Things were peaceful for all of one day when Dorssia launched another attack on them. It felt a little tedious at this point, but that was another part of war. But this time, Haruto had been unable to get to his Valvrave. The enemy's attack had him stuck under some rubble and he couldn't move. The others had already launched and were fighting without him.
Haruto was about to despair in his uselessness when L-elf offered a solution. Haruto body-jacked him and used it to pilot his mecha. It was while in L-elf's body, when the battle was over and he was sitting in the cockpit, that he found a picture in the other boy's pocket. It was a photograph of a young girl. As he gazed at it, Haruto felt his eyes, L-elf's eyes, prick with tears.
Who was this person that had such an effect on L-elf. Haruto could even feel a pain in his chest. It remained there even as he put the picture away. He wiped his tears before returning to his body. The moment that L-elf opened his eyes, he gave Haruto a hard look.
"What did you do?"
"Who's that girl in the picture you carry around?", Haruto shot back with a question of his own.
"That's none of your business." L-elf's hand went instinctively to his pocket. The picture was still there. He glared at Haruto. The others would be returning soon and he didn't feel like dealing with this in front of a crowd. He left before the others arrived, going so that he could make his report. Haruto let him go fully intending to address this later.
All through the debriefing, Haruto kept his eyes on him, knowing that if given the chance, L-elf would slip away and disappear until he thought Haruto was ready to let this go.
"How did the body jacking go during combat?", Kibukawa asked. So far, Haruto was the only one who had used that power and today was the first time he'd done so in order to fight.
"It was...strange... But in a good way", Haruto said.
L-elf watched him closely. Surely he wouldn't mention the photograph he had, as it had nothing to do with the battle. At least he hoped it didn't. L-elf couldn't remember what had been done to his body when Haruto was inside of it.
"The Valvrave worked just fine, like it recognized me. And.. it was incredible." Haruto looked L-elf in the eyes. "You're incredible. Your reaction time and intuition, I had it all and I fought better with it."
"So you retained his skills with the transfer", Kibukawa said as he took some notes on his tablet. "Anything else?"
Haruto considered mentioning how he also retained emotional responses, but kept that to himself. That little part could be his and L-elf's secret until he found out more about it. And he would. The post-battle mission ended and everyone went their separate ways. Some to the showers, others to the cafeteria, and others to the dorms.
"Hey!", Haruto called out to him.
L-elf continued to walk on as if he hadn't heard him. Haruto picked up the pace, trying to catch up, but L-elf did the same, going into a fast walk. The moment Haruto broke into a run, L-elf did the same. And then they were running through the halls. L-elf weaved through everyone expertly. Haruto did so, not quite as well, and ended up apologizing to people he bumped into on the way.
L-elf didn't stop until he got into their shared room. Haruto ran inside and the door slid shut. He made sure it was locked. He was panting, half from exhaustion and half from frustration.
"You're not getting out of here until I get some answers", he said as if he'd cornered L-elf. As he took in the scene, he realized the other was sitting calmly at the desk in their room, as if he had been waiting for Haruto.
"First, a question for you: Why do you need an answer about her?", L-elf crossed his legs as he spoke.
Haruto caught his breath as he thought about it, tried rationalizing it. It wasn't mere curiosity. If it was, he would've backed off the minute L-elf declined information. But this girl meant something to him and he knew nothing about L-elf and his goals.
"That girl looks like Dorssian royalty", he said, drawing on his memory of that brief look at the photograph. "I wonder why a soldier would have that." Haruto turned his gaze to something that was hopefully piercing enough to get his roommate to talk.
"Why did you and your team defect so easily? What's your plan? Are you just using us to get something or are you planning on betraying us after all?"
L-elf didn't answer at first, eyes staring hard into him and Haruto quickly saw his gaze was outmatched. He didn't think he could ever handle the pressure of those eyes.
"She is royalty. And the reason I decided to work with you. That's all you need to know."
"That's all? You-"
"Don't misunderstand our relationship, Tokishima Haruto. You don't need to know anything more about me. We're allies. Not friends."
Haruto stood there by the door and L-elf crossed his arms, challenging him to argue. Haruto knew they weren't friends. Calling them allies was generous on L-elf's part. The Dorssians could have been prisoners of war and locked up the moment they were found out. They could have chosen death over dishonor. But they were here.
And they were helping. Haruto decided that maybe he didn't need the exact reason just yet. He would find out in time.
"Well, this ally of yours needs to replenish. I'm going to the cafeteria." Haruto planned to refuel his runes after that. That little detail was still being kept classified from the Dorssians. If L-elf was going to have his secrets, L-elf would have his.