able to get everything."

Haruto looked at the list, she was right. As (previously) reserve officers, they all received payment for services. It might go up, given that they were now active duty. Then he caught something Shoko had said.

"If we're shopping in pairs, who are you going with?"

Shoko didn't answer immediately, almost like she was unsure what to say for once. She took a breath. "I'll go with that H guy. Akira is supposed to be his roommate, but she won't come out of her Valvrave. I was hoping she'd come out with a party happening. So I was gonna go with that H guy."

"I see. That's great. She'll probably feel really happy. Where are we going to have the party?"

"In the hangar."

"I think that'll be a little...with no artificial gravity..."

"What's wrong with a zero-g party?", Shoko asked in all seriousness. Floating around with food coming right to your face sounded like a good way to socialize with her new friends. The look on Haruto's face said he didn't agree. And he was usually right about these things. "Fine. I can rig it so we'll have gravity in the hangar", she conceded.

"Then we'll get going", Haruto said.

"Party is tonight at eight, don't be late!", she told him before skipping off.

Haruto pocketed the list and stepped into his shoes. He saw that L-elf hadn't moved from his desk.

"Aren't you coming?"

"I never agreed to this."

"You should come and help out if you want to come to the party", Haruto said.

"I never said I was going."

"Don't you want to get out and see everything that our Module has to offer? Have you ever even been to JIOR?"

"I've been in missions that took place on JIORan soil on Earth." L-elf almost scoffed at Haruto implying that he needed some culture.

Haruto looked at the list. He could probably get it all on his own. "I'll go by myself then." He grabbed his wallet and started to leave. "You're still invited though." With those words he let the door slide closed behind him and made his way out of the school and off the campus. L-elf sighed and went over him, catching up effortlessly.

"You're coming?"

"It's a good idea to scout the area and know what I'm working with." Maps could only tell him so much, he reasoned. And there was always the possibility that some parts were outdated. Whatever the reason, Haruto was glad L-elf had changed his mind. The other pairs had already gotten to work.

Despite their personalities, Yamada and X-eins got along pretty well. With a list given to them, they both agreed to go and get what was needed. Yamada was up for celebrating and X-eins figured it would be a good way to get a closer look at the city. The only time they disagreed was when Yamada paused in front of a sex shop.

"We don't need anything from here."

"I'm just lookin'. I'm just lookin'."

They were quickly shooed away by the manager who didn't want teens loitering in front of her store. Yamada sighed and stuffed his hands into his pockets. Then he looked over to calm and collected X-eins.

"Do they got places like that over in Dorssia?", he asked.

The bespectacled man adjusted his glasses at the question. "I am certain it does. Although I have never seen it for myself, those sort of establishments exist all over."

"I guess there's still the WIRED for that kind of stuff if ya really want it", Yamada stretched his arms behind his head.

X-eins declined replying to that. Even if such materials existed, Dorssia had banned pornographic online sites longer ago. It mattered very little to him. X-eins had no interest in that sort of thing. They continued on their way to finish Shoko's list.

A-drei and Saki were as tense as before. A-drei was opposed to everything about her, from rooming with a female to her choice in part decorations. In his mind, it was inappropriate for the two of them to share a room and blue stripes on a green background was just garish.

"What are we celebrating? A clown's birthday?", he jabbed.

"And I suppose the Dorssian would have a better sense of color for a party. Just so you know, it's not a public execution."

Normally, Saki would ignore him. She'd had her fair share of people insulting her and her decisions to let most of it roll off her back. But this guy was irritating in such a way that she had to put him in his place and have him admit that she was right.

Inuzuka pushed the cart around while Q-vier sat inside, playing his game while calling off items on the list. They worked together well, although the elder had the suspicion that a few items weren't actually on the list. In a rare lapse of focus, Inuzuka was able to swipe the list from him.

"Hey!", Q-vier protested and tried reaching for it.

"I knew it. These things aren't what Shoko asked for."

"Who cares?", he shrugged. "They all looked good to me."

"We're using my money, so I'll decide what looks good." Inuzuka resumed pushing the cart while picking items himself, not fooled at all when Q-vier tried to sneak things in, which led to some words at the register. In the end, he conceded to a few snacks and their shopping was done.

Shoko was having more fun than she'd expected, going shopping with H-neun. He was surprisingly sociable, which suited her great. It was very hard to believe that he was a hardened enemy soldier when he was playing with puppies in a pet store window. They'd gotten a little sidetracked in their shopping quest but they still had enough time to spare.

"Hey, do you think that girl is nervous about sleeping in the same room as a guy?", he asked while rubbing one puppy's belly.

Shoko was playing gently with the ears of another. "Nonono! Akira isn't like that!", she defended the girl quickly. "It's just..."

"Just?", H-neun urged.

"Akira is just a little shy." Shoko could remember finding the girl and being attacked by random objects. Akira had made a little corner in the school for herself and didn't expect anyone to find her. Much less be chosen for a pilot.

"She'll come around", she assured the young man. "I'm sure this party will help. It's not you, don't think that's the problem."

H-neun smiled and scratched a pup behind the ear. "No problem. I won't sweat it. We should probably finish this list you made for us, though", he reminded her.

Akira had been watching them. Since they had left her alone in the Valvrave she decided to do what was inevitable. She activated the initial start and with a shaking finger, accepted the terms of giving up her humanity. The interior was quickly becoming a comfort. She was alone and could watch the world just as she did in her room. She watched the halls of the school.

Shoko was planning a party. As nice as the girl seemed, Akira wasn't sure if she could handle anything like that. She bit her lip. The first person outside of her brother to be nice to her was doing it all in vain.

"Sorry, Shoko."