06 Break Time

The start of the classroom observation is during the fifth period—meaning afternoon.

"Completely forgot about the schedule, huh..."

"Training schools have lectures lasting ninety minutes each..."

Fifth period generally comes around five o’clock.

It suddenly occurs to me that elementary school used to have fifty-minute classes.

Thus, school is currently on lunch break.

"The school's cafeteria cubes—something about them always tasted off."

"No, chū—Jin. I’m from the First Fleet, so I had regular meals. I don’t know if I agree..."

"Right, you were a lady of privilege, weren’t you..."

The First Fleet—the fleet that gave rise to the entire immigrant fleet system.

The age of interstellar migration began one hundred and fifty years ago, from a single immigrant vessel.

The pioneer.

Among all the immigrant fleets, it is the oldest, and by unspoken agreement, holds a status one rank above the others.

Even aside from that, it is a fleet composed largely of the wealthy.

"Quite a rigid place, wasn't it?"

"No, that’s simply because you’re far too free-spirited."

Cuttingly dismissive.

Puffing out cheeks in childish defiance, but Jin is no mere fool to be cowed by such gestures.

Sharon ignores her, gaze转向 beyond the window—toward the courtyard.

"Oh, Mio."

That silver hair really does stand out, even from afar.

Even at a distance, she is immediately recognizable.

"Uh… where’s Mio?"

"There—over there."

Jin points, indicating Mio’s position, but Sharon seems unable to locate her.

"Sharon. You’re actually nearsighted, aren’t you?"

"1.5. Jin’s 4.0—only makes him ridiculous!"

"Ah—around 1-8-200 meters."

Growing impatient, Jin gives the approximate location in orbital coordinates.

Approximately two hundred meters to the lower right.

"Ah—there she is. Still, Mio-chan… fast on your feet."

"Didn’t she say she’s making followers through racing?"

The two teams were playing tag.

One team chasing, the other fleeing. And perhaps a third team freeing those caught.

The rules were unclear from this vantage, but the movements were surprisingly strategic.

Even from above, Mio’s motions were sharp and precise.

Dodging under the grasping arms of the chaser.

"Sharon. Do you have binoculars? I want to see more clearly."

"There’s… there’s… here you go."

Jin, surprised, takes them despite his earlier disbelief.

"…You’re asking me, but why do you even have them?"

"…Occasionally I watch ships docking at the station."

Sharon says this, slightly embarrassed.

No surprise he was a mech enthusiast. No argument could be more convincing.

"Yeah... running in a skirt like that."

"Next time, explain that part to me."

Jin hadn't noticed until now.

Or rather, he hadn't bothered to notice at all.

"Understood. You mustn't. Mio is a girl—such things should be considered."

"Mark it well... Wait. The one behind just turned red-faced and looked away. Don't tell me you actually looked inside?"

"Please calm down. What do you intend to do with that bottle in your hand? Isn't it rather gentlemanly? Quite admirable, really."

Sharon desperately pinned down Jin, whose eyes burned with fury.

The instant she released him, the bottle shot toward the boy like a missile.

"Still, Mio seems happy. Good."

"Seems she has quite a few friends... Unexpected."

Jin's impression of Mio was that she was a child who never altered her expression.

Emotions seemed to overflow within her, yet they rarely surfaced outwardly.

Moreover, she had no prior experience interacting with peers of her own age.

There had been moments when Jin worried she might struggle to make friends.

"Relieved."

Mio was pointing and issuing instructions.

Three boys moved in response.

"...Those are her followers, then."

Jin focused his eyes, committing their faces to memory.

No deeper meaning behind it.

"Hey, that one's got good reflexes."

One boy reacted after a feint from the demon.

Of course, it could just be coincidence.

"Scouting, maybe?"

"If she's uncertain about her path nine years from now, I'd like to scout her."

Reflexes were one of the qualities required in a pilot.

Though whether Jin would even be an Instructor by then was doubtful.

Let me see too. It's my turn.

Yeah, yeah. Here you go.

Thank you. Oh, it seems to be over. Mio’s being praised, it looks like.

One of them is beaming with joy.

Mio is bouncing up and down. Seems the side she’s on won.

Ah. Hey. That guy just touched Mio’s shoulder. That’s harassment, right?

I’ve never seen someone call touching in first grade a harassment. Please don’t file a complaint over something like that.

Then they split into two teams again, preparing to start the game.

Looks like they’re choosing leaders by rock-paper-scissors, then picking players one by one.

Ah. Mio was chosen first. The other kid already looks defeated.

Popular girl, huh…

Mio’s a real heartthrob.

Oh right, the doctor said something like that once.

A memory surfaces—words spoken during a past health check-up.

“Huh. What was that?”

“She’s going to be a real beauty. You’d better prepare yourself for the day she brings a boyfriend.”

“Ah… I suppose it’d be wise to do that.”

Sharon nodded with a half-smile.

Jin acknowledged that Mio was undeniably charming.

He had prepared for that day.

But.

“When that day comes, I won’t let her date a man weaker than me.”

“Wait. Chuu—Jin. That means Mio-chan won’t be able to have a boyfriend until you’re dead.”

Demanding that she surpass even the strongest man in the entire移民 fleet was far too high a standard.

“Idiot. I’m entrusting her to someone. Can I trust someone less reliable than me?”

“Even if it’s a fiancé, that’s still too much to ask of a boyfriend.”

For Mio’s future youth, Sharon insisted.

“…I see. For now, let’s focus on assessing her potential.”

The hurdle's already high at this point... diving seems easier.

While engaging in such an absurd conversation, Jin attempts to read Mio’s expression through his vision.

That guy. He never smiles.

“Huh?”

I’ve never seen him laugh.

Yes, what is it?

Have you seen this before?

When asked, Shirley searched her memory.

...There's nothing like that, really.

I've never seen a face that cried.

Mio is indeed a girl whose expression does not change.

But that does not mean there is no emotion there.

I had been wondering whether she could still smile at school, but it seems there’s been no change here either.

A little worried.

Are you overthinking it? Mio, your nose and the area around your eyes seem to move quite a bit when you look at things.

Jin indeed senses Mio's emotions in that vicinity.

But as he was thinking, Shirley sharply pressed her finger against Jin’s nose, as if it would make a snapping sound.

"If you don't smile, it's definitely Jin's fault."

"My fault?"

"You aren't smiling, are you? If parents don't smile, Mio-chan won't smile either."

No, no, that can't be right, Jin protested.

He was smiling properly.

"Then smile now. Three, two, one, go."

Startled by the sudden countdown, Jin forced a smile.

"That's not a smile. That's a smirk through the nose."

He was slightly shocked.

"Isn't it because Oto-san doesn't smile that Mio-chan doesn't smile?"

"...I'm starting to lose the ability to deny that."

Then he remembered—Mio often mimicked his expressions.

Which meant there was no smile in her repertoire.

Which meant—Jin had no smile.

"Being with Mio-chan is fun, isn't it?"

"Of course it is."

"Then smile more. No need to pull a suspicious grin like Jake. Just a cheerful one."

A faint echo of Jake’s voice—“That’s gross!”—seemed to drift from somewhere.

"A cheerful smile, huh. I’ll try."

"I’ll do my best to set a good example for Mio-chan. So, in that case, treat me to dinner, okay?"

"Always taking advantage..."

Jin had intended to treat her anyway, as a gesture of thanks for looking after Mio. He agreed without hesitation.

——The conversation took place in the parents’ waiting room.

A dialogue between partners who appeared affectionate.

The onlookers—slightly weary, half-smiling, with faint glances of envy—did not notice the two of them.