25 When the leaves begin to change color
October had arrived.
Days of startling calm continue.
To Jin, it was a day-to-day existence that felt strangely uneventful.
Yet, I also think this might be what it was meant to be.
It was unnatural to have become an Instructor and still be drawn into combat once every two months.
Nine months had passed since Mio began living with her.
"Daddy lied!"
No, I'm sorry, Mio. I didn't mean to lie...
Jin was scolded by Mio, who was angry.
You said you'd take me to the pool when summer came. It's already autumn!
Yes, I'm sorry.
That is the case.
Jin has completely forgotten it.
Mio had completely forgotten as well—so it's fair to say they're both in the same boat.
but suddenly seemed to recall something, as if Mio had remembered.
I wanted to swim with dad...
Jin could not remain silent after hearing that.
There should be something called a warm-water pool in the world.
Though out of season, Jin and Mio head toward the pool to fulfill their promise.
"By the way, Mio, how were your swimming grades?"
Jin does not know yet, as the second semester results have not been handed out.
"Complimented!"
"Is that so. Complimented?"
Unclear.
"Well... they said my form was clean."
"Ah. That's impressive."
They change into swimsuits.
Rent a floatation ring.
"What's this?"
"A thing that floats."
Jin’s explanation had issues—but Mio seemed unable to imagine what it was.
Naturally, they don’t use such things in school swimming.
Seeing people bobbing on the moving pool, floating on rings, Mio finally understood how to use it.
"Oh. New sensation."
Jin relaxed too, floating beside Mio, bobbing gently in the water.
In truth, Jin did not dislike being underwater.
The sensation of weightlessness—though not complete—of the body lightening.
He liked that feeling of floating.
“By the way, Dad. You mentioned earlier…”
“Sasamori trainee?”
“Will being able to swim really help you move in space?”
“Ah, yeah.”
There was a similar sensation.
Recalling his own training days, and the current trainees.
“People good at swimming tend to adapt quickly to movement in space.”
That was his thought.
“Wow. Then I’ll work hard too, Mio.”
“What’s that, Mio? You want to go to space?”
“I want to help Dad with his work!”
Good girl. Jin felt a brief warmth.
“Thank you, Mio. But Dad’s work is a bit dangerous.”
As a parent, one might wish that Mio remain untouched by such conflicts.
……Given that they’ve already been caught up in it twice, all the more so.
"I'll protect you, Mio, since it's dangerous!"
Mio, grow bigger. Bigger than me. Until then, I’ll protect you, Dad.
Muu. I want to grow bigger, fast.
In addition, Jin's height exceeds 180.
Mio, being comparatively small, would find it quite difficult to overtake.
Jin says he understands it—Mio probably does not.
"Dad, what's that slide?"
"Water slide?"
Mio found something new as she was being carried along.
Jin answers, his eyes sharp with curiosity.
A slide with flowing water.
"Massive"
No need to ask. Mio's gaze was fixed there.
"Ride?"
Boarding!
Immediate response. Climbing out of the flowing pool, joining the line.
The fact that this pool, out of season, still draws a line suggests its popularity.
"Actually, Tooyama-kun's been acting strange lately."
"Is that so?"
That was a cause for concern.
About two months since discharge.
He should have been fully recovered, yet some lingering aftereffect might remain.
Jin pondered.
"Something like this, you know."
"Hmm?"
Jin tilted his head. The analogy was unclear.
"Like his speech getting rougher... or something."
That was the first thing that came to mind when someone said "Kou-like"—though how appropriate that was as an instructor was beside the point.
"Or declaring that strength is everything."
That was the second thing that came to mind—also questionable.
"No, not that."
Mio paused, thinking.
"He just... looks like a cool guy."
"Huh?"
"Why would that be?"
Jin responded to his daughter's question.
"Probably Tooyama-kun's just trying too hard to look cool."
"Ah, I see."
A response too childish to be acceptable.
A moment—no, quite frankly, not at all calm for Jin.
The girl's reaction, he couldn't help but think, must be due to her awareness of Shu.
(Tooyama-kun... you're quite the nuisance...)
He recalled the man several times over.
First meeting: when Chi had been stalked, and he had stepped in to help.
Before that, he’d heard from Ya and Emissa during a barbecue that the man had served as a subordinate, watching over Mio.
And then, the previous planet, Mercury.
He had protected her, risking his own life—unquestionably a benefactor.
Taken together.
(…Wait. Nothing seems problematic right now.)
Future matters aside, at present, he might be a promising candidate.
No complaints about his care for Mio.
(No, no. I won’t accept someone weaker than me…)
Jin resolves to start checking him more strictly from now on.
A boy somewhere sneezed.
Laughing as they passed the turn, Jin slid down the water slide in one motion.
“Hya—!”
A cry—whether of fear or delight, it was impossible to tell.
Jin sliding down, cradling Mio against his knee.
Fast, even by his standards—yet still slow in the world of kilometers per second.
The sheer speed, achieved without augmentation, was unsettling.
They plunged into the pool at the end.
Mio, soaked through, bounced up, eager for another round.
Regrettably, the pool was a no-screen-capture zone—no recording possible.
It was a pity the expression couldn’t be preserved.
Jin fixed it in memory, searing it into his mind.
They slid down four more times.
Only now did Jin learn, for the first time.
It seemed Mio liked screaming.
Ironically, that was one of the traits required of a pilot.
One cannot become a pilot without enduring that speed.
Not just physically, but mentally as well.
Of course, that alone does not determine everything. But one must not fear the speed they themselves generate.
"Wasn't that fun?"
"Yeah. Yeah, you really went wild today, Mio."
Mio, the diligent student who enjoyed both study and physical activity, seemed thoroughly satisfied once again.
Despite having moved quite a bit, her steps today were steady.
"Dad, Dad! I wanna go on the waterslide again!"
"Yeah... no, how about trying the roller coaster this time?"
Probably likes it.
Jin was certain, watching her today.
"What do you mean?"
"Ah, like this."
He couldn't explain it with words.
Jin showed her a video of the largest roller coaster in the Third Fleet.
"I want to ride it!"
I thought so.
Then, Jin promises, it shall be there next time.
When is it this time?
—Try to do it as soon as possible...
Jin decides to check the average number of visitors, thinking he would prefer to go during a less crowded period.
"Recently, so many enjoyable things—happy."
So that's good then.
Dad doesn’t go to the hospital either.
Yeah. I'll try to avoid hospitalization as much as possible.
Mio speaks as she walks, her steps light.
Jin finds it gratifying to receive praise for making each day enjoyable—after all, he is the one orchestrating it.
Truly.
The unremarkable days are precious to Jin.
Amusement park, looking forward to it!
Shall we look at which attraction to ride together?
Yes!
Leading Mio by the hand, I reach home, anticipation growing with each step.
Jin’s attempt to open the lock was halted by Mio.
"Mio's the one who'll open it!"
Yes. I'm counting on you.
A physical key, complete with a penguin keychain, pulled out with eager haste.
Despite the scanner being ready at hand, she deliberately chose this one—clearly fond of it.
Struggled slightly to insert it.
Turned the key. Entered the house.
"Otou-san, I'm home!"
"Welcome back, Mio."
Mio's smile spilled forth as if to say that nothing could bring her greater happiness than this greeting.