24 The Day the World Ends

"First, let's go shopping, then bowling, then karaoke, and finally tea at a family restaurant!"

"Emissa, you're overloading the schedule."

"You won't be able to fit all that in... really."

Emissa raises a clenched fist, announcing today's itinerary.

Mio calmly points out the impracticality of such an overstuffed schedule.

Yamato, measuring the time they normally spend together, quietly states they will inevitably exceed the curfew for all three.

"But there's no other time we can all be together, you know?"

"It's fine, Emissa. We can play again when it's March."

"That's right. Let's just skip one thing today. Okay?"

Convinced by the two, Emissa pouts but withdraws her first plan.

The decision is made to skip karaoke.

With the immediate plans settled, they begin shopping.

The three debate back and forth—this way, that way—as they start picking out clothes.

Emissa casually reveals a somewhat detached attitude toward money, causing Ya to react with surprise, while Mio guides them toward more reasonably priced options.

The seamless flow of movement and division of roles among the three is testament to the time they’ve spent together.

The hairpin and bookmark she received on her first birthday remain Mio’s most cherished possessions.

Year after year, gifts are given—yet the first one remains unparalleled.

Though she says nothing aloud, Mio is quietly looking forward to this year’s birthday.

“Ah, since we’re out, how about traveling somewhere far this March?”

“Sounds good.”

“I’d like the aquarium.”

Mio mentions the facility with an annual pass she’s saved up for, and the other two exchange amused glances.

“Mio-chan really likes aquariums, don’t you?”

“Planning to marry a penguin next?”

“Hmph. Emissa doesn’t understand the beauty of penguins.”

Their cuteness. Something she lacks. Mio thinks.

"But since we're at it, wouldn't it be nice to go to a place none of us has been before?"

"Yes. We should share a new memory."

"A place we've never been before…"

Not many come to mind. And when it has to be a place none of them have visited, the options narrow significantly.

"Wait—Ship 41's marine zone was renovated. I haven't been there yet."

"Me neither. Um… what was it called? Something like 'Tropical Sea Wind'?"

"A recreation of a region from the old homeworld. Yeah, that sounds interesting. A new place for all of us!"

They exchange glances, smile in agreement.

With that settled—then comes the next step.

"Let's go pick out clothes for March!"

"We'll have to start saving pocket money right away."

"Hey, maybe I’ll ask for a reward after the exams. Just a little treat."

Still fourteen, fifteen. Freedom with money is limited.

"Oh? Mio-chan. What a coincidence."

"May-nee. Hello."

Wandering around shopping, Jin encounters May, who is doing the same.

Not that there’s any other place to come to if one intends to shop without relying on Ship One’s online services.

In that sense, it is not coincidence but inevitability.

“Hello… is that my friend Emissa? It’s been a while. You’ve grown even more beautiful.”

“May. It’s been ages. You notice my beauty—impressive.”

“Ms. May, it’s been a long time.”

“Yasumi. You’ve become even more lovely since we last met.”

It has been about two years since May and Emissa Yasumi last met.

After May gave birth, opportunities to meet had vanished.

Before that, Jin had usually included her whenever he greeted, so they’d encountered each other at regular intervals.

Now, with the gap in meetings having widened, May greets them both with casual ease, surprised by how much both have grown, and compliments their transformation.

Was she stirred by envy at being the only one praised?

Mio points at herself.

"Me?"

"Still as cute as ever."

Mio nods, satisfied by the compliment.

"What were you doing, May-nee?"

"I was coming back from the hospital. I'm picking up medication after this."

The Third Fleet handles most matters through online procurement, but pharmaceuticals are an exception.

This is a strict administrative control, intentionally enforced.

From behind May, a small head peeks out.

Junpei, May’s son, startled by the two unfamiliar sisters.

"Wow, so cute."

"Is this May’s child?"

"Yes. This is their first time meeting. Junpei, say hello."

May gently pushes her son forward, but he shies away, hiding behind her.

"So cute."

"Come here, Junpei. Just a little, please."

The two, meeting for the first time, are instantly captivated.

She beckons, but still afraid, Mio darts toward her for help.

"Ah. Junpei. To run away—disgraceful."

"Yet you cling to Mio..."

"It's not scary at all."

They shift tactics, change approach.

Trying to draw the pair closer to themselves.

With Mio’s intervention, slowly, gradually, they begin to move toward Emisa and the others.

Opposite the audition hall, a man returns, ambling back.

"Hey, sis. Got what you asked for. Wait—hey! Carmine!"

"Touya! Did you just look at my face and say that? You—insolent!"

"Ah, Touya. Long time no see. A year, right?"

"Long time, Hasegawa. Still, unlike this one, you're full of intelligence."

"Who's lacking intelligence?!"

"You're reacting as if you're aware you're the only one he's spoken to."

"Calling me intelligent? That's infuriating!"

The hardest part for Shu to skip grades was basic academic competence.

From Emisa's perspective, having witnessed the whole ordeal, she'd probably want to say: "Don't you dare lecture me on intelligence."

"Besides, among these three, your grades are the worst, aren't they?"

"Average score! Unlike you, who failed!"

"I'm fine—I live off my athletic ability alone!"

Mio murmured, observing their back-and-forth.

"Those two are close."

"Not really!"

"Unwillingly in sync!"

Their rhythm was still unnervingly aligned.

"Emisa-chan. If you shout that loud, he'll run away."

"...Ah."

Purely, Junpei had become utterly terrified of Emisa.

He fled like a startled hare and hid behind Shu's back.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?"

"Why are you so attached to him?"

"Well, he's my nephew, after all."

The two, unaware of May's fiancé, are startled.

"Didn't know... he was Tōtani-san's uncle."

"Hey, Tōtani-jiisan!"

"Karmain, shut up."

Without pause, they fall into shopping together.

"Anyway, Tōtani. I heard you've been stalking Mio."

"I didn't!?"

"Just so you know. Ambushing someone counts as a full-fledged stalking act."

"Emisa. I only happen to meet Tōya-kun by chance every morning."

"Chance like that doesn't exist!"

Emisa declares it definitively.

And it's true. She always times her appearances with precision—stalking is unavoidable.

"But I'm happy to see Tōya-kun."

"Good, Mio. When you enter high school, we won't be around. Don't say things like that carelessly. Understand? Promise me."

“Don’t really understand, but I promise.”

It’s pleasant.

Mio thinks this.

A sensation like last year returning.

She never imagined that conversations like these—once routine—would become something no longer ordinary.

She never imagined that days that had seemed eternal would end so abruptly.

Ordinariness is not ordinary.

That is why Mio trembles.

The fear that Jin—a figure she had always taken for granted—might vanish.

But it’s all right, Mio tells herself.

The information Chi has given her.

She believes Jin will return.

So she only needs to wait.

When Jin returns, she will welcome him home.

She does not desire much.

What Mio truly wanted was only this modest daily life.

No great happiness is needed.

Fortune and misfortune are like a twisted rope.

Happiness and misfortune come in turn.

After great happiness comes great misfortune.

That is not what I want.

Only a flat, unbroken peace.

That was all Mio wished for.

Even that was denied her.

Explosion. Collapse.

"W-was that a loud noise just now?"

"I was startled... Could it be an accident? What's wrong with you, Higashiya? You look terrified."

"Tōya-kun? May-neechan?"

Unaware of Junpei crying from the loud noise, the two stared toward the source of the sound.

"...Shu. I'm taking everyone to the shelter. Stay on course."

"Junpei, I'll carry him. Higashi, Carmine, Hasegawa! Stay close—hold on tight, even if it's just a hand!"

"Wait—what is this all of a sudden?!"

Emissa frowned, her expression sharp. She found the abrupt, stern order directed at the three of them incomprehensible.

Mio, who had been bewildered, instinctively pressed a hand to her mouth at the sudden sensation washing over her.

A terrible dissonance rang inside her skull.

It sounded like a scream—like the final gasp of dying.

“What… is this…”

“That explosion… it’s not normal.”

“An explosion capable of destroying buildings—such a thing couldn’t happen by accident.”

The only possibility would be a fuel system malfunction—but there was no way a colony ship’s fuel system would be located in the middle of a city.

All other explanations were unlikely.

Yet the structure was collapsing—so even the least likely event had occurred.

And the truth of it.

A metallic shriek raced from one end of Ship One to the other.

“What the hell is the observation team doing… damn it…”

ASID. The guard spat in frustration at the sudden appearance right in the heart of the city.

The collapse continued—unbroken.

To Mio, it sounded like the breaking of her own world.