Shirogane Takeru

November 25, 2001

Briefing room

"If we really think about it, it shouldn't be illegal, right? I mean- it's consensual so what's so bad?"

What's so bad is you not thinking hard enough, she's like fuckin' twelve! She has to be this tall to ride a rollercoaster but riding me is fine?

"I'm twenty."

Get the fuck outta here, the adults are talking.

No matter how one was to contemplate the enigmatic scenario, fucking children isn't a morally acceptable conduct, at least that was what I was raised up to believe. The caveat being I was by no means a morally acceptable person, but a very transparent one instead. I harboured deep guilt for my actions, although that was different from repentance.

I did, however, repent for not rejecting Yuuko-sensei's request to go cave diving with the Valkyries, especially when the introductory briefing happened on a peaceful Sunday morning.

"Hum… speaking of the devil, here's my add-ons, Captain." As we entered the actual war room and drew team A-01's attention onto ourselves, sensei wrapped up the boasting of her new lackey and her lackey's minions.

"Ah- you're-! Cadet Shirogane! What're you even doing here!?" Hayase's reaction both displayed her surprise and embarrassed her IQ.

"Yo, Hayase Mitsuki, was it? You're not really catching on, huh?"

"Ooo-kay! Let your dear Vice-Commander do the introductions, please? I have here one Shirogane Takeru, the guy I've been talking about recently, the one who… let's say- offered me many opportunities, including the XM3. He's quite a special young man, you see. There's also Kagami and Yashiro, but they're special for another reason." Rude narration, but on-point.

"…I guess I'll be learning your name sooner than I expected, all in all, not too shabby. I'm Captain Isumi Michiru of A-01's Valkyries. Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Shirogane."

"You too, Captain. First Lieutenant Shirogane Takeru, won't be the last time we fly together." Isumi, as admirable as she was bold, came up to me first and foremost for a firm handshake to leave an everlasting impression during our second meeting.

"Wait… so not a cadet?" Hayase left a mark almost as memorable, just for all the wrong reasons.

—

Eventually, everyone made the rounds to leave a serviceable first impression between the two teams of pilots. The elites of A-01 still had much to learn from their younger and more handsome recruits even if they didn't know themselves, however, this early initial meeting was already a step in the right direction.

"Shirogane, so hmm… did you lie to me?"

"Oh my god Takeru-chan! She doesn't know! What an idiot!"

"I think you're just woefully unaware."

Hayase, who was recognized for her jumpiness pulled me aside right after the introductions and accused me of withholding information from her even though the fraught girl was the one too stupid to see through my ruse.

"I don't like it. I do not like when people don't tell me things that I like to know, and that's what you've done. And for that… I'll have you pay." Hayase smirked menacingly as she stepped closer, her robust yet slender arm wrapped around my shoulders to pull my ear next to her luscious lips.

"…Lady, you're invading my personal space like Genghis Khan invading Asia."

"The one who beat my record was you, wasn't it? You know what I'm talking about, the one in the simulator, that which used to have my name at the top spot. Or did you think you could hide it from me?"

"You're making me kinda uncomfortable, Hayase."

"I worked very hard to optimize my route during that course, and to think you just came in and swooped the record right outta my hands… I don't like that very, very much."

"I… would like to speak with my lawyer." Hayase's frenzied eyes told me tales of passion and thrill that was brimming over the fringes of her heart, this woman was out to compete just as she had always strived for the top.

In a lot of ways, Hayase Mitsuki was similar to me on a fundamental level. We both had what it took to stake everything on the line and fight for another tomorrow.

"-Hah… haha! Just kidding, Shirogane! I like you, young man, raw talents like you are hard to come by these days. I can't wait to see you do some good work! And maybe, a chance for us to have a real match!" Swift as a New York minute, Storm Vanguard one of the Valkyries eased off the tension and revealed her punchline.

"Okay… that's something to look forward to."

—

The rest of that day sailed over calmly, we discussed in detail about the diving operation through the Hive tunnels and came to a silent realization of how hazardous it could be to explore a BETA hive without the correct backing. However, the council or whoever had already greenlit our mission and burning daylight in a TSF wasn't the worst way to do it.

Shirogane's room

"Any good movies these days, Takeru-chan?" The supercomputer slacking off in my room was rolling around the bed and twirling around her silky pink hair.

"You mean this year? Let me think… Black Hawk Down was this year… that one's a pretty gritty war film. I wonder how they come up with the story when the whole terrorist thing never happened."

"Huh… history works in weird ways, the movie falls under the alternative history genre. Which is like- super popular and stuff, the people just don't like making movies about BETA."

"Trivia fact, many of the actors in that film were actual military personnel, veteran soldiers who had combat experience in the past." Kasumi added another bit of knowledge to my brain and Sumika's database.

"Where do infantry even go to get actual combat experience against other people?"

"There have been records of incursions by the US military on foreign soil, regularly around the Middle East region."

"Huh… I guess America needs that oil now more than ever."

"Additionally, my favourite weapon featured in the movie is the M14 attached with an M68 Aimpoint reflex sight." Kasumi apparently loved her dull, toneless voice more than most.

"I didn't ask any of that, although BTW, why don't you seem to like any Russian guns, Kasumi? Doesn't your loyalty to your Motherland shine brightly in your heart?"

"I hate curved magazines… so much." How peculiar.

"But it's so cool with you guys reload by whacking away the empty mag with the new mag! You know what I mean? It's the AEK reload in BF3!" Sumika mentioned an even more peculiar title that I couldn't recall too clearly.

"…That's just a tactical reload, Sumika-san. It's often called a Spetsnaz reload but everyone can do it."

"It's so cool though! Isn't it cool, Takeru-chan?"

"I actually have no clue what you two are talking about, like I'm just not there with you." These futurists sure were leaving me in the dust.

"Personally, for Russian guns I really like the AN-94! It's slick, has a funny looking muzzle and the two-round burst thing is really sweet."

"The double burst is such a gimmick it irritates me, it feels so strange to have the recoil kick in delayed after pulling the trigger. I dislike it."

"That's because you're bad at assault rifles, Kasumi-chan! You're always camping in the back!"

"Snipers are the most advantageous role in all combat ready unit. We recon for hostiles and eliminate targets before they can engage friendlies."

"Yeah, but you don't take any objectives ever! Barrel stuffing people just doesn't work in real life."

"Nobody can post a threat if we drop them from five hundred metres out, stop lying, Sumika-san. Sniping is the best, I'm the best, you suck." Kasumi sure was taking this fictional argument seriously, she was working herself up over it quite a lot.

"You're saying my effective range is less than five hundred?! You stop lying! Remember that time when I took out those snipers when we were at the evac with your clones? That was with an iron sight LVOA!"

"-Wait, is that the funky looking gun in Wildlands? I remember that game."

"Stop bothering us Takeru-chan! And Wildlands?! It's only known because of the Division!" I felt like the time-space continuum would like a chat with us after leaking so many future tidbits.

"Was that the operation in Chicago?"

"Nooooo, Dublin! We were extracting the Professor after she got kidnapped by… actually I don't remember who kidnapped her. Anyway, I was the MVP during that op! You guys did nothing!"

"You are comparing yourself to regular infantry units, Sumika-san? You were using tonfas with propellers on them and throwing them around like frisbees."

"And it was very effective!"

"It was the most impractical thing I've ever seen in my life. Your combat style insults anyone who went through firefights, and having a style is already insulting."

"Well- that's because you're such a party-pooper, Kasumi-chan! Lame! LAME!"

"You have to understand; normal soldiers cannot jump off walls or dual-wield AA-12s or jump thirty metres onto helicopters. We don't fight in a video game, Sumika-san, only you do." I couldn't find a decent spot to inject a comment about Sumika being Deadpool so I just quietly listened.

"Well, I'm the best and you guys are a big joke. There isn't a single mission I can't do better on my own than with your team of clones."

"If we live long enough to form our own unit I will see that you regret your statement, Sumika-san."

"Alright, wanna bet!?"

"I bet my right eye you'll need reinforcement from our team someday."

"Oh geez I don't want your eye or anything! Let's just bet five one-hundred-dollar Google Play gift cards."

"Deal." Then the two shook hands, all gentlemen like.

"What I heard was a bunch of stuff that'll never happen ever. But I'm glad you two are having fun. Also what the hell is this clone thing about? Now I'm curious."

November 27, 2001

PX

"-Huh!? Heeey, Takeru!" Around lunchtime when I was on my way to receive that day's nutritious supplement Mikoto called out to me from our table of friends.

"Yeah, what is it?" Package secured, stomach ready for digestion.

"Takeru, we are in need of your counsel." I most likely knew what Meiya was about to say.

"Well… as you know, the Undersecretary will be paying us a visit tomorrow."

"Tama's old man, what about him?" The squad raised some eyebrows but the surprise quickly subsided.

"Well, it seems we have met with a bit of a conundrum—"

"-Aauu…aauu…aaaauauau…" Meiya's sentence got cut off by Tama's dampened moans.

"Yo, I know this. Bet you anything I can guess what it is!" Brainiac power activated.

"That's right! Miki-san told he father in a letter that she was th— muuu!" Brainiac wasn't gonna let some retard ruin his magnificent display of higher intellect.

"Mikoto, shut up, dude! Anyway, I'll guess that Tama told her father that she's the squad leader or something, so now we're in some deep pickle."

"Definitely not the right idiom, Takeru-chan."

"I'm gonna deepen your pickle if you don't start shutting the hell up, woman."

"What!? That doesn't even make any sense! It almost sounds really homo!"

"-Anyway! Since you are familiar with our problem, any suggestions, squad leader?" Chizuru sought for a workable solution as hard as she sought to ruin my absolute destruction of Sumika with pure logic.

"Sure, I will make Tama the squad leader for a single day."

"Haa… I really shouldn't have expected anything more from you…"

"Takeru-chan, you meanie."

"Kill yourself."

"Takeru-san, bully."

"Kill yourself."

"Aauu…aauu…"

"Kill yourself also."

Sumika and Kasumi both criticized me for acting as any glorious leader should while Tama was underprepared for the long road of suffering ahead of her.

—

"All good, operation temp-squad-leader is a go. Let's brainstorm some proper props— heh, proper props… get it? It's funny because… -so yeah, think of some of the stuff we'll need."

"Hey, hey Takeru?" Mikoto felt the need to cut me off right then.

"Hm? What is it? Must you interrupt me at this moment, Mikoto?"

"More importantly, look, those Eishis over there are giving us funny looks."

The man and the woman shooting ugly glares at us as validated by Mikoto's comment was another wave crashing against my ship on this voyage through time, although their aggression was more like a ripple, probably from someone dropping a cigarette butt overboard or something.

"Who gives a shit, you walk around all day wondering what background characters are thinking?"

"…But, their eyes look…" Mikoto couldn't help but pick up the emitted hostile intention.

"Forget about them. I wanna focus on you girls, right here, right now."

"Let's get a room…" A genius proposal from Ayamine.

"I don't wanna deal with you, at all."

"…She's right, though… they're definitely looking at us." The second to succumb to her natural instinct was Tama.

"Fine, the people have spoken. It's time to act upon my role as a sanitation worker." Garbage day?

—

"Hey you, Cadet." The man was the first to call, like always.

"Yeah? You mean me?"

"You see anyone else here?" The female Eishi aided her partner.

"Guess not. You need something, Second Lieutenant?"

"Ain't you a cocky one, is that your whole squad over there?"

"Yep."

"No ninth member?"

"There are… eight of us, yeah. Eight people." I almost forgot to count Sumika and Kasumi when I answered on reflex.

"Okay, then who's got that special TSF there in the hangar, huh? The one from the Imperial Royal Guard? I hear it was for one of you." As their unjustified interrogation escalated in intensity, I noticed Meiya approaching worryingly to resolve the conflict.

"Hold on, let me go find that out now."

I was lucky to intercept Meiya on her course before she could bend over and disclose the entire secret of her complicated heritage.

"Wow, what a coincidence, you know trashman usually works alone."

"Well- I merely overheard their inquiry and thought it would be to everyone's benefit were I to summon myself and provide a requisite answer. Furthermore, they do not seem to appreciate your companionship nor respect your time."

"Awww, worried for me? Such a sweet girl, Meiya." I kindly patted her head, very out of place.

"E-enough, Takeru! You have no cause to praise me!"

"But seriously though, listen, Meiya. This will be a piece of advice from your actual superior, à la me. You don't have to go around sucking off anyone with more dashes on their insignia than yours. They try to fuck with you? You avoid it initially because you're polite. They try to fuck with you again? You fuck them back harder. You know why? Because you've got me backing you up, right here."

"Such vulgarity, Takeru. Mind your words, please."

"Sorry, sorry. You get my point though?" I wouldn't outright reject Meiya if she wanted to wash my mouth with soap, it would be kinda hot, and wet, but that'd be because of the soap.

"Still regardless, are those people not our comrades? The attitude of man can vary vastly from one to another, however as long as we strive under the same sun for the good of humanity, no root of such contravene shall bear fruit."

From a certain point of view, Meiya was exactly right. Mankind as a whole struggled every day against the common enemy that was the BETA, they were hated, feared, despised and everything in-between. However, we weren't so innocent as to bear the right to paint this image with two colours only.

"Not wrong, not wrong at all. But people… are evil, dear Meiya. Maybe you haven't fully encountered a situation that brings out the wickedness of man. When you do, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. The positive point is we're not all bad, everyone can drift between being a devil and a saint."

"Of course, I understand your notion, Takeru. I need not be preached to, no offense." And every time I did it a handful of grey hair fell off my head.

"Right, cool, cool. So in this case, what I'm saying is those dudes are assholes and you should treat them like assholes instead of superiors. Because you've got the privilege to do that, so go stand up for yourself." Why tell them off myself when there was somebody far more suited for the occasion?

"Nonetheless, if I were to dismiss them… I may not know the method."

"Meiya… does the Shogun not know how to say no? C'mon now, you can do it! Just be firm and get the mindset of thinking you're higher-class, which is true." She surely was conversant on mannerisms befitting a leader of a nation if anything Yuuhi could do was to go by. That girl was fierce beyond all measure when necessary, and I believed Meiya to be as well.

"I… alright, Takeru. So I shall simply speak as myself?"

"You should do exactly that." Meiya ceased her indecisive wander and nodded at me with dedication.

"-Hey! Are you cadets over there done with your chitchat?!" Their timing was right on the mark, I stepped aside for Meiya to take centre stage.

"Yes, repeat your question if you were to be so kind, Second Lieutenant."

"I asked who owns that Imperial TSF in the hangar, I know it's someone in your squad." The dude Eishi transferred his target to Meiya when she replied in my place.

"Second Lieutenant. As it stands, I bear no obligation to share information concerning only members of my squadron. If its purpose is just, please file the request to your superior and return if your demand is met through a proper channel. However, if this is for personal reasons. I ask of you to stop bothering us and return to your supposed task."

It was some appropriate methodical roast Meiya delivered at just the right temperature, a five-star meal served to perfection. She dignified her own standing without backing down and laid out everything she wanted to say without showing signs of weakness.

"You little…!" His raised fist must have been a method of intimation, but it seemed somehow Meiya's scornful stare shot her deterrence across clearer and louder.

And that contempt expression was truly a wonderful treat for my sight, it reminded me fondly of the times when that feverish ferocity held together the ground Meiya and her sister stood on in pursuit of their ambitious goal. Often, I was there by their side as they altered the landscape of the future accounting to their desire.

Her glare, it struck inconceivable fear into the heart of her foes, yet for me it felt all too much like gratified pride and doting fondness standing parallel close beside her.

"Do you not recognize this font? Have you no retentiveness of my presence? Surely a mere mutt understands when its doom looms overhead." Playing the Shogun card, that I did not expect.

"Damn… are you—!"

"Take your chance, I implore you to try. Serve to entertain me, scramble amidst the sand as vassals befitting your posture, mongrels." Such savagery was a commodity coming from Meiya.

"Hey… hey, look! We should probably just go- right? The Royal Guards over there are looking this way…!" The unnamed woman whispered nervously.

"And yet you persist. Your mere presence disrespects me, shall I demonstrate personally what fate befalls the curs that foul my mood?" As every step Tsukuyomi took shortened the distance separating our two parties, Meiya's outreached hand was appearing signalling for her servant to present her with something, perhaps a blade even.

"W-wait! Okay, we're leaving, alright?!"

"Get lost, insolent fools. Pray that your countenance never again dirties my gaze."

—

"How you holding up, Meiya? That was fun, wasn't it?" Once the situation died down, I give Meiya a hefty pat on the back.

"That… that was scary, Takeru! Imagine would could had taken place were they not fooled by my bluff!" Unfortunately, Meiya didn't appear to have enjoyed it as much as I did.

"Then you'd have diced them into little cubes of meatballs, I know."

"I would have not!"

"-Shirogane, maybe that silver tongue of yours needs some trimming." Tsukuyomi joined the fray all too late to enjoy the ecstasy of a good diss.

"1st Lt. Tsukuyomi. Long-time no see." I greeted her with sincerely for a change.

"Tsukuyomi… please forgive me for the insinuation of my action."

"No, you have acted truthfully to your status, Meiya-sama. I am certain was she in your place the outcome would have been the same."

"I am still far from her… nevertheless, this has been a good assessment on my albites to act as her shadow. In that sense, I do carry a fair degree of pride in my gesture."

"Meiya-sama…" She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named would probably also be proud of Meiya if she saw it.

"And another topic, Tsukuyomi. I wish for the three of us to discuss this in privacy."

"Of course, Meiya-sama. Where should we head for?"

"How about the tree behind the base, then? That place doesn't have much traffic." I suggested a classic spot for any secret gatherings.

"That is fine, Takeru. Is it alright for us to go there?" Meiya sought Tsukuyomi's approval.

"Anywhere you like, Meiya-sama." Tsukuyomi had no reasons to disagree.

Sumika, Meiya and I will be away for a while. Tell the others if they ask.

"That was so cool though! Meiya sounded like some dictator or something!"

I know right! I love the arrogant emperor personality so much! She's like a self-important little princess that's super spoiled and talks like an old mug!

"Really!? Do you want me to—"

-Not you, never you.

"Geez, Takeru-chan!"

Kill yourself.

That classic tree behind Hakuryou

"I summoned you here for one reason and one reason only, Tsukuyomi. That is to ask for your forgiveness and to relinquish the Takemikazuchi to me."

"That's- err… that's two things, Meiya—" I got told really good with one single glare from the Royal Guard for pointing out Meiya's inconsistency.

"The Takemikazuchi falls into your possession since the very beginning, Meiya-sama, of course I abide your wish to pilot it. If I may be so rude, can I ask what caused this change of heart?"

"I have since been convinced its power is one of many which I require to serve our nation, the battlefield bloodied by the souls of man is not a place that cares for my humility. I shall do everything I can to ensure the victory for our future." Meiya's dream was distant, yet its foundation was tangible.

"I am wholeheartedly glad to see you come to such a conclusion, Meiya-sama. Please allow the steel of our empire to assist you in your endeavours."

"Thank you, Tsukuyomi." The end of one conversation was nigh.

"Meiya-sama, one last request from your humble servant. May I be excused for a moment with Shirogane?"

"Very well, my presence will be soon no more." With a stylish twist of her waist, Meiya bid us farewell and returned on her own. What left behind was a silent Tsukuyomi and an awkward atmosphere.

"…"

"So who talks first? You talk first- I talk first?"

"Cadet Shirogane, I have no time for jokes."

"Right- right okay, but I got nothing to talk about."

"Since Meiya-sama had decided to trust you. I shall do the same as well, for now." She was just not someone to hit the jokes off with, the major fault I saw in Tsukuyomi's personality was just that.

"Oh- well, that's very kind of you… thank you."

"It was my first time witnessing Meiya-sama so firmly wielding her authority over another, under normal circumstances that hostility would act unbecoming for someone of her position, however the basis of her response was marvellously righteous."

"Yes… yes." Did I have anything to add? No.

"You have done well accompanying her to stand against adversary. For that, you have earned my thanks. If it is true that our desires align when it comes to her wellbeing, I ask you to never betray Meiya-sama's goodwill. And I also pray this is not a waste of my time."

"I don't know how much you trust me, 1st Lt. Tsukuyomi. But Meiya is important to me too, if it calms your heart knowing it, I promise I won't hurt her."

"Never will I be at peace as long as Meiya-sama remains here, but your words do lighten my worry. And let that be all that is spoken, farewell, Shirogane." So suddenly, our discussion ended, just like how it began.

Shirogane's room

Having confirmed our plan to make Tama the squad leader for the day, I was just relaxing in my room, letting Kasumi play on my Gameguy.

"Cadet Shirogane! Open this door!" Marimo-chan was surely here for afternoon incident that happened, or maybe just some tea.

"Sup, Marimo-chan." I lazily got off my ass and opened my door to let her in.

"Cad— Shirogane, please fix that habit." When we were by ourselves, I got to pull the rank card over poor Sergeant Jinguuji.

"Why are you here, Instructor?"

"This is about the incident in the PX, you are asked if you want to enforce punishment on the two Eishis."

"Naah, I didn't even do anything, really. As long as Meiya isn't getting shit for it I don't see a reason to pursue."

"Understood… ahh, that was a waste of time, then." Sighing harshly, Marimo shook her head in disappointment.

"Hey, what happened? Did everyone vouch for me or something?" I expected that this was the most likely case.

"For you and Mitsurugi, especially the Royal Guards. They were very persistent about not letting Mitsurugi be punished, that's mostly understandable, what baffles me is how even your squadmates came to vouch for you guys. And they too were equally persistent."

"I'm sorry for your loss, Sergeant." I wasn't sure if my dudes would've bothered Marimo-chan more or less than if I had intervened physically, but it wasn't my problem to deal with anyway.

"It's only been a month since you came here. Yet, you've built up a solid relationship with the rest of your squad. I could lecture you about taking responsibility for your actions. But you already know that, don't you Shirogane?"

"Sure do, my actual Instructor would not shut up about this, like ever." That was a criticism across time and space.

"Good, take care of your squad, you are a valuable member of the team."

"Uh-huh." I answered clearly.

"I also heard the news that you guys will be making Tama squad leader for the day. I can't really stop you, please just don't make a ruckus and bring me more work, Shirogane." Poor, poor Marimo-chan.

"Heh, I will keep that in mind."

"That is all, thank you for your time, Shirogane." Marimo-chan saluted me and Kasumi before leaving.

—

"Hey! Cat!" I shouted the name of the girl in the hallway.

"Awahh… you found me…" And only would Tama herself respond to the name of a species.

"What are you doing?"

"I saw the Instructor heading for your room… and got worried…"

"Thanks, Tama." I gave her a gentle pat for her caring heart.

"No… it's okay…besides, everyone else…" I spotted Class rep hiding around the corner, with half of her body exposed like a comical assassin.

"I-I was just… waiting here since I thought it'd be rude to walk by while the Instructor was still talking…"

"Yeah? Sure, sure." Her terrible excuse was terrible.

"I was… counting the stains in the corridor…" Mikoto appeared from behind, also came up with a stupid justification which I didn't even ask for.

"Wow, how specific."

"Random whim…" Ayamine didn't even bother to try.

"That's nice… sure." I was finding the reactions of the squad to be highly entertaining.

"I-I was… I was…"

"Coming back from your independent training?" I voted to help Meiya out.

"Tha- that's… inaccurate. I was worried about you…" Meiya pulled a cheap shot to climb further up on my affection sheet than her friends for their consideration.

"Hah, thanks Meiya. And thank you all for coming to see me. Even though I did nothing, let's just pretend I was hurt badly." I discarded my dense self and recognized my squad's acts of kindness. They all painted their face in red as the result.

"Well, I will be going then…" Mikoto was the first to sound the alarm for retreat.

"Ah, me too!"

"See you later, Takeru. Don't go around bullying others, okay?" Class rep and Ayamine both pulled out without another word.

"Meiya, you staying?" I glanced over to Meiya, who didn't move from her spot.

"Takeru… I have yet to thank you for what your assistance. So please accept my gratitude." Receiving a bow from Meiya was nice, sure, but not necessary.

"It's all good, my dude. I'm pretty sure Tsukuyomi made sure no one went after you for that as well, we got this all sorted out."

"Indeed… in this case, I shall exit myself." And she left, I didn't know if she fully realized her thoughts.

"Takeru-san. I will be going back as well." I forgot about Kasumi's existence until that moment. Her stealth capabilities rivalled that of a ninja or an F-22.

"Oh, alright Kasumi. Good night." I waved her off and went to sleep myself.

November 28, 2001

PX

"And here we have the Yokohama Base Surface Pilot Training Academy's mess hall, Mr. Undersecretary." We all saluted Tama's father when he and Marimo-chan appear during my squad's morning chat.

"I see."

"I hereby introduce you to the cadets of Surface Pilot Cadet Squad 207." Marimo-chan made around until the Undersecretary met everyone one of us.

"The very future of mankind rests upon your shoulders. Can we count on all of you!?"

"-Yes, sir!" How exciting.

"Cadet Tamase will be your guide from here on out. -Cadet Tamase!"

"Ah! Y-yes, ma'am! Right this way, sir!" I couldn't wait for the hilarity to ensue.

Barracks

"Tama, salute. Make them do it." I reminded the nervous girl about our military manners.

"Oh… s-salute!"

"We have been awaiting your arrival!" Class rep and Ayamine declared in unison.

"A-at ease!" Those two relaxed to a normal posture.

"Yes, very good. So, you're Tama's subordinates, eh?"

"Do it, Ayamine, do it." I egged her on since it was the right thing to do.

"…You're Tama too…" I love autistic girls, I really do.

"Hm…?"

"…Tama Papa."

"…Nice moustache." And she was keeping it alive as long as she could before Tamase stepped in.

"T-that's enough chitchat people! Don't just stand there! Make way for the Undersecretary!" Tama barked out some orders that Ayamine was less than pleased to hear.

"…My apologies, squad leader."

"Maim her later, Ayamine, it's your destiny." The revenge would be all the sweeter, and more fun to watch.

"That was so dignified. Well done, Tamaaaa…! Such a good girl, Tama. C'mere, you! there, there~" She was so about to get it.

"Ehehe… yes! Th-thank you very much!"

"I'd like to see you give some more orders, Tama… well, how about it?" What a beautiful bonding experience.

"Y-you over there! If you've got nothing better to do, go scrub the latrines!" Kasumi was again caught in the crossfire. My poor girl stood in shock for a few seconds before running off, definitely not on her way to clean washrooms.

"Hm? You were with us earlier…" The Undersecretary took notice of Class rep next.

"I am Cadet Sakaki Chizuru!" Class rep and Tama's dad had a relatively normal talk until his unrealized-(not) offence.

"Oh yes, oh yes, I know. I've heard you're just like your father. A little slow on the uptake, stubborn, and without a flexible bone in your body." It was at this moment that Tama knew, she fucked up.

"Don't cause Tama too much trouble."

"…Y-yes, sir." Class rep let out a sound that barely passed as an answer, a critical hit indeed.

"Hm? You are…" The Undersecretary had his eyes on Mikoto this time.

"Sir! I am Cadet Yoroi Mikoto!"

"Oh-hoo… of course. O you're the one who's flatter than Tama!" Thinking back to it, he didn't even try to hide that attack as a remark.

"I… I… I can't believe you! You know I'm sensitive about thaaaaaat!" She spirited off, crying loudly.

"Takeru-san… help meeee~!"

"Tama… which funeral service do you prefer?" I was lucky to have a suit ready for the occasion.

"Hm? You are…"

"I am Cadet Mitsurugi Meiya!" Meiya was the next to be picked on, or to be not picked on at all.

"I see, so you're…" And the man spoke nothing else.

"…Hm? You have nothing to say regarding me?"

"…Indeed, I'm rather attached to my head, you see." Totally understandable.

"…I see." What wasn't said could be seen as the greatest joke.

"Hauu… aauuuuuu… Takeru-san, please don't abandon me~" Tama begged for my help.

"You're dead, kiddo."

"…Are you a new member?" Sumika materialized out of nowhere just in time for her to catch some flame as well.

"Ah, yes sir! I am Cadet Kagami Sumika!"

"Hm… I see, I will come back to you." Tama's father moved on without another word.

"Takeru-chan, why wasn't there a comment for me?" Sumika actually wanted to hear the Undersecretary's opinion of her.

He's probably got your roast in an envelope.

"…And you must be Shirogane Takeru-kun?" Finally my time on the chopping board.

"Yes sir."

"I've been observing you this whole time. Yes, you truly are a fine young man." He generously complimented my outward appearance.

"Thank you very much, Sir."

"You're not too shabby in the looks department either. And I've heard you've got great character, to boot.." He continued to shower me with words of approval,

"I've also heard you perform admirably in classes and training, and that you always try to keep a level head. Not a lot of men like you left in this world." Wasn't inaccurate.

"Thank you, sir."

"A man like you… yes, you'd do just fine."

Was marriage too early for us to consider? I wasn't a stranger to shotgun weddings myself.

"Take care of Tama for me. I want you to continue standing by her side, just as you always have."

Undersecretary Tamase's remark earned us quite a handful of threatening looks from the sea of thirsty bitches behind.

"Oh yes, this is exciting, indeed… wahaha!" I felt the piercing glares of the other girls in my squad. Although this time my position as the squad leader protected me from their potential abuse.

"Ahahaha! I hear you." I joined him in laughter, for a completely different reason.

"Why, I certainly wouldn't be opposed to having some grandkids of my own, someday soon! wahahaha!"

"Hahaha! Why are we laughing?" I could see the faces of my teammates out of the corner of my eye, being protected from their wrath allowed me to avoid the result of our little talk.

"…Can I talk to you?" Class rep went for Tama next, since she was the second guiltiest.

"Eh? Please… can we do it later?"

"Tamase, I must speak with you. This is a matter of urgency." Meiya also joined in for some revenge.

"Everyone! The Undersecretary is still here!" Tama's cry reached no one as Ayamine carried her from behind.

"Caught."

"Well done, Ayamine, we shall transport her like that."

"Nyaa! Ayamine-san! Please let go of me…!" Tama looked to be suffering.

"…I'll never let go."

"Guys! Please don't do this…!"

"Give it up. There are some things in life… that just isn't fair… fate can be so cruel… I didn't choose to be born this way…" Mikoto merged with the mob, torch and pitchforks at the ready.

"Oho! Is this performance part of my welcome?" This dude was also seriously merciless, even his daughter's execution was a mere joke.

"Takeru-san!~ Please heeeeeelp!" Tama thought of me as her last hope.

"Get."

"AAHHH. Takeru-saaaaaaan!"

"Good, take her away."

"Nyyyaaa!" And no one ever heard from Tama again.

"Huh? What just happened here, Takeru-chan?" Sumika returned upon her retrieval of Kasumi, apparently cleaning toilets was just in her blood.

"The cat is ded, Sumika."

"Is that so, is that so."

"Okay." Kasumi and Sumika missed a great performance, possibly the best one yet.

"Shirogane-kun. It appears that my daughter just got taken away." The Undersecretary was the one to reignite a previous topic.

"Yes, Sir. Cadet Tamase was in fact kidnapped."

"Wahaha! Impressive. I thought for sure they were going to get you." So Tama's dad wanted to watch my doom in her place.

"I'm good at sensing set-ups, sir."

"However, I suppose this is the break we need." It was rational for him to have a couple of questions for us, serious ones.

"You three are part of Professor Kouzuki's team, am I right?"

"Yes, sir."

"I won't ask you any more than that. We don't have much time, so I'll tell you quickly." Was it a favour he sought from me?

"What is it, sir?"

"My daughter, please keep her in good care. I ask of you as the leader of their squad." As a father should be, the old man was very considerate of Tama, fortunate for him I too was equally keen on protecting the cat girl.

"Of course, sir. I will not let you down."

"That is good to hear, Shirogane-kun. The future would be relentless in forcing upon you tasks that are tough and unforgiving. But I believe you can overcome those dilemmas! Wahahaha…!" He patted my back and walked away, acting the part of a wise and cool geezer.

"What a nice old man, Takeru-chan."

"…Word."

Kouzuki Yuuko's office

"You don't need to me tell you that the operation is in two days, right?" I was compelled to pay sensei another visit when she legally demanded my attendance.

"Yep, the cave exploration, I can hardly wait." Getting to finally put some BETA down wasn't all bad.

"How was the visit from The Undersecretary?"

"It was fine, he knows a bit about Alternative IV right? Today he asked me if I was a part of your plans."

"Yeah, it's not a problem. I told him some basic things about you and your friends. Nothing he shouldn't know already." Security measures were tight around our base, for more than good reasons.

"Then we should be Gucci, about my personal data though, sensei…"

"That, I already took care of it. The First section of the Household Department Information Division was digging around for anyone suspicious near Mitsurugi, you just stood out with the cover-up you used to have. I changed it so no one will suspect anything else." What a long ass fucking name.

"Yaaay. So is there anything else?"

"Your shipment is finally here, Shirogane." Yuuko-sensei lightly tapped against a cardboard box she had next to her desk.

"Yaaaaay."

"Take these and go satisfy your fetish. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

"Yuuko-sensei, you got to calm down with your assumptions. I am a perfectly healthy young man without any ulterior motives when it comes to girls." I would like to think of myself as one, anyway.

"Alright, alright. Take your stuff and go, I have other things to work on." Her extra bit of detail didn't go unnoticed.

"Something interesting you're working on?"

"I've been studying the reactor here and finding weaknesses in their hive system. If what you said about their information sharing bit is true. We'll eventually run into the problem of needing to nuke Kashgar anyway."

"Wait, nuke?"

"Not using actual nukes… that's an expression, right?"

"Oh… yeah, now I get you." I didn't believe sensei was that much of a hip-kid.

I couldn't ignore the potential difficulties surrounding the subject of her research. As the cards were placed, the BETA still held an upper hand when it came to their information network. The risk of a massive attack was made problematic from the ground up if we wanted to keep the XG-70's existence a secret and eat it too.

"Alright, keep being you, sensei. I'll bounce."

"Goodnight, Shirogane."

—

Author's note

Nothing really went on this chapter, just like my life, just like the progress I've made to rewriting the stories. If you ever wonder will I ever finish this story, the answer is no. No I will not, maybe.

But thanks for reading anyway.

BETA done by chad001