3 3 301 DialogEnable Lecture Hall, F.O.S. Military Command College.
4 4 201 1 500011
5 5 301 1 Hassen This is an era filled with challenges and uncertainties. There is no way of knowing which path will lead humanity to the future. 1
6 6 301 The President's resonating voice echos in everyone's ears.
7 7 301 Hassen The only thing we know is that this path will be paved with hurdles, drenched in blood and sweat, covered in tears and smoke. 1
8 8 301 Hassen It is not a broad, easy road ahead of you all. You might even regret having stepped on it one day. 1
9 9 301 Hassen So you mustn't forget the passion and ambition inside you today. Tattoo it in your heart so that it serves as a reminder in your moments of doubt. 1
10 10 301 Hassen This will be a difficult but magnificent voyage, so remember—humanity's hopes and prayers are with you. 1
11 11 301 Hassen May you will all return home safe. 1
12 12 202 1 1
13 13 301 A quick moment of silence fills the air as the President's impassioned speech comes to an end, but it is soon replaced by thunderous applause.
14 14 301 The students in the audience begin to stand one by one, all moved by the President's words.
15 15 301 As students of the only Command College in Babylonia, they all know the responsibility they will be shouldering. But with no idea of its weight, they have only managed to hear the President's passion, not his pain.
16 16 301 Yet to be showered with blood and dust, the eaglets might carry with them a hint of fear of the unknown, but more than anything, they are filled with the excitement and hope of leaving their nest.
17 17 301 Victories, titles, glory, applause... each of their hearts is thumping with these ethereal ideas.
18 18 301 To destroy the Punishing Virus and reclaim Earth—this idea has been planted in their heads since their first day here. It is as much a goal as it is a cage.
19 19 301 Today is the day when a new batch of students graduate from F.O.S. Military Command College, as well as the rare occasion where alumni can return and visit.
20 20 301 AniZhuanchangBegin It is an event so special that even the Babylonia President has come and delivered a speech to encourage all the young fighters who are about to depart for Earth.
23 23 301 You stand behind the curtain, quietly observing all the hopeful faces of your "juniors."
24 24 301 There seems to be a lump in your throat. The speech you have prepared and remembered is now blurry and faded, like paper soaked in water.
25 25 301 There should be another person speaking before you.
26 26 301 Host Thank you, President Hassen, for that beautiful speech. Up next, we have invited some distinguished alumni to share a few words, so let me introduce one of the Chiefs of our college, a remarkable role model...
27 27 301 He pauses.
28 28 301 Host 【kuroname】.
29 29 301 You are stunted by this sudden change of plan.
30 30 301 It is now your turn to stand there in the limelight, to face those aspiring, innocent eyes that are untainted by bloodshed.
31 31 301 It is now your turn to stand in front of the podium and say those meaningless slogans.
32 32 301 The host is still calling your name, but your legs are frozen, incapable of moving.
33 33 301 Suddenly, someone taps you on your shoulder.
34 34 201 1 500309 1
35 35 301 1 You turn around and find a familiar face.
36 36 302 Chrome. 37
37 37 301 The young Construct stands quietly behind you. His slender figure, confident posture, and pale-blonde hair are all carefully curated and attentively maintained.
38 38 301 He looks the way he usually looks, except there is something different that you cannot quite pinpoint.
39 39 202 1 1
40 40 301 He assuredly adjusts your shirt collar and fixes the tilted medal on your chest.
41 41 301 Instead of the slightly unkempt way your clothes were, you now look as graceful and refined as the Construct before you.
51 51 301 AniZhuanchangEnd You part the curtain and stand before the audience, but you cannot help and turn back.
52 52 301 Chrome is still standing in the shadow of the veil. Noticing your gaze, he gently nods.
53 53 301 You do not have time to ponder where that loneliness you find on him comes from. You follow the motion and walk toward where the spotlight is.
54 54 301 DialogDisable Standing there, you take a deep breath.
55 55 302 Congratulations, graduates... 56
56 56 302 This is a day to remember... 57
57 57 301 DialogEnable AniZhuanchangBegin And you deliver your speech—the way you wrote it, the way you intended.
58 58 301 AniZhuanchangEnd When it is over—
59 59 301 AniZhuanchangBegin You look around but fail to find the golden glow of the figure who gave you the support you needed.
62 62 301 AniZhuanchangEnd As the ceremony comes to a close, you decide to take a casual stroll around the campus, enjoying the moment of respite, which has become so rare since you graduated.
63 63 301 The corridors are empty as the students are all gathered in the hall, talking to the renowned alumni about the fun moments during their tours and the aspirations the students have for their future.
64 64 301 You, however, have no interest in that kind of conversation, so you managed to find an opportunity to sneak away.
65 65 301 Without realizing it, you have arrived at the door of your old classroom.
66 66 301 AniZhuanchangBegin You expect to find it empty as well, much like the corridor outside. Instead, you step through the door and run into a golden-haired figure.
69 69 301 Chrome sits quietly in the middle of the room. Glows from the artificial sky shine through the windows, the golden-red hue casting his silhouette in a gentler light than how you remember the stoic top student.
70 70 301 Peaceful and harmonious, like an oil painting.
71 71 301 So you hold your breath, lest it disrupts the scene, and you tiptoe your way to the seat in front of him and sit down.
72 72 301 Feeling someone else's presence, Chrome opts not to raise his head.
73 73 301 You turn around, your arms crossed on top of the back of the chair, and you rest your chin on your hands, staring at Chrome.
74 74 301 That is when you notice the hologram projected on the desk before him, its light blue projections forming a chessboard in the air.
75 75 301 Noticing your gaze, Chrome finally looks up and stares back.
76 76 301 You look at each other, both of you coming to an unstated understanding. Chrome does not question your presence here, and you do not ask why he is here in the first place.
77 77 301 Eventually, Chrome breaks the silence.
78 78 201 1 500309 1
79 79 301 1 Chrome A game of chess, 【kuroname】? 1
80 80 301 You almost feel like his words transported you back to when you were a student.
81 81 301 As if the person sitting in front of you is not the captain of Strike Hawk, and you have yet to be the commandant of Gray Raven.
82 82 301 Just a student who has arrived early asking another student who has just arrived to join him in a game of chess.
83 83 301 You have yet to answer, but Chrome already understands your unspoken "yes."
84 84 301 So he raises his hand, his palm out in a gesture of "please."
85 85 204 1 1
86 86 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin Chrome White goes first. I look forward to your opening, 【kuroname】. 1
