Anya ran alongside her newly met friend, but this time she wasn't pushing her limits. She didn't have to endure it for long, because soon the sergeant called everyone to line up once more. After that, they were taught how to salute, walk in line, as well as a few other simple commands. Of Course, everyone looked a little clumsy doing these, but it was the first time they tried things like walking in sync with the rest of the unit.
After a day of hard work, the time finally came for dinner and some rest. Half of the girls got to make a weird mush to eat – they mostly prepared ingredients by chopping them – and the other half prepared a bonfire and relaxed. Someone played the guitar, someone else played chess. Everyone was busy.
Anya and her new friend were on that first team, so they had to help make food. Anya was assigned to slice onions, and while she did, her eyes got teary again. She looked at Rikka who was now mixing up the noodles heated up on a mid-size gas burner, so they wouldn't stick to the pot. Anya snuffled loudly, thus getting the attention of her new friend.
"Oh, did something happen?" Rikka asked almost immediately.
"No," Anya smiled and got back to slicing onions, "everything's okay. Don't worry about it."
Rikka continued observing Anya with a puzzled look. After a few more minor snuffles from Anya, she finally proposed.
"Ah! The onions! Maybe you prefer mixing noodles? I wouldn't mind changing with you."
"Really? You'd do that?"
"Sure." Rikka smiled kindly and got to slicing onions.
Meanwhile, Anya walked to the pot and mixed the noodles while looking around. The atmosphere was quite noisy because all the lolis were getting to know each other, helping to make food, or having some other things to do.
Anya did however notice one girl different from the rest. A black-haired loli was sitting on the ground, staring blankly at some spot before her. She was alone and wasn't doing anything except fiddling with the grass.
Anya walked over and sat down before the black-haired girl, getting only a slight peek from her before she got back to playing with the grass.
"What's your name?" Anya asked, trying to put up the warmest smile she could muster.
"Misaka," She answered without raising her head.
"Hello, Misaka. My name is Anya. Is everything okay?"
"How am I supposed to answer that?"
"You should say whether you're fine or not."
"I– I'm okay." Despite already avoiding eye contact, she turned her head to look away even more.
"I see. So why did you join the military?"
"I want to die."
For a moment Anya opened her mouth wide, but closed it quickly. "Um–"
"Hehe don't worry! I was joking!" Misaka Laughed nervously, her forehead sweating. This time she was paying attention to Anya's worried facial expression. "I just wanted to feel more alive. I thought that a new adventure like that could make me feel emotions."
"Ah. Okay, I understand. It's not like there's going to be war anyway. I was just thinking maybe you want to be friends with us. I mean with me and my friend Rikka."
"But why me?"
"I don't really know. You were sitting here al– I mean you just seemed like an interesting person, so I thought that I want to get to know you."
"Okay," Misaka replied after a brief moment of silence. "So what should I do as your friend? Should I help you with anything?"
Anya stood up and looked in the direction of Rikka and noticed she was mixing noodles. "We were assigned to make food so I need to go now. You can of course do whatever you want, but if you really want to be of help then you can just talk with us while we're doing the job. I think it could make it more fun."
Anya went back to her previous spot near the noodles with Misaka following her. She then turned to Rikka and said. "I met a new friend. She seems like a nice person. I think you two will get along."
"Of Course. Hello, I'm Rikka. It's nice to meet you," she greeted, reaching her hand out to the newly met girl.
"Nice to meet you too." Misaka hesitantly shook her hand.
Then a moment of awkward silence happened only to be broken by Anya.
"Ah wait, the noodles." She remembered the task she was supposed to be doing. "Oh, and thank you, Rikka for mixing noodles while I was away."
"No problem," Rikka answered while chopping an onion. She was already almost done with her work.
For a few moments, Misaka observed as the girls did their chores. Her eyes anxiously bounced between both of her new friends. Finally, she took a deep breath and decided to speak.
"You mentioned before that there will be no war. Actually, I disagree with that."
"That's interesting. Can you explain?" Anya immediately perked up.
"It's very easy to notice how much countries arm themselves lately. Did you go through health checks before they accepted you into the army?"
Anya and Rikka shook their heads.
"Exactly. Something is going on here. Most other countries also almost doubled the number of their soldiers in the last year. And these are, after all, just the official statistics. We don't know the actual scale of these armaments."
The girls just stood and listened with the utmost attention.
"And did you guys notice how much Lolitler's speeches shifted their topics lately? She now focuses much more on attacking other countries for how poorly managed they are or how many bad deeds they commit. And at the end, she reiterates that we need to save them and expand the only true ideology of lolitism."
"I have to say you've got a very sharp mind. And you know a lot." Anya noticed.
"Really? Thank you." Misaka blushed on her cheeks.
***
The food wasn't as horrible as Anya thought. It was just tasteless, but not impossible to eat. Everyone else seemed to have a similar opinion because they weren't too eager to eat. The three girls sat near the bonfire.
"Hey girls, I wanted to ask you something," Rikka started, putting away the bowl. "What do you think about Lolitler?"
"Well, she did save our nation from falling into ruin. Someday maybe she will save the world as well. She also has this strange energy that makes everyone like her." Misaka gave her opinion.
Anya nodded her head. "It is indeed very noble of her that she wants to save all lolis across the world. She seems really smart to me. I don't really know why, but she kind of reminds me of my sister. That's why I like her."
Rikka got visibly interested. "What's your sister like?"
"Aiko is very caring and she is a good person. She is kinda similar to Lolitler, but she's much more intelligent and beautiful. And she doesn't have this weird square mustache. She helps me if I need her and worries about me when I'm hurt. My sis is the most amazing person in the world." Anya described her sister with a great beam on her face. It looked as if her mind was somewhere in the clouds.
Rikka watched that with amusement. "It's so cute when you talk about your sister like that. You must really love her."
"Ehehe~" Anya smiled awkwardly, touching her pointing fingers together.
***
"As I stated earlier, due to insubordination Anya and Rikka will have to wash all the dishes." The sergeant's voice was emotionless and calm. The same could not be said about the girls in question. A pile of dirty bowls and spoons seemed to be staring at them menacingly.
"Wow, uh… t-that's a lot of work" Rikka stuttered hesitantly. Meanwhile, Anya stood terrified and the other lolis just looked at them pitifully.
"Yes. That's why I decided that anyone who wants to help you is free to do so."
Murmuring began as all the girls started looking at each other, trying to see how the group will react. But nobody seemed to be interested in additional work after such a hard day. That was until one hand arose from the crowd.
"I will help." Misaka stepped forward and walked to her friends, thus getting the attention of everyone gathered. Some looked at her with interest, some with respect, but the reaction was silent.
Anya looked at Misaka with relief, but Rikka lowered her head. Another person for the job would definitely speed things up by a lot, but even for three people the amount of work was very overwhelming.
When it looked like the situation wouldn't change, Misaka took a deep breath and spoke once more. "I don't really feel like working after the exhausting training I've been through. But I don't want to feel guilty about relying on my teammates to clean up after me. I didn't join the army to be a nuisance. That's why I will only clean after myself."
The reaction was once more very quiet, but this time the tension in the air could be felt. It was easy to notice that everyone in the group was having an inner battle against remorse in their minds.
"I will wash my dishes as well." Finally, someone stepped out and walked over to the three girls. Soon after that, many more followed. Those who stayed the longest - despite being reluctant - soon followed the rest of the group out of fear of being left out.
Anya and Rikka couldn't force their jaws to close while the sergeant smiled proudly.
"I think that all of you made a good decision. I didn't expect that, but who knows? Maybe you will be more than cannon fodder." The sergeant once more awakened confusion and concern in her soldiers hearts, but she didn't pay much attention to that and just continued. "Now get to work. And then take a shower. You all stink. Especially those of you who fell into the mud."