12 As Always, Her

"Still, this is the first time we've descended onto a planet, and there's nothing here."

"Truly. Can we really sustain ourselves in a place like this?"

Marine resources seemed abundant, but the land was barren to an extreme.

Mostly short trees. Barely half May's height.

No signs of animals anywhere.

Overall, an open expanse with no visible threats.

A fortunate circumstance for the two stranded individuals.

Dragging the rubber raft they'd used during escape inland.

This rubber raft had a roof, so it could serve as a tent, and carried a beacon, making it a signal transmitter as well.

It was the first lifeline the two had to secure in this survival scenario.

"Food supplies: seven days per person. At least we don't need to worry about air."

"Water too."

With a filtration unit, seawater can be made potable—managing water supply is manageable.

Compared to the situation their Instructor faced during space drift, this was still relatively favorable.

"Kou's been monitoring our orbital path until the very end, and the cruiser should be tracking us too. Help will arrive soon."

"Yeah... right. That's right."

Yuria, who had barely survived minutes ago, still trembled, but slapped her own cheek to regain composure.

"Even if we have emergency rations, we should conserve them. Let's forage locally."

"That's fine, but Yuria—do you remember what's edible?"

"...I don't."

"Coincidentally, neither do I."

The data set was substantial.

During exploration, the assault frame's database would have been linked for collection.

That meant the database was inaccessible offline...

What should we do?

What should we do, I wonder?

They exchange glances, at a loss.

Then Yuriya notices something.

"No, wait! The unit should still be functional! It's sinking, but—!"

"Come to think of it, you're right. Let me try connecting briefly."

Yuriya's unit fails due to poor communication.

May's unit, however—

"O, it's coming through, Yuriya. True to form, even in vacuum. It held up against water pressure, didn't it?"

"I suppose it'll fail eventually. But for now, let's download the data on edible plants."

They collect plants suitable for consumption.

They build a fire. Gather stones and stack them like a hearth.

"Hard to stack these round stones."

"Any shape will do. Just enough to support the pot."

Boil water using filtered seawater and simmer wild herbs to taste.

Seasoning comes from salt extracted from seawater.

Not exactly palatable, but they swallow it despite the discomfort.

"Even if we land successfully, surviving on this for ten days will be tough."

"Proper cooking might make it somewhat better. Probably."

Thinking that having salt at all is a small mercy, they add wood to the fire.

"It doesn't burn well."

"Quite damp, probably rained recently."

The sun sets.

Both conserve energy and go to sleep.

Knowing no dangerous land-based lifeforms are present, they lie down together without hesitation.

"Good night, Yuriya. Let’s try to make something more edible tomorrow."

"Um… May. That is…"

Yuriya calls out to May, who is about to slip into her own tent.

——Sleep together?

"Um… Yuriya. This is a single-person tent. Two people would be quite tight."

Still, it’s only one adult male. May’s small frame and Yuriya’s female build would fit, barely.

"Because… I might remember that time I fell asleep. You know, missing warmth. Something like that."

"Good grief. I’m glad I sent Kou ahead. Even if Kou were here, I think Yuriya would’ve said the same."

"No, no. That’s definitely not—"

It’s hard to assert confidently.

She’s aware her mental state is already at its limit. Perhaps she’d have settled for Kou, if she had to.

"Ah well. Since you’re being so cute, I’ll let you sleep with me."

There's no need to say something like that, is there!?

As they exchanged their usual banter, the two lay down, and Yuriya hugged May tightly.

Hmm. Warm...

Just so you know, Yuriya. If you do anything lewd, I’ll be serious about it.

I won’t. What do you think I am?

You’re always in heat, love-struck brain.

Withdraw the second half of that, please.

So you’re okay with the second half...?

She hugged May tightly. Yuriya turned her face away, unable to look directly at her.

Thank you, May. You came to help me.

I told you, Yuriya. Helping teammates is natural. Helping friends is natural.

Still, I won’t forget this. I’ll always come to help you when you’re in trouble.

May shifted uncomfortably at those words.

Well, you don’t have to come help me, you know.

What are you talking about? I’ll definitely come.

"No, honestly. It’s troublesome having you come. I mean... I’d rather you put yourself first."

"Wait a minute. That’s not what you said just now."

Yuria’s voice wavered—confusion and anger tangled in the words, pressing hard against Mei’s evasion.

"We’re a team. Friends. Why’s it okay for you to save me, but not for me to save you?"

How to rephrase it? Mei hesitated—then chose honesty.

If she didn’t speak now, Yuria would surely come to her aid the moment she made a mistake, just as she’d vowed.

Even at the cost of her life.

That was unacceptable.

Mei could never accept that.

"My life and yours aren’t of equal value."

"What... are you saying?"

In the instant Yuria’s grip loosened, Mei lifted her face, locking eyes with Yuria’s.

“I’m sorry, Yuria. There’s something I’ve been hiding all along.”

“Is it about the argument you had with Sasamori earlier?”

“Yes. That relationship.”

Her closest friend was finally telling her something she’d kept hidden.

It was honestly heartening—but the timing unsettled Yuria.

A whisper of instinct.

It would not be a pleasant revelation.

The instinct was correct.

“I’m an illegal clone.”

May spoke these words to Yuria.

The same truth she had once told Jin.

The same rift with Kou.

The remaining time.

Fourteen years of life. Seventy years. They could not be of equal value.

“That’s why I’d feel uneasy if you pushed yourself too hard for me. I’d feel guilty if you risked your life. I’d appreciate it if you helped me… but not too much.”

“What is this?”

Yuria remained furious, even after hearing the entire story.

She did not accept it. Not at all.

That’s not a reason! I wouldn’t abandon a friend over something like that!

Said without hesitation.

No pause. No restraint.

“What does a clone matter? What does lifespan matter? I don’t know where that person came from, and I don’t know how much time they have left—least of all, how much time I have!”

“Uh… Yuria?”

“I could die tomorrow, you know. Maybe I’ll die giving birth ten years from now, unable to endure the strain.”

“That was last year’s movie, wasn’t it?”

“Don’t mock me! I’m angry!”

“Eh… yes. Sorry.”

Still unsettled, May maintains a sincere listening posture.

“If you knew that was going to happen… would you have left me? Would you have given up, saying my time is shorter, so it’s inevitable?”

“No. That’s not true.”

“Then we’re the same. See it. I couldn’t abandon a friend over something like that.”

“That kind of thing… it’s cruel, Yuriya. We’ve been struggling with this for so long.”

“That kind of thing is exactly that. If time is short, you must pour everything into the remaining time. You can’t slow down.”

Yuriya cuts through the problem that May and Kou have carried for so long with a single stroke.

Is it because she is an outsider, unburdened by responsibility?

No.

Yuriya believes this with absolute conviction.

To her, no matter the circumstance, abandoning a friend over such a trivial matter is never a justification for changing one’s stance.

“Besides, fourteen years is enough time for advancement in technology. Maybe we’ll even live longer. Don’t give up.”

“You’re always saying ‘no good,’ ‘no good.’”

“But May, you’re choosing unhappiness yourself. That’s simply not acceptable.”

Yes. Perhaps that’s true, May thinks.

After all, she only has fourteen years left.

I will disappear at an inconsequential time.

If so, I don’t want to leave wounds on anyone else.

That was the truth.

Kou said it too.

He wished me a long life.

But how seriously had I taken that wish?

“Then, Yuriya. What do you think I should do to be happy? I don’t even know myself. Please tell me.”

“It’s obvious.”

Looking at Yuriya’s confident face, May anticipated what would come next.

And the words came out exactly as expected.

“Fall in love!”

Yuriya was, as always, Yuriya.

Even after learning the harsh fate of her closest friend.