Unironically Studying the Blade (Pregame 2 EN, Officer's Lounge, Open)

[Yori Hakamada]

Yori knelt perfectly still on the carpet of the lounge. So still in fact you could be forgiving for thinking she'd fallen asleep unless you spotted her slow blinks at exactly 45 second intervals. This late at night the place was mostly deserted.

A ceremonial sword lay across her knees and the 2nd lieutenant appeared to be staring into her warped reflection in it. The only sound was the low hum of the bar and the occasional creak or sigh of the ship.

[Yori Hakamada]

The near-silence stretches on and on as Yori appears to completely forget to blink. There's the sound of giggling and some clinking glasses as a happy couple passes the door outside by the second lieutenant doesn't seem to notice. Instead reaching into her jacket pocket to extract a battered and creased photograph.

(In Japanese)
"It is nearly four years now, and I still do not understand."
The image is of an older man, thickset and bald yet with extremely intelligent eyes. He wears the uniform of the DCMS Dieron Regulars and a Tai-sa's three green bars.
"Or maybe I do. I hear your career has progressed well, you will soon be up for promotion to a Tai-sho. You would never have been considered for general with that scandal on your record."
Yori gently lays the photo onto her sword, the left side of her face now covered by the memento.
"It will be harder to kill you after your promotion, I think."

Then silence again.

[Yori Hakamada]

The picture does not speak, which is perhaps a good thing. Yori finally breaks the silence again:

"I've continued the exercises you recommended to me. Making sure to blink, making sure to maintain eye contact, asking individuals about themselves even though I do not personally care. It seems to be working, my average conversation length has greatly increased."

Sitting back and idly running a finger up and down the blade's edge
"A comrade offered to lend my some of his manga. I believe he is a weeb. Still, it was a kind gesture and the stories he lent have been interesting. Others have been kind as well, Hrafnhildur even provided me with a pig."
Looking back down at the picture
"It was not a real pig, but a mechanical contraption she created. It was a nice gesture, I hope the universe is not as unpleasant to her as you were to me."

A reflection of the light makes the picture seemed annoyed but Yori ignores it.