CALM
“Dinner.”
Looking up, she saw Naoki walking up the stairs into the nest, both of her hands occupied with a metal canister. She smiled and placed the rations on a nearby box. Pushing it towards the center of the nest with light kicks, she sat down on the dusty floor next to her. Haruna stayed crouched and hobbled towards the box, shifting uncomfortably. Naoki sat across from her.
“I’m guessing not much happened today.”
Haruna took the offering and opened it. “No. I haven’t detected it since.”
“Is that so?” Naoki sighed.
They were silent. Both of them were tired. Haruna ate her food quickly as usual, wasting no time. Her sib poked at her food, still thinking. She liked to help her sib think out problems, even if she wasn’t necessarily helpful all the time.
“Something natural? An unexplainable event?”
“I’m sure it wasn’t natural,” Haruna remarked after swallowing her food. “It came into contact, then immediately turned away.”
“Does your energy repel?”
“It shouldn’t, unless I tell it to.”
“Strange.” Naoki eventually began to eat as well. “You think other animals manipulate energy?”
Haruna thought for a while. “Other humans.”
She looked up. “You think it was a person?”
“… I don’t know… It was too brief. But it seemed intelligent enough.”
“Animals are intelligent too,” Naoki laughed. “At running at the slightest sign of danger.”
“… I suppose.” She stopped eating and twirled her long hair in her fingers.
Naoki was focused on her food, but noticed Haruna’s unease after a while. She smiled and let out a breath. “Come on, if you’re worried about something, let me share it with you.”
Her sib looked at her with quiet surprise. “Heh?”
“You’re too good at hiding your emotions, even if we’re connected.” Naoki leaned back on a box. “But your actions tell me everything.”
Haruna blushed and looked off to the side. “Really?” She twisted her hair faster, then abruptly stopped when she realized what her sib was talking about. She became annoyed at herself.
Naoki leaned closer. “Don’t hide it. If we can’t understand each other, who else is supposed to?”
“I can’t help it. It makes me feel weak.”
“Worrying doesn’t make you weak. Not worrying makes you ignorant to dangers.”
Haruna sighed and started taking deep breaths. She did this whenever she was anxious. Or if she didn’t want to converse. Naoki assumed the latter and silently finished her food. She went downstairs afterward without waiting for Haruna.
She sat at the ground floor table, her arms criss-crossed with her chin rested on top. She had nothing else to do for the evening. Officer Koga and the chaperone officer returned a while later. Naoki looked up without moving as they entered.
“Are you okay?” Officer Koga asked.
“Yeah. Just bored.”
“Haruna kicked you out?” the chaperone chuckled.
“Yeah, she’s in a mood again.” She noticed the box in his hand. “What are those?”
“Toiletries.” He set it down on the table, next to her. “A shipment just arrived. I’ll leave these with you.”
“Ah, okay. Thanks. She probably needs it.” But she didn’t get up. The two officers sat down with their own rations and began to converse with each other about their day. Naoki blankly stared at the wall ahead of her; her eyelids slit.
Officer Koga eventually looked back at her again. “Are you sure you’re fine? If you’re sick, you should really let us know.”
“… Eh?” She lifted her chin off the table. “Ah, yes, don’t worry. It’s not a sickness or anything.”
“Just depressed?” Officer Koga asked.
“Maybe a little.”
“Ah, I don’t blame you. It’s been quiet out there in the field these past few weeks, so we’re all a little restless.”
“Haruna too?” the chaperone asked. He knew them well enough to know they shared each other’s emotions.
“Well… I don’t know. Haruna… doesn’t want to talk with me.”
“Hm? Did you two get into a fight?”
“… Not really… Well, sort of, maybe. Not a fight in the normal sense.” She sat back with a sigh, opened her mouth, but said nothing.
“Ah, you don’t have to talk about it.”
“No, I want to. I just don’t know what to say—how to say it.”
“Do you think it’d be better if I take these up to her?” Officer Koga asked.
“Probably best to just go to sleep,” the chaperone said. “Give it a night’s rest.”
Naoki sighed. “I guess, maybe.”
They got up out of their chairs. Naoki pushed her chair in, but then stood there, staring at the box. The chaperone herded her to the stairs. “Come on,” he soothed. “Up the stairs.”