"Blue, would you please tell me why you're going this way? Heading anywhere but away from the barrier contradicts the point of this game."
"Huh? Did I not say it?"
"No, you just turned left all of a sudden and started sprinting."
"...Oops. I guess I mixed up my inner and outer monologues again."
Blue rubbed her head in embarrassment as they sped through thick weeds and the moist, heavy air.
Nine days before they intervened in Rita's battle, Blue had abruptly changed their trail without a word of explanation.
When Tyson finally managed to question her, the reason she gave was—
"We've been following the rules, leaving the barriers in assigned pairs, but when I think back, there was nothing said about keeping to our own path."
A long silence followed. Tyson slowed, blinking in disbelief at her reasoning. Blue took his reaction as awe.
"Pretty smart, right?" she smirked.
"That's so obvious! Of course we've all thought about that."
"What?!"
"We considered it and even held meetings about multiple approaches to the game, all of which you slept through," he said, exasperated. "Another rule is that we have to take a different route each round, but the unpredictability of each new terrain made any long-term plans almost pointless."
"Wait, that still doesn't explain why we can't work together."
"Because if the terrain works against us, we'd just be putting more groups at risk instead of one."
The idea of combining forces had come up many times, but once they factored in coordination between abilities, sustaining every member, and adapting to shifting terrain, they realized they'd be worse off than moving in pairs.
Not to mention, with the ability to track each other against the rules, they risked missing a point of rendezvous if something were to offset their pre-planned pace.
For the final round, they settled on a plan: two pairs would start slow, where the Captain could observe, while Yon and Red would bolt ahead at full speed to draw his attention. Once his focus shifted, the others would accelerate and alter their trails.
As for the unpredictability of the zones within the boundary, Red had managed to identify a pattern between each terrain change, and they planned their strategies accordingly.
"You guys could've at least told me while I wasn't asleep."
"Honestly, we thought about it," Tyson replied. "But it was decided you perform better when nothing disturbs your focus. Whoever's paired with you automatically takes the supporting role. Happily, of course."
He clasped his hands together, the gesture exaggerated enough to show he meant no offense.
"That all just sounds like way too much planning for a simple game of tag, or 'Scramble,' as he called it."
"That may just be the point. Now, can you tell me the real reason you're trying to intercept Rita and Argenta's trail?"
"Uh– I have no idea what you mean…"
Her eyes darted about, and an ignorant smile masked her face.
"I think you do. Is it about Rita? Or more likely about Argenta?"
"Why would this be about any of them? I didn't even remember if they'd be the ones this way. You know me, so airheaded, right?"
She laughed awkwardly while tearing at stems around her, scattering leaves until they carpeted the ground.
"Blue…"
"Ugh, fine… this is the second round out of three that I've had to spend days without Lil' A. And Rita doesn't talk much to anybody else besides me. I'm worried, okay? Also, maybe I don't want to lose my Big Sister status if I'm missed too much."
Tyson couldn't help but cringe. He'd have been less taken aback if he didn't know she meant every word.
"That last part makes you sound a little like Cosmo whenever we'd rather talk to Clarisse or Oliver."
"Maybe I get it now. Captain status is something to be proud of. Speaking of which, I see you still can't bring yourself to show him a hint of respect."
A frown was plastered on his face before he turned his head away.
"Respect is earned. I see nothing wrong with reciprocating his tendencies back at him."
"Other than the fact that he's still the reason we're a part of Veil, and the fact that he lets you use your authority when he's around to control its effects, just so you don't lag behind. Let's not forget that despite his harsh methods, he never fails to get results from us. If it were anybody else, you wouldn't feel this way, would you?"
"Of course I wouldn't," Tyson replied, scratching the back of his neck furiously. "If it were anyone else, I'd be eternally grateful. That's the thing, when it comes to Cosmo, I just…"
Blue's head tilted slightly back; her eyebrows lifted and her lips pressed tightly together.
"So… it's a hate boner?"
"What?"
"That's what it's called, right? You started off on the wrong foot, now you can't let it go."
Tyson pressed his fingertips to the bridge of his nose in exasperation.
"Please don't call it that. I'm not saying my opinion of him can't change. But as I see it right now, nothing I've seen so far makes him worthy of trust."
"Alright–"
"For crying out loud, he dislocated both of Yon's shoulders just to teach him how to use his artifact without his arms. He ties Red hundreds of meters in the air by his own chains to test how long he can manifest them."
"Ngh–"
"He hits Rita with sneak attacks at random times of the day, and he makes you train in a forest of your own blades."
"Errr… ok, I get it."
She couldn't bring herself to argue. Even with Tyson, Cosmo hurled tasteless insults daily and tossed him into every body of water they came across without explanation.
It was admirable that Tyson had never once complained about his own treatment. But she understood every measure of hatred that had built inside him.
"About this idea, in fact, I might be on board."
"Wait, really? Why?"
"After observing their relationship so far, do you truly believe he would've included Argenta in the game merely so she could feel included?"
"Well… I'm not sure…"
"I'm sure you, of all people, would've noticed the strange air between Rita and Argenta. Are you certain she'd be safe if Cosmo's actions became a little drastic?"
When she thought about it, Cosmo had decided to pair Argenta with Rita far too quickly, despite the mysterious tension between them that everyone could sense.
She would've been delusional to think there wasn't an ulterior motive behind that arrangement.
Silently, they came to an understanding and headed westward. Through the commotion of splitting air caused by Rita's outbursts, they located the others and arrived just in time to provide support.
…
By the time the final shard of crimson had nearly dissipated, and the last embers and charred remnants of vegetation were extinguished, the battle was drawing to its end.
Another tall flower bud had sprouted beside the one Cosmo had created earlier.
Seated before him, a battered Blue struggled to cut through several stems coiled tightly around the entire left side of her body, using a fragment of her blade that had broken off mid-battle.
Soon after, the fragment itself crumbled and dissolved into the air.
"And now?"
She sighed, dejectedly, before raising both hands.
"I give up."
At once, the conical chunks of earth that had been uprooted fell and shattered around her.
It was a chilling thought, to realize they had been aimed directly at her and would have been unleashed had she chosen to continue.
"Your blades have grown sharper, and your eruptions far more consistent. Much to my dismay, you also no longer hesitate when you strike."
Cosmo began with praise, much to her astonishment. His feedback almost always began with criticism and a list of faults to correct.
Though, that wasn't to say those didn't come this time.
"Unfortunately, that same lack of hesitation doesn't extend to coordination with your teammates. You need to learn the habits and movement patterns of your comrades, not just your enemies. Otherwise, you'll keep having to worry about harming them, and that benefits no one. Still, this is something you all must refine together, so I won't press too hard on it."
"Yes, Sir."
A strong gust swept across the field at an oddly timed moment, as if savoring the silence that followed.
It wasn't clear what about her response had stunned them both, but any follow-up words caught in their throats.
"Ahem… all in all, good work. I'll be dealing with your partner now."
Blue glanced around their surroundings but saw no one in sight.
Rita had been taken out of the game first and was resting within the second flower bud, placed high and away for safety.
"Speaking of… where's Tyson?"
"Yeah… I caught sight of a pond on the way here, so I chucked him in during the battle."
Her eyes narrowed instinctively in disappointment at his answer.
"What? He's fine. I'll retrieve him in a moment."
He clapped his palms together, sending dust and grime scattering. Though, more precisely, he was brushing the dirt off the bandages wrapped tightly around his fingers.
Since the moment he began wearing his Nebula Branch uniform, the bandages around his hands had been the only part left visible, and even that glimpse was enough to provoke curiosity.
They'd wondered for months why, after all this time, he'd never removed them. What injury could he have possibly sustained that even Clarisse couldn't heal?
It wasn't as if he avoided using her ability. In truth, he'd abused her healing more times than she could count, all for the sake of their training, much to her constant protest.
Still, each of them restrained their curiosity for their own reasons.
If not out of disinterest, then out of unwillingness to pry. And if not that, perhaps out of reverence for the mystery itself.
As he turned to leave, Blue hesitated to speak, her hands clasped, palms still bleeding. After a moment of quiet fidgeting, she finally said through a strained breath.
"Captain, the reason I attacked so fervently at first was… because I thought you were hurting Argenta. I'm sorry."
He stopped, turning his head slightly.
She could feel his eyes on her, though the shadow over his face kept them hidden.
"It's alright. If anything, I'm glad someone cares that much for her." He gave a small wave and continued walking. "Just be more careful next time. And when Rita wakes up, head back to the barrier. Don't wait up."
After half a kilometer of strolling, he slid down a slope of soft moss and landed along the shore of a wide pond.
The pond stretched vast and still, its surface consumed by endless fields of green. The lily pads here were monstrous, some broad enough to bear a man's weight, their glass-smooth skins glimmering beneath the faint light.
The flowers above them rose tall and unhurried, towering blooms of pale gold and pink that perfumed the air with a sweetness both rich and oppressive.
'That's another one for the picture books.'
"A.D.A, could you take a nice picture? It'd be a waste to miss this sight."
An orb lifted from his pocket, its lens iris adjusting with a soft mechanical whir. It hovered, aligning itself with the pond's surface to catch the light rippling across the water.
"Whichever looks best for the assignment record. But do me a favor, take another one Jenny might like as well."
Without warning, the water ahead erupted. A figure lunged out toward Cosmo, scattering droplets in a radiant arc.
"Rah!"
Cosmo sidestepped cleanly and caught the oncoming wrist just before it ignited, flames bursting wild, scorching the moss behind him.
"Photobombing is beneath you," he said dryly, tightening his grip. "Be better next time, you crazy kid."