04 Brother and Sister
"Hey, Shirley! It's been a while."
"It's been a long time, Harold-senpai."
Harold Byron is in the Third Fleet.
Shirley had been preoccupied by that fact and arranged a meeting.
She had thought it might be difficult, given how busy he must be.
Yet the meeting came about with surprising ease, leaving her momentarily stunned.
"Yeah. Really has been a while. When was the last time we met?"
"Probably before I entered the training academy... Ah. It's been eight years already."
She understood that one reason for his visit might have been simply to see the face of his younger sister, whom he hadn't seen in recent times.
The Byron family is known for their perverse fascination with machinery, but this brother is relatively humane.
He is about ten years older, yet unlike his other siblings, they can speak so casually.
"You really haven't come by the main house at all, have you?"
Once assigned to the移民 fleet’s defense force, it becomes difficult to transfer to another fleet.
Unless one formally switches allegiances.
Necessarily, visiting the family estate becomes impossible. That part weighs slightly on her conscience.
“Frederica was saying how lonely she felt.”
The name mentioned is that of Harold’s younger sister—the other exception among the siblings—and also Sharon’s elder sister.
“I— I’ll pay my respects to Sister Frederica… eventually…”
Shirley finds this particular person somewhat difficult to be around.
Not dislike. Not dislike, but— difficult.
“Do that. Now, it’s pleasant to see your face— but you didn’t come here just for that, did you?”
She feels she’s been seen through.
Well, wanting to see her face was genuine enough.
But the real reason for this visit was to probe into her true purpose.
It was impossible to say it outright.
"Be honest, Shirley. How much do you want?"
"Not for pocket money!"
She remembered, then.
Whenever young Shirley visited Harold, it was always to ask for something.
"What's different about it?"
"It's different, I tell you."
How long does he think I'm still a child?
No—she thought, if she could get it, she would take it.
"Then... I'm at a loss. I can't imagine why you'd come to see me."
"No, I'd visit if my family came to the Third Fleet. Just to say hello."
"True, that's how most people would act. But our family's normal is a bit... different."
"Indeed."
More machine than human. A gathering of deviants.
Reconsidering, Shirley found herself wondering how her parents had even managed to marry.
"In that sense, you've become quite unlike yourself, Shirley."
"Huh?"
"Isn't that true? You were that classic Byron type, after all."
"Ah... maybe you're right."
Had Jin or Jake been listening, they would have vigorously agreed with Harold.
You were exactly that back in training school!
As for the two victims, never mind.
The moment Shirley began approaching something resembling a genuine human—
"Hmm. I see."
Harold's lips curled upward as he studied her expression.
"Male."
"Ghk!"
He choked.
"That reaction. I'd say you recognize it."
"Just startled me, that's all! Why should that be a clue?!"
"What? It's not complicated. Byron humans who develop interest outside machinery usually just find something else to love—nothing more complex than that."
"Something else to love..."
"For example, Frederica—she's the one, isn't she?"
"I completely understand."
Shirley nods at the sister's name, easily accepting the label of favoritism.
But wait—Shirley thinks.
Because if that's the case—
the catalyst for Shirley's change—
needs no explanation.
"Something wrong, Shirley? You're blushing."
"N-no, it's nothing."
She manages to restrain herself in front of her brother. But if this were her own room, she'd be writhing, clutching her head by now.
"By the way, why are you here in the Third Fleet? Is there business at this branch?"
"Huh? Oh. Yeah. Something like that."
Shirley senses the lie.
She's already contacted the Third Fleet branch of BW Corporation.
The result was clear—white.
Harold visited this branch only once during his stay.
A purely formal visit. No future appointments scheduled.
As Shirley thought about something she would hide even from family, Harold laughed.
"Adorable, Shirley."
"Huh?"
"That earnest effort to cover it up. Just be honest. Ask directly. What’s your goal, really?"
"What…?"
"I know you contacted the Third Fleet branch… will that make you a little more open?"
"Wha—"
"No, Shirley. You're merely a member of the family of executives—no actual position. I, on the other hand, am a director at the Second Fleet branch, even if I am an outsider. Didn’t you think I’d hear things first?"
Shirley blamed herself for her carelessness.
True, she could investigate under her family’s authority—but not deceive someone with greater influence.
"Well then, the reason you’ve been probing so deeply into me… I’m afraid I can’t quite recall."
...Just simple curiosity. Brother. You, who are so consumed by duty, arriving at the Third Fleet. It's only natural to suspect something's amiss.
That you actively sought out information—unlike you, I suppose... but never mind.
With effortless ease, Harold dismisses the topic.
"As for why I've come—simply put, it's research aimed at guiding the entire移民 fleet, indeed all of humanity, toward a better direction. This is one part of that."
"Humanity...?"
That phrase.
She'd heard it just recently.
(Second Fleet's deployment unit and Harold—there's definitely a connection!)
It's impossible to believe such a grand premise would coincide so precisely with no relation.
The circumstances make the link unmistakable.
Suppressing her excitement, Shirley presses further.
"What kind of...?"
"I can't say. I don't know who might be listening. Even if I'm prepared, you'd be exposed to danger."
"...I see."
She maintains the guise of concern, but clearly has no intention to speak further here.
"Still, I believe in it. This plan—when Laitera moves, humanity will be saved."
"Brother?"
"Every eventuality, the correct narrative. That is—"
"Brother!"
Shirley calls out sharply, her voice cutting through the fevered, almost lifted tone of her brother’s words.
Focus shifts to her.
Too late. She regrets letting him continue—he might have accidentally revealed something vital.
"Forgive me. I got carried away. It's a rather large project. I’m unusually excited—something I don’t usually allow myself. This will undoubtedly leave a mark on human history."
"Huh."
"Haha. Was it boring for you, Shirley?"
"No. I just thought your brother was Byron."
She considers pressing further, but decides against it—asking too much might make retreat impossible.
Sharon concludes it is better to prioritize returning with this information.
"Sorry, brother. I’m the one asking, but I have a prior engagement after this."
"Oh, I got carried away talking. I have my next appointment too. But then again—this fancy outfit is for that date, isn’t it?"
"Yes. Well. I was invited to dinner… a place with a dress code, apparently."
Jake, as a restaurant owner, seems to take culinary research seriously.
And this time, he’s made a deliberate trip to steal the taste of a high-end establishment.
Still, the thought of treating him—since he’s being so generous—makes her want to go along.
"I see. So the person you’re meeting is the one you’re interested in?"
"No. That’s not him."
Jake—good as a friend, but impossible to see as a romantic prospect—Sharon rejects immediately.
Harold laughed with amusement at the reply.
"Ah. He’s different, then."
"Ugh! Don’t tease me like that!"
"Hahaha! No, I didn’t expect you to react like that! It was enjoyable, Shirley. I hope we have more pleasant moments ahead."
"Take care, Harold-san. I’ll visit again, yes?"
"Whenever you like… but I’ve been busy lately. Still, I’d like to have a meal with you once."
"Then I’ll be sure to come."
If Harold were treating her, the restaurant would be as luxurious as Jake’s today.
She looked forward to it.
"...I might be a little late."
Shirley murmured softly, glancing at her wristwatch.
Walking in unfamiliar heels was difficult.
Still, she pushed forward with effort and entered the shop Jake had specified.