In the Griffin dormitory.

M4A1 My first live combat mission is tomorrow.
I should really be getting a good rest, but I don't feel like sleeping at all...
I guess I'm just too nervous...
Phew...relax, relax...

...Half an hour later.

M4A1 Ah...I still can't fall asleep.
The others wouldn't be at ease if they know just how nervous their team leader is...
......
Since I can't sleep, I might as well draw up a few contingency plans.
Everyone else is asleep, so I'll need to be quiet...so I don't wake them up.

Inside the Operations Room.

M4A1 Hm...according to the map, it would be better to fall back from this direction if we encounter the enemy in this sector...
And if we exchange fire, we should attack from here...

??? So that's where you are.

M4A1 Eh!?
Oh, it's you, AR-15...
Weren't you asleep?

AR-15 ...I woke up to get some air.
What about you, why aren't you in bed?

M4A1 I couldn't fall asleep...
I felt restless while lying on my bed, so I thought I might as well do some planning.
That way, at least we'll have a response ready if we encounter any contingencies tomorrow...

AR-15 Do you really need to do so much planning for a simple recon mission?
We might not even get a chance to trade fire with the enemy.

M4A1 I'm the team leader, so it's only natural for me to plan about these things...
Also, since this is our first mission together, I want to complete it flawlessly.

I see the corners of AR-15's mouth tilt up into a slight smile right as I say "complete it flawlessly".
Then, we talk about many things, including our mission and our own goals...
And we also talk about our similarities.
AR15 is as austere as always, but for some reason, it seems like she begins to loosen up as our conversation goes on.

......

M4A1 AR-15.
Goodnight...I'll be counting on you tomorrow.

AR-15 ......
...That's only to be expected.

AR-15 leaves.

M4A1 ...
Only to be expected, huh...

I leave the Ops Room and look up into the distance.
The cool night wind blows away the confusion in my heart, and I'm certain of the direction that I'll be taking tomorrow.

M4A1 In that case...
Leading everyone to victory is also to be expected.