00-01 – Kota and Rio

「It’s not like we’re gonna stop being childhood friends now that we’re choosing different career paths you know.」

After hearing my words, my childhood friend Rio’s expression brightened. 

I don’t think the reddish tinge on her cheeks was just because of the sunset. 

She had glossy black hair.  Her beautiful hair, which extended down to her waist, was as smooth as silk.  Well-shaped eyebrows peeked out from her bangs.  She had clear snow-white skin and soft pink lips.  I always had to keep myself from being sucked in by her ephemeral jade-colored pupils. 

Such a Rio looked down in embarrassment as she uttered words with her beautiful lips.  

「Yes…… you’re right.  We’re still going to be connected even if we’re far apart.」

「That’s quite a romantic way of putting it.」

「Fufu. But it’s true, right?」

Rio laughed gracefully.  

「I’m gonna maintain your machine, Rio. And you’re gonna protect the country. Isn’t that great?」

「……Fufu. Yes, it is.」

「Right? So we’ll meet up again once we graduate.  It’s only for five years anyway.」

「Five years, huh? That still sounds like a pretty long time.」

The schooling period for each military-run academy was five years.  After graduating, we would both be twenty. 

I’m going to enroll in Japan’s Defense College. 

Rio, on the other hand, was going to the UN Academy in the US. 

We promised to fulfill each of our dreams and meet again in five years. 

「……Five years later, okay?」

「M-Mm. Five years.」

When I reiterated our five-year promise, Rio lowered her jade-like eyes and gently nodded.  I entwined my own little finger on Rio’s slender and beautiful little finger, performing an old-fashioned pinky promise. 

「……」

「……」

Our gazes met.  And then, we started walking with our fingers still intertwined. 

Our lengthening shadows swayed about in concert.  

I wanted to study engineering and become a first-rate mechanic. 

Rio wanted to become a pilot of a giant humanoid mobile weapon. 

I still couldn’t find the courage to confess my feelings to her. 

I didn’t want to become a burden to her.  I couldn’t allow myself to become a shackle and bind Rio who was about to fly in pursuit of her dream. 

So I’m gonna confess once we both fulfill our respective dreams five years later. 

I swore that to myself as I felt Rio’s warmth through her little finger. 

Thus, I, Kota Aoi, and her, Rion Shirosaki, decided to temporarily go our separate ways. 

***

Five years have passed since the end of the war between the United Nations Organization, to which Japan belongs, and the Nordic Nation Alliance that’s also known as the Rays. 

After graduating from the National Defense College, I was now preparing for today’s enlistment ceremony into the Japanese arm of the United Nations Armed Forces. 

From the time I first entered the Defense Academy, I wholeheartedly devoted myself to improving my skills. 

I did this in order to win the special military award that’s only given to a select few graduating students. 

If you proceed to enlist in the military with average grades, you’d still be assigned to a great variety of places, including space.  So it would take a miracle for me to get assigned to the same place as Rio. 

However, the possible assignments of graduates who have been given that special medal would be narrowed down considerably. 

I was able to endure my time at the Defense Academy where malicious bullying and injustices were rampant all for the sake of getting assigned to the same unit as Rio. 

At the time of admission, every student should have come in holding their own notions of justice and beliefs, but due to the highly meritocratic education policy where one is ranked strictly based on one’s own skills, we were made to constantly put each other down in order to rise to the top. That’s why such toxic people inevitably started appearing on campus. 

Many of the students ended up being bad news, but a lot of the professors were actually wonderful people.   Among them, I became quite close to Dr. Akagi, who was said to be the leading figure when it comes to the developments of Mobile Knights (MKs), along with other prominent members of the faculty.  I believe this alone was worth my coming to the Defense College. 

I got to learn the details behind the development of the current generation of MKs, as well as a new revolutionary material that was currently under research.  I also participated in the research of the material while I was in school, and I firmly believe they would be able to complete the research soon.  

There were still quite a number of issues with the material, but once they were ironed out, the scope of the material’s future applications would expand dramatically. 

I’ve worked hard and done my best for the past five years.  I can declare this with pride. 

It was all for the sake of getting assigned to the same place as Rio tomorrow. 

Rio, who went to study in America, seems to have worked hard at the United Nations Academy herself. Not only had she already obtained her pilot license, but she also graduated at the top of her class from the United Nations’ most prestigious military academy.  

Moreover, it was also announced that she would be granted the United Nations’ latest Mobile Knight model, the Lilac. 

Her Lilac was one of several next-generation MK models that were developed simultaneously, and it seemed that the other models would get assigned to ace pilots who were already actively conducting missions. 

All of the other pilots were hero-class pilots who were active in the previous war and whose names have been listed in educational textbooks.

Rio must have really done her very best to be included among those ranks. 

From tomorrow onward, I was going to be assigned to my new post on the moon, where Rio and her new Mobile Knight model were also getting assigned. 

It seemed that the new models will be officially unveiled during today’s enlistment ceremony.

My heart raced at the thought of meeting a grown-up Rio. 

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