05 Learn from History
How to guide those three troublemakers.
Jin’s mind remains troubled even after returning home.
"…Hey, Mio, are there any students in your class who don’t listen to teachers?"
Curious, he asks Mio, who answers without hesitation.
"Tōya-kun!"
That’s right.
"Wait, so it’s true that Mio made him her subordinate…?"
"Yeah. Number One!"
If he’s Number One, then Number Two must exist too.
A little too scary to ask.
"What does Mio’s teacher do when Tōya-kun gets troublesome?"
"Well… nothing."
"Really?"
Unexpected.
Or rather, is it really okay to leave things like that? Jin starts wondering about Mio’s usual class behavior.
"Because Mio says quiet, and he gets quiet."
The hierarchy is already established.
"You’re… something else."
"？ I don’t get it, but Mio’s something else?"
"Yeah. I’ve thought so for a while—she’s a big deal."
Could become a politician one day, wouldn’t you say?
While tucking Mio in, Jin thinks within the bed.
Is there no good idea at all?
No idea comes—no matter how much he thinks—until just before sleep.
『People learn from history, Colonel Higashi.』
That pretentious line from the Lieutenant returns to mind.
◆ ◆ ◆
“Already said it a hundred times. Colonel Higashi.”
“Too familiar. Don’t call someone’s name so casually.”
Jin spits it out, a scoff in his voice.
He barely swallows the word ‘woman,’ but makes no effort to hide his attitude.
“Isn’t ‘Lieutenant Higashi’ too stiff?”
“Not at all. Proper decorum is preferable.”
Jin sighs—another unnecessary burden has been placed on him.
To summarize their relationship in one phrase—arrested and arresting.
“Once more—I’m asking you, Kusakabe Rei.”
“Same answer every time. I just wanted to go to the library. Didn’t know the Third Fleet required access clearance.”
Library—what is meant here is not a conventional archive, but the central database of the fleet.
And thus, the location where terminals for accessing it are stationed.
Rei was attempting entry.
Quite openly. Straight on.
Without permission.
Jin, who happened to be on patrol there, noticed.
The incident was deemed insignificant enough that Jin—unofficially—was assigned to file the report.
“Traveler from the Second Fleet… What is your purpose?”
“Historical research. I came to find records exclusive to the Third Fleet.”
Jin’s immediate impression: suspicious.
The Second Fleet, after all, was the most mechanized of all the fleets.
A terrifying place where bodily mechanization is performed with the subtle sensation of a spa treatment.
— Though, one might say the Third Fleet is just a collection of aberrants, injecting themselves with mysterious nanomachines.
“What kind of age are you even? Not holding a proper job, doing something like this?”
“Don’t talk like my mother… I’m doing real work! This is my university ID!”
Jin swiftly scans a rare card-type ID from the Third Fleet.
Indeed, it appears authentic.
At least superficially.
“History research, huh…”
“Oh— I just mocked history. I did.”
“No. I didn’t mock it. I merely wondered whether studying it again is necessary.”
That was also Jin’s straightforward question.
To be honest, he knew nothing beyond the basic notion of what history research even meant.
History is history. Nothing new emerges from it, and it does not produce anything new. It is merely the past.
What does it mean to study such a thing?
A pure question.
"People learn from history, Mr. Tōkō."
"That's why you don't need to be so familiar..."
He attempts to correct the form of address, but Rei ignores him and continues.
"For example... well, you're in the military, aren't you? You must have experienced many battles... but is there anyone who remembers them all?"
The answer was simple.
One hundred and fifty years. Many battles occurred.
No one remembers them all—
"No, there isn't."
"Exactly? But when facing a difficult opponent, don't you consult old records?"
"Maybe..."
Jin has never participated in strategic planning, so he cannot be certain. But likely, that is what they do.
That’s one kind of history. You know, like military history.
Ah… I see.
Unaware, Jin was nodding in response to Rei's words.
What I am doing is an expanded version of that—reaching not just into warfare, but into culture, economy, politics. I wish to extend my influence into all of these domains.
As he spoke, Rei extended his hands, attempting to demonstrate the breadth of his body.
The era of cosmic migration, lasting 150 years. The 600-year age of the skies preceding it. And before that— the ancient age, its records scattered and lost.
Three historical periods, broadly categorized.
She counts them off on her fingers, reciting the order.
As you say, history is merely the past. Yet within it lies much forgotten knowledge.
Rei says that the past is indeed a treasure trove of knowledge.
I want to unearth those things, gather them together, and carry them into the future. History shaped the present. If so, the future can be shaped too.
Jin is overwhelmed by Ling’s vivid speech.
Not because the content impressed him.
Because his own purpose has become clear.
That clarity seemed enviable to Jin.
He still wavers, after all.
Still unsure what justification to fight for.
“…I understand your intent. This time is a first offense, so a strict warning will suffice. Next time, bring proper entry authorization.”
“Yes, sir. Incidentally, do you know how to obtain it?”
A single sigh.
Well, I suppose I’ll look it up then.
“Non-convoy personnel must apply; the permit is issued within a week. Start the procedure at the office tomorrow.”
For convoy members, it’s issued immediately.
To be frank, the information isn’t particularly valuable.
“A week, huh.”
Ling says it, somewhere between frustration and resignation.
"Disappointing... The survey period ends day after tomorrow, right? Well, nothing can be done about it... Let's try again next time."
A face perfectly mimicking disappointment, yet the tone betrayed no such sentiment.
A fleeting pang of pity.
A momentary lapse.
Still, Jin voiced the thought that had occurred to him.
"Convoy members receive approval the same day. No regulations exist for companions."
"Huh?"
Confused by Jin's sudden statement, Ling tilted her head.
"Tomorrow is my off-day. I could take you along."
Rephrasing it clearly, Ling's eyes widened slightly, then her lips curved into a crescent smile.
"Are you hitting on me? A date invitation?"
"Then let's pretend this conversation never happened."
"Ah! Sorry, I got carried away! It was purely friendly interest! I get it, I get it!"
Better left unsaid.
Jin regretted it from the depths of his heart.
◆ ◆ ◆
He had a nostalgic dream.
Upon waking, Jin thought that first.
The memory of meeting Mio for the first time.
Himself at that time—frustrated, unable to discern why he fought.
Mio, who had always moved straight ahead since then.
Recalling how he had envied her stance.
A faint smile touched his lips, surprised even to himself: never had he imagined, back then, that two years later he would consider marriage.
As if noticing, the twisted ring seemed to gleam today.
"Um... Papa, good morning. Something cheerful?"
Awakening to Jin’s presence, Mio opened her eyes.
Seeing his expression, she said, equally cheerful.
"Yeah. Had a good dream."
"Oooh."
Mio began preparing for school, her response ambiguous—whether she understood or not, unclear.
Watching her back, Jin considered.
"Learning from history, is it."
He repeated Mio’s words in his mind.
A phrase worth considering.
The countermeasure against these current troublemakers.
It must stem from how the past troublemakers were dealt with.
The past troublemakers.
That is to say...
Sergeant Jake, and Jin.
"Us?"
An immediate wave of unease washed over him.
At first, he had thought it a brilliant idea upon waking—but no matter how he examined it, it felt more like a flawed solution.
Fundamentally, they themselves had remained troublemakers until the end. Imitating them would be impossible.
"Student days... student days."
He honestly couldn’t recall.
Back then, he had flown out of obligation, not interest—so the memories had faded.
Jin rubbed his temples, frowning.