19 Stepsister
He bears the gaze filled with resentment.
The words spoken two years ago still echo clearly.
"Why didn't you protect my sister!"
Ah. That's right.
Incompetent—unable to protect her sister, his own fiancée.
That is the truth of Kōgō Jin.
"...You've undergone physical augmentation surgery."
"It's none of your concern."
"She'd be saddened if Chi heard."
She had always shown resistance toward things derived from ASID. Hearing that her sister had undergone augmentation would undoubtedly break her heart.
Yet those words seemed to strike a nerve with Chi.
A voice barely restrained escapes her lips.
"Don't distort your sister's words."
He expected that reaction.
He hadn't hoped for much softening in her demeanor over the past two years. But it seems hope was futile.
"Someone who leaves their sister's grave neglected—how dare they speak as if they understand her?"
He understood. The tombstone of Rei looked clean after two years—because Chi had come first and cleaned it.
Chi’s anger at seeing the neglected monument was easy to imagine.
"Then again, I’m confident I understand Rei better than you do—especially over the past few years."
He wouldn’t have considered marriage if he hadn’t believed that.
He knew he couldn’t help but provoke, which only worsened their relationship. But he couldn’t stay silent.
"Besides, you’ve been loitering around here lately. In that outfit."
"...What’s wrong with it?"
"What’s wrong? You’re on the suspicious persons list."
"What—"
It’s strange I wasn’t approached today. Even if we’re cyborg troopers, I’d expect to shake off one or two officers.
“What do you want? Get out before the city police arrive. It’d be a disgrace if a Second Fleet soldier were arrested over a suspicious persons incident.”
“No, that’s not how this works.”
Chi’s gaze sharpens further. He does not break his interrogation stance.
“What is she?”
He expected the question.
No, it would’ve been odd if he hadn’t asked.
“I’ve never heard of a daughter between you and your sister.”
“She’s not my daughter or Rei’s. Think about the age. She’s about six now.”
“…before the registry was filed…”
“Don’t just ignore the first half.”
“It’s impossible.”
Look, Chi says, displaying the image data on his tablet terminal.
This is standard in the Second Fleet, but honestly—once you've grown accustomed to virtual displays, it feels painfully narrow and hard to see.
"Photo of my sister from childhood, transferred from my family's archive."
Jin had never seen this before. Rei had always been shy, reluctant to show her own images. Yet Jin had studied his own photographs until they were worn through.
And there, in the image, was a girl terrifyingly identical to Mio. The same hair color. The same eye color. Except for the distinctive silver and red, they were indistinguishable.
He had suspected they might be similar. But this degree of resemblance exceeded all expectations.
"How could two people this alike be unrelated?!"
Jin understood that feeling completely.
But—
"Surely not you. Cloning?"
"Unrelated. Check Mio's registered DNA ID. There's no connection to Rei."
Cloning is a sensitive topic. No further explanation is needed. There are victims of it close at hand, after all.
“That kind of……”
“If you thought she was the daughter of Rei, that’s a pity. She’s nowhere now.”
Chi’s face twists in anguish.
Jin probably wears a similar expression.
Sharing this pain.
Why do they still clash so fiercely?
“…No. Even so. I can’t leave a girl who looks just like her untouched.”
“You.”
It’s truly unbearable.
Chi will deny it, but Jin and Chi are alike.
Which is why Jin knows exactly what Chi will say upon seeing Mio—too clearly, almost unpleasantly.
“I’ll take her. Stay out of this.”
“Coming in late with such bold words. The Second Fleet must not have taught you humility.”
“Pity. All you have to boast about is time. That can be overturned, easily enough.”
Strange. Words laced with unwavering certainty.
What are you hiding? Chi turns her coat’s hem sharply, stepping away from Jin as if mocking his suspicion.
“Where are you going?”
“Predictable. A place you can’t see. Besides, I don’t wish to frighten the child.”
“A suspicious one. How bold.”
“Bark all you like.”
Chi walks off with unwavering confidence.
Where that certainty comes from is unclear. But for now, at least, she has successfully driven off the suspect.
“Ah. Troublesome.”
Jin thinks he’s been targeted by a troublesome one.
Still, he cannot reject it strongly, because he understands the other’s feelings.
If he were in Chi’s position—thinking this way—he realizes every word she speaks would come from his own mouth.
Mio is the same.
If he had met Mio before knowing Chi. If he saw Mio living with Chi.
Could he remain calm?
Even knowing that, it remains troublesome.
The opponent’s thoughts are too similar to his own. Predicting their next move is effortless.
“First, I’ll take Higata-kun home…”
It’s late. He must deliver that small hero to their residence.
On the way, Jin considered inviting her to the barbecue as well.
Looking back, he realizes—
He had been overly optimistic.
He should have noticed. If he had, his house would not have been on the verge of collapse.
After dropping off Shu, he returned home. Shirley stood motionless, expressionless.
“What are you doing, Sergeant?”
“Ah—Lieutenant. No, well, um. I just… I wanted to see you.”
He’d never heard that during the time they’d been together. Jin thought, but said nothing aloud, already sensing her intent.
The drone matter or the humanoid ASID you requested the other day, right?
"Then why are you standing around waiting? Mio should be here... surely not"
Jin turns toward the door, thinking she isn’t there.
Sharon shakes her head, her expression tense.
"No no, she is here. Just… "
She presses the intercom.
"Mio-chan. It's me. Shirley. Please open up."
『No one is to be let in, as instructed by Oto-san.』
The merciless announcement.
Well? Shirley looks for confirmation.
Mio is strictly adhering to Jin’s order to admit no one.
"Ah, Mio. Sergeant’s an exception. Let her in."
『Understood.』
Jin imagines her solemn, unreadable expression. He can’t help but laugh. He feels bad for Shirley, waiting outside.
"Finally allowed in. Is there something wrong?"
"Uh, well… yes."
He gestures for them to come inside.
Mio is waiting at the entrance.
"Otou-san, welcome back. Sharon, you're here."
"Back."
"Sorry to intrude, Mio-chan."
"Sharon, sorry. Otou-san said no one was allowed in."
"Not at all. Mio-chan followed the instructions perfectly, so it's not your fault. The fault lies with Otou-san for not giving proper instructions."
She looks at Jin with a playful glance.
Jin raises his hands in surrender.
"True. I should have made it clear. Mio. Yes… when I'm not around, open the door for Sergeant and Jake, if they come together."
Mio makes a "battan" gesture above her head.
"Work is forbidden!"
"Still going on?"
"No work at home!"
It seems sneaking past the front door means trouble.
Jin obeys Mio’s words, as there’s no alternative.
“Sharon and Jake, open the lock for us.”
“Got it!”
Responding cheerfully, Mio moves to Sharon’s feet.
Looking up with a faint hint of hope.
“Sharon, are you staying over today?”
“Sorry, but I have work tomorrow, so—”
“Awfully disappointing…”
Sharon’s hesitation becomes clear as Mio’s disappointment shows plainly.
Calm down. Tomorrow is the day my unit is delivered. Jin mentally repeats. Being late is not an option.
“Ugh… sorry… but I’ll stay with Mio-chan until she falls asleep!”
Hearing this, Mio’s mood brightens.
And so, as promised. They eat dinner, tuck Mio in.
“What did you find out?”
"Yes, one finding from the analysis. The components used confirm this is Second Fleet-made."
"I suspected as much... but you've confirmed it well."
Jin hadn't expected to narrow it down so easily.
"The electronic elements used in the optical camouflage are of a type produced exclusively in Second Fleet factories. This model is restricted within the company—so the chance of it being used by another fleet is negligible."
"So that means it's BW Corporation-made?"
"That's right—my family's company."
Sharon's family was a weapons manufacturer with headquarters in the First Fleet, operating across multiple fleets.
Raven and Leopard production should have been deeply involved.
"Truthfully, bringing this to me was the right call. Probably no one else would've recognized the component at all."
In short, only someone with connections inside the company would know of the part’s existence. That was the level of confidentiality involved.
"Any leads?"
"Not really. My older brother’s in charge of the Second Fleet’s branch— we don’t get along. But he’s clearly bitter about not inheriting the headquarters. Could be he’s looking for one last chance to turn things around… something improper, perhaps. That possibility can’t be ruled out."
"Even wealthy families have their struggles..."
Jin murmured, the words carrying the weight of someone raised in a facility.