The Natural Order of Things

**The Natural Order of Things** (順番, *Junban*) is the fourth voice drama episode of *SSSS.GRIDMAN* released alongside the fourth episode.

## Script

* **Rikka Mama**: Welcome back.
* **Rikka**: I'm home...
* **Rikka Mama**: You're back sooner than I thought. Didn't you say you were going to eat out?
* **Rikka**: I *did* go... (*sighed*) Ahh, I'm exhausted... It was all guys aside from me, too... (*in her head*) I never told Hibiki-kun and the others that three of the Arcadia college guys went missing. Everyone was doing their best, but there are still people they couldn't protect... I thought about what it meant to tell them that fact, and in the end, I didn't get it either. And when I went to eat with everyone, I ended up not finishing the stuff I ordered and came home first...
* **Rikka Mama**: Rikka? How long are you gonna lie around for? Hurry and get changed.
* **Rikka**: Say, mom...
* **Rikka Mama**: What's up?
* **Rikka**: What if... someone you got to know only recently, like, someone you're not particularly close with... How'd you feel if they suddenly died?
* **Rikka Mama**: (*startled*) Wait, did someone die!?
* **Rikka**: I said *what if*.
* **Rikka Mama**: (*nods*) I see... Hmm... How, huh... Well, I guess I'd be super surprised?
* **Rikka**: (*nods*) Mm-hm.
* **Rikka Mama**: But at the same time, not really, I guess... But you know, love or hate, long time or no, everyone will die one day, so...
* **Rikka**: (*ponders*) Hmm...
* **Rikka Mama**: Well, it might be sad, but... To live on is —
* **Rikka**: And what if —
* **Rikka Mama**: (*annoyed*) Hey, I was about to say something good there. Don't cut in like that.
* **Rikka**: Uh, sorry. Go on.
* **Rikka Mama**: It's fine, it's fine, jeez... So, what if what?
* **Rikka**: Hmm... What if... If I die...
* **Rikka Mama**: (*blinks*) Oh?
* **Rikka**: Even if you forget about me, I won't forget about you.
* **Rikka Mama**: (*bummed*) Oh. Hah! (*suddenly slaps Rikka*)
* **Rikka**: Yeowch-! Wh-what was that for!?
* **Rikka Mama**: Hah! (*slaps Rikka again*)
* **Rikka**: OWWW--! Why'd you hit me!? I said *what if*!
* **Rikka Mama**: (*states strictly*) Listen here, you... It's your life, so you just live it however you like, alright?
* **Rikka**: (*nodding while holding her throbbing cheek*) Mm-hm.
* **Rikka Mama**: But there are proper orders for some things.
* **Rikka**: (*eyes widen*) *Order*?
* **Rikka Mama**: The order of our births can't be changed, so our deaths should be in the proper order as well. Dad and Mom first. Then your big brother. And then you, Rikka. If you don't keep that order, I won't forgive you.
* **Rikka**: What'd you mean, *won't forgive me*...?
* **Rikka Mama**: I might feel like killing my own daughter here...
* **Rikka**: Wouldn't that mess up the order though...?
* **Rikka Mama**: Hey, I know. You're talking what-ifs, so I'm talking what-ifs back.
* **Rikka**: (*nods understandingly*) Mm-hm...
* **Rikka Mama**: So, your grandpa died just this year, right?
* **Rikka**: (*nods*) Mm-hm.
* **Rikka Mama**: And your grandpa is my father, right?
* **Rikka**: (*nods again*) Mm-hm.
* **Rikka Mama**: So, you see, I don't think I was particularly great at listening to my parents. It's not something to be proud of, but I did keep the proper order. I didn't die before my parents.
* **Rikka**: (*nods again*) Mm-hm.
* **Rikka Mama**: Your grandpa showed up in my dreams pretty often, you know. I know they're just dreams, but your grandpa praised me just for that. *You'd always stay up past your curfew, but at least you kept the proper dying order*, he said. That makes me... a little happy. Somehow.
* **Rikka**: (*nods understandingly*) Hmm...
* **Rikka Mama**: So, can you keep that order, Rikka?
* **Rikka**: Sure.
* **Rikka Mama**: You better mean it, yeah?
* **Rikka**: (*unnerved by Rikka Mama's stare*) Gah... I get it!
* **Rikka Mama**: Good! Well, I'm sure you're going through a lot. That's puberty for ya. Your body's changing and your hormones are actin' up.
* **Rikka**: And you've been through lots of stuff too, right, Mom?
* **Rikka Mama**: So, you see, Rikka, when I was about your age —
* **Rikka**: Okay, stop it. It'll go on forever.
* **Rikka Mama**: Oh, you...
* **Rikka**: Ahh, now I'm starving...
* **Rikka Mama**: Wait, didn't you just eat?
* **Rikka**: My body's been changing and my hormones are actin' up, yeah?
* **Rikka Mama**: Right, right. But I didn't get any dinner ready since you didn't need it... Let's see if there's anything... Oh yeah, there's just this leftover eggs be-ne-dict I made for lunch.
* **Rikka**: (*confused*) *Eggs benedict*?
* **Rikka Mama**: What, not eating?
* **Rikka**: I'll take it.
* **Rikka and Rikka Mama**: (*shares a laugh*) Hehehehe....

## Trivia

* The voice drama reveals that Rikka has a maternal grandfather, who also Rikka Mama's father, who passed away a year prior. As Tsutsudjidai later revealed to be a simulated city and therefore part of Computer World in addition of Rikka Mama being not from Tsutsudjidai however, his existence is arguably part of Rikka's programmed memories which Rikka Mama somehow accessed to fill her role.