story_franka_2_1

What are you doing in Jessica's room, Vanilla?

Franka!

Ah, I'm helping her clean up.

...I guess our princess isn't going to be around the ship a lot, now that she's off at the frontier.

Yeah, Jessica and I talked it over. I'm cleaning up her room so I can mail her her stuff.

Need any help?

No, I borrowed a few gadgets from Engineering. I can handle this on my own.

Guess you're not that little girl who used to walk into automatic doors anymore.

Teehee.

Franka.

Hm?

Do you think Jessica was wrong?

She told you to ask me that, didn't she?

...Yeah.

Still worrying what other people think, even after making a decision like <i>that</i>?

I can't tell if she's actually grown up or not.

...I really admire her.

She's willing to leave everything behind...

Heh, no need to rush to her defense.

Jessica has her fair share of problems, but she knows what she's doing.

I've known from the start that she's not the kind of person I need to be worrying about.

I just didn't expect her to make a decision so soon.

Soon?

Yeah. She's barely twenty. Practically a baby.

She has plenty of time ahead of her.

Hm...

But it's not a bad thing.

Sure beats being someone who could never make a choice at all.

I'm sorry!

What?

I've been thinking about my future too, but I couldn't come to a decision...

Oh. Sorry, I wasn't talking about you.

Huh?

You're pretty young too, aren't you?

I was taking about...

...Who was I talking about again?

I'll go look for a Messenger to make the delivery.

Go ahead.

It's me.

A mission? I'll be there right away.

Find something to pass the time between missions.

Should be easy enough, she thinks.

As she prepares to leave the room, she hears a voice that makes her stop in her tracks.

I understand.

No, my plans haven't changed.

I still want to form my own security company.

Mr. Cliff wants to speak to me?

Understood. I'll return to HQ tomorrow.

Franka?

Normally, she would go over to her partner and make a face at her.

Maybe even play a practical joke or two, if she was in a good mood.

But today—

Yes, she's aware.

...I know.

I'll discuss it with her.

...What am I running away from?

Franka?

Good timing. I'm going back to HQ.

Something happen?

Like I told you before, I'm planning to talk to Mr. Cliff.

So you've made up your mind?

Yes. Seeing Jessica's courage made me feel like I should be braver, too.

It's a fine line between courage and recklessness. Sure you're ready to face the 'Clip'?

I don't mind coming with, for moral support.

...No, I've got to get used to it.

You don't have a deceptive bone in your body. You don't stand a chance against that sly old man.

You're in a bad mood today, aren't you?

And what does that have to do with anything?

I've been around you long enough to pick up a thing or two about reading people.

Looks like the teacher's pet has grown up, too.

Franka.

Hm?

We need to talk when I get back.

You serious?

Am I ever not?

I'll be gone for a month or so. See you.

Okay, fine, maybe I'm not in the best mood.

Report.

The intel was good. The bandits have taken the workers hostage and are holed up in the depot.

They have equipment and numbers, but there are plenty of holes in their defenses.

I'm sending you a map of the buildings and sentry positions.

Received.

Whew...

What is it?

I was worried that you and Liskarm would be wasted at a pharmaceutical company.

But now I can see that what you do hasn't really changed.

You could've taken it easy if you applied to Logistics or HR, you know.

No way. Field Operator pays well. Better than at Blacksteel, anyway.

And I've always wanted to try my hand at this.

Being on the frontlines is no game.

Which is why I applied to join a mission with you two leading the charge.

Can't wait to study the veterans in action.

There isn't much worth learning on the battlefield.

It's not a place to spend your life.

Doesn't matter, knowledge is money, no matter where it comes from.

I want to make money while I can, so I'll have the freedom to do what I want.

And what's that?

Well, I haven't decided yet.

But I will.

Must be nice to be young.

You're not that much older than me.

Says the girl who's been my junior at both Blacksteel and Rhodes Island.

What, would you like a massage? A back rub?

No thanks.

I'm sending over the operation plan now.

Wow, that was quick!

And really detailed!

I hope you've learned to respect your elders.

I've always respected you, oh venerable one.

Team A will pin the enemy from the front, while Team B rescues the hostages.

Do you have enough people to pin them down?

Based on earlier intel, their leader is very cautious and may choose to flee if we deploy too many.

We don't want to have to chase them through the hills.

Still, this few people in Team A...

Oh, did no one ever tell you this?

'Keep an eye on Franka when Liskarm's away. Don't let her do anything reckless.'

Er... just to be clear...

Yeah, I know. You didn't hear that from Liskarm herself.

Our honor student would have said it to my face.

But I guess we've been partners for too long.

So long that even Rhodes Island likes to stick us together.

Isn't that a good thing?

Why would you think that?

Isn't it comforting to be with someone you can trust?

You have a tendency to seek thrills in battle, leading you to take dangerous actions.

While Liskarm is cautious and tries to stop you.

You often argue, but are the perfect partners to complete any missions assigned to you.

That's what they say about you two back at Blacksteel, anyway.

Well, they're not wrong.

The two of us have gotten used to it, is all.

The Vulpo sighs.

Most new Blacksteel members choose a standard-issue weapon when they join.

She picked a shortsword for self-defense, but the rapier remained her main weapon.

As time went on, people started to believe that she only used the rapier.

In fact, she is skilled with the shortsword too.

But it's been so long that even she herself has almost forgotten.

Let's do this quickly.

Franka pinned the enemy down while the rest of us rescued the hostages.

Then I turned around to see that they had surrounded her.

What?!

My heart was practically in my throat at that point.

They weren't very well-equipped, but they had the advantage of numbers.

And they all wanted a piece of her after realizing they'd been fooled.

But Franka just stood there like there was nothing to worry about.

I thought maybe Liskarm's absence had made her go over the edge...

But then—

Then?

This is an exclusive scoop. You didn't expect to hear it for free, did you?

Almond makes a money sign with her hand and smiles slyly.

...Alright, alright!

Ouch!

You shouldn't be trying to make money off other people's stories.

This is just an efficient use of resources!

Oh, Liskarm! You're back.

Mm-hm.

Were you talking about Franka?

Yup.

I want to hear it too.

Fine, fine, this one's on the house.

Thanks!

Man, I'm starting to feel guilty.

Anyway!

Franka was in the middle of the fray, while I was on the tower after getting the hostages out.

We didn't plan any strict timing. She shouldn't have known where I was.

But I saw her wink directly at me.

With her gaze, she drew my attention to a teetering building on the other side.

Right next to the bandits.

I got the message instantly.

She didn't show herself just for the thrill of it. She lured them there on purpose.

She even predicted that I would show up right where I did!

It's no superpower. She simply expected that enough time would have elapsed for you or some other team member to show up.

What if we got delayed though?

Then she might have rendezvoused with you, or she might have had a Plan B.

If I were in her shoes, I might have set up explosives in the building.

Come to think of it, she did ask me for some explosives...

Anyway, there was something different about Franka on this mission.

Calm, reliable... not to say she's not normally reliable, but—

Where is she now?

She shut herself in her room after she got back.

Yeah... I wanted to celebrate with her.

...I'll go find her.

Almond is probably running her mouth off right about now.

Bah, it's none of my business.

Her mother's letter lies on the table.

She regularly sends her mother money and answers every question she has. She loves her.

But there are two questions that she always evades.

How long do you plan on risking your life as a mercenary?

When are you coming home?

They are, in fact, the same question.

She knows her mother is asking out of love, but these two questions mean more to her than anyone can imagine.

The Vulpo turns on the old record player that she got from Croissant.

Then, she sinks herself into the soft bed, as though trying to fall into an abyss where no one knows her.

She has never considered herself unprepared for the future.

She believes she is enjoying every second of the present.

But she felt a sense of loss when Jessica decided to go to the frontier. When Liskarm decided to form her own security company.

It isn't about uncertainty. She knows exactly where she should be heading.

It's—

She knows who this polite and rhythmic knocking belongs to.

She knows I'm in here, and where I left the spare key.

Underneath the flower pot by the door.

Then, she'll open it up without hesitation.

Maybe I should change where I hide the key.

This isn't like you, Franka.

And what would be?

...Anything but this.

Are you free right now, Teacher's Pet?

I wouldn't have come looking for you if I wasn't.

We haven't sparred in a while, have we?

So you just laid out all your ideals. As usual.

I don't know any other way.

Well, I guess it suits you better than trying to sweet talk him.

So how did it go?

Not great. Mr. Cliff is not fond of my choice.

But he did say he wouldn't mind having a far-off partner.

There's no such thing as a real partnership between security companies. Once you leave Blacksteel, you're no friend of them.

I know.

The two of them walk towards opposite ends of the training ground.

You heard about it from Laura.

Yes.

I know why you want to spar all of a sudden.

So we'll spar to your heart's content today.

Aren't you getting a little carried away, Teacher's Pet?

I mean exactly what I said.

Sword and shield meet with a loud clang.

I also saw a few friends that I've kept in touch with since my trainee days.

Many of them are willing to come with me.

So you went back for a class reunion?

Not exactly, we just had a few chats.

They all asked about you.

Me?

You always call me 'honor student' or 'teacher's pet,' but you were the one who was always at the top of the class.

Being an honor student isn't exactly a good thing for a warrior.

I disliked you from the moment I laid eyes on you.

I know.

I remember the first time we faced off in a simulation.

What did I say?

You said, 'Let's see if the teacher's pet is so perfect in a real fight.'

That's when it all started.

You sure can hold a grudge.

You could always stop calling me that.

No way.

They know each other's moves well. The sound of weapons clanging against one another fills the room.

I mean, why would someone who's neither a wannabe warlord nor an arms dealer become a mercenary?

I still wonder that.

I don't need to hear that from someone who says she became one for the thrill of it.

Looks like our teacher's pet has learned a retort or two.

I learned from the best.

I saw the letter when I stepped into the room.

You haven't been back for years.

I don't know what to say when I see her.

I thought you got along well enough with your mother.

More than well enough. I love her, and she loves me.

She encouraged me to do what I wanted, and never forced me to do anything I didn't.

She spoiled me into the woman I am today.

I can see that.

There are a lot of mercenaries like me, at least in terms of personality.

But very few like you, who seek out danger rather than avoid it.

It took me a long time to realize why.

You could do that because you can afford to live a carefree life.

Yeah, you should see the pictures of me from when I was little.

Not to gloat, but you've never seen a more pampered princess.

Er, thanks, but no thanks.

Well, I'm not sure I have any of those around anyway.

I'm sure Mom kept them, though.

But the more I enjoy what I have now, the more afraid I am of seeing her.

I shouldn't have left her.

I should have stayed with her, started a little shop. All I needed was enough income to make a living.

But I couldn't resist my longing for... all this.

Franka points at her sword, then turns around to look at the spacious training ground.

She was worried about me when I was a freelance mercenary.

So she sent me off to Blacksteel training camp with a smile.

But I know she cried as soon as I was out of sight.

Are you afraid you won't be able to leave once you go see her?

I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to stop myself from arguing with her.

Even though we love each other so much.

...I thought you were just in a bad mood.

Apparently you're in a <i>very</i> bad mood.

All these years, and I've never heard you talk so much.

Yeah, our thing was always you talk, and I laugh at you.

Your condition isn't getting worse, is it?

Don't worry, I'm fine.

It's not any better, but it's not worse either.

I've gotten used to touching the hard bits when I take a shower.

Maybe I've gone crazy though. Who knows?

Not everyone needs a grand dream or ideal.

Feeling myself grow in battle, playing pranks on the people around me—

That's enough for me.

From Blacksteel to Rhodes Island, I think I've been more happy than not.

And I thought I could go on like this.

Until you and Jessica both made your choices.

Then I realized I really, really couldn't.

So I had to ask myself—

Where do I go from here?

Everything came so easily to you, Franka. Everyone admired you.

Myself included.

...Wait, really? You?

Yes, me.

The one who pulled me back on our first mission?

It didn't stop me from thinking you took way too many risks.

For a long time, I didn't quite understand why I partnered with you. But now I've started to.

I could never tell what you were thinking, but I always wanted to know...

What kind of outlook on life did someone like you have, someone who is so different from me?

Maybe I instinctively realized that I could learn a lot from you.

I don't remember you learning <i>anything</i> from me.

I've learned plenty. Combat skills, witty retorts... maybe a positive mindset?

Or maybe it would be more accurate to say you forced me to pick them up on my own, to keep up with you.

Take that mission you went on with Laura...

You're Franka.

You might look like you need someone to back you up, but you really don't.

All you needed was someone to give you a little push.

Are you... breaking up with me?

I just wanted you to let you know—

You don't need to worry about me.

Well, you've definitely learned how to get on my nerves, at least.

I learned from the best.

The Thermite Blade pops out of her hand, drawing a dangerous arc as it flies through the air, while the Flash Shield slips from the Vouivre's hand and falls to the ground.

A draw, as usual.

But Franka did not pick up her weapon while making fun of Liskarm, as she normally did.

She simply stands there, lost in thought.

Liskarm waits.

Finally, Franka breaks the silence.

You said you needed to talk with me.

You want to invite me to join your new security company, don't you?

Correct.

Well, I'm not going.

Not yet.

Okay.

Liskarm picks up the Thermite Blade, and Franka the Flash Shield, and they both toss them to the other.

My condition has mostly stabilized.

I want to take a long vacation. Go home and spend some time with my mom.

Maybe have a big fight with her.

And then... I think I'm going to go on a long trip.

A long-term field mission, maybe, to some place far away.

You might even have your company up and running by the time I get back.

Then when the time comes, I'll invite you to hang out.

Don't get ahead of yourself.

Oh?

<i>You're</i> the one who followed me to Rhodes Island, remember?

Maybe someday, after I leave this place, I'll go shamelessly hang out at your office without asking.

Sorry, but you know me. Rules are more important than relationships.

Well, then I guess I'll hang out <i>outside</i> your office and put up a sign with all your most embarrassing secrets.

...How the hell did I end up getting to know someone like you?

You know, that's a great question. My condolences.

So what's for lunch?

Who's buying?

You—

Fine, me. Just for today.