Splash, splash, splash...
In the steamy bathroom, Anis sat on a small stool, scooping shampoo into her palm and gently massaging it into her hair.
As the hot water ran down her body, the flicker of excitement in her heart for the Commander once again faded with the trickling stream.
As a "veteran" Nikke who wasn't a mass-produced model, Anis had actually seen many "Commanders."
There were the reckless ones who charged into battle with guns blazing, shouting "Die, Rapture!" and ended up getting shot to death.
There were the cowards who trembled and collapsed on the Surface, wetting their pants at the sight of Rapture forces.
But no matter what kind of people they were, those who called themselves Commanders always carried prejudice and arrogance in their hearts.
"Nikkes? They're just pawns to push me higher. What does it matter if a few more die?"
"I don't want to die! No matter how many Nikkes are sacrificed, protect my life!"
"They're just a pile of scrap metal. Don't bother me unless something breaks."
Anis had heard things like that so many times that she was sick of it.
But today, as the topic resurfaced,
Anis's lazy heart suddenly turned heavy again.
"Commander is human, so what does that make me?"
Anis walked over to the mirror in the bathroom.
She stared at her artificial body in the reflection, a trace of inferiority and sorrow surfacing in her pupils.
"I'm a Nikke."
"From birth, I belonged to Ark."
"No human rights, no status. Even if I can stay by the Commander's side for now, in the end, I'm just a humanoid weapon that will serve Ark until the day I die…"
"Commander, do you really like me as I am?"
Facing the mirror, Anis gently caressed her own cheek.
Although with Ark's current technology, a Nikke's skin felt no different from that of a human girl,
To a Nikke herself,
She was constantly reminded by the world around her of the fact that she was a "Nikke."
"I've been taking more and more baths lately."
"What's the real reason behind it?"
Anis dried her hair with a towel.
Though she didn't say it aloud, deep down, she knew the answer.
Girls always prettied themselves up in front of the guy they liked. Why should Nikkes be any different?
Anis liked Grim. Maybe she had loved him for a long time already.
"Commander might be the strangest one in Ark."
I remember once, when my legs were shattered during battle, he was so worried he nearly cried. On the way back, he checked my condition with Rapi more than ten times and even panicked when applying ointment to my wounds.
"Seriously, how can someone be so clueless!"
"Anis can be repaired just by switching bodies."
"But…"
"I like him that way."
Anis closed her eyes, recalling that unforgettable day.
She remembered coming back from the Surface, her damaged body restored after battle. She had run straight to storm the Commander Center that night, hoping to surprise Grim.
But when she pushed the door open, what she saw were dark circles under Grim's eyes and his pale, tired face.
"Commander, I'm back."
"Anis!"
That night, Grim stood up, tears welling in his eyes, and hugged her tightly.
And those arms, holding Anis close, felt like warm sunlight—
For the first time, Anis felt… warmth.
From that moment, Anis realized Grim was different from other Commanders.
He was the one who made her heart, long resigned to fate, start to beat again—dokidoki.
"But I'm not as great as Rapi or Neon, and I've got a terrible personality. I toss my socks everywhere, and my room is always messy."
"Sigh…"
"Does Commander really like me the way I am?"
Creak...
Anis turned off the faucet in the bathroom, wiped the water off her body with a towel, casually put on her vest and shorts, and stepped out.
In the office.
Grim was still sitting in his chair as usual, staring blankly at the TV, with a document waiting to be signed on the table—nothing seemed to catch his attention.
Anis took a deep breath, trying to calm herself before greeting him.
But suddenly, Grim turned to her, squinting with a smile.
"Anis, the bathroom's soundproofing isn't great. Next time, don't whisper to yourself in there."
"Huh?"
"Commander, you, you, you, you… you heard everything?!"
Anis's heart raced, and her pretty face turned bright red like a ripe peach.
This is bad.
All her little thoughts had been heard by the Commander.
How could they face each other now?
"Commander, sorry, I just remembered I have something to do tonight. I really need to go!"
Anis's face flushed hot. Even though she always acted bold and flirty in the Nikke group chat, claiming every day that the Commander was her boyfriend, when it came time to express her real feelings, she was surprisingly shy.
Don't show Anis's mask!
Because the Anis behind that mask was gloomy, lazy, decadent—and sometimes even jealous of her best friends—she was a mess!
Seeing Anis trying to flee,
Grim reached out and grabbed her arm firmly.
"Anis."
"I just stocked your fridge with carbonated drinks. I didn't know which flavor you like, so I got a bit of everything."
"I know, Commander, I'll grab them tomorrow!"
"Yesterday, I also submitted a request to Ark to get some snacks, and I specifically asked them to get your favorite pot pies."
"Commander, you don't have to tell me all this right now. If there's nothing else, may I go?"
Anis, held by Grim and blushing, didn't dare look back.
She meant to pull away.
But in the next moment, Grim leaned in and whispered softly in her ear,
"One more thing, Anis. I like you too."