-1: 30
Rapi's private room in the dormitories.
At the moment, Anis, Neon, Marian, and Endless were sorting things out while their commander was away.
Apparently, they were arranging schedules.
...Well, Anis and Marian were. Neon and Endless were mostly just there for moral support.
But since Rapi wasn't needed, she excused herself and returned to her room.
Once inside, she pulled out her journal and started writing. As she did...
'Isn't this funny? You wanted to become me and you ended up with a squad that bickered just as much as mine did, Rapi.'
...A familiar voice she thought long gone echoed in her head. A voice that had suddenly reappeared recently after meeting her commander.
Rapi idly flipped through her journal, reading the memories and experiences that Red Hood had shared since she reappeared in Rapi's mind. Then Rapi said, "...You really aren't a hallucinating. I've confirmed that I'm not suffering a Mind Switch or Corruption. And even if I have, Commander would have noticed."
'Hell yeah that guy would have noticed. He's pretty ridiculous, you know? He and Snow would have gotten along... The Snow I remember, I mean. The Snow you met is...'
Rapi sat down on her bed and flipped through the journal at the sketches of the people Red Hood shared via her memories.
Dorothy, who she called Snooty.
Snow White, who Red Hood referenced as Snow.
Rapunzel, the pure maiden that Red Hood went out of her way to try and corrupt into a lewd maiden.
Scarlet, the swordswoman whose skill was enough to cut through Raptures in close quarters.
Their leader, the unstoppable Liliweiss.
And then their commander. The one history knew as the Legendary Commander, but who THEY knew as Deputy Chief Andersen.
Rapi stared at the images of the last two. And as she did, she pulled out her phone, glancing at a candid photo she had taken of Commander Hoopa. "...You're right. He really is similar."
Andersen's light brown hair and blue eyes.
Hoopa shared those. But they were fairly common features... or so it seemed.
But with the haircut, and the facial features...
Hoopa was a dead-ringer for the commander Red Hood remembered.
'RIGHT? It's uncanny! But more than that, look at the way he's standing! And the way he's holding his body weight! Scroll through those training photos!'
Rapi listened to Red Hood and scrolled through her gallery at the photos of Hoopa testing out various blades.
A complete ease in his body. Not tense, but relaxed as if nothing could harm him. A 'certainty' that in one-on-one encounters he would come out victorious. And that even in a full ambush he would be able to at least escape.
But more than that was the habit that even Hoopa didn't realize he did.
After defeating an enemy and putting away his weapons, Rapi's Commander dusted off his hands.
A meaningless action. A subconscious action.
One that Liliweiss had always done in Red Hood's memories.
"...This doesn't make sense." Rapi murmured and closed her journal.
'You're telling me! Then again, our situation doesn't make sense either.'
Red Hood's laughter echoed in Rapi's head.
Hearing the nostalgic sound, Rapi let out a warm smile. "Well. That's true."
Rapi compared Hoopa's picture to sketch of a younger Andersen and a sketch of Liliweiss. And as she did, she couldn't help but notice the similarities.
The facial features, hair, hair color, and eye color were all Andersen's. But the shape of Hoopa's eyes, the shape of his lips, and his smile... all of those were the same as Liliweiss's.
Nobody had noticed.
But nobody had been around who knew both Andersen and Liliweiss closely.
Rapi supposed that Snow White might have had suspicions... that would explain her goodwill towards them. But since it appeared that she had undergone a Mind Switch, Snow White didn't seem to clearly recall those times.
Moreover...
"...The timing doesn't match up. And Nikke can't have children."
Rapi murmured, speaking to Red Hood.
'Yeah. That's why it's weird. Unless Lilith froze her eggs or something and Boss was a sperm donor... I mean, I guess it's possible? Lilith was pretty incredible. Maybe the higher ups did some unethical experimenting? Wouldn't put it past me.'
That WOULD explain it.
And Rapi knew firsthand that the Central Government didn't have qualms about experimentation.
Paired with Commander Hoopa's own admissions of not having clear memories and his suspicions of being targeted for death around the same time he met Marian...
"...Well." Rapi shut her journal and then carefully locked it away in a safebox. "Whatever the case, Commander is our Commander."
Even if he turned out to be some superhuman experiment by the Central Government in hybridizing a Nikke with a human, the fact remained that Commander Hoopa was their commander.
Moreover...
"You know." Rapi smiled. "Commander's a lot like you."
'Is he? It's a bit weird in here right now so I haven't gotten a chance to see him for myself. But if you say so, it must be true.'
"Yes." Rapi chuckled. "He's stubborn, audacious, runs headlong into enemies... but he believes in willpower. That we are the choices we make- No, the thing that makes choices. You would have gotten along with him."
'Is that so? Does he like country music?'
Rapi paused. Then she hummed. "I could ask him?"
'Do it!'
Rapi smiled and texted her commander. It was a simple question. 'Do you like Country music?'
The response was immediate, even though he must have been busy.
===
[My Dear Commander]
Of COURSE I like country music! Favorite song is Last Night by Morgan Wallen, but in general, it's good music to wake up to. Very much morning vibes.
Anyway, about to walk into Chief Andersen's office.
Enjoy your break, keep the girls calm, love you.
P.S. Attached some photos I think you'd like. Small gifts.
===
Rapi blinked and then opened the attachments to reveal three photos.
The first was a scenic photo of an alleyway lit by the artificial sky, making it look like an entry into a fairytale.
The second was a close up of the Botanic Garden's private flowerbed... probably one he snuck in to take on his way to the Deputy Chief's office. And she could tell that because Hana's helpless face was reflected on a shiny water pail in the photo.
And the last was a photo of a pastry shop. A different one from the place that had a Nikkephobic shop assistant. This one seemed warmer, and the owner, a young woman with black hair, was happily waving.
Just as Rapi had finished looking at the photos, a follow up text showed up on her phone.
===
[My Dear Commander]
I noticed you were sketching recently, so I figured this would be good reference material. Take care. K, bye for real.
===
'Oh he's GOOD. Hahaha. Definitely Boss's kid for sure.'
Rapi saved the photos and screenshotted the texts. "...My Commander is thoughtful. That's for certain."
'Mm... it's good. You're a bit more lively now. I don't have to worry about anything anymore.'
Rapi paused. "...If you're going to do something dramatic like 'I leave the rest to you' then I'm going directly to my commander and informing him. Just so I can drag you out somehow to slap you."
'Whoa~! Feisty! They really ARE good for you, haha.'
"I mean it."
'I know.' Red Hood's voice echoed in Rapi's mind, soft and proud. 'It makes me happy. You've found a place for yourself.'
Rapi was quiet. She shifted her gaze towards the Commander's Office in the distance, where she could still hear the faint sounds of Anis and Marisa arguing, with Neon chiming in, along with Endless's monotone voice.
Then Rapi smiled and said, "...Yeah. It's not your squad. And I'm not like you. Not yet. But..." Rapi placed her hand over her heart and said, "I'm me. Rapi, the captain of the Brave Squad."
The moment she said those words, Marian's voice echoed from the distant, vaguely audible.
"Endless told me what you said, Rapi! You aren't captain, I am!"
Rapi chuckled.
...It was slightly concerning that Endless could hear even from that far away. And she was mildly concerned that Endless had heard everything she just said.
But even if she had...
It was fine.
"...Yeah." Rapi smiled. "I found my own team, friend. "
'Good. Now... If I could, I would say goodbye here for dramatic effect. But it seems like I really am stuck with you. Any idea how this happened?'
"...No." Rapi furrowed her brow. "...But it's a good thing. You're still here after everything."
'I GUESS you could say it's a good thing- Wait. It DEFINITELY is a good thing, hehe. After all, if you and your commander get hot and heavy, I get a firsthand seat~'
Rapi felt her face burn. "Y-You...!"
'What~? OH! I never DID get to teach you about THAT stuff, did I? Oh, this will be fun. You see, when a guy's into you-'
"STOP. CEASE. GET OUT."
'...And if you hop on top of him-'