Story 01 / Collection 1: We shouldn't be doing this

I love you (but I won't tell you).

"I have such a newfound respect for military servicemen now," Tolle claimed as he leaned forward in his seat to look sincerely at the blue-haired officer sitting across from them. "Your work is so intense, how do you handle all that stress?"

Miriallia looked from her boyfriend to the man across the table he was talking to, who gave them an easy smile, "You'll get used to it over time."

He was Chief Petty Officer Arnold Neumann, helmsman of the ship they were on—a person immensely crucial to their survival with the enemy forces hot on their tail. With the limited personnel operating such a large warship, Miriallia and her friends had volunteered to help out and were just starting to get to know the crew.

By first impressions, Arnold was a man who seemed quiet and reserved, usually sporting a calm and impassive look on his face and minding his own business. But the first time they engaged him in conversation, they found that he was actually a very nice guy who seemed to be much more capable than he let on. Tolle had been assigned to help him at the helm, and Miriallia was thankful that he was taking good care of Tolle and giving the solid guidance that he really needed.

"Remember that you're not professionally trained soldiers, just stay focused on executing your tasks and leave the decision-making to the officers."

Tolle looked to the ceiling as though taking his advice in, but then let out a defeated sigh. "I don't think I'll ever get used to Ensign Badgiruel yelling at me."

Miriallia did not know if she should laugh or be sorry for Tolle. She knew he was trying hard, but he really was not cut out for this. "She wouldn't have to yell at you if you paid more attention to what you were doing."

Arnold nodded his head lightly in agreement, and proceeded to give them a bit more insight into the ship's second-in-charge. "She comes from a long-standing and prominent military family. She's very competent and disciplined, and she'll expect you to give your best, even if you're just students. After all, we're in a situation where any mistake can be the difference between life and death. And we're talking about all the lives on this ship—including the civilians."

It was the truth, and Miriallia suddenly realised she never gave thought about how critical every decision made in the bridge was until Arnold put it into perspective for her. She was the same as Tolle, and had felt that the ensign was at times being unnecessarily harsh at them; they all preferred the captain's gentle approach, but Arnold was the first person who defended the ensign and helped them understand the necessity of her. Miriallia had also noticed for a while now that amongst the Archangel crew, Arnold seemed to have a particularly good relationship with her, often being seen in her company.

"Officer Neumann, do you know the ensign well?"

He thought for a quick moment, and answered, "We've worked together even before being assigned to the Archangel."

"Are you two close?"

Arnold took another second before giving a measured response. "We work well together."

He avoided giving her a straight answer twice, and Miriallia knew something was up. She had always prided herself in her good instincts and keen eye when it came to all things related to romantic relationships.

"Miri, what are you asking?" Tolle queried curiously next to her, but she ignored him and kept her focus on Arnold. "Officer Neumann, do you like Ensign Badgiruel?"

Tolle made a shocked sound while Arnold kept a poker face, but Miri swore she saw his shoulders flinch a little. If anyone was up for a game, she was willing to bet whatever personal belongings she still had on him having feelings for the ensign.

"Ah, how nice it is to be young. You two can carry on with whatever you're doing as much as you want, but don't go spreading rumours about the crew," he warned in a tone that was light-hearted and serious at the same time, and turned to look away from them. "A warship is no place for romance."

The last part sounded to Miriallia more like a warning to himself. She was vaguely aware there were all sorts of rules about fraternisation within the military, and she wondered if he said that as a reminder to keep his feelings in check, or to protect the ensign from unnecessary gossip—or possibly even both.

She was seeing it more and more now.

He would speak with more regard when talking to the ensign, in a careful manner that he did not employ even when talking to Captain Ramius or Lieutenant Fllaga, and it was because he cared about her opinion of him more than anyone else's.

He would always gravitate towards her, no matter if they were on or off duty, and it was not because she was his superior and he was her subordinate; he simply made the effort to be beside her to ensure he was there for anything she needed or wanted.

And he held those feelings close to his heart, hiding behind the veneer of professionalism, just so she would not in any way be affected by them.

This was a kind of love that was considerate and sensible, in a very adult-like manner, yet at the same time there was an awkward boyishness to the way he moved slowly, carefully towards love, but still stumbling with each step.

Miriallia thought it was beautiful, if not a little sad.

"I won't say anything," she promised him with an answer that was rather open to his interpretation.

He sent a knowing smile her way, one that she could not tell if it was of appreciation or of dismissal, but his attention was quickly taken by two people entering the mess hall.

She turned around to see the subject of their conversation walking towards them with Petty Officer Jackie Tonomura following behind.

"Officer Neumann," she greeted him curtly.

"Ensign," he replied with the smallest hint of a smile. "Are you here for lunch?"

"Yes."

Arnold nodded. "The dessert they're serving today is quite nice, I think you'll enjoy it."

Miriallia had only best wishes for Arnold, but if the tepidness of this conversation was anything to go by, she struggled to imagine the ensign reciprocating his feelings. She supposed it should be expected, with the ensign being so serious and proper.

But when Miriallia saw the warm smile she returned to Arnold, she believed there was a silver lining.

Side story: The spectator

"Ensign!" Tonomura called out to the dark-haired woman walking in front of him as he caught up to her. "Are you heading to lunch? Can I come with you?"

She turned her attention to him with a puzzled look, as though finding his request odd. "Sure, if you want to," she quickly responded, and continued on her way.

Tonomura was not surprised by his direct superior's reaction. Even before being assigned to the Archangel, Natarle Badgiruel had a reputation for being strict, demanding, and aloof, and she was used to people keeping distance for fear of incurring her disdain. Tonomura himself actually even had a bit of a breakdown when he first received his assignment and found out he was reporting to her.

But meeting her in person left a completely different impression.

The first thing that came to mind was 'Damn, she's hot.' Very unprofessional; yes he knew.

Then she started speaking to him, and he thought, 'Don't think I'll mind being ordered around in that voice.'

Ten minutes in, and he was already crushing painfully hard on his new direct superior. The blue-haired man standing behind her looked at him with an unimpressed face that said he had seen this all before. Said blue-haired man turned out to be his colleague, Arnold Neumann, who was also serving under Natarle and had been assigned to his post two months before him.

In the following months of working together, Tonomura felt the three of them actually made a good team. Arnold was a great guy to work with, balancing out their superior's face-paced drive for results and Tonomura's own idealistic enthusiasm with a realistic, calculated approach. He had a quick mind and a sharp tongue, was insightfully helpful when he needed to be, but preferred to work quietly in the background.

As for Natarle, after having spent so much time getting to know her, Tonomura wondered why people thought it was a problem that she was strict, demanding, and aloof, if she was also capable, intelligent, and fair. She kept him on his toes, but sometimes, in the fleeting moments when she let her guard down, he realised she could actually be a pretty thoughtful person. She was just so interesting, and the fascination he had with her grew day by day into almost an obsession, like he found a new hobby and just could not get enough of it.

But his head was still clear enough to know that a silly crush was all it was going to be.

Every time he saw the way she looked at Arnold—and the way he looked at her—was a reaffirmation that his feelings were never going to bear fruit.

The piercing stare that characterised her would falter a little whenever she set her eyes on him. Her commanding voice would carry a hint of softness that was reserved only for him. There was always an unseen boundary drawn around her, an empty space within her circumference that she did not let anyone in—until he arrived by her side, and she would let him fill that space as if it was his all along.

Did she know she was in love with him?

But even if she was clueless, it would not matter. To anyone who knew what to look for, the clues were all there, and they would no doubt come to the conclusion that no matter how long it took the two of them, they would for sure find their way to each other. It was like there was an unseeable string tying their fates together, never pulling them with too much force, yet never letting them stray too far either.

How far could they go anyway, being stuck on the same ship for the foreseeable future?

So it was no surprise when Tonomura and Natarle finally arrived at the mess hall, the first thing she noticed was Arnold sitting at a table with Tolle and Miriallia.

There it was again, the string of destiny working its magic.

She headed over towards them and greeted Arnold, and he said something about today's desserts that made her smile; she had a sweet tooth for sure, but Tonomura knew it was his words—not the dessert—that pleased her.

"In that case," Tonomura jumped in, "shall we go get our food, ensign? I think Neumann's shift is starting soon, so he'll be leaving anyway."

His reminder had her straightening herself with realisation. "You're right," she responded, before looking to Arnold to say, "I shouldn't take up any more of your time."

She turned around to leave, and Tonomura followed suit; in the corner of his eye, he caught Arnold sending a glacial glare at him but pretended not to see it.

Tonomura knew, contrary to his usual friendliness, Arnold was unforgiving when it came to anything involving Natarle, as though he saw enemies of all sorts everywhere—which Tonomura suspected was not entirely untrue either, especially if he took an honest look at himself. But she was going to be his anyway; what harm would it do then, if Tonomura just allowed himself to steal a few moments here and there?

[Prompt title 1: 不器用な恋 / Clumsy love]

Author's note

Arnold is here, Tolle is here, Tonomura is here; don't ask me who's at the helm right now, I have no idea. Also, fraternisation laws are a thing (to a certain degree) in this fic.

On a completely unrelated (and unimportant) note, the side story also contains elements from the old version of the prompts, in case it felt familiar.