Room 2

[testingphase]

[The room, once you've entered it, has a number of ear buds laid out on a table.]

Now, pop those ear buds in and we'll begin the test! Failure to comply will result in desyncing and forcing your team to pay for a replacement body.

Comments

[wawko]

...That's also a little worrying to hear.

[threateningflour]

There's nothing to worry about. We deal with those situations all the time.

[wawko]

It sounds like an exciting life, although really dangerous, too.

[threateningflour]

That's a good way to describe it.

What's it like being a shrine maiden?

[wawko]

It normally isn't all that stressful, since my duty is just to pray at it daily, but, uh, I'm not the usual type of shrine maiden, so there was a time I got kidnapped because of it.

[threateningflour]

How unusual do you mean?

[wawko]

Well, I'm pretty sure I'm the only one who prays at it, for starters. And another thing is that it's not really a shrine shrine like a Shinto shrine. It's more of a...seal.

[threateningflour]

A seal for what?

[wawko]

...Something potentially very dangerous.

[threateningflour]

Does praying help?

[wawko]

It helped to reinforce the seal...and the barrier that was meant to contain us.

[threateningflour]

'Us'?

[wawko]

There are four maidens total. We were forbidden to leave the island.

[threateningflour]

I see.

[wawko]

Like I said, it's a long story.

...Um, would you mind if I asked you something? I know you can't tell me about what you do, but are you a lone agent? Or do you work with other people?

[threateningflour]

Both. It depends on what the mission requires.

[wawko]

That makes sense. So the chances of you running into someone here that you've already met are pretty low? Unless they somehow came with you, I guess...

[threateningflour]

There are people here I know from before.

[wawko]

Oh. That's...both good and bad. Two of my teammates are from my home as well—Takuto and Sugata on Gamma.

[threateningflour]

[nods] Takuto mentioned that.

[wawko]

I'm glad to have them with me, but I'd really prefer it if they were at home.

Can I ask who you know from before?

[threateningflour]

Bruce Banner, my teammate. Captain Steve Rogers and Tony Stark from Eta. Thor, Loki, and Darcy Lewis from Iota.

[wawko]

...That's a lot of people. Did you work with them or have known them for a long time? Oh, um, you don't have to answer if you can't.

[threateningflour]

I know of them through my work. And not for very long.

[wawko]

I see... I've only met Steve, but he seems like a good guy. I'm guessing the rest of them are like him, in the military or working for the government?

Wait, maybe I shouldn't have asked that, since it could be confidential... Um, never mind!