A Familiar Touch in the Dark

“So, there’s a bed, but no blankets… Guess I’ll have to be careful not to catch a chill…”

Though no one was around to see it, a wry smile still found its way onto my face in the empty room.

Being told to rest after listening to Liliya’s absurdly flawless plan… I think it’s just made me more exhausted…

As for Liliya and Mr. Liya’s daily lives, I imagine robots handle ninety-nine percent of it. Seriously, is this a life a human can even lead? It’s beyond impressive; it’s honestly left me speechless…

Liliya is probably still working furiously in the control room next door, looking as energetic as ever. But I can’t keep up. Shaking my head, I lay down on my side on the bed, which felt a bit cold—a hard metal slab without even a mattress or sheets…

And then…

I couldn’t sleep for the life of me.

The world outside the mining machine must have been a deafening, thunderous roar. After all, there were so many of those absurdly large drills… And yet, the interior of the machine was strangely quiet. So quiet, you could hear your own breath and heartbeat if you listened closely.

But—I still couldn’t sleep.

Was it the time difference? This felt awful… I was so tired, but all I could do was lie there with my eyes closed.

“Ugh…”

Was it reluctance or frustration? With an expression that was likely a mix of both, I sat up.

“This is so frustrating… So unbelievably frustrating…” I muttered, squeezing my eyes shut and scratching my hair in exasperation.

Talking to myself is a bad habit, but who cares at this point…

And then—my one-woman comedy routine began.

“Maybe I should find something to do? Burn off some energy, and then I’ll be tired enough to sleep?” I pointed both hands straight at myself, but for some reason, it felt like I was giving myself the middle finger… Am I just asking for it?

“Alright, suggestion accepted. I’ll just organize my weapons.” I twirled my index fingers in circles and smiled with my eyes still closed.

They were closed because I was tired, but the smile… I have no idea why I was smiling. Oh well, no point dwelling on it.

Sitting cross-legged on the bed, I drew something out from my right side and laid it across my lap.

“Hey~ How about a little game? Guess which weapon I just pulled out.”

A sudden whim?

Yeah, why not? This could be fun. The subtle, hazy light in the not-quite-total darkness was actually quite comforting.

Could I guess it on the first try? I had no idea. I have far too many weapons.

“Huh—?!”

A familiar sensation brushed against my fingertips, sending a jolt through my heart.

This is… a scabbard… And if it’s this one, I’ll get it right on the first try.

It has to be. There’s no way I’m wrong.

No, this doesn’t even require a guess. I could never mistake it!

Slowly opening my eyes, I felt the corners of my mouth lift into a smile. The stubborn, incredible fatigue that had plagued me moments before seemed to vanish into thin air.

“Ruka.”

My gaze softened as I spoke her name, a warmth spreading through my chest.

“Did you come here just to comfort me? I’m so lucky.”

I sat the tachi upright on my lap and gently pulled it into an embrace. A slightly foolish smile graced my lips.

“I don’t feel so tired anymore~”

I wonder what she’s doing right now.

Is she at school, engrossed in a book? Is she patiently teaching those two juniors? Or is she… just like me?

If I close my eyes now, I’m sure I’ll have a wonderful dream. Yes, I’m certain of it.