22 Mio's method of reconciliation

In the end, Jin was overruled.

Not that he had no choice, but rather that he had weighed the long-term implications of living together against the minor disruptions caused by staying for a few days, and concluded that the latter was the lesser of two evils.

"Too much luggage."

"There's no help for it. It's a long-term stay, so this much is necessary."

"We don't allow long-term stays here. Once your ID is reissued, you're out—understand? I'm not joking. You'll be gone immediately."

"I know that already."

"Then at least leave some of your things here...! I'll lend you money if you need it!"

"I won't accept charity from you."

"You're already receiving it—look, you're muttering nonsense."

The two walk home, engaged in a conversation that shows no sign of reconciliation.

The point of contention is Chi's excessive luggage.

"Just leave it. You can't bring that much baggage in here. This isn't a hotel for long-term stays."

— Tch. No choice. I’ll humor your request.

— You’re really gonna sleep out in the open.

— Did you prepare yourself for that? For her crying, clinging, begging—“Please, I’ll do anything, you can do whatever you want with me, just don’t leave me, even if it’s just physical…”—like that?

— Seriously, that’s self-destruction.

And now, we’re getting dangerously close to Jin’s place. The damage would be severe. If anyone from around here—someone from Mio’s school, a neighbor—saw us, it’d be catastrophic.

— Oh, Mr. Higashi. Good evening.

Shu, surprisingly polite, approaches Jin with a greeting.

Catastrophic, Jin thought.

— Ah, hello. Mr. Higashi.

But as an adult, he can’t simply ignore him.

A brief glance upward at Chi. A look of suspicion.

Then again, she does resemble Mio quite closely. Far more than Jin ever could.

— Is this Mr. Higashi’s wife?

“No. Absolutely not. Don’t say something so ominous.”

Grabbing Shu’s shoulder instinctively, Jin stared into his eyes.

“Understand?”

“Y-yes…”

“Hey, don’t scare the child. Come on.”

He hadn’t expected the one who’d been frightening the kid all along to lecture him—though he couldn’t say it aloud in front of Shu. Dragged along by the cybernetic arm’s strength, Jin protested.

“Hey, my collar’s rising. Let go. See you later, Higashi!”

“Y-yes! Goodbye!”

Watching the two depart, Shu murmured.

“Still… the parent of Higashi, something’s off about her.”

A number of offenses, to be sure.

Yet, despite the intimidation, Chi arrived at Jin’s home.

There, Jin suddenly realized.

“Damn it. What about dinner?”

No need to say it aloud—taking Chi to the training school’s cafeteria would be problematic.

Last time he came on exercise-related business, but this time a new permission will be required. Honestly, it’s a hassle—besides, it can’t be obtained in such a short span.

Leaving Chi alone is absolutely out of the question. No telling what might happen in the room.

Then, feed Chi separately elsewhere. That seems the most stable option. Jin decided on this just as—

“Hmm. Then I’ll handle the meal. As compensation for the lodging.”

“No, I’ll pay the lodging fee separately. Can you even cook?”

“Fair enough. I can manage.”

Unexpected.

Jin reconsidered. Chi is from the Second Fleet. Also, she’s the younger sister of Rei. It’s odd, really, that she wouldn’t know how.

“Anyway, I’ll make sure the food is edible. Leave it to me.”

“Just don’t serve me anything that only a cybernetic enhanced digestive system can process…”

“There’s no such thing.”

They exchanged these words as they stepped through the front door.

“Ah, o-tō-san. Welcome back…”

Mio’s bright voice faltered, gradually fading.

Until finally.

“Fuuuuk!”

She curled up like a cat on the defensive. The sentiment was understandable.

“Ah, mimicking a cat. Adorable.”

Chi. Unmoved. This insensitivity is something to admire.

Chi’s hand reached to stroke her head—Mio slipped through it, wrapping her arms around Jin’s left side.

“Oto-san, this person’s a bully! Why is he here!?”

“Ah, well. Yeah. Honestly, why is he here…?”

Jin thought about it calmly. He couldn’t help but wonder, really—why was he here? Perhaps he should send him away now. But then he’d complain about being rejected—about his social standing. He hesitated.

“Right now, I’m in the middle of a fight with this guy.”

“A fight?”

“Yeah.”

“Then that’s unavoidable…”

“Wait, you’re really going to accept that?”

Jin is surprised—still only at the preliminary stage of the confrontation.

“Because when fighting, Mio also feels bad.”

“Mio…”

“So it’s unavoidable when fighting. Mio will try hard to make up quickly.”

Probably speaking with a serious expression, Mio says this.

Jin feels glad—she’s growing into a kind-hearted child. It feels like she’s developing more and more, without him noticing.

“So, Daddy… hug me.”

“? Yeah, yeah.”

“Tch.”

Jin glances back, smiling faintly—wishing she wouldn’t make that sound from behind.

Lifting Mio up proudly.

“No.”

“Huh? Did I say something wrong?”

Chi smirks at Mio’s correction. Jin inwardly tuts—what a disagreeable personality.

“It’s not Mio… it’s that lady over there… um… big sister.”

“You were about to call me an old woman just now! I’m still only seventeen!”

“Is that so? No, Mio? Why would I be Chi?”

“Hugging helps make up after fights.”

That’s something Mio researched, but she doesn’t say it.

“Being hugged makes you go all warm and fuzzy. All the bad feelings drift away. That’s why fights don’t happen.”

“Good girl, good girl.”

He strokes the top of the girl’s head, affectionate.

“Not Mio! That older sister over there!”

“Chi. Kusakawa Chi.”

“Go hug and stroke the one named Tomo.”

The instruction was added without hesitation.

Chi lifted a hand mirror, studying her own face.

“Do I look old…? It’s been nonstop missions lately… Maybe I should get anti-aging treatment with artificial skin after all. I thought it was too early…”

“Don’t. Looking young won’t help if it looks unnatural.”

There’s no particular intention behind it. Jin hadn’t wanted someone else’s face, one resembling Rei, altered either.

“Mio. We really can’t avoid making up right now?”

“People who are fighting aren’t allowed inside.”

The true ruler of this house sets such rules. There’s nothing to be done about it. That’s just how it is.

Chi, finally catching up to the conversation, wears an expression as if she’d rather die.

“Touch anything odd, and I’ll twist it off.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Every part of you that’s sticking out. It’s obvious.”

“No mercy. No hesitation…”

The immediate response suggests this isn’t something he’s only just thought about.

“Hurry up, hurry up.”

Jin lightly hugs Chi, wondering if Mio seems a little excited.

The moment their faces draw near, the slight tension cannot be denied.

They’re close in age, so Chi resembles Rei more than anyone else.

“Pet me too.”

Jin runs his hand over Chi’s head, following the director’s instruction. The ponytail’s knot returns an unfamiliar texture under his fingers.

“You think I’d forgive this? Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Not a chance.”

He can’t afford to be that optimistic.

Jin’s failure to uphold the order is a fact.

Mio’s sincere effort to reconcile weighs on him, but he cannot overlook this situation.

“What is the Second Fleet planning?”

“What?”

“Since that cocoon retrieval—don’t you notice how the Third Fleet’s been moving oddly?”

That griffin from before had been impressive. Judging by the voice, the rider was Chi. It had targeted with precision, as if reading their movements.

If that’s Chi’s capability, it’s significant.

This isn’t the kind of movement you’d expect from a unit responding to our distress call. What are they after?

“I don’t know. If there’s some scheme afoot, I wouldn’t be the one to know it, at the front line.”

Jin felt the lie in that reply. Ah, they’re remarkably similar sisters.

The body’s reaction when lying is exactly the same.

When pursuing deception, Jin and Mei would always verify the other’s response. Jin had mostly been the one pursued…

“Still, one thing I can say is this. Our purpose serves the benefit of all humanity.”

No lie in that statement. A declaration rooted in personal conviction.

Yet, blind trust was impossible.

Jin opened his mouth to press further.

Distracted by interrogation, he failed to notice Mio answering the intercom.

At the same moment the front door lock disengaged. A voice, recently familiar, spoke.

“Troubling you, Lieutenant. It’s been just one day, but I’m here…”

A heavy thud of luggage hitting the floor echoed from behind.

Unpleasant sweat began tracing down Jin's back.

"Sharon, welcome."

"Hm? Who's that?"

Chi emerged from the gap in Jin's arm, and the figure behind—Shirley—appeared to have exceeded her tolerance threshold.

"W-What are you doing? Lieutenant!"

Nothing wrong had been done. Jin felt an urge to bow deeply.