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Bronya: "The door's locked. Again."
Vrater: "Of course it is. Why wouldn't it be? Everything's broken today—logic included."
Bronya: "Should I attempt to hack it?"
Vrater: "No need. I'll just kick it."
Bronya: "...Statistically, that will not work."
Vrater: "Let me have this."
He kicked the door.
It didn't budge.
Instead, a small panel above it sparked and fell off with a soft plonk.
Vrater: "…Okay, now you can hack it."
Bronya: "Understood."
As she began typing, a voice came through the hallway intercom.
Ai-chan: "Emergency! Emergency! Kiana has activated three power cores simultaneously and is now—um—fighting a vending machine that 'looked at her funny'!"
Vrater: "Why is it always her?"
Captain (through comms): "I'd ask the same thing, but I'm currently stuck in the elevator with a malfunctioning coffee bot!"
Ai-chan: "Oh right, forgot to mention: the coffee bot's now self-aware and wants a raise."
Bronya: "This is starting to sound like a joke."
Vrater: "No, this is a joke. The whole world is a joke—and someone out there keeps writing it."
Bronya: "Should we find them?"
Vrater: "No. If we do, they'll just give Kiana a fourth core."
Bronya: "…Valid concern."
The door finally slid open with a ding, and Vrater stepped inside.
He paused, turned halfway, and glanced toward the unseen fourth wall.
Vrater: "And if you're still reading this, I hope you're having as much fun as we aren't."
Bronya: "He means thank you for reading."
Vrater: "…No I don't."
And with that, they disappeared down the hallway—just in time for a vending machine to fly past the open door.
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[A Moment in Star Valkyrie]
Inside the spacecraft Star Valkyrie, Mei quietly washed the dishes after dinner.
The soft hum of the ship was the only sound that accompanied her, allowing her thoughts to drift back through the events that had shaped her life.
She remembered a time when people surrounded her—not out of genuine friendship, but because of her name… and her appearance.
Back then, she had been naive.
She believed everyone who approached her had good intentions, that they wanted to be her friend.
But that illusion shattered the day her father was framed and imprisoned.
The world around her twisted overnight—mockery, accusations, and malicious rumors took root.
Her once bright life turned cold and bitter.
But even in that darkness…
there was someone who never left her side.
Kiana.
Whenever someone tried to talk behind her back or hurt her, Kiana would always stand up for her.
Maybe that was why they became friends—real friends.
They lived their days that way… until he appeared.
Vrater Amano.
A man with black hair and blue eyes
Their first encounters were awkward, even tense.
It was Kiana and Mei who approached him first, and though they kept trying, V remained distant—cold, almost unreadable.
But as time passed and they met more often, something began to shift.
The awkwardness faded…
even if not much else changed.
V was still quiet, expressionless.
It was hard to tell what he truly felt, if anything at all.
Then came the day that changed everything.
Mei, having succumbed to her Herrscher powers, found herself facing him in battle.
She remembered it vividly.
Every strike she unleashed—he deflected or dodged with precision.
His face didn't change, not even once.
And then… she lost.
When she came to her senses, she was overwhelmed with confusion and fear.
V and Kiana explained everything—mostly V.
She learned the truth.
That she had become a source of destruction.
That the disaster around her... had started with her.
Fear crept into her heart.
Mei"Will I kill someone again?"Mei"Will I lose control... and hurt them?"
A single thought echoed in her mind:
Mei"If I disappear… maybe everyone will be safe."
But that thought—foolish and full of despair—was shattered by V voice.
His words were harsh, but real, Unforgiving, Honest.
She cried, Until she couldn't cry anymore.
When she woke up, a new path was offered to her—an invitation to attend St. Freya Academy.
At first, she hesitated.
Could someone like her… someone who had taken so much… really deserve a peaceful life?
Her thoughts spiraled until she heard a voice in her head.
Her own voice… but twisted, Darker.
Mei H: "Why are you overthinking? Like that guy said… no matter how sorry you are, nothing will change."
She wanted to scream at the voice, deny it—but it continued.
Mei H: "Besides, if you accept their offer… you might just learn how to control this power."
And so, she accepted.
Returning to St. Freya, she reunited with Kiana—and also Bronya.
The three of them moved in with their teacher, Himeko.
It didn't take long before another unexpected reunion occurred—V appeared once more, this time alongside the Captain.
They explained that V would also be staying at the academy—not as a student, but as part of their support team.
Day by day, their bonds grew.
Closer… warmer.
And through that time, Mei began to understand V more—at least a little.
He remained unreadable, rarely showing emotion.
Happy or angry, his face was always calm, like still water. But…
One moment changed that.
They were all talking—arguing, even It was loud, chaotic.
And in that chaos… she saw it.
He smiled.
Just a little, Faint But real.
Her breath caught in her throat.
Mei: "(He… smiled?)"
Mei H: "(Didn't expect that from him.)"
She didn't respond.
She was too stunned.
Maybe it was selfish… but in that moment, she hoped no one else noticed.
just for this moment, for now… she didn't want anyone else to notice.
Even if it was a selfish thought, she wished that smile was something only she had seen.
-
-
-
[A few days later…]
[in the Captain's Office…]
Stacks of paperwork towered like miniature mountains across the desk.
Behind them sat a handsome man with fiery red hair, looking absolutely done with life.
Captain: "Why do I have to suffer like this?!"
From a nearby holo-projector, a chibi A.I.
girl floated in midair, her tiny arms waving supportively.
Ai-chan: "Hang in there, Captain! Once you finish all this work, you'll get to rest!"
Captain: "If I ever finish it…"
He slumped forward, defeated—until the creak of the door snapped him back upright.
He looked up, expecting more work, more forms, more pain—but instead, in walked a woman with honey blonde hair that goes to about her neck in the back, with the front being slightly longer in maid outfit come in
She stepped in gracefully, as if she belonged there.
Captain (flatly): "Oh, it's just Rita—"He blinked.Captain (realizing): "RITA?! What are you doing here?!"
Yes. That Rita.
Rita Rossweisse.S-Rank Valkyrie, Elegant, Deadly, Unpredictable.
She smiled at him, polite and composed as ever.
Rita: "Ara~ It seems my visit gave you quite the shock. My apologies."
The Captain quickly collected himself, trying (and failing) to look dignified in front of her.
Captain: "Ah—s-sorry about that I just wasn't expecting—"
From the side, Ai-chan floated closer, glaring at him suspiciously.
Captain (awkwardly): "S-So, what brings you here?"
Rita: "I've come to deliver some documents and inform you of a small update The Overseer has assigned me to temporarily teach at St. Freya."
Captain: "I see…"
Rita: "Also…"
—she leaned in slightly, her smile deepening—
Rita"to ensure that our beloved Captain is getting enough rest."
The Captain shot up like he'd been electrocuted.
Captain: "O-Of course! I'm totally well-rested! Slept like a baby last night!"
Rita: "Hmm~ Is that so? Then, I suppose I'll be visiting your office more often from now on, just to… help you unwind, At least until my next mission."
Captain: "N-No problem! None at all!"
Rita: "Wonderful~"She turned toward the door with perfect grace.Rita: "Well then, I'll take my leave, I must report to Lady Theresa."
As she exited, the Captain finally let out a deep sigh of relief.
But the door creaked open again.
He flinched.
Rita (peeking back in): "Oh, I nearly forgot Next time, if possible…"
—her voice softened into something dangerously sweet—
Rita :"I'd like it to be just the two of us when we talk So, please… be prepared, dear Captain."
And with that, she shut the door behind her, leaving the Captain red-faced and speechless in the silence of the room.
Ai-chan floated beside him, side-eyeing him like a judgmental fairy.
Ai-chan (muttering): "If Captain's alone with big sister Rita… is he gonna get eaten…?"
-
-
in V Room…
Bronya stood silently, her expression unreadable as always.
Bronya: "So you're telling Bronya… there are two ways to save Seele. Either I become the Herrscher of Reason and dive into the Sea of Quanta to search for her myself… or we ask the Captain to recreate the Second Divine Key to assist us, Is that correct?"
Her voice was calm, neutral—almost too neutral for the weight of the conversation.
V leaned against the wall, arms folded, eyes narrowed slightly.
V: "Yeah, The first option sounds ideal, but we both know we can't enter the Sea of Quanta on our own… for reasons you're already aware of. The second method would require the Captain's help. It might be tricky to get his support, but the chances are better."
He fell silent then, not because he didn't have more to say—but because the next move wasn't his to make.
It was hers.
Bronya lowered her eyes in thought.
She didn't need long.
Bronya: "Bronya chooses… the second option."
It wasn't just a logical decision—it was a protective one.
Choosing the first route might pit her against Cocolia, who was now consumed by a dangerous pursuit of power.
And despite everything, Bronya wasn't ready to become her enemy.
V gave a small nod of approval.
V: "Alright. If that's your choice… let's go talk to the Captain."
Bronya simply nodded in return and followed him out of the room, her steps quiet—but her resolve clear.