"And think about how much our productivity will go up when we snack on all that sugar! Hell, if we can trade some of the candy for coffee, and use the mechas for the grunt work, we can work 24/7, no complications." Picturing that puts a pretty big smile on his face. "And will all that extra time, we could take up hobbying, and Stacy wouldn't think we weren't busy enough to put us on missions anymore.

It's helping him stay calm, too. Normally his pre-mission jitters would leave him with slightly shaky hands and some kind of gum to work out his nervous chewing compulsions on, but he's feeling only mild dread now. Maybe he should hang out with this girl more often.

Although he's never been the 'cool kid' at anything.