Narrator:Now let's see who Nikolai will end up with on his team.

*The three CEOs guided Nikolai into a room with dozens of different Nikke*

Mustang:"Now then, time for you to choose-"

Syuen:"Hold it! Isn't this supposed to be 'community service'? Why are we giving him the option to choose who he gets?"

Ingrid:"Fair point, from a whiny child."

Syuen:"Call me that again, I dare you!"

Mustang:"Ladies, ladies. Calmez-vous, we'll let Nikolai here pick only one Nikke. The rest would be chosen by ourselves."

Nikolai:"Huh? But that would leave me with only 4 out of the required 5."

Mustang:"Correct, yours truly will choose for you twice."

Syuen:"I won't allow it! Let me choose two for him."

Ingrid:"If we each get one choice, he should get 2 then. It's better that way."

Mustang:"Oh, I absolutely agree."

Syuen:"Tch."

Nikolai:"I'm fine with whoever, I only know who I'm picking first."

Nikolai(mind):And it's definitely Rapi.

*Nikolai looked around at the other Nikke, then looked at Rapi*

Nikolai:"I choose Rapi first."

Ingrid:"Of course, after what you said it makes sense why you would pick her, however-"

Rapi:"It's nice to meet you, I hope we get along."

Nikolai:"Huh? Meet? But we met not too long ago, remember?"

Rapi:"...My apologizes, but my memory was wiped before I came here."

Nikolai:"W-Wait, seriously? You're telling me you don't remember me, or anything we went through?"

*Rapi shakes her head, and Nikolai collapsed to his knees*

Nikolai(mind):Everything we talked about...her goals, her dreams, her reason to keep living, all of that has been erased?! Why?! Why is it so wrong for these girls to be human?!

Syuen:"Huh? What's this? Now that your beloved Rapi now treats you like a stranger, are you still going to pick her?"

Nikolai:"I...I..."

Syuen:"She let her own commander die in battle, what says she wouldn't do the same thing to you?"

Nikolai:"..."

Ingrid:"Her memory wipe was under my order. Understand that when Nikke fail they grow sloppy, and we can't allow that."

Nikolai(mind):So what? People fail all the time, it's part of having emotions. Even for Nikke, I'm sure there's something inside each of them that lets out their emotions.

Nikolai:"I'm still picking Rapi, I'm not backing out of my initial choice."

Syuen:"Haha, why's that? Did my sarcasm hurt your pride, or did Ingrid's explanation get to your head?"

Nikolai:"It's neither of those reasons, let's just move on already."

Syuen:"Heh. Sure, sure."

Nikolai: *Whisper* "I will bring the old Rapi back, the one who had goals, ambitions that I have yet to hear from her."

Rapi:"Nikolai..."

Nikolai:"Huh?"

Rapi:"..."

Nikolai(mind):Wait...did she just say my name, but I haven't even introduced myself. I shouldn't get my hopes up, it was probably something else.

Nikolai:"Alright, now you three need to pick a girl for me."

Syuen:"I'm going first! I'm going to give a Nikke that'll surely make you regret ever looking down on me!"

*Syuen looks over her Nikke*

Syuen:"I could give you one of my criminal Nikke, but they are still powerful. No, I want to make you fail, so...Julia, I pick you."

*A girl with short white hair, and yellow eyes walks forwards. She has a violin in her hand*

Julia:"Yes, Ms. Syuen."

Nikolai(mind):Huh? Why would she pick a violin player as someone who would 'make me fail'?

Ingrid:"My turn. Despite Syuen attempts, I will give you a worthy Nikke. Now then, Diesel."

*Ingrid points to a girl with long black hair and brown eyes, wearing a captain hat*

Diesel:"Of course, Ms. Ingrid. It's a pleasure to meet you, Nikolai."

Nikolai:"It's nice to meet you too, Diesel."

Mustang:"Now then, that leaves muy. Now who should I choose? Oh, I've got it. Anis, come here dear."

*A girl with short blonde hair, and hazel eyes approaches Mustang*

Anis:"You need something, sir?"

Mustang:"Oh, Anis. You know exactly what I need, girl. Look after this fine young man right here, ok?"

Anis:"Ah yes, looking real fine to me...you've got it, Mustang."

Mustang:"Oh, don't be like that, Anis. He's going to be your new commander. Anyway, now that leaves one last choice, and it's back you, Commander Nikolai."

Nikolai:"Hmm..."

Nikolai(mind):There's a lot of them that really catch my eye by either their appearance, or the weapon they are holding.

Nikolai:"Rapi, have any recommendations?"

Rapi:"Huh? What do you mean? I don't know any of them."

Nikolai:"Hmm...Ok, what about you, Julia?"

Julia:"I have only performed solos, I don't know how well the others can play."

Nikolai:"Play? I mean, I kind of understand. What about you, Diesel?"

Diesel:"Oh, I don't have any preferences. I'm fine with anyone being a part of our team."

Nikolai:"Ok, that's nice of you, but..."

Anis:"You're asking Nikke's for their opinion? That's a new one."

Nikolai:"Well, I'm asking for a suggestion."

Anis:"I see, alright then."

*Anis closed her eyes, randomly pointed at a Nikke, and opened her eyes*

Anis:"That one over there, in the white uniform."

*Nikolai looked towards where Anis was pointing towards, and saw a girl with grey hair, and green eyes*

Nikolai:"Her?"

Anis:"Yep, pick her. I have a feeling she's a good one."

Nikolai:"Really? Then why were you closing your eyes when you picked her?"

Anis:"Just pick her."

Nikolai:"Ugh...fine. The glasses girl in the white uniform with blue trimmings."

Ingrid:"Ah, another one from Elysion. Come over here, Neon."

Neon:"Yes ma'm."

Ingrid:"This man will be your commander from now on."

Neon:"Ok, you've got it!"

*Neon saluted and approached Nikolai*

Neon:"Nice to be working with you, sir."

Nikolai:"Uh...pleasure's all mine."

Neon:"May I ask, what made you pick me?"

Nikolai:"Uh..."

Nikolai(mind):Shoot, I can't say she was picked randomly.

Nikolai:"Y-Your gun looked really cool, so I wanted to see it in action."

*Neon adjusted her glasses, as it shined*

Neon:"So you saw the potential in the firepower of Annihilation?"

Nikolai:"Annihilation? What do you mean by that?"

Neon:"It's the name of my gun, the all-powerful Annihilation!"

Nikolai:"Uh...that's cool."

Neon:"I know right! You understand me completely, commander."

Nikolai(mind):But we've only met a minute ago!

Mustang:"Ahem! Sorry to interrupt, but now we must show you to your commanding officer. The fine gentleman that you will answer every call for-"

???:"There's no need for such praise, Mustang. I'm merely the deputy chief."

*A middle aged man in military uniform, with brown hair and blue narrow eyes, walked into the room*

???:"Hello, mister Nikolai, or should I say Commander Nikolai. You can call me Andersen and I'm part of the Central Government Center."

Nikolai:"It's an honor to meet you, Andersen."

Andersen:"Indeed, I've heard about your experience up on the surface. I need you to never do that again. If you die to save your Nikke, that would only get them punished for letting you die."

Nikolai:"Huh?! But-"

Andersen:"That's just how things work around here. I know your morality is saying you're doing the right thing, but it will only lead to sadness for your family."

Nikolai:"...You're right, I'm sorry."

Andersen:"Now then, let's get you to your station."

Ingrid:"He's all yours now, Deputy."

Mustang:"Good luck, mes amis."

Syuen:"Good riddance."

*Nikolai followed Andersen out of the room*

Narrator:Nikolai starting team has been assembled. We'll get to his dormitory next episode!

Hey bros, it's me the author! First chapter since I decided to post this story weekly, so far so good. Let's see how long I can last with this. Here's the meme of the week:

Damn right, I don't even play Genshin!