Tsune woke up with unpleasant chemical taste in her mouth. The medicine made her sleep since yesterday, wasting precious planning time. But barring heavy head and sweat, it did its job.

Cold shower lifted her drowsiness, but her mind was still a cavalcade of unwanted thoughts. Such a thin, invisible distinction between Tsune and Lyle, but how fundamentally separate their worlds really were.

She hit the wall with her palm. This would affect Rod as well, wouldn't it. The weasel would have to keep his future knowledge private and run into the same problems. She imagined him exasperated, flipping script's pages before an empty crystal, and the mirror reflected her smile.

A shadow appeared outside of the sunlit door and knocked on its frame, .

'Are you up? Teacher calls.'

'I'll be there soon.'

Right after another shower and a quick clothing wash.

-

A big ornate carpet left only a narrow path near the wall for her to follow. The left door opened into a room full of wooden bookcases. Their doors and glass panels sealed with crossed white tape.

The monk was in the second, smaller, room. He turned around, but instead of books that would fit the ancient table, she saw a modern reading tablet.

'Good morning. But if I may, given your expression, have you expected me to be surrounded by books?'

'Ah? No, it's just I went to the other room first.'

'It is a pitiful sight, isn't it. Before, every student added their knowledge to the archive. Everyone was proud to etch their drawing onto the book's fore-edge.'

Tsune heard a distant, nostalgic, note in his voice.

'Paper is really fragile, isn't it.'

'Oh, I wish it was just that. But my book left to join others in the old capital almost as soon as wrote the last word.'

'But forgive my sentimentality, as I have invited you for another reason. This record about a condition similar to yours.'

"Can you not call it condition?"

With effort, Tsune voiced her retort only in her thoughts.

'It describes the man who showed a transparent crystal despite being only a student. Asked about his past, he spoke of interplanetary travel, but never with destinations. He abandoned his past life and sought sanctuary because the world and even memory felt foreign to him.'

The girl raised her hand. That *turned foreign* was suspiciously familiar.

'So, did he find the cause?'

'The only information about him is this record. I found it on the pilot memorial list.'

There it was again. Like father's secret, memorialized by green in her hair, it combined space and a crystal that refused to work. How did mother put it; after Venus expedition, he asked if she wanted to change the world together? Then hired spaceship specialists for a special project?

Now, if she assumed that father caused the transfer between worlds, his behavior at least made sense. Except for a few details... That he knowingly replaced his daughter with unknown. That he deceived her, and lied to her mother from the start.

Even if the game's setting and genre bent over to make that character assassination, she couldn't see how it would change the world. Lyle knew nothing about this era and Rod was...

No, this was just another downward spiral. First things first. How would he even know about those games, much less managed to target people that knew them?

A light cough brought her back to the reality. Where the monk just noticed her distraction.

'It is fine if you missed my words, as I can repeat them. But have you caught your thoughts?'

Tsune answered with a slow shrug. Instead she asked to give her a call if he found anything else.

-

Back to the guest house, she wrinkled her nose from the overnight smell and opened the door to air it out. Watching Rei meditate under the tree, she pulled out the phone.

'Mother, what did those results from old capital say?.'

'Oh, my. Did something happen?'

'Nothing, except my prism looks like a piece of glass and the monk found a similar result from ages ago. But that student had a mental condition he got in space.'

'Okay...`

Lady Red's voice turned singsongy, extending a single word until rustling of pages was heard over the line.

'Here it is. Attempt to trace your spring's stress to its cause failed due to... Basically, they've knocked on your mind's door to get answers, but got the wrong adress.'

'Mother; that sounds even worse.'

'The cognition follow up tested that lies beyond your pretty eyes and it went swimmingly. So, you can tell him that you have a firm grasp on your marbles.'

The last part caught Tsune off guard, turning her answer into dry cough. With a brief good bye, she ended the call.

For several minutes, she stood in the door frame, watching the sky and river. Her emotions slowly tuned in with their slow movement.

Then she returned to Rei, who kept the unmoving stature. Despite his outburts, he could show patience when needed. Unlike her, who spent the last few days wedging herself into their life. He probably wouldn't even believe that most of her summer went by before TV.

Tsune lightly stretched, before taking the laundry and leaving.

When she stopped near the boy, the crystal surface turned blank. But instead of joined Rei, she spoke.

'I'm not sure how to succeed right now, I need to think. But I want to continue the training, so I hope you are not against my return?'

'I understand. I look forward to it.'

-

That evening, Tsune was once again a part of her team's life. Aery composed the airborne and street footage into a sort of interactive story that would introduce the team. But out of the five scenes, two had Den and Aery interviewing each other, while three remained blank.

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'As you see, Aery and I already done the first two as a test. Now it's up to you to pair up.'

However, nobody spoke up. Tsune was in no hurry to choose either of the boys, one of which still looked at the phone, while another watched the ceiling. The continuing silence was broken by Aery.

'Eider, you interview Tsune. Both of you, do your best to attract attention, okay?'

Tsune rolled her eyes. The brunette was as straightforward about her intentions as always. At least they claimed the city's date spot for themselves. But, on the second thought, that place was for romantic pairs. Can't be a fan magnet if viewers think that you are in a relationship.

Eider looked at Tsune, prompting her to speak her mind.

'We already have two boy and girl pairs, I think we should have one boy and boy too, to show friendship more. And since you are friends, you'll know what to ask him.'

'Fair enough, But without a beautiful girl, our viewers might visit Hem's profile out of obligation alone. He might even be made fun of.'

"Just get a hint, would you."

She was all but sure that Eider would get their conversation off the ground. But a public interview with Hem? His silent tough guy play was curious, but could turn awkward quickly. And outside of that, what would they even talk about? His admiration for her father?

The girl glanced at Den, straight into his eyes.

'You both have good reasons. But since they are opposed, I'll take care of his profile with Aery. But please, do your part seriously. Treat it as a rehearsal for the end of the year convention.'

-

Pulled from sleep by knocking, Tsune turned on the other side; If Rei wanted another early training session, he'd have to bring her a coat. Then the world's noises tuned in. Steps on gravel from the street, subdued voices from behind a nearby wall. This was the team's house.

'The interview, I remember.'

Tsune greeted Aery in unlaced temple dress. But the guest had more to say.

'Is this the costume you decided on? Could you leave a bit of skin open?'

Tsune interrupted her with a yawn, she managed to hide behind her hand. It was mostly natural, because this morning could do without advice on loose lacing and art of fanservice. Or the imagery that came with it.

'I don't want viewers to think I'm from here. I'll take the pilot suit and Eider will take care of the rest.'

After a brief pause, Aery nodded and walked away. Tsune touched her cheeks that grew even hotter. Definitely could do without imagining that.

-

With morning still in power, their taxi slowed down to a crawl soon after reaching the central streets. Tsune opened the door and instantly pinched her nose close from the smell of raw meat. She took Eider's hand and pulled the non resisting boy to the parallel street, hoping she could tolerate the street bazaars there.

Finally, tired and hot after weaving through the crowds, they saw the buildings ahead. Even without looking at a gadget or the signs, the identical stone tower blocks made the border clear. And overcoming the last bustling driveway, they entered the old part of town.

'Really? Is this exciting enough for an interview?'

Just minutes into the residence streets, Tsune couldn't help but speak. The buildings stood lightless, the echo of their steps was the only sound around them. No wonder that everyone spent their time in the city. She wouldn't want to live here either.

Eider gestured for her to sit on the nearest bench. Then raised his hand and Tsune saw it surrounded by an aura of light, that overflowed from around the mountain peak.

'If you see it, the lighting is perfect here. Set it above my head and ask.'

"Show off."

But, regardless, She wouldn't argue against being the first to rest and quickly found the angle that gave him a sunlit halo.

'You studied in a support class at first.'

'Spent a year buried under a mountain of books and holo-schematics. Still surprised I found somebody to dig me out for the second one.'

'Then you became a pilot. Was it planned?'

'Becoming a pilot?'

Eider rubbed his chin, to mask the pause.

'Oh, because support is the cheapest way to enter the academy? No, I just chased my dream; to feel that a powerful machine was below me.'

'I thought just working on one would do it. But then I wanted direct control.'

"Okaay, do I even want to ask further?"

But what kind of inteview would have only question. Besides, she would have to stand up.

'Let's go back a bit: the person you met in support class.'

'Oh, yeah. Pulling Hem along was a story and a half. But if I left him, he'd spend his life inside of a room.'

'Anything else?'

'Also.'

The boy winked.

'Bringing a talent like him was my ticket into a team.'

'Then, the final question. Why did you choose the eagle?'

'I thought about what kind of machine I would want. And then I decided I didn't want to be restrained by gravity.'

Tsune lowered the phone with a sigh.

'I think it's enough. Nobody would watch these anyway.'

'Eh, they'll watch yours.'

'Yeah, and if I took the temple dress, it'd get even more views. I can't believe Aery wanted me to show off.'

She finished sending the recording and looked up. Straight into a camera.

'Wait, are you recording already? I'm not ready!'

'Why would I wait for that? I want natural reactions.'

'Now, tell us. Why would a girl like you want to become a pilot. And then do such a turn?'

-

Tsune hurried off the bench as soon as Eider made a pause. Her back and legs still stung with fatigue, but now he couldn't continue the interview.

Natural reactions, he said. Her cheeks felt hot, she must've looked flustered. Honestly, one of the questions went far enough for Lyle to defend Tsune's, original's, dignity.