Leaving The Nest

"You all at the research department have no idea what's truly going on." Charlotte, being the one that caused everyone's silence decides to continue on, her gaze not leaving the right side of the room where the man from earlier spoke before."

"L-Lieutenant... Can't you see how valuable the girl is to-"

"And like I said, shut your mouths." Another person spoke up against Charlotte, this time a younger woman, however Charlotte cuts her off just as aggressively as she did with the man. "This girl has much of a right to live as the rest of you."

"What are you saying... She massacred an entire team within seconds!" The man from the right speaks up once more, seeming to have not finished and seems to be speaking on behalf of everyone on his side.

"And you think she did that on purpose?! She's just a girl."

"Yeah, a girl who killed her-!" His voice cuts off before he could finish as Charlotte rushed in and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, lifting him off his chair and up into the air. It all happened in a blink of an eye as everyone was slow to react as they all look towards Charlotte. The General and the Major seemed to be the only ones that seemed to have saw this coming as their faces remained as they were, however everyone else looked distraught from the sight that's in front of them.

"Don't think I won't take your tongue. You won't need it for research, right?" At Charlotte's words, the man remained silent, and after a few seconds, Charlotte lets go of the man as he begins trying to catch his breath. "Sorry, General." She says before addressing the old man.

"It's alright. I knew those lot would have complaints, which is why I brought them here."

"Thank you, sir." She replies before making her way back to me, her eyes now back to a golden color, her face much more relaxed than before.

"I know many of you have your complaints about this, but with your research having been stuck for years now, Lieutenant Ilaria's project will take precedence. Is that clear?"

"Yes, general..." The man replies in a low tone, looking to be quite disappointed as he slumps back into his chair.

"Frigg. I'll let you take it from here. You three may leave."

"Yes, sir." The Major salutes the old man before she, along with Charlotte begins to leave the room. I was a bit confused on what do to, but when Charlotte grabs my hand, I quickly follow her out the door, before it closes behind me.

"Haaah~ I really hate those guys..." After about five seconds of walking through the hall, Charlotte heaves a sigh while still holding onto my hand.

"I don't blame them. They've been at a deadlock for years. They're just frustrated and want to show results." The Major replies to Charlotte while I keep silent. "Haha, but I didn't expect you to charge right up to him. For a second I thought you'd take his head."

"I was going to if he continued talking."

"Haha. You would've lost all your progress if you did."

"Maybe so... But I didn't want Shiro to hear that..." She's calling me by my name again? A sense of relief washes over me almost immediately upon hearing it. Maybe saying my name in that room wasn't a good idea?

"Shiro?"

"That's her name." Charlotte, along with the Major peers over at me, Charlotte wearing a bright smile on her face.

"Hmmm?~ Shiro, is it?" Am I meant to speak? They're both looking at me as if expecting something.

"...Y-yes." I hesitate for a moment, but end up replying regardless as I tighten my hold on Charlotte's hand.

"You couldn't come up with a better name than that?"

"Hey, I think it suits her just fine."

"Haha, yeah yeah~" The Major seems quite nice after seeing her like this. Charlotte seems to trust her and she's also calling Charlotte by her name, unlike the others in that room calling her Lieutenant.

I hadn't notice since I was distracted by Charlotte and the Major, but we soon come up to a glass door as it automatically opens, allowing us to step through it. But as soon as the door opened, a sudden gust blows through, blowing my hair back as my body freezes in place. What the hell was that?!

"U-uhm! Charlotte?" Panicked by the sudden feeling, I look at Charlotte as she also stops in place for me, our hands still connected. Actually, I might be holding her hand too tight now that I think about it...

"It's okay, it's just the wind."

"Wind?"

"Mhmm. It's like this-" She then blows onto my forehead as I feel her breath tickle my skin, blowing some of my hair to the side. "See? It's the same thing." So this wind is the the same as that? Feeling my body loosen back up, I take a step forward outside as more of the wind crashes into my body.

"She's quite cute, isn't she?"

"Alright, come on, where'd you park? I don't want Shiro to be here any longer as is."

"Fine~" The Major then began leading the way as Charlotte and I followed behind her. But my eyes were focused on something else...

Looking up, I saw countless new things that I've never seen before. A bright sky, expanding as far as I could see. Trees with luscious leaves glittering in the sunlight, along with things flying in the sky. I found myself standing there in awe, taking in the sight.

"Hehe. Come on, let's go Shiro." Charlotte, pulling me along, brings my attention back to her as we catch up to the Major.