The girl who introduced herself as Lenalee Lowe was a petite girl, not much different in height from me.
Her dignified demeanor carried a painful sense, like a flower once trampled.
"Ah, then you must be Rodri's…"
"Yes. I have heard that you were in the same unit as my brother."
When I asked, Lenalee indeed turned out to be Rodri's real sister.
I clenched her arm in agitation, but she didn't show any change in expression.
"I'm sure we have much to talk about, but I'm currently on duty. Let's talk again sometime."
"Um, yeah. Thank you for your hard work."
I was trying to say something but couldn't find the words to speak.
Lenalee gave me a cold nod and said:
"Well then, I will take my leave now."
She calmly said her farewell and left.
***
"Rodri's little sister."
After parting with Lenalee, I felt restless for a while.
Lenalee Lowe is a young communications officer with a dignified aura.
Her expressionless eyes wouldn't leave my thoughts.
"…"
"What's wrong, Little Boss? Why are you so spacing out like that?"
Lenalee acted as if she had no interest in me.
If she was sent by Verdi, she must know about my relationship with him.
…Does she not want to hear about Rodri's time in the military?
"Cale, actually, I met Rodri's sister."
"Oh?"
I would like to talk with Lenalee more.
If possible, I would be very happy to become friends with her and become her sister-in-law.
But I didn't know what to do, so I asked Cale for advice.
***
"…So, that's how it is."
I relayed to Cale the story of Rodri's final moments and how I felt when I met Lenalee.
Rodri and I are technically married, so officially, Lenalee is considered my sister-in-law.
I'd really like to know what she thinks about that.
"I think Lenalee's attitude is understandable though. It's natural that she can't just start treating someone she's meeting for the first time as a sister-in-law."
"I suppose that's true."
"You'll need to make the first move if you want her to treat you as such. She's a private, so she'll be formal with a warrant officer."
"Is that how it is?"
That certainly makes sense.
Even though she's around the same age, it's natural she can't be informal with a superior officer.
I should have been more considerate there.
"Besides, you've had a similar vibe yourself, Little Boss. I wondered if you didn't want to get along with me when we first met."
"Do I give off that kind of impression too?"
"I wouldn't call it unfriendly, but you always had a blank look on your face and kinda kept your distance from people. Over time, I got to understand what you're thinking."
Hearing this from Cale reminds me of when Rodri once said I had a similar vibe to his sister.
Is that how I appear to others?
"Then am I the type that's hard to talk to?"
"I wouldn't go that far, but if asked whether you're friendly or not, I'd be skeptical. Even if it's just a fake smile, why don't you try practicing smiling a little? A smile is the lubricant of communication."
Come to think of it, I've had fewer opportunities to laugh lately and struggle to produce a natural smile.
It's understandable if Lenalee feels it's difficult to approach me.
"Thank you, Cale. I'll try practicing a bit."
"That's a good idea."
I've heard that even Director Reitalyu practiced smiling and gained a cheerful demeanor.
I don't need to go to that extent, but practicing smiling to appear approachable might not be a bad idea.
"…"
"That's the spirit, Little Boss."
…And so from that day on, practicing smiling in front of the mirror became part of my daily routine.
I'll admit that it was an awkward, forced smile.
***
From what I've heard, Lenalee seems to be an aggressive communications officer, in stark contrast to her calm demeanor.
She was always covered in injuries and had to come in for treatment frequently even though she is a communications officer.
Despite being a woman, she fervently desired to be on the front lines and subjected herself to harsh training, resulting in frequent injuries.
The story of the strange communications officer became a bit of a rumor even within the medical department.
Women can indeed fight on the front lines. According to military regulations, they can fight on the front lines once they reach adulthood like Aria did if they wish.
However, unless they have special talents, few women want to be on the front lines because it's easy to imagine the fate of those who are captured by the enemy.
Verdi also didn't want Rodri's sister to be on the front lines if possible.
He used military regulations as a reason to keep Lenalee in a communications role.
…Lenalee Lowe might be just like Rodri was when I first met him.
Back then, Rodri was consumed by revenge and couldn't see beyond his immediate surroundings.
She was unfriendly and fervent about killing enemies, just like the immature Rodri before he was admonished by Senior Gray.
If that's the case…
"Um, Private Lenalee."
"What's the matter, Warrant Officer Touri?"
I don't know how much I can do, but I decided to try and counsel her as Senior Gray once did for me.
She might be put off, but sharing my experiences and failures as a senior is important.
We must avoid a tragic incident like what happened to Lakya.
"There is something I would like to talk to you about regarding your brother, Rodri."
"Yes."
"Would you mind joining me for a cup of tea?"
I steeled myself and invited Lenalee, fully prepared for the possibility of being rejected.
***
"Thank you for inviting me today."
Lenalee accepted my invitation with ease.
Since it was an invitation from a superior, she might have felt she couldn't refuse.
"Please, Private Lenalee."
"Excuse me."
I got permission from Cale and borrowed a vacant tent from the medical department.
I prepared some tea and snacks and welcomed Lenalee.
"I am Medical Warrant Officer Touri Lowe. As you may know, I am an old acquaintance of your brother, Sergeant Rodri."
"Yes. I've heard about your relationship with my brother from Major Verdi."
"I see."
Looks like Lenalee already knew about my relationship with Rodri.
However, she appeared indifferent and simply stared at me with a blank expression.
"I should make it clear from the beginning, Warrant Officer Touri. I did not have a good relationship with my brother."
"Really?"
"Yes, you could say our relationship is strained. To be honest, I'm still angry at my brother. I can't imagine how upset our mother must have been when he ran away from home and enlisted in the military."
Sitting down, she calmly expressed her grievances about Rodri.
As I was at a loss about what to do, Lenalee let out a quiet sigh and said:
"I apologize, Warrant Officer Touri, but to be honest, I don't want to remember my brother."
She said this firmly.
Rodri had a significant falling out with his family when he enlisted.
Farming is tough work. Losing even one male worker is a huge blow.
His parents repeatedly tried to persuade Rodri to stay and take over the family business.
Despite this, he insisted on enlisting, saying he couldn't be satisfied until he defeated the demons of the Sabbath, pushing through their opposition.
"Brother Rod was so obsessed with killing enemies that he never saw how he neglected his family."
"That's not true. We soldiers risk our lives to protect our families behind us."
"When the Flamers came to the village, I was unable to carry my father after he was shot. I had no choice but to abandon him and run away."
"…"
"But if my brother had been there at that time. If he hadn't abandoned us and gone to the battlefield, we might have all been able to escape. My brother chose to kill the enemy over the lives of his family."
Lenalee's main reason for resenting Rodri was this.
Lenalee was the only member of her family to escape unharmed. She continued to run alone, abandoning her younger brother and parents.
She carried with her the feeling of "if only my brother had been there", and continued running until she was protected by the Austin military.
"After being protected by the military, I intended to rely on my brother's connections. He was the only remaining relative I had left. I planned to meet him, tell him about our parents' final moments, and give him a piece of my mind."
"That is…"
"I never expected he would volunteer for a decoy unit and die in the line of duty. I've completely lost patience with him."
Lenalee, upon learning of Rodri's death, reportedly threw his dog tags to the ground in anger.
And what remained for her was only hatred for the country of Flamel.
She vowed to kill as many Flamer soldiers as possible as a soldier, swearing this at her family's grave.
"…Rodri cared about you."
"I don't care about that. I also immediately threw the disgusting doll that Brother Rod sent me into the trash."
Lenalee truly despised Rodri.
Deep inside, she probably still harbored the feeling of "If only Rodri had been there."
However, I know that Rodri, despite his rough demeanor, cared about his sister.
I was in Marshdale and I saw him blushing when he called his sister "a cute girl."
"He was not the brother I knew."
So when I heard Lenalee say those words, I felt extremely sad.
***
"By the way, I have heard about you from a letter I received from my brother, Warrant Officer Touri."
"Oh, really?"
Lenalee mentioned this as if she had just remembered.
Rodri continued to send letters to his family even after joining the military.
And although Lenalee disliked her brother, it appears she still read his letters.
"What did he say about me?"
"He mentioned that there was a 'little medic who keeps sending love beams up at me.' I thought it was just my brother's delusion due to his lack of popularity."
"Ugh…"
Lenalee said this with half-closed eyes and sighed.
…What kind of things did you send in your letters to your family, Rodri?
"I apologize, but I will need to correct that. I do not recall ever sending any 'love beams,' or anything of the sort, and Rodri wasn't even particularly tall either. In fact, regarding our marriage, it was more because Rodri was the one who wanted to get married rather than me."
"He also wrote that 'she can be really stubborn,' and that she tends to speak quickly when she gets like that."
"…"
"I see, it's just as I heard."
....
If Rodri were alive, I would have confronted him about this matter for at least an hour.
"Or were there other women like you?"
"Lenalee, I think I might dislike you quite a bit."
"That's unfortunate."
Lenalee said this nonchalantly, frowning slightly.
My first impression of this girl was that she looked similar to Rodri, but talking to her made me realize they are very different.
While he was just harsh with his words, Lenalee has more of a sarcastic side.
"Is there anything else you'd like to ask me?"
"No, thank you for sharing so much."
"I see. Then, I'll take my leave."
After talking about Rodri, Lenalee quickly tried to get up from her seat.
It was as if she was indicating there was nothing more to talk about.
"Um, Lenalee, don't you want to hear more about Rodri from me?"
"I'm not interested."
She clearly really didn't want to continue the conversation.
I tried to hold her back, but she merely shook her head in annoyance.
"Well, lastly, if you ever have any problems, please feel free to rely on me."
"Rely on you, Warrant Officer Touri?"
"I may be young, but I believe I can be of assistance. Since you are my sister-in-law, don't hesitate to ask."
"Please stop…"
Still, I didn't give up and offered my support to Lenalee.
She is the younger sister of Rodri, who has protected me many times.
I was determined to do my best to support her if she sought help.
"I no longer consider him my brother."
"But—"
"Moreover, I have doubts whether you're truly my sister-in-law."
Her response was a clear and unambiguous rejection.
"You doubt that I'm your sister-in-law?"
"I believe there's a possibility that your marriage to my brother might be a lie. With all due respect, your appearance is the polar opposite of my brother's preference."
"…"
"Is it not possible that you are just fabricating this relationship because my brother is dead and your unrequited feelings have led you to make up stories?"
Lenalee's words were extremely rude and aggressive.
Even though I am her superior, she could have just played along and thanked me for offering support, regardless of her feelings.
"Well then, I will take my leave."
I felt more perplexed than angry at her attitude. I kind of knew what she was thinking.
She refuses to interact with others and doesn't want to become friends with anyone.
I am familiar with the kind-hearted boy who once rejected everyone and picked fights.
Lenalee is still wounded by the loss of her family and is openly hostile towards those around her.
Seeing her like that, I felt more pity than anger.
Was Senior Gray feeling something similar when he was subjected to Rodri's sharp tongue?
"I will pretend I did not hear that statement. Whether you believe it or not, my marriage to him is a fact."
"I see."
…Despite their different personalities, her tendency to pick fights with her superiors is quite similar to how Rodri was.
"Can I invite you again?"
"Yes, please feel free to do so."
Dealing with a new recruit who has closed off her heart is indeed quite challenging.
I have come to appreciate Senior Gray once again.
"…"
Unfortunately, I am not Senior Gray.
I am not someone who can be relied upon or attract people like he could.
…In that case, I'll take my time and slowly work to open Lenalee's heart.
***
"Cale, do you know any tips on how to get adolescent girls to like you?"
"Hmm? Oh, of course, leave it to me."
Since Senior Gray is no longer here, I decided to go with someone I knew who was a bit of a playboy.
"Girls at that age have a fantasy about what adults are. The key is to play the role of the ideal adult they envision."
"Oh, I see."
Cale smoothly explained how to win over adolescent girls.
…I don't intend to pursue her or anything, but it might be helpful.
"You certainly know your stuff."
"I mean, I recently had a superior who was an adolescent girl."
"…"
Touri according to Lenelee.