31 Mio's Birthday 2

"Lieutenant. That is..."

"Not bad, I think. Keeps the arm from dulling."

"True. But only maintains the current state. That's already all we can manage."

The current state is already top-tier skill, so it seems there should be no issue—yet Sharon harbors concern.

"You've never approached battle with such an attitude, have you?"

"Suppose not."

Jin knew that maintaining the status quo would not protect his comrades.

That was why he had kept growing stronger.

To halt that progression now—this was no longer the mindset of his most mentally resilient days.

"Returning to duty in such a half-hearted manner might be better left undone."

"Frankly, I agree."

A small smile touched Jin's lips.

Darkly rooted there was self-mockery.

He was fully aware that this choice was undignified.

"Regardless, the peak has passed. Now it's just how long we can maintain it."

"Can't you leave it to someone else?"

"No. Only I can kill him. Even if it doesn't reach him, I want to strike back."

The reckless posture reminded Shirley of Jin from a year ago—her unease deepened.

"...Probably, I can't move forward unless I do this myself."

Jin murmured, eyes fixed on the fist clenched around the ring.

"That's why I can't leave it to others. I have to do it with my own hands."

"You really aren't kind to yourself, are you?"

Shirley sighed, thinking he could afford to live a little easier.

Jin smiled again.

This time, faintly nostalgic.

"I said that before."

"Did you?"

"Six years ago—no, already seven."

"Is it really that long?"

"Time passes faster as you get older."

"I still feel a year is long!"

Whether Shirley’s self-report is truthful—let that remain unexamined.

“Training squad’s been with them since they were commissioned. At least two more years as instructors.”

“Is that acceptable? Their skills will deteriorate.”

“Even accounting for that decline, the net result of their training is still positive.”

“Um… are they really that capable?”

All that comes to mind is their image from some long-ago barbecue.

That Jin would hold them in such high regard was unexpected.

“Nastin has the right kind of vision—suitable for a marksman, suitable for a commander. Bellwarl… well, that remains to be seen.”

“Hmm.”

As for May, Jin considered it unlikely she would be straightforwardly designated a pilot.

After observing her training over the past period, a sense of severity was apparent.

Regarding Sasamori... Honestly, she might even outperform regular troops at this stage.

At least in terms of individual skill, few can match her.

The comparison would have to be with ace-class personnel.

"Her kill count depends on luck, so that's hard to judge... but her ability? She'd surpass even the cybernetic squad."

"How pitiful... young as she is, she's already a social null, like Lieutenant."

"Why would you feel sorry for her? Did you really think I was a social null?"

"Didn't you notice?"

"Ah... yes..."

Jin turns his disoriented gaze toward her, startled by such a confession.

"Well, I understand the Lieutenant's perspective."

"Aah... that's right..."

Jin hesitates slightly, choosing his words.

"What about you?"

"...Are you saying I should transfer to the instruction unit?"

"Adjusting the unit. No one else can do it right—her performance falters without you."

Jin averts his gaze, slightly embarrassed, and confesses.

"My life is entrusted only to the unit you maintained."

"...Truly. You hold back your confession, yet still you unsettle me."

"...I apologize."

"Please don't. Rather. Haven't you ever wondered? Why I was reassigned to maintain training units."

Originally, Sharon had been a technician in Jin's same unit.

When Jin became an instructor, she too had been reassigned to the training facility.

Jin had never considered it until now.

"I would have gone regardless. After all, who else could tend to a lieutenant's unit? If left unattended, it would surely fail."

That was the truth.

As warriors facing the battlefield, the two were undoubtedly inseparable.

Only Shirley can adjust a unit capable of keeping pace with Jin’s piloting.

Only Jin can handle Shari's finely tuned, razor-edge settings.

That is precisely why their bond did not break, even after parting ways.

That was precisely why Jin could not forget the battlefield even while with Sharon, leading inevitably to collapse.

Ironically, the better one’s compatibility as a soldier, the worse it becomes as a private individual.

But please remember, Lieutenant. I won’t allow you to throw away your life. Not until you accept my confession—absolutely not.

Only Jesus is recognized, huh...

Of course. I’ll make them say yes in exactly ten years.

Jin does not respond to Sharon's renewed declaration of resolve.

Just that, Jin thinks.

If we could defeat that super-large specimen.

On this day, it feels as though Rei is nowhere to be found.

Not until then could he think of anything beyond that.

That certainty was absolute.

◆ ◆ ◆

January 15.

After finishing lectures at the training academy as usual, and eating dinner with Mio at the mess hall as always.

"Here you go, miss. Happy early birthday."

Jake hands her a wrapped package.

"Thank you, Jake."

"Not anything questionable, now."

"What do you take me for... It's a child's cooking kit."

"Oh. You can cook at home now."

Mio doesn't open the package here, but she lifts it with clear delight.

"Oh, Jake beat me to it. Yes, Mio-chan, this one's from me. A bit heavy, though."

"Thank you, Sharon."

Jin suppresses a laugh as Mio shakes the package, trying to guess its contents.

Certainly not possible to tell by shaking it.

"By the way, it's a bath bomb."

"Ooh. Something that explodes."

"An explosive...?"

"Lieutenant, you ought to study the world a bit more."

Having been told it was a type of bath additive, Jin gained a small measure of knowledge.

A delightful gift for Mio, who loved baths.

"Fufu. It's from all three of us. Here, take it."

As she spoke, May handed over a large stuffed animal tied with ribbon.

"An enormous penguin!"

Large enough to hide half of Mio’s body.

Seeing the girl wobble, Jin rushed to support her.

She clutched it tightly, expression softening.

Her simple reaction made her enjoyment unmistakable.

"What's this?"

"Yuria wrapped it up for us."

"Stop saying things that sound dirty! It was a prize from the shooting competition!"

Apparently, they'd found it by chance while walking through town together.

Apparently, it was meant for soldiers only… but since he’s a trainee, it’s barely within the rules.

“Actually, I retrieved it myself.”

“Hey, I was the one who found it.”

“I was the one who suggested entering.”

“Sasamori was around the middle, and May was fighting for last place…”

Apparently, the path to obtaining it wasn’t easy for them.

“Thank you all so much!”

Mio bowed deeply, hugging all the presents at once, greedy with delight.

Jin wanted to praise her for expressing gratitude properly.

“…By the way, why’s Mio getting presents?”

“Really? That’s the question?”

A collective, slightly slackened smile spread across their faces.

Mio’s innocence—her obliviousness to social norms—had become routine over the past year.

“Tomorrow’s Mio’s birthday.”

“Oh… so Mio has a birthday too?”

“Of course.”

Yet certainly, Jin thinks.

Without memories of the past, Mio cannot know when her birthday falls.

Perhaps she had believed it did not exist at all.

"Good. I’m with everyone."

Seeing her so deeply relieved, Jin regrets not having told her sooner.

"We’ll have a party at my place tomorrow."

"A birthday party?"

"That’s right. I’ll handle the preparations—won’t be extravagant, but still."

"No! I’m happy!"

Mio’s mood spikes abruptly.

Jin thinks, children truly do love parties.

"I wish tomorrow would come faster."

She shifts restlessly, unable to wait.