20 Jin's Reason for Fighting 1

Even between collection missions, training continues.

But—

"...Another tardy from Bellwair trainee."

"Sorry…"

"Trainee Nastin does not apologize. That is not something a Trainee Nastin should do… but…"

It's becoming increasingly difficult for Jin to cover for her.

"Trainee Nastin. What kind of life does Trainee Bellwair usually lead in the dormitory?"

"Dormitory life? Um… well…"

Yuria clearly struggled to find a way to support May, but words failed her.

In the Third Fleet, occupational suitability is prioritized above all else.

The rational use of limited human resources—yet within that rationality, the criterion of personality is entirely absent.

Thus, it is possible to possess ability while being unsuited in personality.

Jin understood this well—having been just such a case during his time at the academy.

"Sorry I'm late."

"Belwahr trainee. Try to look at least somewhat remorseful."

Jin thinks, watching May arrive with no sign of regret whatsoever.

Kou has begun attending lectures with genuine focus.

The simulated combat sessions clearly proved effective in breaking him in.

He was motivated by the desire to grow stronger, and even with minimal oversight, he would progress at a steady rate.

Yuria is fundamentally unproblematic.

Late arrivals are only when she's made a genuine effort to get May on time and failed.

The one consistent issue remains May.

Her lifestyle habits must be corrected—otherwise, there's no way forward.

"Frankly, why are you so often late? Or sleeping through class? Are you not getting enough rest?"

That is the root of it. If that improves, the rest will follow naturally.

Saying one has trouble falling asleep diminishes the seriousness, but if it's diagnosed as a sleep disorder, it must be taken seriously.

"I'm not saying that— I'm still growing, after all!"

"...Prepare a written apology."

Jin understood that the response wasn't meant to be taken seriously and immediately delivered the punishment, prioritizing the continuation of the lecture.

But this issue could no longer be overlooked.

"Maybe I could just beat it into shape— but that’s not going to work."

How to correct a trainee lacking motivation.

A method Jin himself had failed to master— how could he possibly know?

◆ ◆ ◆

Five years prior.

"Why fight, if you don’t know the purpose?"

"Yeah."

In the dormitory of the Defense Force.

Sharon tilted her head at the words that emerged casually during a random conversation, having claimed a corner of Jin’s room.

Or perhaps she’d just been stretching.

She remained in that position for a while, stretching her muscles, making the likelihood increasingly certain.

"Um... isn't that usually said for family, or for someone you want to protect?"

"Typically."

Most soldiers cited that as their reason for fighting.

But Jin could not.

"I have no family. Everyone I'd want to protect is already beside me."

"Is that so?"

She leaned forward, performing a forward fold.

Occupying someone's bed and stretching without pause—Jin had had enough.

"Hey. You barge into someone's room without permission and do what exactly?"

"Uh, stretching before bed."

"Wait. You're not leaving? Planning to sleep here?"

"Didn't I say? I lost my ID."

"What!?"

Suddenly—truly suddenly—Mio appeared at Jin's door.

The name Kusunoki Mio, Jin remembered.

Not so much that she was unforgettable—her presence was too intense to forget.

A month ago, a woman had reprimanded Jin sharply for attempting to storm the library without prior reconnaissance, while on sentry duty.

He had been frustrated by her impulsive actions, had offered only minor cooperation—nothing more than a passing connection.

"Hey there, Higashi. Long time no see. Ah, this is a souvenir from the Second Fleet. Just gonna borrow your room for a bit."

She moved with fluid ease, slipping past Jin, who stood frozen in surprise, and claimed a corner of the room.

Jin had assumed she’d leave soon—his mistake to ignore her.

He vowed again: tidying up should never be postponed.

"Kusunoki. You said you lost your ID?"

"I had it until the airport. Thought I’d check in at the hotel, but it was gone by then."

"What were you even doing...?"

Jin rubbed his temples, utterly exasperated.

The ID Mio referred to was, in essence, her identification and wallet.

Within the Third Fleet, all functions are managed by nanomachines injected into the body, but other fleets still rely primarily on card-based systems.

Losing it meant Mio currently had no means of verifying her identity or making payments within this fleet.

Naturally, she could not stay at a hotel. Unable to reach the office for reissue, she had wandered the night streets for hours.

Then, suddenly, she remembered Jin.

"See. I saw your personal data when entering the library. I remembered your address and came here, to the dormitory."

"…………………………You weren’t stopped at the entrance?"

"I was. By someone who looked like a caretaker. I said I was here to see Jin Higashi, room 207, and he let me through."

Jin looked up at the ceiling.

This was a military bachelor dormitory.

The administrator must have thought she was Jin’s girlfriend… or perhaps a call girl he’d summoned.

All I can do is pray it was the former.

“Anyway, you can stay here.”

“Are you serious?”

A man who’d spent less than ten hours total in conversation rolling into his room—this was pushing the limits of recklessness.

“I don’t know anyone else in the Third Fleet.”

“Go to the embassy. The embassy… isn’t that the Second Fleet’s?”

“I don’t have money to get there.”

“Then I’ll lend it.”

“No, that’s too much trouble.”

“So staying isn’t a problem…?”

He couldn’t grasp the logic behind that reasoning. A dull ache began behind his eyes.

“Besides, the Hyperloop’s operating hours ended already.”

“What?”

He checks the clock against the schedule.

Operating hours end at 11 PM. Fleet schedule runs until 11:01 PM.

That means sending her to the embassy now is impossible.

“See?”

“Head hurts.”

"Wait, this is serious. Shall I take care of you? I'm used to it—I'm her older brother, after all."

The fact that she was speaking as if staying overnight were already settled made the headache worse.

"You're thinking about staying at some stranger's place? Think about your safety a little more."

Or perhaps she was the kind who walked through danger without hesitation.

"I know that person isn't just some stranger. I know she's kind—she helped me when I was in trouble."

She said it with a bright, unselfconscious smile, and Jin found himself unexpectedly flustered.

He had no memory of being called kind.

‘Jin isn’t kind. Not to himself, not to others.’

“...”

He remembered the exact opposite being said to him.

Recalling that moment—only a year ago—sent a sharp pang through his chest.

"Besides, it's just a matter of probability."

"Huh?"

"The likelihood of sleeping outdoors, or wandering aimlessly and getting into danger—"

"No, the Third Fleet isn't that dangerous, is it...?"

"The odds of encountering danger here seem lower, don't they?"

"Uh, well... I guess that's how it is?"

Jin feels a flicker of doubt, confusion tugging at him as he nods anyway.

"See? Just for a little while—until your ID is reissued. That’s all I need."

"Fine... wait. Not until tomorrow, right? You can go to the embassy first thing in the morning."

"Ah, but staying at the embassy costs a lot, you know..."

"Stop mooching off others."

"Ah, don’t worry. I’ll pay properly—once my ID’s back."

True, staying at Jin’s place would be cheaper.

But logic doesn’t override the stubbornness in him.

"Anyway, I’m not talking about paying with my body, am I?"

"Good. Don’t."

"See? Safe as ever."

“There’s a limit to sophistry…”

Especially when the one employing it is the one who might be the victim.

“Fine, fine… If you stay quietly in the corner, do whatever you want.”

“Really? Then I’ll go through the album right away, okay?”

“I told you to stay quiet.”

“I said you could do whatever you want. Reading the album won’t make noise. I’ll be quiet. You can do it. Okay?”

“It’s not okay.”

Jin’s head aches as he considers whether to kick her out right now.

By the time he’s finished thinking, she’s already started unpacking—timing completely lost.

“By the way, when we were in danger earlier… when someone forced something inappropriate on me… wouldn’t it be easier to claim damages if I knew their identity?”

“You’re scary!”

Jin hadn’t planned to do anything like that—but he shouts out in sudden alarm.