A Petition for Spec Ops Part 1

It's so cold today!

And all this snow... I could very well turn into a snowman and die out here!

Heehee. Good thing I've got a bundle of dry branches and lots of fruit!

You look happy, Nodoka. Things went well?

Shigure!

It's true! Just look at my haul!

With all this snow, I thought I wouldn't find a single dry branch. But it turns out I'll have a nice cozy feast next to the fire.

I'm glad to hear it.

You need to take better care of yourself, though. Your face is red.

R-Really? I guess I got a little carried away searching for supplies.

Let's get you out of the cold. I'll make us a fire.

*sigh* The fire's warming me up inside and out.

Hot cocoa, Nodoka?

Thank you, Shigure. I don't know what I'd do without you.

Me? You're the one who gathered wood for us. I'm grateful for you.

And that adorable smile gives me the energy to keep going.

We might be stuck here, but I'm happy to be stuck here with you, Nodoka.

Sh-Shigure, I'm blushing...

Nodoka...

Shigure....

Stop, stop! Stop right now!

Wh-What in the heck is this, Meru?!

Why are Shigure and I protagonists in a romance novel?

What do you mean? I'm writing a story about the life of Former Institute No. 227 students, just as you asked.

I may have spiced up some of the details a little, but it's based on your lives! Heehee.

A little?! Other than the fact that we're cold and hungry, everything is made up! I want to describe our lives here in these horrible conditions, not write an original story!

It didn't matter how loud we were. The Secretariat never responded... So we thought maybe if other students petitioned...

Hmm. No one cares about just your lives, though.

Sometimes you need an interesting hook to get the readers reading.

It's a petition! Not some story! And your version sucks anyway!

I kinda liked it.

Especially the scene in front of the fire... It was romantic.

Shigure. Please. Do you think all this work has been for a literary contest?

This is supposed to be about how awful and scary our lives are here! Not your fantasy teenage romance world.

Imagine if we sent this to the Secretariat! That stupid Cherino would be like, "They're supposed to be in punishment, but they're happy and in love! Suspend them forever!"

I think you're being a bit judgmental. This could be the next masterpiece in the history of Kivotos.

Then do it on your own time! Right now, what we need is a petition to save us from our inevitable fate of starving to death in the cold at the Former Institute!

Please write it again, non-fiction this time!

Fine. I'll re-write it.

"Dear Great Leader. Our comrades of Spec Ops No. 227 are suffering from a serious shortage of supplies. We've even been forced to split our jawbreakers into two!"

Yes! Yes! That's perfect.

Please include some examples so they understand our suffering.

"Nodoka was pitifully savoring her hard-earned candy..."

H-Huh? I don't like the direction this is going!

"Shigure walked in to see her beloved Nodoka eating candy, all alone. She knelt down next to Nodoka and gently traced her mouth..."

Wait, stop! STOP!

Why are you doing this?!

Because...

It's fun?

We don't need fun right now! Ugh! I can't deal with the perverted librarians of the Knowledge Liberation Front!

I never should have placed my hopes and dreams in your hands.

Please leave our home!

Hmph. Your loss. When my masterpiece becomes a hit, I'll be sure to forget you!

I don't care about your stupid, lying story!

What a shame. I wanted to see how it ended.

I've said it before: We'll never escape this horrible place with your lackadaisical attitude.

We need a petition that pulls at the Secretariat officers' heartstrings and makes them cry!

I won't let them keep neglecting us and our existences!

We need this appeal to work so we can go back to our regular lives.

Yeah but...who are more capable writers than the Knowledge Liberation Front?

It doesn't matter!

A petition needs our sincere feelings, not flowery words.

We just need to find comrades who are sympathetic to our situation. It's not about the quality of the writing!

C'mon, Shigure! Let's find comrades to help us!