30 Launch

The battlefield.

The meat's delicious, huh?

Jin watches the mess hall of the training academy—now a battlefield—while Mio speaks with careless ease, her words soothing him.

...is it enough, then?

All-you-can-eat barbecue, promised before deployment.

After completing Jin’s regenerative treatment, a gathering slipped in just before the fourth-years were commissioned.

Jin could not suppress a shudder at the sight of the new battlefield manifesting before him.

In fact, there are faces among them that aren’t trainees.

...First, Jake. What are you doing here?

Ship 5’s docked, so the shop’s closed. In the meantime, this cafeteria’s the only work available.

The image of a bald, massive man entering the kitchen was somewhat cramped, yet the trainees paid no mind.

Apparently, she began working just a few days prior and has already firmly taken hold of the trainees' stomachs.

Jin thinks that if even cube rations can be made palatable, it must be an impressive feat.

He doesn’t care much for taste, so he can’t fully appreciate it now.

“Then why are you allowed to bring that girl here?”

“No problem. I’ve already got permission.”

“I did!”

Mio’s DNA is already registered in the training facility’s security system.

Since she’s family, the procedure was extremely straightforward.

“So you’ll be stationed here for a while then?”

“That’s how it is.”

Jin considers what to do with Mio during work hours.

The cost of accepting Jake’s kindness has arrived.

“Jake’s fine—but why are you here, Instructor?”

"Hmm? Can’t I come check on my student starting her shift?"

"No, that’s not the issue... But why are you eating barbecue with the trainees?"

"Isn't it better to share delicious food with others?"

That was the excuse, but the intent had been clear from the start—grilled meat was the real goal.

A beer had no place here, coming to check on a student.

Jake exhaled at the sight of his instructor.

"Even so, Instructor. You come by every dinner hour."

"Let it be. Instructors have the right to use the mess hall."

The instructor’s words were undeniably correct.

Correct, yet this barbecue was exclusively for trainees. The right to eat was not theirs by default.

Jin sighed, resigned. A few more mouths wouldn’t change the outcome.

"Then, what are you doing, Sergeant?"

"No, I’m certain I’ll be reprimanded thoroughly soon. I thought I’d eat some meat to gather strength."

The blonde sergeant watches the meat's doneness with a serious expression, speaking without shame.

He raises his palm to stop Mio, who reaches for it without thought.

"Wait. It should cook five more seconds. That's the meat's golden window."

"Really. Delicious."

The sergeant wipes sweat from his brow after finishing his task, watching Mio bite into the meat with wide eyes.

"Likely the lieutenant's been summoned too, isn't he?"

"...Probably."

The outcome was favorable—Black Knight casualties were contained, thanks to Jin's sortie.

But the process leading to that result was flawed.

The most glaring issue was the use of an outdated cockpit.

Operating without authorization was a clear violation of military regulations.

"I ordered it. Make it so."

"No, no. Lying won't get me anywhere. I'm honest by nature."

"You're lying right now, aren't you?"

Jin glances briefly at the maintenance technician, then makes a small, troubled face.

The person who went out of their way to prepare the unit, knowing Jin's situation.

He wants to avoid blame entirely, but the other person refuses to acknowledge it—there's nothing he can do.

"What's this? Still hanging out, troublemakers trio?"

Their instructor points at Jin, Jake, and the sergeant with chopsticks.

The sergeant makes an exaggerated grimace at the phrasing.

"Instructor, I'd rather not be grouped with those two."

"What are you talking about? We're the ones dragged into your mess."

Jake grimaces in response to the sergeant's complaint.

Jin nods silently in agreement.

Back in their training academy days—three of them had been classmates.

As their mentor had said, the three of them had been troublemakers together.

Each denied it, claiming they alone were different.

"By the way, Jake. How's your prosthetic holding up? I'll adjust it again next time."

"Ah. If you're not installing drills or internal mechanisms, I might take you up on that."

"I can't promise that."

"You're still the same absurd sergeant... "

Jake exhales, unimpressed by the sergeant's usual recklessness.

"...Lieutenant. I've been wondering since earlier—just who is this young lady here?"

"Mio?"

"Mio-chan? What a fine name. Would you like some meat?...Wait. I've seen you somewhere before."

He arranges the well-charred meat onto Mio's plate, humming lightly.

Jin thinks she'll get fat if she eats that much, but says nothing.

Mio's cube rations will be low-calorie starting tomorrow.

"My daughter."

"Your daughter!"

Sergeant froze.

Jin recalled—when he’d introduced the trainee, the sergeant hadn’t arrived yet.

“Mio, your mouth’s dirty.”

Wiping the oil from her lips, Mio wriggled slightly, as if tickled.

“Thank you, Daddy.”

Then the sergeant rebooted.

“Eh… but Lieutenant, marriage… well, you know… uh…”

The sergeant faltered, aware of the order.

He had never met the order directly, but he knew of the engagement—should have known.

The sergeant had sensed, over two years, how Jin had nearly broken from machine losses. His face showed regret at having broached the topic.

“No, not really. That’s… well, you know, various things.”

“Various things.”

Mio mimicked Jin’s tone.

Surprisingly good at mimicry.

“Cute… ah, Mio-chan, want more meat?”

“No more… I’m full…”

Corporal suddenly began fussing over Mio with unexpected diligence.

Jin, meanwhile, surveyed the mess that was the mess hall—unchanged from the battlefield.

That no trainees had been lost in such a battle was nearly miraculous.

Whether his own instruction had contributed to that miracle remained uncertain.

"Hey, Hudson. Get me something to snack on."

The Instructor tossed the order to Jake, who grimaced.

"No, Instructor. This isn't a tavern..."

"Huh? Can't hear your great teacher's words?"

"Drunk already..."

The Instructor, beer in hand, swaying slightly.

Honestly, not something a trainee should see.

Not appropriate for Mio either, educationally.

"Instructor, if you're going to drink, as Jake says, a tavern would be better..."

"Damn it, cold disciples. Well then, shall I pour another...?"

Saying that, the master departs the mess hall.

Jake murmurs, watching his back recede.

"He was quite the heavy drinker, wasn't he?"

"I didn't know that until I came here."

Likely a side of him never seen without the training academy.

"Anyway, Lieutenant. Don't forget our treat promise, now."

"Hey, wait. That was just in exchange for the all-you-can-eat, right? I'm eating now, so it's invalid, invalid."

Jin thinks the sergeant is unexpectedly greedy.

Another side he hadn't known.

He recalls it wasn't like that during training academy days.

"Otōsan, the meat—Mio grilled it!"

"Ah, thanks."

The well-cooked meat is offered. Jin bites down, chewing slowly.

"Wait—just a moment. It's perfectly cooked. I've spent years honing this judgment—can you really expect me to decide this in such a short time!?"

Something is wrong with the sergeant—shivering, perhaps—but that is aside.

Jin thinks there's nothing wrong with everyone eating together like this.

Looking back, these past two years.

Had you ever done something like that before?

As if looking only at the past, pushing the present away.

Wants to die.

That designation makes sense.

Without value found soon, it is no different from slow suicide.

In this situation, Jin has no choice but to acknowledge that Lieutenant Colonel's judgment was correct.

Long-term, it is naturally better to maintain and extend the lifespan of a unit than to exhaust it in a single battle.

There may have been such rationality—yet it was nothing more than concern for Jin’s well-being.

The realization of how narrow one's own field of vision had been—something that could not even be noticed at the time.

"Daddy, is it good? Good?"

Ah. Tastes good.

Jin smiled, watching the girl puff her cheeks in satisfaction.

Two years since the loss of command.

It felt like the first time he’d truly laughed.

Pleasant.

That thought emerged.

For two years, Jin had looked only backward. Now, at last, he turned forward.

Thus concludes Chapter One: The Meeting on a Rainy Day.

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After a brief interlude of setting details, Chapter Two will begin.