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First, I quickly closed the door and stepped into the cabin.

There was the public issue of Zero’s bulk blocking the narrow train aisle, but I judged that if I made a fuss, it would escalate into a real bullet-flying problem.

“Devil… Wurp?!”

“I’m sorry, my kid is a little scared of strangers.”

“…It’s okay. It can happen.”

Fortunately, Asif, the male of the two passengers, noticed my consideration without delay.

It took about two seconds to cover Rosalyn’s screaming mouth and sit her back down? From the prepared excuse to the action, it was so smooth and neat that I almost applauded.

But I didn’t actually clap and saved it.

Compared to her, Zero didn’t even cause such a panic attack, and seemed to be calmly grasping the situation and maintaining balance, so I really wanted to praise him.

I’m glad he studied the boarding procedures and quickly learned the manners to observe in public places.

When you think about it, everyone can be seen as a potential threat, but Zero is overly zealous when it comes to my intentions or safety, causing excessive reactions. But he’s gradually reducing that, so I’m also taking a more relaxed attitude…

“Anastasia, can you lower the intensity of your… welcome greeting now that you’ve stopped suspecting her? Unless you’ve come to settle things.”

“…Here I was, excitedly praising him.”

Before I knew it, I stopped Zero, who was gripping the hand axe that had switched owners with her other arm.

Of course. He wasn’t a passive machine that could just wait quietly even after seeing people he had a history of fighting.

Even if it wasn’t Rosalyn, anyone would be surprised if a combat weapon blocked the entrance to a secret room and pulled out an axe. Ugh.

Squeak…

Across from the two Five Eyes agents.

I sat down on the seat with a decent cushion. Zero declined, saying his responsiveness would decrease, but he was convinced by my joke that bending his knees and sitting down would be more advantageous for gaining momentum, and he sat down.

…I don’t know why that worked as a logical persuasion, but anyway.

“”……””

“Uh, um…”

……. –

The terribly awkward silence stretched on and on.

I wished they would start the conversation first, but Asif seemed to believe that I had complete control over the situation, and after his one word earlier, he just stared at me and waited.

I couldn’t look straight ahead, so I turned my gaze to the cabin window.

I could see passengers who had completed the departure procedures pouring into the platform.

Some were taking a breather since their seats were assigned, others were sprinting to secure standing room with something to lean on, and still others were struggling with a vending machine that wasn’t working properly.

There’s still some time before departure.

Whether we take the next train, they give up and get off, or we find a dramatic compromise, there were endless ways to resolve this funny standoff. In other words… we had to resolve it no matter what.

I’m already overwhelmed with my own problems, and now I have to travel locked in a secret room, enjoying an uncomfortable alliance with original named characters that I can’t even hate?

Absolutely not. I refuse.

“Ahem. Hey, Zero?”

Just give the order. I’ll take care of it immediately. –

What, what are you going to take care of? Why are you pulling out the axe again? It’s not something that brutal. Rosalyn, who had finally calmed down, covered her face with her laptop again.

“I’m really sorry, but… can you buy me a can of juice from that vending machine on the platform? Oh, and the brand is Daily Brewworks.”

…Are you serious, right now? –

He showed a clear sign that he really didn’t want to follow my excuse to leave the seat for a moment.

I partially agree that it’s not the right decision considering all the conditions.

A year is enough time for a person to change, but I might be excessively easing my vigilance by only looking at the possibility of a fragmented future. It might be a hasty action to step directly onto a precarious wooden bridge.

Even though I said it in a somewhat lengthy way, we’re not the ones who would lose more if we fought here.

It’s them, the fugitives who chose a head-on confrontation.

Besides, I think there’s nothing more effective in relieving this suffocating air than disarmament, and my best weapon right now is Zero himself, not a pistol.

Even if I didn’t intend to, I should take a step back since I have a geopolitical advantage.

“It’s not for anything else, I need to take some medicine, please hurry before the train leaves.”

…Understood. I will buy Daily Brewworks juice, preferably without a spicy flavor. –

He even opened the communication wide so I could hear what they were saying, and only then did Zero reluctantly leave the cabin. Adding unnecessary remarks on the way… I don’t know who’s the boss.

Click… Bang!

As the cabin door closed, the noise from the hallway that had been leaking in for a moment subsided.

The Care Bot, which had been watching us until the end, is now gone, and the other party is ready to listen with an open mind. In sports terms, it’s a perfect no-mark chance that will never come again.

Okay, you can come in comfortably. I’m willing to explain this incredible coincidence to your satisfaction? …But if you don’t believe me, you’ll have to take the next train!

“”……””

Uh… so, Mr. Asif? Rosalyn? Let’s talk.

“”……””

Let’s talk… damn it. Why are you all so quiet?! You’re supposed to be resistance fighters…!

I was fed up with the two people’s gazes, still looking only at my mouth like well-behaved students.

I would have preferred them to say something like, “How did you find out?” or “Your grudge is no joke.” Then at least the situation would have progressed in some direction.

“Tsk…”

I slightly moistened my dry lips.

You need to have been in a position of power to know how to lead, but unfortunately, it seems like an excessive responsibility has been given to someone who avoided even being the leader of a group project, let alone being in a position of power.

Usually, the moments when I have to step up are so dire that I can’t even feel the pressure, or there are no other options, but this is a bit… awkward.

Is there anyone I can refer to, or at least clumsily imitate?

…Ironically, there was. And I met him very recently, and I’ve been chewing him out at least four or five times today.

I leaned comfortably against the backrest and crossed my legs diagonally.

I wanted to clear my throat, but it was too artificial, so I held back.

“You’re quite bold, aren’t you? I thought you’d get a bike or something and cross the desert, but you’re traveling by train so confidently in broad daylight.”

“Hehe… Why would good citizens like us endure such inconvenience? The Christmas sightseeing is over, so we should go back home.”

A skillful and annoying answer came back immediately.

It was very nonchalant, as if they didn’t know anything.

But if you ask people who have seen everything, good and bad, if they really have to do that, well… Ah, if that’s the secret to longevity, I might be willing to learn a lot?

“…How’s your arm? I think it’s a cheap price to pay for being stubborn.”

“…I was originally one-armed, but thanks for your concern. But I’m much more curious about what kind of connection the generous lady has with us that we keep running into each other.”

If I sneer, they sneer back, if I poke, they poke back.

Turn-based game? Card game? Anyway, the back-and-forth gave me a creepy feeling.

I tried a clumsy play, but the other party was so good at responding that it was difficult to stop.

Leaving aside Rosalyn, who was making absurd noises like, “Is… is this adult politics…?!”, I had no idea when to stop.

More than that, Mr. Asif, you’re only opening up now that the stage is set. Unbelievably.

“It’s too merciful to say that you’ve come to put an end to unfinished business… but it doesn’t seem like you’re interested in our little hobby activities, even belatedly.”

“…I don’t know why someone with such accurate eyes was so stubborn in the alley back then.”

Asif smiled so wide that his teeth were visible at my blunt reply.

It was a smile of accomplishment, as if he had found a flaw in a solid wall or a flaw in an almost perfect fake.

“This is the first time you and I have met, isn’t it? If we had a chance to meet beforehand, our relationship wouldn’t have gotten so twisted.”

“Huh…?”

Your wordplay is quite something. Moreover, apart from the playful tone, the content continued to hit the core, making me even more focused.

Mr. Asif might be very embarrassed if he heard this evaluation, but in a way, it seemed similar to a community comment war.

Testing each other’s intentions… trying to crush each other by saying, “I’m better than you”… The atmosphere, which was a million light-years away from healthy persuasion, was definitely because the person I referred to was bad. Hmm.

But regret is regret no matter how early it is, and the immediate problem wasn’t the atmosphere.

“So, Anastasia Valentine. Will you finally tell me what you want from these shabby stragglers?”

“Please… confess… honestly…!”

“…Can I cancel what I said about having accurate eyes, even now?”

How did the violent premise that I knew everything come to be established?

I don’t think it’s my fault…