kirara

I know, right? I heard in seventh grade, she was absent, uh, so much she almost repeated. She never showed up to class. Everyone thought she did something to make the school suspend her, like literally, everyone.

*snort* Apparently she likes those little plastic figures too. What if she was just secretly doing something, like, <i>gross</i> at home? Wow... creepy.

And her name totally doesn't fit, right? Like, you know you see it and you think Kirara, like she's gonna be this sparkly kinda pretty girl? But actually, she's just Kirara the weird downcast depresso. Such a buzzkill.

Her face? She never even lifts her head, who knows what her face is like...?

Kirara, the school has resolved that we can't tolerate you being absent from class again like last year.

If you can't adapt to school life, we may have to consider getting in touch with your parents about you repeating a year, or even withdrawing from school entirely...

...Stop looking.

Stop looking at me.

Stop looking at me like that.

I...

No...

I, I d... I don't know...

(I can't breathe...)

(What am I doing? Just say your words, come on, you're not at school here...)

Uh, ah... I'd like to suggest—

B—Bad news!!

The bandits! The bandits are back! They're surrounding the entrance, they've hurt some of us too...

What?!

There's wounded? Where? I need you to take me there immediately!

Guess that's that. I'm coming too.

Hey, Kirara.

Don't keep us waiting too long.

(Freaking Utage talking, it's like she understands everything.)

(What's the deal? I haven't figured this out myself yet...)

(No, I can't just stand here like an idiot, I've got to do something or other and it's simple as that!)

Urgh...

Eek!

Don't make such a fuss.

Ssss... owowow, I can feel my wound.

Akafuyu?! You're up?!

How's your wound, are you okay? D-D-D-Don't move! Quick, lie down!

Just lie back down, I'll call for Honeyberry right away—

Come back, you needn't call anyone!

I can hold on... I actually awoke quite a time ago, and I heard everything you talked about. No great issues press me—my body simply wouldn't heed me somewhat.

If the bandits that assaulted me have delivered themselves to me, then good! Watch me cut them down!

Ourgh!

Tsss...

No, okay, great issues are <i>extremely</i> pressing you!

Quit moving! Aaaahh okay okay your wound's bleeding again... Stay still, put the katana down!

You're in no condition to fight right now, at all, whatsoever! You think you're some kinda fighting game protag? As long as your health bar's not empty yet you're completely unaffected, is that it, huh??

Tch... There, you can talk quite fine, can't you.

What do we do, then? If I cannot go, I fear Utage will buckle before long.

Are you saying you have some plan?

I—I've come up with it, kind of, but...

I don't think I can do it...

Fool. What is it you're so afraid of?

What? I'm not...

You are.

Out with your ideas! I will judge as the captain whether or not they work!

On what basis do you say you can't do it? These squad members were handpicked by me. Are you saying I could not discern properly?

Wait, wait, I didn't I wasn't... You're twisting my words against me!

Yes, indeed. What is it? If you have objections, speak and let me hear.

(Nnnnrgghh—)

(What the hell is her deal—!)

I see you as quite the strategizer. I've never bested you once in that regard!

But those were games...

Split no hairs. I recall you also discussed tactical command with that Doctor at one point?

But that was on the topic of games too!

And they've taught you plenty applicable in practice, no?!

Enough tarrying! Eyes wide! It's simple as this: will you do it?

I've told you that I am the one who will judge here! I am your general in this moment, and you are my counsel. Now hasten in offering your advice!

Huff... hah...

What... even... stammering...

......hear how quiet...

...absent......did something...

...likes those......secretly...

...totally doesn't fit......weird downcast... buzzkill...

...who knows... like...

...school has resolved...

If...

Shut up.

Oh my god shut up.

I don't care what people say, I don't give a care...

Yeah. Yeah, okay. Didn't I already decide?

(Deep breath)

I'll talk, I'll freaking talk okay?! Stop making this scene such a big emotional deal, does it seriously not embarrass you when everything starts hitting you like lines from a visual novel?!

I'll say it, I'm totally gonna say it!

I think we can—

Someone else is hurt! Please get the wounded over to me, faster!

Sorry, but I can't hold them off for too long either. We're gonna get surrounded like this.

Seriously, are our drugs worth this much?

Compared to other medications on the market, we sell really cheap... and the efficacy's guaranteed.

Oh, so that's why we send a whole squad on deliveries all the time.

Yes...

It's not just an issue of money. Medications like these are difficult to buy on the market period, so...

That's why there's Infected among the people robbing too.

Yes.

Isn't there anything we can do...?

O—Oh, right! That pink-haired girl had me set up a machine earlier! Is there something we can do with that?

Machine?

I didn't hear anything about that.

Me neither.

I think I'm getting deja vu.

But...!

Oh, if you wanna know about that...

Why don't we just make her explain it herself?

Right, that's the Miss who asked us to do everything!

(Phew... it's okay, I can do this, I can speak, it's okay...)

—Everyone, listen to me!

I have a plan.