Time to Rela[X]

It's true that it's less convenient than communicating by data, however, the time spent writing letters while thinking of the recipient helps calm the spirit that has become strained by daily battles.

And the fact that there is someone waiting for a reply gives you energy to live on the battlefield.

Well, half of that is just me repeating what I was once told.

A2:

Repeating?

Lily:

I had that conversation with No. 21 a long time ago.

In her own way, she was trying to figure out why mankind was doing such an inefficient job of correspondence.

A2:

I see. That diligence sounds like her.

Lily:

A few months ago, a letter arrived at the resistance camp.

It reminded me of her, so I started writing letters ever since.

Wanting to find the answer to my conversation with No. 21.

A2:

I see. And? What did you write?

Lily:

That's... a secret.

Pod-042:

Report: Elevated heart rate.

Lily:

Be quiet.

However, the person I correspond with is a great person, like No. 21.

A2:

Then why did you call me?

Lily:

I would like you to mail this letter for me.

A2:

Mail it?

Pod-042:

Analysis: The act of storing letters in a mailbox to get delivered by post.

In the old world, mail carriers would collect the letters and deliver them to their recipients.

A2:

Why me? You can do it yourself.

Lily:

I have some work to do and it's not like I can leave the camp.

Besides...

A2:

Besides?

Lily:

If I were to meet the person I'm sending it to, it would ruin a bunch of stuff.

I'm counting on you, A2.

A2:

If that's the reason, I refuse.

Lily:

Won't you do it for me?

A2:

Don't wanna.

Lily:

Please, No. 2-san?

A2:

Fine.

Lily:

Thank you.

Ah, and definitely don't look at the contents, No. 2-san.

A2:

Don't use me for your convenience.

Pod-042:

Query: Why did you accept Lily's request?

It doesn't matter.

Pod-042:

Negative. The accompanying support unit has the right to ask for reasons.

No. 21...

Maybe I mellowed out a little when I heard a nostalgic name.

Pod-042:

A2's intrusive remarks are largely consistent with A2's recorded personality data.

Shut up! One day, I'll break you for good.

More importantly, isn't the point Lily specified around here?

Pod-042:

Affirmative. The coordinates given by Lily point to the postbox visible ahead.

So I just put the letter in here?

Pod-042:

That is how humanity operated this post.

A piece of metal plops open, as you hear paper ruffle and the metal squeaking shut

That should do it. Rather, is this post still functional?

Pod-042:

Unknown.

Hmph.

Pascal

Oh, A2-san, why are you here?

Same to you, why are you here?

Pascal

I've come to collect a letter from that post. Excuse me for a moment.

Are you perhaps the one Lily is writing the letter to?

Pascal

Uh-huh, so you came here to deliver Lily-san's letter, right?

I'm not Lily-san's pen friend. I merely deliver the letters.

Pod-042

Request: Disclosure of reason for delivering letters.

Pascal

Ah, that's because Lily-san's pen friend is in my village.

In other words, she's writting letters to a machine lifeform?

Pascal

That's right.

Take me to it.

Pascal

Well, according to human records, we shouldn't intervene.

Pod-042

Agreed. Unnecessary intervention...

Just do it.

Pascal

I understand. Your concerns are valid, A2-san.

Please follow me.

Machine Children:

Wah, it's Onee-chan. Let's play! Let's play!

No fair!

Me too! Me too!

Let's play tag (Onigokko)

Then, you'll be the Oni (demon), Onne-chan.

Onne-chan is the Oni! Onne-chan is the Oni! Onne-chan is the Oni!

Hey.

Machine Children:

Wah, scary! Onee-chan is a scary demon!

Scary! Scary!

I'll play with you next time, so go over there for now.

Machine Children:

Yay, next time! Yay, next time!

Pascal

I'm sorry for their trouble, as always. Right this way.

Pascal

Ah, there you are, there you are. This one is Lily's pen friend.

This big guy...?

Tall Machine:

Pascal, could that be...?

Hmm, that can't be...

Is this old lady, who doesn't seem to have a shred of Venus, my pen friend?

Pascal

Ahh wait, A2-san, please put away your sword!

Tall Machine:

Those hands that look like they were covered in oil produced such delicate sentences?

That can not be! That can not be! It is unfathomable!

Pascal

A2-san, please don't raise your sword!

Tall Machine:

A2-san?

Ah, then my pen friend is...?

Pascal

Did you get it? That's right. Your pen friend is...

Tall Machine:

My pen friend is a rude, old girl, who doesn't have a shred of Venus. But, despite her appearance, she has a sweet pen name like Lily.

Pascal

This person is not Lily-san.

Her name is A2-san and she's here to deliver Lily-san's letter.

Tall Machine:

Is that so?

I see.

Pascal

A2-san, I ask you, please quench your anger.

He always uses letters, so he's not used to face-to-face communication.

A2, under her breath

In what way is it similar to No. 21?

Tall Machine:

Ah Lily-san, I'm sure you are a person who is as lovely as your name suggests.

Hurry up, hurry up, I want to read the words she has written.

Pascal

You're right. Here.

Tall Machine:

Oh, then I will read it right away.

Hmm, hmm, Lily-san, your character seems to exude your dignity and gentle nature.

Ah, I want to meet you. You must be such a wonderful wonderful machine lifeform.

A2:

Wait, Lily is...

Pascal:

A2-san, come here please.

A2:

What is it?

Pascal:

He doesn't know that Lily-san is an android, nor does Lily-san know that he's a machine lifeform.

A2:

Wouldn't it be better if you told them?

Pascal:

Can't we just quietly watch the love between a Machine Lifeform and an Android?

A2:

Love?

Pascal:

They will never be together, but that's why they love each other.

Oh, how wonderful!

A2:

Do they love each other?

Pascal:

I don't know that much.

A2:

Well, whatever, it'll be a hassle, so I'll just keep quiet.

Pascal:

Thank you very much.

Pod-042:

Query: Why won't you tell Lily the true identity of her pen friend?

A2:

Like I said, it'll be a hassle.

He was a weird one, but as a pen friend, he seems harmless.

Pod-042:

Then why are you heading to the resistance camp?

A2:

I haven't reported that I posted the letter yet.

Wait, that sound...

Gunfire and explosions can be heard from a distance

Pod-042:

Report: There is a skirmish up ahead between the Resistance and the Machine Lifeforms.

Proposal: Swift assistance.

A2:

You don't have to tell me that.

Resistance Camp Member:

This way.
Shit, those damned machines.

Captain Lily!

Lily:

The injured should withdraw.

Those who can still move, maintain the front line without advancing.

Resistance Camp Member:

Copy that.

Hey, something is coming.

Lily:

A2.

A2:

Are you okay, Lily?

Lily:

For now.

A2:

Where did they come from?

Lily:

I don't know. Before I knew it, the camp was being attacked.

A2:

I'll hold them off.

Lily:

That would be great.

Gunfire and explosions still rage on all around

A2:

I'll wipe you all out.

Lily:

Standing side by side like this reminds me of our old battle.

A2:

Focus on the one in front of you right now.

Tall Machine:

What in the world... I, too, will help.

A2:

You're the letter guy... Did you follow me?

Tall Machine:

I just can't contain these overflowing feelings anymore.

Lily:

That's...

A2:

This big guy is from Pascal's village...

Anyway, he's not an enemy. Right now, just focus on defeating the other machine lifeforms.

Lily:

Got it.

Resistance Camp Member:

Captain Lily, are we going to fight machine lifeforms together with a machine lifeform?

That doesn't feel right, does it?

Can we really trust it?

Lily:

Machine lifeforms can't be trusted, but we can trust the ones from Pascal's Village.

Tall Machine:

Don't worry, I just want to....

I will help you all.

If I make any strange movements, feel free to attack me.

I will accept that as fate too.

You can hear something rushing through the wind very quickly

Resistance Camp Member:

It's a guided missile!

Captain!

Captain, are you okay?

Lily:

I'm okay, this one shielded me.

Tall Machine:

I'm glad you're safe.

I am fine.

I'm glad I have a big body.

This level of damage can be easily fixed by returning to the village and replacing the parts.

No need to worry.

Lily:

You have my thanks.

Resistance Camp Member:

Um... I'm sorry about what I said earlier.

Tall Machine:

No, it's only natural that you would be wary of the Machine Lifeforms.

Lily:

I'm fine.

The situation has changed due to A2's assault. Push them back at once!

Everyone yells in unison, displaying their desire to win, followed by many explosions and gunfire

Lily:

It's over. A2, I'm glad you came.
If you didn't, we would have...

I should thank you too.
Thank you very much.

Tall Machine:

No, I only blocked the rain of sins of my foolish companions and acted as an umbrella.

And yet, I wasn't able to protect everything and everyone.

Lily:

It's not something you should worry about.

We are warriors, ready to die on the battlefield.

You should hurry back to the village and get fixed.

Tall Machine:

Right. One last thing.

Are you Lily-san?

Lily:

Yes, I am.

Tall Machine:

Ah, I see. Now, if you'll excuse me...

A2:

Are you okay with that?

Tall Machine:

Yeah, yeah, that's fine by me.

Now, I am...

I...I...

am...

A2:

What's wrong?!

The tall machine begins to scream, cutting out intermittently

A2:

Did this guy get infected?

Resistance Camp Member:

Captain, please stay back.

Lily:

No, I'll be the one to do it.

Tall Machine:

I will slaughter all androids!

Lily:

We have to kill those who are infected, that's the rule here.

Gunfire begins pouring into the tall machine

Lily:

Sorry.

Resistance Camp Member:

Captain...

Let's head back.

A2:

You...

Tall Machine:

If a machine lifeform and an android can never be together...

If they are destined to hate each other...

Then at least I got to meet my end at the hands of my loved one.

A2:

I see.

Tall Machine:

Although I had imagined Lily-san to be a flower-like person...

She was much braver and more powerful than I imagined.

She was a much, much sweeter person.

A2:

Is there anything you want to tell Lily?

You can hear the machine lifeform power down

Pod-042:

Report: The pen friend machine lifeform has stopped functioning.

Footsteps approach

Pascal:

There you are.

A2-san, is he...?

A2:

Yeah.

Pascal:

I see.

Was he able to meet Lily-san?

A2:

He protected Lily, then chose to be killed by her hands.

Pascal:

Oh no.

A2:

That was his choice.

That's all there is to it.

Pascal:

You're right. Yes, you're right.

A2-san, I will never forget about him.

That's the only thing I can do for him.

A2:

You're right.

Pascal:

It would be so sad to die without being remembered by anyone.

Alternatively, if they are remembered, they keep on living within the one remembering them.

That's what I believe in.

A2:

There's no way I could ever forget.

Pod-042:

Query: By that, do you mean the information about YoRHa unit 2B that is stored in A2's memory?

A2:

Not just 2B.

Pod-042:

Unable to comprehend.

Saved as a record for later analysis.

A2:

Do as you like.

Pascal:

That's right. A2-san, here, take this.

A2:

A letter? For me?

Pascal:

Yes, among Lily-san's letters was one addressed to you, A2-san.

A2:

A letter from Lily to me?

She could have just talked directl...

No, that's probably not it.

I'll take my time reading it later.

Pascal:

Yes. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll leave now.

Pod-042:

Request: Disclosure of the letter's contents.

A2:

I. Refuse. To. Do that.

There's no way I'm gonna tell you.

Pod-042:

YoRHa unit A2 should share the information with her accompanying support unit.

And the more information shared,the smoother the operation will proceed.

So, it is important to actively disclose information to the unit...

Pod's voice slowly faded away, until you couldn't hear him anymore

A2:

The letter included memories of the Pearl Harbor Descent Mission.

Lily's words told the story of her former companions.

Lily's view of No. 4, No. 16, and No. 21, and her fellow resistance members.

They felt different from the girls I knew.

Somehow, I felt like I was able to meet them again.

At the end of the letter it said:

Thank you for staying alive...

Thank you for staying alive, No.2-san

Pod-042:

Confirmation: Who should YoRHa unit A2 communicate its feelings to?

A2:

Why?

Pod-042:

I will support A2 in exchanging letters if she wishes.

A2:

I don't have anyone to send it to, anymore.

Pod-042:

Affirmative.

A2:

No.

Thank you.