Humanitarian Aid
[System is undergoing repairs]
[Current system is incomplete... error: 001]
[Repairing...]
[Repair Completion Progress: 1.3%]
***
I was sitting in an office of the Spectrum-Judgement branch. It seemed that Aiko had been retrieved at some time by either the NPO or Spectrum-Judgement themselves. I assumed that this meant that I would be relieved of the 'mission' that the headmaster gave me. Ultimately, she just wanted to get her hands on the Initializer for whatever purpose.
Still, she seemed to be recovering mentally, so Mana was leading the regiment for the time being.
I decided to stay in the 21st regiment since it provided me with some useful intel on the city and greater access to many confidential documents.
"There's been a large-scale terrorist attack in a city on the east side of the country. We have been assigned as one of the several humanitarian aid groups to help with the defence and rebuilding of it. If you don't wish to participate for whatever reason, feel free to say so."
I didn't really have much else to do. Besides, the idea of going on a 'humanitarian aid' trip sounded quite appealing. I've been looking for some people I could control. Having some helpers with me to act as proxies would make my life significantly easier. As such, I hoped that there might be some children who've lost their parents.
I needed people who had nothing else to grasp onto.
A few of the other members seemed reluctant, not wanting to leave their home town, especially during the middle of the school year. I didn't care at all about my studies. It wasn't like I had anything to learn anyways.
If I really wanted, I could ace any exam the school gave me.
"I'm happy to go."
"Alright, Oliver, Aiko, Chinami and I will be going."
Ah, fewer of us were going than I expected.
• ───────────────── •
I found myself standing in the headmaster's office once again. She had her usual apathetic expression, looking aimlessly at the wall.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
"I'm just a bit sad that you'll be leaving for a few weeks."
"I didn't realise you actually cared about me."
Suddenly, she showed an unusually sad expression.
"I'm quite hurt by that statement of yours~. You're like my own child."
"Do normal parents send their children out on life-threatening missions?"
"That's the difference between me and a normal parent. You'll understand once you get your memories back."
I didn't really understand what she was talking about. Still, I'd never really seen her as a parental-like figure. Our understanding of our relationship didn't seem to match up. However, somewhere deep in my lost memories, I do recall being saved from the Human Realiser Project by someone.
It was like a jigsaw puzzle where I only had two of the five-hundred pieces.
"Was that all you had to say to me?" I asked.
"Ah. Well, I guess so."
"I'll be leaving then. Actually, can you take the tracking chip off of me?"
"Sorry, no can do."
"I prefer having privacy."
"You may see me as some sort of stalker, but the tracking chip is so that I can protect you if something goes terribly wrong."
"I don't get it. Are you a helicopter parent or a negligent one?"
"People don't always fall in either black or white, you know?"
"That sounds like an avoidant statement."
"Well, if I had to answer, it'd be closer to helicopter parent."
"I really don't get you."
"You're my most precious tool, after all. I wouldn't want to lose you all of a sudden."
"So you do think of me as a tool."
"Me calling you a tool is just my way of coping. It'd hurt both of us if I said how I really feel."
"That sounds like the lead-up to a romantic confession."
"Gross, you're a child."
The more we talked, the less sense everything was making. I needed to begin packing my things for the excursion anyways, so I began making my way out of the office. This time, the headmaster didn't interrupt my leave with any more confusing statements.
I made my way back to my dorm. The plane was leaving the next morning since this was a relatively urgent request from the other city's council. I hadn't really travelled all that much in my life so I wasn't sure what I was even meant to bring. I guess toiletries were a must. A few different sets of clothes and a pillowcase seemed to make sense.
Other than that, I didn't really know what I needed. The headmaster had prepared a pretty big suitcase which I haven't even come close to filling. What was I even meant to pack? I couldn't think of anything that'd even be useful to me.
In the end, I just left the suitcase half-empty and prepared to go to bed for the night.
I guess I'd get up early the next morning and make my way to the airport an hour or so before takeoff. I still wasn't sure how the arrangement was going to work, so I'd meet up with the rest of the 21st regiment and see what they were doing.
I closed my eyes, drifting off to sleep
• ───────────────── •
The time was 8:01 am.
The scheduled time for takeoff was 11:00 pm. I still had plenty of time to spare, so I did my morning routine without much hurry.
Taking a taxi over, I found myself at the entrance of the city's airport. It was as you'd expect, large, bright and busy. I began making my over to the bag drop-off. That was where Mana had told us all to meet. As I looked around, I noticed Aiko standing by herself. As I walked over, she looked up and greeted me.
"Hey, Oliver!"
"Hey, Aiko."
"U-um... so you saved Isabella when I got kidnapped, right?"
"Yeah, I suppose so."
I wasn't exactly sure how she knew, but it wasn't too unexpected that she'd find out.
"Well, I just wanted to thank you. I was so glad when I found out that she was okay."