30 Mio's Birthday 1
"Isn't this Mio's birthday...? What's supposed to be done on birthdays?"
"Lieutenant, Lieutenant. I had my birthday last month."
"You bought me dinner, didn't you?"
"Hey, Jin. I was born in September too."
"Congratulations."
"Is that all?"
The training academy's mess hall.
A brief moment before Mio arrives, after lectures concluded.
The new year had begun just a few days prior.
The event had reached a quiet lull.
January 16th. The day Mio and Jin first met, and the legally recognized date of Mio's birth.
"To be honest, I've never celebrated a child's birthday before. I don't know what's supposed to be done."
"Still, I didn't do anything particularly elaborate either..."
"We used to have parties... invited people from affiliated companies."
Sharon, usually the one who had offered endless advice about Mio, now seemed to be losing her role.
Her fundamental nature as a lady made even Jin’s wallet seem excessive by her standards.
“Birthday cake and gifts are a given, right?”
“True.”
“You lit candles, didn’t you? As many as her age.”
“I see.”
As for what to gift, that would be considered later. But the cake itself was not unfamiliar to Jin.
“…You don’t do anything special just because they’re a child.”
Recalling the time he had been celebrated, then recalling the time he had celebrated someone else.
For now, aside from the number of candles, everything else matched what he remembered.
“Depends on the household.”
“Yeah. At our place, we just got meat served.”
Jin relaxed his shoulders. Perhaps he’d been overthinking it.
Still.
“I’d like to do something—something that lifts the mood, you know?”
“What? Is Mio feeling down?”
That didn’t seem to be the case…
Is it only when she’s at home? She looks a little down.
The three elders tilt their heads in unison.
For now, only Jin seemed to have noticed.
“Never mind. Let’s get ready.”
“Shall I help with the gift?”
“No. I want to choose this one myself. It’s her first birthday after all.”
He doesn’t want to fail.
But relying on someone else feels wrong, too.
“Are we going to throw a party like last summer?”
“No. Just a quiet cake at home this year. We’ll talk to Mio about it next year.”
“Then I’ll give her the gift the day before.”
“I’ll pick mine with full intent.”
“Sorry, you two.”
Jin offers his thanks plainly, without words, to the two who clearly meant to celebrate his daughter’s birthday.
Honestly, he’s afraid her joy might be greater than what he could choose alone.
"Hey… I’ve been wondering since a bit ago… What happened to the rookies?"
"Ah… that."
A fish beached on land.
The phrase drifts through Jin’s mind.
May looked as if she might die at any moment.
Yuria tended to her with earnest care, while Kou glanced over, concern flickering in his eyes.
It was an unusual state—normally the three of them would collapse together.
"Belwahr trainees seem pretty worn out."
Jin understood the reason as well.
The nanomachines that had accelerated their physical enhancement—also a factor in shortening their lifespans—had likely been halted.
The length of their lives remained uncertain, but the presence or absence of enhancement was unequivocal.
May’s high-speed mobility. The G-force resistance that had sustained it.
That had been lost.
She tried to move with her usual rhythm—only to have her stamina drained entirely.
(That said, the movement itself wasn’t particularly impaired.)
It would be manageable for a short duration.
Yet there was no guarantee combat would end quickly.
If she could not move properly when it prolonged, fighting as a soldier would be dangerous.
The rest depended on how much stamina and combat duration could be extended through continued training…
Jin could not help but admit that sending May into actual combat, given her stature, would be difficult.
Still, he had one idea regarding that.
“Ah, Mio-chan’s here.”
“Otō-san, I’m home!”
“Ah, welcome back.”
“Here you are, girl. What’ll it be today?”
“Hmm, that hōru yaki thing!”
As usual, Mio boldly challenged a dish she’d never seen before.
Upon her arrival, May struggled to lift herself, only to be stopped by Yuria.
Don’t be reckless.
“Tōyakun’s older brother. Good evening!”
“Hm. Always full of energy, Mio. Is Shu keeping well?”
“Yeah. Tōyakun lost another race to Mio today!”
“…Is that so.”
Kō seemed to question whether that counted as being well.
He appeared to convince himself it must be, given the affirmative response.
“Mio-chan, you’re in high spirits today. Anything good happen?”
“Yeah! Um, well… It’s actually a secret…”
Smiling naturally, Mio whispered into May’s ear.
“Actually, I’m going to visit Tōyakun’s house soon.”
“Oh, that’s nice. Have a good time… Wait. Does that mean it’s at Kō’s place?”
“Huh? Mio’s coming to my place? But Shu… not bad.”
Watching the three of them converse.
“Looks just like usual.”
“Looks the same as always.”
“Both of you, let go! Mio was about to say something important! We have to confirm it!”
By the time Jin had calmed down, the skeptical glances from both of them pierced through.
“Just keep an eye on it, if you could.”
“Got it, got it.”
Jin ignored the unmistakably motherly concern in their stares.
“Right, Lieutenant. I’ll be dropping by later tonight.”
“Something on your mind?”
“Shouldn’t I be leaving if there’s nothing to discuss?”
Jin faltered immediately at the sharp retort.
He knew this was one of Shirley’s tactics, yet his pulse still jumped.
Alone together, the military air between them grew thick—but with Mio present, both relaxed into their true selves.
A gap that hadn’t existed six years ago.
From that gap, something faintly familiar emerged—something close to what Jin had sensed in the order.
In other words, without Mio, their relationship cannot progress beyond that of military comrades.
"Nothing wrong with that, I suppose."
"I’ve got business to attend to today, though."
"Then why ask me, huh…?"
Jake watched the exchange with a faint smirk.
That night.
"Actually, this isn’t urgent information, Lieutenant. I thought you might be interested."
The formality of the address made the seriousness clear.
"What is it? Something to do with the Second Fleet?"
"Close enough. First, Harold’s brother is returning. Whether he’s finished whatever he was doing with the Third Fleet remains unclear."
"Still, what’s he here for, in the end?"
"Can’t say. Publicly, at least. Privately… honestly, he’s done nothing. Or rather, he couldn’t have done anything."
"Frankly, if they’re scheming, it doesn’t matter to the Third Fleet as long as no harm comes of it."
"I agree. Harold isn't a villain, so on balance, he won't cause harm to humanity. Though one couldn't exactly call him a good man either."
"Still, hearing that assessment from his sister... that's something."
Jin thinks they must be close.
"One other thing... the super-large entity Lieutenant reported seeing."
"Yeah. That thing..."
"The convoy has registered its existence."
Jin's eyes widen.
"Confirmed information?"
"Yes. That's Harold's official reason. Comparing the super-large entity to convoy combat strength. The migration fleet seems intent on engaging it—though it'll be some time still."
"...I see."
Jin closes his eyes for a moment, as if deep in thought.
"Honestly, I'd planned to retire as a pilot. I intended to stay on as instructor, for Mio's sake."
"Yes. I sensed that."
"But if there's a plan to defeat it... then the matter changes."
Clutching the ring tightly.
Jin’s expression is flat. Not because he feels nothing.
The emotion that surged moments before the explosion now rests in the stillness before a storm.
"I’ll kill him myself."
The ASID that stole the command.
Victory alone is impossible.
Even the full strength of the convoy may not be enough.
He had believed the chance for revenge would never come.
But if—now that he knows—such an impossible opportunity has arrived.
"Thank you for telling me. Sergeant. I—"
"Returning to active duty will only make Mio sad. She worries when you’re away."
Sharon punctures the moment, her voice cutting through the brief return to the face Jin wore before meeting Mio.
A birthday gift like that would be far too pitiful.
"Of course, I know that."
"Really?"
Ah. I’m not exactly eager to be deployed to the front lines. My request is for transfer to the教导 unit instead.