''Was that really what you were going to say?''
I looked into her eyes directly.
''It seems like you have a lot you want to say.''
This time I tried speaking in a different style.
''Did it bother you?''
She parried it effortlessly as always.
I almost laughed. I barely kept it in.
Of course she would answer like that.
For the truth, it wasn't an answer.
It was a redirection.
Instead of defending herself, she shifted the discussion toward me. Toward my reaction.
And a response like that could only come from 220. Despite knowing her only a few days, I was already begining to understand.
...
I decided to don't go any further.
It makes more sense to keep my own truths to myself rather than test them.
If anyone had a reason to read every line of that agreement, it was her.
Yet she didn't.
Whatever she was looking at seemed more important than the agreement itself.
I decided not to think this any further.
...
We left the atrium and walked in silence for a while.
Then, 220 spoke.
''Where did that idea come from?''
I shifted my gaze towards her.
''What idea?''
''Taking the lead.''
She put her hand into her pocket.
''It's a bit unusual for a crisis support member.''
I stopped.
I knew she were going to ask this question.
''I don't know.''
220 looked back towards me.
''You don't know?''
''Yeah. What I could say being passive started to annoy me.''
I started to walk to catch her pace.
220 didn't talk for a while.
''Thats all?''
I looked her one last time.
''Pretty much.''
It sounded shallow when I said out loud.
But it was the truth.
Watching other people decide everything, speak and move pieces forward.
It really started to irritate me.
''I see.''
She said with a flat tone.
''That's probably a better reason than most.''
Suddenly, my phone rang loudly.
I reached for it.
When I pressed down the button, The screen filled with text.
Almost immediately.
I decided not to ask myself dumb questions this time.
Anyways, for the thing that opened, it was actually the messaging section.
The agreement hadn't even aged ten minutes.
Yet the cooperation group already existed.
I clicked the aspects. 10 people.
That was enough for them. But not for us.
Forming a group at this pace...
This is the greatest proof that these matters are taken seriously.
Most importantly,
Aetheris was not a independent committee now.
Even this made me realize the seriousness of the system once again.
We weren't practicing as a congressman.
We were really managing the country. Or as we thought.
It wasn't certain for now.
They weren't giving informations about the outside world.
We were supposed to govern a nation.
Yet we know nothing about it.
...
Not its economy or population.
Not even whether it still existed in the form we imagined.
I hope they will do something about it. Even thought I had no expectations anymore.
...
I looked around.
''Where's your phone?''
220 reached into her pocket once again.
Altough she was searching it the whole time, The tools made it hard.
She looked another pocket.
...
She searched every pocket on her coat.
Finally, she stopped.
''No.''
She pulled out the phone.
The screen remained black.
...
She pressed the power button again.
No sign of life.
The water had clearly gotten inside.
Mine survived.
But that was obvious. I had only one thing to protect from water.
She had been carrying half of Aetheris on her back.
''What are you going to do now?''
I asked.
She put the phone back into her pocket.
''Like I said. I'm convinced this was sabotage.''
She paused. Then started walking again.
''Whoever did this... Will return everything they took.''
There wasn't a trace of anger in her voice. Nor on her face.
Somehow... That calmness unsettled me more than anger ever could.
...
I pulled my phone once again.
''Since you phone isn't working...''
I looked at the screen once more.
''I'll tell you what the notification meant for.''
I closed my phone and put into my pocket.
''The joint committe has already been formed. Looks like they're taking this agreement seriously.''
''As expected.''
A short silence followed.
''Can I ask you something?''
I said.
''Go ahead.''
'According to the agreement, we are expected to make 2 maps for a place if they haven't been there. Would't producing two idendical maps be inefficent?''
We kept walking at the same pace.
We have officially left the atrium 1A and entered a wide, long corridor that connected to Grand bazaar.
''It would.''
It was an expected response.
''Then, What do you think about buying a printer?''
She looked at me for a moment.
''That's exactly I am intend to do.''
So she had considered that outcome already.
''How many points do you have left?''
220 shook her head.
''I don't know. But as far as I could remember, probably less than 15.''
''You shouldn't have spent your money on that pen.''
220 looked at me as if I had cursed her mother.
''Then, you shouldn't have spent ALL your money on that a few centimeter thick pin.''
I looked her straight to eyes.
''After a failed conversation with the brain, I never wanted to experience that again.''
''But I told you it was a misunderstanding. You didn't need to do anything.''
Misunderstanding? If there was a misunderstanding, The brain would have told us.
''What kind of misunderstanding you are talking about?''
She immediately averted her gaze.
''You will see soon enough.''
She had the same attitude as always.
She wasn't trying to convince me.
She was simply waiting for the day I would understand it myself
...
''Alright.''
I nodded.
''I made a mistake.''
220 turned her eyes towards me again.
''Dwelling on it won't change anything.''
I looked directly into 220's eyes.
''So... What's your strategy now?''
220 waited couple of seconds.
She were thinking about what to say or not to say.
''Realistically...''
She inhaled deeply.
''My chances of receiving a large amount of points in the next distribution are high. For now, I'll wait for the three-week distribution.''
She averted her gaze and stared on the road ahead.
''Apparently, the top twenty participants are also granted one request. I'd like to make use of that. And for the committee, We will invite more and more people until we have enough.''
A brief silence.
Now, we could see a opening ahead.
The gap in front of us is grand bazaar. There were no doubt.
Then, I noticed something.
The places we visited all day might not even be a tenth of this floor's area.
That alone scared me.
And, I started thinking one possibility.
The fact that I could die of old age without exploring everywhere.
This crazy idea had actually begun to cross my mind.
...
''What about you, 518?''
When I heard my own number while thinking like this, I couldn't help but be startled.
''W-What?''
''You were brought here without any warning. Just like anyone else. Your thoughts must be all over the place.''
''And...''
I waited. This moment was one of those precious moments when he commented about me.
''After your accident... It can't have made things easier. Tell me what view you currently hold.''
I thought for a moment.
''To be honest, This is the first time since I arrived here that I've actually been acting on my own.''
The damp eye patch started bothering me, so I took it off and wrung it out.
''Before former 104 was eliminated, he said a few things to me. I think I'm fınally begining to understand what he meant.
I put it back on and looked ahead.
''As for now...''
220 looked at me.
''I'm near the bottom of the rankings. They'll probably give me just enough points to survive.''
I paused.
''Food is free, at least.''
When I thought of grozen soup, I felt an urge to vomit.
I smiled faintly.
''So my goal is simple. I want to reach the top five hundred.''
I paused.
''I'd rather be average than exceptional.''
She averted her gaze.
''Interesting. Most people would want to be exceptional. But you don't.''
She stopped.
''Why?''
I stopped too.
''Because being in the spotlight brings great responsibility. If someone in the top ranks spends an entire day without submitting a single Gsl of motion, people start talking. Also, the system notices that and it can compensate for it.''
I thought I had given a good explanation, but I received the following response.
''Do you really intend to sacrifice points just for this? Pathetic.''
220 stared at me.
''So your solution is to deliberately remain mediocore?''
220 shooked her head.
''You are willing to throw away opportunities... just to avoid responsibility?''
''Yes.''
I answered without thinking.
''Because...''
I lowered my gaze.
''Because even the top five hundred already feels out of my reach.''
220 remained silent. She looked at me for a few seconds.
''You are basing that conclusion on your own perception.''
I frowned.
''What else am I supposed to base it on?''
''The system already evaluated you.''
That screen seemed so unnecessary that I had completely forgotten about it.
Because my status...
There was one value I had never been able to understand.
Potential 97.
I still had no idea where that number came from.
I silently took my phone out.
And opened the status screen and handed it to her.
...
''Since you mentioned the evaluation system...''
I looked her.
''I assume you fell for it too.''
She looked up.
''What do you think its purpose was?''
I remained silent.
...
''I'd like to hear your opinion too.''
She returned the phone. And I looked at the email that was sent today.
''Mobile module.''
I read the title quietly.
''''Mobile module for the interface. Download it to comminucate everywhere, or display aything you want.''''
I let out a quiet sigh.
''It sounded convenient at first. I clicked it without a second think. Then, it attached itself to my phone like a parasite. To cut off the bonds of the world. Probably.''
I put my phone into my pocket.
''Do you still trust a system that resorts to tricks like that?''
...
''No.''
She answered immediately.
''I lost that trust on the first day. After the confrontation between former 104 and Woman.''
...
I bent down and cleaned the mud on my shoe.
''That's why... I don't really care whether the system evaluates me anymore.''
220 remained silent.
''Whether it thinks my potential is ninety seven, or even zero. It doesn't change anything.''
I stopped for a second.
''Why trust a system that brings you here with no consent? and it forces you into a competition you don't want to participate in... That's why I don't trust it anymore.''
''That's a fair conclusion.''
Silence for a moment.
...
''But... tell me one thing, 220.''
220 looked at me dirrectly.
''What?''
''You don't trust the system... But why did you mention its evaluation at first?''
She stopped for a second.
''Because distrust and denial aren't the same thing. I don't believe the system is benevolent. But I do believe it acts according to rules.''
If she knew what I knew... about the -2,
She wouldn't have said that.
...
I looked at her.
''There are things I haven't told you. About the system.''
She didn't seem suprised.
''I know. The same applies to me.''
She stopped for a moment.
''There are things I havent told you either.''
I had already realized this before.
...
...