MOD 1

Tokarev lies on the repair platform as the diagnostics conclude.
Kalina, standing behind the console, tilts her head in confusion.
Kalina: Hmm...
Tokarev: ...
Commander: Kalin, how’s the situation?
Kalina: Her memory storage seems perfectly fine, and there’s no sign of structural damage either… It’s not a precise diagnosis, but maybe her memory loss is just from overexertion.
Tokarev: Is that so?
Kalina: It’s just a guess. I can’t find any other reason.
Kalina walks around the console and moves closer to look at Tokarev’s face carefully.
Kalina: My recommendation is to give you a vacation. If you can relax a bit, maybe you’ll get better?
Kalina: Commander, if you have some free time, maybe you could keep her company during her break~!
Tokarev: T-That wouldn’t be right! The Commander surely has more important things to do…
Commander: I don’t mind!
Before Tokarev can react, the Commander has already walked up to her side and unhesitatingly takes her hand gently in his.
Tokarev: Huh!?
…
A Day Off, on The Streets.
Tokarev can't remember the last time she has seen such a view.
The white clouds are full and layered, blending with the azure sky into a refreshing hue.
Sunlight filters through, spilling onto the streets and onto the shoulders of the person beside her, seeming so real and yet so dreamlike.
Commander: Stay close, or you’ll get lost in the crowd.
Tokarev: O-Okay...!
Tokarev naturally stays close to the Commander, but even so, the Commander still holds her hand, pulling them closer, as if truly afraid she will get separated.
The more she looks at the couples passing by on the street, the more the warmth from the Commander’s hand makes Tokarev’s mind wander.
Tokarev: Um... Commander, where are we going?
Commander: Well...
The Commander looks at Tokarev, then breaks into a cheerful smile.
Commander: You’ll know soon enough.
…
Station Announcer: The train is about to depart. Please prepare to board.
On the platform, people are saying goodbye to their friends and family in the limited time they have.
Tokarev hands her suitcase to the Commander, who has one foot on the train, her eyes full of reluctance.
Tokarev: When will you be back?
Commander: It won’t be long, I... I won’t make you wait too long.
The train begins to whistle. Tears well up in her eyes.
After checking the time, the Commander intends to shake Tokarev’s hand goodbye.
But what the Commander receives in response is a tight hug from Tokarev.
Commander: Even if we are thousands of miles apart, I will definitely return to your side. Because only you are the harbor for my soul.
Tokarev: C-Commander, I... I love you!
Tokarev: I will... I will wait for you, forever!
The two gaze at each other’s faces, as if to engrave the other deep in their hearts.
From the eyes, to the cheeks… and then to the lips…
Slowly, they lean closer to each other...
???: Ahem, Tokarev? Tokarev?
Tokarev: Eh!?
Tokarev snaps back to her senses, finding the Commander sitting next to her with a wry smile.
Commander: You’re holding my hand a bit too tightly…
Only then does Tokarev realize she is gripping the Commander’s hand so tightly that his fingers have turned a little white.
Tokarev: Huh!? I-I’m sorry! I-I didn’t mean to...!
Commander: It’s okay, it’s okay. Being that absorbed in a movie isn’t a bad thing.
Commander: Here, have some lemonade.
Tokarev: Thank you…
Taking the cup, Tokarev’s eyes return to the silver screen, her gaze locking onto the scene where the male and female leads are kissing passionately.
Commander: Quite the tearjerker, huh? I didn’t expect the heroine to make that choice in the end.
Commander: Tokarev, what did you think?
Tokarev: ...
Commander: Tokarev? Is something wrong?
Tokarev: Huh!? N-No! Um... the movie was great!
Commander: That’s good. Sounds like you really liked it!
Tokarev: Uh, y-yes!
Tokarev tries hard to recall the ending scene of the movie, but all that is replaying in her head is the scene she has just inadvertently fantasized about.
As if she has found a unique source of happiness, Tokarev sneaks a glance at the Commander's face. More specifically...
His lips.
Tokarev: No, no, no! I-If the Commander knew what I was thinking…
Tokarev: Ugh... how embarrassing!
Sighing, she looks down at the ice cream the waiter has just placed on the table, and in frustration, she scoops up a large spoonful and stuffs it into her mouth.
Tokarev: Mphh!!!
The cold sensation shoots straight to her neural cloud through her oral sensors.
Tokarev doesn't know what kind of face she is making, but judging from the Commander’s initial surprise followed by laughter, it must have been awful.
Tokarev: C-Commander...
Commander: Sorry, sorry. I just didn’t expect you to look so cute while eating ice cream.
Tokarev: Ugh… you’re teasing me.
Commander: How could I?
The Commander’s eyes crinkle into crescents, and Tokarev can feel that his gaze has also landed on her mouth.
Tokarev: Wh-What is it?
Commander: Don’t move.
The Commander leans forward, expression serious, his face inching closer to Tokarev’s.
Tokarev: Eh!? N-No way!?
Tokarev can clearly feel her neural cloud overheating, as if her coolant system has completely failed.
Unsure if she is more nervous or expectant, she instinctively closes her eyes as she watches the Commander get closer and closer.
Commander: You got cream on your mouth. It’s like a little milk mustache~
Tokarev: Eh?
Tokarev opens her eyes, just in time to see the Commander wipe a bit of white cream from her lips with his fingertip, then put it into his own mouth.
Tokarev: C-Commander!
Almost unable to contain herself any longer, Tokarev shoots up from her seat. If the table hadn't been between them, she would have thrown herself into the Commander’s arms in that instant.
Commander: Hm? What’s wrong?
Tokarev: Um... The ice cream was too cold, yeah.
…
The setting sun gradually turns a lazy orange.
At the end of her vacation, Tokarev follows the Commander on the way back to the Griffin Base.
Tokarev: ...I don’t know if I should be glad or disappointed that nothing happened in the very end…
Tokarev: Sigh...
Looking at the Commander’s silhouette, Tokarev sighs.
Commander: Tokarev, is something still bothering you?
Tokarev: No, no, I’m very happy! It’s just... I didn’t expect our day off to end so soon.
Commander: Oh, so that’s it. I get what you mean.
Tokarev: Y-You do!?
Commander: Of course. When I was younger, I’d always feel the same. Whenever a holiday ended, I didn’t want the day to be over. I wanted to hold on to those beautiful moments, even if it meant staying up all night just to make them last a bit longer.
Tokarev: Urm...
Commander: Huh? Is that not it?
Tokarev: A-Actually, I don’t know how to say it…
Tokarev: It’s not wrong to say I’m reluctant to let this last moment go, but... If I said what I was really thinking, then...
Commander: There is a way to hold on to it, you know.
Tokarev: Huh?
The Commander walks over to Tokarev and takes a beautifully wrapped paper bag.
Tokarev: This is...?
Commander: Open it.
That one sentence piques Tokarev’s curiosity.
She tears open the paper bag, reaches her hand inside, and pulls out a beautiful hair ribbon.
Tokarev: Commander...
Commander: When I saw it in that streetside shop, I just knew it had to be yours.
The Commander takes the ribbon and reaches his hands behind Tokarev’s head.
Tokarev cooperatively lowers her head, letting the Commander tie it in her hair.
Tokarev: Thank you, Commander...
Commander: To be honest, I’m not sure if I guessed what was on your mind, but I know exactly what’s on mine.
Commander: I felt that this whole day with you was wonderful, and I wish this beautiful moment wouldn’t end so soon.
Commander: I didn’t want it to end, so I thought… if there’s a way to preserve this moment, I’d use something tangible to hold it, and a ribbon seemed just right.
Tokarev: ...Commander…
The Commander’s cheeks flush slightly, and he shyly scratches his head.
Commander: I wanted to give you a surprise, but I don’t know if you’ll like it. If you feel it’s not enough...
Tokarev: I love it! No matter what it is, as long as it’s a gift from you, I’ll love it.
Tokarev: What’s more, this ribbon holds all our wonderful memories from today. I’ll treasure it, forever and ever!
Commander: Tokarev...
Tokarev: Also, please forgive my selfishness.
Tokarev: At the very end, I want to leave one last, beautiful memory for this ribbon.
Tokarev wraps her arms around the Commander’s waist, then raises her head, gazing into those surprised eyes. They’re reflecting a beautiful light under the setting sun.
Tokarev: Commander...
Tokarev closes her eyes, waiting for the Commander’s response.
She can feel the Commander’s face drawing nearer, his warm breath exuding an intoxicating fragrance...
No...
That’s wrong...
Something isn't right.
Tokarev: ...Huh? Where am I...?
Standing in the middle of a battlefield, the air is thick with the smell of blood and smoke.
Tokarev: Ugh!
A familiar pain once again surges from the depths of her neural cloud.
Tokarev staggers a few steps, treading on many soft things. She looks down and sees that the ground isn't gravel and dirt, but a mass grave overflowing with Doll corpses.
Whenever she accidentally steps on them, they suddenly open their eyes, their gazes boring straight into her.
Tokarev: This...!?
???: You’re finally awake.
Tokarev turns at the sound and sees the Commander also standing atop the graveyard.
But unlike his gentle appearance from before, the Commander’s gaze is now cold to the extreme.
Tokarev: Commander... What... is this...?
Commander?: It’s time, Tokarev.
Commander?: Now is the time to sacrifice yourself for me.