As the clone who had existed in the institute the longest, Anby knew and understood far, far more than any other squad member.
As the eldest, she also carried the most immense pressure.
The reason for all of this came down to one crucial point: reliance.
Even Number One, the oldest after her, already had a family, an older sister, and a captain to rely on the moment she opened her eyes. And that person was none other than Anby, Number Zero.
As the eldest and the most perfect specimen, she had always played the role of a caregiver, a pillar for her younger sisters, using her own limited strength to protect them as best she could.
Because besides herself, there was no one in the institute she could rely on. Not even Ann, who was the fondest of her.
Although her power seemed insignificant compared to the higher-ups, and there was very little she could actually do to protect them, she had never once given up.
After all these years, she should have been completely used to being the one others relied on. Yet, hearing Andrew say he would be her pillar, she couldn't stop the stinging sensation at the tip of her nose.
"Anby appears to be malfunctioning. Anby's eyes are uncontrollably secreting a large amount of unknown liquid. Requesting instructions."
The tears flowed uncontrollably, like a bursting dam. The pressure that had accumulated over so many years made them impossible to stop.
The pain of being unable to find a suitable reason, of being unable to save the clones deemed 'defective'—no one knew of it. And Anby wouldn't show it; more accurately, she couldn't show it.
Excessive emotions would only lower the institute's evaluation of her, and might even drag down the evaluation of the entire Silver Squad.
But now, in this moment, with just the two of them, the pain was like a flood from a broken dam, washing over the high walls of her emotions.
The reality of having left the institute, something that had felt so unreal, was only now truly sinking in. The dreamlike scenario was only now starting to feel tangible.
Anby had been terrified, afraid that this was all just a dream she was having after the blade had fallen.
Watching the girl, her expression blank but her face streaked with tears, Andrew gently pulled her against him. The girl's face buried itself in his chest as he softly stroked her hair.
"You're not a soldier anymore, Anby. You have the right to say no now."
————
Andrew neatly arranged the double onion cheeseburgers he'd made on a large wooden tray, sticking a bamboo skewer into each one to hold it together.
As the skewers pierced them, glistening juices immediately gushed from the seared patties, the overflow trickling down the meat's textured surface.
A rich, meaty aroma burst forth like a punctured balloon, mingling with the wheaty scent of the buns, the creamy fragrance of browned butter, and the sweet perfume of caramelized onions, exploding outwards like a flavor bomb.
After he finished all the burgers, Anby, the corners of her eyes still tinged red from crying, had mimicked his actions and finished cleaning the griddle.
Having never seen such a thing before, Anby stared curiously at the huge platter of burgers piled into a small mountain. The unfamiliar aroma was already making her hungry stomach instinctively issue a demanding grumble.
"Grrr..."
A distinct growl echoed from Anby's stomach, causing a faint blush to creep across the girl's cheeks.
When Andrew turned back, he saw Anby staring intently at the now-spotless griddle with her usual blank expression, as if she could make a flower bloom from it if she stared hard enough.
Though she maintained her deadpan face, her body was incredibly stiff, like a wind-up robot that hadn't been oiled.
A small smile played on his lips. Without exposing Anby's clumsy attempt to hide her embarrassment, he picked up the extra-large tray and placed it in front of her.
"You're the closest. How about you go first?"
Hearing this, Anby habitually shook her head in refusal.
"I'm not hungry. I'll eat after the others."
"Don't worry, there's more than enough. I just want you to taste-test it for me."
Only then did Anby relent. She silently picked up a burger from the top of the pile. She had already been intensely curious watching Andrew make them, and the delicious smell had pushed her curiosity to its peak.
She picked up the burger, the softness of the bun filling the palm of her hand.
Sesame seeds on the glossy surface provided a hint of rough texture. Within the embrace of the soft, yet resilient and springy bun, lay the perfect combination of vegetables and meat.
The crisp, green iceberg lettuce had all its thick stems removed, leaving only the crunchy leaves. Thinly sliced tomatoes placed atop the lettuce added a splash of vibrant red.
A light brown sauce flowed from the ingredients into every crevice of the leaves, and the slightly visible pickle slices added a touch of deep forest green.
And below the vegetables was the soul of the burger: the meat patty.
A slice of yellow cheese, melted onto the seared brown surface during the final steaming just before serving, oozed as she gently pressed the bun. Juices trickled out ceaselessly, and the double-decker portion was enough to give anyone a sense of satisfaction just by looking at it.
At the same time, the caramelized onions on top of the patty gave it a glistening sheen. Their perfect caramel color and tenderness made them look like crystals spread over the meat.
The perfect visual appeal, combined with the mixed aromas, was enough to make anyone's appetite surge, creating an urge to take a huge bite immediately.
Perhaps it was destiny, but Anby, who had never seen such a thing before, was completely captivated.
She opened her mouth as wide as she could, mimicking Andrew, and took a big bite. The burger was so loaded that even with her best effort, she couldn't get all the ingredients into her mouth at once.
Due to her inexperience, the thick patty slid slightly to one side. Her strenuous bite only managed to catch the bun and the sauce.
Even so, Anby was struck by a deliciousness she had never experienced. The soft bun, toasted with butter, was sweet and carried a hint of crispiness.
From the sauce, the aroma of onions rushed forward. The sweetness of caramel and the fragrance of onion blended perfectly, complemented by the creaminess of the butter and the faint, piquant kick of black pepper. It was like a spice bomb exploding in her mouth.
After savoring it for a moment, Anby reluctantly swallowed what was in her mouth. She looked at the burger in her hand, which now looked like it had a slipped disc, and struggled for a while, trying to figure out how to bite the recessed meat.
Watching Anby, her brow furrowed in concentration, Andrew felt like he was looking at a stubborn, perplexed child.
But for Anby, who had only known combat and experiments since she became conscious, and had only ever interacted with researchers, it would be weirder if she did have a wealth of life experience.
He silently helped her flip the burger in her hands. Anby had an immediate epiphany. She turned her head to Andrew and said:
"As expected of Andrew! You're amazing!"
The feeling of babysitting was getting stronger.
____
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