Ryuuka yawned periodically. Drool evidently dropped right at her opened mouth.

She rubbed her eyes instinctively while stretching her slender arms.

After her brief presence in the school, she must report right quickly in the [Squairkraw] for some important reasons.

As a consequence, she suffered insomnia and sleepiness.

She currently wore her white jacket and skirts for formal schedules.

Inside the captain’s office she currently slumbered to rest. Without her stupid glasses, Ryuuka possessed a youthful beauty with a strong expression.

She was evidently alone in her well-lit room, but concerned nothing about it.

Maximus, her most trusted man, was currently manning the ship and she, with fair honesty, was too lazy to hold it when she was awfully tired.

The door opened and closed quickly.

“Reporting for duty, Ma’am.”

Ryuuka’s eyebrow cocked after hearing a cute voice. Right in front of her, approaching, is a girl with a cute kitty ears came in.

Known as Nekyu Kita, the trials-in-charge officer. She brought some news.

She perhaps walked with an awkward attitude of a little child.

“Oh, what is it?”

“Vice-Commander Maximus is asking for permission from you to show something.”

Nekyu saluted.

“Mmm..good. Tell him I’ll just stay here.”

“Aye…!”

She saluted more firmly and then ran away like a skipping child.

*La la la la*

After she left, Ryuuka pushed a button on the table, revealing a huge screen before her.

It showed the current situation in the bay and Maximus himself.

It is a live transmission inside the [Squairkraw].

“Commander Ryuuka, I was hoping you would come here instead.”

Maximus’ voice echoed inside her room.

“I’m just tired, Max. I can’t help but to rest here for a while.”

He was a little surprised and nervousness followed.

“Uh— Pardon, Commander Ryuuka—…”

“Thank you.”

Suddenly out of nowhere, Nekyu bumped inside the screen and blocked the face of Maximus.

“Nyaaw— ! Hello, Commander Ryuuka! Looks better in here!”

“Ugh! Stop it, cat!”

“B-bad! Bleh—“

“You—“

The two wrestled each other. Ryuuka only sighed, for she had no other choice but to wait for them.

Actually, this is not new for her. She has already understood the behaviors and attitudes of her officers.

After an annoying two minutes of waiting, Maximus emerged victorious.

“Sorry, Commander Ryuuka… I mean that I am worthy of punishment that you would inflict upon me.”

Maximus’ voice was full of exhaustion.

Ryuuka swayed her head in disappointment. Even if she would, there’s no time for her.

“Maximus, tell me. What is the thing you want me to know?”

“Then sorry for the delay. What I was about to tell you is the unknown transmission ‘accidentally’

sent to us...”

“What!?”

Ryuuka let out a surprised face. [Squairkraw] is a ship with strictly-closed communication to prevent tracks. But for the first time, a flaw was created and this only mysterious transmission slipped in.

Even though far from the real danger, she knew the risk of having it but she can still deny its connections and reboot the whole system in in one command.

“Commander?”

Maximus gasped.

“Maximus…”

Ryuuka was also curious too.

Why would there is only one?

She has something in her head.

After a minute of subdued silence and critical thinking, Ryuuka have decided.

“…answer it quickly, I want to know why.”

“Yes, commander…”

Maximus agreed without hesitation. He would always believe her beloved superior no matter what to, even if she won’t reveal her motives to him.

“…initiating transmission.”

“Please keep the crew quiet, for they must know about it.”

Maximus nodded, faith filled his heart.

At a click of a button, the whole screen was instantly changed into a random chaotic, gray scale with screeching, annoying audio that filled the whole room.

The crew inside the bay witnessed it too. Except for the irritating sounds, all of them, being busy and diligent, stood quiet and was curious.

It was similar to television with no output.

However, the screen proved to be something stranger, for its sound monotone, followed by a something recognized hardly as a human speech.

“Greetings--- my friend.”

It was a little slurred, and the voice was obviously distorted by something, to confuse the listeners whether it is a female or male.

“Who are you?”

Ryuuka replied, her voice filled with curiousness.

*hahahahaha*

Upon hearing her request, [voice] laughed for a short time, though with creepiness.

“Ah---you can call me [D]…”

“…………………………”

“and –if you’ll agree— I can call you ‘[R]’.”

[voice] explained her. Ryuuka shrugged upon hearing it, she couldn’t guess if [voice] already knew her or not.

Even though the ugly visuals in the screen didn’t change since the mystic conversation, the gray scales’ movement synchronized according to the pitch and loudness of [voice].

It even adds the creepiness to the ambience.

“Then I’ll agree, but do you know me?”

Ryuuka foolishly asked, she knew [voice] –or [D] in simple terms– would definitely refuse to, but [D] answered differently.

“That depends on what you are thinking---[R]”

Ryuuka only sighed.

“What do you want, [D]?”

“Simple— I want to congratulate--- on your first success--- [R]”

“………………………….”

Ryuuka didn’t reply, instead she tapped her fingers on the plasma board out of suspiciousness.

Not a smear of nervousness was found on her face. But inside her, a feeling of hatred and disgust gradually rose.

“Oh, I can hear---your dubiousness. Perhaps, you don’t trust---me…?”

[D] sneered with sarcasm.

“…Then I assure you--- that this transmission is no need to be concern--- you will be go undetected

and harm-free--- because I specially created this to detach from the world.”

“Then this whole thing might back fire you, [D]?”

“True---just like what you want to.”

“Interestingly, we can attempt to track you down as we keep talking and put an end to this stupid thing!”

There was a minute of silence and [D]’s voice chuckled.

“Eh---? You want to cut down our friendly communication? Then do it!”

[D] challenged her but Ryuuka regarded it as nonsense.

“…Well? Did you do as what you said?”

Ryuuka gritted her teeth in anger, but pacified later on.

“Very sarcastic indeed, [D].”

“fufu – I’ll take it as a compliment--- so how’s it going?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your initial success does not meant to be irrational at all--- I myself was tickled to know

about what’s next…”

Ryuuka continued to tap her fingers but impatiently this time.

“---I thought you will tell me---*tsk* pity.”

“Then, good luck, [D].”

“Hmmm---interesting…I’m ready for it.”

Ryuuka’s face was washed with iconic fixed gesture,

“I was hoping that you’re very satisfied with it, [D].”

“Well- well, my time is up for us --- and for my final advice: survive and enjoy the game, [R]

—“

‘I heard it.”

“But don’t be in a hurry----it’s only beginning…”

With the last line, the screen gone out and instantly replaced to where Maximus is shown.

“We heard your conversation with this mysterious [D], commander Ryuuka?”

“the whole thing?”

“Diligently, superior.”

“I see.”

Ryuuka, who let out a big sigh, was so exhausted.

“Should I attempt to search it?”

“No, Maximus. It’s not a big deal anymore.”

“Then are you alright?”

“Totally yes. Now, if you please, give me some time to rest.”

“One more thing, commander. Did this [D] wanted to scare you?”

Ryuuka was so very impatient this time.

“Stupid Senior. [D] is simply warning us about something--- which would be inevitable from now on.”

After saying that, the screen goes off and disappeared thoroughly.

She was so tired that she curled down on her own chair and forced herself to snooze off.

But she can’t do it because of deep thought.

[D], that voice, she thought.

Even though she has spoken enough, Ryuuka still thought that it is quite irrational for her.

She was deeply troubled, for a minor like her.

Nevertheless, she’s not a commander for nothing. She has enough experience to realize the danger she counted on.

Even though she understood what [D] talked about, Ryuuka was intrigued on what [D] meant, especially the last lines.

“It’s only beginning…”

Those lines kept repeating in her mind until she slept.