Dockside

The place where Rinna brought Shinnosuke next was a spaceport.

Not the section reserved for free merchants like Shinnosuke and his crew, but a civilian area—specifically, one designated for tourist and recreational vessels.

"Shinnosuke-san, I'd like to rent a small cruiser. Would you mind piloting it? Take me on a starry sky cruise, please."

It seemed Rinna was hoping for a romantic evening among the stars, escorted by Shinnosuke.

Perhaps he had bought the glasses in advance for this purpose, but since it was for Rinna, who he regularly looked after, Shinnosuke decisively chose to fulfill her wish.

Shinnosuke and Rinna went to the rental cruiser's reception desk to complete the registration and decided to rent a small cruiser for half a day.

The leisure cruiser rented by Shinnosuke and the others couldn't undertake long voyages, but it was comfortable inside and could comfortably accommodate about ten people.

Though a small vessel measuring around 30 meters in length, it had an elegant and stylish design. Even though the rental fee was quite high for just half a day, Shinnosuke decided to cover the cost, considering their usual good treatment and as a token of gratitude for the glasses.

The two arrived promptly at the docking station where the ship was moored, having entrusted the card key.

Shinnosuke saluted the ship before boarding, and Lina followed suit, bowing respectfully before stepping aboard.

Inside the bridge, in addition to the pilot and passenger seats, there were also sofas and a bar counter installed.

Moreover, the bridge was made of super-hard glass, allowing a direct view of the outside scenery—quite different from the monitor-based military vessels.

"Woah, this is amazing!"

While Rina happily explored the bridge, Shinnosuke finished preparing for departure.

"Rina, we're setting off. Please take your seat."

"Yes, sir!"

Although the ship doesn't sway violently or pose any significant danger, sitting in your assigned seat is a rule upon departure.

While this rule is rarely observed on civilian leisure vessels, it's simply natural for Shinnosuke, who comes from the space military, and for Rina, a crew member of the merchant fleet, to follow established regulations.

Rina sat in the seat beside the pilot's chair, watching Shinno's hands on the controls with keen interest.

As Shinno was watched by Rina, he fired the side thrusters and smoothly detached the ship from the docking station.

Thanks to Shinno's skillful maneuvering, the ship glided away from the station and changed direction with ease.

"Then, here we go."

Shinnosuke pushed the throttle lever forward, propelling the ship ahead.

Since they were within the controlled airspace around the colony, they were free to navigate without restriction, so Shinnosuke deliberately steered clear of regular cargo ship routes.

Though they had already departed and could now move about freely, Rina stayed close to Shinnosuke’s side, her eyes shining with wonder at the world of stars.

"Hmm, it's beautiful. The stars look just as bright as they do from the colony, yet they seem even more radiant. Living in a colony, you don't often get chances like this, so it feels wonderfully fresh."

Lina rests her hand over Shinosuke's as he grips the throttle lever, saying such things.

Since it doesn't interfere with handling, Shinosuke leaves it as is.

After navigating for a while, Shinosuke waited for the right moment and turned the ship around.

Before them stretched the planet Pelene and the central station orbiting it.

"Woah..."

Even Lina couldn't help but stand up and rush to the front glass.

Shinosuke stopped the vessel and left the pilot's seat, joining Lina beside the window.

"To be honest, I was worried that Shinosuke, after losing the ship, might quit being a free trader... But seeing him today, I feel relieved."

Lina murmurs, gazing at the scenery outside.

"Relieved? Why?"

"Because Shinnosuke is a born sailor. He never fails to salute when boarding, and always follows even the smallest rules and procedures. The thought that Shinnosuke would ever leave the ship—that he'd quit being a sailor—simply doesn't make sense. Just thinking about it made me happy. Even though I can't work alongside Shinnosuke as a crew member like Seira-chan or Milena-san, I can still help him from now on as a union staff member."

Shinnosuke nodded in agreement with Lina's words.

"To be honest, I was at a loss after losing Cerberus. Marks even suggested I could quit being a free merchant, but I couldn't imagine spending my life just getting off the ship and doing nothing. Marks probably knew that, which is why he pushed me—but I truly believe there's no way for me to live outside of being a sailor."

Lina looked up at Shinnosuke.

"You won't quit being a sailor, will you?"

"Yes. I don't know any other way to live, so I need to return soon. And to do that, there's simply no way without a ship. I must get a new one right away."

"I wanted to hear those words today. That's more than enough for me. I'll do my utmost to help you, Shinosuke, get your new ship....And from now on, no more sneaky shortcuts. From here on out, it's straight-up, fair competition."

"Huh? Sneaky shortcuts, competition?"

"No, I mean this way. And even though we're saying it's the last chance, there's still time today, so come on, Shinosuke, let's enjoy ourselves fully. I brought lunch. Let's eat together while gazing at this beautiful starry sky."

After that, Shinosuke and Lina thoroughly enjoyed their starlit cruise.