The Drowned Innocent.
Saria didn't see it that way, but FrostNova was stubborn and not much of a talker to begin with. Hoshino had assigned her an area, so she couldn't exactly turn around and leave. She answered with stubborn silence, like a hard stone frozen beneath the snow.
Saria had never been one to force things. Staying near FrostNova was freezing anyway, so she left without hesitation.
Only FrostNova remained at the edge of the camp, a lone rabbit all by herself.
There was something subtly desolate about her figure.
Fortunately, the lonely scene did not last long. Hoshino and Rosmontis arrived before FrostNova one after the other, keeping a great distance between themselves.
"Are these the teammates you chose?"
FrostNova frowned. "They seem a little..."
"Weak?"
FrostNova shook her head. "No. I'm not that blind. I just feel that I'm clearly still alive, yet girls like them have to fight on the battlefield. It feels rather shameful. That has nothing to do with strength."
Rosmontis nodded.
Those words earned some of her goodwill. Biyin shivered, clutching her arms tightly across her chest and sniffing from time to time.
"You're right. A-Achoo!"
"If you're cold, don't force yourself. Biyin, you should stop being such a tagalong."
Rosmontis said so, but Biyin acted as though she hadn't heard and continued chattering. "Captain, it's not like I wanted to come. I just didn't want you to secretly cry because you had no teammates by your side... Achoo!"
Biyin turned and went to fetch some padded clothes. Before long, Rosmontis was wrapped in layer after layer of clothing. The white brim of her hat encircled her head, and she swayed as she walked, like a baby penguin with cat ears. She looked utterly adorable.
"Where are your own padded clothes?"
Rosmontis asked