Confrontation

The next morning, Shawn woke as usual. He yawned, then caught sight of a hulking figure sitting on the bed opposite him out of the corner of his eye, startling him wide awake.

Once he realized it was Calvin, he patted his chest weakly. "...Why are you just sitting here so early in the morning? Aren't you doing morning drills today?"

Calvin merely looked at him quietly without answering.

Shawn simply sat up as well. "...It really is rare to see you skip morning training."

"Starting today, I'll do my best to keep an eye on you every moment."

"Huh?"

"Ms. Moly told me to last night."

Shawn raised an eyebrow slightly. "...Why is that old woman always looking for trouble with me?"

Calvin looked at Shawn. "Did you do something last night, Shawn?"

"Me? What could I have done? I stayed in the room the whole time." Shawn jumped out of bed and headed toward the coffee maker nearby. He wore a white tank top, loose dark-blue shorts, and flip-flops that slapped against the floor with every step.

Before long, the coffee maker started up. Shawn braced both hands on the table and turned back to continue chatting with Calvin. His gaze swept over the square table nearby, and he suddenly noticed something was different. "...Where's my computer?"

"I put it away."

"Where did you put it?" Shawn frowned. "...Why did you take my computer?"

"Fletcher will come by in a while." Calvin looked at Shawn. "She'll send your computer to the base's Order Division for inspection. They suspect you were up to no good again last night."

Shawn laughed. "Then let them check. If they can find anything this time, I'll admit defeat."

"...You went and provoked that Hesta again, didn't you?"

"Fletcher told you?"

"No, I guessed." Calvin sighed softly. "What exactly are you thinking, Shawn? I warned you to stay away from her."

"Please believe that I seriously considered your advice, brother. I've stayed far enough away from her lately."

"Then why—"

A rapid knock suddenly sounded outside. Shawn glanced aside, answered, "Coming," and dragged his feet as he went to open the door.

Liz Fletcher stood outside with an icy expression.

"Good morning, Miss Fletcher." Shawn gave Liz a slight bow. "You don't look very happy. Didn't sleep well last night?"

"Move."

Liz strode inside. Calvin rose and picked up a dark-gray metal case from beside the bed. "Shawn's computer, phone, and several backup hard drives he uses regularly are all in here."

Liz checked through them. "When did you collect them?"

"Following Ms. Moly's instructions, I collected these items without warning after Shawn fell asleep last night," Calvin replied. "I didn't notify him beforehand, so everything on the computer, phone, and hard drives remains in the state it was in before he went to sleep last night."

"Good." Liz took the case. "Thank you for your cooperation... If we find anything, your assistance will, to some extent, be treated as Shawn turning himself in—"

Shawn folded his arms and leaned lazily against the wall. "And if you don't find anything, can I sue you for violating a trainee's privacy?"

Carrying the case, Liz crossed the room in two steps and stopped before Shawn. She grabbed the collar of his tank top with one hand and slammed him hard against the wall. "I pulled your file... I know it was you."

"You'll need evidence for that. Miss Fletcher, you're about to transfer positions, aren't you? Bullying a junior like this doesn't look very good."

"I'll drag you out into the open." Liz narrowed her eyes slightly. "You'd better pray you don't fall into my hands."

Shawn spread his hands in a helpless gesture, then Liz shoved him viciously aside. He staggered back several steps before barely managing to keep his footing.

The door slammed shut with a bang.

Shawn smiled and lowered his head to tug at the tank top Liz had stretched out of shape.

"I don't understand, Shawn." Calvin stood where he was, looking at his somewhat disheveled brother. "Why are you so concerned about that girl?"

"I don't understand either."

Calvin's brow furrowed. "...What?"

"I mean you." Shawn looked at him. "And everyone in this base—I don't understand people like you. Why do you all come here and, before long, completely trust these instructors at the base? They watch over us, hold our training data, and even measure how we see the world... Have you never considered that one day, these things might become weapons used against us?"

"It's been two years, not 'before long,'" Calvin replied. "Most of the time, Ms. Moly is fair."

"Then do you believe she sincerely cares for you—for us?"

Calvin paused for a moment. "I've never had such expectations of anyone else. But many people at the base—Valenti, Molly, Lavette, Weil... even Fletcher—they're different from the people of Hekla. You can't always look at new people through old eyes."

Shawn clicked his tongue and shook his head. "...You're too young, too naive, my brother. The more you let down your guard, the less I can afford to relax. After all, I promised Mom I'd take good care of you."

Calvin scratched his head in confusion.

"Say whatever you want... In any case, I won't let you run wild again."

"You want to arrange a meeting with Miss Chiba this week?"

In Ms. Moly's office, Molly's young secretary looked at Hesta in surprise.

"Yes." Hesta nodded. "If possible, I'd like to meet on Thursday this week."

"I'm sorry... I don't have that authority for now. Although Miss Chiba is your guardian, she is also a restricted contact. We can't reach her whenever we want—"

"Could you pass this request on to Ms. Moly?" Hesta asked softly. "She should have a way."

The young secretary froze for a moment. "Oh, of course... Would you like to wait here for her to return? Ms. Moly has a meeting this morning, and it should be ending about now."

"No, I have class next." After answering, Hesta did not turn to leave immediately. She looked hesitantly at the floor. "...I also have a question I'd like to ask you. Is now a good time?"

"Of course."

"Could I... apply to carry a gun within the base?"

The young secretary thought she had misheard, so Hesta repeated herself. The secretary sprang to her feet at once. "I don't know why you would have such an idea, Miss Hesta... but no. Tanyi City is a gun-free zone. Ordinary citizens do not have the right to carry firearms, and non-combat personnel within the base cannot carry them either."

"But I once saw a worn leather holster in Liz's room?" Hesta asked quietly.

"Miss Liz has taken part in several live operations against Chelated Beings. She does have a gun, but she only holds it temporarily." The young secretary looked at Hesta. "I... I understand how you feel right now, but please don't do anything extreme. That won't solve the problem at its root, and it will only get you into even greater trouble."

Hesta fell into thought.

"...I understand. Thank you."