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“Should we go take a look?”
“Well…” I looked over to Ayafumi who was now dipping a spoonful of miso into the soup, then to the marine band crowding around the newly arrived ration crates. “I guess they can handle themselves. Right now we should be focused on our task first.”
“Oh?” Yanagi looked at me, tilting her head. “You seem to be putting a lot of heart into baking sweet potatoes.”
“I can’t afford to lose to the army now, can’t I?”

My childhood friend smirked.
“Now you're sounding like him back in Aki.”
“Nonsense.” I tried to hide it away with a scoff. But truth to be told, I too was motivated as a result of Ayafumi’s intense devotion to the job. Even if it was something as boring and tedious as baking sweet potatoes in a pile of leaves, a part of my subconscious was constantly yelling at me to focus on the job.

With that in mind, I resumed my duty, using the twig at hand to poke about, keeping the fire going. Then I slipped it under one of the sweet potatoes and flipped it over too. This was to make sure all sides were cooked evenly. As the whole process of cooking a sweet potato was a long process, it only made sense to keep track of the temperature and the status of the root vegetables at all moments.

Like I told her, I cannot afford to lose to someone from the army.

“Yanagi, I need more leaves,” I ordered my friend, watching the smoke from the pile beginning to increase, signifying the fire getting smaller.
“Yanagi?”
With my mind still fully focused on the smoking mound of bamboo leaves, I spared no attention to looking out where Yanagi was, or what she was doing. All I knew was that she wasn’t answering my call, and in order to check what she was doing, I raised my head to make a quick check.

What happened next, however, was as if lady fate had caught me in her play.
The first thing that flashed into my vision was Yanagi’s face, close up, eyes closed and lips pouting, on a fast collision course with mine-
*chu*
It was as if time froze at that very moment. While my mind was somehow able to process every little detail of this unexpected incident, my body was unable to keep up with what was going on for a good few seconds.

The moment both of us came back to our senses, I saw Yanagi gradually opening her eyes, following immediately by her breaking contact as her face flushed bright red.

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>>3289810
Reflexively, I found myself clamping both my hands down on my lips, causing the stick I was holding earlier to fall straight into the smoking mound and send a small cloud of sparks flying in all directions.
On the other hand, so startled was my friend that she launched herself at least a meter away from the mound and landed painfully on her rear.

I am not sure how I should think of this event, but I'm sure it made its way into her ‘Lock in a box, chain it and sink it into the ocean’ category. In fact, the only thing that kept me from freaking out that very moment was the fact that she did so before I had the chance.

“Are… are you okay?”
With a throat dry as a desert and cold sweat running down my back from the anxiety, I could only manage a muffled gargle at my friend, who was now balled up on the ground, arms clenching tightly around her knees.
Yanagi gave no answer, instead, she bashfully buried her face deeper under her arms, her cheeks flushing a healthy shade of crimson. Her response was enough for me to put a halt on this topic. I reckon it’s probably best to give my friend some time to cool down now.

I lowered my hands as my heartbeat returned to normal, just to realize the lingering sensation still on my lips. I am not sure if this counts as my first kiss, but if it does, I never expected it to come in a form like this.

“Morishima, Kurokawa, are the sweet potatoes ready yet?”
“Haruta-dono!?”
Whatever embarrassment this little accident had left with us immediately evaporated as the masked man approached. His stride was as stiff as it was wide, eyes sharp as it was menacing.
Ayafumi planted himself right between the two of us, hands crossed before his chest.

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>>3289829
“What am I looking at here?”
It was less of an inquiry and more of a demand for answers.
“No… nothing.” I stuttered weakly. For a man this dedicated to his craft and duty, this entire scene must have looked like the two of us goofing off instead of doing our part. Knowing Ayafumi’s personality, this to him would be a particularly punishable sin.
His gaze drifted aside locking onto the smoking hot mound. Picking up the twig I dropped, he silently began picking out the cooked potatoes within. The man’s eyes narrowed as he plucked out one among the lot, giving it a close inspection.
“It’s burnt.” Ayafumi shook his head and punted the burnt potato aside.
I nervously gulped and prepared for whatever verbal assault he might shower upon us.
…
…
“Go help distribute rations with the others.” He responded in monotone, following a short sigh with a hint of disappointment.
“Un… understood.” The two of us answered in unison.
While Ayafumi did not lambaste us as I had expected, the look of disappointment he gave was enough to make the both of us hang our heads low in shame.
The two of us continued our quiet walk of shame towards the crowds gathering around the ration crates, only to be caught off guard by my sister who stood before us, blocking our way.

“Now that was bold.” Tewi’s flat, the unassuming comment went by our heads as we joined her company.

>You… you saw what happened?
>It’s just a silly accident
>What are you talking about?
>Write in

>>3289838
>It’s just a silly accident

>>3289838
>It’s just a silly accident
Shrug it off like it's nothing

>>3289838

>You… you saw what happened?

>>3289810
I don't even understand what happened. How does one go "eyes closed and lips pouted" _accidentally_? How does one perform an accidental kiss instead of an accidental headbutt to jaw with a head raising motion?

This is so anime romcom I don't even

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“It’s just a silly accident” I shrugged, trying to act my way through. “Right? Yanagi?”
My friend responded with a quick nod, despite her cheeks still flushing red.
“Oh really?” My sister raised a doubtful eye. “Well, I guess we can put that aside for later.”
Taking a cutter, Tewi zipped open a box of rations and tossed it into my hands.

“Here, distribute these sardines.” She commanded with a finger pointed in my face. “Remember, these are for the boys, not for you.”
“What, you think I’m going to eat them?”
“You better not.” She pouted. “Now off you go. Yanagi-nee, can you help me distribute the soup?”
“Ah… Yes! Of course” She immediately snapped back to reality and hurried to her designated station.
I sighed and carried the crate away, unceremoniously shooed off by my own sister, of all people.

“Thanks!”
“Ahh… we’re saved!”
“Fish? Are there ones with meat?”
“Ohh! Haven’t eaten something this authentic since the start of the war!”

While the shame and embarrassment from the incident before still held on, the lively chatter of everyone else was enough to invoke peace in my mind.
In fact, it was quite satisfactory, and I’m probably not the only person who felt that way.

My job done, I planted myself in the back of the supply truck, overseeing the rather festive scene that sprawled out before my vision.
It won’t hurt for me to relax a bit too, right?
From a spare crate, I took out a small can of squid. I could live without tasting Ayafumi’s miso, it would be an injustice if I did not get to taste the delicacy that is brined squid with flakes of whitefish. I’m pretty sure Satoru would be making a big deal about my eating habits if he was here, which was exactly why I made sure to isolate myself away from the crowd in this instance.

“Subaru-kun?”
I almost jumped out of my skin at the sudden call of my name from the familiarly soft, accented voice. The unopened can of squid fell out of my hand and made a crisp ping as it collided with the steel floor of the cargo holder.
“Margaret-san?”
Even when I sat in an elevated platform, the Valkyria was still tall enough to have half of her body visible.

“Do you have time?”
“Of.. of course,” I answered. As if there was a choice to turn her down.
Wait, something was off…
Normally, this exchange would not have happened in the first place. Margaret would call my name enthusiastically, barge in without an invitation, and plant herself dangerously close to my side. This will then follow up with skinship that would make any bystander think we were a couple.

That, however, was not the case here.
For the first time, Margaret approached, asked for permission, and sat beside me at a respectable distance. There were no hugs, no placing an arm around my shoulders, no princess carries, nor any form of intimacy.
Margaret was visibly more reserved than usual, and that was abnormal for her.

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>>3293878

“Is something wrong?” I asked her reflexively, noting her sudden change in behavior.
“So, about you and Morishima-chan were doing...” she squirmed a little, noticeably uneasy with the topic she was about to bring up.
Oh no, she saw that too?
“Um, what are you talking abou-”

“Sister Vione said kissing is an act of intimacy only lovers should do with each other, and when I saw the two of you-”
“It was a silly accident.” I decided to keep the story straight and responded with what I told my sister.
“Yanagi likes to pull tricks on me once in a while, and well, this one went a little haywire,” I explained, trying to sound as calm and collected as I could. To be completely honest, not even I myself had a clear idea on how to think of the incident. "We are not in that sort of relationship."

I stopped and gulped nervously. It might not seem to be a convincible story, but I sincerely hope Margaret would be able to buy into it before things get more complicated than it already is…

“Ah, so it’s... ” Margaret clasped her hands together, reverting back to her usual self. “You had me worried for a moment there, Subaru-kun!”
“Worried?”
“I thought I was intruding your relationship with Morishima-chan, and that would be infidelity. As Sister Vione put it, infidelity is the worst of sins in a relationship!”

Wait, infidelity?

“Once, there was a magazine article had a picture of Brother Konstantin together with another lady of his age.” Margaret began recounting another event from her family. “And Sister Vione was unimaginably angry when she caught word of it.”
“What did she do?”
“She threatened to burn down Brother Konstantin’s underground lab along with all of its research data if he does not come to her immediately and clear things up. After a heated standoff that lasted for three hours, they eventually made up with a kiss, along with an agreement to give each other one every day after returning from a day’s work. They still do so today!”

I gently scratched the side of my cheek with my index finger, unsure of how to process the information. Like most of Margaret’s accounts on her family, everything was alien, abnormal, and only served to raise more questions than answers. However, there might be some details worth… exploring in this story.

>Umm… What?
>Wait, your brother runs an underground laboratory?
>Margaret-san, about your brother and sister’s relationship…
>Write in.

>>3293891
>Margaret-san, about your brother and sister’s relationship…

>>3293891
>Wait, your brother runs an underground laboratory?

>>3293891
>Wait, your brother runs an underground laboratory?
Welp, knew this was going to come up one way or the other. I bet this sibling relationship mirrors that of Alisse and Forester from the second game

>>3293891
>Wait, your brother runs an underground laboratory?

>>3294362
Isn't the older sister a Valkyrur too? I don't think she would take that sort abuse too kindly.
It would make sense if she was a tortured soul like Crymaria, but she's obviously not that kind of person going by Margaret's accounts.

>>3293891
>Wait, your brother runs an underground laboratory?

>>3294454
Doesn't make it less shady. It might even be worse considering how fucked up her family already is.

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“Wait, your brother runs an underground lab?”
“Yes!” She nodded, “It used to be father’s private research facility, located in the basement level of our family estate. Brother Konstantin took over its operation and research after father passed away.”
This was by far the most jarring piece of information presented in this little cautionary tale. Sure, the Denisov Family running a private research facility wasn’t that big of a deal, considering their business also has ties in the medical world.
But a personal lab in the basement of their family estate? As if it couldn’t get any shadier.

“So… what sort of research is conducted there?” I asked. Margaret must know something if she deliberately brought this up. Even if she fudges the details with half-truths, I could still consult Akane later to make verifications.
“Hmm....” She crossed her arms, pondering. “It’s hard to tell, but I’m certain it has something to do with our lineage.”

“What do you mean?”
“According to brother Konstantin, father used to focus his research on our bloodline. When he took over, the research expanded to other individuals who were like Sister Vione and me, since our family business expanded exponentially after the last great war.”

I couldn’t really say I’m surprised by her brother's interest in other Valkyrias too. With such fantastical power, it only made sense for the Empire to use people of their kind as test subjects to create more powerful weapons if the events of the Second Europan War and what followed were anything to go by. The experiments, on the other hand…

Little information regarding how the subjects were treated was released to the public, but there was every reason to believe they were subjected to several human rights violations. Then again, that concept was something more suited for the Federation.

“So what do you do there?” I made an attempt to dig deeper, careful not to tread directly on some sensitive topics.

Margaret placed a finger under her chin, trying hard to recall a notable event.
“Most of the time its standard medical check ups and some physical tests on how I utilize my powers. Our guests go through a similar process… Oh, and we provide medical services if they showed any signs of sickness.”

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>>3304383
“I see… so it’s more like a clinic?”
I held her words in doubt. Since everything that came out from Margaret’s accounts of her family had been so abnormal till now. I found the tame story a bit hard to believe.
“I’m not too sure either…Back when daddy was still around, I was always put to sleep before entering. While I’ve been there for a few checkups since Brother Konstantin took over, I’ve never seen the whole thing.”

…
…
I allowed the air to hang in there as I began processing the new flow of information that entered my mind. Before I used to believe that Margaret led a happy, fulfilling life as the princess of the Denisov Family, and seconds ago, I saw her as a spy who came for my country’s treasure.
Now she might just have led a childhood of abuse and exploitation, with herself not even being aware of it. As if being thrown off the top of a building wasn’t bad enough

“Then again, maybe I was too young back then, and father didn’t want me to be crying all the time.” The Valkyria scratched the back of her head, flashing a wry smile under the illuminating moonlight. “But it is as you described, Subaru-kun. Our laboratory is much like a clinic. There is another sector where Sister Vione and I test out some ancient artifacts, and another sector that’s sealed off.”

“Sealed off?”
Margaret nodded, pondering with a finger on the side of her chin. "There was an accident some years back where some machinery malfunctioned and the lab caught on fire. The damaged part was sealed off from then… I think it’s still under reconstruction?”

Though the prospect of this specific room was a tempting enough topic. Even Margaret was not that much aware of the subject. If that was the case, then there was no reason to pursue this topic deeper.

“All in all, Brother Konstantin intends to create a complete record on our kind within the country.” Margaret continued, opening a can of shrimp for herself. “I'm not sure what it is for, but it must be for everyone's good.”

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>>3304383

>That sounds like a massive surveillance program your brother is working on
>What else do you remember about your father?
>Relics? The Denisov Foundations excavate and tests Valkyrur relics as well?
>You mentioned guests, who are they and what happened to them?
>Write in

>>3304389
>You mentioned guests, who are they and what happened to them?
>What else do you remember about your father?

>>3304389
>Relics? The Denisov Foundations excavate and tests Valkyrur relics as well?
>You mentioned guests, who are they and what happened to them?

>>3304389
>That sounds like a massive surveillance program your brother is working on

>>3304389
>What else do you remember about your father?
>You mentioned guests, who are they and what happened to them?

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For everyone’s good? I doubt it’s really for these people’s good. Speaking of ‘these people’...
“Margaret-san, what were the guests you mentioned like?”

“The guests?” She raised an eye. “I’m not too sure either. Usually, Sister Vione will bring the guests over while Brother Konstantin carries out the check-ups. I’ve never had the chance to greet them personally since it might interfere with their work.”

“Not even once?”

“Hmmm…”
Margaret’s eyebrow curled into a light scowl. To be completely honest, it was quite interesting watching the Valkyria trying her best to dig out any traces buried in her memory lane.
“Ah, I do remember!” She sprung up like a spring. “There was this one where we had a guest, this gorgeous lady with long lavender hair and crimson eyes like sister Vione’s and mine. On her visit, she brought along this really big white doggy, even larger than the one mama had. I was playing with the doggy outside our lab, and we bumped into each other when she came out to retrieve him with her husband. We had a little chat.”

I searched through my memory, trying to pinpoint one such figure that could fit those descriptions, yet to no avail. As far as I’m aware, there were only two publicly known accounts of Valkyria I know of - One during EWII on the Gallian front, and the other the scourge of the Khan that ravaged our nation. However, neither of these individuals match, considering one perished during the war and the other serves the Khan.

“She might look cold, but she’s very kind! And her husband too. He’s a burly war veteran who feels a bit similar to Shirataki-san.” Margaret eagerly continued with her recount. “Both of them are wonderful people!”
I nodded in blank silence as I took in Margaret’s accounts. Seems like even she had little idea about the “guests” who regularly walked in and out of the lab. I might have to verify this with Akane when she’s available.

“And what happens after these ‘check-ups’?”
“They returned home with Sister Vione. I believe the two still come by to visit once in a while.” She answered, “Would Subaru-kun want to visit our lab?”
“One day, maybe...” I replied uneasily, feeling a sudden chill race down my spine. I doubt someone of my heritage would be welcomed in Margaret’s home country, let alone the Denisov’s personal laboratory.

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>>3308967
“Hey, Nii-san. How’s dinner going?”
As my discussion with Margaret came to an end, we were paid a sudden visit by my sister, holding a paper bag while walking up to us from the other side of the truck.
Once she got close enough, Tewi reached into the paper bag and took out two packages casually wrapped in newspaper, then handed them to Margaret and I. The sweet smell that emanated from the bag and the packages was a dead giveaway of their contents.
“Sweet Potatoes?” I commented, upon which Margaret excitedly unwrapped her package, revealing a perfectly baked sweet potato. I quickly followed and unwrapped mine, and to my disappointment, I was greeted with a block of what appeared to be charcoal.

“What’s the meaning of this?” I shot her a stern scowl.
“Haruta-san asked me to give this to you. He said: Let him have a taste of his own failure” My sister offered her best impression of Ayafumi’s constantly serious mannerisms.
I stared at her, then back to the burned sweet potato. There’s no doubt it’d taste quite horrid, and even more humiliating was that it indeed was the fruit of my own fault.

“You can take half of mine if you want, Subaru-kun!” Margaret said, breaking her sweet potato in half and offering half to me, to which I politely declined. At the end of the day, I produced this mess, and it’s my responsibility to own up to it.
I broke my sweet potato in half, allowing steam and smokey odor it contained into the air. The skin and the outer layer of the root vegetable had been burnt black as charcoal and were by no doubt no longer edible. Fortunately, the inner layer was spared from the same fate, with its golden orange insides cooked just right, releasing the fine scent of caramelized sweets.
Maybe this wasn’t that bad of a failure after all.

“Shirataki-san wants us to rest for today. He said he could handle everything else from here.” My sister leaned forward, watching us munch down on our treat. “So Nii-san, where are we lodging today?”
Lodging for the night? Well...

>Let’s return home, I want to treasure some memories here
>Head back to the naval base, we’ll be closer to the Yamato this way
>Return to the inn, I want to enjoy the onsen one last time

>>3308972

>Let’s return home, I want to treasure some memories here

>>3308972
>Head back to the naval base, we’ll be closer to the Yamato this way

>>3308972
>Let’s return home, I want to treasure some memories here

>>3308972
>Let’s return home, I want to treasure some memories here

>>3308972
>Let’s return home, I want to treasure some memories here

So the sister is part of the KGB or something? Weird that Margaret did not mention anything about Igor considering they both are working under the same person.

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Having spent a good chunk of our childhood on this island, our house here was as much home as the family estate back in the mainland. It’d be nice to spend a night in my old futon, just for old time’s sake.
“Let’s head home, I want to leave with some memories here-”
Before I could finish, the sight around us reminded me of the air raid and the destructive aftermath it left behind. If that was any indication...

“We still have a home left, right?”
Tewi shot a piercing glare at my direction as if I was some sort of an imbecile. “I just went home to fetch food, dumbass. Of course, it’s still there.”
“Right.”
“So it’s set then.” Tewi shook her head while Margaret giggled at the sight from the sidelines. “I’ll go fetch the others. Wait here, we’ll be borrowing this truck.”
Finishing her words, my sister left to round up the others to be on our way.

“Why does Tewi-chan keep insulting you?” Margaret asked, gleaming with confusion. “I thought the two of you got along?”
“That’s just how she is.” I clarified, watching the back of my sister disappear into the gathered crowd under a full moon, it’s soft light illuminated Amekou like a glittering curtain. “She talks like this to me in private. Just a little thing between us siblings, you know.”
“Oh, that’s interesting.” Margaret nodded, clasping her hands together. “My siblings never hurled profanity at each other, other than the one time they had the standoff. Is this a cultural difference?”
“I guess you could say that.”
I’d very much prefer to end the topic right there. I’ve had enough of her ‘family’ for today.

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>>3312204
Soon, my sister returned with Yanagi and ‘Saya’ in tow.

“Eh? We’re going to…” Yanagi’s surprise was clear and punctuated, but quickly died down the moment she saw me sitting next to the one person she did not place a single ounce of trust in.
Margaret tucked her head out and greeted the three with a welcoming wave, where Yanagi and Amile did likewise in response, albeit with much less enthusiasm.

“Where’s Haruta-san?”
“He’s opting to stay.” Tewi climbed onto the driver’s seat, with Amile joining her in the passenger seat. “I’m sure he could handle things by himself.”
Deftly, Yanagi climbed into the cargo hold just as the front doors clicked shut, then planted herself right by my side. Margaret sat right across, holding tightly on the sides of the cargo hold while looking at Yanagi with a gleeful snicker.

“Is something wrong?” My friend narrowed her eyes as she inquired about her odd behavior.
“I’m glad that I have no qualms with you!” Margaret replied gleefully as the engines of the vehicle roared into life.
“Qualms?”
“I thought I may have intruded your relationship, but it turns out you two weren't together!”
...
There was an awkward silence lasting a few seconds as Margaret’s words lingered stalely in the air.
While I never was particularly good at reading the atmosphere, even I knew something was about to go down.

“Yeah, sure.” While Yanagi tried her best to maintain the smile on her face and keep an amicable demeanor, I can tell that her eyes weren’t smiling. Not by one bit.
Watching the scene play out made me squirm a little on my seat. The tension between the two had instantly risen to a boiling point. What’s worse, the way Margaret conducted herself was as if she wasn’t even aware of the lion’s tail she had just stepped on.

“We’ve arrived,” I heard my sister call out to us from the driver’s seat as the truck pulled up to a sudden halt. My sister’s intervention proved just enough to temporarily break the tension that was building up within the cargo hold. “Welcome home.”
Following Margaret and Yanagi, I disembarked from the cargo hold onto the smooth but solid limestone ground that marked the front of our house in Amekou.

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>>3312207
Compared to the huge, palace-like estate we had in Kure, our house in Amekou was small and quaint, just a one-story building sporting a basic backyard. The exterior design closely resembled the other civilian residences in its proximity. From the looks on our guests, it seemed that the modesty of our little abode came as a complete surprise.

“So this is where we are staying for the night?” Amile blinked curiously at the rather modest architecture.
“Don’t worry, there are enough rooms for everyone,” Tewi assured the guests as she unlocked and opened the front gates. “Nii-san, please bring our guests to the living room while I prepare the bathwater.”
“Oh, just like last time then!” Margaret exclaimed, quickly opening another pandora’s box right from the get-go.

“LAST TIME!?”
Yanagi’s words came out as a scream as Margaret’s off-handed comment registered in her mind. Cold sweat slowly beaded over my forehead as I found myself as the villager living under a volcano about to erupt.
“Why yes!” Utterly failing to read the atmosphere again, Margaret decided to make everything worse by probably phrasing everything in the most easily misunderstood manner possible. “Last time we-”

“PLEASE COME IN.”
My sister ‘invited’ our guests in with a deepened voice, enough to grab everyone’s attention away from the topic wondrously. At the same time, she spared me a glare that could only be described as if she saw some sort of disgusting insect.

“Nii-san!”
Having invited the guests in, Tewi quickly closed the door then stormed before me angrily and dragged me down the corridor into the storage room. It was so bad some bands of her hair unwinded and shot out is a spindled mess.
“What have I told you about jumping over fences, huh!?”

“Careful not to be impaled by it…?”
I recited her warning in a defeated, deflated tone. The cause of this current scenario was completely due to a misunderstanding and a failure of communication, but none of this would have happened if not for how I mishandled the girls in the first place.
“Oh, so you’re aware, yet you still do it seamlessly.” Her scolding continued. “Then you must be either be a moron with a death wish or a piece of human scum… or maybe both!?”
“I-it’s a misunderstanding...”
“Excuses!”
I can only gaze at my sister apologetically, knowing I was fully accountable. There really was no easy way to cheese out of this for me in this.

She crossed her arms and sighed in frustration. “I’ll help you out just this once. You better not take this for granted because I’m not going to clean your trash next time.”
“Thank you.”
“Yeah, you better fucking be. Also, you need to start thinking about how you want to proceed with those two.” She scoffed and tugged me by the sleeve. “You can’t keep this up forever.”

>>3312215
>I know, but I have to get down to the Denisovs’ true intentions.
>This won’t happen again, I’ll clear everything up directly.
>Let’s just go rest for the day.
>Write in

>>3312222
>This won’t happen again, I’ll clear everything up directly.

>>3312222
>I’ll clear everything up directly.

>>3309487
It's arguably worse as it is the "Commissariat for Internal Affairs". That's the NKVD. You know, the guys that carried out the great purge and threw people into Gulags.
I guess the Empire had its own October Revolution at one point, which explains why everyone's Russian now. But somehow the monarchy's still intact?

>>3312215
>This won’t happen again, I’ll clear everything up directly.
I can't help but notice that we said we that Yanagi was just a friend to Margaret without any player input.

>>3312494
The Empire is probably just a jumble of Russia-related memes

>>3313009
Anons are split over the first two girls they were introduced with where neither one is best girl. Color me surprised.

>>3313047
I don't know about anything in this quest or setting but the fact we're a jap trying to survive with a big old battleship

>>3313047
You might have noticed that our current predicament has nothing to do with the players' actions. We were more or less railroaded into it.

>>3313239
Yes and no.
QM did present a triangle from the very get go. But it's the result of all the previous decisions which led us to this point since anons can't make up their mind on which girl they want.
I feel this is just QM's way of saying please just make up your minds already.

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“I know. This won’t happen again.” I told her, determined to take the burden up by myself. “I’ll go clear everything up directly.”
“Okay, I’ll leave you to that.” Tewi took a step back, genuinely surprised by my sudden burst of conviction. “Just try not to get torn into pieces, alright?”
“I’ll try.”
Smiling, my sister patted me lightly on the cheek then left the storage room.

I strolled carefully around the edges along the corridor of our house. With all doors closed, the engawa appeared to have shrunken in size, resembling a secret, narrow corridor that encircled the structure. The long stay in the mainland and the war that followed has somewhat dulled my memory and sense of direction when navigating through this house. Thankfully, the living room was easily identifiable, as it was the only lit room where lights filtered through the neatly crafted shoji.

“Sorry for the wait.” I gently slid open the door, greeting the three guests. Margaret and Yanagi each occupied a cushion at opposite ends of the modest, tatami padded living room. The Valkyria happily returned my welcome, while Yanagi simply sat there quiet and disinterested. Caught in the middle was Amile, sitting on the cushion in the middle. Oblivious to what had happened earlier at the back of the truck, the Khagan’s daughter was visibly confused yet very wary at the choking tension in the air.
I took a deep breath to garner enough courage to do what I had planned.

“Yanagi, do you have a moment?” I inquired, alluding her to follow me outside, should she choose to.
“Sure.” She stood up in a moment’s notice, then followed me out the room and into the garden.
I halted my steps as the two of us reached its center. At this distance, the two back in the living room won’t be able to hear our conversation. Yet at the same time, the previous conviction and courage I built up earlier had more or less worn off, replaced by an all too familiar nameless anxiety.

Unsure of how to start the conversation, the circumstances eventually ended up with the both of us staring blankly at the ground for a few seconds.
“Uh… so, about what Margaret sai..”
“Denisov-san told me about her stay in your family estate. Including the night you two spent together” Yanagi interjected, completing everything that I was about to explain. To my absolute surprise, she didn’t conduct herself with rage as I had expected - in fact, I couldn’t sense any anger in her words, but rather… frustration.

“... So you know everything.”
My friend nodded quietly. Again, her sight fell on the graveled ground below, as if she was deliberately avoiding eye contact with me.
No this isn’t working, I need to be more direct with her.

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>>3314178
“Yanagi, I-”
“No, no, I’m not angry at you.” She cuts me off again, in a somewhat quiet, defeated tone. “I understand you’re trying to do some digging on the Denisovs, but your interactions with her…”
Yanagi paused halfway through the sentence, as if at a lost of words. Quietly, she let out a long sigh, then placed her right hand over her eyes squeezed her temples.

“I don’t get you, Subaru. I just… I don’t know.” She paused again to take a deep breath, then shook her head.

“Yanagi?”
“F-forget what I said.” Her tone softened as she raised her head, to which I noticed her reddened eyes. “I’ve been a bit… not like myself lately.”
This wasn’t the first time I had this kind of talk with Yanagi. If I remember correctly, this has been the third since Margaret entered the picture. What Yanagi spoke of was a comment on her recent behavior, but I am certainly a part of what drove her into this attitude in the first place.

“I’m sorry about… all this. ” She muttered softly, turning away. “I-I want to cool off a little.”
Those last words tugged violently on my heartstrings, and at the same time, reminded me of my sister’s words earlier. Maybe it’s time to make a decision...

>Politely ask to join her
>Stop her [ROUTE LOCK]
>Give her some space.
>Write ins

>>3314181
>Stop her [ROUTE LOCK]

>>3314181
>Give her some space.

I want the big titty Margaret

>>3314181
>Give her some space.
In context of the two previous VC quests I really do want the titular character to win for once. At the same time it's also probably the only way to unplug Margaret from her fucked up family.

>>3314181
>Stop her [ROUTE LOCK]
She's quite literally giving her all here. Let the childhood friend win for once.

>>3314181
>give her space

Sucks to suck but your not best girl

>>3314181
>Give her some space.
VC always missed the point when it came to love interests. It has always been the appeal of fucking the Aryan Ubermensch, and not some faulty halfbreeds as in the first and third game.
I dunno why the last two VC quests did not have that option at all, and it'll be an absolute waste if we just ditched this opportunity for a childhood friend.

Aiteng is still best girl tied with our sister, but I guess both are out of the picture at this point.

>>3314181
>Stop her [ROUTE LOCK]
Going for this because this sounds more like a natural progression between the two.
The Valkyria is fine, but so far I've seen no real in character argument aside from "I want a hot superhuman waifu"

From a player's viewpoint it's totally understandable. But from the perspective in-character I don't see why Subaru would fancy someone with a shady background who he does not completely trust, as opposed to Yanagi who has been there with him since the beginning, and knows for a fact that she has feelings for him.

>>3316700
I mean, Theres really nothing to go with for the best friend besides 'Muh best friend' yada yada shit

>>3314913
>Not quite right in the head product of generations of incest
>Aryan Ubermensch
I'd have thought that was sarcasm if you hadn't voted.

>>3316712
>>3316950
Dating a not!KGB agent/asset isn't that good of an idea either. And even if Subaru did manage to woo her I don't think the rest of her family will take that likely since
>Darcsen

>>3317014
I could care less what her family thinks.

>>3314181
>Stop her [ROUTE LOCK]
Yanagi has chemistry with us. Margaret is just obnoxious.

>>3314181
>Give her some space.
As much as this is painful, I want to see what Margaret can fully bring to the table. Right now there are far to many mysteries surrounding her to know how exactly she views Subaru, or what motives she has. I feel that going for Yanagi right now won't really be fair for her.

But if choosing the others will cause the Yanagi End to be locked up forever, then count me in for
>Stop her [ROUTE LOCK]

>>3317284
We can investigate all those mysteries while on the Yanagi route. What would stop us?

>>3317292
Just means that anon wants to have the Valkyria waifu option open too instead of shutting it off right now.

>>3317311
We were lectured about fence-sitting not long ago.

>>3317284
Not picking Yanagi now won't entirely lock you away from her route.

>>3314181
>Stop her
Honestly, she has earned it after all that. Saving Margaret from her KGB/politburo family can be done separately without the need to have her as a love interest

>>3314181
>Stop her [ROUTE LOCK]

Since this is a rather important vote, I'll extend the voting window for another two hours.
If things are still tied by then, I'll roll a 1d2 for the final decision

>>3314181
>Give her some space.
Not that I dislike Yanagi, but the opportunity to take Margaret and wipe it in her family's face is just too good to pass up

>>3317656
What kind of motivation is that?

>>3314181
>Stop her [ROUTE LOCK]
This whole situation just sounds like Sam 2.0 except it's written in a very Josei manga/K Drama style. I like it this way

>>3317591
>give it another 12 hours
>more id's posting then normal

I mean welcome to samefagging and killing interest in your actual fanbase.

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>>3314424
>>3314508
>>3314620
>>3314913
>>3317284
>>3317656
Continue sitting on the fence

>>3314343
>>3314543
>>3316700
>>3317106
>>3317560
>>3317731
>>3317505
Go all in

Final Verdict: THE END OF TRIANGLE
But seriously, thank you all for the participation, it's the one thing really helps motivate me to write.
Now that this is settled I'll have a blast writing out the next part.

>>3317758
Whelp good luck with the quest enjoy your 1ID lads

>>3317758

Bump for interest

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Alright, so a rather important announcement.
After discussing with Editor-kun, we believe there needs to be a bit of moderation when it comes to voting. Due to the nature of this quest, the two of us usually begin working on the next update when no more new votes come in, hence the delay for this choice closing. While we are quite excited at the rigorous audience participation as a result of this update, it has come to our attention via anon that some of the votes may have been manipulated, and we believe something like this needs to be addressed.

Now, here are two things we would like to settle.
For the current choice, should we:
1. Proceed as is
2. Only take into account the first 7 votes to eliminate potential re-votes

For the future, would you like to see the voting system be
1. As it is (until votes stop coming in)
2. Deadline-based (24 hours after post)
3. First 7 votes
Or any other suggestions other than the three listed above.

We are sorry for the circumstances that caused the delay and confusion for the next update. Hopefully, this can resolve some of the problems that has arisen, and allow us to all enjoy this quest together. Once again, we truly appreciate all for your participation and input in the quest. We hope you enjoyed the story.
Thank you.

>>3320366
Who even knows how to defeat samefagging? I don't.

>>3320366
>First Seven
I'll usually be against redoing votes but I suppose it's okay if this is that important of an event, as long as you're going to implement the system for the future.

>Deadline based
I think deadline is enough for most of this quest considering the pace which it moves. 24hrs is a bit too long though, 6 is enough. Pop in and halt the voting if you must for important choices, there really isn't a way to prevent samefagging on 4ch, only finding creative ways to outmaneuver it.

>>3320366
>Only take into account the first 7 votes to eliminate potential re-votes
Why not? It's what many other popular quests do. As long as the route is still open there really isn't much to complain

>>3320366
I'm okay with just continuing on but do change things up if you must. Like you said, the quest should be fun, first and foremost.
Keeping things as it is would be fine for the most part, I think. Just apply a different set of rules when (I'll say first 7 since I guess that's around the max amount of players this quest has?) As anons said, it's hard to beat samefagging, as opposed to learning how to live with it instead.

>>3320366
Taking the first seven is fine. As long as the route is still open there's need to rush things, or the need to be butthurt.
Just give us the next update already.

>>3320418
>>3320506
>>3320517
>>3321031
>>3321901
Got it, writing

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>>3314343
>>3314424
>>3314508
>>3314543
>>3314620
>>3314913
>>3316700

Acknowledging her request, I gave her a silent nod, letting my friend to have a moment for herself. It is probably for the best to let her have some time to sort her thoughts out.
Yanagi stood alone in the little yard, her head arched up to stare into the clear night sky. As I reenter the house and closed the shoji behind me, I caught a glimpse of her wiping away some tears with her sleeves. Seeing Yanagi like this made my heart sink, and knowing that there was nothing I could do to help only made it way worse.

“Subaru, where’s Yanagi-nee?”
By the time I returned to the living room, my sister had already finished her duty and rejoined the guests, now sitting firmly in between Amile and Margaret. Her sharp gaze demanded answers not just of Yanagi’s whereabouts, but also whether or not I had carried out what I had promised to.

“She said she wants to… gaze at the stars for a bit.”
Knowing Yanagi would most likely prefer to keep this matter private, I tried not to be too direct in giving my answer. Fortunately, Tewi took notice of what I was alluding to and subsequently gave me an acknowledging nod.
“Well, in that case, I’d better let her know the bath’s ready. She might catch a cold staying out there like this.”
And just as fast as she entered the living room, my sister left, giving me a pat on the shoulder as she passed my side. Now it’s just me alone with our two other guests, my mind clouded in a thick smog of dead air that smelled of uneasiness and guilt.

The talk Yanagi and I had earlier was no doubt a confession, yet one I still couldn’t find an appropriate response to. Satoru, Yanagi, and I had been ‘friends’ for as long as I possibly could remember, with our relationship feeling less like just friends and more like family. With her recent shift in attitude, I can tell she’s got the intention to take the next step, but I found myself unprepared to receive her. I’m uncertain how taking a step further will affect the relationship we have since our childhood, but at the same time felt such guilt pressing down on me for leaving her hanging, after she’s given her all.
Sometimes I couldn’t help but loathe myself for being so… indecisive.

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>>3327851
“Subaru-kun, is something wrong?” My reflection was disrupted by Margaret’s concerned voice as she moved beside me, having picked up on my changes in behavior since rejoining them.

“And Morishima-chan…”
“She…said she needs some time alone.”
Her brows deepened into an immediate frown as realization dawned on her.
“Oh no… did I say something wrong again?” Margaret cowered back a bit, her gaze lowered as she laid her hands over her chest.
“No, it’s just something between the two of us.” I shook my head not making eye contact with either guest. Margaret may have been the catalyst, but from what I observed of her behavior I doubt anything she did or say were intentionally malicious.

“K-Kurokawa-san, what is the relationship between you and Morishima-san?” Amile spoke up, surprisingly more upfront than her usual self.
“A purgatory between ‘close friends’ and ‘family’, I guess,” I answered in a defeated tone, putting it in the closest approximation possible.
“Is that all?” Instead of the usual reserved demeanor, this time she pressed the issue farther, placing me into a corner. Where did this sudden burst of determination come from? Was it because the topic reminded the princess of her own relationship with her fiance?

"This idiot does not know where his own heart lies.” Tewi’s voice jerked in as she barged back into the room, carrying a bottle of sake in her right hand and a tray of small porcelain sake cups on her left.
She sets and opened the sake, then carefully distributed the alcohol evenly into each cup.

“The timing might be not exactly ideal, but I figured we need a little bit of a welcoming ceremony for the two of you,” Tewi said, placing a cup of sake each before Margaret and Amile.
“Besides, Nii-san might need something to wash away the angst.”
Tewi faked a lament, then wrapped her arm around Amile. “So, is Saya-chan old enough to drink?”
Eagerly, my sister shoved a cup right up Amile’s face. The princess took the cup and stared at my sister in confusion.
“I turned 18 a month ago...” She answered, holding the clear pool of alcohol within her palms. “Is there-”
“Oh, we’re the same age?” Margaret exclaimed out of the blue, resulting in everyone, myself included, to freeze and turn to her slowly in disbelief.

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>>3327855
“You… you're 18?” Tewi stared at the Valkyria wide-eyed, unsure of what she just heard. It was as if she just learned that someone who she expected to be a teacher turned out to be a kouhai.
“Wait...really!?”
Naturally, I shared the exact same sentiment - while Margaret may not be telling the truth, there really was no reason for her to lie about something as mundane as this.

Given her mature appearance and towering height, one would easily think her age to be around the same as that of Itaru, who is quite a few years older than Satoru, Yanagi and me. Truth be told, never in my wildest dreams had I thought she’d be this young- on the other hand, this revelation did explain much of the naivete in her words and actions. It may also explain he fondness of her older siblings, who by no doubt were those she had looked up to all her life, isolated from the rest of society and whatever that was considered ‘normal’.

“Why yes, is something wrong?”Margaret nodded with a confused look on her face.

“Great! At least now we know everyone here's okay with tasting alcohol.” Tewi announced cheerfully, then quickly skirted to my side of the table. “I mean technically my silly brother here’s the only one old enough to legally drink, but I guess he can supervise.”
“Nii-san.” She whispered at the side of my cheek. “You do know you're the master of the house right?”
Her words quickly caught my attention. With everything else constantly happening around, I've completely forgotten about this aspect of my position.
“Care to make some opening remarks?”

…

>Give them a welcome and drink away.
>I don't really want to drink
>Let's wait for the last guest to arrive.
>Write in

>>3327866
>Let's wait for the last guest to arrive.
Let's not snub Yanagi

>>3327866
Let's invite Yanagi in then wash away both of our misery with booze.

>>3327866
>I don't really want to drink

>>3327866
>Let's wait for the last guest to arrive
The dumbest, and most fun option here is trying to out drink a Russian and a Mongol.