Kuromukuro (クロムクロ)

Morning, Kojo.

Quit distracting me.

Go wake Kennosuke up, Koharu.

Tell him breakfast's ready to be served.

Okay.

Big trouble, Yuki! Kennosuke's gone!

What do we do?

Did he run away?

No way...

If you're looking for Kennosuke, he's gone to Kurobe.

Mom's place?

This early?

What for?

I don't know the details either.

Anyway, let's have breakfast.

You two had better hurry up, or you'll be late.

I'm off!

I'm off too!

Okay. Take care.

Now, then. I wonder how Yukina will react.

This ought to be good.

Morning, Yukina.

Oh, it's just you, Mika.

What's the matter? Why so scared?

I was worried there'd be reporters waiting to swarm me again.

How scandalous!

Aren't you a popular one!

Wait, where's our samurai?

Over at Mom's place.

And I'm not his mother, you know.

So Shirahane came by herself.

Well, ain't that great, Akagi?

"I won't let anyone have my Yukina," huh?

What're you talking about?!

He actually thinks nobody knows.

Sheesh, we're not kids.

Doesn't he realize he's gotta put it in words?

Whoops.

Crap! Better run!

Rise.

Bow.

Take your seats.

This is a bit sudden, but we have a new student joining us today.

Come in.

Introduce yourself.

My name is Kennosuke Tokisada Ouma!

Pleased to make your acquaintance!

As of this moment,

Kennosuke Ouma and Yukina Shirahane will be placed under my direct command.

Wait, does that mean...

What does that mean, Mom?

Am I gonna have to be a soldier?

Well, you two are the only ones who can operate the artifact.

The two of you have had your nervous systems

implanted with nanomachine channels to connect with the artifact.

Ow!

If we attempt to forcibly remove them with the technology available to us,

it may cause irreparable damage to you both.

If you're lucky, you'll only lose part of your motor skills,

but odds are that you'll end up completely paralyzed.

Not to mention the worst-case scenario, death.

And not just a painless death, either—

Dr. Hausen...

That's enough gruesome details, don't you think?

Really?

The artifact you left back in Toyama City is due to be transported back shortly.

I wouldn't mind if it never came back, honestly.

I believe I told you...

That's my personal relic.

Um, I have a question.

Go on.

Does this mean I'll be forced to spend the rest of my life as a soldier?

To be precise, you'll be a civilian employed as a second lieutenant.

So, uh, it's kind of like a part-time job?

Something along those lines, yes.

All done.

What is this?

A demon!

This is surely the one Yukina's father encountered.

We'll put this portrait up in the UN's cloud to make it easier to share.

The stance of the United Nations for the environment—

Oh my god!

All right, men.

I believe you've already received and gone through info pertaining these two, but this will be your first meeting.

This is Yukina Shirahane and Kennosuke Tokisada Ouma.

And that's Captain Tom Borden, pilot of geoframe GAUS1.

Listen up good, you two.

You are the lowest form of life on Earth... lower than maggots.

In fact, comparing you is an insult to them.

Excuse me?

But you may thank your lucky stars.

Because I will do everything in my power to reform you non-hackers into normal human beings!

Look forward to it.

The captain is also the GAUS team's leader.

Then we have First Lieutenant Liu Shen Mi, GAUS1's navigator.

Sophie Noël, GAUS2's pilot.

Greetings.

Thank goodness you're here!

So the rumor that you were a pilot here was true.

Oh, right. You two knew each other already.

We're classmates.

Sophie's really popular, you know?

She's cute and smart!

Go on, Kennosuke. Say hello to her.

Pervert.

What?!

Don't break his arm, Sebastian.

He's a valuable combat resource.

I'm aware, ma'am.

I think you'll find I'm not as nice as milady.

A CQC expert as you can see,

that's GAUS2's navigator,

Toshiyuki Mozumi.

Glad to meet you.

Please, call me Sebastian.

Sebastian? Isn't your name Mozumi?

Why Sebastian?

I'm Lady Sophie's butler, you see.

Butler?

Mozumi's a JSDF Captain, too.

Being an SDF soldier is merely a cover.

My true calling is that of a butler.

Right...

Never mind him.

I'm glad you've all broken the ice already.

Be sure to maintain a smooth working relationship.

Major, I have a suggestion.

What is it?

His name is way too long.

We should fix that.

My name?

You have a point.

How about Ken, then?

Ken?!

Not bad.

So you're Ken from now on. Get used to it.

Glad to work with you, Ken.

Ken?!

I can't believe I'm with Ken in school too.

You're calling me by that name as well?

Hmm. His persona doesn't exactly scream "Kenny."

Indeed!

By the way, what does "persona" mean?

Use your dictionary.

Major Graham gave you one, right?

Yeah, press that button.

Which button?

Dontcha think Akagi lacks ambition?

If I had to go for one, I'd pick Ogino every time.

No objections here, but reality is a harsh mistress.

Shirahane's a more reasonable goal.

Why should I?

I'll ask her, then.

Shirahane!

Um, is it true that you and Ouma live together?

Y-Yeah.

But my place has a lot of rooms,

and a bunch of hallways too.

Whoa. Straight out of an LN.

So you eat together and stuff?

Think they run into each other in the bathroom?

In the nude?

Please!

P-Persona:

Aspect of someone's personality that is presented to others.

Personality?

Another word I don't know!

In the Sengoku period maelstrom,

mighty warriors fight to claim the country for themselves!

Nobunaga, joining the fray!

Imma unify Japan!

Hi-yah!

Come on!

There!

Point!

Damn, Ken's weak!

As if you could ever kill the enemy with that nonsense!

This, too, is training for battle!

Prepare yourself!

I keep telling you, don't be so quick to jolt me!

But I seriously thought you were gonna behead him.

I saw a flashing blade with my mind's eye, too.

As if a bamboo imitation could ever take anyone's head.