Honestly, before today, I'd never seen what Tawell looked like in casual clothes. This research maniac's classic image was simply too deeply ingrained: a neat white researcher's robe, delicate ladies' glasses, and the meticulous, swift conduct of a soldier. Put those three together, and she became Shadow City's famous Explosive Mad Scientist Glasses Girl... Well, she absolutely couldn't hear that phrase. Empire scientists were generally no less dangerous than Hitler...
When I gave Tawell time off, I truly hadn't expected to see her dressed casually. Honestly, once she put on an ordinary dress and took off her glasses, she looked like an entirely different person. Only that blade-like military air still gave a sense of familiarity, but it seemed especially out of place with her soft, girlish outfit. To be fair, she looked better standing still—seen from behind, she looked like a proper lady...
That was why, after she took off her glasses, I hadn't recognized her at all. If she hadn't spoken, within ten minutes I would probably have imagined Tawell had a half-sister from the same father.
"Your subordinate requests permission to return to the research institute ahead of schedule," Tawell repeated seriously. "Regarding the Ghost Ship matter, I believe I may discover more by personally analyzing it."
"It's not impossible. The institute really has seemed a little chaotic without you," I said with a slight nod. She immediately looked delighted, but then I added, "Still, it's rare to see someone think her vacation is too long. Seriously, if Reimu and Yukari were even half as dedicated as you, I'd be satisfied."
As I said that, I remembered the unfortunate fox whom Yukari kept forcibly sending over to cover her shifts. Ran had only just left the Medical Center yesterday. The fur on her tails had grown back,