Qualidea Code

Third strike...

Hotaru-chan.

What is she doing?

What the hell is she doing?

Kasumi Chigusa.

I'm sure you can hear me.

No... This is...

The whole world is...

Rindo-san...

Tenkawa-san...

Inverse Qualia

Hime-san...

Hotaru-san...

If I had stayed behind then...

Don't say that. It's thanks to Hime-dono that you're alive.

Asuha, it's time.

Oh... Yeah.

Hey, Asuha, uh...

You don't have to say it.

It's just weird when you apologize.

And it wasn't your fault.

Okay.

Well, I'll just have to take care of the rest.

Let's head back.

Goodbye, Ohime-chin, Hotarun.

We have 219 injured. Number of deaths and missing personnel unconfirmed.

Losses were especially great in the Kanagawa camp, since they were at the front line.

You've lost your top forces and the chain of command.

How do you intend to deal with it?

I'd like you, Aoi, to take over the management of Kanagawa.

Now, as for Tokyo...

Given the circumstances...

Well, we know what state the Tokyo head is in.

My sister is not a replaceable machine part.

I realize that.

It's fine with me.

I'm sorry.

We don't want to put you kids in danger...

But please believe me.

I think of you as my own children, my family.

Family, huh?

I don't know if Asuha remembers,

but I definitely remember.

Then, at the very least, we should abandon the gulf and scale down the battle lines.

We don't have enough forces left to cover the sea.

I don't want to take on even more work.

That's an extremely respectable opinion.

Maybe we're better off abandoning our current base and pulling our defense line back inland.

That's insane!

South Kanto is the cornerstone of our defense!

If we do that at this stage of the battle—

It's because we're at this stage of the battle

that we should give top priority to defending the interior, is it not?

Officer Asanagi, some at HQ are calling for you to take responsibility

for the loss of Tenkawa and the other top students.

In accordance with HQ's previous decision,

it would be prudent to at least reassign Asuha Chigusa to the inside.

Huh? Me?

What decision?

Didn't they take back that decision to entrust her to us for a time?

Perhaps now is that time.

Uh, no, I'm not going.

Asuha-san, we can't afford to lose you, too.

You're the greatest battle asset we have right now.

Isn't that all the more reason I can't leave here?

Yeah, she's right.

Without our head, there'd be chaos, and morale would drop.

We'd lose a lot more than just numbers, and above all,

I have no intention of letting my little sister go.

Wow, Onii. Gross.

This is an order from HQ.

Fine. We'll consider scaling down the battle lines.

But we'll decide when it's the right time to reassign her.

Kasumi, you'll have to cover for Asuha.

Asuha-san, may I have a moment?

All right, I'll be back soon.

Hey, Kasumi.

Got a minute? There's a job I'd like you two to handle.

Don't look so disgusted.

If you want, you can go get something to eat, on us.

Regarding what we just discussed...

Would you please give it some serious thought?

Oh, the stuff about going inland?

Sorry, I can't do that.

Why not?

Wasn't going inland your goal?

You'll be guaranteed a life of plenty,

and you'll get to spend time with your family.

That's just how highly HQ values you.

Hmm...

I know. Kasumi-kun, right?

No, that's not it at all.

What? That's totally not it.

If he went with you, there'd be no problem, right?

Huh? But he's really weak! He's all dried up!

Even without a reassignment, there are ways to get him to the rear lines.

Though it may not be at the exact same time as you.

Nah, I'm still gonna pass. Sorry.

An expensed meal...

With Yaegaki... and me?

Nah, no way.

But, wait...

I heard.

Heard what?

What are you playing at?

What are you talking about?

Scaling down the battle lines? Don't be stupid!

Are you actually saying that?!

After you dragged me to the battlefield?!

There's nothing left for me but to fight.

I have to wipe out the bastards that took Canaria!

That's all I want, and yet you...

I don't care what you want.

Feel better now? Then we're done here.

I won't accept

the way you do things, or this world!

Welcome back.

Thanks.

Wait, why are you in my room?

Because all the city planning data is here.

Yeah, since that's normally my job.

Onii, what do you wanna do for dinner?

I'll eat while I'm out, since I'll probably be late.

With who?

Who I'm with doesn't matter. Just for a change, you know?

Uh-huh. The guy from Tokyo?

Why would you say that? I don't wanna eat with him.

Don't you know? A dinner is supposed to be a quiet, rich, blissful time.

Oh, I know what that was.

Since we normally eat together, it was your way of showing affection.

There's that bad habit of yours again.

When the conversation doesn't go your way,

you say something random to change the subject.

It's totally obvious.

You're the only one who'd notice that.

Just how much do you love me, anyway?

Yeah, that's it. The way you take things in a gross direction.

Hey... Would you stop analyzing your big brother?

And stop calling me gross.

Chigusa! What's this? Your one chance at a date?

If Asuha-chan finds out, you've got no chance!

It's not!

So please don't tell Asuha.

Talk about a little sister complex! That's hilarious!

Shut up and get to work!

And seriously, please don't tell Asuha.

Sorry. They have a stupid sense of humor, so they always blurt out weird stuff.

You and Asuha-chan are very close, aren't you?

Well, we're family and all.

Is that all?

Sure that's all.

In fact, it's the only reason I have to live and to fight.

For your family?

Well, yeah, it's nothing that ambitious, but...

I understand.

It's the same for me.