spot

Hey, if I can at least be a hero to Popukar... to A6...

No way. I don't have what it takes.

But...

Party! Party!

That's right. It's a party.

(Sighs audibly)

You all did great in that second round of drills. Lucky you did, too, or I would've canceled our party.

Hehe, I gave it everything I had to keep Instructor Dobermann from lecturing us for an hour.

Oh, did you now?

Uhh... Maybe seventy to eighty percent?

If I may say so, all of us performed exceptionally well today.

Of course, if I had to name one man who gave the most exceptional performance, I reluctantly nominate myself!

Oh, what a cold response. I'm hurt.

Especially you, Spot. Do you really have no thoughts whatsoever on my perfect battle performance?

Huh?

Sorry, something on my mind. Wasn't listening.

Oh, how cruel—

Okay, Midnight, shut up.

(Shrugs elegantly)

Honestly, though, I think Spot did the best out of all of us today.

Yeah!

He was acting kinda weird during the first drill, like he was trying to fight Instructor Dobermann. I was kinda worried...

But not the second one! He healed me right when I needed it, and he helped me block Instructor Dobermann!

That block was clutch.

I could tell right away the angle she was attacking from was iffy, but I didn't expect Spot to basically teleport right above her.

If he hadn't been there at that exact moment, Instructor Dobermann would've come right for me after she took down Popukar. If that happened, we would've been done for.

Indeed!

Both Spot's heroic aura during the first round and his quick wits during the second round <i>almost</i> had me playing second fiddle—

Midnight, cut the bullshit.

Spot's... not in a good mood.

Popukar told you?

(Nods)

Why... Why is everyone unhappy, all of a sudden?

Spot, was I not supposed to tell anyone about the comic—

Popukar, let's not talk about this right now, okay?

Ugh—

So—

Right, the party! Orchid, is the canteen gonna be crowded today?

Don't worry. With our meticulous Orchid leading the way, no matter how crowded the place is, we'll definitely find seats. Isn't that right?

Sure...

Spot, don't be mad, okay...? I'm sorry...

I told you already. I'm not mad.

It's just... There are some things I'm not sure I should talk about, and I haven't figured out how to talk about them.

What do you mean?

Like—Hm...

Midnight, say something.

Oh? My friend, you've finally turned to the deep well of knowledge that is my brain. The perfect place to seek inspiration.

Uh...

Sorry, this is the first time I've ever heard a guy admit his brain's full of water.

You see, Popukar? When I say 'I haven't figured out how to talk about this,' I mean I know how to say 'uh,' but not quite 'his brain's full of water.' Get it?

Anyway, I'll explain everything when we get to the canteen.

So... I didn't do anything bad?

No, you didn't.

So, can I tell everyone what happened to you?

Popukar...

It's alright. Go ahead. If you do it, that's less I have to explain myself.

Wha?

Wow, Spot, I had no idea you were so badass!

Your brigade was routed, and you still gathered two hundred men in the aftermath?

As much as it pains me to admit it, that is an achievement even I owe a standing ovation.

But why did you get so gloomy when someone learned what you did? If I were you, I would be shouting my heroic deeds from the rooftops, to everyone far and wide, showing my medal to anyone who would look.

I didn't get a medal.

He didn't pin one on you? What an oversight—

Because...

Spot picks up a dinner roll and takes a bite.

He figures that if he bites down hard, he'll gain the courage he needs here.

But he doesn't do it.

His jaws exert just as much force as usual. From chewing to swallowing, everything goes as smooth as could be.

Because I never gathered up any routed men.

That night, when the enemy came, it didn't take long before I was alone.

I took my chance and slipped out of their encirclement, and then...

Spot pauses for a moment to take a sip of juice, almost like it's intentional.

He's worried he might choke, but his mind is too occupied.

He once assumed he would keep this secret forever.

But, at this very moment, he realizes it would be more difficult to hide it from his friends, with whom he spends so much time.

There was no going against my gut feeling, no gathering the remaining forces, and no award ceremony.

I ran away. That's it.

The whole damned army hated me. They expected me to run. And it's basically my personality. I was performing my strategic function.

If I was gonna play hero, it would've spoiled the whole plot.

Spot, you don't have to talk about yourself like that.

Whatever.

What of it, Orchid? You're thinking I didn't want Popukar to tell you guys because heroics like that aren't my style, right?

Yeah... pretty much.

A moment of silence passes.

Moments of silence like this are rare for Team A6.

Spots takes a look around.

Popukar seems a bit dejected; Midnight appears frivolous as ever; Orchid looks a bit tense, stirring her coffee repeatedly with a spoon; and Catapult sits restlessly as ever.

The one and only thing that's common to all of them is that they genuinely care about him.

So... you drew the comic Popukar was talking about?

Yeah.

That brigade was stupid. I listened to my old man and went out there to suffer. I had just about as much water in my brain as Midnight does now.

The officers never saw footsoldiers as human. Every month, someone would collapse from overtraining, and in the end, we'd be shedding our blood in the pointless squabbles of the lords ameer.

The hot climate was probably the only good thing about those years. The heat dried up all the water in my brain, and finally gave me a clear enough head to realize I should just desert.

But...

What if I didn't?

For a long time, I couldn't shake the thought. And that's what gave birth to the self-glorifying doodle Popukar found.

I drew it, even fantasizing like an idiot that if I didn't desert, my old man would've come around to see me in a new light.

Spot, let me go right to the point here. As well as I know you, I can say this: that's impossible.

Midnight!

It's fine. Let him talk.