News Channel 00: "Dear audiences, a very good morning! We would like to bring to you Today's headline! Just after our President concluded the military operation in Nisaeria, reports flooded in that Logearia's fleets breached our territorial waters, provoking by firing dummy ammunition towards our patrolling boats last night.
In swift response, our patrol ships acted with precision, swiftly driving away the intruding vessels. The President didn't mince words, issuing a statement condemning Logearia's provocative actions, even as they vehemently denied any involvement. In the aftermath, our navy elevated security measures to the highest level to safeguard our territorial waters.
On another front, a seismic shift in policy as the President reversed the decision to label Nisaerian citizens as second-class citizens of Kothern. The move comes on the heels of ongoing strikes in the Nisaerian capital. Disturbing footage from our reporter in the field captured protesters burning our flag and chanting anti Kothern slogans. The President has opted for a cautious approach, choosing to review and reassess the situation before making any official announcements.
And now, onto the war front... The toll of lives lost..."
"No signal again!? What's wrong with the TV again?!" Carmella exclaimed in frustration.
"I remember the TV working after you adjusted the antenna... Let me give it a try..." Vermilion said.
Vermilion twisted and turned the antenna, adjusting angles in a futile attempt to coax a signal out of the TV. Despite her efforts, the screen stubbornly displayed 'snow' and 'no signal.' She even tried relocating the antenna, placing it strategically, but the result remained the same. Frustration mounted, and they reluctantly abandoned their attempt.
"The situation in Nisaeria looks really dire, doesn't it?" Geena voiced the collective concern.
"It's disheartening. Rosse told me the military is gearing up to send troops to quell the protests..." Carmella added, her eyes fixed on the dormant TV.
"Perhaps my husband has done something terribly wrong this time..." Geena pondered aloud.
"Ma'am, actually, it has nothing to do with Captain. Rosseaulyn mentioned it's the culprit who destroyed the lives of Nisaerians and killed Captain..." Vermilion blurted out before Carmella intervened.
"Vermilion!!"
"Oh, no..." Vermilion and Carmella hastily turned to check on Cathie, who mercifully remained oblivious in her peaceful slumber.
"Mind your words, Vermilion! There are things you shouldn't say at all!"
"Sorry, Carmella... Sorry, Ma'am. Déjà vu..."
"No worries. Cathie is still sleeping."
"My bad. I need to reflect on my behavior. This isn't the first time I've said something stupid."
"It's fine, young lady. No need to..."
Vermilion swiftly retreated into her bedroom, closing the door behind her with a sense of urgency that left Geena perplexed.
"Geena, never mind about my sister. She's a little bit eccentric, but she has no intention of hurting anybody."
"Sister? You two don't look alike... But you and Lieutenant Winton do look alike..." Geena observed, trying to make sense of the familial connections.
"Indeed, Vermilion is not my biological sister."
"But you two seem really like real siblings when you're together."
"I'm so glad to hear that! Hm? The TV is working again…"
The News Channel 00 resumed its broadcast, shifting to a lighter note. "Moving on to the Science and Research Centre of Kothern, they've tested their new flying object, but the object instantly caught fire during launching. Fortunately, there were no injuries from the incident. Despite another setback in developing the flying object, Tianna Citlalpopoca, head of the development team and an officer of the National Arms Development Agency, vowed to continue their research and development. Thanks for joining us today, see you next time!"
"So, after researching for decades and still no progress at all…" Carmella remarked, her tone a mix of amusement and skepticism.
"The only thing that can fly in this world is the bird. I guess seeing humans fly in the sky is still only a fantasy dream for us..." Geena added, reflecting a touch of wistfulness.
"A fantasy dream? Maybe... But we've built cars, trains, and ships. To me, building something that can fly is not really a dream. Someday, it sure will exist, but hopefully not for military use…"
"That would be nice then… We could travel easily to other continents instead of taking the ship, which takes weeks and months."
"Have you ever traveled to another continent before?!"
"Yeah, and Kothern is the place I traveled to…"
"So, it means you're not from Kothern. Which continent did you come from?"
"The southwest… You must have heard about that place."
"Southwest… You mean the land where the civil war is taking place?"
"Yeah… I never regret leaving my hometown and traveling all the way here."
"But how?! How did you come here?!"
"I can only briefly tell you because the truth is something you may wish never to know."
"Alright…"
"It indeed is extremely far to travel from my home country to Kothern. But I wasn't on a one-way ticket; I made numerous stops in different countries and places before reaching Kothern. It took me almost two years to travel here."
"Two years?! I never knew it would be that long…"
"But that was about twenty years ago when I was only seven years old."
"Then, who else did you travel with?"
"Only myself…"
"Oh god… I guess I shouldn't ask any further…"
"I think so. I don't really mind, but I worry you may have tons of nightmares after hearing my story."
"I am not interested to know anymore then…"
Meanwhile, Vermilion, deep in self-reflection in her bedroom, sat on her bed. Her eyes closed, she muttered to herself while attempting a meditation pose learned from a TV show. She forgot that Ayukawa was still sleeping in her room.
"Why do I always say things I shouldn't... How can I watch my mouth and avoid these stupid slips... No, I shouldn't think of anything at all, like the TV guy said…"
Struggling to empty her mind, Vermilion found herself in a comically weird pose. Unaware of her own absurdity, she eventually gave up, opened her eyes, and noticed Ayukawa's amused gaze.
Ayukawa couldn't suppress her laughter. "Hahahaha!! You are just too funny!! You are definitely the most interesting person I've ever met in my entire life!! Hahahaha!!"
"Ayukawa! Please stop that… So embarrassing…"
"Sorry, I can't… I just can't… Hahahaha!!"
"I really hope that I can dig a hole and hide myself inside of it right now…"
"It's too late! I saw everything! Hahahaha!!"
Carmella, hearing the uproarious laughter from the bedroom, approached curiously. "Vermilion! Why are you laughing so hard all of a sudden…?"
"Hahahaha!!" Ayukawa couldn't stop her laugh.
"Eh?! I thought the laughing is coming from Vermilion… Ehhh??!! What am I seeing and hearing?! Ayukawa is laughing?!!" Carmella was very shocked.
"Oh, Carmella… You have no idea what the hell she was doing just now! Hahahaha!!"
"What the hell did she do that made you laugh so hard? Before I find out… I would like to see your laughing face!!"
"No… Hahahaha!!"
"Come on! Just turn around and show me!"
Carmella, eager to witness Ayukawa's amusement, tried to turn her around but accidentally hit Ayukawa's injured back. The room, once filled with laughter, became quiet, only resonating with Carmella's voice. Ayukawa immediately turned her face around, revealing not a laughing expression but one of annoyance and her sharp scary eyes.
"Wahhh! What's wrong?! I never intended to make you angry! Don't look at me like that! Sorry!" Carmella sensed Ayukawa's anger and apologized immediately.
Ayukawa stared at Carmella, but when she saw Vermilion sitting like a doll, her face still flushed with embarrassment, Ayukawa held herself back and showed only a slight smile.
"Vermilion, why are you sitting like a doll like that? Hello? Say something, please…"
"She is meditating, don't disturb her!" Ayukawa teased.
"Meditating?"
"She was doing something like this just now." Ayukawa mimicked Vermilion's pose for Carmella.
"Whahahaha!! I've never seen anyone meditate in such a weird pose! I wish I could have seen it just now!"
Vermilion, now more embarrassed, covered herself up with a blanket, refusing to speak or answer. Carmella, unwilling to let Vermilion hide, attempted to pull off the blanket.
"Come on, stop hiding yourself! Just demonstrate how you posed yourself again for me!"
"Carmella, you should stop bullying her. Otherwise, she won't surrender herself and do it again."
"I'm not bullying her! I'm just begging her!"
"Let me lend you a hand then."
"One, two… Hupp!!" Carmella and Ayukawa pulled off the blanket.
"Huh?! Gone... Not bad, hiding herself with her power!"
"Vermilion! I know even though you disappeared, you can still hear me! Stop hiding yourself with your power! Show yourself!"
Vermilion was still hiding herself.
"Seems like she refuses to do so."
"Well then, if you don't want to be an obedient girl, then I'm not going to treat you if you pass out again! Just show yourself."
Vermilion gave up and showed herself.
"There you go, she appears again."
"Vermilion! Stop using your power in such a meaningless situation!"
"I promise… Just promise you won't ask me to do anything else…"
"Fine, fine! I promise too. Because I believe you will unintentionally do it again someday! Hahaha!"
"You two are so mean…" Vermilion muttered.
"Ayukawa, how do you feel right now? Is the headache still haunting you?"
"No, I feel well and energized enough to pick a fight with someone!"
"Huh? Pick a fight…!!!"
Vermilion and Carmella's expressions immediately shifted to panic and worry as they recalled the message from the assassin. Carmella swiftly changed the topic, steering away from any talk of a 'fight.'
"What's wrong?!" Ayukawa looked at them suspiciously.
"Oh! Ermm… It's a nice weather right, Vermilion?"
"Weather? Oh! You are right! It's a sunny morning!"
"Weirdos! I'm going to warm up myself."
"Are you planning to do it outside?!"
"Yeah, what's the matter!?"
"No, no problem at all! But I strongly suggest you stay in the house!"
"Yeah, Carmella is right! It's for your own good!"
"For my own good?! I don't understand…"
"You haven't fully recovered! That's it!"
"If you two keep insisting to make me stay, then I will just continue my sleep."
"Yes! That's the best way to let yourself recover faster!" Carmella tried hard to persuade Ayukawa to stay, fearing she might encounter the assassin.
"Thanks for your fluffy bed. I will just go back to Lyon's room to sleep."
"No problem! Sleep as long as you want!"
"Huh?!!"
"Don't mind my words!"
'These two idiots must have been hiding something from me… I will just figure it out later!' Ayukawa thought as she went back to continue her sleep.
"Phew! Carmella, we've stopped her from going out!"
"I thought I'm bad at lying… seems like I'm actually good at it!"
"Me too."
"Vermilion, I want to assign a task for you. Don't let her leave the house for today! Got it?"
"Yes, Ma'am!"
As they believed they had successfully kept Ayukawa from leaving the house, Ayukawa, standing just behind the door, overheard everything they said. She took a deep sigh, amused by the apparent cluelessness and fumbled attempts to deceive her, before deciding to go back to sleep.
"I need to prepare lunch for everyone. Remember to keep your eyes on the two patients and your feisty sister!" Carmella instructed.
"Okay. By the way, where is the note? Where do you keep it?"
"Isn't it just on the bookshelf?! I forgot to keep it in a safer place!"
"Where? I don't see it at all."
"Oh crap! Let's quickly look for it!"
They spent nearly thirty minutes searching for the note written by the assassin. Despite scouring the bookshelf and other places, it remained elusive. Carmella, frustrated, gave up and retreated to the kitchen to prepare lunch, leaving Vermilion to continue her quest.
"I don't see it at all… Hopefully, it just disappeared forever and never shows up again in front of us."
"Vermilion, are you looking for this?" Ayukawa suddenly appeared behind Vermilion, holding the elusive note.