In front of the event hall on the day before the anniversary...

Commander I should speak with M1918 about this first...

M1918 Commander?

A voice calls out in front of me. Raising my head, I see M1918 standing there with her head tilted slightly and her eyes half-closed.

Commander Ah, perfect timing, M1918. I have something I want to discuss with you.
By the way, are you heading to the event hall?

M1918 nods with a puzzled look on her face.

Commander Well, SR-3MP went and changed the decorations in the event hall...
I questioned her as you were the one that was assigned the job, after all.
...Huh? Could it be that you already knew about this?

M1918 doesn't seem bothered, and it seems like she has no intention of interrupting me.
I stop speaking and give her an apologetic look.

M1918 No, this is the first time I'm hearing about it, Commander.

Commander ...You're not angry?

M1918 Why would I be angry?

Commander That's, uh, well, because you worked so hard to decorate it...

Commander Eh?

M1918 It doesn't really matter. I didn't put that much effort into it anyways.

Commander Not that much effort...huh...

M1918 If SR-3MP wants to change the decorations then let her do it. It's rare for her to have any interest in doing this sort of thing.

Commander I'll leave it to her then, since you don't mind.
But is it really okay, though? I thought you were heading to the event hall.

M1918 It's no problem. Someone as high up as you shouldn't have to worry about something so trivial, Commander.
Since the problem is solved now, I'm going to go take a nap... (Yawn)

Commander Just how long have you been awake...?

M1918 Quite a while, but I'm alright.
Well then, Commander, I'll be on my way. I'll see you at the banquet.

M1918 waves at me and turns around to leave, yawning as she does so.

...At the company banquet.

M1918 dressed elegantly in an evening gown inspired by the latest trends exudes a completely different aura compared to her usual lethargic self.
She gives off the impression of a mature lady as she sips from her wine glass every now and then.

Commander Hey. You're looking very different today, M1918.

M1918 (Chuckling) This is my "moment of truth", you know?

Commander "Moment of truth"?

M1918 There are situations that even I won't treat so carelessly.
After all, for your sake, I will not let Griffin's reputation be sullied in front of outsiders.

Commander You are reliable indeed, M1918!

M1918 You flatter me, Commander. This is what a T-Doll should do.

Commander I didn't think much of it from looking at the guest list, but now that I'm here, the pressure from being around all these VIPs is starting to get to me...

M1918 Oh ~ ~, so the Commander isn't good with this kind of thing?

Commander (Whispering) Please don't tell anyone.

M1918 Hehe, sure, Commander.
I'm feeling a little tired, though...
At an event like this, you can't just dress up and stand in the corner, you know~?

Commander Yeah. I hope you'll be able to relax at the internal party later.

M1918 Yes, if I'm with everyone else, I'll be able to act like my usual carefree self...
I'm looking forward to it, Commander.

Commander Me too. Keep up the mature adult act for just a while longer, I know you can do it.

...At the party that night.

Skorpion and SR-3MP, both dressed gorgeously, seem to be arguing about something while the Commander is sandwiched between the two, smiling helplessly.

Skorpion I will never hand the title of “The Party's Most Dazzling T-Doll” over to you!

SR-3MP Hmph! It belongs to me in the first place! You must be out of your mind trying to take something that isn't yours!

As I open my mouth to say something, a T-Doll claps her hands and leisurely strolls over.

M1918 Okay, okay... Both of you are being really noisy...
Are you two competing to be the noisiest T-Doll here tonight?

M1918 winks at me with a relaxed expression on her face.

Skorpion M1918! Perfect timing!
You're old and know better, so tell us if I'm prettier, or if this lewd bunny is!
Quick, tell us!

M1918 Ah, well...
Both of you are very pretty.

SR-3MP Aaaaaaah no, no, no! You can't just say both are pretty!
I refuse to be put together with this tomboy!

Skorpion Oh? Looks like you really want to get rid of that frizzy hair, huh?

M1918 You're forbidden from using your grenade here, okay?
It'll be a big mess and a hassle to clean up.

SR-3MP Then, who do you think is prettier?

M1918 Both of you are very pretty.

SR-3MP Th-th-then let's change the question! Who's the prettiest?

M1918 Both of you are the prettiest.

Skorpion I thought we said you're not allowed to say both!!!
We want a comparison! A comparison!

M1918 Well, you're the noisiest right now.

Skorpion ...Uwaaaaaaah! You beast-eared people! You're teaming up to bully me!

M1918 I will still say that both of you are equally pretty~
Also, I've said this many times already, but I don't have beast ears.

Skorpion But...

M1918 Also, SR-3MP's bunny ears can be taken off. Haven't you known that since last year?
You should check if someone has normal ears before jumping to conclusions, okay?

SR-3MP Hey, stop pinching my cheeks! You'll ruin my makeup!

Skorpion Wait wait wait wait, ears or whatever, that's not the point, okay?

M1918 Oh, really? Your hair accessories are even weirder than beast ears, aren't they?

Skorpion Is...it actually weird...?

M1918 (With a stern expression) That reminds me, did you call me old earlier?

Skorpion Ah...!

M1918 Do you two want me to join in on this battle?

Skorpion N-no...

SR-3MP (Her cheeks being pinched) Wo.... W-wo... (N-no...)

...M1918 smiles again.

M1918 Then, let's stop arguing.

Skorpion&SR-3MP ...
(For some reason, they felt really tired and stopped arguing.)

M1918 All right, kids who don't fight are good kids.
Let's enjoy ourselves as much as we can before the party ends.

Skorpion&SR-3MP (Silence)......

M1918 Oh, by the way, when I was coming over here, I saw many people that wanted to take pictures with you two.

Skorpion and SR-3MP look at each other, seemingly wanting to say something, but couldn't after being lectured by M1918.
With a big huff, both of them turn around to leave.
I look at M1918 and see that she still has the same relaxed expression on her face, sipping on her wine as she watches the two leave.

Commander That was unexpected.

M1918 That those two children are so stubborn over who is the prettiest?

Commander No, not that. I didn't think you would step in to deal with something like this.

M1918 Even though you may think it is a trivial issue, I consider this to be a "moment of truth" as well.

Commander Just like what you said during the banquet earlier!

M1918 A party should be relaxing and enjoyable, right? I just didn't want the atmosphere to be ruined.
Look, everything's all good now.

Commander You're pretty reliable when it comes to crucial moments.

M1918 Not at all. I just want to be able to thoroughly enjoy the rest of the party.

Commander Looks like I've learned about something else that you'll take extra care in dealing with.
As expect of the big sister T-Doll. I must thank you for tonight.

M1918 (Chuckling) Is that so... Looks like I've surprised the Commander yet again.
Though... (Whispering) I really don't want to be thought of as the big sister...