Once he had his fill of Zero Five's lips, Sam gave her a few instructions, then returned to his room. While at it, he decided to empty his reserves a little, believing it to be the last time he would ever have to rely on his right hand for something like that.
When he was finally done, hunger showed itself. Skipping two meals proved to be too much for him. Thankfully, the time he usually eats dinner was approaching, so he decided to relax a little before heading to the cafeteria.
"I wonder what's on the menu today."
Sam was in quite a good mood, even with the fear of being exposed poking at the back of his mind. It was a little difficult to be stressed while knowing the Valkyrie named Zero Five now belonged to him.
'Technically she still is the Resistance's property...'
That thought brought to mind the rumors he had heard before getting this job. The ones about someone with his position abusing it to have fun with the Valkyries.
'Could it be… Did he get eliminated because he became the master of one of the Valkyries?'
It wasn't difficult to imagine the military not wanting just anyone to get that kind of power, even if it's Odin. That could be the reason why they warn those who work closely with the weapons and eliminate anyone who oversteps their boundaries.
'But… does the military even know about such things?'
It all depended on Odin and how much he had told them. They should already know about the robots serving as artificial wombs—it was a little difficult to imagine that part going unexplained. From there, they could guess that the AI has the ability to serve as a romantic partner, but that alone wasn't enough of a hint about its deeper secrets. After all, the Valkyries don't announce the identity of their master or that they're loyal only to him.
'I still have a lot to learn myself…'
Still inside his mind, Sam reached his destination and went in and went about picking his food. Tonight's dinner was mashed potatoes and roasted chicken as the main dish, some vegetable soup, tofu salad, and some pudding for dessert. Getting some of everything, he was about to look for an empty table when he spotted a familiar face. Seeing that she started waving at him the moment their eyes met, Sam realized that she had noticed him much earlier than he did.
"Good afternoon, Sergeant Kurokami." Placing his tray down, he realized that his mood got another boost as he sat with his cute friend.
"This is a strange occurrence," Shizuru said with a smile. "Usually, you would be the first to arrive."
"I'm sure I arrived a little earlier than usual, so it's more strange to see you here," he replied, returning the smile.
"Indeed. I managed to finish work a little early today, so I thought I should get my food before a certain someone ruins my appetite."
Sam knew exactly who she was referring to. Usually, she wouldn't be so open when mentioning him, though.
"Did something happen?" He asked.
The smile on Shizuru's face faded away, her gaze falling down to her food. A tired sigh escaped her a couple of seconds later, and she forked some salad to her mouth in an attempt to stop it.
"Doctor…" As she spoke, her mood continued spiraling downward. "Where have you been this morning?"
The question stabbed Sam right in the gut, and he couldn't help but cough a few times.
"Ah, I… it seems I collapsed in the lab while working," He said. "Guess pulling another all-nighter when I'm already exhausted was too much."
The excuse he thought wouldn't get a pass caused the Asian girl to look up at him with a start, her eyes wide open.
"Wha- are you okay!!?"
"Y-yeah, yeah, I… just needed some rest, that's all," Sam replied.
Shizuru seemed relieved for a moment, but she began to sulk again soon after.
"I already warned you that you wouldn't be able to function properly without good rest."
"Yes, and I understand," Sam said, poking some of the chicken with his fork. "It's just that I had something important to take care of, that's all."
Something important indeed. He was too busy making life-changing discoveries that would make his life much more exciting from today onward. He wasn't about to tell her about it, obviously. That secret wasn't something he would ever share with anyone.
Neither of them followed up with anything, so the two continued eating their food silently for a while. When it started to look like she wouldn't tell him herself, Sam decided to ask again.
"Did something happen while I wasn't around, Sergeant?"
"Make a guess," Shizuru said, stabbing a piece of chicken with her fork.
Sam kept his silence for a few seconds, then turned to look around him. He already had an idea of what was wrong.
"I don't see Sergeant Jordan."
"Well, after what happened…" letting out a long sigh, Shizuru then followed. "I doubt he would be approaching me any time soon."
"Did you finally reject him properly?" Sam asked.
"It wasn't easy, really," Shizuru replied. "He didn't take it nicely."
"I can see that happening."
Apparently, it all took place during lunch when Sam passed out in the lab. Jordan approached Shizuru as usual, but seeing that the Valkyrie technician wasn't around for the second time that day, he started badmouthing him more and more in an attempt to make himself look good. Unable to take it anymore, Shizuru snapped at him, saying she had tried to be polite before and that she was done putting up with his bullshit. Making it clear that she had no interest in him, she then went and warned him to keep his distance unless he wanted her to file a harassment report.
Everything went down in public, and many were there to witness it. Jordan was fuming by the end, to the point that he started throwing insults like a little kid. He then left while promising that she would regret rejecting him very soon.
"To think you were capable of such things," Sam said once the story was finished.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Shizuru gave him a side glance.
"Nothing. I just wish I were there to see it."
It was good to hear that the orange-haired idiot was finally out of the picture.
"Still… I only assumed it before, but you really don't like him, huh?"
"Well, he just isn't my type," Shizuru said. "And his inability to take the hint is infuriating."
"I think he did take the hints," Sam said. "He just didn't give up."
"I hope he doesn't do anything foolish."
The two finished their meal uninterrupted for the first time in a while, and since she didn't have to leave abruptly, they talked a little more before deciding to call it a night. Sam offered to accompany the Asian girl to the female dorms, and so they left together.
As they walked, a strange atmosphere began to form between them. Sam felt nervous for some reason, and from the looks of it, Shizuru was the same. He wasn't so oblivious as to not realize where things were going, and for a moment there, he was prepared to sail with the wind.
Looking at his raven-haired friend, Sam began to consider how things would work out if they got together. A different face flashed in his mind just then, and a bitter feeling accompanied it, causing him to doubt his intention. In the end, he failed to grasp the chance even as it sat in the palm of his hand.
Cursing his lack of determination, Sam said his goodnight and turned to walk away. It was then that he felt a tug on his sleeve.
"Um, Sergeant?" Looking behind him, Sam felt his entire body turn to stone.
"Um, I…" quickly retracting her hand, Shizuru seemed to turn into a nervous mess before forcing herself to regain a semblance of calm. Clearing her throat with a cough, she raised her head and looked at him directly, a faint pink coloring her cheeks. "Say, Doctor. You... you are currently single, right?"