The Favourite Brother: Complex Edition

Inspection

Chapter 10:



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With the arrival of the aggressively nice Major. Ashole, and the tomboyish maternal fed-up-wifey Captain Ami, they all have to act in their best behaviour in hopes to impress their instructors and inspectors.



Needing to command a proper army, assuming if the Ooarai guerrilla fighters should be considered a proper army, Major. Ash insisted on seeing their barracks for himself. He obviously takes the front seat, leaving Ray to take the backseat, along with his loyal men. Since all of them joined up, the back was cramped, but they can still breathe.



As Thomas starts the truck, and the men sympathetically wincing at the sight of a destroyed luxury car, they drove off to the barracks.



Ray holds a pensive hundred yards stare—it's clear something made him uncomfortable. Andrew, the youngest and most loyal to Ray, shook him awake by touching his knee...and shaking it.



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Andrew: "Ray? Are you alright?" *He says and looks up at Ray with a worried look.*

Ray: "I'm fine, Andrew... Just glancing at the scenery of our ship, and all..."

Andrew: "You seem pretty tense."

*Ray looks at Andrew and smiles, but only to tell him it's okay.*

Ray: "Do I now?"

Andrew: "Care to tell me about it?"

*Ray sighs, but eventually gives in. While the men are busy having their own conversations, with the topic of which is about Major. Ash, Ray pulls Andrew closer, and leans in to his ear to make it subtle.*

Ray: "Is that... It's been long since I've heard that name before, Andrew..."

Andrew: "W-what name?..."

Ray: "The paint maniac?... I forgot they used to call me that...after... What happened at Harpset."

*Andrew realised what he was talking about, and his worried expression turn to concern.*

Andrew: "Harpset was just...a project that went out of hand, Ray. It wasn't your fault."

Ray: "But everyone...thought it is...and...technically, it's my fault, because if I didn't fell into peer pressure by Lucio, then...maybe...that wouldn't happen."

Andrew: "Lucio is just a big poo poo head; he cares more about his projects than he does his friends. I don't see him treating us like a human, more like a test subject. Still...while the others think it does, it's in the past, Ray, and we should keep it that way."

Ray: "I thought that name would be behind me by now."

Andrew: "It is... Is this why you're so reluctant on joining Hohei-Dō, sir?"

*Ray laughs, but quickly fades as he looks at Andrew in the eyes. His irises are large, like he's doing puppy eyes or something. It makes him look more innocent and young, and you can only see it up close.*

Ray: "Anzu forced me into this role... I don't like being told what to do, in a more forceful way. Sure, the military does that, but does she have the rank to do it?...of course she does, she's the president, but that's not the point. If she just asked me nicely, then, I would be more enthusiastic when doing this; now she acts as if we're friends? Since when have we eaten at the same table? I'm just doing my job, and she acts as if I'm doing this out of the goodness of my heart."