act7d5

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04:22 P.M. \ Clear

Rhodes Island Landship, Compartment 5, Training Grounds

Hoo! Hah!

Cleave! Thrust! Swing!

Phew... Haah...

That... concludes... *Pant* *pant*... today's training.

Know your limits. You're pushing yourself too hard.;......;Here, have a sports drink.

No, phew.... Don't worry! I'm a-okay, Doctor.

I know myself. And I'm well within my limits here.

Instructor Dobermann and Liskarm helped me work out a training schedule, so you don't have to worry!

*Pant*... *pant*...

Huh? What's the matter, Doctor? Why do you look so worried?

Really, I'm fine! It's hard, but I can handle it!

Phew... *pant*... thanks.

Haah.... Okay, I'm good. But this drink, ugh, it really tastes terrible.

Dobermann made it very clear I'm supposed to drink this after exercise, and so has Franka, but it really tastes awful!

The operators training here always work so hard. I have to go all out. I can't hold anyone back.

Oh, by the way, Doctor, I'm going on a mission with the other Blacksteel girls in a couple of days and won't be training here for a while. So thanks so much for everything you've done for me here!

You look like you have something to say.

Hah, perceptive as always, Doctor... Am I so easy to read?

Well, I'm really glad to go on a Blacksteel mission. It's just...

I, uh, I have a few pets, and, uh, I usually take care of them. But when I'm on a mission, I have to ask other people to do it.

I usually ask the other Blacksteel girls.

Liskarm and Franka help most of the time, but they're always on missions together, and taking R&R together.

If one's gone, so is the other.

Franka likes to joke around, but she's actually really reliable. Puffball, Tiny, Kuro, and Stout all really love Franka!

Sometimes Jessica takes care of them, if I can't find those two. But, um, this one time, Kuro kind of startled her, and I think she was going to cry.

Can I ask...?

What exactly are these 'pets'?

Huh.

Didn't I bring Puffball and the gang around to meet you, Doctor?

Puffball, Tiny, and Kuro are all Originium snails. And Stout is a Sargon Desert Metal Crab, and every last one of them is cute as a button!

Hm? What's wrong, Doctor?

Oh no... I know that look in your eyes, Doctor. No! No! No! No! You can't eat them! Not Puffball, not Tiny, not Kuro, not Stout! You can't eat any of them! I know you've been eating all kinds of weird stuff behind Dr. Kal'tsit's back!

(I was going to ask you to take care of them. But now? Hmph. No way.)

What am I going to do? We're all going out together this time. What's going to happen to my babies?

Hmmm.... The other operators are all busy with their own things, so I can't just go up and ask them out of nowhere, can I?

Couldn't hurt to try?

Like, try asking the next one who walks by.

Huh? Take this seriously!

You're joking, right, Doctor?!

Who will it be...? Ooh, I hope it's someone reliable...

Someone's coming.

Their footsteps... are very light! With a steady pace, very steady. It must be a great warrior!

Huh? What's that fragrance?

I remember this scent, it's...

Melantha!

Ah?!

Y-yes, it's me.

Good afternoon, Doctor, Vanilla.

Erm, so... what can I do for you?

Sorry, it's kind of unusual for you to ask me for something. I just...

Not at all! You're a big help, Melantha! Thank you so much!

It's nothing. And actually I'm just going to ask Steward.

But really, I'm glad I could help.

Oh.

(She's blushing!)

Haha. Melantha is so timid off the battlefield.

Don't worry, I'll take great care of Vanilla's pets.

Thank you so much for your trouble!

Thanks, Steward.

Think nothing of it. I really won't have you standing on ceremony. We're friends.

H- how could we be friends? You two have been with Rhodes Island for so long, you're far more senior than me!

Does company seniority matter so much...?

Oh, by the way, is Melantha also going on this mission?

None of my superiors mentioned it...

Yes, I am.

It was decided kind of suddenly. They only just told me.

It was Master, err, Franka, who said she wanted to see how my swordsmanship was coming along. The timing was right, so she applied to have me join the team.

Oh, Franka? She's been teaching you her sword techniques?

Yes.

Is she actually a good teacher...?

I know she's really reliable, but I hope she isn't a bad influence on a good girl like Melantha.

Oh no, the more I think about it, the more worried I get!

Not at all! Franka likes to play around, but she's very serious when it comes to sword fighting.

It's all thanks to Franka that I've come as far as I have. She's a great influence on me!

Oh....

...Sorry, I may have gone a bit overboard.

You two are actually pretty close.

But I'm glad to know that Franka is a good teacher anyway. I won't worry.

Franka is a great swordmaster. I've never seen her lose a sparring match to anyone in Blacksteel.

Master is amazing. I have a lot more to learn.

Oh, right. Sorry, but it's time for me to go.

I have an appointment with Ansel for a routine checkup today.

Routine checkup?

Yes. For Oripathy...

...Oh.

What, again? Didn't you just get checked the day before yesterday?

And Medical gave you a new drug after the last checkup, right?

Yes. It's because they want to keep tabs on my new medication.

Nothing to worry about. Dr. Warfarin says my infection is under control.

...I'm glad.

You better get going for now.

Thanks again! We could get tea when you're done with your checkup, if you have time?

Oh, tea...? Erm, yeah! Sounds good!

It's a date!

Thank you again for your help, Steward.

And thank you, Vanilla.

Me? Huh?