Prologue

“H-Hellooo... Takashi-kun, is that you...? It’s time for our super fun... regular check-in with the Commander... clap clap clap clap...”

If you had to sum up Garnet Stelvia in a few words, she’d be the woman saddled with the title of United Nations Forces, Integrated Special Command, Bio-Soldier Corps Commander.

She’s the one who wrangles the quirkiest bio-soldiers, wipes up their messes, and takes charge on the front lines, always putting herself on the line. That’s Garnet Stelvia for you.

Sure, her combat skills don’t hold a candle to the six of us Pointers—me, Natalie, Sherry, and the rest—but her knack for reading the battlefield and deploying bio-soldiers with pinpoint precision? They call it superhuman intellect for a reason.

Honestly, I’ve lost count of how many times her leadership pulled us out of the fire. She’s a total mess of an adult most days, but deep down, she’s someone you can count on.

Yeah, a total mess of an adult.

“Uh, hello...? Why’re you so quiet...? H-Hellooo... Hellooo~...”

Garnet’s the one who bridged the gap between our bio-soldier corps and the norms who’d freak out just looking at us modified soldiers.

Without her, the bad blood between us bio-soldiers and the norms would’ve spiraled into something irreparable. She’s been the face of the bio-soldiers, dealing with stiff-necked norms, and that’s why things have settled into the uneasy peace we’ve got now.

In that sense, Garnet’s practically a symbol of goodwill. And because we were under her command, we’d grumble but still march into the meat grinder of the front lines without too much fuss, despite the insane death rates.

A total mess of an adult, though.

“A-Are you still mad at me...? C’mon, please forgive your poor Commander already... sniff...”

So yeah, this grown woman bawling her eyes out? She’s somehow still got everyone’s respect.

She’s hopeless at anything not tied to war—couldn’t even organize a barbecue without screwing it up—but us bio-soldiers? We adore her anyway.

“Waaah... I swear I wired the money, so please forgive me already... Being ignored by Takashi-kun hurts the most...”

Her pathetic voice whines through the phone.

I let her stew in silence for a bit before answering the 24-year-old bachelorette’s sob story.

“You really wired the money to Sherry’s account, right? No lies?”

“I-I’m not lying... Want me to send the receipt...?”

“Goddamn, why’d you have to tell such a stupid lie...”

“B-Because... I never imagined Sherry-san would be buying a house! It was totally out of my control... sniff...”

The Commander’s sniffling, her voice all nasal and whiny.

She’d spread some nonsense about me returning to the military, and now she’s crying like a kid getting scolded by their parents.

I let out a long sigh, letting her pathetic whimpers wash away the grudge.

“Don’t ever make Sherry cry again, got it?”

“But it’s okay if I cry!? I’m bawling my eyes out right now! Is that fine with you, Takashi-kun!?”

“That’s your own damn fault, you idiot.”

Our back-and-forth with the overly assertive Commander drags on for a while.

“Starting today, it’s finally time for your high school life, Takashi-kun~! If I were eight years younger, I’d be right there with you~! Such a shame~!”

It’s the morning of my first day as a transfer student, right before heading to school for our regular check-in.

Her carefree, singsong voice crackles through the smartphone, and I can’t help but scowl.

“If you hadn’t told that stupid lie, Sherry could’ve started school today too. You sure you’re sorry?”

“I-I am sorry... I’m reflecting so hard, like a whole teacup’s worth...”

“Next time you pull that shit, I’m planting a real serious kiss on you. Cry or scream all you want, I’ll do it. So you better be ready.”

“I-I don’t think that’s much of a threat... You say the dumbest things sometimes, Takashi-kun, it’s such a pain~...”

I try to warn her, but somehow I’m the one getting called out.

Dumb? Me? You’re the real dumbass here, Commander.

I’m getting pissed at her unapologetic 24-year-old attitude when she must’ve sensed the vibe, because suddenly her voice turns all sweet and pandering.

“C’mooon~... I’ve said sorry like a million times already... You get all soft when it comes to Natalie-san or Sherry-san, it’s such a hassle~...”

“I ain’t soft on them...”

“Oh, you’re totally soft~! But, well, thanks to that, the Endpoint who struck fear as the end of the line and the Turning Point who was dreaded as death’s crossroads—Natalie-san and Sherry-san—mellowed out a bit, didn’t they?”

“Okay, but seriously, why’d you lie to Sherry? You knew she’d get pissed if it came out.”

“W-Well, that’s, uh...”

She trails off, going quiet.

After a bit of groaning—“Ugh...” and “Waaah...”—she blatantly changes the subject.

“Oh, uh, can you send me a pic of you in your school uniform later? I’ll give you my messaging app ID, so send it there, okay~?”

“Don’t just dodge the question like that. Answer me.”

“Send a few different poses, okay? I’m gonna make it my wallpaper~!”

“Are you really sorry, you moron?”

◇◇◇

“Phew... That was a close one... Managed to weasel out of it somehow...”

Garnet stretches big after hanging up.

For the past few days, Takashi had been giving her the cold shoulder because of her screw-up, but she finally got his forgiveness.