This Is Unforgivable! (Continued)
—Didn't she just throw the folder at me? Hmm, looks like she's in a good mood today. Did something good happen? Maybe I should congratulate her... no, never mind. Good things are meant to be shared with people you like. There's not much joy to share with people you dislike.
—Let's pretend we don't know. Ah... I really hope we can become Kal'tsit.
"Excuse me." Miss Surtr carefully took another step into the office—good, this time the boots had been cleaned beforehand, so she wouldn't be scolded for leaving dust marks on the floor—her gaze didn't meet Kal'tsit's, but instead, as described in the art of social interaction, she looked directly at Kal'tsit's eyebrows. Then, she read a hint of weariness in those thin eyebrows.
—Kal'tsit, have you been busy all day?
"You must be tired after a long day at work. I found some refreshing flowers that should help relax your mind and eyes. If you don't mind, I'll put them here."
She pointed to the empty vase in the room—clearly, this was Persephone's doing. Whether she had foreseen it beforehand or arranged it after she left, the fact remained that the room now contained a porcelain vase that perfectly complemented the overall setting and could hold fresh flowers.
Then she heard Kal'tsit's voice.
"I can control my hands and eyes well, and my brain isn't so weak that it needs pollen to numb it. What gave you this illusion that you think I'm so weak?" The Rhodes Island doctor behind the desk raised his eyes, his pale green eyes flashing with a sharp, razor-sharp light. His hands, weathered by countless life-and-death experiences, methodically processed the slightly scattered documents and reports on the desk. And that scrutinizing gaze swept over her for only a fleeting moment.
"But I can't stop you. Operator Surtr, although your reinstatement file hasn't been approved yet, I'll call you that for now—I don't think it's beneficial for Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals for an important combatant like you to waste time picking flowers. But at the same time, it's your freedom to do what you want. Those flowers—they make no difference to me whether they're in the trash or in a vase. But I hope you won't do this unnecessary work for me next time."
--very good.
Miss Surtr's cheek muscles twitched slightly.
A surge of anger welled up inside the girl.
Strictly speaking, Kal'tsit's response this time was much better than her behavior in certain past situations. In comparison, her lukewarm words could even be categorized as 'mild'. However, the past is the past, and the present is the present. The current Miss Surtr's tolerance is not as high as it used to be!
—I'd rather give it to Persephone as a treat! I could at least use it to comfort Amiya!
—Phew... I'm not angry, I'm not angry...
"Okay, then I'll put them here." The Flame-haired maiden smiled as she placed the four-colored bouquet into a wide-mouthed porcelain vase, arranging them in a pleasingly irregular pattern. Then she tilted her head slightly, trying to present a playful expression. "And, I've prepared a cake for you. It might not taste very good, but you've had a long day, so it should help you replenish your sweetness..."
She saw Kal'tsit tidy up the documents on the table, then glanced at the gift box in her hand.
"Cake? That's unnecessary."
She saw Kal'tsit get up from her seat and pick up a surgical coat from the side and put it on.
"I am very clear about the condition of my body. I know how to make every muscle and every organ in my body function normally at the time I need it. To this end, I have designed a series of nutritional meals to make this body function at the best efficiency. Every item in it has been carefully calculated, and the intake of various nutrients, whether more or less, has an insurmountable quantitative limit."
The Rhodes Island doctor's face was expressionless, and his every move was cold and precise, like a machine. Miss Surtr remembered clearly that this appearance of his only ever appeared when he was communicating with her.
She saw Kal'tsit walk past her.
"I still have some projects to do, and in the meantime, I must ensure that my body functions at its most efficient. Operator Surtr, do you really have to be so blunt?"
"But, the cake..." Miss Surtr felt her smile was about to falter.
"You can put it wherever you think it should be, Operator Surtr. If you're confident in your culinary skills, then don't doubt its appeal to... certain people. Once I've finished my work, I'm sure it will have an ending that won't upset its creator."
She pushed open the door and paused briefly before walking out.
"And you should still remember District B59. Yes, I'm talking about the area where your antics caused so much damage that many buildings needed extra manpower and resources to rebuild—I have no intention of commenting on your battles and results back then. But the observatory there is quite valuable to Rhodes Island Pharmaceuticals. If you still have plenty of energy, then that ruin would be a decent place to relax."
She walked out the door.
She left without looking back.
She left Miss Surtr alone in the office, lost in thought. Holding a cake box, she looked like a statue.
Like a fool.
Like an idiot!
The Flame-haired maiden took a deep breath and exhaled. Everything in the room trembled in response.
She moved with light steps, but each step left a trail of charred earth behind her. Then, she walked to Kal'tsit's desk. She placed the exquisitely packaged box on the empty corner of the desk. Then, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"..."
If you hold back for a moment, you'll only get angrier. If you back down, you'll only feel like you've lost out.
"..."
Molten flames ignited in his scarlet eyes.
Kal'tsit walked down the deserted corridor. She had deliberately chosen this path because it led to the observatory in District 59. She could clearly feel the tiny communicator near her earlobe beeping slightly; Warfarin must have somehow managed to capture her actions in the office earlier.
Warfarin is Sanguinarch, a very ancient one. It wouldn't be surprising if she had some secrets.
Moreover, I am currently unable to reply.
She took a few more steps forward, her ears trembling slightly. In the empty corridor, only her footsteps echoed.
Ah... Surtr didn't come.
That's only natural. Why would Surtr possibly come? Even the most good-tempered person would get annoyed by such a cold reception. And yet, he hadn't done or said a single thing that a person should do or say!
How should I explain this to her?
Tell her that what I actually meant in my first sentence was—'Thank you for your trouble, please put the flowers there. I really like them, but don't go to so much trouble next time. I'm already so happy that you came.'
Tell her that what I actually meant in my second sentence was—'The cake is delicious, I'll eat it in a bit. But before that, let's do something else.'
Tell it that what you meant in your third paragraph was actually—'The observatory in Zone 59 is very spacious, and there's hardly anyone there. Would you like to come with me?'
Should I explain it to her? After giving her so many cold looks and leaving her alone in the office?
Or perhaps I actually hope she can figure it out on her own?
Ha! What a joke! No matter how normal or abnormal a person is, how could they possibly glean such an answer from their own incoherent words and actions?
Admit it, Kal'tsit, you've ruined everything. The help of your friends, their expectations, and your own bright future have all been thrown into the filthy mud by your own hands. You brought this upon yourself.
"—It's impossible for me... to be with her again..."
A realization dawned on her: she could see that Surtr had taken this visit very seriously. And the more serious he was, the greater his expectations. And the greater his expectations, the deeper his disappointment would be.
A wave of bitterness and sorrow washed over her, and in an instant, her strength was robbed by her emotions. She instinctively reached out to steady herself against the wall, perhaps about to collapse to her knees on the cold tiles.
But she did not fall.
The next moment, a burning sensation, stinging the skin, emanated from the wall that the fingertips touched.
She instinctively turned her head—
What met her eyes was flames surging and churning like living things. The molten fire that had always brought her a sense of security in the past now sent chills down her spine. Something... she couldn't tell if it was anger or hatred, something that gripped her, making it hard to even breathe.