Lilya: Oh. You're also here?
Sonetto hears her. She stops the practice.
Sonetto: Yes ... I am taking combat drills with the Artificial Somnambulism training system.
Lilya casts a sideways look at the screen in front of Sonetto. There shows her overall time length of practice.
Lilya: 6 hours ...
Lilya: I'm not the only one goofing around.
Sonetto: No, I'm not. I am not goofing around.
Sonetto: I am waiting for orders.
Her face flushes scarlet.
Lilya initiates the machine in front of her, unaware of her awkwardness.
Lilya: Well, much luckier than me.
Lilya: I have so many things to bitch about ... "One who plays hooky." Have you heard it? Literally me.
Lilya: I should have turned down the offer when they promoted me to the Foundation headquarters. They don't have any field missions for a flying witch …
Sonetto: Is it because of the provisions of Talent Protection?
Lilya: Only God knows.
Lilya: House Arrest may be a better name.
Sonetto: ...
She throws a casual glance at the screen.
Lilya: ...
Lilya: Look, since we're both bored to death, do you want to have a try at some difficult things?
Sonetto: What is it?
Lilya: Hm, this.
She pouts her lips, hinting at something which she thinks should be obvious to both of them.
Lilya: Have you tried the Artificial Somnambulism joint training?
Lilya: Put on the helmet together, and switch to multiplayer mode …
Lilya: Two operators can take on a harder training mode ... more insane enemies ... Haha.
Lilya: Like playing in the arcade.
Sonetto stares blankly at Lilya as she operates the machines.
Sonetto: O-Okay. Shall I turn this red knob?
She is a bit worried, not sure what to do; she has to imitate what Lilya just did.
And she murmurs ...
Sonetto: ... What is an arcade?
The floor starts to vibrate as the machine goes into function.
The multiplayer mode has been initiated.
Lilya: What did you say? I can't hear you with my helmet on.
Lilya: Whoo, nice controller. Good! I'm entering the zone now.
Lilya: It's been a long time. Why not have some fun?
She quickly taps on some buttons, and the warning indicator on Sonetto's equipment suddenly flashes a red light.
Sonetto: The light is flashing ... What did you press?
Lilya: I switched it to the hardest mode! Haha! You better get it together!
Sonetto: W-Wait ...
But there's no time to "wait." Two words in big red font appear on the screen in front of them: DRILL STARTS.
Lilya: Don't fail me, top student.
The helmet has cut off their vital fluids and diverted them to a pre-programmed battlefield. The operators' vision is about to change ...
COMBAT
Sonetto: breathing out ... I am ... exhausted.
Lilya: Ha ... Almost choking.
They take off their helmets, slumping onto the floor together.
Sonetto: ...
Lilya: ...
Their gloves are soaked in sweat.
They subside into momentary silence, looking at each other.
They burst into laughter in high spirits.
Lilya: Hahahahaha ... hahaha ... I haven't had so much fun for centuries!
Sonetto: Heh heh ... Hahaha ...
Lilya: How many times did we die?
Sonetto: Sorry, haha ... I cannot do math now.
Sonetto: My mind ... goes blank ...
Lilya: Hahahaha ... who would expect THE Sonetto would have a brain fade ...
Lilya falls backwards, lying on her back, staring at the white ceiling with peaceful joy.
Sonetto leans on the wall, exhausted.
It was a fight of verve and vitality. All the noises that have been nagging them for days now seem to have disappeared.
There are only breaths, the wind, and the smell of the concrete floor.
Lilya: ...
Lilya: Have you heard the result of the debate?
Sonetto: I heard that ... the number of people opposing the draft significantly increased after the debate.
Lilya: Hm ...
Lilya: It's not going well.
Lilya: Soon will be the voting session. The opposition is taking the lead.
Sonetto: ... I hope Ms. Druvis can hold out.
Lilya: You visited them?
Sonetto: I submitted a request to enter that building ...
Sonetto: The system arranged guards to accompany me to ensure my safety.
Sonetto: The moment they entered the building, they started sawing the trees ... saying that they need to carve out the path.
Sonetto: Since then ... I have not been there.
Lilya: Four and a half weeks. After that, they can't hold on for any longer.
Sonetto: Really? In that case ... the vote result has to come out before that.
Sonetto is deep in contemplation.
Secretary Sharon: Hi, may the peace be with us.
Sonetto: ...!
Sonetto: Hello! May the peace be with us.
Secretary Sharon: Do you mind giving us some privacy?
Lilya: Do whatever you like.
They walk to the break room in the hallway.
Secretary Sharon: Here is Madam Z's message. Please visit her in the office on Friday.
Sonetto: Ah ... Okay. Copy that! Thank you for the message.
Secretary Sharon: With pleasure.
She nods and places her hand on her chest.
Secretary Sharon: Wish you a good day.
Secretary Sharon leaves the room at a quick trot.
When Sonetto returns to her exercise equipment, she finds Lilya is about to leave the room.
Sonetto: Are you leaving?
Lilya: Yes.
She picks up her gloves and the canteen but hesitates. She pauses for a brief moment, then quickly turns back to Sonetto.
Lilya: Do you know how the penalties for destruction of public property of the Foundation and brawl are determined?
Sonetto: ...?
Sonetto: Well, according to Measures of the Foundation for Administrative Penalties, based on the severity of the circumstances, fines will be imposed and the offender's salaries shall be deducted accordingly in minor cases, while detention or expulsion shall be imposed in major cases.
Sonetto: The penalty also depends on what is damaged. For example, production tools, household goods, buildings, equipment, facilities, etc. These are the properties that involve less cost and limited influence if damaged.
Sonetto: If the number of people involved in a brawl is equal to or less than eight, and there are no major casualties, the penalty will be minor.
Sonetto: May I ask what happened? Why are you asking this all of a sudden?
Lilya: Nothing. As I said, bored to death.
Lilya: So bored that I have been paying attention to the Foundation's regulations. Even the Flying Manuals failed to win this much of my attention.
She waves at her and leaves without looking back.
Lilya: So long, Sonetto. Hopefully there is good news for us next time I see you.