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I had a bad feeling I was going to get some scolding considering how Aunt Doro had looked after I left our tea time together.
But that was a problem for future me.
I couldn't do anything about it now. So instead, I went to resolve some other matters since I was in the Ark anyway.
Specficially...
"You're Rapi's Commander, right?" Vesti let out a soft smile from behind the bars of the rehabilitation center. "Thank you for visiting."
...Visiting my dear Rapi's former teammates.
I stared at the petite beauty with clear blue eyes and short silver hair across from me. Then I said, "Are you doing well, Miss Vesti?"
"Just Vesti's fine, Commander." Vesti let out a shy smile and said, "And I'm doing okay." She waved her arms, making the big black and white prison outfit she was wearing flop a bit. "It's weird, being in prison... but it's safe."
I slid a tin of cookies across the small compartment for gifts and said, "Rapi made these for you. She said she would have made more for the others too, but..."
Vesti's smile dimmed. "...It's okay, Commander." She sighed. "Eunhwa and Emma... they're strong. Even if they're just... heads, right now. They'll be okay soon. ...Right?"
"Right." I gave a firm nod and said, "I'm sure they're getting proper treatment. And if they aren't, I'll do something about it. You guys are practically Rapi's second family, so you're my family too."
Vesti let out a bright smile. "I'm happy to hear that, Commander."
I stared at Vesti and said, "Why are you still in here anyway?"
"Oh! Um... I think they said they wanted to keep an eye on me more."
"...They?" I frowned. "Who's they?"
"Deputy Chief Andersen and Instructor Ingrid." Vesti fidgeted and said, "They said they used an experimental treatment on me... but they aren't sure if the corruption is completely gone. So until they are, I'm stuck here. It's a little boring... but it's safe! And I can still use my phone, so it's not that bad!"
"...If you say so." I frowned, still skeptical.
But if Andersen had it covered, then it was probably fine.
Vesti tilted her head, looking at me.
I noticed and tilted my head too. "What is it?"
"N-Nothing! It's just..." Vesti kept looking at me and said, "...You're easy to talk to. I'm happy."
"Oh. Uh... happy to hear that?"
Vesti giggled and said, "You're welcome! And... thank you. For taking Rapi in. We were all worried about her. But when we saw that she was with a commander as great as you, we were relieved... though Eunhwa probably won't ever admit it."
I smiled. "You're welcome too. There's no need to thank me for taking Rapi in though. It's more like she took me in." I paused, considering whether or not to make the joke. But I couldn't resist it and said, "...In more than one way."
Vesti gasped, looking scandalized. But she giggled and said, "C-Commander! You can't say things like that!"
"Right, right." I chuckled. "Bad habits... I blame my dad."
Vesti giggled again.
I smiled and said, "Well, if you're ever bored, you can always reach out. I'm sure we can figure something out for you."
"Promise?"
I reached my pinky across the small gap in the holding cell. "Pinky promise."
Vesti smiled back at me and wrapped her pinky around mine. "Then... okay. If I'm bored, I'll text you, Commander."
"Well, I'm not really your commander, so you can just call me-"
I paused, considering it.
"...Actually, no. Just keep calling me commander. I have a vague feeling having more beautiful women calling me by name is a bad idea."
Vesti giggled again and said, "Okay. Then... come visit again when you have free time, Commander."
I nodded and said, "I'll bring Rapi next time so you two can catch up."
Vesti's eyes lit up. "I'll look forward to it!" She gave a shy wave goodbye as I left.
But since I was in the rehabilitation center...
I pulled out my phone and scrolled through the dossier of Nikkes that had been transferred to my command without me knowing. "I think there are a few in the rehabilitation center, right? Since I'm here, I might as well meet them..."
===
I stopped in front of a holding cell where a female prisoner wearing a white jumpsuit was sitting against the wall.
Restraints kept her arms and legs bound while she was sitting. As for how she looked, she had long brown hair with light green streaks and violet eyes. And at the moment, she looked downcast, like the world itself had wronged her.
I lowered my phone and said, "Excuse me. Are you the one named Guilty?"
The woman, Guilty, flinched and looked up. "...Are you another counselor?"
"Counselor? No, I'm your new Commander... Did you not get the memo?"
Guilty blinked. Then she laughed. "Commander...? So did they give up on rehabilitating me then? No, did they just decide that I'm completely in the wrong and want me to go die...?"
"...Okay, back up a bit." I held up my hands to placate her and said, "Let's start over. I think we're both operating on different contexts."
Guilty paused and looked me in the eye.
I met her gaze with a calm one of my own.
And after a bit, Guilty slowly nodded and said, "...Okay. Then... Mister Commander. Why are you here?"
"Well, I was recently informed that a number of Nikkes were transferred to my command. Among them are you, and another Nikke called Sin?"
"Sin..." Guilty wrinkled her nose. "...That one's tricky. She's not like me. She means what she did."
I shrugged and said, "I'll see when I meet her. Even if she did mean what she did, if she's useful, she's useful. We kind of need all hands on deck soon, you see."
Guilty paused. "...All hands on deck? Why?"
"Well, this is a secret right now... but since you're going to be coming with me, I'll let you know." I leaned against the bars of the holding cell and said, "The Third Surface Reclamation war is starting soon. Probably by the end of next month."
Guilty's eyes widened. Then she stood up, excited. "Really?! Then that means you're here because I'm useful, right? I'm useful! Really! I can fight! If you let me out, I'll do whatever you ask!"
I walked over to the nearby terminal and entered in my commander credentials, unlocking the door. Then I walked inside. "There's no need to do all of that. You seem nice anyway, so it's fine."
I didn't sense any sort of malice from her or bad intentions... which made me wonder why she was here in the first place.
Guilty paused and looked at me, her eyes wide in shock. Then she quietly said, "...You're not scared of me?"
"Hm?" I tilted my head. "Why would I be scared of you?"
Guilty stared at me and said, "...Do you not know what I did?"
"No. But I can tell. You're a good person."
Guilty kept staring at me, her violet eyes looking into my own. But then they started to tear up.
"H-Hey!" I quickly crossed the room to brush her tears away. "What's with the crying?"
"...It's the first time." Guilty sniffed as she looked up at me, a trembling smile on her face. "...The first time someone really, really believes I'm not guilty."
I blinked, confused. "Is your name not Guilty then?"
"No, it's..." Guilty laughed. "It is. But I mean... You're funny. Silly, Commander."
I finished unlocking her restraints and said, "Well, it runs in the family apparently." After that, I held my hand out to her. "I almost forgot. I'm Commander Hoopa." I paused. "I think technically Commander Hoopa Andersen... Huh. I don't actually know my dad's full name. I should ask him sometime."
Guilty giggled. "Hoopa? Really?" She smiled and said, "That's so silly... you're silly. Are you even real? Or am I dreaming again?"
"Pretty sure I'm real, Guilty." I smiled and kept my hand held out.
Guilty stared at it, hesitating. But then she gingerly held my hand.
I shook it, surprised at her firm grip. "Wow, you're strong."
Guilty's eyes widened, staring at our entwined hands like it was a miracle. "...Your hand. It didn't break."
I blinked. "Why would it break?"
Guilty looked at me. Then she hesitated and said, "...Can I have a hug?"
"...Sure?"
Guilty took a step forward and gingerly placed her arms around me and squeezed tight.
I was surprised at how strong she was, but I just hugged her back. "Feel better?"
"...You're unbelievable." Guilty murmured. "Are you human? You're strong too."
"Well." I finished the hug and said, "I'm mostly human."
Guilty looked confused. "Mostly?"
"Long story. But anyway..." I checked my phone. "Hm. We might as well pick up Sin while we're here. After that, I really have to head back though."
Guilty's expression immediately darkened. "...Do you have to?"
I glanced at Guilty and said, "Do you not like her?"
"...She made people kill each other, Commander. Just by talking."
I paused. "...Wait. How? Like, is she that persuasive, or what?"
Guilty laughed. "You really don't know anything about us, do you, Commander?" She pointed at herself and said, "I was imprisoned because I broke a lot of people with my strength by accident."
"...Strength?"
"Yes." Guilty paused, looking at me with an awed gaze. "...But it doesn't seem to work against you. It's like my body won't let me crush you. It's... nice."
"Huh. That's cool I guess- Wait." I stared at her. "...You're saying you have super strength?"
Guilty nodded. "I'm strong." And to demonstrate, she reached her hand out to the wall, casually scooping out a chunk of steel from it like it was pudding. "...See?"
I immediately placed my hands on her shoulders and stared into her eyes. "Guilty. My newest and dearest friend. Welcome to R+D."
"...R+D?"
"Tell me. Have you ever tried blacksmithing?"
"...No?"
"Then you're about to have the time of your life."