Alva/Profile

Alva

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"I can't sleep yet, I still have work to do..."

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Record 1

At an unspecified point over a decade ago, this prototype unit that would come to be known as AN-94 or Alva, was created under the "Wolf Pack Project"—a secret development program to create the ultimate Tactical Doll, led by Statesec and funded by an individual who would later come to occupy a high-ranking position within the URNC.

Due to upheavals during the program, Alva replaced AK-15 (a.k.a. Voymastina) as AK-12's partner and thereby became a member of Task Force "DEFY".

Alva's disposition is serious, attentive, and gentle, all the while holding a strong sense of pride in her identity as a member of Task Force DEFY. Accordingly, she would at times put up a cold, reserved demeanor befitting of that pride, motivated solely by the fear of sullying DEFY's image. Today, ten years later, she has largely forgone such superficial behavior to prove her own worth to others.

With her teammates being the assertive AK-12 and the mighty AK-15—known for being "the most powerful Doll in the entire NSU"—Alva appears rather unremarkable in comparison. She herself, however, never expresses any dissatisfaction with her circumstances. Instead of seeking fleeting fame, she places greater importance on the time spent alongside her comrades and does not hesitate to serve as their steadfast support. This aspect of her remains unchanged even after assuming leadership of DEFY.

What the Doll named Alva ultimately wishes for is a world in which her comrades—those born and raised for war—will no longer be needed for their original purpose.

Record 2

Alva had always demonstrated an outstanding ability to attend to others.

Truth be told, such a trait was not uncommon to see—even disregarding those back at Griffin, numerous Dolls onboard the Elmo possessed such an affinity, with Springfield being the prime example.

Alva's case, however, was different... more so than others.

She was like a shadow—going around and taking care of people's problems without anyone noticing.

Look away for an instant, and an unattended task might already be completed. Even Springfield once found the mountain of dishes piling up in the sink was gone and cleaned without anyone stepping into the kitchen.

As a result, the crew believed that a genuine "brownie" or a "house-elf" had appeared aboard the Elmo for quite some time.

I myself only realized the truth while arranging the schedule and noticing that the "house-elf" disappeared whenever Task Force DEFY was deployed on a mission.

"Maybe it could be Voymastina?"

When I approached Alva to confront her, she appeared reluctant and attempted to brush it aside with what could hardly be qualified as an attempt at humor.

Thankfully, she soon realized the absurdity of her defense and, without further input from me, she admitted that she was indeed the so-called "house-elf".

"Well... wanting to help everyone by spreading the workload is a good thing," I said, "but I don't want you to shoulder too much. Besides, what's with all this secrecy? Even Springfield's gotten a little unhappy that she hasn't been granted the chance to express her gratitude."

"...I didn't set out to hide myself," Alva sighed.

"I just didn't go out of my way to take credit for those things. As for why everything turned out like this, I'm not entirely sure myself..."

Subsequently, through my careful and deliberate observations, I finally identified the reason for all this: Alva's actions were just so natural and fitting to the specific settings that she simply blended into the background and everyone overlooked her comically inconspicuous presence...

While Qiuhua was occupied with the stove, Alva had cleaned out the cluttered sink behind her.

While Centaureissi focused on mopping the floor, Alva had quietly swapped the bucket of dirty water for a clean one.

While Mayling was tirelessly calculating the bills, Alva had discreetly brought her a plate of snacks.

...Just what kind of people had she been attending to, to have developed such natural proficiency?

I mused as I picked up the cup of coffee that had mysteriously appeared on my desk at some point in time.

Record 3

"Kevin kept complaining during recent check-ins after learning that Voymastina and I joined up with you."

One day, while I was casually conversing with Alva in the café, she unexpectedly brought up a name that stirred a sense of nostalgia in me.

Although a full decade has passed since I last heard this name, which in itself was far from uncommon, the image of that young, somewhat handsome, and most definitely whimsical agent immediately resurfaced in my mind.

"What did he complain about?"

"He said you're so cold and heartless for never contacting him for a whole decade, not even once."

I could not help but put on a wry smile.

"It's not that I was picking on him. He needs to understand that any private contact I have with former comrades will inevitably raise concerns among certain people. The fact of the matter is I have no good reason to disturb him, especially when he's already retired and is now enjoying a peaceful life."

Alva smiled knowingly, a rare hint of mischief appearing on her face.

"Well, the truth is, he did not quietly retire as some people hoped. Statesec has almost certainly been aware of this for a while, but he was the one providing us with logistics support all along."

"I was unaware of that fact. If anything, you were the ones excluding me from your operations by the sound of that."

"That goes both ways, Commander—we've known for a while that Paradeus still wriggles and writhes upon this earth, but should we have informed you of that? Frankly, it was hard for us to make that choice as well."

She shook her head and smiled bitterly.

"If one were to ask who had lost the most in the struggle against Paradeus, we would've easily agreed on the same answer, and that's precisely why we had at one point considered not bringing you into this again."

"And now?"

"We all came to the realization that such concerns and wishes to shelter you would've only had the opposite effect," Alva said with a nod.

"Therefore, we decided that we would no longer hide anything from you, nor leave you to fight alone."

"We wish that you could reciprocate with that same honesty."

"..."

I nodded solemnly.

"Rest assured. At this point, even if I say I don't need your help, you wouldn't just walk away, would you?"

"I'm glad that you recognize our resolve."

Alva appeared genuinely pleased.

"And regarding Kevin—it would be nice if you call him up once you have time."

"I will consider it."

Record 4

At the time of her creation, Alva did not even possess a codename of her own. She was entirely identified by the designation of her imprinted weapon—AN-94. As an experimental prototype unit, the sole purpose of her existence was to endlessly repeat drills and simulations to gather data for her creator for the improvement and refinement of the two other designs—the "Snow Wolf" and the "White Mastiff".

Unaware of this reality, Alva harbored the aspiration of one day leaving the laboratory and distinguishing herself on the real battlefield. This illusion remained intact until her creator, Doctor Samantha Shaw, personally shattered it.

Following that, Alva, unwilling to accept defeat, challenged her "successor", AK-15. The outcome destroyed Alva's confidence as an elite T-Doll completely and plunged her into a prolonged period of self-doubt and despondency. The one who ultimately pulled her out of that darkness was the very person who would become her partner and companion for the time to come: AK-12.

Even to this day, when reflecting upon that chapter of her life, Alva continues to hold sincere gratitude and deep trust toward AK-12.

Record 5

Alva never harbored resentment toward Samantha Shaw, even though from an objective standpoint, Doctor Shaw did indeed keep her purpose as a prototype unit hidden from her, treated her harshly, and showed her no compassion. Despite all this, Alva was nevertheless able to recognize the gentleness and concern that Doctor Shaw harbored and was incapable of conveying through words.

Despite the stark contrast in their temperaments, the reality was that, much like how "God" shaped humanity in His own image, Samantha Shaw had modeled Alva's appearance entirely after herself, given that Alva was her first undertaking in Doll creation. As a result, their facial features were identical, yet even when the two stood side by side, it would take considerable effort to notice the differences.

Perhaps for this very reason, Samantha Shaw came to regard Alva as a daughter-like presence in ways that even she herself didn't recognize consciously. Her reluctance to let Alva leave the laboratory could thus be seen as a distinctive form of motherly care—one that she would later realize did not align with what Alva truly desired.

Record 6

In the days following Task Force DEFY's withdrawal from Frankfurt, its members continued using the aliases that their former commander prepared for them. With AN-94 taking the name "Antje", AK-15 that of "Erwin", and AK-12 under the name "Lucia", they were able to freely operate within the contamination zones.

However, owing to Task Force DEFY's inherent capabilities, they stood out prominently during the fighting in Frankfurt and subsequent operations. This, on top of everything, garnered them much unwanted attention from prying eyes. Even after severing their ties with governmental authorities, their existence and the gift left by their former commander remained under close scrutiny by multiple intelligence organizations. Consequently, nearly all of their covert identities were exposed, compelling them to forsake their previous legacies and rely on Statesec—with which they still held a collaborative relationship—to create entirely new disguises.

It was also at that time that AK-12 bestowed her former codename, together with a new name she had conceived, upon a partner who once could only follow her, but had since grown into a trustworthy and capable leader of her own.

On that fateful day, the Doll known as Alva was born.

Record 7

Although Task Force DEFY was nominally an unaffiliated, independent T-Doll force, the three Dolls—who had supported one another since their creation and regarded each other as family—did not choose to fight on their own.

They maintained a collaborative relationship with Statesec from which they had severed official ties, going as far as occasionally accomplishing Statesec's commissions for a fee when their goals aligned. In other instances, they would pry intelligence from Statesec to use in their struggle against Paradeus.

As their shadow war with Paradeus raged on, DEFY gradually gathered a number of allies around them. Aside from Statesec, which naturally shared many interests and goals with the Task Force, there was also Kevin—a former Stasi agent who had previously supported DEFY during their operations in Germany a decade ago, and whom they reencountered by chance after years of independent operations.

Upon learning that Paradeus had not been completely eradicated, Kevin, who had retired from active duty by then, offered to support DEFY's actions once more without a second thought. Naturally, they did not decline a helping hand from their former comrade-in-arms.

"Kevin, much like us, is someone worthy of trust and bound by loathing toward Paradeus. Still, it was truly remarkable that his personality had not matured in the slightest over the years..."

Record 8

Although it was a little counterintuitive, I came to the realization that within Task Force DEFY, Alva played the role of a "big sister".

Voymastina—despite often being mistaken for an emotionless war machine due to her general coldness and composure—was in fact the type who kept her emotions to herself rather than expressing them. Once this emotional burden reached a critical point, it would start to impact her efficiency.

During such times, Alva would always keenly sense the shift and provide timely, effective relief.

As for the former leader of Task Force DEFY with whom I was more familiar—although she has yet to come on board the Elmo, she has vaguely expressed her intention to "pay us a visit eventually" in prior communications. She has also instructed me to have her quarters ready ahead of time, and that it must be located right between Alva's room and mine. A requirement that I was unable to satisfy, so I settled for freeing up the dorm adjacent to Alva's.

The reason for her inability to rendezvous with us in the near term was her ongoing undercover operation within the Orlog Conglomerate, a position from which she couldn't just walk away at any time.

It is precisely because of the nature of this mission that, beneath her usual carefree and boisterous demeanor, she hides a weight of pressure that I cannot truly fathom—a fact made evident by the frequency and length of her calls with Alva.

This was also how I was made aware of another matter.

"All by yourself again, Alva?"

One evening, as Alva stood alone on the deck, zoning out as she often did, I approached her.

"...Ah, Commander."

Realizing my presence, she paused briefly before greeting me.

"I see you coming up to the deck by yourself a lot lately. Is anything bothering you?"

"Bothering me...?" Alva pondered for a second before shaking her head, "Negative... I just wanted to clear my head."

"You..." I let out a helpless sigh.

"Both Voymastina and 'she' rely on you now. That should reflect how much you've grown as a leader... It's one thing for someone like Voymastina who rarely places her trust in others to do so, but the fact that even 'she' started doing this truly shows how dependable you've become."

"...Right. If it were before, 'she' would have shouldered all the pressure herself. Now that 'she' is willing to share the burden with me... that does make me feel really happy."

Alva smiled timidly.

"It's just that..."

"That?"

"That at times, I still feel somewhat lonely," Alva said, having deliberated for a while before cautiously selecting the right words.

"After all, I was the one who used to bother 'her' like this."

"I don't wish to burden 'her' anymore, especially now, after it has taken so much for 'her' to open up to me."

"So, what you're saying is you wish you had someone you could rely on," I said with a smile.

"...Eh?"

Alva froze.

"You're like the big sister of Task Force DEFY now," I continued while nodding.

"Every day, you look after the younger sisters, listen to their worries, and help take care of their problems. Yet when it comes to your own troubles, you have no one to confide in. That's the predicament all older siblings in a family eventually find themselves in—only that in your case, it came a little late."

"..."

Alva lowered her head, lost in thought, seemingly struggling to grasp my words.

After a short moment, she came to a silent reconciliation.

"...It does seem to be like that."

Seeing her expression of belated realization tinged with a trace of loneliness, I smiled and took a step forward, leaning against the deck railing right next to her.

"So, going forward, you can try relying on me as well," I said gently.

"'Big sisters' also need someone they can vent to and act spoiled toward, don't they?"

At this, Alva suddenly raised her head. Her eyes were filled with astonishment, as if she had never expected words like that to come out of my mouth.

She parted her lips, intending to argue something, but the words were swallowed back before they could escape.

After a good while, she finally shifted her gaze from me, back to the distant void of the night sky. She spoke so softly, it seemed as though she were talking to herself.

"...If you put it like that, I'll have no choice but to take you seriously."

"I wish you could take me seriously," I replied with certainty.

No other words followed, all I heard was a faint, almost inaudible "hmph".

As the night breeze blew past, stirring her silver hair, I saw the corners of her lips curve into a subtle but unmistakably genuine smile.

A smile that carried a hint of embarrassment, yet came straight from the heart, made possible only after she had finally laid all her burdens aside.

I wasn't sure if such reassurance would have the effect I hoped for.

As I was contemplating whether my phrasing could use some improvement, she turned back to look at me.

"...Tomorrow, can I have you listen to my worries here as well?"

"...Of course! Is that even a question?"

"...Thank you. Then... good night, Commander."

She bade farewell in a soft voice, as if eager to escape the embarrassment of the moment. Even her departing steps were swifter than usual.

"Good night, Alva."

Watching her slightly hurried retreat, I could no longer hold back the grin on my face.

Memories

Cherish Each Encounter 1

(I despise Frankfurt—the nights here are exceptionally cold.)

Commander
Brrr… It’s freezing…

(Having seemingly forgotten my gloves back on the Elmo, I try to warm my number hands with every misty breath I exhale.)

(Every times I’m reminded of that literal land cruiser, I can’t help but think that my “pension” is, all things considered, rather satisfactory.)

Commander
…Heh.

(With a bitter chuckle, I console myself with such thoughts.)

(Alas, all that I’ve ever fought for has drawn to a close. The tempest that nearly engulfed the world appears to have subsided, if only temporarily. Yet, what lingers in the air is not victory’s fragrance, but a suffocating stillness of blood and dust.)

(The city lies like an old, weary beast, licking its wounds cut down to the bone while catching its breath amidst a brief moment of respite.)

(All is over, and yet everything is about to begin anew.)

Commander
…Can’t help but feel a little lonely from here on.

(It’s my final night in Frankfurt before I leave for good, yet I’m unable to sleep, and I simply wish to escape the confined space called my quarters.)

(With my coat draped over my shoulders, I wander the streets aimlessly, seeking to let the chilling air clear my tangled thoughts about what’s to come.)

(And then, beside a secluded bench, I encounter a familiar figure.)

Commander
…94?

(She sits there, all by her lonesome, staring absentmindedly at the dim halo of a streetlamp. Like a startled fawn, she suddenly comes back to herself upon noticing my voice.)

AN-94
Commander…?

(She displays the same surprise as I did, seemingly not expecting to encounter me here either.)

(Clearly, the feeling is mutual, given that we had just bid our farewells earlier during the day.)

Commander
Didn’t feel like sleeping? Aren’t you supposed to leave tomorrow?

AN-94
…Yes.

AN-94
I had some things on my mind, so I came out for a walk.

AN-94
What about you, Commander? You’re not taking time to rest either.

(I move over and take a seat beside her. Her voice sounds even lower than usual.)

(With a person-wide distance between us, silence quietly engulfs the cold night.)

Commander
More or less the same as you.

(I let out a dry laugh and gaze at the starless night sky eroded by the city’s blinding lights.)

Commander
While I’m a train wreck myself…

Commander
…If you have things troubling you, I don’t mind if you tell me about them.

AN-94
…

(My words have seemingly touched something within her. She falls silent for a moment before speaking in a barely audible voice.)

AN-94
Commander… what is DEFY going to do from now on?

Commander
…That’s what you’re worried about?

Commander
Well… What plans do you have after this?

Commander
I’m sure your leader… AK-12, she’ll find a way.

AN-94
…She’s not anymore.

(She gently shakes her head, though her hands subconsciously clench the hem of her clothes.)

AN-94
12 said… she won’t be leading the squad anymore.

AN-94
And that from now on, he and 15 will both follow my command.

(…So this is what’s troubling her.)

(I shift my gaze to her. I can’t even remember the last time I spotted a hint of hesitation on her face ever since her neural upgrade.)

(At this very moment, the only appropriate thing for me to say is…)

Commander
Is that so? I’d say that’s… a good thing.

AN-94
A good thing?

(As if hearing something completely outlandish and unbelievable, her gaze snaps up to meet mine.)

AN-94
I…I’m not even sure if I’m up to the task.

AN-94
At this time, it was Ange and 12 who guided us.

AN-94
12… She’s like the sun… constantly illuminating the path ahead and always able to see what must be done.

AN-94
And I… I am but a fitful shadow cast by her radiance.

AN-94
How is a shadow… supposed to lead the sun?

(Her voice carries a bewildered, almost pleading tone that she herself likely isn’t even aware of.)

I understand how crushing the burden of responsibility can be, especially when it had landed upon her shoulder so abruptly during a time of reformation and uncertain tomorrows.

Commander
Look at me, AN-94.

(I brush aside her self-deprecation and meet her eyes with the gentlest, yet still resolute gaze I can muster.)

Commander
…Since you hold 12 in such high regard, then why do you think 12 came to this decision?

AN-94
I…I don’t know…

(94’s wandering eyes speak of uncertainty.)

AN-94
…I did serve as acting leader when she was absent.

AN-94
Well, “acting leader” at a time when Task Force DEFY was just me and 15… and there was no way 15 could be in charge.

AN-94
But once she returned… even with everything getting back on track…

AN-94
I don’t understand… why all of a sudden…

(I raise my head and gaze once again at Frankfurt’s night sky. The white mist I exhale with each breath fades into the desolate night.)

Commander
…Perhaps, just like me, she saw your growth.

(I say, thinking back to those moments forged in gunfire.)

AN-94
…My growth?

Commander
Yes, your growth. My earliest impression of you was that you seemed rather… “green” for the job, let’s put it that way.

Commander
Although we didn’t have much time together, since M4 and 15—by that I mean ST AR-15—were your teammates for a while, I heard quite a few things about you.

Commander
I’ve come across a lot of Dolls, but I knew you and AK-12 were different the very first time I saw you.

Commander
You’re brave, swift, and… strong.

Commander
Just like those top students at the military academy—and honestly, I’ve always found that type of person to be the least reliable.

AN-94
…I didn’t expect that to be your opinion of us.

Commander
Sorry, it’s entirely my prejudice against certain humans; it’s a different story for T-Dolls like you.

Commander
Take 12, for example… while her personality is really peculiar to say the least, she still acts with the authority and decisiveness expected of a Tactical Doll in combat.

Commander
But you…

Commander
…You are more… human-like.

(AN-94’s confusion deepens, which is understandable since I’ve done nothing but beat around the bush.)

AN-94
Taken together with what you said earlier, that doesn’t sound like praise.

Commander
Indeed it’s not.

(I shake my head.)

Commander
I find that human top students are unreliable due to their human nature, they have emotions, fear, and moments of weakness. It’s true that they excelled at the academy and have undoubtedly mastered countless skills, but when all hell breaks loose and it’s time to put those skills to the test, some can’t even deliver a fraction of their potential.

Commander
But T-Dolls are different. Regardless of their personality preset, they won’t be swayed by emotions and will see the mission through no matter what. My Dolls that are mostly of civilian origins might get caught up in it at times, but military Dolls like you shouldn’t be, at least in theory.

Commander
Which is why I said… you are more human-like.

Commander
15 told me that your neural cloud once nearly crashed when seeing 12 in danger. Is that true?

AN-94
…Yes.

(AN-94 nods in a dazed manner, as if having caught on to where I’m getting at.)

AN-94
My neural cloud is too fragile to be a true Tactical Doll—is that what you’re trying to say?

Commander
Quite the opposite.

(I reply with a smile.)

Commander
That was a long time ago, wasn’t it? Look at you now.

Commander
What I see before me is not a shadow.

Commander
But a steadfast bulwark capable of upholding the whole team, letting the sharp spear known as AK-12 thrust ahead with freedom.

Commander
Even when AK-12 was gone, even when Ange is… you held the team together. Even without them, you lived up to the name of DEFY.

AN-94
I… I just did what I’m supposed to…

Commander
Exactly. You did what you were supposed to do. And now, becoming a leader is what you are supposed to do.

Commander
You’re very human-like, 94. Your thoughts are very delicate and that lets you care about your companions more than anyone else.

Commander
That is your weakness, but also your strength.

Commander
Because that’s what human nature entails—caring for someone can make us vulnerable; just as it can give us the strength to accomplish the impossible.

Commander
Unlike AK-12, you have the freedom to see farther and contemplate more deeply. Even without those “eyes” of hers… No, precisely because you don’t have those eyes, you can see things that they can’t.

(I let my voice soften with a smile, hoping to disarm her unease.)

Commander
Being a leader does not demand that you shine brilliantly like the sun, nor does it require eyes capable of seeing the correct path forward at a glance.

Commander
Instead, it asks that you tread carefully with every step you take, for it is your decisions that guide and protect those companions at your side.

Commander
And in this regard… you’ve always done exceptionally well, AN-94. Better than anyone else.

(My words have seemingly dispelled that haze of confusion in her eyes.)

(And a faint glimmer of light starts to shine through.)

Commander
I look forward to the day when I get to fight alongside the DEFY under your command again.

Commander
And when that day comes, I won’t forget to call you “Leader AN-94”.

AN-94
…Leader AN-94…

(She softly repeats the title over and over, as if savoring a brand-new name that belongs entirely to her.)

(Then, as if hearing a really bad joke, she bursts into chuckles, unable to contain her laughter.)

AN-94
That title doesn’t suit me at all… and it sounds terrible.

(Before long, she takes a deep breath. By the time she raises her head again, the spirit that I recognize had returned to her eyes.)

AN-94
But… I think I understand now. Thank you, Commander.

AN-94
Upon careful reflection, even with this nominal change of leadership, that doesn’t mean 12 will leave us.

AN-94
She’s still with us, and if… if ultimately, it turns out that I’m really not a good fit for the position of leadership…

AN-94
…I can simply return it to her.

Commander
Hey. Don’t get that mindset stuck in your head and intentionally do a poor job to avoid your responsibility, okay?

AN-94
Who knows? With 12 ans 15 constantly fighting one another, maybe I would want to be on paid leave constantly.

(She blinks playfully, catching me off guard—it’s the first time i’ve heard her crack a wise one.)

Commander
…You should get some rest. Your team members are still waiting for their leader.

AN-94
You too, Commander. Take care.

(Our conversation that night was brief. After bidding farewell once more, we turned around and headed toward different streets, disappearing into the night.)

(I did not look back, yet I could sense the gaze that once had followed me around now possessed the courage to stare down its own path.)

(Our paths diverged in that very moment, headed toward different fates. At the time, I was certain that would’ve been the last we’d ever see of each other.)

Cherish Each Encounter 2

(”Freedom” is a word that comes with far too many hidden clauses.)

(In Frankfurt, the Commander did indeed secure the so-called “right of freedom” for nearly all Griffin Dolls. Given that the majority were deemed harmless by the URNC authorities, they chose to turn a blind eye to their whereabouts.)

(But we, Task Force DEFY, were neither affiliated with Griffin, nor can we be considered “harmless”. As such, Statesec will never allow us to simply walk away.)

(While we appeared to have escaped their control and gained the right to decide what can and cannot be done…)

(…All of us understand very clearly that the invisible thread was never truly severed.)

(And so, when an encrypted message from “Mona” came with the word “Paradeus” attached to it once again, we did not hesitate for a second.)

(To us, it was never just a mission—it was vengeance whose embers were never extinguished.)

Alva
…

Erwin
We have arrived

(In recent years, following the establishment of the URNC, local governments across various regions have poured more effort into the management of contamination zones.)

(But only those of us who wander the Yellow Zones know that such efforts are but a drop in the bucket, accounting to nothing substantial for the suffering people.)

(Perhaps that is exactly why the latter choose to walk down the wrong path…)

Alva
Are Koleda‘a survey results out?

Erwin
Yes.

(Erwin and I have disguised ourselves as human siblings to infiltrate the settlement the intel detailed.)

(We hide in the shadows of an abandoned two-story building, overlooking the plaza below through the slats of a window blind.)

(A sickly sweet stench permeates the air here, presumably a mix of cheap incense with the smell of decaying carrion.)

(The residents move like sleepwalkers, their eyes vacant, bodies sluggish.)

(This place is diseased—rotten to the core.)

Erwin
Air sample analysis complete.

Erwin
Neural inducer residue detected. The concentration is low, but it is present.

Alva
Understood. So the intel is correct, this is their doing.

(Just then, I notice some sort of commotion near the settlement’s center plaza.)

Alva
…

Alva
…Someone’s causing a scene.

Erwin
Paradeus?

Alva
Negative.

(I shake my head.)

Alva
…I can’t get a clear view from this angle. Stay here and maintain overwatch. I’ll take a look.

Erwin
Affirmative.

(I put on a headscarf and drape a piece of cloth over myself, concealing most of my face in shadow.)

(Avoiding the main road, I easily navigate through the narrow alleys buried in trash, having done so countless times prior.)

(Here, every patch of shadow is my refuge.)

(As I approach the place, the source of the commotion becomes clearer.)

(It’s neither a scuffle, nor a riot. Instead, I sense something strange—something that doesn’t belong here.)

(Hope.)

(The usually desolate settlement has given rise to an unexpected flicker of liveliness at the plaza.)

(I peek out from the alley corner and finally see what’s at the source of it all—)

(Several military jeeps covered in dust and sand, simply parked there.)

Alva
…!!

(If I had a heart, then it would’ve skipped a beat this very moment.)

(Standing in front of those jeeps and surrounded by refugees from the settlement, a familiar figure comes into view.)

Girl
Commander, Commander! Are we really handing them all this food?

Girl
Our own supplies are running low, too… and they’re acting so weirdly; none of them wants to talk.

Unfamiliar Doll
Mayling, stop running around and don’t leave my sight. Stay behind me.

Unfamiliar Doll
…Something is off about this place.

Commander
All right, Groza, relax a little.

(The Commander’s voice is calm. I have some recollections of the Doll next to him; she was at Griffin, though I can’t recall her original name.)

(Here picks up a can passed to him by the girl and offers it to a child with hollowed eyes and chapped lips standing before him.)

(He doesn’t let go right away, instead waiting until the trembling child clutches the can with all their remaining strength before gently withdrawing his hand.)

Commander
Mayling, we help them not only because they are in need.

(He turns to look at his subordinates; his gaze scans across each of them.)

Commander
More importantly, it reminds us of what we are fighting for: humanity.

Commander
No matter how dark the world around us becomes, we must not let ourselves be consumed by its gloom.

(He then looks back at Groza.)

Commander
You’re right, I also think something’s not right.

Commander
So please keep a close eye on Mayling for me.

Commander
And once we’re done with this last batch… we leave.

(…)

Alva
…

(I quietly retreat into the depths of the shadows, leaning against the cold alley wall.)

(Time hasn’t been kind to the Commander; while it left little to no trace on a Doll like me, it has changed him far more than I anticipated.)

(Unlike the hero of Frankfurt he once was, someone one step away from garnering all the fame, status, and wealth a human could possibly imagine, now he’s no different than any other bounty hunter struggling to survive in the Yellow Zones.)

(But…)

(…Even so, he is undoubtedly still him.)

Erwin
Alva?

Alva
…I have reached the target area.

Alva
Contact has been identified, it’s the Commander. All clear.

Erwin
…The Commander?

(Even Erwin’s voice betrays a rare hint of confusion. Clearly, neither of us expected our reunion to come so abruptly.)

Erwin
We cannot—

Alva
I know. We cannot make contact with the subject.

(…Even without the Agreement, our mission parameters do not permit us to indulge in such an unexpected encounter.)

Alva
…

(If everything proceeds as planned, that is.)

Alva
Erwin.

Erwin
…I see them.

Erwin
It’s the cultists from the intel.

Alva
They don’t look like they’re here to help distribute supplies.

(While they might be proud of their attempt at concealment, their overflowing malice and bloodthirsty cannot be masked so easily, especially when I’ve already got my eyes on them.)

Alva
Erwin.

Erwin
Five o’clock, group of two.

Erwin
Another one at eleven.

Erwin
Dead ahead, two more blended in with the supply queue.

Erwin
All marked.

Alva
Roger.

(I take a deep breath and fade into the crowd like a shadow.)

(Ange once taught me that chaos and confusion are an agent’s greatest weapons.)

(Like a typical vagrant, I drift toward the two cultists ahead in staggered steps and lowered head.)

(As we come to pass by each other, both of my hands shoot out like a pair of steel pincers, clamping down on one cultist’s knife hand and forcefully twisting it back while striking his nerve in the side of his neck.)

(The cultist doesn’t even get the chance to register elder happened before his body goes limp.)

(I pull his body backward so that he slumps against his companion, whom I silently drive to his knees by striking him in the back of the joint—I have no shortage of ways to keep him from making a sound.)

(With two incapacitated men on my shoulders, I draft them away like mere drunkards until we disappear from the crowd and vanish into the alley.)

(I tie them up, hide them behind a pile of trash, and immediately return to the plaza.)

Erwin
Three contacts left. They’re closing in on the Commander.

Alva
Roger.

(If Erwin were in my position, she would’ve done this much faster and more efficiently than I did.)

(Koleda too—her current body is made for covert ops like this. She wouldn’t have left so much as a trace.)

Alva
…

(But here I am, me—AN-94, Alva, the leader of Task Force DEFY.)

(Once again, I weave between the three remaining cultists. By the time they become aware of my presence, everything has been done—)

(First an elbow strike, followed by a sweeping kick, and wrapped up with a swift chokehold on the third man, cutting off any sound.)

(The entire sequence unfolds with such flawlessness that it feels unreal—even to me.)

(With the last cultist’s still half-conscious body on my back, I prepare to take my leave.)

(And then, the unexpected strikes.)

(Because of the intense movements, a corner of the headscarf I used to conceal my identity slips loose.)

(Also in that very moment, the Commander, as if he sensed something… turns around too.)

(Through the surge of the crowd, our eyes meet without any warning.)

Commander
…

Alva
…!

(I quickly pull the headscarf back into place, and without the slightest hesitation, drag the final cultist into the pitch-dark alley with all my strength.)

(I do not look back. I cannot look back.)

(…)

Groza
…What is it, Commander?

Commander
…

Commander
…Nothing.

Cherish Each Encounter 3

(When the trigger is pulled, the world seems to narrow down to nothing but the howling wind and my own breathing.

(At the center of my crosshair is a missile, screeching forth with its long exhaust plume while heading toward a black helicopter that’s struggling to gain altitude like an arrow delivering the final verdict from the Grim Reaper.)

Alva
Hah…

(The tactile feedback through my finger reassures me.)

(Almost simultaneously, two equally sharp yet distinct gunshots ring out and are immediately swallowed by the chaos of the battlefield, unnoticed by anyone.)

Alva
Hit.

Voymastina
Confirmed.

Voymastina
Missile intercepted.

(The two rounds strike the missile’s stabilizing fins with pinpoint accuracy. Thrown off balance, its fuselage tumbles violently midair and promptly detonates.)

(The ensuing fireball erupts at a safe distance of dozens of meters away from the helicopter.)

(I watch as the shockwave forces the helicopter to jolt violently like a leaf caught in a storm. But soon, the pilot regains control and accelerates toward the distant horizon without looking back.)

(It’s only after that black speck disappears from my visual range that I finally lower my rifle and slowly let out the sigh of relief I’ve been holding.)

Voymastina
Our position is compromised.

Voymastina
And we’ve intervened in an engagement outside our mission perimeters.

(Voymastina’s voice sounds calm as always. I know that she’s simply stating the fact.)

(Even if she’s truly against the decision, she would nonetheless follow my orders. But when it comes to helping that person, we don’t need a single word to reach an agreement.)

Alva
I know

(I lean against the cold wall, feeling the lingering warmth of the barrel.)

(Those two shots alone were enough for a well-trained infantry unit to get a rough fix on our position.)

Voymastina
He didn’t come up in Statesec’s intel.

Alva
…I know.

(By “he”, we both know exactly who she means.)

(The one who shouldn’t be, yet just so happens to be here—our former Commander at Griffin.)

(This can’t be a coincidence.)

(Perhaps that is why a rare hint of dissatisfaction can be picked up in Voymastina’s voice.)

(And that goes for both of us.)

Alva
Have we ID’d those hostiles?

Voymastina
Mangi Security elites, “Omen” unit.

Voymastina
They’re in Anna’s database, said to be the Conglomerate’s executioners.

Alva
Their presence here can only mean this lab is a far bigger deal than Mona described.

(I sort through the data in my head, trying to untangle this mess.)

Alva
Our mission is to investigate Paradeus.

Alva
Now we know the Commander’s also involved, as well as this “Omen” unit.

Alva
There are too many variables.

Voymastina
Our intervention earlier has cost us our opportunity to infiltrate.

Alva
I know, but we had no other choice.

(I raise my head toward the direction where the Commander had left.)

Alva
What happened earlier—even if “she” was here, she would’ve done the same thing.

(At the instant the missile launched, my mind knew no hesitation.)

(“We cannot let the Commander die here”.)

Voymastina
…

(Voymastina does not speak either.)

(She understands—no, she had made the same choice.)

(We are DEFY. We may question orders, we may weigh risks and consequences, but we will never stand by and watch a comrade die.)

(Especially not… the Commander.)

Alva
Commander…

(Why are you here?)

(Why are you fighting this “Omen” unit?)

(What has Mona, or rather Statesec, been hiding from us?)

(These questions circle my thoughts like vultures.)

(At the very least, one thing is clear—I know for a fact that…)

(The one who led us out of countless dead ends did not vanish into the Yellow Zones’ obscurity.)

(He is still fighting.)

(Much like us, still fighting against Paradeus, fighting the darkness slowly encroaching on this world.)

(While we walk different paths, we are on the edge of the same cliff, staring down the same abyss.)

Alva
Heh…

(A strange yet oddly comforting feeling suddenly fills my mind like a warm current.)

(…So when you gaze at the moon, someone really is looking at it with you elsewhere in the world.)

Alva
Let’s fall back.

(I stand back up, my voice finding its usual calmness.)

Alva
Send everything we saw today to Mona.

Alva
Facts only. No speculations.

Alva
Just say that… a third party destroyed the target laboratory and that I recommend terminating this investigation.

Voymastina
Understood.

(Voymastina nods. The two of us silently fade into the wasteland night, as quietly as we arrived.)

(While we failed to gather useful intel, at the very least, we learned one thing—)

(…He is alive, he is still fighting.)

(And that is plenty enough.)

Cherish Each Encounter 4

(After pressing the “send” button on the terminal, I let out a deep breath.)

(The preliminary report for the mission is finally complete.)

Commander
Mmm…

(I lean against my chair and stretch my back; my stiff neck lets out a “crack” from sitting idle for too long.)

(Outside the window, heavy clouds blanket the sky, blocking what little moonlight there is. Only a few stubborn rays force their way through, casting down a silver edge over the endless yellow dunes.)

(This exact weather never fails to bring up memories of that equally cold and hazy Frankfurt night ten years ago.)

Commander
…Let me go get something to drink.

(I mutter to myself as I stand up to leave the room.)

(It’s not so much that I really want a drink, but more wanting to give my brain a break from the deluge of data.)

(I walk down the corridor and enter the lounge. Late nights onboard the Elmo are a time of peace and quiet—)

(—At least, they used to be. Unbeknownst when exactly, but this place has gained some liveliness as of late.)

(Springfield stands behind the bar, quietly polishing a wine glass. Warm light falls across her face, highlighting her gentleness.)

(And in front of the large floor-to-ceiling window, I spot another familiar figure.)

Alva
…

(It’s Alva.)

(She stands there, alone, gazing out at the dull, starless night sky, making her slender silhouette look even more lonely.)

(I walk up to the bar and sit across from Springfield.)

Springfield
I see that you’re done with the report, Commander.

Commander
Well, more or less wrapped up.

Commander
Thank you, Springfield, for staying up so late.

Springfield
It’s my pleasure. Would you like a cup of coffee? You look really tired.

Commander
Hmm… Two cups, actually. Thanks.

(Springfield follows my gaze to Alva and gives me a knowing smile.)

(Without asking further, she works the coffee machine and soon sets a tray of two steaming cups in front of me.)

Springfield
Please enjoy.

Commander
Thank you.

(I take the tray and walk over to Alva.)

Commander
What’re you looking at? There’s not much to see in crappy weather like this.

(Seemingly lost in her thoughts, she only snaps back at the sound of my voice.)

Alva
…Commander.

Commander
Springfield just brewed it. Have a cup.

Alva
…Thank you.

(She takes the cup from me; her fingertips feel rather cold.)

Commander
Something troubling you?

Alva
…

(Caught off guard, Alva then lets out a wry, bitter smile.)

Alva
You really… haven’t changed one bit.

Commander
Huh?

(Now it’s my turn to be caught off guard.)

(Alva remains quiet for a moment, holding the cup and taking a small sip.)

Alva
Do you believe in things that are meant to be, Commander?

Commander
Meant to be?

(With my cup in hand, I ponder over that question.)

Commander
I suppose… I do? I don’t believe in gods, but tons of encounters and reunions in this world have an awful lot of inexplicable coincidence in them.

Alva
…I think so too.

Alva
Just now, I happened to recall one of our exchanges from ten years ago, and then, you appeared.

Alva
You even asked me the exact same question from ten years ago. Even for me, the only response I can muster is a bitter smile.

Commander
Ten years ago? The exact same question?

(I frown ever so slightly while digging through my memories.)

Commander
Ah…

(It’s the night before I left Frankfurt, the night I couldn’t find sleep.)

(It was also the last time I saw Alva before our reunion in Lviv.)

Commander
…Now that you mention it, the weather really was this crappy that day too.

(I shake my head.)

Alva
Yeah… it feels surreal.

Alva
The person whom I fought side by side with ten years ago is still standing next to me, as if nothing has changed.

Alva
This feeling… is reassuring.

Commander
I think saying nothing has changed is a bit of a stretch. Neither of us is the same as we were back then.

Commander
Especially you, Alva. I was right—you’ve matured into an excellent leader.

Alva
I…

(Alva lowers her head and stares at her coffee.)

Alva
…Have I?

Commander
You have, undoubtedly.

Alva
Your trust humbles me, but over those years, I… Actually, even now, I still wonder…

Alva
If I wasn’t the one in charge, would “she” be instead… or, to be even more selfish, if Ange was still with us…

Alva
Would things have gone differently? Would the outcome be better?

(She raises her head and stares back out the window.)

Alva
If my worry ten years ago stemmed from a fear of the future, of the unknown, then it stems from something entirely different now.

Alva
I worry… that I’ve let them down.

Commander
Has AK-12 personally told you that?

Alva
…No, of course not.

Commander
Then that settles it.

Alva
…

(Alva smiles helplessly.)

Alva
You are right. I am being overly sentimental. I thought I had already grown out of that.

Alva
Over the past ten years, I’ve rarely had anyone to rely on. Even “she”…even 12 was often not by my side. By the time my new reality had sunk in, I’d already gotten used to her absence and being the one giving the orders.

Alva
Ange and 12 must’ve been through this at some point. No one’s there to tell you what to do—you have to figure out everything on your own.

Alva
And the most terrifying part is, having only yourself pay the price of misjudgment is already the best outcome. Most of the time… the consequences extend to those beyond myself.

Alva
…I guess it’s only natural for one to feel exhausted when put in a position like that.

Commander
Yet you still made it this far. That is remarkable.

Alva
It wasn’t all my achievement.

Alva
Though the burden a leader carries is evident, I had others’ support in return; it’s that combined strength that keeps me standing.

Alva
Voymastina, 12, Kevin, Anna… and of course, you.

Commander
Me?

Commander
Haha, don’t flatter me like that. We didn’t even meet for ten whole years.

Alva
…

(Alva blinks repeatedly.)

Alva
…I wouldn’t say that’s true. Your words from ten years ago were for a very long time a sort of emotional anchor of mine.

Alva
Besides…

Commander
Besides?

Alva
Only you think we’d never met for these ten years.

Commander
…What’s that supposed to mean?

Alva
Have I not given you the answer?

(She smiles.)

(The cup in her hand is empty before I realize. She sets it down on the try and then takes my hand.)

(This time, I can feel the warmth of her fingertips.)

Alva
I think… we are meant to be.

Commander
…

(I don’t really get what she meant by that.)

Alva
Perhaps in the future, I will still feel lost, complain about things, but I will never run away.

Alva
As DEFY’s pack leader, I will always stand and fight alongside you… even when our paths do us aparat, for the separation shall be temporary.

Alva
And our shared dream, I will always believe in our effort to see it through.

Alva
Thank you, Commander… Thank you, for being here with us.

Commander
…

(I feel the reassuring warmth from her palm, and for a moment, all the words I wish to say refuse to leave my throat.)

(In the end, they morph into a quiet chuckle mixed with a sense of relief.)

Commander
The one who should be thanking you is me, Alva.

(I gently squeeze her hand back and look straight into her eyes.)

Commander
Welcome back, Leader Alva.

(She doesn’t utter another word, and only flashes me a soft, genuine smile.)

(I turn to gaze out the window.)

(Unbeknownst when, the heavy clouds blanketing the night sky have parted away, and a few stars peek through, shining stubbornly.)

(Ten years ago, on that night, the stars were beyond our sight.)

(Today, I see them—not just one, but many points of brilliant light.)

Private Meeting Logs

Alva

Commander, have you heard about the cookery class that Miss Springfield is offering?

She says it's to teach basic cooking skills to Dolls on board the Elmo who can't cook but are interested in learning... I signed up for it.

The first lesson was today. It was an... unexpected experience.

I'd like to share my thoughts on the lesson with you... that is, if you don't mind listening to my trivial ramblings.

Thank you for giving me the time... It means a lot to me.

Cooking Class I

Alva
To be honest, I was a bit nervous when I signes up for Miss Springfield’s cookery class.

Commander
Nervous? That’s unusual for you.

Alva
Indeed… As a member of Task Force DEFY, I rarely ever feel on edge. However, I am out of my depth when it comes to cooking.

Alva
Not to mention, there were others present… Mayling, Qiuhua, and a few other colleagues with whom I had barely ever interacted.

Commander
How did Springfield start the lesson?

Alva
She started by asking us about the reason we’d signed up for her class. When it was my turn… I didn’t really know what to say.

Alva
Mayling said she wanted to learn how to cook appetizers to go with her liquor, Qiuhua said she wanted to reach new heights with her cooking… I… just said I felt like picking up a new skill.

Commander
But there’s actually more to it?

Alva
…Yes.

Alva
Miss Springfield was very kind. She told me that the most important thing about cooking isn’t technique, but sentiment.

Commander
What did you learn in your first lesson then?

Alva
Basic knife work. According to Miss Springfield, mastering the use of cutting tools is the first step to cooking.

Alva
I wasn’t too worried about that. After all… I am quite skilled with knives.

Alva
But it soon became apparent that preparing cooking ingredients is utterly different from cutting… other things.

Commander
Different how?

Alva
Cooking ingredients are… defenseless. They don’t fight back.

Alva
Miss Springfield looked rather amused when she saw how I cut the vegetables.

Alva
That’s the moment I realized… my prior experience would not serve me there.

Commander
So you changed your approach?

Alva
Yes, I tried to… slow down.

Alva
Mayling was watching me from the side. She said I looked very grave and somber while cutting the vegetables, as if I were performing some kind of ritual.

Alva
I find her description very apt. To me, it was indeed a kind of ritual.

Commander
What kind of ritual?

Alva
A ritual of life… of peace.

Alva
At the end of the lesson, I looked at the vegetables I cut up and felt a sense of accomplishment.

Alva
It’s a totally different feeling compared to completing a mission.

Commander
Sounds like you enjoyed the process very much.

Alva
I did. I still have much to learn, but I’m already looking forward to the next lesson.

Cooking Class II

Alva
Commander, the second lesson was even more interesting… We made an actual dish.

Commander
What dish?

Alva
Fried rice.

Alva
According to Miss Springfield, fried rice is the basic of all basics in Chinese cuisine. Miss Qiuhua was having the time of her life.

Commander
Did it go well for you?

Alva
In the beginning… not really.

Alva
I was so hung up on the temperature of the oil and exactly how many seconds I had to fry the rice… I ended up being rather flustered for a while.

Alva
But Miss Springfield pointed out that cooking has more to do with feel and experience.

Commander
She has a point.

Alva
Indeed… So I tried to stop obsessing over the technicalities and started observing with my eyes and taking in the aroma with my nose instead.

Alva
The beaten egg sizzled when it slowly solidified in the wok… It felt exhilarating.

Alva
I can’t really explain it, but just watching the food being cooked brought me great joy.

Commander
How did the dish turn out in the end?

Alva
It looked… okay.

Alva
But the flavor… Miss Springfield had a bite and said, “There’s room for improvement.”

Commander
That’s a pretty diplomatic comment.

Alva
I tried some myself… My seasoning still needs a lot more work.

Alva
However, we ended up finishing the whole thing by sharing it among us. Although it didn’t taste good at all, everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Alva
I feel very satisfied, but it’s a different kind of satisfaction from completing a mission.

Commander
Different how?

Alva
I can’t quite put my finger on it… I suppose it’s because I could see the smiles that I put on everyone’s faces? It’s almost like when I wasn’t the leader of Task Force DEFY, and all the DEFY members were still around.

Alva
I really like this life that’s seemingly mundane but deeply fulfilling.

Alva
I still have a ways to go, but I’m starting to understand why Miss Springfield enjoys cooking for everyone so much.

Commander
Why do you think that is?

Alva
Because seeing others’ appreciation for your efforts really fills you with warmth.

Alva
Even though my fried rice was far from perfect, I want to keep trying hard because of everyone’s encouragement.

Alva
I’m starting to understand what Miss Springfield meant… when she said the most important ingredient in cooking is sentiment.

Commander
You’re a quick learner.

Alva
Thank you… I want to challenge myself with more difficult dishes next time.

Cooking Class III

Alva
On top of learning how to cook, I’ve also gained something unexpected out of these cookery lessons.

Commander
You got something else out of the lessons?

Alva
Indeed… I’ve grown closer with the other Dolls.

Alva
Probably due to the unique nature of Task Force DEFY, others tend to find us unapproachable.

Commander
And the cooking lessons changed that?

Alva
Yes. In the process of learning together, we helped each other and shared our thoughts freely… It was a novel experience.

Alva
Mayling offered me advice when I blundered my seasoning. Qiuhua praised my knife work when I cut my vegetables.

Alva
And I… also started actively sharing my thoughts and observations.

Commander
That mustn’t have been easy for you.

Alva
It really wasn’t.

Alva
But in the cookery class, our differences as Dolls and what we’d experienced in the past didn’t seem to matter at all.

Alva
Once, my soup boiled over. It was Miss Sabrina who first consoled me… That was the first time we spoke.

Alva
Now, I feel like I’ve really become part of the group.

Commander
Did you also chat about other subjects?

Alva
Many. Mayling shared a great deal about her collections of… drinks, while Qiuhua asked me about food ingredients I’d come across in the Yellow Zone.

Alva
In return, I… shared some stories of Task Force DEFY.

Alva
Not about our missions, just… some trivial things in our day-to-day life.

Commander
How did they respond to your stories?

Alva
They listened very intently and said that they saw DEFY in a new light.

Alva
I would never have done this before. I suppose I was a little too self-important to interact with Dolls outside of Task Force DEFY.

Alva
But I must have changed a bit after so many years.

Commander
How did it feel sharing your memories with them?

Alva
It was…cathartic. Perhaps I just really needed someone to talk to.

Alva
As you know, I could only talk about such things with Voymastina in the past, but she…

Alva
…She has her own troubles.

Commander
So how are you getting along with the others now?

Alva
I feel like we’ve genuinely become friends.

Alva
Not just comrades in battle, but friends who are concerned for how each other is doing in daily life.

Alva
It makes me treasure my life on board the Elmo even more.

Commander
Looks like the cooking class has changed you a great deal.

Alva
I think so too.

Alva
Real strength doesn’t only come from within, but also from connections with others.

Cooking Class IV

Alva
Commander, there’s something I want to tell you.

Commander
What is it?

Alva
During the first lesson, I said that I signed up for the cooking class to pick up a new skill… I wasn’t being entirely honest.

Alva
Now I want to come clean about the real reason why I decided to learn how to cook.

Alva
I’d like to… cook for you and the others some day.

Commander
Cook for us?

Alva
That’s right.

Alva
I watched Miss Springfield while she was preparing your breakfast. That kind of gentle consideration… made me very envious.

Alva
I think… I also want to be capable of that.

Commander
Who do you want to cook for?

Alva
You, my friends on board the Elmo… and my DEFY teammates.

Alva
I am good at making small gestures for others, but I’ve never taken the effort to prepare a meal for somebody.

Alva
I’ve spent the longest time with Voymastina in all these years, but she almost never eats unless she has to, or unless there’s a lot of time to kill.

Commander
So… you want to cook for me?

Alva
Yes… I want to make you a proper dinner, like the others have done.

Alva
Even I can’t really say why it matters so much, I just want to do it.

Alva
Miss Springfield says I’ll understand once I do it in earnest.

Commander
Yeah… she’s right.

Alva
So I’ll keep learning. I can only make very simple dishes right now, but one day… I will be able to cook as well as Miss Springfield.

Alva
Still… the most important thing about cooking isn’t technique, but sentiment.

Alva
As long as I put my heart into it, even if my technique is not the best, my feelings will still get across… That’s what Miss Springfield said.

Commander
I look forward to sampling your cooking.

Alva
Thank you. I will keep practicing.

Alva
This could take a long time, but I will persevere.

Commander
And I’ll keep waiting. However long it takes.

Alva
Thank you very much… Then I’ll also keep sharing my thoughts on my cookery lessons with you.

Alva
Until the day I can invite you to sample my cooking.

Tea Time

About Her Teammates

Commander
Did someone give you that little ceramic cat on the bookshelf in your dorm room?

Alva

It's a gift from Mayling...to welcome me aboard the Elmo.

I don't have many of such possessions. It's just an ornament with no practical value, but it reminds me of Mayling's care and concern for me every time I see it.

The value of a gift lies not in the object itself, but in the sentiment and connection within. It's...a beautiful concept.

About Her Sketchbook

Commander
I saw your sketchbook. You draw pretty well.

Alva

Thank you...It was "she" who suggested that I give drawing a go. She said it could help me observe the world more closely.

Even though I'm not equipped with the Wolf Eye, I'm still used to observing my surroundings as a T-Doll...for the sake of making tactical assessments, not for aesthetic reasons.

When I focus on capturing the shifts of light and shadow, I do feel a certain sense of...serenity. Commander, if you don't mind...I'd like to draw your portrait.

About Travelling

Commander
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

Alva

I want to see the ocean...The real ocean, not mere images or holographic projections in the database.

Data shows that the ocean covers most of the Earth's surface, but it is one of our least explored areas.

Commander, if there ever comes a day where we achieve genuine peace, shall we go see the ocean together? The clean, beautiful ocean.

About the Seasons

Commander
What's your favorite season?

Alva
Spring...I think.

Commander
Why spring?

Alva
Because it represents new life and possibility. Everything that has been dormant in winter awakens, and flowers bloom even in the most desolate land...I find this transformation beautiful.

About Reading

Commander
Alva, I always see a book in your hands these days. What have you been reading?

Alva
Just some books that Mayling lent me. Anything from poem anthologies to novels...I'm trying to "broaden my horizons".

Commander
Got any works that you particularly like?

Alva
I've come to realize that I'm especially drawn to stories about rebuilding and regeneration...The experience of people who get up on their feet again in the midst of ruins somehow resonates with me.

About Birthdays

Commander
Are there any human customs that you find particularly interesting?

Alva

There are many...but I'm most intrigued about the celebration of birthdays.

A person's birth is a completely coincidental occurrence. To celebrate it regularly with gifts and wishes...seems logically pointless, and yet it holds such great sentimental importance.

According to Miss Springfield, to celebrate someone's birthday isn't just to celebrate their existence, but also to show gratitude for having met them...When it's your birthday, I'll also express my gratitude for having met you, Commander.