32 After it was over

"Really. You strutted ahead, didn’t you? But then leaving me behind, forgetting even my existence—doesn’t that border on callousness?"

"No, I’m sorry, sister…"

May was furious.

She was furious.

Even though Shu had been in an extreme state, the fact that she had been completely abandoned and forgotten had enraged her.

A week had passed since then.

Every time something came up, Shu was reminded again.

Starting with the delayed battle aboard Antares commanded by Harold, the escape just before being shot down.

Then the desperate evasion from Trishula’s artillery after seizing the reserve unit Raven, followed by the escape from a nearly destroyed机体.

She recounted in meticulous detail how much she had suffered.

"I really am sorry… I’ll never forget this again…"

Shu had no reply. It was entirely her fault.

"You'll just forget everything again once your mind's full of Mio, won't you, you useless younger brother."

There was no rebuttal. It was undeniable.

Central Hospital, Third Fleet.

Both had been heavily downed; upon return, they had been admitted immediately for detailed diagnostics.

"To be honest, hearing about it made me feel like my lifespan had shortened."

Kou lifted Shū once more, exhausted to tears, after he'd fallen asleep.

When his parents had been away for a while and returned, only to hear their mother had been hospitalized— he'd wept uncontrollably.

It was unavoidable. He'd cried, loud and unrelenting.

Even when told it would be alright, to a child, a hospital remains a frightening place.

He stayed clinging to May until he fell asleep.

"Brother... that is..."

May had suffered as she did because of Shu's selfishness.

Kou’s fist landed on Shu’s head, bracing for a reprimand as he prepared to confess his actions.

“Next time, include me. I’ll handle it better.”

“Brother…”

May watched the brothers with a fond smile, then suddenly recalled something and asked Kou.

“…Incidentally, are you fond of quiet, gentle types?”

The faint image of a dreamlike self—no, someone who surely no longer existed.

Recalling that gesture, May asked half in jest. Kou grimaced openly.

“Would give me hives if you pulled that nonsense now.”

“That’s harsh…”

“You’re best as you are.”

“Oh… well… I… thank you…”

Caught off guard, May flushed, lowering her face.

Unable to continue the conversation, Jun turned and quietly left May’s room, returning to his own.

“Sister should get used to it already…”

Then again, his brother occasionally said things like that.

More to the point, Jun found himself at a loss when his step-sister displayed her occasional innocence.

“Oh? Jun. What are you doing out here in the corridor?”

“Yuria. Visiting May?”

“Yes. Finally returned to the Third Fleet.”

Since that battle, Yuria had remained on Terminus’s homeworld.

She had been coordinating the disbandment of the Harold Fleet and negotiations with the Terminus people from that base.

“Haven’t quite figured out what’s going on, but heard it’s been tough.”

“I don’t even understand it myself…”

Yuria let out a sigh that sounded more like a whisper.

She had been nominated to lead the newly established joint unit between the Terminus people and the Third Fleet.

The unit served largely ceremonial purposes, facilitating interspecies interaction.

In a sense, it would become a symbol of the relationship.

That was precisely why Yuria herself hesitated.

She did not believe herself worthy of such a role.

"Something about it feels oddly favored."

"My brother says I charmed some high-ranking official over there."

"No, that’s a misunderstanding... I merely spoke with the unicorn about love."

"To say I charmed it... that’s stretching it."

Well, that was how it was.

The unicorns, traditionally opposed to cooperation with humans, had reversed their stance, prompting increased interest in humanity...

And Yuria, perceived as the first among those seeking understanding, had drawn the attention of the Terminus people.

"My sister finally hit her romantic phase," they said.

"May—no! I've always been popular, you know!"

Uria, pretending to be unbothered, suddenly remembered and asked.

"...Still just a plan, but—after graduation, will you come to our place?"

"I'd like to, but will they accept the request?"

"Probably, if your graduation results are excellent. There aren’t many applicants, after all."

She still felt a distance from the Terminus people. That gap would take years to close.

Uria reasoned that no one would voluntarily request assignment to such a unit unless they were actually standing shoulder to shoulder with its members.

"But... yes, yes. That's right. I have to work hard—for Mio-chan's sake."

Hearing every detail of the great adventure, Uria smiled slyly and teased Sō.

You’re the one who shouldn’t have to push yourself so hard… If you’re leading a unit as suspicious as that, you’ll only be feared more by everyone around you—

Yes! Let's stop this conversation! May. I came to visit you.

"Wait—now—"

Yuria received a severe blow upon seeing Kou and May embracing inside the ward they had just entered.

He’s a good person, though, thought Shu, with pity.

Why do I keep ending up in such terrible situations?

With three classmates beginning some kind of argument, Juu wandered aimlessly through the hospital.

Nothing particularly interesting, yet the sight of a healthy, well-cared-for child is unfamiliar to the guardian.

Among them, a familiar face suddenly caught sight.

"Chi...-san?"

...Sorry. Who could it be.

A woman with a face strikingly similar to Mio's.

Mio pulled the name from memory. Kusunoki Chi.

Now, the nature of that relationship is clear.

Chi’s younger sister. And a cybernetic combat unit of the Second Fleet.

She had no idea why she was here.

All those who joined Harold Fleet’s rebellion should be on Terminus’s homeworld.

“Um, we met once eight years ago. I’m Shu Tōtani.”

“Eight years ago… Ah. That barbecue incident.”

Chi had only ever met Shu on that occasion.

Seven years old at the time, a single meeting hardly enough to establish a lasting connection.

Yet the words alone triggered a matching memory—perhaps because that moment had left a lasting impression.

Still, she had spoken without thinking. Not someone with whom she could easily exchange words.

To keep the conversation going, she asked a neutral question.

“Why the Third Fleet?”

“…Why, I wonder. Really.”

She was met with an unexpected reply.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen. I’ve been thinking about that for a while now.”

The melancholy expression bore a resemblance to Mio.

Without considering what he was saying, he spoke aloud.

"Soukou's doing... well."

He did not understand why he had said it, but he had conveyed Mio's current state.

"He's not with the convoy right now... but he's been thinking about taking a graduation trip once he returns... so, that is..."

As he spoke, his thoughts grew muddled.

Yet, one thing became clear.

"Stay strong."

The face, so like Mio's, looking down at him, unsettled him.

He knew it was entirely none of his business, yet he could not refrain from speaking.

"F-fufu. So. He's doing well."

A small smile formed. It was a face reminiscent of Mio.

"Good. I didn't need to say anything. He's recovered."

"Yes."

That much, at least, he could say without hesitation.

What lies ahead is unknown.

The girl who once trembled at the thought of an unseen path, who refused to move forward, who tried to pretend it did not exist—she no longer exists.

Chi was satisfied simply by hearing that.

At least the final wish of the sister he had trampled upon—was, at least for now, fulfilled.

“That’s good.”

A sigh of relief. Chi smiled, the last burden lifted.

“Thank you for telling me.”

He bowed slightly to Shou, then turned and walked away.

Shou watched his retreating form—like an empty shell, he thought.

In truth, that was accurate.

For over ten years, he had devoted himself to meeting his sister once more.

Now, knowing all that effort had been meaningless, the solemn resolve of that time had vanished entirely from Chi.

The Laitera Project was destroyed.

Even if he returned to the Second Fleet, there was no reason to fight.

And even if he left the Defense Force, he did not know what to do next.

Chi did not know what to do next.