13 Unexpected Reunion

"What's this? Unusual to see you two here at this hour."

The figure appearing before Mei and the others was exactly what they hadn't expected.

Jin, having finished his instructor duties, had come to the mess hall to return home.

"Pa! Meii’s here too!"

"Huh? You two know each other?"

Jin, too, had felt a vague familiarity—something he’d seen before.

But he hadn’t connected it to the time Mio had been lost.

"Why haven’t we met before?"

Mio tilted her head, puzzled.

Seeing her expression, Mei asked.

"No. Do you really come here that often?"

"Those two? Almost every day."

Jake, carrying cold drinks for Mio and Jin, added.

"Every day…?"

"Wait—really? Is that okay?"

Yuria raised an eyebrow at the unexpected reply.

And surprisingly, Kō offered a perfectly reasonable remark.

"No problem. I’ve already gotten permission."

"I’ve got it!"

Mio proudly raised her ID, and Kō slumped his shoulders in resignation.

He wanted to ask how she’d managed it, but the energy to do so had vanished.

"Why we couldn’t meet until now… these two usually arrive much later."

"Really? Why?"

The question hung—why were they early today? Or why were they usually late?

Either way, the answer was the same.

"Normally… they’re so exhausted from training that they nap first."

"Like waking up from hunger."

Kō gave the two girls a wistful glance, their lives ruled too strictly by instinct.

Jake and Jin looked distant, recalling a certain classmate from training school.

She’d been the same—utterly devoted to her instincts.

Primarily toward machines.

"Hekshu."

Somewhere, a blonde technician sneezed once.

“Hmm... stamina has improved enough to function immediately after today’s training. Then, perhaps, increase the load slightly starting after the break...?”

Jin’s voice, murmuring such unsettling thoughts, was ignored by the three who were slightly younger.

They continued eating and chatting idly, as if nothing had changed.

Rather, it was inevitable—Mio refused to move away from May.

May, engaged in conversation with Mio, was unaffected. The other two, seated at the same table as the Instructor, felt a slight tension.

“Are you going somewhere, May-nee-chan, on your break?”

“Yes, we’re going on a short trip—just the three of us. Mio-chan, you’re going somewhere with... your father...?”

Glances passed between them.

Nods, once, in response to the silent question.

May’s expression relaxed, as if reassured.

Mio, unaware of the exchange, raised both hands and cheered.

"Look, I'm going out with dad."

"Good. Have a lot of fun."

"I will have a lot of fun."

The two nodded at each other, as if in perfect alignment.

Ignoring them, Jin turned his gaze to Yuriya and Kou.

As a former trainee, he had advice to pass on to the juniors.

Cross-ship movement wasn't permitted until second-year status.

He suspected both were doing it for the first time.

"If you're going out, submit your application early. The instructor might not be around tomorrow morning."

"Really?"

"Not everyone comes early just because there's no lecture. I recommend submitting today."

"Thank you, Instructor."

Yuriya, who had already planned to submit before leaving, offered a sincere thanks.

Had I slipped up, tomorrow’s schedule might have been thrown off.

——That path had once been walked by Jin as well.

She raised her face without hesitation and stared directly into Jin’s eyes.

“……What?”

“Nothing. You’re different from usual.”

“Work hours are over. If the Bellwair trainee weren’t so late, I wouldn’t have to scold them every time…”

“Sorry, sorry. That girl really… I’m sorry.”

Yuriya, caught off guard, bowed repeatedly.

“Take this break properly. Don’t let fatigue linger.”

Jin had intended to do the same.

Right after becoming an Instructor, the humanoid incursions had forced the closure of all recreational facilities.

Now that the situation had stabilized, and with the May holiday approaching, the area was set to reopen en masse. Jin had already made plans.

"Otōsan, what's school like?"

"Commander Higashi. He's a demon. A Demon Instructor."

"Seriously strong. There's no one as strong as your father."

"Otōsan's really strong."

Kō joined in, explaining Jin's usual demeanor to Mio.

A slight pride flickered in Jin at Mio's words.

"...Wait, but when you came to pick me up before, you were completely worn out?"

Mio tilted her head, puzzled. Jin registered the damage in silence.

That was because the opponent had been an utterly different grade—clearly a Black Knight.

Against such an opponent, victory in a rematch was not guaranteed.

A foe whose unit specifications were fundamentally different. No clear path to counterattack had yet emerged.

"Yup. The other side was bad."

"Yes. Undoubtedly, the opponent was extremely dangerous."

Jin and May nod, their faces slightly pale.

Jin wonders what kind of opponent he might be imagining.

There was a growing sense that continuing this conversation any further was dangerous.

If Mio finds out about my usual training routine—

I’ll stop because I feel sorry for you.

It would seem that is exactly what is being said.

This would interfere with future training.

Jin’s conscience will ache from ignoring his daughter’s request.

Now then, you two. Stop trying to instill something rarely encountered into a girl like her.

There's nothing to say... no, never mind.

I didn't say anything about strength—death.

Mio hummed softly, pondering, trying to recall some words.

Finally unearthed it. Her expression brightened.

"Power armor."

“Mio, that’s not it. It’s instruction from the instructor. Haven’t you seen other students get scolded by their school instructors before?”

“……! Yes! I see!”

Seemed convinced.

There was a clear superior-subordinate relationship between the training school’s instructors and trainees, so calling it harassment wasn’t entirely wrong.

Still, Jin judged it too dangerous to continue further. He stepped in to conclude the scene.

He wanted to appear proper in front of his daughter.

“Come on, Mio. Since you’re done eating, it’s time to head back. You’ll need to prepare for tomorrow.”

“Ah—right. Bye, May-neechan!”

Waving, Mio and Jin left the mess hall together.

Watching their backs disappear completely—

May collapsed as if her thread had snapped.

“Mio-chan left, didn’t she…”

“Yes. You did well. Really.”

“Just a little… I’ve changed my mind about you, shorty.”

In truth, May—already the weakest of the three—had been drained to the point of barely being able to lift her body.

She was holding herself upright only by sheer will, determined to make a good impression on the younger one.

Yuria and Kou, aware of her effort, offered sincere praise.

“Yuria… I’ll leave the rest to you… including preparations for tomorrow.”

She said this and began to breathe deeply, falling asleep.

Yuria had anticipated this—she’d known the request would reach her room.

But the latter part was unacceptable.

“Wait a minute!? You said it was over just now!”

“Nastin, give up. You think this one would prep something like this in advance? You’re just thinking you can fix it tonight, aren’t you? That’s exactly what you’re thinking.”

Kou spoke with cold detachment, as if recounting someone else’s mistake. It infuriated Yuria. She shook May gently and called out.

Wake up. May. If you don’t wake up, I’ll have Sasamori prepare your underwear.

Don’t drag me into this, you damn bitch! What kind of pervert are you, anyway!

Now hurry up and wake up! I won’t be responsible if you end up in something skimpy and outrageous!

No way— I said no! Why do you always try to make me into some kind of pervert? This isn’t funny!

The two comrades struggle desperately to wake May, but she breathes deeply and evenly, asleep in perfect contentment.

To be able to sleep so soundly amidst such noise— that’s a kind of talent.

It’s no surprise she didn’t notice the alarm.

As compensation for showing Mio her seniority, Yuria ended up packing May’s belongings.

And Kou ended up suffering reputational damage— branded as someone who likes skimpy underwear.

Such troubles were inevitable— but tomorrow, they would begin a week-long extended leave.