Chapter 11: Shirogane Takeru
(November 18, 2001 Friday) (Yokohama Base)Marimo POV
Marimo was typing a report in her private quarter. It has been a few days from the evaluation exam of squad 207b under her guidance. Marimo was glad that her students' effort was paid off. They did relatively well in that particular exam, if not magnificent. Marimo has watched countless batches of cadets passed that exam but has never seen any group able to produce such amazing result. It was almost impossible that their result is staggeringly overwhelmed the previous record holders by a huge margin. Even the whole squad 207b consists of all star-player type of cadets, in Marimo's opinion, that result is still unthinkable.
"But then again, he was there." Marimo sighs outwardly while thinking about one particular boy. In her opinion, it is just almost natural for him to able to perform even the most impossible jobs. That aside, that particular boy has always been her source of distress and worry. Marimo wouldn't know how such an eccentric person like him could possibly exist.
What sparks Marimo's curiosity about the boy at first is his intangible relationship with her childhood friend Yuuko. Shirogane Takeru was made a personal side officer and lab assistant of Yuuko in his first day at the Yokohama base. Marimo can easily tell that despite only recently enlist, the boy is deeply involved in Yuuko's Alternative project. He was summoned to Yuuko office frequently for some sort of classified assignments. Furthermore, in contrast with his normal tardiness nature, he always works extremely diligently for any of Yuuko's assignment. Marimo heard it from the mechanic chief how late that the boy has stayed at night in the hangar and doing his job while Yuuko on her trip. He clearly pushed himself too far. Even now, he is still testing one of Yuuko's experiment days and nights. He had attended all lectures and activities blindfolded and ear-covered. Marimo heard from Sergeant Kyozuka that he made quite an attraction of himself when he walked around the base and having meals while doing that same experiment on his own accord.
Moreover, he is clearly a superb soldier with an exception of a soldier's common sense. Aside from a very few gifted cadets, Marimo has yet to see anyone has such a perfect streak of records so far in all of his activities. Strategic analysis, close combat, shooting, medical aid…etc. All records were either perfect or close to perfect. Despite able to produce such amazing feat, that boy is clearly too attached to his civilian life. Always come late for morning class, day dreaming and he would always make a slip "Marimo chan" whenever speaking with her. She gave him pieces of her mind many times regarding that, yet her effort until now was in vain. "I am clearly not his friend, his doting sister or his equal. What kind of nerve does he have?" Marimo sighs once again. Up until now, she always tries to keep her strict and demonic demeanor up during her teaching periods. It was however a necessary to drill all required skills and knowledge to the cadets for their future survival. That particular boy is the only one who is completely unfazed to that demeanor of hers until now.
Furthermore, the boy exudes a strange aura. He possesses a dual personality of competence and incompetence. Who could have thought a crybaby like that was actually a prodigy underneath. Moreover, in contrast with his amazing feat in military activities, he is just too clumsy in his own way in many things. Despite such mysterious aura he exudes, everyone in the squad 207b and even Marimo herself can't help but grow fond of him.
Suddenly, a knocking sound of the front door alerted Marimo. Who is it at this late? Marimo wonders.
"Come in, the door is unlocked" Marimo called
"Excuse us for visiting this late." To Marimo surprise, she saw two of her former students, Isumi Michiru and Suzumiya Haruka.
"It's rare to see you this late Captain Isumi and 1st Lt. Suzumiya"
"I am sorry about that instructor Jinguuji" Isumi and Haruka bowed in reply
"No, don't worry about that. So what bring you here today?" Marimo smiles and asks her former students.
"It is nothing serious but…" It's rare to see Isumi stutters like she is now. Marimo wonders what going on.
"It was about Misuki" Haruka quickly helps her friend and finishes the line.
"…Hayase?" Marimo is genuinely surprised. What kind of business related to Hayase that she could help out?
"Ah, yes. It was about Mitsuki." Isumi quickly regains her usual composure and continues "These days, she seemed always on the edge for some reasons. I asked Haruka since they are the closest among the group but…" Hearing this from Isumi, Marimo feels very unease. She got a bad feeling about this. [Is it related to Shirogane's stalking business?]Marimo wonders.
"It's love" Haruka exclaimed. She clenches her palms tightly and looks at Marimo with her puppy eyes glittering like gem stones.
"H…hah?" a dumb sound escapes Marimo's mouth unknowingly.
"It's love" Haruka repeats.
"H…hah. Calm down. I got it Suzumiya. But how can I aid you about this? You are surely not just come here just to tell me about this right?" Marimo cracks her brain for an explanation. "I think Munakata Misae is the best at giving love advice right?" Marimo was however kind of relief to hear that. [So it wasn't about him]
"Ahahaha…Instructor. Sorry about that... I was a little bit excited" Haruka weakly laughs as her face flush brightly.
"Let me continue" Isumi butts in "Akane said something like: Mitsuki was really interest in a guy who stationed at our base. Despite that, the guy is just too stupid to realize it"
"Yes, yes. Hayase was bickering about how he totally forgot about her after their first fateful meeting in the simulator room. It was really love at first sight." Haruka chirps vigorously in contrast with her usual timidity.
"…" Marimo was lost at what to say.
"Now I think about it. She once mumbled something like 'It was supposed to be a mutual understanding and agreement for both of us', 'He stood me up for weeks'…etc" Isumi scratches her cheek while pondering.
"Hayase was waiting for the guy night after night in the simulator room but he never came for their night tryst. She was sad and furious about that" Haruka finally comes back to her sense. She timidly voices her worry about her closest friend.
"That's why we need your help, instructor. You could access to most part of the database with your authority, right? I know it was against the military regulation. But, Mitsuki behavior is really making me nervous. That's why I want her to settle down as quickly as possible." Isumi bows her head at Marimo while speaking.
"I got it" Marimo finally understand why these two girls come to her room. "Don't worry about that. I will help you out, as long as you girls keep it a secret."
"Yes, Ma'am" the girls salute while grinning happily.
Marimo logs into the database with her PC and jokingly asks "Heh, Hayase of all the people I know. I have never known that she too has such a girlish side like that. I thought that she could only thought about nothing but battles with that brain of hers. I guess she is really girl after all"
"Ahaha…That is because she didn't show it to everyone. She is just as much as a romanticist as Misae." Haruka giggles
"So, what is the name of the lucky guy? I can't wait to see Hayase's charming prince." Marimo chuckles weakly while joking.
"Me too. I am dying to see what kind of charming guy could make our Mitsuki show such girlish side like that." Isumi speaks excitedly while looking at Haruka, waiting for her friend's answer.
"…Umm, Ehehe, even Hayase herself didn't know the guy name." Haruka nervously laughs
"She didn't?" Marimo and Isumi cries in harmony.
"I didn't expect Mitsuki would make such a huge mistake like that with her personality" Isumi seems shaken from Haruka remark.
Marimo looks nervously at Haruka and speaks. "How do we find the guy if none of you even know his name?" She already goes against the military regulation to help the girls searching for him. There is just no way Marimo can let Hayase searches through every profiles in the database just to find her crush.
"Don't worry about that...Ahaha. Mitsuki told me that he was a cadet in training belong to one of your classes instructor." Haruka speaks timidly. "Guys like that are rare these days"
"…" Marimo was petrified for several seconds. There is only one possible answer in her head. Then she screams "SHIROGANE!?"
(Lab room) Takeru POV
Achooo…
Takeru sneezes soundly. "Did I catch a cold?" he wonders. Then he turned to Kasumi and said "That's enough for today Kasumi. Thank you. You can go to sleep now"
The silver hair girl cutely rubs her eyes while gesturing that she is still fine.
"Don't push yourself. We can continue this tomorrow." Takeru turns off his monitor device and pat Kasumi head "Tomorrow is going to be a long day. Beside, even that our experiment is already succeeded, you still have to stick with me until the trial test day of the XM3. Have a rest while you can."
November 19, 2001 (Class room) Takeru POV
"This concludes the basic movement lecture of the TSF" Marimo closed her reference book as she turned to face all of us. "As you can see, there's almost nothing that a human can do that a TSF can't. So far these weapons have been the pinnacle of all existing war effort and have proved the most effective weapon since the first landing of our enemies, the BETA. My advice to you is to learn all these movements as quickly as possible to become professional soldiers in the frontlines. I am expecting good news from all of you." Marimo concludes her morning lecture on TSF.
Takeru doesn't like how his Marimo chan was glaring at him the whole morning. He wasn't quite sure what on earth did he do could provoke such degree of hostility from her. It was really tempting for him to request Kasumi to read her mind and send him the images. Then, he respects her privacy and her own rights. If he wants to know about it, he would rather ask her directly or perhaps indirectly through Yuuko sensei. But those doesn't seem like good ideas to him no matter what. Marimo is clearly on the edge right now. She looks like she could explode any moment.
Just as Marimo was out of the room, the squad gathers around Takeru and asks.
"What did you do Takeru? Instructor was glaring at you the whole time" Chiruzu asked
"How do I know? I was so busy at my assignment; I hardly have any time to fooling around let alone provoke Marimo chan." Takeru answers as honestly as he could. "You could ask Kasumi, she knows how hard working I was during the last few days"
Kasumi nods her head to certify Takeru's claim.
"That is quite unbelievable from the same guy ask Kyozuka oba chan to cook some snake in secret for himself" Chiruzu sighs out loud
"This and that are totally different mater" Takeru quickly rebukes "Beside, you guys also join my midnight snack with oba chan"
"I didn't" Mikoto corrected
"Yeah, what a shame! Oooh great descendant of Indiana Jone. You should have joined us. Kyozuka oba chan really outdid herself this time. She was like a 5 star master chef. It was unbelievable that she came up with 4 different dishes with such a small snake." Takeru's mouth is watering as he remembers "The snake's scales which I thought supposed to be throwaway, she deep fried and mixed them with cheese powder. They were crispy at first but immediately melt inside my mouth for a few second. It was really delicious. They taste ten times better than chips."
"Her snake curry and snake yakisoba were awesome" Ayamine drools while reminiscence her favorite dish.
"Her unagi onigiri were great as well. I have never eat anything taste that good until now" Chiruzu admits. "By the way, we should head toward the PX now. The next lesson is going to commence soon." Chiruzu finishes her speech with a smirk.
The rest of the girls flash a grin knowing what Chiruzu has in store for me.
"Yeah, we should." Mikoto smiles while darting her eyes toward Tama and Ayamine as some sort of signal. Those two grinned back to Mikoto in return.
"You are being too mean to him" Meiya chuckled weakly. Her expression is somewhat conflict to what she is speaking. She is awfully a prankster at heart too.
Without anyone of them revealing their prank, I have already known what it is. One of Eishi school most stupid traditions. Make one cadet of your own squad eat so much that they will puke in the simulator later on by the G-force. I was the victim of this prank once in my first loop. It's only due to sheer luck that my aptitude with the TSF was so great that all the internal and external forces barely have any effect on me. As the result, their little scheme backfired. Too bad, I won't be the one uphold this stupid tradition once more time. Let see…
"Class rep says she want to be fully stuffed after today's meal" I grab Chiruzu's shoulder tightly and speak cheerfully. One who plays pranks on others should be prepared to be toyed by another.
"Eh? Eh?" Chiruzu looks completely dismayed
"Meiya, let's escort class rep to the PX together." I look at Meiya direction and wait for her to turn side.
"…" Meiya gasps. Hehehe, I can tell how surprise Meiya is right now. The question 'Did he know about it' clearly written on her face.
"Ayamine, please bring class rep's food to her, if you don't mind. By the way, get Kyozuka oba chan to give her an extra large portion ~"
"…" Ayamine's eyes widened
"Now, Tama and Mikoto don't just stand there. Help me to bring class rep to the PX"
"…" Mikoto and Tama were stunned.
"Kasumi chan, help class rep out. She said she was really hungry" I winked at Kasumi
The little fairy obediently nods her head. No matter what, she was always my ally.
"Wait a minute! What are you doing?" Chiruzu panicked
I grinned and replied "Aah…I can't wait for the Eishi aptitude test"
Meiya immediately voiced out her suspicion "Takeru, are you…"
Chiruzu narrowed her eyes in horror "H…he knows." Too late class rep, way too late to realize it. You just pick a wrong target. I am not Takeru the great oracle for no reason.
I acted innocently and tighten my grip on Chiruzu's shoulder "What could you possibly mean~? Hurry up, we are wasting time here"
Chiruzu finally realized her folly. She panicked "Wait…let's go of me. Someone! Save me!"
The rest of the girls were stunned for a second then reveal an evil smirk on their faces. Ahhh, I really love this squad after all. Great minds think alike. Without further delay, they have totally defected to my side.
Chiruzu gasped in horror at the smirk of her former comrades.
Meiya folds her arms together and spoke "Sakaki, your plan has failed. Accept your defeat and the training school tradition"
Mikoto cheerfully locked her arms to Chiruzu's right elbow and spoke happily "Now Chiruzu san, let's go, let's go. Time is wasting here"
Chiruzu screamed at her former comrade "Wait, Yoroi! You traitor. I thought we agreed to make Takeru victim"
Ayamine looked at me and asked "Takeru, how large is an extra large portion?" Even her poker face is as hard to read as ever, I know only too well that she enjoyed this turn of event as much as I am.
"Not much ~. At least double that of a large" I replied
"Roger" Ayamine smirked and gave me a thumb up. I knew it. She is really my buddy I this kind of prank. Especially those pranks aimed toward Chiruzu.
Tama finally decided to join our fray. She spoke cheerfully "Sakaki san, don't worry too much"
Chiruzu snapped "About what?"
Meiya concluded all further negotiation while locking her arms to Chiruzu's left elbow "You can only resign yourself to your fate. Now, let us be off"
"Good luck Sakaki san" Kasumi mutters quietly
Chiruzu desperately tried to shake off her escort and yelled "You traitors". She knows full well what await her if she remained in our grasp at this rate.
Too bad class rep, not even I could escape their lock. Accept your punishment gracefully. You were the instigator to begin with. This is what it means to dig your own grave.
(Simulator room)
All the girls in my squad except Ayamine were clearly anxious when they see me come into the room with my exo suit. It is only natural for them to be embarrassed from wearing the suit for the first time. The fabric is skin tight and sticks close to our bodies. Unlike them, I already pass through this stage. After all, I was a regular in the front longer than I can count. Ayamine seems to be the only exception. She wasn't embarrassed at all. Maybe, she was but she just too good at hiding it.
Marimo looks at our direction and speaks "You may start you TSF aptitude exam…Yuuk…Vice commander?"
"Marimo yahoo"
We turn into the direction of the voice. Yuuko sensei was walking along the corridor and waved her hand playfully at Marimo chan.
"What is your business here today Vice commander?" Marimo narrows her eyes and asks. I see. She is just as much dismay as we are. Normally, Yuuko sensei would not come here at all. So everyone can smell nothing troubles from her.
"Nothing~ I just want to observe squad 207b aptitude exam result." Once again, Yuuko sensei replies in a godly innocent manner.
I crack my brain to come up with any sort of reason for her to appear here of all time. There is just no way she is up to nothing with that mischievous wide grin on her face. Anyway if it was related to me or Kasumi, she could always summon me to her office any time she wants. If it was about Sumika, it is too early. It is supposed to be tomorrow and beside she wouldn't be here if it was about the 00 unit business. One possible answer is that she is just bored. And that mean only deep trouble awaited. I turn my head and stare at her nervously. What she is planning?
Yuuko sensei saw that and waves playfully at me. "Shirogane, did you miss me that much? Ara ara, you could always come to my office if you want"
What the hell is this woman talking about? It's fine if we joke like that in her room alone. But she just said it right in public like this. This is going to be one heck of a scandal. "What are you talking about sensei?" I rebuke reflexively as I could sense bloodlust aiming at me.
"Eh? What did I mean? Isn't it clear? You were looking at me so tenderly just now for a moment. I thought that you were feeling lonely after a week without me. So I just give you a green light toward our usual date." Yuuko put a finger on her chin while pretending to smile sweetly at me.
"…" I could hear several heartbroken gasps at my back.
This woman is definitely a Satan incarnate. She just publicly announced my execution with a smile. What on the earth she possibly want? As this rate I will be killed, either at Marimo chan hands or once of the girls. "Stop speaking nonsense sensei. When did I ever make an advance on you? Beside we have a test now. We need to be concentrated and focus for it"
"You are really no fun at all Shirogane"
"I am not stupid enough to wage my life on someone's jokes"
"Vice commander…Do you mind keep quiet for a while? We have a test to complete here" Marimo tightens her fists and glares at her childhood friend.
"Ara ara, my apologize Marimo. Please continue with your test." Yuuko laughs it off like nothing.
"Cadet Sakaki and cadet Misurugi, proceed to simulator number 1 and 2 accordingly." Marimo gives order to her students while still glaring at Yuuko sensei and me. It's really unfair. I could understand why she is glaring at Yuuko sensei with such hostility. But, why me?
The simulators shake furiously as class rep and Meiya went in. Even it doesn't shake that much inside the simulator due to the shock absorber, but from the outside, it visibly shakes furiously like one of the extreme games in the theme park. Those hydraulic pistons installed in the simulator were clearly pumped to their maximum capacity. After a while, both class rep and Meiya were released. I can tell how bad it was for them, especially class rep. Their face were visibly paled and lost their color. It can't be help; it was the first time they experienced with G-force. Not even the exo suit's G-force absorb function could help them through this rite. But sooner or later they will get used to it since the TSFs that we have to pilot would produce G-force many time worse than this. Tama and Ayamine went in as the next batch. The group mascot mutters silently "It looks traumatic." They look totally tense after saw the fate of their beloved squad members. I could only gave a thumb up and encourage them.
Mikoto and I were the final batch. Mikoto was tense now when she could saw the state all of the girls in our team. I slap her shoulder and encourage her "Mikoto, good luck" while the rest of the girls look at us with pitiful eyes.
Mikoto nervously replies "You too, Takeru"
We enter our respective designed simulator as Marimo chan's order.
Marimo's face appears on the screen just as I finish connecting the head set to the retinal projector. Her voice booms through the transmitter. "Let's begin the test. All you have to do is remained seated for fifteen minutes. If you feel bad, press the emergency stop button on the side"
This is just a piece of cake for me. In my first time taking this aptitude test, despite my weak physically condition, I was easily aced even the previous all time record holder. The result was so high that even Marimo find it shocking. Now, I could easily imagine how monstrously high my aptitude score in this test is, after all I was working as the Storm vanguard once. Worse, I was working under Hayase's wing. Her legendary tough love for me is just too great of an honor. Among the training given by Hayase, Captain Isumi and 1st Lt. Munakata; Hayase training was the toughest. The vanguard members were forced to keep up with Hayase's craziest movements at high G-maneuver. We were pushed into a position that our bodies either get used to it or they would never. As Storm vanguard 02, I was the closest link to her. That's one the reasons why Hayase always went all out on me during the training. Therefore, I was unavoidably the one experienced the toughest amount training among the members of the Valkyrie. The greatest artificial shocks created by the simulator were not anywhere near the level of G-force I experienced when I worked as a vanguard.
Marimo's voices bring me back into reality immediately "The test has end. Yoroi, Shirogane, you may disembarked"
Suddenly, Yuuko sensei's face appears on the screen. She orders "Yoroi, you may leave. Shirogane, you remain seated. You will attend the training course A after this"
"…" I was lost at what to say. What is Yuuko sensei thinking right now? Her order was just too crazy. I could pass that training course easily but… It doesn't make any sense if a normal person haven't attend any piloting lessons or trainings is able to pass the final training course of this Eishi school. The all time record holder of this base only able to finish her training course D in 5 days. And that was captain Isumi that we are talking about. A super elite soldier, a perfectionist, one of Marimo chan greatest student and the commander unit of the Valkyrie. It is clearly overkill if I was to graduate from the whole course in less than a day. What more, this is a prestige Eishi school that often produces the highest scoring Eishi cadets. Its curriculum is not so easy that its final training course could be demolished in a day even by a super genius Eishi.
"Yuuko, what are you scheming? He just can't do something like that. He is not even learned the basic control" Marimo yelled at her friend
"Don't worry about it. He used to work as a TSF's OS writer. Even if he never piloted a TSF before, he already knew the manual controls. Besides, this guy has good memory. If he can't remember the control of the TSF after reading the manual book, he would not be my lab assistant. Lastly, didn't you see his result for the aptitude test just now? It is clearly on a world record level. There is no harm done if he take this course, isn't there?" Yuuko speaks seriously to her friend.
"But he just can't. There may be a mistake in the reading tools. There is no way for anyone to have such score in their first run. He needs to have his health check to be sure he is ready for this course A. He isn't used to that high level of G-force exposure yet. Beside, even if he could remember every manual control of the TSF by reading the book, he can't pilot it immediately. He need more practice time for this." Marimo cried out her denial.
"Marimo, I said no harm done even if he takes that training course. Beside, why don't we listen to Shirogane's opinion himself?"
"…If it is an order Yuuko sensei. I am not quite confident about this but I will take the training course anyway." I answer as humble as I could. I don't want to invoke more of Marimo chan wraith on me.
"You don't have to force yourself to her order, Shirogane. High authority she may be but it was I who has the full authority in your training. Rank doesn't mean anything in this matter. You may exit the simulator now." Marimo angrily yelled. No matter which world, with or without war, with or without the BETA, Marimo chan is always kind, caring and priories her student above everything else.
"Shirogane, if you are not confident about this kind of level of training, what kinds of performance can you do during the trial test?" Yuuko speaks with great seriousness in her tone. So serious that it was sound like an order.
So this is a test. She wants to see how good I am inside a TSF. She is deeply committed to her Alternative project. That's why the word mistake would never exist in her vocabulary. If I want to prove my claim, I only have to prove it with my action, not words. "Please let me take this course."
"Good, I expecting good result from you" Yuuko smiles "You have 45 minutes to complete the course".
[UWA, she is harsh.] Captain Isumi record was something like an hour and a half. My best record for completing this course was an hour.
"YUUKO…" Marimo is glaring at her friend and me through the camera. "…Shirogane, you may proceed to training course A. Push the emergency button immediately if you feel unwell. I will monitor your reading in the command post, if you show any symptoms; I will force you to leave the simulator right away."
"Thank you, Marimo chan~"
"How dare you… never mind, begin your training" Marimo throws me a dagger glare.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Impossible…" I heard Marimo gasped through the transmitter. Yeah, it is completely impossible for any first timer to wipe out all the fictional enemies in the training course A alone while breaking the record of captain Isumi in the first day. A first timer Eishi joins the Final training course for the first time and completely demolishes the all time best record in one try. It just sounds too farfetched to be true.
It was certainly difficult to complete this course alone with Yuuko sensei's time limit. Besides, I can't pull that kind of stupid stunt like turn off the assisting auto balance in front of Marimo. Moreover, the movement of the TSF inside this simulator is just too fidgety and delicate unlike the actual one or the one in the SSS course. Speaking of the SSS course, I really want to have a rematch with that mysterious Eishi with the XM3 installed on our machines. While we turned off the assisting system of the OS in our last match, the auto balance system were turn off. It would be a great tribute to our advantage in combat due to no freeze time. However, the joints of the TSF wear out quickly after enduring stressed severe impacts. Furthermore, the pilot's input command was delayed and lagged regularly during the battle. We weren't able to perform as well as we intended. Lastly, none of us could do buffering in our match with all the delay in the input.
"Shirogane, open your hatch and install this OS into that simulator." Yuuko drags me back into reality with her voice booming through the transmitter.
"…" Isn't it the same disk I gave her? So she wants to see how much better I can be with the XM3 install? Well I don't mind show it to her right now. But I'm not sure what is she actually want by making a public display of its power this early to everyone.
"Roger that" I follow her order and immediately install the XM3 into the simulator. While waiting for the OS to completely installed, I look around the simulator room. The girls in my squad were visibly stunned at my performance just now. I could understand it only too well. It is completely absurd to graduate from the training course in my first day enter the course and without any practice time. I feel really guilty if I had to deceive them like this. No human could possibly achieve such feat regardless they are geniuses or not. I was probably made a soldier and an Eishi over and over for decades if I have to add up my time in all of my loops. This is not just a natural aptitude that we are talking about; it was more like a human life time of hard work. Same goes for my other amazing feats in military activities; I was clearly inferior to any of the girls in my first loop. In the last loop and this one, the only reason that I was able to produce such impossible results is because my existence as a Casualty Conductor comes close to its equilibrium. The being calls Shirogane Takeru that everyone see right now is a unification of the great many Shirogane Takeru in different parallel universes. As the basic strength of Shirogane Takeru was average out among all the essences of Shirogane Takeru in me, I become stronger as I continue to loop. That's why, a simple excuse "I am a genius" won't able to cut it this time. There is just no way a person dumb enough to believe it could ever exist.
"Yuuko, what was that?" Marimo interrogates her friend while staring at me in disbelief.
"Isn't it clear? Can't you tell he is a natural? I got a hunch after seeing his aptitude result." Yuuko sensei lies for my sake.
"Even if he is a genius at this, there is just no way for him to pilot the TSF like that. Those movements he showed during the training just now are completely unbelievable. He must at least have some fair amount of flight time to do it" Marimo obviously not going to buy it.
"There is just no way for a civilian to have a pilot experience, isn't there? No government would be insane enough to let a civilian get a hand on one of their secret state of art that easily, let alone the US government. Didn't you read his profile? He lived in Hawaii until recently. The only experiences he has which related to the TSF were the input control due to his experience as an OS writer" Yuuko shrug off her shoulders while lying to Marimo chan as if it was obvious.
"But…never mind." Marimo still looks shaken hearing that from her friend. She turns toward me and asks "Shirogane, how did you pull out those movements?"
Of course, Marimo was a genius at piloting a TSF herself. There is just no way she would buy it. Her rank in the UN army is only a Sergeant but she was a Major in the Imperial Army. I heard from Captain Isumi in the previous loop that she was once a commander unit of an elite troop belongs to the Imperial Army. There is no bluff I could come up with for her to buy.
Then, a flashback suddenly appears in my mind. It was a conversation with Marimo chan on the same day I took the aptitude test. Except it was my first aptitude test ever. Despite my great performance during the test, a BETA silhouette appear in the end freaked me out. Marimo chan tried to cheer me up after that. Maybe this will work…
"I don't know… At first, I just pulled the trigger by reflex… Then, my head went blank. By the time I came back to my sense, I had complete the course." I stare at my hands and try to act as confuse as possible. The more I loop, the better I am at lying. Whether like it or not, all sort of unexplainable and incomprehensible sides of me will either offend or confuse someone. That's why a little white lie is always necessary in these occasions.
"…I see. I'm sorry. I should have known that you are just as much as confused as everyone else" Marimo look downward guiltily.
Please don't make such a face Marimo chan, I feel incredibly guilty if you make such facial expression.
"Shirogane, stop wasting time. Let us be done here" Yuuko looks annoyed and barks out her order.
"Yes Ma'am"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX
"…27 minutes" Marimo was barely able to let out her voice. She was once again in a state of great shock.
This is completely overkill. With the XM3 installed, the Fubuki I piloted in the training course completely transform into something else. It was so fast and deadly that the fictional Fubuki seem like make of different model. They were nowhere able to catch up with my movement or even track my Fubuki.
"Well done, Shirogane. You can come out of the simulator now." Yuuko sensei ordered.
Just as I climb out of the simulator, Marimo chan is grabbing Yuuko sensei shoulders and shakes her furiously "What the hell was that Yuuko? What did you do with the simulator?"
"Ara, if even you find this shocking then this thing is a success."
"Of course, who wouldn't? Shirogane suddenly becomes even much better this time. And his Fubuki is clearly much faster than it maximum capacity."
"Oh? Then you should ask Shirogane himself" Yuuko sensei chuckles lightly "He is the inventor of this new OS after all"
Marimo then turns toward my direction. Her eyes were widened. It is understandable this state of shock that she experience right now. Great surprise appears after surprise continuously. No normal human could possibly remain sane after go through this.
"Ahh, it's nothing much. Beside, Yuuko sensei and Kasumi helped me out to write this OS as well. I won't able to complete it without their help. This new OS was named XM3 by Yuuko sensei. It was working on a new concept different from the current OS. If you want to know more detail about this new OS, you could read the report from Yuuko sensei's office." I laugh nervously
"Okay… that's enough explanation. Marimo, you will share Shirogane control log among the rest of squad 207b members."
"Copy that"
"Secondly, squad 207b will freely use any of the simulators in this compound. The XM3 will be installed to all of them by the end of today. Along with Shirogane, they will be the trial test pilot for the XM3. In another words, those six will be the developers for the next generation of TSF. Marimo, you will supervise their progress with the new OS"
Marimo stutters "Professor, you can't just…"
Yuuko immediately cut in "Yes, I can"
"But at least report. This could affect the entire UN army, no, the whole world"
Yuuko narrows her eyes "Sorry, but I don't plan on letting anyone else use it yet. This is a part of my research. It is not something we can talk here…understand?"
"Yes" Marimo finally regains her usual composure hearing that from Yuuko sensei. She knew just how important Yuuko research mean.
"Incidentally, squad 207b's TSF will arrive tomorrow. Make sure they practice hard for it."
"Copy that"
(PX) Takeru POV
"Ano, can you girls just behave like how you should normally?" I stumped down on the table while asking.
"But Takeru san, you are too amazing" Tama nervously muttered
"Ah,…yeah…Don't let it bother you."
"But I have never hear anyone demolished the whole Eishi training course in one day" Mikoto added
"…neither do I, I was just as shocked as anyone of you."
"Where'd you learn to move like that?" Chiruzu asked
"… little bit here and there, I worked as an OS writer, remember? I have many chances to see how the pro-Eishi piloting their TSF with their control logs as well. So those movements were like a mixture of many Eishis and my own envision."
"Even so, to think that you could demolish Course A in the first day you pilot the TSF is absolutely abnormal" Chiruzu reasoned
"Please don't say it like that. I was just as shocked as you all. I don't know how did I was able to move like that. Remember? I told you that my head is completely blank for a moment, when I came to, it is already finished."
"You are abnormal…" Ayamine mumbled
"Not as much as you Ayamine. Beside, spare me this cold stare treatment. Shouldn't we celebrate instead? Our TSF is coming tomorrow and our squad was made the developer of the next generation TSF. That proves how much Yuuko sensei look forward to our performance."
"More like she looks forward to your performance" Chiruzu sighed
"No, she want to observe how first timer like all of us will adapt to the XM3. All of us, all of us. I mean it. It would take a while for the other Eishis to adapt to this new OS from their current OS. But we are different, we jump straight to use the XM3 right away. Therefore, none of us would waste any time to retrain to get use to the XM3. Beside, the XM3 is able to share the control input between the linked TSF, so you girls should able to produce all of my movements like that in no time. If I word it differently, you girls will able to easily produce movements that up until now, only I could able to do that and the same for me. I will able to pull out easily even the toughest and hardest maneuvers that you able to perform. This way, as a squad, our strength increases significantly. "
"Wow, this new OS sounds really amazing. That goes for you as well Takeru san. You are really amazing" Tama spoke excitedly
"Nah. Most of the credits go to Yuuko sensei and Kasumi. I only play a small part in it"
"You are only too humble Takeru. You are really special in every sense. We are glad to have you in our squad" Meiya chuckled softly as she looked into my eyes.
"Me too. I glad that I was able to join your squad" I can't help but speak honestly hearing what Meiya just said.
(Yuuko's office) Takeru POV
"Sensei, I am coming in" I knock the door and walk into sensei room
"Oh? Shirogane. What is it? You just meet me a while ago. Do you miss me that much?" Yuuko put some sort notes down on the table and asks me seductively.
"Oh, yes. I do. Why did you ask me to complete the training course A in such manner? If you want to test my strength, you could pick a better timing?"
"Are you stupid?"
"…"
"Why would I want to test your strength again? Isn't it obvious from all of those combos you show in the XM3? Anyone can tell how good you are."
"…then why the hell did you do that?"
"Can't you tell?"
"How on the earth I could tell what are you thinking?"
"Isn't it obvious? I was bored"
"…Please tell it was a joke or I just might accidentally kill somebody"
"It was a joke" Yuuko answers innocently "Beside, I have already registered you as the XM3 inventor. That's why you will need some sort of fame to backup your military profile before the trial day. And your squad benefits this way right? They would learn and finish the course faster with the help of the XM3. It's like killing 2 birds with one stone."
"Haaaa… I can't match you at all sensei. Forget about it, we are going to be very busy in the next coming week. Firstly, the UN undersecretary will visit our base. On the same day, a HSST fully loaded with explosive will plummet down on our base. Please stop it with all your might."
"A sabotage? Which group?"
"Yes, the Alternative V supporter. Except that we had no evidences to prove who behind this. Don't bother about using the 2700mm gun to snipe it down, it is too nerve wrecking in my taste. Sensei just needs to give them a warning. Teach them who they are messing with. Their method is completely wrong. We work tooth and nail to make Alternative IV happen, to save everyone, yet there are people out there just waiting for the results, making use of it and sabotage it"
"Alright, I will stop it" Yuuko sensei replies resolutely
"Secondly, Mount Tengen will erupt soon. Please send evacuation squad for there now. However, majority of the population at Mt. Tengen are elders. They are somewhat stubborn and won't easily comply with the evacuation request from the UN. They will stay even if it would kill them. We would lose 2 Fubuki by the time we succeed persuading them. Please order the troops to use the least force on them if they do not comply."
When I said 2 Fubuki, they were mine and Meiya's Fubuki. We just can't lose them once again in this loop after installing the XM3 like this. Besides, I was thrown into the detention barrack for 8 days on insubordinate charge for respecting their wishes. We don't have such luxury time and resources for that now. I have no choice but to betray those elders feeling for my own selfish wish.
"Alright, I will manage it"
"Thank you sensei. Thirdly, there will be a coup d'état on 5 of December. It was triggered by how we used force to evacuate the elders at Mt. Tengen. But it is actually instigate by many factions. My information is limited on that but the US government and UN were also related to this incident. They want to extend their power in this country to their advantage. However, we could take advantage of this coup d'état and get the Shogun to join our cause while netting out a great many traitors, anti-alternative and Alternative V supporters at the same time. For this, we will need chief Yoroi to come back as quick as possible from his XG-70 mission with the US government. I will clarify the rest of the situations in our meeting"
"…" Yuuko went silent for a moment to sort out her thought. "He may work for me but I am not his real employer. Are you clear on this?"
"Yes, I am. After all, he is the chief of the Ministry of Information. His real employer is the Shogun herself. If we can persuade her to join our cause, he will come to our side in the end. Moreover, as far as I know, he is a supporter of our Alternative IV to begin with. Even so, I won't leak information that he is not supposed to know at all. You can trust me on this. We definitely need his help in this incoming coup d'état."
"Just to let you know, that man is not an easy opponent to deal with. If you think someone like you could manipulate him as you wish, you are death wrong" Yuuko narrow her eyes and spoke in a serious tone.
"I have no intention to manipulate him to begin with. Furthermore, he is definitely not my enemy. I am sure about this. I will let him judge my actions and causes. If he deems me worthy of his strength, it only works to our advantage."
"Hoh? These day, you are clearly uses a lot of big words. I hope that you know what you are talking about Shirogane." Yuuko smirks while looking at me.
"I learned them from you sensei. After stay with you long enough, even the dumbest guy in this universe would able to learn a thing or two. Besides, I didn't intend to prove it with just some mere big words; I will prove it with my action."
"I will look forward to the result that you promise Shirogane"
"Oh, lastly, could you send me an update of the XM3 from the accumulate data gathering from the Valkyrie? I am sure that you had them to go through the trial long time ago right? I will make a compiled update version soon. It would be a huge asset for me and my squad in the coup. Oh yes, while you are at it, install the XM3 into Marimo chan's Shiranui and make her join our exercise as well. I am also interested in her combat data.
"Alright, it's easily done for this request. But you are surprisingly greedy Shirogane." Yuuko grins
"Another thing that I learn from you sensei"
(PX) Isumi POV
"Captain. Did you hear the recent news?" Kashiwagi Haruko asked while playing with her food
"What news?" Isumi asked while gulping down her juice.
"Eh? You don't know? Anyway, there is a gossip of a genius Eishi in our training school. People said that one was a genius among genius" Kashiwagi continued her topic
"It sounds interesting. So what's about that genius Eishi?"
"That genius demolished the training course A the same day he took the Eishi aptitude test."
"…pfff" Isumi blew out the juice in her mouth and choked helplessly in contrast to her usual dignify demeanor.
Kashiwagi worriedly patted her captain's back and asked "Are you alright captain? Moh, don't worry me like that."
Isumi gestures that she is fine while continuingly choking non-stop "there is no way… (cough…) such a person ever… (cough)…could exist."
Kashiwagi continued to pat Isumi's back while talking "I know, right ~ that's why I went and check the record board… It's true."
Isumi looked at her friend while doubting in her ears "it's… true?"
"It is just absurd ,right? I couldn't believe my eyes when I looked at the record board. I mean your record is already staggeringly crazy. But this guy is on another dimension." Kashiwagi spoke and walked back to her seat.
"Yeah, for sure. Believe me; Hayase would die to have a chance to meet this genius Eishi in person" Isumi joked
"Ahahaha, she will, she definitely will." Kashiwagi laughed cheerfully
"So which batch is this genius coming from?"Isumi asked while gulping down the remaining of her juice bottle.
"If I wasn't wrong, he is in one of Instructor Jinguuji classes"
"…"
"I had a feeling it was the late comer guy in squad 207b. Akane once told me that there was an amazing guy joined that squad in October. Akane heard from her friend that the guy was a weirdo except that he broke all the record set by her friend's squad"
"…"
"By the way, I also heard another rumor that he has an intangible relationship with Professor Kouzuki"
"…Pffff" Isumi once again helplessly blew out whatever inside her mouth.
November 20, 2001 (TSF hangar) Takeru POV
It took more time than I expected for Kasumi and me to get used to the twin seat simulator. The system assist Kasumi's psychic power doesn't work in the way we expected. It place extra burden on Kasumi body. After only a few hours of practice in the simulator, she was visibly paled. According to Yuuko sensei in my last loop, Kasumi is an extremely strong esper compare to the rest of her kind. So there is no reason that the other espers would be fine with this system while Kasumi isn't. Therefore the USSR must tweak here and there in esper assisting system to protect their Alternative III secret. It's fine either way. I will have Yuuko sensei and the Chief mechanic look at it later.
"Takeru san"
So until the esper assisting system is fixed, Kasumi and I will just practice normally with the twin seat simulator. With Kasumi great aptitude as an Eishi, it's not a problem at the moment.
"Takeru san, Takeru san~"
"Ah, sorry, Tama. You came to check them out too?" I point at the loading TSFs in the hangar.
"Everyone did" Tama cheerfully replies.
"Oh, good morning everyone"
"Morning Takeru" the rest of the girls reply in harmony
"You are too early. The mechanics don't need us for anything yet. And these Fubuki aren't going anywhere"
"Ahaha, it's true" Tama giggles at my joke
"…they might" Ayamine speaks with her usual poker face
"They won't" I sigh outwardly at her nonsense
"…Ah they left" Ayamine looks surprise and points her finger at the loading cargoes.
"I am not a three year olds kid. Don't expect me to fall for something like that" I yell. But I did, even if I know it was a joke, I can't help but check the cargoes with my own eyes.
"It's good to see that you all were excited this morning" Marimo appears from the hangar door and speaks.
Chiruzu reflexively give us order hearing that voice "Salute"
"At ease. You can use this time to look around if you want. Your TSFs should be done adjusting and personalizing by the end of the day."
"So we can't get in them yet." Mikoto looks dejected.
"All of them are brand new. She must look forward to your squad's performance a long time ago. Since those brand new TSFs would take a month to arrive here" Marimo looks at the loading TSF and speaks
"…" the rest of the girls were happy to hear that.
"Nah, she probably just wants to rip the vinyl off new seats" I lament. It is definitely possible. This is Yuuko sensei that we are talking about.
"Shirogane, you know?" Marimo was a little shock after hearing that from me.
"Ahaha… She could be unexpectedly a child sometime" I laugh weakly and feign ignorance while turning the direction of the topic.
"That's true." Marimo sighs and nods her head in agreement.
"Hahaha"
"Now then, I need to get going… Keep an eye on the clock. Don't be late" Marimo looked at her watch and said.
Chiruzu orders "Salute"
Once Marimo left through the door, the girls except Meiya move down stair to see their personal TSFs. She doesn't look at least happy. In fact, she looks troubled. I turn my sight toward a specific trailer. A purple TSF was loaded while covering with a large grey sheet. That's right. Meiya feels hard to accept such a gift even if it is from her twin sister. A Type-00R Takemikazuchi, one of Japan bestt TSF in existence. This TSF after all is not just any regular TSF, its appearance signifies power and authority related to the 5 ruling imperial houses of the Empire of Japan. Furthermore, the purple color is a trademark of the Shogun personal unit. It's only natural for Meiya to feel trouble about this. It was Meiya decision to join the UN army to avoid causing trouble for Yuuhi, but with this appearance of this Takemikazuchi, it is only become tougher for her resolution.
"A Takemikazuchi" I muttered while matching my pace to Meiya.
"…" Meiya gasped and glared at me.
"What? Is it that big of a surprise? Anyone should at least know what it is, right?" feigned my ignorance.
"You… knew?" Meiya is still glaring at me in complete dismay.
"Of course, even I would at least know what it is"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX
We walked down to the lower level of the hangar to have a closer look at the machine. Takemikazuchi, a TSF named after a Japanese god of war. A fitting name indeed… It is able to easily dominate over any kind of other TSFs in the world, with the exception of a few individuals.
As much as it troubles Meiya, this Takemikazuchi bring me nothing but trouble for me as well. Currently, I am doing my best to fight against my own relapse. While pretending to yawn loudly, I used my shirt to wipe away tears in my eyes hiding it from Meiya. Still, the images of this purple giant tattered while facing the Primary BETA unit and protecting me in the XG-70d flooded in my head. Then 'Please let it be you Takeru… the man I loved more than anything else… be the one send me to my grave'. Those lines echo throughout the deepest corner of my head. Until the very last seconds, Meiya determinedly protected me with all her might while begging me to shoot her along with the offending target. That's why; I will never ever allow myself to run away from my fight. Never again, I will allow myself to be weak, helpless and powerless. Never again, I will lose to this cursed wheel of destiny.
"…you are a strange man" Meiya mumbles while impervious to my inner confliction.
"Ayamine is much stranger" I joke while trying to dispel those traumatic memories
"Idiot… I did not mean that. You knew this is a Takemikazuchi and yet…you act so natural and calm." Meiya glances between me and the Takemikazuchi.
"…Can't be help, you know? I am a rude and ignorance guy. That 's all I good at" I continue to wipe the tears in my eyes while feigning yawning.
Meiya quickly rebukes "Hearing such things from the one wrote such an amazing OS and graduated from the Eishi training course in a day is rather implausible"
"Didn't I tell you? I only play a small part in writing the OS, the rests of the credits lie in Yuuko sensei and Kasumi. Besides, you girls are even more incredible. You all have improved significantly just after a few hours practicing in the simulator just by looking at my control log"
"And you are clearly too humble" Meiya speaks without any regard to what I just said.
"Meiya, please listen to the content of my speech. You are becoming more like Mikoto" I sighed
"Uwa… a Takemikazuchi~" Tama chirped excitedly while looking at the purple giant. She ran hastily from her personal Fubuki toward the Takemikazuchi direction. Ah crap. If I don't stop her, Tsukuyomi san will going to…
"Tama, wait a second" I called out to the group's mascot
"Eh? Why?" Tama innocently looked at me and asked
"You better not touch it" I gestured for her to come close to me.
"Ah, yeah, you are right." Tama finally realized what I am getting at and join the circle with me and Meiya.
"…Takeru?" Meiya is still obvious to the reason.
"Ah, sorry… I was just worry about the lady over there would…" I pointed my finger toward where Tsukuyomi san and the idiot-trio stand. "I don't think she would like it if we were to touch the Takemikazuchi"
"Tsukuyomi?" Meiya surprised to see her personal guards and chamberlain
Immediately, Tsukuyomi and the three idiots approached us. "Meiya sama"
Meiya is still visibly surprised, she didn't expect to see the Takemikazuchi and Tsukuyomi here "Tsukuyomi… 1st Lieutenant. What is it?"
Tsukuyomi dismayed and spoke "Meiya sama. Please do not speak to me so formally"
Kamiyo, the idiot number one immediately followed "She's right! We of the Imperial Guard may have high ranks, but we're mere servants before the imperial bloodline"
"…" Meiya didn't know what to reply. She just stood there and look at them in silent.
"…although it is belated, congratulations on passing the Comprehensive Combat skill Evaluation" Tsukuyomi spoke while her facial expression conflicted with what she said.
"Congratulation" the idiot-trio joined in harmony with the same facial expression like Tsukuyomi.
"…you do not seem happy about it" Meiya dejectedly spoke
Tsukuyomi closed her eyes her voice trembled slightly "Meiya sama, I have been saying some time for now that I cannot understand why you remain in place like this"
"I am here of my own free will" Meiya stated clearly
"However, Meiya sama, there is no need for you to…"
"I will not forgive you if you finish that sentence" even if Meiya doesn't look angry, she is.
Realized her mistake, Tsukuyomi backed down. "My apologies. I have gone too far"
"I apology for forcing such inconveniences upon you. You must find this place constraining"
"We are unworthy of such words. There is no need for you to be so considerate of us Meiya sama" Tsukuyomi sadly replied hearing that from Meiya. Then, she continued "More importantly, we have prepared a Takemikazuchi for you, Meiya sama. By all mean…"
Meiya once again, cut in "I am well aware of my own position. Even a Fubuki is still too great of an honor for a mere cadet"
"Please stop it. Meiya sama, you need not…"
"Cease your prattling! Remove it all at once. Others are sure to wonder what it is" Meiya angrily cut short the conversation
"This Takemikazuchi exists for your sake, Meiya sama. We have been order to bring it for you" Tsukuyomi sincerely insisted. "Meiya sama, you know it better than anyone else, who is thinking of you… Please, I beg you do not coldly refuse such sincere consideration"
"…"Meiya went silent. Her expression contorts between pains, confliction yet longing for something else. "…do as you wish". I could somewhat understand it to a certain extend how she feels right now. It was a gift from her twin sister who separated from birth. She and Yuuhi only have met each other once in their childhood. Meiya joined the UN army to find a way to help her sister who was burdened with a country on her shoulders. Both Meiya and Yuuhi-her twin sister love each other dearly but unable to meet one another through a lot of twisted political reasons. This Takemikazuchi is the first gift Meiya ever received from Yuuhi. That's why the more she long for it, the more conflicted she felt.
"We thank you for your understanding… we will leave then." The Honor Guards bowed their head and spoke softly.
Just as they passed through Meiya eye-corner, they send me their most hostile glares. It is just sad to have Tsukuyomi hate me once again. In my former world, the world without the BETA, despite being Meiya caretaker, her relationship with Meiya is like that of a doting mother or elder sister to her cute child. She was always doted me like her younger brother as well. Same goes for the idiot-trio.
"That was unsightly. Forgive me" Meiya sadly apologized and walked toward the PX direction after the guards were out of the earshot.
"Come on everyone, we are going" Chiruzu called the rest of the squad to follow
"I will catch up later. My TSF hasn't loaded yet" I pointed toward an empty space in the hangar "I want to see it first."
"Okay, don't be late" Chiruzu then followed the rest of the girls.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XX
"What are you doing?" a cold voice directed toward me from my back
I turned back only to find… "Tsukuyomi san…" and the idiot-trio. In my original world, those three were always so clumsy in everything. Sometime, you can't help but wonder what is inside their head. It's just so natural for me to lovingly call them nothing but idiot-trio. It's hard to call them anything else even if I know that they are highly distinguishing imperial elite officers in this world.
Tsukuyomi coldly replied "I do not recall granting you permission to address me by name Shirogane Takeru". It wasn't fair for me if you said that, we already clear up all sort of conflict and misunderstanding between us in my last loop. You have already treated my warmly the last time we met. Now, it is really hurt to see you treating me with such hostility once again.
"I apologize…"
"I am asking you what you are doing." Tsukuyomi coldly repeated her question
"You looked like you really want to say something to me"
"…" Tsukuyomi was stunned since I was able to correctly guess her intention
"…how do you know my name?"I asked her a scripted question knowing full well it would provoke her hostility toward me in the end. However, I need her to pay more attention on me than she already has.
"So you are the one" Tsukuyomi claimed while fixed her icily stare at me
Tomoe the 2nd idiot followed "It seem so"
"What are you talking about?" feigning my ignorance, I asked
"What are you?" Tsukuyomi sternly looked at me and asked
"Shirogane Takeru, you have already known my name"
Ebisu the 3rd idiot glared at me "You choose to play dumb?"
"About what?"
"Why is a dead person training here?" Tsukuyomi flatly cut the entire chase
After all, the Shirogane Takeru of this world has been reported missing for 4 years ago during the BETA invasion to Yokohama. He was teared to shreds by BETAs four years ago. It's only weird to see another man called himself Shirogane Takeru with an exact appearance and biometric identification data appear now and training in this base. What more, why such highly suspicious a man joined the squad 207b of all the training squads with a fake ID and profile. This squad 207b comprised of all important political figures relative. They were more or less created to be political hostages when necessary. It's only thanked to Yuuko sensei that no one in the UN could yet take advantage of this. It would be weird if Tsukuyomi san of all the people I know, do not grow weary of such a suspicious existence such as me right now.
"What do you mean by that? I am still living and breathing."
Kamiyo the 1st idiot appeared to be annoyed by my feigning of ignorance "Why did you alter the UN database and infiltrate this facility?"
"Does the Honor Guard like throwing questions at people without answering any themselves?"
"Are you mocking us?" the idiot-trio snapped.
Tsukuyomi gestured her subordinates to calm down and asked "I will ask again…why is a dead man walking?"
"I don't know what you mean"
Tomoe the 2nd idiot minced her sentence word by word "You couldn't do the same to the government's information? I can't imagine you thought no one would come after you"
"Stop accusing me"
Ebisu the 3rd idiot glared "Why are you trying to get close to Meiya sama?"
"That is not my intention"
Tsukuyomi threatened "Depend on your answer, you may have to die once again on this day"
"What are you doing?" Meiya shouted as she arrived at the perfect timing. "Tsukuyomi, Tomoe, Kamiyo, Ebisu. You are still here? What are you doing?"
"Stop it Meiya…" I stopped her
"How dare you? You address Meiya sama in such manner?" Tsukuyomi angered at my intimacy toward Meiya.
"It's alright. I allowed it" Meiya motioned
Tsukuyomi worriedly asked "Meiya sama, do you know what sort of man this is?"
Meiya looked at me and emphasized "I do not…However, it doesn't matter"
Tsukuyomi was shocked, she stammered "But this man is an exception"
Meiya turned away and looked at Tsukuyomi. She ordered "That is enough. Step away from him"
The idiot-trio insisted in unison "Meiya sama, please…"
"I ordered you to leave him alone" Meiya emphasized her order
Tsukuyomi bit her lower lip and bowed down "Yes…" Then, she looked at the idiot-trio "Come"
Kamiyo looked dissatisfied "But…" Then she met Tsukuyomi's glare. "Excuse me; I will do as you say"
The four Honor Guards quickly bowed to Meiya and walked away. Just as Tsukuyomi was about to leave, Meiya called softly "Tsukuyomi…"
"Yes" Tsukuyomi worriedly look at Meiya direction.
"Not a day goes by that I am not thankful about your concern" Meiya sadly said while bowing her head.
"Such word are wasted on us…I am unworthy of such honor" Tsukuyomi bowed down and walked away.
"That must have been unpleasant for you. Forgive me" Meiya sighed as Tsukuyomi and the three idiot have walked out of the earshot.
"Don't worry about it. You didn't do anything wrong and neither did Tsukuyomi san. Don't be angry at Tsukuyomi for this. It would be weird if she doesn't question about my identity"
"…I am sorry about that"
"I just told you, right? Neither you or Tsukuyomi san did anything wrong."
"…you are strange Takeru. You did not even flinch even when Eishi from Honor Guard approached you" Meiya sighed and looked at me in marvel.
"There is a much stranger person in our squad. Do not call me a weirdo yet."
"…you must have…some idea of where my origins lie. And yet…why are you so casual?" the princess turned and looked away.
"I am just rude and ignorance. That's what I am good at. Remember? Or should I address you as Meiya hime sama from now?" after all, she was also grown up a princess in my original world. There isn't a person can speak with her casually if they keep thinking about her position.
"Idiot…Stop it. I only mean there was never a person who acted with such friendly demeanor in my presence" Meiya stammered at my joke. She appeared to be agitated by what I just said. "Until now, I have assumed that it was because you lived overseas until recently, and thus did not know very much about Japan"
I started to remember about this conversation with Meiya. With Tsukuyomi and the idiot-trio always behave stiffly soldier-like all the time in this world, Meiya doesn't have anyone to call friend.
"Maybe not as much as me, but doesn't everyone in the squad do that?" I asked
"During a mission, yes. But when we are off duty, there is a certain awkwardness" Meiya closed her eyes to reminiscence. I could probably understand the reason for that. After all, they were hanging out with a real royal blood line. A ghost princess she may be but she is still an imperial princess of this empire.
"I never knew"
"Until you Takeru arrived, that is. Ever since then it feel like as if a wall has been torn down." Meiya could not hide a hint of happiness in her eyes.
"Haha, I glad I could help you like that. Trivial as it is but I glad I was able to help you"
"Idiot…it's not something trivial…"Meiya stammered… "Eh? What's wrong Takeru?"
I pointed at the last TSF was loading to its position in a large trailer. "A Type-94 Shiranui…Don't tell me… that it was my personal TSF"
"That's right…I don't see where is your personal Fubuki …" Meiya was genuinely as surprised as I am.
I gulped a large chunk of saliva. This is clearly Yuuko sensei's style of doing things. Way to flashy. The Shiranui only given to experienced Eishi in the front. For inexperience cadets, they will only receive Fubuki or Gekishin at best. I would be the first Eishi in the world history to receive a Shiranui as my first personal TSF at this rate.
"Shirogane"
I turn my head toward the source of the voice. It was Yuuko personal secretary "1st Lt. Elena"
"Professor Kouzuki has summoned you to her office."
"Thank you 1st Lieutenant" I saluted her and walked out of the Hangar with Meiya.
"Okay, see you later in the PX, Meiya. Hopefully Yuuko sensei's business won't be too long"
"See you later Takeru"
Yuuko's office Takeru POV
"Impeccable timing as ever Shirogane" Yuuko greeted me just as I arrive
"What is it sensei? I thought that you told me it would be tonight?"
Yuuko sensei handed me a disk. "XM3 with the Valkyrie accumulated combat data"
"Thank you, sensei. By the way, thank you for the Shiranui. I never expected to have a Shiranui as my first personal TSF in this world"
"Did you intend to fight against the world best TSFs with a Fubuki?" Yuuko narrowed her eyes and asked disapprovingly "That is just suicidal confident"
"Ahaha, thank you sensei…" I just can't tell her that I didn't think that far. "Is there anything else that you need me to do?"
"Yes, firstly, complete the compiled version of the XM3 as fast as you can. Secondly, write a full report of what do you know about the coup d'état as detail as possible."
"Alright. The compiled version of the XM3 should be completed after two days or so. About the report, I am not quite sure if you would satisfy with it. After all, you didn't share much information with me last time. It would be field-only and front-cover knowledge"
"It's fine. I didn't expect you to give me something better than that" Yuuko grinned "That's all for now. Come to the brain room at 11.00pm tonight."
"Thank you sensei, I will take my leave now"
(PX) Takeru POV
When I arrived at the PX, there were a crowd of people swarming around as if they were watching something.
"Excuse me, let me go through" …"Excuse me, thank you"
I made my way through the watching crowd to the usual seat of position of my squad only to see two familiar faces. Two UN 2nd lieutenant ranking Eishis were harassing the girls in my squad.
"Eh? When I asked around, it sounded like all of you had messy family situations. Why don't you explain yourself?" the tall guy smirks while eyeing at Chiruzu.
"…"
"Being quiet isn't helping. Do you think we can work together when you are all hiding things?" the woman sneered
"…"
"So now you are going to glare at me? Who do you think you are?" the tall Eishi smirks while glaring at Meiya .
In my memory, those two were sniffing around regarding the Takemikazuchi in the hangar. They were just messing around for their thirst of personal curiosity. Hiding behind their rank and harassing our squad.
"…."
"Don't look away with such a sad face. And you call yourself a soldier." The woman sneers at Meiya's reaction.
Then something inside me just snapped. I grabbed a cup of water on the table and splashed on the face of the tall guy.
"…" he hasn't fully able to process what going on. He stood there and looked at me dumbly.
"Hey Lieutenants. Calm down yet?" I called them out to attention
"Takeru" Mikoto perhaps was surprised at my sudden appearance or my earlier action.
"Bastard, what do you think you are doing?" the tall Eishi glares at me and threatens
"Shirogane, stop it. It's an order." Chiruzu looked at me with great seriousness.
Ignoring Class rep's order, I stare down at the two arrogant UN Eishis "You think you could just order us around and hide behind your ranks? We should asking who do you think you are! You call yourselves a soldier?"
"What did you say?"
"Is your ears only for decoration lieutenant? Forget about the chain of command. Do you not feel ashamed of yourself not just as a soldier but also as a human being? Harassing girls by asking what you already known while hiding behind your rank?" I could barely keep my anger in check
"Do you know who you are talking about?" the woman is visibly angry by my mocking
"What? Running behind your rank again? Can't even talk back without that authority? Unlike some chicken at heart like you, I could not watch my friend being bullied like that"
The tall guy could not stand my mocking and throws me a punch.
"Takeru" Meiya worriedly called
"You didn't need to hit him" Tama grabs my shirt from behind and voices her concern.
I spread my left arm horizontally to keep the girl from doing anything "Lieutenant, please go back to your training school. I feel sorry for the rest of your squad mates to have to take care of such a bastard and a wimp like you. Any girls in my squad could hit me better than that"
"What did you say?" the tall guy growls and throws me another punch
"Shirogane" Chiruzu worriedly called me
My anger is controlling me; I could barely hear what the other girls telling me "I feel bad for your commander officer. So your ears are only for decoration. I told you are wimps. If you want to pick a fight, pick someone at your own size. If you want to bully girls, hide behind your ranks and don't want to fight any losing battle, please go home and lock yourselves inside the room forever"
Flurries of punches throw to my face. But perhaps this guy is just too weak or my anger has kept me from feeling it, I couldn't tell if he were punching me at all. Even Sumika drill milky punch could do a better job than that.
"So your bark is worse than your bite, huh?" the tall guy sneers
"Finished touching me lieutenant?" I mock
"Takeru! Stop it" Meiya grabs my arm and speaks
"Hey, hey, you are going to let a girl to save your ass now? Must be nice, boy" the woman sneers
"Lieutenant,…" Meiya steps up intend to stop this mess.
I kept my left arm up and block her from advancing while continue speaking toward the arrogant Eishis "Don't bother Meiya, your words are wasted on them. If they can't even understand that power and authority granted to officers meant to protect those who can't protect themselves. Those trashes are a wasted of your kindness"
Another flurry of punches throws at my face again. Still, I could not feel anything.
"Why? These girls were so honest and hardworking that I feel so sorry for you. They persist through all sort of difficulty while enduring burdens greater than what you could bear. Why? Fucking assholes like you are walking around and mocking their effort? It's guys like you that ruining this country, this earth, that is why we lose to those BETA. Who do you think you can protect by acting like that?"
"Stop talking nonsense and come at me. Show me what you got" the tall Eishi sneers while throwing another punch.
"Sir yes sir" I mumbled. His fist connected to my forehead and a sickening snap sound was heard.
"Argggggg" the guy howls while tightly holding his right fist. His right pinky finger discolors and turns in an awkward angle. He must have dislocated it when his punch met my forehead in the wrong angle."Bastard… Come. Rank doesn't matter anymore" the tall Eishi growls
"What is going on here?" Tsukuyomi and the idiot-trio appear from behind the gathering crowd.
"…"
"Are Eishi in UN army trained to think nothing of humiliating themselves in front of public eyes?" Tsukuyomi coldly glares at the lieutenants
"Sorry 1ST lieutenant…but this is a UN army issue and…" the tall guy falters as Tsukuyomi approach him. First lieutenant she may be but the red color of Tsukuyomi's coat signified the highest commanding officer ranking in the Imperial Guard. Even these guys couldn't hide behind their ranks this time.
"You may be in the UN army, but are you not Japanese? Listen to this man, Authority is not something you use to fulfill selfish desires. Be ashamed"
"No I was…"
"That Takemikazuchi was transported here with the assent of the Japanese government and the Yokohama base CO for good reason. This place may be a UN extraterritoriality, but that is no reason for a mere Eishi to stick his neck in Imperial affairs" Tsukuyomi coolly continues
"…u…"
"If you continue to ask such pointless questions, we will have to file a formal complaint to the UN army… I hope that you were at least prepare for that"
"…"
"Ridiculing a Takemikazuchi is no different from ridiculing the Imperial Household Honor guard themselves or even from cursing the Shogun" Tsukuyomi pressures
"We didn't…we weren't insulting the TSF or anything" the duo UN Eishi quickly back down
"Then it is best that you left quietly. We won't overlook this offense another time. Do you have any objection?"
"No…not at all" the duo looks at each other and disappears from the PX immediately.
"…I am glad I noticed this before it got out of hand" the Honor Guards approach us after driving those arrogant Eishi away.
"Yes, thank you" I look into Tsukuyomi direction and bow my head
"…but you are an inelegant man" Tsukuyomi replies
"Tsukuyomi…Thank you First lieutenant"
"Meiya sama, I will take my leave now" the four Imperial guards bow and walk away
Meiya and the girls quickly surround me after the four Imperial Guards disappear from the eyeshot.
"Takeru, are you all right?" Meiya put her face close to mine for inspecting my bruises and asks. The rest of the girls look worried as well.
"It's no big deal. I could barely feel anything"
"Why didn't you dodge? You could have done it easily." Chiruzu asked
"Like Tsukuyomi san said, I'm just clumsy."
"Takeru san, are you really okay?" Tama worriedly looks at me
"Takeru…" Ayamine put her hand on the back of my neck and check my pulse
"Really now, Don't scare us like that" a voice heartily dispel the anxious atmosphere. Kyozuka oba chan take out a wet towel and hand it to Meiya.
"Ah, sorry about that everyone. I make you guy worry"
"Ahhh, you're swelling up" Oba chan look closely at my face "though you seem fine otherwise"
Meiya softly uses the wet towel she received from oba chan and douses my swelling face.
"Whoa, that's cold" the coldness of the towel send me sudden chill. Oba chan must have wet it with ice water.
"I..it doesn't hurt?" Meiya hesitatingly ask
"Ouchhhh"
"Forgive me, did that hurt?" Meiya stutters
I chuckle weakly "I was kidding. Sorry"
"Wh…what" Meiya blushes and steps back
"Haha, If you can joke around like that, you would be fine" Kyozuka oba chan laughs and pat my back. Her patting is as heavy as ever. I feel like my lungs would come out of my mouth with every pat. "Girls, escort your knight back to his compound. I will handle the rest here"
"Thank oba san"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
The girls are still escorting me back to my quarter. The atmosphere is kind of awkward now that oba chan is not here.
Meiya casts her eyes downward and dispels the silence "Please forgive me, I am responsible for this"
I grab her shoulder forcefully and meet her eyes to eyes.
"What?" Meiya is surprised by my abrupt action.
I use my forefinger to flick on her forehead. "Are you an idiot?"
"…" Meiya was stunned. She stares into my eyes questioning my earlier act
"How was it your fault? Those guys were the one causing trouble, right?" I claimed
"Yeah, it is not just you, Mitsurugi…" Ayamine said
"We all are right?" Tama spoke sincerely
"Yeah, it just happen to be Meiya san this time" Mikoto agreed
"Forgive me" Meiya bowed her head
I immediately give all of them a knock.
Their eyes welled up with tears. They looked at me questioningly
"I told you all right? How was it your fault? Those guys were clearly the trouble maker. Beside, don't be so conceited. I just can't stand seeing their ugly smug faces. That's all. It's not that I did it for you girls or anything. Don't misunderstand. Hmmp~". I fold my arms together and act like a certain Tsundere.
"…" the girls were stunned at my acting. Then "Pfftt", the rest of the squad tried their best to control their giggles.
"Really,…you are just hopeless" Meiya chuckles softly
"I guess I shouldn't do something like that" I joked while making a guilty face
"Idiot…Whatever become of you is not my fault" Meiya faltered and pressed the towel into my face.
"I am totally okay. Don't worry about it; I can walk back to my room just fine. You girls are going to be late for Marimo chan class at this rate. Better not" I grab the wet towel from Meiya's hand and push the rest of the girls toward the direction of the simulator room. "We will graduate together as a squad, right? Don't force me to do something as ridiculous and sad as graduate alone"
"Ahaha, Takeru san, we won't let it happen" Tama laugh weakly.
"You are really over confident. Don't let those results of yours over your head yet. We will surpass it in no time" Chiruzu grinned and push the rest of the girls toward the simulator room.
"Yosh, give it your best out there" I gave them a thumb up "Take care of my part as well".
The moment the girls disappear from my eyeshot, I walk toward my room while expecting the appearance of a certain someone.
"Shirogane Takeru" a voice directs at me after I pass through the corridor.
"Tsukuyomi san. Thank you very much for what you did."
"I do not recall allowing you to addressing me by my name…but it matters not" Tsukuyomi let out a rare warmed smile. It's painfully reminding me of my old world. She was more sisterly than a doting sister.
"uhehe…I will try to work out on this. It was a bad habit of mine to call everyone by their name once I learn it."
"I want to thank you for defending Meiya sama" Tsukuyomi bowed her head and spoke
"Don't …worry about that."
"However, do not forget that we still remain suspicious of you" Tsukuyomi turned back to her strict and cold self.
"…I hope the day we could clear this misunderstanding will come soon"
"There is no need for such word. I have no intention to get any closer to you" Tsukuyomi closes her eyes and folds her arms whiling speaking
"…" this was a little too much to take. If I was still the same as I was in my first loop, I would cry out loud like a guy just got dumped by his girlfriend.
"However…Whoever you may be…it does not change the fact that you are the man Meiya sama depend on. There is something I, personally, would like to ask of you."
"What is it…?"
"Please do not do anything to hurt Meiya sama" Tsukuyomi accentuated the gravity of her request
"…" no matter what, where or when. Tsukuyomi san still loves and cares for Meiya unconditionally like a loving mother.
"…perhaps such words are futile" Tsukuyomi turned her head sideway and departed
"Please stop for a moment, I, too have a personal request for you as well Tsukuyomi san" I quickly say
Tsukuyomi looks surprised as she fixed her gaze at me "What is it? I may hear it from you but I won't promise anything"
I took out a disk from my pocket and hand to Tsukuyomi. It was the trial version of the XM3. It was a little bit different from the XM3 trial version I gave to Yuuko sensei. I make this one while trying to replicate most of the Valkyrie's members maneuvers that I could perform in addition with all of my advance move sets. "Please accept this gift of mine. You will understand what it is after look at it through any monitoring devices. If you find it helpful, feel free to share it among the 2nd lieutenants."
Tsukuyomi accepted the disk while looking at me with doubtful eyes.
I continue speaking "It is a research product of mine. However, it is yet to be declassified in this moment due to its nature. Please keep it a secret among you and the 2nd lieutenants for now. I hope it will aid you in whatever trials may await you in the future."