Chapter 5:
Too Good
The Following Morning
[Recommended Music: Widda Queen's Lair, King's Field IV.]
The elevator's door opens, small steps briskly move out amidst fast boots and pencil skirts on the hallways. As fast as the clouds sliding through the first embers of shine of the day young Yashiro makes haste to the barracks, bunny ears remaining up and in attention.
Nothing besides the usual morning drills and complains comes up on a quick scan of her surroundings, so she walks without much concern. Hugging the wall with her gaze downcast as always, slipping away from notice like a shadow from the staff coming and going on the first rays of dawn. Eventually the stream of soldiers dilutes to nothing when descending the stairs, over and over. The way to the floor and door she was looking for is uneventful, and for a moment she remains staring at the wooden frame. Nothing comes up through her arms, no tickling, no shiver, colorless the door remains with not a hint of emotion as to what's inside. Although there's a second of delay in the grip of the handle as her bunny ears flap, the little assistant takes in a deep breath and eventually enters the room.
Tapping the wall and finding the switch, the extra clarity reveals a mess, a twister for sheets encompassing the soldier she was tasked to look for as if a cocoon it were. Shallow snores come out from Shirogane as he buries himself further under the pillow, perhaps mimicking an ancient pharaoh. For a moment she wonders on whether or not she should follow through the tale told by her closest companion, the images she had seen a thousand times regarding Shirogane Takeru's oversleeping habits. Gulping as she edges closer, colorless the aura remains, too deep in sleep for young Yashiro to detect anything. So with a final nod as impulse her small fingers brush his shoulders to give a small shake.
She immediately regrets her decision.
"That's the nature of the military."
Red spiders crawl up, dig into her arms. A pitless jaw opens and lunges forth, twisting her sight.
"Do you understand, 1st Lt Shirogane? I don't want to send anyone to the frontlines… but I can't stop anyone who volunteers."
Tossing and turning, inside and outside, Takeru groans through the dryness, clawing at his heart. Young Yashiro hastily lets go, stumbles and ends up on her rear, almost hitting herself against the desk. Blowing air onto her hands to dispel the lingering dark mucus that sticks to her own aura, shaky legs almost send her back to the floor when trying to stand again. Despite the heat in warning coming off the dark fog, like a moth to a fire, she edges closer again, shaking and shaking, harder and harder.
Seeing once more figments of what he had revealed the day prior, that mission called Iceberg perhaps.
Until again she reaches the center of the fog, pulling at the shoulders of the one inside. The shaking continues through his groans as tension slips off his features, as Takeru opens his eyes and the echoes fade away from her ears, the slimy crayon lines retracting.
"Urgh… Ka… sumi?" he barely whispers. Without making any attempt to shield his features nor turn away, remaining open to the assistant.
Young Yashiro gives another shake to his shoulders, now free of flashes or lingering sounds. His expressions reshuffles and he coughs.
"It's fine, I'm already awake…" he tells slowly, slower he sits down as he yawns, rubbing his eyes later. "Good morning."
"…Good morning. Are you usually like this?"
"Mh? Yeah, I'm a hard sleeper to be honest. Sorry for taking so long to wake up," he nods, still rubbing an eye, yawning again.
She merely blinks a few times, tilting her head as the dark disappears, shrinks as yellow again spills out gradually as he stretches a bit.
"Is something wrong?" he asks, noticing the silent stare.
"Your sleeping expression was tense, scary even. You were having a nightmare."
"Oh… Yeah, kind of. It's normal, I've been having them every day lately. Don't worry 'bout it."
"Your training will suffer if you cannot rest properly."
"I'm telling you, it's fine, Kasumi."
"The Professor said your safety is a priority. If you'd allow a suggestion, I can… suppress some of those memories, if you'd welcome it," she says, giving a slow bow. And flinching a bit when a soft contact ruffles her hair, more so when looking up into a smile. "Um, Shirogane-san, is something-"
"Takeru is fine, Kasumi. And thanks, but this is my cross to bear," he asserts with a heavy sigh, slowly stopping playing with the long, silverish hair.
"May I ask why?"
"For the same reason Sensei probably already asked you to monitor my mind, I guess."
She twitches, taking a step back, thoughts tilting for a moment before relenting a small nod. "Apologies, sir. I did not meant to intrude on your thoughts, my operations simply require me to- Ah…" her words loosen and fall off without sound off the slack lips as once more a slow massage is given to her head, basking in the yellow of the smile.
"It's fine, I know. But Sensei, my world's Sensei, said it's important for me to face my deepest memories. I can't truly stop being an anomalous being without knowing what ties to cut. And for that, I gotta at least keep trying to recall what was of me until my deaths… even if it's like having burning iron stuck in my lungs," he admits with a sigh, shrugging. Coughing as a burning cockpit flashes in his mind for a moment, shrouded briefly by murky fog again.
Yashiro takes half a step forward, scanning and staring, yet still failing to garner any specifics through the density of the mist. "I see… Would you require my abilities for anything at the moment?"
"Hm? No? Why do you ask?" This is new, Kasumi never really spoke of her abilities so openly before.
"The Professor was concerned regarding the issues of last night. For the moment I am tasked with looking after you, both to monitor your memories to study your status pertaining to her causality theory and to ensure no harm comes to you," she states, returning herself to a straight posture, flapping her bunny ears. "Were you to need my services, please do not hesitate to voice your commands, sir."
"Thanks for offering, I guess…"I also don't recall her speaking so much from the start, though, he wonders, staring. "Well, I do have an order to give you, actually," he nods, smiling a bit, leaning forward.
"Yes?"
"You have to call me by name from now on, Kasumi. No more Shirogane or this 'sir' crap."
"Huh? Are you certain?" she asks, edging a bit away. Yet softening her posture again when no darkness creeps out, only further yellow clouds emanate from the soldier with a fast nod, a shrug and a yawn. "With all due respect, I would not wish to breach your trust and offend you, considering our working relationship for the project."
"It's cool, for real. I just wanna be friends with you. Sounds good?" he asks, extending a hand but not too long, not breaching her personal space.
For a moment she stares, relenting half a nod when nothing changes in the fog or his features, returning a handshake rather apathetically. Her breaths stall for a moment upon the light chuckle, the yellow gust tickling at her arm even after he lets go.
"…Would it truly be agreeable for me to drop the rank then, Takeru-san?"
"Yeah. No need to be so formal with me, really. And don't worry too much, things never got too serious with Tsukuyomi-san in any of my previous loops. I doubt you need to be on high alert or anything."
"I see… I shall remain vigilant, in any case."
"You do you, then. Anything Sensei told you to tell me?"
"I will be coming to escort you to her presence when she requires it from now on, is all."
"So the same as before, huh. Got it. Oh, and thanks for coming to wake me up, by the way," he waves as he leaves the bed, cracking his knuckles then.
She merely nods, staring. And staring, into that odd, mellow cloud of yellow.
"…What?" he asks, standing up.
"Takeru-san, were we friends in the worlds from your memories?"
"Yeah, of course. Why?" he answers, without delay nor tension in posture nor aura.
"…No, it's nothing," she says, giving a bow and going to the door.
"Heh, as reserved as always. Well, I'll be getting ready now. Bye bye, little bun," he says, waving her way.
And slowly, she waves back before departing. Young Yashiro slowly makes her way to the upper floors, rubbing her forearms, wondering why would such a strong yellow be granted to her person when absolute zero was inside the soldier upon those dreams he was having.
"…What a weird person," she concludes, shivering as she scans again, still finding yellow bouncing about in the room. "How could anyone be joyous about returning to this place? After living through such things, what spurs such positivity?" she thinks, recalling the usually graying complexions of the Valkyries and the poor Instructor, polar opposites of the vibrant shine present in the soldier. And yet as she resumes her walk, still trailing the fog passing as daylight, young Yashiro can't help but let a sigh out. "A friend, for me…"
Despite some rush in the shower, Takeru manages to arrive with ample time left to roll call. Breakfast and the initial morning lectures seemed to speed by him despite becoming a magnet for the Instructor's questions. Full marks, flying grades in image of his own piloting, and a slight headache at forcefully recalling so many little queries in so short a time leave Takeru slumping back to the seat rather than storming to the PX for lunch once they're dismissed.
"Sorry but I'm not waiting, today is the last yakisoba day of the week," Ayamine says with a low nod and a raised hand before basically rushing out of the room.
"Please, Kei-san, don't run!" Tamase repines, sighing at the lack of deceleration. "Should we follow after?"
"Please go keep an eye on her, and stop Kyozuka-san if she wants to hand Ayamine a full tray again," Sakaki asks with a deep sigh, to the cracked chuckles of the rest. Tamase depart after a bow, leaving the other three in the classroom. Yet Sakaki doesn't rush after, raises a hand at Mitsurugi as she walks back to Shirogane, who was still rather slumped in his seat. "Your displays were honestly amazing, Shirogane."
"It's nothing, I'm used to this kind of courses already."
"So you say yet never were you found wanting for an answer," Mitsurugi admits, pacing slightly to the door. "Still, you seem exhausted. Perhaps your demonstrations of yesterday are passing their toll?"
"Nah, I just couldn't sleep well… And trying to remember so many things to answer was more than I was expecting,"he complains with a pout, raising to put his books back in the bag.
"…Something happened last night, perhaps?" Sakaki asks, arms folding, stepping closer.
Takeru shrugs as he stands, ruffling his hair and looking out the window. "No, why do you ask?"
"I saw it from the windows of the upper floors. No need to keep quiet."
"Sakaki, what are you talking about?" Mitsurugi asks, tightening her posture, glancing at both of them.
"I don't know. Anything you might want to share, Shirogane?" she asks, tapping her glasses.
"…I'm gonna lose my mackerel if we don't hurry, you know?"
"And as the leader, it is my duty to quickly assess any issues pertaining to my comrades," she counters immediately with a nod. "Worry not, I am not judging. Speak freely, if you so want," she asks, taking a step back and grabbing her own bag.
Under her and Mitsurugi's stare, Takeru sighs and shrugs again, giving a wry smile. "It honestly sounds bigger than it was. A Royal Guard stationed here wanted to ask me some questions last night, nothing more."
"Eh?! A Royal Guard, you say?" Mitsurugi asks, frozen in shocks.
"Hm? What's with that reaction, Meiya?"
"Eh? Ah, no, nothing. I was only surprised, that's all," she deflects, running a hand into her hair. "In any case, you should not have withheld such a thing. Sakaki, you saw this happen?"
"From the upper floors, yes. I was coming back from the library, saw Shirogane standing on the trackfield. I was thinking on greeting him on the way to the barracks, but then, well," she shrugs, looking away, "the Imperial Guards stationed here approached him, surrounded him. I wanted to keep looking but other soldiers on the hall basically pushed me away, told me not to mind the Royal Guards. So, anything you want to share, Shirogane?"
Takeru sighs, smiling small while waving a hand off. "It's fine, for real. Nothing happened in the end."
"…You were not threatened, I assume?" Sakaki asks, dry, far drier than Mitsurugi's furrowing complexion at the question.
"No, she asked me who I was and why was I added so quickly to the squad. No idea what was her deal, she seemed to already know my name so I don't know why she bothered to come ask me in person," he rolls his eyes, slinging his bag over his shoulder, moving to the door. "As I said, nothing to worry about."
"…That's a relief," Mitsurugi whispers as they all walk out of the classroom.
"Why? Are the Royal Guards hostile to us or something?" he asks in pretend, pacing behind them.
"Eh? Oh, no, that is not the case, however…"
"It's because we are UN soldiers, obviously," Sakaki spits the words low, lightly frowning. "Despite being Japanese, we are being trained under the UN's flag instead of our nation's. Reason enough for an Imperial Guard to give us the cold shoulder."
"Sakaki, please, no such animosity is warranted."
"It doesn't change how the majority of the Royal Guards would treat us, and at the end of the day we're wearing these colors."
"Hey, they only wanted to talk," he deflects, breaking the sparks between the gazes, smiling at them. "Put yourself in her shoes. If a random male cadet appeared out of nowhere, you'd be curious about it too, maybe a bit worried. No need to assume ill will outta the blue."
"Yes, I suppose…" Sakaki relents, looking away.
"Thanks for understanding, Shirogane."
"It's nothing, Meiya. I can see why, well, they'd be so concerned with my presence here, you know."
"Ah, well… Do not assume anything, please. As I said before, it's merely a resemblance and-"
"I get it already. Come on, chill out."
"Hm? Why would I? I'd become bedridden should I choose to remain outside, in this cold. Why suggest such a thing?"
"Siiigh… Yeah, I walked straight into this one," he shakes his head, pinching his nose, to Mitsurugi's groans in confusion.
"Shirogane, may I ask why you employ such an odd slang?" Sakaki asks as they take a corner, the noise of the PX ricocheting off the nearby walls.
"Oh, it's just how I'm used to speaking where I came from, is all. Don't worry too much 'bout it, dude."
"…And he did it again," Mitsurugi repines, shaking her head and sighing.
"What?"
"You're calling us 'dude' once again, Shirogane, despite the fact that we're clearly females," Sakaki repines, halting her steps. "I would rather not assume anything, however if you continue-"
"Sorry, sorry, it's just my way of referring to my friends, is all."
"It doesn't make it okay, regardless. Try and call us normally, without using our names either. Protocol must be kept in mind, at all times," Sakaki says, before turning and directing herself to the PX.
Takeru shrugs a bit. "Ouch. Come on, there's no need to be so strict, is it? We're supposed to be comrades, right?" he asks with a smile.
That gets shot down by a sideglance colder than the weather. "Indeed, comrades. And I am your squad leader. Do not forget that, please," Sakaki asserts before going to the line.
"Do not take it to heart, Shirogane," Mitsurugi offers, lightly nodding. "Sakaki merely takes her role with pride, and your… carefree attitude seems to clash with her."
"Huh… For real?"
"And your odd choice of wording doesn't make this better. Could you not try and remain formal throughout the trainings at the least?" she asks as they line up behind Sakaki.
"Well, I guess, but I'm just… you know, happy to be here. Can't help but to be how I am," he smiles back, to sighs and a shared shaking of heads. "Come on, it ain't that bad, is it?" he asks, to deafening silence as an answer.
Their trail of discussion dies down however when in front of the small hill of yakisoba on Ayamine's tray and the swirling pleads of Tamase for help. As ample as the light were Sakaki's reprimands, raising further as Takeru started to laugh at the face-off. For a moment, the idle banter between the dragons of the squad, the awawa'ing attempts of the kitty to pacify them, and the almost dejected intersections of the samurai restored some vigor to the soldier. Even if scolded for still laughing and using their names in the midst of the ruckus, this little shard of bygone days was enough to dispel the lingering cloud of the day's nightmare.
More warnings come his way regarding the coming training, regarding the ill mood of their Instructor. Said person stood on the trackfield awaiting them all as they march into a tight line, gaze ignoring the sunshine shower as the wind blows behind her back. Giving all a frontal stare and pacing in front Jinguuji clears her throat, arms folding.
"Squad, today I've decided to intensify your usual runs. You'll do five klicks running normally, and then proceed to do fifteen on full gear with backpack and rifle."
"Huh?! However, we've never ran so much until now, Instructor," Sakaki voices the concern raining down the four girls, and the confusion of the male at the smile received as an answer.
"There's a first time for everything, isn't it. You were all outclassed yesterday by a fresh recruit, let's see how you adapt to the challenge. Now, get on the track already!" the loud bark sends them into a salute, Jinguuji simply nods and takes her spot near the lines.
"…All because you showed off," Ayamine whispers under her breath, clicking her teeth as she glares at Takeru.
"No need to cast blames, Ayamine," Mitsurugi scolds, lightly hitting her comrade's forearm with her elbow. Yet also imitating the downcast expression found in who Ayamine then stares at.
"Don't worry too much, Tama. Just take it in stride and don't force yourself," Takeru reassures with a thumbs up, noticing the shaking in the smallest one. "Better conserve your stamina than to burn it all at the start."
"Ah, y-yes, thanks for the suggestion… Gulp," yet she still shakes more than the ground in front of a Destroyer horde, eyes quite literally blanking out.
The whistle is blown, the sprinting begins. Or should have, since the only one properly gaining speed is Shirogane. The soldier quickly gains half a lap while the four females take on a modest pace, conserving their energy. Far quicker and stronger than Jinguuji's clapping to make them speed up are their stares lunging at his back. Yet Takeru is also keeping a steady pace, just as he had done when going for a run on his home before his final days there. Not having demolished buildings nor whispers in complain to the situation that was, partially, his fault only serves to stabilize his pace.
And before he knows it, he's done with the first segment of the training while the girls have three laps left.
"Wow, I was expecting something but you cleared my previsions, Shirogane," Jinguuji nods slowly a few times, scanning him top to bottom, smiling at the undisturbed breaths. Her features tense up, however, as a mass of pink trips and spins nearby, eating dirt. "TAMASE! Get up and keep running unless you want all the team to have to run more laps!" she shouts from the pit, frowning a bit.
Tamase gets up in a hurry and continues to run, almost bending over. Expression far more disturbed than her ragged breathing.
"…Instructor, ma'am," Takeru softly starts, relenting a bow, "is is advisable to do this? I was taught that slowly managing the distance one runs gradually is better than such drastic increments," he says, giving a wide gaze at the trackfield, at the already drenched in sweat comrades.
"Your concerns are well placed, but you managed just fine, didn't you?" Marimo smiles, patting his shoulder. "Moreover, this is only the beginning. I plan to redouble the intensity of the course at large, so I do expect them to measure up to the challenge. The rest have already failed one CCSE so they don't have any excuse to not perform on par with this kind of training," she fires off, louder than necessary, almost causing some tripping in the runners.
"…What? But, I mean, may I ask why?"
"Well, if you must know, the XO suggested it to me. She said you're made of finer wood, that you could withstand my best courses and serve as an example for the rest. And it seems she was correct," she nods with another smile, checking her watch and the trackfield. "In any case, go get your gear for the next stage."
However, even if the other four were conserving their energy in hopes of not disappointing in the second section their forms begin to lose sharpness. Compared to Shirogane, who keeps marching forward as per usual, the weight of the backpack ingrains onto their backs, choking their napes along the incoming glare of the sun.
"Come on, what's up?! Shirogane already has a three klick lead on you all! Shoulders even, raise your chest!"
"M-Ma'am, yes, ma'am!"
"And don't you decelerate, Shirogane! Keep on going as you were, hotshot!" she grins, flashing some fangs as she gives a thumbs up. "Why don't you four look at what a real cadet should be like and learn?! Are you going to let Suzumiya and company be my only graduates this year?!" she roars, giving a short stomp to the ground.
Groans and curses run under the runners, their own sweat flooding the aggravations. More screams rush out of the Instructor as Tamase almost stumbles to the dirt, even admonishing Shirogane as he tries and lend a hand.
In the end, he finishes with an even bigger lead on them all to a small round of applause from Jinguuji. All Takeru can do is watch and wait.
"Alright. With Tamase now all of you have finished," the Instructor says, the girls almost slugging their helmets and backpacks to the horizon as they zombie limp to the water taps. "I'll bring the weapons, you may refresh yourselves in the meantime," she nods, going her way.
"Not even a compliment for the effort, a nod or anything? Marimo-chan never droned on with the training like this…" Takeru wonders, sighing. "I don't think they'll fare well in the battles, they're spent by this point."
"Shirogane-san, what did you eat in your other unit?" Tamase asks the air, slowly waddling closer to him.
And causing watermelons for eyes. "Huh? What did I eat? Normal stuff, I guess?"
"Fool… It was a rhetorical question," Mitsurugi repines, wiping a mini sea off her forehead. "We simply cannot believe that you could keep up with today's course. Yesterday you displayed much aptitude, yes, however…"
A low push hits Takeru's back, Ayamine's elbow. "Way to go, Special-kun. Such a team player."
"Ayamine, that's enough," Sakaki shakes her head, glaring until Ayamine shrugs and steps away. "In any case, this was quite the shock. You… truly did not seem affected by this drill," she asserts, looking at Takeru well.
"What can I say? I'm used to being drilled to the bone, said as much yesterday. If anything, maybe you could try and run like I do?"
"How do you mean?"
"When I speed up, I try and step with my heels, to propel me further. That way I don't seem to get as tired as I used to, even though my feet kinda hurt a bit if I run too much like this. Consciously changing my running form took a while, but I noticed the difference once I could maintain it."
"I never heard of such a technique… But your displays are proof enough, I suppose," Sakaki admits, deflating a bit.
"Come on, now. I may be in good shape but I'm no marathoner. It's only a result of much training, is all." And who knows how many failed loops of accumulated experience, too… Sigh.
"Must be nice to be able to learn from marathoners and the like," Ayamine throws out, hands behind her head.
"Please ignore her, Shirogane," Sakaki says, not meeting his eyes.
"Eh, it's cool, for real," he still smiles, nodding at Kei. "I just had a lot of downtime on my hands before coming here. There's really no secret to my stamina."
"…I envy you, truly," Ayamine says, looking down, away.
"What?"
"Who wouldn't want to have the luxury of spending time in peace, training away from the frontlines? I can't even remember the last time I thought of going to a marathon or anything…"
"C-Come on, Ayamine-san, there is no need to bring such things up…" Tamase scolds, yet mirrors the downstream cascade of features and gaze present in the girls at large.
As Takeru was about to speak, however, a whistle cuts through the air, a pair of steps hastening their pace to the cadets.
"Squad, here's the weaponry," the Instructor tells, dropping a small crate near. Marimo-chan shining for her absence, the Instructor directs them to their pairs to fight off, ignoring the flushed exertion still present in the girls.
As expected, the breathing did not regain a steady flow much less did their strikes. As unconnected as supply lines in BETA territory the steps, the pace of attacks. Between them they were evenly matched, against Shirogane however…
A frontal charge with a wooden knife finds only the air, and a feet tripping her own. Mitsurugi flails to regain balance, barely parrying the strike Shirogane sends. The follow up finds her wrist, her knife meets the dirt, his own pointing at her neck.
"…To be so easily bested," she hangs her head in shame, hiding eyes behind her fringe.
He extends a hand, shrugging. "Come on, you're merely tired after running so hard."
"You also took part in said exercise, and seem almost unaffected. I thought your claim of being 'awesome' with a blade was a jest but…" her shoulders slump, expression further below as she picks up her knife.
"C-Come on, Meiya, don't take it so hard. It's just-"
"Do not look down on me, Shirogane. I am a warrior as well, there's no need for pity between us. You bested me, and I have been found lacking. That is all," she dryly cuts, quickly returning to the Instructor's side.
The gargoyles remain a such, granting nothing but stone gray to the soldier despite his attempts at puns and aid. The days go by, the sun and moon keep dancing up above. With every passing number on the calendar the wind blows colder, bitter. Their stances and expressions on the trainings do as well.
A jab is blocked, the low kick avoided. Upon taking a step back, Takeru's arm coil around Ayamine's. She plants her feet firm, resisting the pull. Yet he smirks, taking in a deep breath loosening his grip, sending her to stumble back briefly. In that instant, he throws a low sweeping kick, entangles her arm as they fall, pinning her down.
"Uff… You're one tough nut to crack, Kei."
"It's Ayamine…"
"Oh, sorry, my bad. C-Come on, stop kicking about! I pinned you down, there's nothing-"
"Never, I'll never surrender like this."
"Ugh, you stubborn dragon… Fine, twist my arm," Takeru complains, despite how her arm is the one getting twisted as he rolls his eyes. "Come on, you're busted today and still fought well."
"Don't think you can… sweet talk me like this…" she repines, squirming under his weight, trying to kick at him to no avail.
"I'm just trying not to be a jerk, you know? No need to style on you guys when I'm not as tired as you."
"The hell does 'style on' mean? Is this all a game to you?"
"No, just, come on, you know what I mean. I've the advantage today with how tired you all are, it's only hurting you to keep struggling like this," he softly says, softer the small tending to the forearm he has to pin down, loosening the grip a bit. "Come on, stop trying to kick at me."
"…Dammit," she lowers her face onto the ground, going fully still. Even after he lets go, or as he slowly rubs her arms, or pokes at her as the Instructor calls.
"Hey, are you alright, Kei?"
"It's Ayamine… And mind your own damn business," she spits out, low, standing and marching back to the crate, without looking back.
Much like this did the rest of the classes and drills go for the soldier, to silent glares from Ayamine, avoidant gazes from Mitsurugi and Sakaki in their defeats, and the little wails in exertion from Tamase, or the puddle of sweat that remained of her by the end of things. No extended hand nor hints could break the ice, waved off for the moment.
"Instructor, I have an answer," Sakaki raises her hand, blocking what little of the afterglow fell on the classroom from her face. As the Instructor nods she taps her glasses and clears her throat. "Our whole team could cooperate to rescue our missing comrades. While we cannot rush out of cover towards their location, we merely need to distract the enemies on the cliffs to allow our allies to move out towards us."
"I see," Jinguuji crosses her arms, silently watching them all with squinted eyes. "However, there are two enemy units on the cliffs. One could easily snipe you while either of you are moving out."
"Those left behind could take a longer trail, using the terrain as cover," she counters, standing firm and not veering her gaze.
"Then, how do you deal with the hostiles patrolling the area? What if they surround you all once you rendezvous with your comrades?"
"We can either retaliate or flee towards the escape point."
"The time frame is too tight. Your friendlies might not be able to cover you if you don't arrive in time to their vicinity. You're putting the whole mission at risk, Sakaki," she sighs, tapping the book resting on her desk.
"In that case, once we confirm our comrades are out of the snipers' range we can also start moving towards the extraction point."
"So not only you give the enemy time to surround you on your current location, you also guide them to the escape point. And the safety of your comrades is still not secured, and I'm being lenient on any of you not incurring injuries during this distraction. Not good enough, Sakaki," the Instructor shakes her head, sighing. "Anyone else got any other proposals?"
"Yes," Takeru slowly raises his hand, receiving an immediate nod. "Looking at the map, it's obvious this is a trap. If we try to circle around the cliff, we'll end up without enough time to reach the extraction point. We can't rush out or we'll get killed by the snipers, and we also don't have any long range weaponry to deal with the units on the cliff. The best option is to set a time limit to wait for our stranded allies. If they manage to traverse the traps and avoid the patrolling soldiers to rendezvous with us, or at least direct themselves to the extraction point, all of us can safely escape. Otherwise, it is the worst case scenario and…" licking the salt off his lips, he closes his eyes and sighs, "we should prioritize the mission's success."
"May I ask why are you choosing to leave your comrades behind with such ease?" the Instructor asks, hand on her chin, a low tone without much edge.
"I mean, the images on the book have barely no info on how the terrain is. That is realistic, I guess. But you can't fight what you don't know, and there's a lot of unknown details in this mission while there's a heavy responsibility on our shoulders. I believe we should focus on what we can feasibly accomplish, Instructor. Even if it comes with heavy sacrifices," he reasons, ending with a strong nod. Drying his inner cheeks under her silent, gorgonic stare. "Trying to save a few might lead to many more dying. That's… something I know well, hell, it's basically what I'm asking Sensei to do to try and save the squad. But, hey, maybe my logic isn't that good. Those two years back home and the guilt of what happened might have screwed up my compass."
"…That was a well formulated answer, Shirogane," she nods, a hint of a true smile flickering for a moment. "However, your organization's standing could be put at risk if your comrades are captured. To say nothing on the issues of how to determinate how long a time you can wait on the field. So, any other answers? Hm? Nothing else?" she asks, glancing at the downcast, tight expressions of the girls. "Well, let's debate on this matter for a moment. Turn the page, the enemy positions and possible outcomes are listed there."
What was left of the lecture was shared on the possible solutions suggested on the book, although the Instructor admitted some of the intel was already outdated and mostly applied to guerrilla and anti-terrorism tactics. Can't exactly infiltrate a BETA hive a la Agent 770 U.E. Vond.
"Well, that will be all for today. Do remember to study the following pages, we're tackling the next chapter starting tomorrow. Dismissed!"
"Salute!" Sakaki commands, they all salute, and with a nod the Instructor departs. "Sigh… These last few questions were too abstract," she repines while stashing her books.
"I agree." Mitsurugi sighs as well, crossing her arms. "It is most frustrating to be left with so little data to formulate a plan. There was a very large room for error in that last question."
"I think that's the whole point," Takeru says, already closing his bag. "It's supposed to teach us how volatile the battlefield can truly be."
"I think so too, Shirogane-san," Tamase nods shortly.
"Thanks, Tama. But come on, I told you my name was fine."
"Ahaha… E-Even so, you formulated a proper answer very quickly," she repeats the smile, tapping her fingertips as she tidies her desk.
"Yeah, what a good answer, Special-kun."
"Are… you being sarcastic? It sounds like it," he asks.
"No, it's nothing.," Ayamine shrugs, quickly taking her leave.
"Sheesh, what's up with her today?" he complains, messing with his hair.
"Shirogane," Sakaki asks, slowly walking closer, hand gripping at her bag when raising it, "do you truly think your answer was the most fitting solution to the mission?"
"Well, it was the most effective way to complete our goal with what little data we had on hand, yeah."
"Huh, I see," she simply says, eyelids falling as slowly as the fading orange mixes to dark blue in the sky, departing the classroom. "Then, would your answer remain the same were you the one left behind?"
"…Of course. If I'm ever a hazard to you, you should cut your losses and prioritize your own wellbeing." I rather die myself than see any of you die or get injured because of my carelessness.
"Is that so… So you're the type to favor tactical retreats, huh."
"Sakaki, let us not," Mitsurugi elbows the squad leader softly, nodding her way, and not Shirogane's. "It is only a diverging opinion, another possible option. Nothing else."
"Yeah, it's just an argument," he insists upon the tension in the inner arrow not lifting. "At the end of the day we can only do so much, even if we as an individual would rather things be different. We cannot protect our lives on our own, right?"
"I suppose…" Sakaki shrugs, closing her eyes, falling to poker.
With not another word shared between them they took their leave, with not another sound they share dinner. In quite the haste Ayamine and Sakaki excuse themselves, Tamase following shortly after in quivering excuses. Mitsurugi simply shakes her head, extends weightless pleasantries as she finishes her meal and she, too, departs the table.
Alone in the noisy PX Takeru swirls the spoon in the miso. Picking at his nails, probing at the small rice remaining only serves to grow the bottomless hole in his stomach that no amount of dinner could possibly fill up.
"…I might have said I wanted them to get better but you might have gone a bit too far with the help, Sensei."
Some time later, on that day's evening.
The last days, this last week whole had went by in an all too shocking manner to the dismay of the girls from squad 207. They had wished perhaps for something to break their monotony, a sign of good fortune for their coming CCSE to show itself. At the moment, the stars looked to be playing a prank on them from the girls' point of view. While Shirogane was a shield from the Instructor relentless questions and rising tests in the classroom, there truly did not seem to be a limit to his quality as a soldier. An oddity second only to the guy's strange slang and choice of words.
"Come on, be serious," Ayamine complains, thumb firing off a marble, causing a chain of bounces around the table. "He cleared my record to assemble a rifle in half of it."
"I-I'm only saying we could accept his offer to learn together?" Tamase says, tapping her fingers, small little wails leaving her lips as Ayamine claims half the board of marbles. "This is most unfair, Ayameanie-san."
"Not as unfair as Special-kun beating our asses day in and day out. He might as well just bend me over the table and-"
"Language," Sakaki scolds, tapping her glasses and refocusing on the shogi board in front of her seat. "Still, I do share your concerns. There truly seems to be not a single weak point in Shirogane. Even his sniping is marvelous," she says, advancing her offense on a flank.
"Hm, an interesting approach," Mitsurugi nods to the move, a finger tapping her chin. "And he even mentioned his middle range far outclassed his sniping today. Honestly, to be on Tamase's level…" she sighs, taking a small retreat on the board.
"C-Come on, I am not as skilled as you think… I couldn't even hit the farthest target today, haha," she says, shrinking a bit while edging her shot, spreading the available marbles left.
"Bullshit, you're amazing," Ayamine nods with a smile.
"Language."
"Shut up, you're not our mom."
"And you're not a teen on her lounge."
"And we're having some fun, damn it. Lay off me."
"Cough…Please, let us not fall to animosity," Mitsurugi asks, nodding short as she advances her next move, dispelling the smoke rising.
"Apologies," Sakaki nods back, sighing. "In any case, I prepared some notes for what I think the Instructor will send this coming week at us. Would you all be aboard coming to the library later?" she asks, adjusting her glasses before grabbing a general and committing to a frontal push.
"Of course," Tamase nods quick, as quick as her marble fires off, missing its target. "Awawa…"
"No redoing it," Ayamine whispers, causing blimps for cheeks in the small kitty.
"What say you, Ayamine?" Mitsurugi asks, smiling as a few units are claimed in quick succession, the tide turning in her favor.
"Sure, I'll join too. The Leader can't bitch at me in the library after all."
"Wh- If you're going to still be like this, please refrain from joining."
"Don't worry, won't let you get under my skin anymore. I've enough with Special-kun's bullshit already."
"Awawawa… Ayamine-san, please, stop this."
"…You mean the sass or the marble game?"
"Um, both?"
"No, I'm winning this time," she smiles, quickly launching her shot, a curving rebound sending half of the remaining marbles under her control.
The kitty slumps to the table, a see-through specter of her soul emerging from her back.
"You could hold back, however slightly, couldn't you?" Mitsurugi asks, sighing at Tamase's perishing wails.
"Bold words coming from our undefeated shogi player," Sakaki complains, arms folded while contemplating what could be her final move.
"You've asked of me to face you with my all, and so I've done. There are some shogi books I have that might help your style, if you'd like to read them?"
"Eh? Are you certain? I wouldn't want to impose, if they're, well, personal books of yours."
"Please, I'm offering. It is moot to possess the knowledge and not share it with my fellows, and we shall enjoy more even games in this manner."
"…I see. If it's alright then, I'll appreciate it. I don't… think I can salvage this game, anyways," she sighs, beginning to reorder the pieces.
"I've been playing at a high level since an early age, is all."
"…Maybe we should invite Special-kun to a shogi match, get him humbled a bit," Ayamine suggests, smiling as she cracks her knuckles.
Only to have her forearm lightly slapped. "Ayamine-san, come on, stop it. Shirogane-san isn't actively antagonizing us, is he."
"…It's still odd, how good he is, how he arrives out of nowhere just before our training becomes hell. To say nothing on his stellar answer on the last lecture."
"Let's not assume anything, alright?" Sakaki warns, holding the discussing duo's stares. "I know his slang, and the posture he took on the last assignment, are curious to say the least, but let us try and work past our frustrations. I do not oppose asking Shirogane to join our nightly games, if you're all on board."
"I-I'm not against it," Tamase says with too much haste and a small hop, Ayamine shrugs and looks away.
"It might be a pleasant way for us to see a more mundane image of him," Mitsurugi nods, folding the shogi board up and picking it up.
"Well, let's ask him tomorrow if he wants to come along. This week has truly been a surprise, however…" Sakaki says, slowly filing out of the PX.
Small chatter regarding the news, the different meals, and more complains about the ensuing games follow them as they depart to the barracks. While Sakaki had already prepared her books and notes and thus quickly leaves to the library along Tamase and Ayamine, Mitsurugi asks them for a few moments before joining.
In her room, in front of a small altar she kneels down, looking at the blue hilt of her treasure. Lighting up a small candle, threads of smoke, of vanilla scent fill out in her room. Taking in the aroma, calming her breathing she remains for a moment.
"…Tis truly has been a most surprising week. I've not measured up to the challenge yet, neither do I aim to give up. Grateful should I be to have been bequeathed such a comrade, even if a most eccentric one as well. He'll soon become a good fellow, I know. So… please wait only spell longer, Sister," she whispers, bowing to the Minaru Kamui, "I shall be worthy of wielding this blade, to be your shadow one day. And for that to come to be,"she clears her throat, slowly standing up again.
Washing her face, fixing her hair back to symmetry, Mitsurugi searches for and finds the shogi books she once used when learning under her grandfather, and her most trusted fellow who even today keeps watch over her at the distance. Wondering if they were watching her trainings, what their assessment of her latest efforts was causes a hollow sigh to spur in her, quickly swallowed and not allowed to depart. Shaking her head and placing the tomes under her arm, she departs from the barracks with some haste after seeing the clock.
What few soldiers and staff remains on the hallways when nearing curfew's limits swerves away from her, hugging the walls, trading paint with them almost. Gazes down, to a side, arms compacting onto themselves, steps gaining haste. Always the same, the same masks of fear and respect everpresent in those around. This time, this time she does let the sigh come out.
And in her dejection her steps slow down to a calm form, staring out the window into the available moonlight, the half clearing in the sky. A moment of calmness, away from duties or expectations. As she always had done since an early age, looking up and wishing upon the stars for a chance to break away from those imperial walls that had caged her wings.
"…Yet even now it's more of the same," she repines, gripping the books a bit tighter. As she makes a turn to go to the stairs, however, something catches her attention.
Not on the sky but on the ground. Someone was running on the trackfield, in quite the haste, without dropping form.
"Did Ayamine argue with Sakaki, perhaps?" she thinks, getting closer to the window.
Threads of silver moonlight filter through the overgrown brown strands that flap in the air for a second. Drops of sweat reflect the moon back at her, also bathing the sprinter as he zooms about. By far much faster than in their trainings, Shirogane runs and runs along the dusk, maintaining the pace.
Minutes or seconds, for how long was she staring at him? When was it that she left the windows, trailing along them to get to the door? Even now, slowly getting closer, the cold light barely clinging to his shadow in its sprint. Parting the clouds in twain, as if he were the source of the nightly gale.
"Going! Going! Towards the light!" he sings, out of tune, headbanging as he runs. "Yo! Going, going! Believing in it!" heels then press, surface on the ground before doubling his speed, moonlight piercing him upon the rush.
A sharp gulp, strong gulp. One step, two and three. Closer and closer, to that rushing specter that was still singing without rhyme nor reason. A second for a breath and clear her throat, Mitsurugi nods upwards and calls. "Excuse me, Shirogane!"
And thus causes a small carpet of dust to raise, the soldier's feet entangle and smooch each other upon the loud distraction. Takeru ends up spinning like a blue hedgehog, face first onto the dirt and coughing.
"Dammit, what the hell…"
"Apologies, I did not meant to startle you so," she offers a hand when getting closer.
"Oh, Meiya? What's up?" he brushes dirt off his tank top, accepting her aid to stand up. "Coming for a run too?"
"No, it's not that. I was going to the library and saw you running, thought it was someone else."
"I see… Phew," he breathes out a few times, regaining his breath, cleaning his face with his shirt. "So, what's up? Need anything?"
"Oh, sorry, I was merely… surprised. You never ran so fast before in our trainings."
"Yeah, well, can't really go all out when the Instructor probably will take that as the new baseline."
"I suppose… By the by, you were singing as you ran, correct? I thought you were mixing English and Japanese, perhaps?"
"Yeah, it's a song from a show I was watching before coming here. What's with the books?" he asks, pointing at her arm.
"Oh… Oh, right! We are all gathering at the library to share tips and go over our notes. I offered Sakaki these books of mine for her to better her shogi skills as well. Would you be proficient at shogi, Shirogane?" she asks, gaining a small smile, taking a step forward.
"Shogi, huh… It's been a long while since I played that, yeah," he whispers, messing with his hair, looking up at the moon, sobering up.
"Is… something the matter?"
"No, it's just… I can't really remember when was the last time I played shogi, to be honest. I never was too good compared to who I played against, but I think I'm decent, maybe?" he offers with tilt of his head.
"I see. Would you like to join us, then? I know there's been some… friction due to the trainings lately, but surely, some leisure will aid your acclimation to the squadron. What say you?"
"…I mean, I'd like to, but I'm kinda drenched in sweat, if you'd notice," he shrugs, pointing to his chest.
"Yes, it is very much apparent… Still, it is nothing we aren't used to, frankly," she nods, returning his gaze firmly, finding his also not clouding like most others. "I insist, if only as a gesture of fellowship to the squad as a whole."
"Well, I guess I could-"
"Takeru-san," an unexpected voice calls out, startling them both.
"Yashiro?" Mitsurugi flinches back upon the silverish white, gulping hard.
"…Kasumi? What are you doing here?" he asks, blinking fast.
The small assistant takes her time to walk to them, ignoring Mitsurugi, sparing not a glance. "The Professor is calling for you. Let's go."
"Hey, how many times do I gotta tell you not to pull me," he complains, sighing as she still grips at his arm.
"Ahem. Yashiro, what business have you with Shirogane? We were speaking," she inquires, softly.
The small bunny drops her ears, sinks an already apathetic stare into colder poker. "That's none of your business."
"Kasumi, what the hell?! Since when do you talk back like this?" he pulls a bit, young Yashiro's doubles her lock onto his arm, he sighs a bit. "Come on, Kasumi. There's no need to be like this."
"I've orders to fulfill, is all."
"Shirogane, is something wrong? I, well, have rarely seen Yashiro myself on the aboveground levels," she admits, lips pursing a bit upon the unblinking, frontal stare of the assistant.
"As I was saying, the Professor is-"
"That has nothing to do with you, Cadet. Takeru-san is coming with me, that is all."
"Let me finish my sentences! What's wrong with you this time? What the hell is wrong with this world?!"
Yashiro gives a downcast nod to Shirogane, fingers almost slipping off his arm upon the small flicker of anger red. "Apologies, but I am only following my directives."
"I know, Kasumi, but let me at least tell her why. Meiya had just asked me to join the squad's study session."
"…She's going to be upset if I take too long to guide you to our orders."
"And I'll take the blame for it, alright? Plus, better to explain things out rather than have this happen every time you have to look for me," he reasons with a nod.
"They should simply mind their own business," she complains, a small twist of pouting on her lips.
"…You two seem rather close," Mitsurugi comments, narrowing her eyes in imitation of the sideglance Yashiro sends her way. "Apologies Shirogane, it seems I've meddled in your appointments?"
"No, it ain't anything like that," he waves away, chuckling. "Kasumi is simply tasked with looking for me whenever Sensei needs me for anything, is all. She can't disobey orders, and if we take too long she's gonna get mad."
"Huh… Who is 'Sensei'?"
"Oh, right. It's how I refer to the Vice Commander, since, uh… she kinda teaches me some stuff on the tasks she asks of me."
"I see… You were handpicked by her to join the base, if I recall. It's understandable," she nods down, sighing. Feet kicking at the dirt, at each other, Mitsurugi dries her lips, steps back. "Orders are orders. I shan't hold you any longer, then. Until tomorrow."
"Yeah, see you later. And sorry for bailing out like this."
"…Takeru-san, let us go."
"Come on, don't be like this. And I told you to stop pulling me, dude. I can walk just fine."
"And I've asked you to stop calling me in that manner. When will you stop it?"
"When you start eating your carrots."
"T-That is most mean of you. You suck."
"Hahaha, come on. You won't grow up if you don't eat your veggies, Kasumi."
More complains and jabs they share on their walk back to base, the frozen tension in the snow rabbit melting when surrounded by the yellow fog. Shuffling back to the usual cheery expression and pace, Takeru jokes about on their way to the elevator, down the stairs.
On the opposite end is Mitsurugi, who remains watching them for a moment as she, too, returns inside. Sighing from her nose, dragging her feet, she ascends the steps instead, going to the library.
"…To be called at such late an hour, by the XO no less. To show such gestures to that girl… And he was holding back this entire time as well?"
A quiet fuming, a small ember. Slow but strong steps she takes, yet her mind remains on those exchanges. On all that he has shown them, what she thought as nothing but the tip of the iceberg regarding the mystery and skills of the one known as Shirogane Takeru.
Sadly, at this point in time Mitsurugi doesn't even know how correct and ironic her conclusion truly is.
A/N: To answer the few questions asked in the latest reviews regarding some differences between this and the previous iteration of Reversal.
Tsuhi was originally a girl as a commenter said, yes. Sadly, Teito Moyu exists and like with the rest of the franchise it throws a wrench into the plans I had for Tsuhi's characters and background, making it impossible for the story to take place as I planned had Tsuhi been female. Tsuhi's role is that of a protective ninja and Tozama rank retainer like the Three Idiots. The idea for their character came from a line in Altered Fable, when Takeru meets Maya he wonders if she also has a trio of helpers for watching over Yuuhi, and if they are the opposite of the Three Idiots much as how Maya seems to be an opposite from Mana. Keru refers to this as the 'Nega-Three Idiots' in-game, and that's where the idea for another ninja 'maid' comes from. This ninja having to be a proper choice as a retainer of who they had to be assigned to watch over necessitated that Tsuhi had to be male if I tried to stick to canon on this one. Sure, I could ignore it or handwave the issue, but if I start with one thing it might spiral into other stuff that block the plot and then this stops being a Muv-Luv fanfic and becomes something else if I simply ignore the sauce when I don't feel like it. It's kind of a fun challenge, to try and keep this diverging world as 'canon' as possible.
Regarding Raiko and Fujikagi, they are unchanged from the original Reversal. I never got to openly disclose their relevance due to the state of my writing back then, but there was an instance in which Fujikagi openly referred to Raiko as his mother. I checked in my old docs and thought to fast forward their appearance to avoid stalling the pacing and place hints earlier. But their introduction is exactly the same as in the previous version, there's no changes save for a line or two due to context.
Anyways, enough ranting. Thanks for reading, and keep staying safe over there.
Zuoriel