8 8 301 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.
9 9 301 【kuroname】 What a coincidence, I'm "just me" too.
10 10 301 Lucia Huh? 1
11 11 301 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.
12 12 301 An abashed smile, to be sure, but with no lack in warmth.
13 13 301 Just the smile to put me at a loss...
14 14 301 Lucia How could someone called "top gun" pretend to understand, to sympathize? Someone like you would never understand what I feel. 1
15 15 301 【kuroname】 I do.
16 16 301 Lucia What is that supposed to mean... 1
17 17 301 【kuroname】 Want to come with me?
18 18 301 【kuroname】 I have a dream, but I cannot make it real on my own.
19 19 301 Lucia Wouldn't any other team do? 1
20 20 301 【kuroname】 No one but you will do. No one understands solitude like you. No one yearns to connect like you.
21 21 301 【kuroname】 Will you help me, Lucia?
22 22 301 The person extended a hand. I knew I should extend mine, but...
23 23 301 Lucia Picking a team like mine won't help you. Babylonia will never clear an under-staffed team for combat operations. 1
24 24 301 【kuroname】 Then we'll just have to go find staff. We have to start somewhere.
25 25 301 Lucia Starting somewhere... 1
26 26 301 【kuroname】 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.
27 27 301 【kuroname】 Because from this nothingness of new beginnings, the most precious things will come.
28 28 301 Lucia Most precious... Could I... ever find such a thing? 1
29 29 301 【kuroname】 You will. I promise.
30 30 301 Lucia What... is it that you want to do? 1
31 31 302 Eradicate the Punishing Virus 32 See smiles on everyone's faces 36 I haven't decided yet 42
32 32 301 Lucia Eradicate the Punishing Virus... Do you think it's even possible? Eradicating something we know next to nothing about? 1
33 33 301 Lucia I don't know why, but... something tells me that if I follow you, anything is possible... 1
34 34 301 It was a strange feeling, but every word from the person in front of me filled me with confidence.
35 35 46 301 And with it, the courage to lay down everything in pursuit of those words.
36 36 301 Lucia Smiles on everyone's faces. You are a weird one... Ah, forgive me. I misspoke. 1
37 37 301 Lucia If it is possible, I too would like to see smiles on everyone's faces. 1
38 38 301 Lucia What a world it would be, to inspire such joy in everyone. 1
39 39 301 Listening to 【kuroname】's words, I began to imagine such a world, and my place in it.
40 40 301 At least I wouldn't be alone in such a world. Then, if someone were to ask me again, if it was just me...
41 41 46 301 In that world, I may be able to say no. "No, everyone's here."
42 42 301 Lucia You... haven't decided what to do next? 1
43 43 301 Such powerful words, only to be followed by such indecision.
44 44 301 The person to be my commandant merely saw me there, and walked over, and that was that.
45 45 301 Such was Commandant's personality.
46 46 301 And so I took the hand.
47 47 301 1 AniZhuanchangBegin And I will never, ever let go.
