13 The Beginning of Collapse

"What's with that face?"

"No, I'm just thinking Yuri is still Yuri. Rather, the lack of change. It's a bit unsettling."

"Being so earnestly supportive, and then this."

Yuria's eyes water at the harsh words.

Seeing that, May laughs, amused.

"Truly... I feel foolish, worrying so much when it's just like always."

"That's right. You were underestimating me."

"Yes. I didn't expect you to be this much of a romantic."

"...You're not complimenting me, are you?"

"I am."

"Liar! Absolutely a liar! Your mouth's smiling, but your eyes aren't!"

After a while of playful banter in the cramped tent.

"Love, huh. But my love is surely unattainable."

"Why the sudden doubt? Giving up before even starting... ah."

"You've got that look, like you've just thought of something trivial."

"I... sorry... if I'm choosing a partner, I'd prefer a man, I guess..."

"I was dumped without even saying anything."

"Just kidding."

Even Yuriya, with a batting average below.100, couldn’t miss this one.

"Is it Sasamori?"

"I haven’t said anything to anyone."

"You can tell just by looking. Glancing at each other, sneaking looks—wait, that’s you two, isn’t it? Hiding such a huge secret, leaving me out like this, whispering behind my back, trading secrets in the shadows!"

As she spoke, something began to click into place.

Finally, Yuriya’s eyes filled with tears again, and she shouted.

"Yuri. Calm down."

"What? What? You brought it up! Or is it Sasamori!?"

"I didn’t do anything."

"Enjoying the game of pretending your friends don’t notice, aren’t you?"

"Game? Yuriya. You’re already regretting every word you’re about to say—just wait and see."

"You're telling me. While I had my back turned, you two were doing something indecent in a sacred classroom..."

"Stay calm, you delusional pervert."

May smacks Yuriya hard on the forehead, silencing her mid-sentence.

"Ow... that hurts..."

"Remember that pain well. It's what you'll feel when you speak lewdly again."

"So, what's the problem with lewd May?"

"Yuriya's words were just slightly off... you see, with this body, it's impossible to do anything erotic."

"...? Sorry. I don't understand what you mean."

"No, really. I've stopped growing. I'm twelve, or younger. That's me."

Yuriya states this firmly, her tone unshaken by May's confusion.

"Nothing's wrong with that."

"Seriously?"

May's expression turns serious, almost shocked.

"I've read that some people actually prefer the look of someone this young!"

"Yuria. That's why you don't get dates—no, wait, isn't it true men prefer big chests?"

"Every idea has its majority and its minority."

Neither of them knows which is which.

"Still, I don't know which side Kou falls on..."

"Then just overpower him. I read somewhere men can't withstand a direct assault."

"Remarkable, Yuria. Your dating history is zero—equal to your age—and yet you speak like a seasoned veteran!"

"Fu fu. Don't praise me... are you praising me?"

Regardless of Yuria's romantic record.

She insists: push, push, push without pause.

Her one-sided aggression is obvious—but no one here is willing to point it out.

"Hey, promise me, May. Don't give up. Let's push forward—full sprint. Then, in about ten years, we’ll complain together about our partners. After all the abuse, we’ll still feel happy, right?"

"Why does everyone insist on making me promise something... But yes. That sounds fun, if we can."

May nodded, hesitant but compliant, to Yuria’s request disguised as a vow.

"Still, you know... Yuria, do you think we’ll be married by then?"

"Y-You will! Probably... Definitely..."

The two continued talking late into the night.

The notion of conserving energy had vanished somewhere.

And the next morning.

"...Seriously. In a situation like this, these people..."

Raven and Leopard formations had landed beside the tent.

Jin sat atop Raven, still scanning the surroundings for threats.

And Kou rode Leopard.

"Trainee Sasamori. How are the two of them? Is medical support required?"

"Esteemed Sasamori. Probably not. They're sleeping soundly."

"……Remarkable composure. To sleep so deeply under these conditions."

"Thick nerves, that's for sure."

The two inside the tent lay close together, their faces relaxed, peaceful.

Three days since the failed descent.

The expedition training proceeded smoothly.

That meant precisely three days had passed since Jin had landed on the planet.

"Mu—"

A small monster aboard the cruiser in orbital around the planet had ample time to grow restless.

"Trapped here forever—bored!"

"Can't help it. We're guests here."

"Mio, we didn’t do anything wrong!"

"Three days ago, you escaped."

Suddenly, Shō realized—he had slipped out of the room.

At the time, it was a serious problem.

I wanted to go look for her. But going to look meant breaking the rule that we were not to leave the room.

After deep hesitation, Mio tried to bring her back before anyone else found her—but too late.

In the end, both of them were scolded.

"Sharon was really angry… said not to tell anyone at all…"

"Probably gonna get in trouble with Mr. Higashi’s father or something…"

In reality, that wasn’t true. But the two children had interpreted Sharon’s strict warning as such.

Sharon had realized, too.

Mio’s calculation ability was abnormal.

Mio had computed orbital trajectories, factored in communication speed for data transfer time, and processed the craft’s onboard computation time—then derived acceleration in an instant.

In actuality, the equations were not particularly difficult to solve.

But at that time, preparing the ritual and running the calculations created a delay that wasted the most valuable time of all.

And it was not the kind of calculation a six-year-old could perform mentally.

Not something that can be dismissed with a label like 'genius.'

An ability that would inevitably be exposed to curiosity and suspicion if revealed.

I’m sick of getting yelled at by that blonde lady.

"Sharon's your older sister, right?"

That's right.

Reprimanded by the one found—Sharon.

Hajime frankly offered an apology.

Sorry, ma'am.

And.

The sermon was extended.

Unfathomable.

He doesn’t want to get scolded by Tōgō either, does he?

But it's boring!

I'm bored too... just studying all the time.

Guard was more inclined to move his body at school than to study.

The prolonged period of confinement had accumulated significant stress for him as well.

The two troublemakers glanced at each other and nodded.

"Escape?"

"Let's do it!"

Quietly, they opened the door to Jin's room and peered around.

"Sharon."

"Alright, let's go."

And so the two set out toward freedom.

"It's big here."

"Yeah. And it all looks the same—can't tell which way is which."

They got lost immediately.

The ship was never designed to be navigable.

Two unfamiliar with movement, unable to find their way.

They stood at a loss.

Then Mio noticed a lamp blinking brightly.

Approaching, it flashed again.

Ah, interesting, she thought, and followed the light.

"What should we do? Just go back to the room and get scolded... Sharon?"

She turned—Mio was already moving off on her own.

"Hey, wait! Don't go off by yourself!"

The scene unfolded as it always did between the two.

The place guided by the light Mio pursued was the observation deck.

Planet Merce still glowed blue, unchanged.

Mio stared at it without blinking.

"Seriously, what's wrong with you, Tōgō?"

"It's so dazzling."

"Yeah. Beautiful, isn't it?"

"No."

Mio’s eyes remained fixed on Merce, intense.

"Already—"

In that instant, an alarm blared within the cruiser *Al*.

Below, one of Merce’s continents split apart.

◆ ◆ ◆

And the same held true for the flagship of the Second Fleet’s concealed detachment.

Amidst the ringing alarm, a voice rose—neither joy nor scream, but something between.

"Ether response increasing! Rapid ascent! Two thousand, two thousand five hundred, three thousand... still rising!"

The emergence of a powerful ASID. Normally a cause for alarm, yet the control officer, aware of its significance, wears a smile of delight.

"Lord Harold. This—"

"F-fuhahahaha! No mistake! There it is! The successor is there! Right over there!"

Harold does not respond to Major's inquiry, his voice trembling with excitement.

Yet his jubilant words are the clearest proof.

"The old Queen has awakened! Seeking a fresher soul. That single cruiser has proven its worth—equal to the soul of an entire star!"

"Estimated output: four thousand lammy! Highest class ever recorded!"

"Four thousand. Barely within range. Can you make it, Major?"

"Whenever you give the order."

"Good. Then I'm counting on you. Capture that Queen."

Harold smiles softly, issuing the command.

For this purpose, he concealed the planet's data.