22 May's Concerns

In conclusion, the Second Fleet suffered significant penalties due to this incident.

Insufficient investigation regarding Planet Merce.

Initiation of combat against the Queen by the dispatched unit, acting independently.

As a result, the Second Fleet was required to pay substantial compensation to the Third Fleet.

Additionally, the wreckage of the Queen-type vessel, normally acquired by the fleet that destroyed it, was awarded to the Third Fleet.

"Handled lightly..."

For Jin, who was directly involved, it was a major event. But from the fleet's perspective, it was not such a significant occurrence.

Certainly, in terms of outcomes alone, the number of casualties was relatively small.

Compared to typical engagements against Queens, twenty casualties was on the lower end.

Yet, the number does not heal the grief of the families involved...

The incident was too inexplicable in so many ways.

Insufficient investigation of Planet Merce.

Unusually rapid intervention by the Second Fleet.

From that alone, one might conclude the Second Fleet was orchestrating some scheme... yet the purpose remains unclear.

Judging solely by the final outcome.

The Second Fleet suffered total loss.

It paid reparations to the Third Fleet and lost the remains of the Queen.

Nothing was gained from this incident.

"Or did they gain something after all?"

It's unlikely they sought only the reputation of having destroyed the Queen.

Even accounting for that, the net result remains negative.

It's natural to assume there was some tangible benefit.

"...Perhaps I should ask the Sergeant."

The matter is somewhat sensitive for open discussion.

In that case, it would be best to meet as usual at Higashiō's residence. Yet, a concern lingers—would it be safe to summon him now?

He was not contemplating something as trivial as what would happen if he were pushed down again. Probably.

Another strange occurrence.

The sudden appearance of the Black Knight.

"……"

Jin had consistently avoided considering this matter.

The pattern of the Black Knight’s appearance.

The urge to find a reason behind it.

The instinctive recoil from probing too deeply.

If he pressed further.

He knew a conclusion would eventually emerge.

And he sensed what that conclusion would be.

So he looked away.

He insisted it was coincidence.

He repeated, again and again, that there was no necessity in it. That he was overthinking.

No matter how his intuition pressed against him, Jin chose to maintain the present.

"Otō-san! Visiting the hospital!"

As Jin remained lost in thought, Mio, having finished changing, tugged at his arm, urging him forward.

"Wait, wait. There's no need to rush. Higashiō won't run away."

Five days since the incident on Planet Mercury.

Having been transferred from critical care to general ward after being severely injured by ASID, Shu was about to be visited—Mio, having finished changing, tugged at his arm, urging him forward. "Wait, wait. There's no need to rush. Higashiō won't run away."

Field training was, of course, canceled.

The training academy was currently suspended, including curriculum review.

Thanks to that, Jin had time.

Time to think.

"Quick, quick."

"I'm going now, just wait a moment."

Excited about the visit—though it might be improper to say so—Jin was urged by Mio, who had been waiting with anticipation, and quickly prepared to leave home.

For some time, she had seemed down. Seeing him now, energetic and steady, brought relief.

Jin often came here—this hospital.

Shu was hospitalized here, along with another patient.

"Excuse me."

"Sorry to intrude."

Upon finding the room marked with Shu Tōtani’s name tag, as expected, three people were inside.

"Oh. Tōgō and Tōgō’s father."

"Jay, I came to visit you!"

"This is a get-well gift—fruit platter."

"Thank you! I'll enjoy it later!"

Hospital cube food is especially tasteless.

So bland it might as well have no flavor at all.

Nutrients are abundant, they say—but even Jin wouldn't eat it unless it were a punishment.

He smiled brighter when he realized the fruit was a visit from Mio than when he first noticed she'd come.

"Instructor. And Mini too."

"N-no, I'm not tiny. I grew one centimeter."

"Is that so. My apologies, Mio."

Kou, Guard's older brother, apparently visits every day.

It's fortunate the training school is closed, really.

Though it's not just his younger brother that brings him here.

"Oh? Instructor, and Mio too? You're quite the charmer, Guard."

The third person was May.

Unlike Kou, who wore civilian clothes, she was in pajamas—indicating she was a patient, not a visitor.

The matter previously put on hold.

Deciding to conduct a comprehensive examination of May's body at this opportunity.

"Mr. Higata, how are you feeling?"

"Much better. Thank you."

Watching his response, a thought arises.

"Hey, Trainee Sasamori. He speaks more politely than you do, doesn’t he?"

"...I suppose."

When he glanced toward her, her gaze shifted away with a reply that could be interpreted either way.

Apparently, she had been somewhat affected.

"Still… truly fortunate. It could’ve been much worse."

"Indeed. The fact that the nanomachines injected by ASID just happened to seal the wound—miraculous. Otherwise, by now…."

Either dead or assimilated by ASID.

Either way, meaningless.

"Don't say scary things, big sister Bellwair..."

"May. Did you come here to frighten your guard?"

"No no. But this one's more straightforward than Kou, and their reactions are interesting..."

"May-nee-chan, don't bully Tōyakun!"

Mio scolds May, who's on the verge of laughing too hard from teasing.

She snaps her arms wide, shielding her back with Shu.

"Oh? Mio-chan stepping in as opponent? Very well... I'll crush you with a twist."

"I won't lose!"

"Hey, brother. What's going on here?"

"Never mind. Just May's antics."

May tickles Mio's side, trying to make her laugh—but Mio remains motionless.

Her ticklish resistance is too strong.

"Belwair trainee. Don't fool around in the hospital. You'll bother others."

"Ah ah. Let's play again at the training school, Mio-chan."

"Got it!"

"No, don't play around even at the training school..."

Treating an educational institution as a playground—what kind of attitude is that?

"Speaking of which, Nastin trainee isn't here, is he?"

"Yuria? No, she hasn't arrived yet today."

"Didn't she mention something about having dinner with her family?"

"Ah, right, right. Something about the training school being closed today, or whatever."

The three had always been together at the training school, but apparently they weren’t constantly united beyond its walls.

Then again, that’s expected, Jin thinks.

Even the delinquent trio of their own generation—Jin, Shirley, and Jake—weren’t inseparable every single moment.

"Ah, wait—Instructor. Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Hmm? What is it?"

Jin had been torn between whether to get Mio off the bed or leave her there, caught in the middle of her and Shu’s school talk, when May’s voice cut through his thoughts.

“I have something I’d like to discuss with you regarding the test results.”

“Ah… I don’t mind…”

Jin nods, still holding the question—why him?—unvoiced.

“Then let’s go to my ward.”

May glances briefly at Kou.

Seeing Kou nod as if he understood, Jin feels a quiet warmth. They’ve grown quite close.

A worthwhile effort—indeed, a proper Instructor’s intervention.

“There’s something I discovered during the examination here… It seems I’ve undergone physical modification.”

“Wait. Don’t bring up something important like that with casual talk.”

Jin raises his palm to halt the sudden pitch.

“Just to confirm—did Bellwar know about this?”

“Of course not. I believed the doctor completely. He said the expensive treatment would extend my life.”

A doctor who’d been manufacturing illegal clones from the start.

One shouldn’t expect scruples—yet this exceeds expectations.

“So, it seems my lifespan issue aligns with that treatment.”

“In other words, if I stop the procedure—”

“Not quite normal, but I should be able to live a decent span.”

“I see… that’s good.”

It won’t return to how it was—yet the situation improves compared to before.

Jin thought honestly that this was good news. May’s expression remained unchanged.

“Still, stopping the procedure will halt my physical enhancement.”

“Is that right…? No, I’m surprised. Not quite what I imagined.”

“It’s temporary enhancement using nanomachines. The effect fades without regular treatments. Each session shortens my biological lifespan further.”

It’s probably still experimental. Physical enhancement using nanomachines hasn’t been approved yet.

I knew that, of course—illegal experiments can’t become legal.

“So, about that… my enhanced capability turned out to be G-tolerance.”

Only then did Jin realize the reason behind May’s hesitation.

“Will I still be able to pilot… now that I’m just an ordinary person?”

Without enhancement, May would lose her aptitude as a pilot.

That was the source of her hesitation.