Story Reader / Interlude / Treasure / Story
Cherished Memory
Are you alone?
I'm...
It's just me.
It's always been just me.
Solitude is how everyone came into this world and how most people are. I have often fallen back on this aloof coldness to deter the people who tried to make conversation.
What a coincidence, I'm "just me" too.
Huh?
It was an answer I hadn't heard before. Perhaps the person timed it just right, but the first thing that greeted me when I looked up was a smile.
An abashed smile, to be sure, but with no lack in warmth.
Just the smile to put me at a loss...
How could someone called "top gun" pretend to understand, to sympathize? Someone like you would never understand what I feel.
I do.
What is that supposed to mean...
Want to come with me?
I have a dream, but I cannot make it real on my own.
Wouldn't any other team do?
No one but you will do. No one understands solitude like you. No one yearns to connect like you.
Will you help me, Lucia?
The person extended a hand. I knew I should extend mine, but...
Picking a team like mine won't help you. Babylonia will never clear an under-staffed team for combat operations.
Then we'll just have to go find staff. We have to start somewhere.
Starting somewhere...
It doesn't matter if we start from nothing, whether we're top of the class or bottom of the barrel. None of it matters.
Because from this nothingness of new beginnings, the most precious things will come.
Most precious... Could I... ever find such a thing?
You will. I promise.
What... is it that you want to do?
Eradicate the Punishing Virus... Do you think it's even possible? Eradicating something we know next to nothing about?
I don't know why, but... something tells me that if I follow you, anything is possible...
It was a strange feeling, but every word from the person in front of me filled me with confidence.
And with it, the courage to lay down everything in pursuit of those words.
Smiles on everyone's faces. You are a weird one... Ah, forgive me. I misspoke.
If it is possible, I too would like to see smiles on everyone's faces.
What a world it would be, to inspire such joy in everyone.
Listening to [player name]'s words, I began to imagine such a world, and my place in it.
At least I wouldn't be alone in such a world. Then, if someone were to ask me again, if it was just me...
In that world, I may be able to say no. "No, everyone's here."
You... haven't decided what to do next?
Such powerful words, only to be followed by such indecision.
The person to be my commandant merely saw me there, and walked over, and that was that.
Such was Commandant's personality.
And so I took the hand.
And I will never, ever let go.
