1 "Decision and reunion"
Two things come to all human beings equally, birth and death.
Kiriko and Amane were standing around thinking of the victims of the Tarrant raid. they were sitting on a simple bench with slightly tense expressions in the corridor in front of the conference room on the satellite used for the GP executive meetings.
The blue shining academy planet could seen from the window of the wall in front of them.
The continent with the GP academy was visible to them.
"... ... Seina..."
Kiriko imagined how much shock Seina was in after hearing about this from Erma as she looked at the planet. Her facial expression distorted. Amane noticed and slowly put her hand on Kiriko's clasped hand.
"Amane ......"
Amane was gazing at the same place as Kiriko, she thought about the same thing.
"It seems that the meeting has ended."
And the weight of Amane's hand on Kiriko's suddenly relaxed then vanished.
"... ... Looks like it"
The door opened, the GP executives who came out from the conference room were uniformly stiff, and between the GP people who wore uniforms dyed blue and those in the military department wearing green-based uniforms, an emotion similar to hatred flew in.
It was clear just from their eyes even to those who did not know the circumstances of what was going on.
"hmpf"
One military-related executive took a look at Kiriko and showed a contempt filled expression.
"Why are these little girls here?"
That executive knew who Kiriko was when they called her to come to this place.
However, because they were in this place on the side of the GP they were being met with strange gazes.
But, it seemed that they were also embarrassed to look directly at the beautiful Amane, and their line of sight was delicately deviated from her.
"……………Oh!"
Amane found a man she knew among the uncomfortable atmosphere.
Nakita Kuramitsu, Mitoto's husband, Mihoshi's father. Amane had been familiar with his face from a young age.
"uncle……"
Amane who was feeling a sense of fear sprang to life upon seeing Nakita.
But, he glared back at her with same harsh eyes as the other executives.
Amane backed down like a puppy who was scolded by his owner while the executive group passed by. Nakita didn't even flinch
When the executives had all cleared out, Mikami ,who came out from the conference room, gave a bitter smile to Kiriko.
I wish I had you wait in another place"
Mikami gently placed her hands on Amane's shoulder. she was shivering.
"No, we don't mind." Amane said.
Mikami smiled at Amane's words, Mikami started walking in a path opposite to what the executives headed for.
Behind Kiriko who started walking with Mikami, thick bulkheads were lowered, the windows became opaque, and the passage turned into a completely soundproof closed chamber.
"Even though Galactic Federation has been around over 10,000 years ago, they keep dredging up the old relationship between Seniwa and Jurai."
Kiriko who heard Mikami's bitter complaints was a little surprised.
"Well ... ... what happened at the meeting?"
"Ho ho Ho, I'm in trouble because there hasn't been any progress, just like every time such an incident happens, no matter how much the equipment of the GP is strengthened or the size of the GP troops is expanded ... they want more."
Mikami was grumbling because Nakita was there to talk about the extension of armaments.
A military official would inevitably take a step back when talking to the Kuramitsu family who were the most substantial rulers of Seniwa, and Mikami was the most important person in the family at the moment. But Nakita had no problem confronting her. That's why the military pushed Nakita to the front line of the discussion.
"Since the GP was originally the private army of the Kuramitsu family, it's unavoidable that such ideas are persistent ..."
"I'm not mad at Nakita, that's that child's job ... I'm sorry, I'm sure you don't want to hear me complain, oho ho"
"... Well, if you don't want to talk about it any more then I'll ask you again. why we were called here?"
"Well, I hoped to tell you the truth of this incident"
"What is the truth ...?"
"In the official announcement it was said that
the relay station ship was attacked by someone and annihilated.
To say that it is the truth. but it is just as much as one should tell those who don't need to know all the details. do you want to know more?"
"Yes"
Kiriko and Amane nodded.
Mikami took a big breath,
"Those Raiders were led by Tarrant Shank"
She told them with a tough expression.
"!"
Amane and Kiriko opened their eyes and gasped when they heard Mikami's words.
there is an implicit rule with the GP, that if you give up the pirates will not attack any further. However, among the many Space Pirates, there are also many people who don't give a second though about killing for fun. The man named Tarrant was among them, he was a heinous man proud to bear the title of Space Pirate. They instantly understood why the information was hidden.
"The existence of Seina is great for the Galactic Federation, but there are those who don't welcome it ... ... and they aren't all Space Pirates."
"Is Seina's presence a troublesome thing for the army?"
"Even for the GP."
"So That's it!"
"Certainly, thanks to Seina you've been able to arrest a large number of vicious offenders, but he's still attracting a large amount of criminals, which in turn triggers crime."
"There's no basis for making such a statement, nothing like that happened when he was on Earth!"
"Even so... this is being seen as a massive retaliation to the mass capture of those Space Pirates."
"I see so, that's what this is about..."
Kiriko understood what Mikami meant.
The massive capture of the Space Pirates by Seina dramatically reduced the power of the Space Pirates. The Space Pirates feared to lose their power and became impatient, they were experiencing despair, and there was a fear that the implied rules of engagement with the GP would be nullified.
"In the attack on the decoy division department belonging to the second relay station ship, the two people captured by Seto-Sama's fleet, Radi Shank and Aru Shank, were secretly isolated"
"So Tarrant raided to recapture them !?"
However, to the words of Kiriko, Mikami quietly shook her head no.
"It seems that almost all of the victims in that ship, including those two, had to be confirmed by their genes due to how mangled they were, and 85 people including three of our students were killed and their bodies were taken hostage."
"Sorry ...."
Kiriko and Amane stood dumbfounded at Mikami's words.
"Then the next target of Tarrant's is ... Seina, isn't it?"
"That would be the most effective one."
"effective?"
"the man named Tarrant is a highly prideful man. He killed those two just because they got caught. Jurai or even Seto-sama, who imprisoned Radi and Aru could both be targets ...... he could try to murder Minaho-sama, or Kanamitsu, Seto-sama's fleet could be captured in retaliation. "
"Yeah, that's too risky, individuals are a more likely target, no one is going to attack Jurai... even if you attack when their at their most defenseless it's a suicide mission, especially with their royal trees. ...... but targeting an individual is far less hard ...... but if they even try it Seto's intelligence department will know ... .... "
At this time, Mikami did not say anything, but Tarrant had already advanced on several organizations and was going after seto's financial backers. However all those attacks had been dealt with.
"So Seina is an easy target ... ...."
As if to react to Kiriko's words, Mikami turned around towards Kiriko.
"About one hour ago, a video catalog of everyone taken away was sent to the GP, various political figures, and the press."
Mikami said that with no expression.
"That bastard ... ... they're ransoming the dead ... ...."
Kiriko muttered unconsciously.
"GP headquarters refuses to make the deal, and we have to tell bereaved family directly ....."
"There is no way to suppress that information from leaking. and think of all the fall out from that.."
Tarrant's ultimate purpose was to eliminate Seina. if he negatively effected public opinion of Seina It would be easy to get information linked to Seina.
"Every single one of the people in those families could end up a threat to Seina ... ..."
Kiriko muttered with a clouded expression.
"When considering Seina's bad luck, the risk is high, and the Galaxy Academy is a place perfect for such trouble."
"So it is imperative we quickly and quietly resolve this case."
"How hasn't this already leaked though?"
"It was helpful that we introduced this new system. using it we can delete things the moment they are uploaded to the web and then have everyone concerned identified and restrained. we had to consult some experts to get that set up though "
(Experts ... ... Surely she means Washu-sama ... ...)
Washu's survival had not yet been made public. If that was known, and it was known she had done such a thing, the Academy would break into utter chaos.
"Are you sure about all this?"
"That's what I was told."
"Why did you put such an important prisoner on something like a mobile relay station ship? Who made such a bad decision ...?"
"It seems that we transported them there because the system was down at the Academy, I guess they intended to hide them in the back."
in an attempt to obstruct Kiriko's questioning, Mikami turned around and started walking again - it meant she refused to pursue further questioning on the subject.
Kiriko and Amane started to chase Mikami.
"Even without telling them the worst information, it will be shocking to them just by the fact that their friends were killed.So therefore, we'll gather all freshmen in the afternoon and explain the incident at that time. Then, after that we'll send them to counseling ... ... Although it's a bit early, this will be their first true aptitude test. "
Mikami said with gentle tone. However, there was a heavy feeling of distress in her voice.
While Mikami was talking about the results of the conference with the Kiriko, the military sector leaders also walked through a dedicated passage which was completely soundproofed.
"that went just about as expected"
One of the leaders complained satisfactorily. As a result of that, the other people around him also began to talk bluntly.
Nakita responded "It was just part of the territory with recruiting seina yamada, if we want to use him for the decoy department, it's unavoidable that we'd need kiriko's support"
"Indeed, exactly, and with him we can shift the role of the decoy department to the suppression of the Space Pirates ..."
the leaders rejoiced satisfactorily to this.
The decoy department originally drew Space Pirate raids to them so they could deliver packages safely to their destination. However, if it was possible to attract Space Pirate with a high probability, it was possible to transition the department to focus on their subjugation, not just their diversion.
"... and then we can incorporate the decoy division into the army."
When the man said that, Nakita noticed Misao waiting at the entrance of his space port.
"Well, I have to rush. can't be rude."
Nakita left them and got on board the ship that Misao brought.
Nakita rushed fast to the bridge of the ship. he saluted back to the saluting crew and sat down in his official seat.
"The meeting seems to have worked out well, hasn't it?"
Misao who sat next to Nakita said while looking at the military leaders on the monitor for external monitoring.
"You shouldn't eaves drop you'll end up looking like those officers do."
"well by that logic I could also end up looking like your sister Mikami ... ...."
-----
this is a line that can only be understood if you know spoilers...
in actuality mikami is still young and attractive
---
Misao waved his hand to the Captain while smooth talking Nakita.
At Nakita 's signal the ship launched into space.
"From my point of view, there is no point in having that happen either"
Nakita glanced at Misao, and with a puzzled expression, he said with a sigh,
"Of course I am aware of what's going to happen, but I am directly involved with Amane, as well as Kiriko, so it is only me that the damage will eventually come to. "
Misao had a fiance to whom he would be married soon named Mashisu. She was a former colleague of Misao's older sister, Mihoshi, and was now adopted by Seto. Amane was her friend and Kiriko was her relative.
" So You've also been made a chain of that shitty old hag association now too haven't you ... ..."
"I'm quite satisfied with the current situation,"
"Huh ... ... well, good luck then."
"Even so, it's useless as usual, father, I think that the time spent on such things is not really anything but uselessness."
Misao told his father
"But without meetings, there will only be more wasteful conflicts, even if there is no fundamental solution, we'll at least have a reasonable souvenir."
"Huh ... ... so is that why you're trying to get Seina into the decoy division?"
"Given his abilities, there are no other options ... ...."
Nakita closed his eyes and leaned deep into the chair.
"Hey, you guys, What happened to Seina?"
Mitoto, who should not have been on board, was looking at Nakita as she held a mop.
"Hey Misao, what happened to Seina?"
Mitoto looked at Misao this time when Nakita looked away.
"we decided he would be assigned to the decoy division, please keep it secret. it hasn't been disclosed officially yet."
"Oh no! I have to congratulate him! once it's officially announced of course."
The two, accustomed to Mitoto were less then surprised and continued to talk as if Mitoto had been there all the time. However, the bridge's crew panicked.
"Sir I'm sorry. There seems to be an abnormality in the ship's check at departure ... ...."
A newly assigned operator started hurriedly checking instruments.
"Calm down, that extra person is just Mitoto, it's not your fault."
"What ... that woman... that one?"
The operator regained calmness after he saw Mitoto.
"You should go back to your duties, Misao and I have work to do."
That said, Nakita and Misao opened some document data and started checking it.
Mitoto satisfied with things picked up a mop and started cleaning the floor.
(I bet that devil princess is laughing at us with delight at our decision on Seina.)
Since the establishment of Galactic Federation, security within the federation had stabilized rapidly. As a result, the role of the GP army had been reduced, police operations and home delivery services had become the center of its activities.
it was also a great relief because many planets hated the intimidation of Seniwa 's private army, which was absorbed into the GP. and since the GP military was formed, Jurai and many other smaller armies of the other planets were absorbed into it. but the majority of the staff of the gp army still came from Seiniwa's army.
The GP and the people that joined it from within the Federation slowly changed its makeup. and the the reduction of technological difference between the police sector and the military department by the technology provided by the academy expanded the police sector while shrinking the need for the army and now the army was treated as a special department within the GP police department. naturally there was tension between the two. the army was mostly used only for anti space piracy suppression, with seina's recent mass arrest of the space pirates, fears of the department becoming superfluous had recently emerged.
(the military executives were more upset than I thought they would be ... ... Seina Yamada..... thanks to his assignment I've been able to postpone their anxieties for the time being.)
The army could not move without a request from the police department.
Among them, the decoy division is a place where the military's voice is relatively strong, due to the nature of Space Pirates.
Nakita could see Seto laughing maniacally as she pulled everyone's strings in his mind.
-------
"Are you okay? You don't have to go back to your dorm just yet if you don't want to."
Seina looked out of the window of the car as Erma looked up at Seina anxiously.
"I'm fine, thank you."Seina said as he smiled at Erma
"Seina..."
Erma was staring at the hem of Seina's shirt.
"Ms. Erma?
Seina for a moment, wondered if the hem of his shirt was caught in something, he reached down to feel it. But then he only found Erma's hand, Erma looked at him in a strange way.
"... ... beware of the lawn."
Erma was puzzled about his actions, and gazed at Seina's face gently, she confirmed that Seina's expression wasn't laced with the smell of death, and finally pulled away her hands.
"Oh ... Yes, that's right.... Okay ... Well... I'll be going now."
Seina remembered the many times around the dormitory that he was caught up in the runaway stampede of wildlife that lived in the forest nearby.
(As soon as he gets something he loses it ... ... he's too used to it by now)
Erma gave a big sigh as she left.
Erma got back in her car and drove off and began to cry. she drove a bit erratically as she wiped away her tears.
Seina was deep in contemplation as he went back to his dorm.
"It's only been a month since I came here ... ...."
Seina remembered when he was first sent to Airi.
The way he walked in full of hope - for Seina it was supreme happiness.
However, the reality that was the GP now showed itself, the reality that Kiriko warned him about.
(It's dangerous... but, I always experience near death situations everyday ............)
Seina was thinking idly as he was walking through the boardwalk between the big trees.
"I want to stay in space, I want to go further, Seto-sama and a lot of people told me that my bad luck is necessary, and I like this place ... but ... is my staying here okay? "
That was the thing that Seina wondered.
(Maybe Miki-senpai getting acquainted with me was what caused this ......)
Seina shook his head to cast out that thought.
"I'm so used to everyone being afraid to come near me... .... but the people who aren't always end up hurt."
seina was used to his own pain.
he was able to cope with it fairly well. but he had always had trouble with the pain of others.
"Actually ...... I should return to earth ... but ............"
being in space was the best opportunity he had ever gotten he couldn't let it go that easily.
"But I want to stay here ... I want to stay!"
Seina shouted loudly as he committed to staying in space
(to become a human being, like Seto told me)
Seina ran into the dormitory with resolve in his heart. And was swept up in a stampede.
× × ×
(Erma-san told me to be careful ... ...)
Fortunately, the heard was a small one this time and he arrived at the dorm relatively unscathed. he got into his room and the atmosphere was very daunting just like Erma had suspected.
"Seina uhm... how we should say this ... ...."
His roommates tried to comfort thim
"Thank you but I already know. I'll be fine."
"That ... uhm... oh ... Is that so?"
They seemed both relieved and a little discomforted by Seina's firm expression and smile.
Seina quickly headed for his room.
"wait, Seina,"Rajau called
It seemed like it was going to be a dry evening.
Seina tried to think of something to describe the situation but unconsciously stopped.
it reminded him of a bad memory from the past.
---Tenchi's mother----
"Are you OK?"
"I'm fine.. heh"
Kenneth looked at Seina's eyes expecting tears. But as Seina came closer, his eyes changed from sadness to embarrassment and then to frustration.
"You ... why are you looking like that?"
"huh?"
"Miki-senpai is dead, why can you laugh like that?"
"Laughing??"Seina looked at Kenneth embarrassed. His tone was moderate, but there was a clear anger in his eyes.
"... ... It's unfortunate when people you know die, is it a routine matter for you?"
"Kenneth!"
"…… sorry that was a bad way to put it"
Kenneth apologized and regained his composure.
"Seina ... your face is a bit painful for us to look at right now."
Rajau continued kenneth's words to Seina who had a strange look on his face.
"Hey Seina, what was it like when you heard about Miki-senpai?"
"huh?"
"was it the same as now? Were you sad, didn't you feel sad?"
seina understood the meaning of Rajau's words, he remembered what happened when he heard of Miki's death.
"...... When I first heard about Miki, I didn't know what to feel, but it wasn't sad. Honestly, that is still the case ............ I cried, when I thought of Miki-senpai's father's. "
"Is that so? ... I guess seina is just too use to dealing with misfortune." Rajau said as if to sigh a deep breath.
Seina wasn't laughing, he just had the usual look.
This abnormal situation just felt like his ordinary daily life.
"Seina! Well, do you at least feel bad about it? Don't you want to get revenge on those who did this to Miki?"
Kenneth stood up with tears.
"Seina you know Airi. maybe she can do something!"
"Yeah, You know the devil princess of Jurai! Do you think she will let you use an Imperial Ship to go after them?"
His Friends began to say Their momentum resembled a volcano that was about to erupt.
"............"Seina became a bit irritated by their words.
What they were suggesting was wacky and reckless.
They didn't even know the location of the relay station ship they were aboard, or even the details of the attack.
(In such a situation, Seto is not sweet enough to lend an "Imperial ship" And even if I could I'm still me ... )
If Seina went off into space on his own who knew what could happen.
He would most likely only get in everyone else who could do something's way.
Of course the passion of boys was precious. However, Seina was familiar with the danger in taking suck actions. Unhappiness for Seina was a constant and repetitive state. It was more important for Seina to think about a way to deal with the unhappiness that would come next, rather than to mourn his misfortune.
"..............."Contrary to their expectations, Seina remained silent. And when they started to question him,
"What would I even do if she did?"
"!"
they seemed to realise the absurdity of their own statements.
"It's cool, we understand."
Rajau smiled and placed his hand on the shoulder of Seina.
"Sorry Seina. Your right... but I can't just sit here and accept that "
an announcement rang out
"All grades waiting in the dormitory please come to the GP Academy"
"let's go"
Rajau said while taking a deep breath that conveyed a sense of relief from being released from an awkward situation.
a short moment later seina kennith and rajau were in a hall with all the other freshman. they were gathered to be told about the incident with miki. they then sorted themselves into lines, one line was for counseling for those who decided to stay, one was to go home, the other was to quit the gp academy and go somewhere else in the academy the last was to get revenge on miki's attackers. seina chose to stay. mikami and kiriko watched him get into the line of people staying from a monitor in mikami's office.
Kiriko breathed a sigh of relief
"It seems like I'm going to remain employed with the GP for the time being"
"I thought you'd be rooting for him to go home."
Like Kiriko, Amane spoke with a relieved expression
"Well..."
"So, what changed?"
"That's not important right now Amane, what about the other students?"Kiriko looked at Mikami glaringly.
"The current results are just as we expected, only a few students have dropped out of school ...."
"...... Indeed, this is a perfect situation for an aptitude test" Kiriko said, tightening her lips.
Mikami, who was watching the situation, smiled oddly.
"Ms. Masaki, Ms. Kaunaq, I have calmed down the situation, so you can return to your duties."she turned her back against them
"Well, but ... ...."
"Let's have lunch a little later but for now please leave."
Amane forcibly left the principal's office with Kiriko.
Kiriko grabbed Amane's hand when they left.
"What are you doing?"
"I need you to come with me for a moment, it's about Seina."
"huh!?"
Kiriko turned red. unlike mikami it was easy to read her feelings.
"But I have to get back to work ...."
"To worry about the students is also part of the job, Just because the student's have been given counselors, doesn't mean everyone who knew Miki is going to be fine with this situation."
"Oh... ... That's right ..."
"Hmm?"
"What do you think he will do when he sees seina?"
However, instead of answering Amane's question, Kiriko started to walk away. Amane left to follow her.
----------
* the spoiler commentary that was previously here has been moved to the end
---------
*Erma arrived aboard the small spacecraft owned by Airi and headed for her office immediately.
Her duties as a Secretary included everything from taking care of Airi's personal belongings, to thing such as handling email and communication, customer service, schedule management, and document creation / management.
Thousands of secretaries were needed in the academy to help the various philosophers but she was special in the sense that she had an office in Airi's spacecraft.
Her office was an apartment type residential area in the back of the spacecraft, and she had lived here until living with Seina.
Her room which was about 30 tatami mats wide, had only a desk and bed for work, and a little table, there was high performance compressed storage on the wall for her personal belongings.
Erma sat at the work desk and immediately started a monitor, she quickly checked her e-mail.
"There are no calls from Airi ... ..."
she exercised her privileges as Airi's secretary and began accessing the highly confidential area of the GP's database. And in a few minutes ......,
"Oh!"
Erma, now knew the truth of the incident with Miki.
she was unable to endure her anger and beat her fist on her work desk.
"What a mess......"
An automated call from airi came in on her monitor
"Airi-sama!? ............ SOS!?"
It was an emergency call from Airi.
Erma got up quickly and ran out of the room.
-------
seina looked for hiroshi at his burnt out lab. He was supposed to be there cleaning up but he wasn't. So seina went to the special place that miki had shown him before she died. it was night there still because of the time difference. when he got there he looked around and could tell that there were two people there, he went up the stairs in that building he had visited last time and thought he saw hiroshi with kiriko but upon closer observation it was tsukiko.
(No, that's not Kiriko - san ... That's Aunt Tsukiko, but why is Tsukiko at the Academy?)
Hiroshi and Kiriko 's mother, Tsukiko, were on the upper floor. Seina's ears were confused as he listened to the two speak.
× × ×
"this place hasn't changed at all."
"remember the last time we were here?"
"yeah. we were here with him and kiriko. she was just a baby."
"stop you're making me feel old."
"I think you've grown prettier with age"
"a lot of time must have passed if you're now willing to openly say such flattering things."
"... ... I'm surprised that you came here ... do you know what I did?" hirioshi said
"I'm Sorry ... I am ... "
"Don't get me wrong"
tsukiko said interrupting him.
"I came here ... to Comfort my friend over the loss of my daughter."
"huh!!"
Tsukiko's words were surprising for Hiroshi.
Hiroshi began to say something but he burst into tears that overwhelmed his ability to speak.
(so Aunt Tsukiko and Miki's senpai's father were friends ... ...)
hiroshi broke into tears. seina felt he should stop eavesdropping and went back down stairs.
Outside he noticed the moss had receded like miki said it would and admired the sight he saw
It was something miki had wanted to show him but she never got the chance to.
Tsukiko and hiroshi came outside and sat down, he buried his head in tsukikos lap and cried as she comforted him. she took out a towel and dried his tears. he regained his composure and put the towel on his head. he began confessing to tsukiko.
"At first, i was just trying to have a little fun. when i saw you with kiriko I wondered what things would be like if we ever had something between us."
"So, Miki-chan was supposed to be our love child?"
"No, no, it's not like that, at first i built a model your personal data ... ... ... ... of course, I didn't acquire your data illegally! I just collected things that were public record... it took a lot of trial and error to make it...... .... It was fun to have something that could respond to things similarly to you... even if it was a pain to make....One day, I began talking with it about things that the personal data construct couldn't have known, things that couldn't have been imagined from the records that I used. it was then that I knew that the personal data construct had an Astral."
" It must have had some Memory feedback from the Astral sea ............ that's amazing ... that hasn't happened to an AI program of that kind ever before, you could win an academic achievement award with such a finding."
"But I was scared! I thought I did a terrible thing ... I certainly had a strong desire to announce my AI discovery, but if I announced it they would learn how I made it...I even thought about deleting it. I didn't want you to know. You and I were well... I just wanted to be a closer friend to you... I couldn't erase the AI. to destroy an AI with an Astral would feel the same as killing you ... since I originally started this experiment to see what it would be like for us to have a child together I erased the AI's memory... I worried that the process might remove the astral but it remained. I cleared her memory and made her a body and raised her as a normal child... it was my penance for making such a thing..." "
"……oh is that so?"
Tsukiko stared at silent Hiroshi
Tsukiko, stood up and stood before Hiroshi.
"Hey Hiroshi, this is a really small possibility, but ..."
----
seina got up and went to go surprise the two but he slipped and fell hard on the ground on his face.
a shadow of a person came over seina.
"Who's there?" he hurried and got up and turned around
"Well, hello there Seina-chan!"
... It was Tenchi's mother, Kiyone, who was standing in front of Seina.
"...... auntie Kiyone!"
----------
Tenchi was crying on the day his mother died, he remember that memory. It was the biggest trauma in Seina's life. for Seina that was the first death that he had witnessed. Even more so because it happened to a close friend who had accepted him.
Seina began crying like a child she held him and comforted him
"... oh wow... just like tenchi..."
When seina calmed down and stopped crying he noticed that his face was pressed into kiyone's breasts and he began to get uncomfortable.
"have you Calmed down?"
"Yes,"
"Okay, good."
He remembered a day in the past when he was young. the sky had began to turn red, and Kiyone went with kiriko looking for seina to take him home when was playing with tenchi and kai. Kiyone loved her real son Tenchi and Seina without distinction. She scolded him properly when she found him that day.
He remembered one time when he was in the hospital, kiyone scribbled all over his forehead.
Seina had a sense of incongruity when he thought about the appearance of tenchi's relatives at Kiyone's funeral.
Tenchi 's father, the Masaki family people, and of course Kiriko all grieved Kiyone' s death.
There was a special custom in the Masaki's village, the way people participate in the funeral was different depending on the deceased person. In the case of Kiyone, the only men and women who could participate in the wake were her husband and his relatives. Even Rea, who was like a sister to Kiyone wasn't allowed. even though Rea was not allowed to participate directly, she was permitted to stay at the Masaki 's house during the affair.
Kai, wasn't allowed to participate in the wake, neither was seina's mother. so she looked after them.While Tsukiko and Kiriko went to the wake, seina stayed at home with kai upset in his futon, he was almost unable to sleep. the next day tsukiko came by and he hugged her and saw her off as she headed off to the funeral.
"So Aunt Kiyone was at the academy this whole time? it was just a ruse?"
a man poked his head out from behind a rock and called to them.
"Hey, Tennyo ... .... Tennyo"
The man cried out
"shut up can't you see this is a bad time!"
"But, Tsukiko ... ..." he said pointing at tsukiko and hiroshi.
"fine go ahead and meet up with them."
"... Who is Tennyo?" seina asked.
"Come with me I'll explain."
-------
amane looked around hiroshi's destroyed lab.
"I thought he'd be there but there's no sign of him. the gps says he's over ten thousand miles away... there's no way that can be right..."
Amane thought about it a while and realized he might be at the place were seina and miki had a date.
"Hey kiriko, Do you know where miki and seina went on that date the other day?"
"I do but it's a secret location, you have to be registered to get in there and you have to know the way in. But, I've been there before."
"Why didn't you say so... Let's go!"
"The last time I was there was shortly after when Tenchi's mother died."
Kiriko remembered that day and began to explain Kiyone's death to amane.
"I felt it was my fault that Kiyone passed away ... ... she died in my house...... I sat down in the corner of the room and trembled when I saw her deep blue face, I felt like I was about to die of shock ......... ... Because I was still a child, I didn't know what to do ...... "
She remembered that during the wake, tenchi went missing. They found him with Kiyone's parasol, under the shrine that ryoko was sealed in.
she reflected on the past for a moment before regaining her composure.
"Anyways, That was so long ago that I don't know how to get in. but that place was originally minaho's secret place and airi was the one who taught her how to get in. We're going to have to have her show us how to get in."
they called her but couldn't reach her.
"Where is she?"
they launched a monitor that showed her location.
" oh... I know where she is" kiriko said
-----------
"So you're ... .... Tenchi senpai's older sister?"
Seina was staring at Tennyo's face. The difference between Tennyo and Kiyone was at best only a hairstyle difference judging from his vague memories and old photos. Other than that, it was like she was right there.
"Yes, my real name is Tennyo Masaki. But you've actually met me before."
"huh?"
"Me and mom used to switch places with each other when she had to take care of other things .... I used to play with you and feed you and even give you a baths. "
"... ... I didn't notice at all, why did you do such a thing?"
"I'm eighty years old this year,"
"Oh ............... Oh, that's right, that's pretty normal here..."
Seina remembered when he heard that he could live the be about 2,000 years old.
"People on earth would recognize me but thankfully I looked like my mom so I just took her place, but then she died... so I had to leave... I couldn't do anything to help tenchi... it was annoying. but then Tenchi woke up ryoko, so I went with Noike to surprise him. I figured the shock of having a sister would outweigh the shock of suddenly having a fiance."
"Wait, Noike is Tenchi-senpai's fiance !?"
"Seto decided it."
"...... oh, that sounds about right... I should have figured."
"anyways, I went and surprised Tenchi, and he had a reaction much like your's but then my father went and ruined it ... ...."
Tennyo was laughing as she talked about her mischief but she suddenly stiffened up.
"That idiot father of mine... He is such a perv, How the heck is someone like Rea going to marry someone like him."
"But wait, doesn't Nobuyuki live in Kurashiki? Is he an alien too? he seems so normal."
"Oh no, he is definitely a Masaki ... this year he will be uhmm ... I don't remember exactly but he's over one hundred twenty years old."
"Oh!"
"My father is rare among our people. he has never left the earth, the people who live in the village are mostly people who came back because they liked the earth and children who don't know they are aliens. Usually they work in agriculture to facilitate trade, or doing clerical work for the GP.... only Dad has a regular old earth job. "
"One hundred twenty years? ... How has no one noticed?"
"Only Masaki's live in our village, and it's pretty isolated geographically. In the old days, information traveled much slower, so no one had really anything to suspect, but after the war things have slowly become harder to conceal ............ "
Tennyo noticed Seina had a foggy look in his eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"So.. Aunt Kiyone... really is dead after all."
"Oh ... oh! yes... I'm afraid so... I am sorry for the misunderstanding. But I'm really happy to see you again Seina, I never thought I'd be able to meet you again in this form."
That said, Tennyo hugged Seina strongly.
"For me, you are the same as Tenchi, my cute younger brother ... ... ......... oh!"Suddenly Tennyo pulled away from seina.
"... ... please don't misunderstand, but it was actually mother who used to do all those strange things to you, not me."
"Huh ... ... ... ... ... so she was the one who scribbled on my forehead when I was in the hospital?"
"Yeah! Also, she also used to scribble on Tenchi's picture books"
"Oh, that's ... ... I thought it was strange, Tenchi-senpai wasn't the kind of person who did that sort of thing. "
"well she was Airi's daughter after all...When I first came up into space I managed to scare quite a few people she used to tease back in the day. A few even ran away, It's a shame I was hoping they would tell me cool things about my mother."
"I wonder what she did to them..."
"Who knows, but it's been a while since I came to space and since then I've gotten to know a lot of people all on my own, how about you Seina?"
"... .... I have also met many people"
Airi, Mitoto, Onnainin, Seto, Minaho and Hakuren, Amane and Erma and Kiriko was here too. Of course and people like the Space Pirates and Seiryo who were not so fun to meet... and Miki and Hiroshi.
"... But, it's because of me that ..."
"Oh, Seina you don't believe you had anything to do with that do you?"
Tennyo pulled Seina close and gazed at him.
"!"
It was the same as the face Kiyone made when she really got angry, he remembered only seeing it when Tenchi and Seina something dangerous.
"I Don't ever want to hear you say something like that ever again, no matter what!"
These were words Seina needed to hear.
"You're going to stay here, right?
"Yeah"
seina hugged Tennyo.
she smiled, It felt like he was with Kiyone again.
"... I'll do my best"
Seina replied as he began to cry.
------
from the Juraian mansion on the opposite side bank many people were watching the scene between Tennyo and Seina.
"Seto, please stop this. You are unbelievable! HEY WHAT ARE YOU DOING! stop!" airi said
Minaho gave an odd glance to Seto and Hakuren's group. they took out binoculars while standing at the window. seto sat in a chair and watched with glee.
"It's too bad Airi objected to this, She's missing a wonderful performance."
Seto looked crankily at Airi who she had sewn like a caterpillar in a cocoon to the corner wall.
a while later erma kiriko and amane warped in.
"Oh, it looks like we have a customer,"
Seto said, Hakuren stopped spying and got up to greet the "customers".
The next moment, Kiriko, Amane and Erma, barged in.
"Minaho-sama ... ... are you spying on seina?" Minaho was embarrassed, Hakuren bowed.
"I can understand why you're here kiriko ... but why is Erma?"
"I got an emergency call from Airi-sama telling me to come here ......"
"Well you're kind of late."
Seto lowered her binoculars and turned towards Kiriko.
"Oh Lady Seto!"
Kiriko finally noticed Seto was there, and in a hurry she saluted.
When she was satisfied with her presence being acknowledged, she once again turned to look with her binoculars.
"Hey Kiriko-chan"
Minaho pointed to Airi who thrashing trying to get unstuck from the wall.
Minaho was smiling at the sight.
Kiriko and Amane, understood what was going on.
"Oh my! things sure are getting exciting." seto said
A few seconds later the two girls had joined in watching seina like a hawk from the balcony.
"Um ... ... Ms. Minaho. I understand why Airi-san sent an SOS call, but what exactly is going on ..."
Airi squirmed and made muffled screams for help at erma, she was at a loss as to whether she should help or not.
"Wow ~ ~, Wu ~ ~ ~Wu ~ ~ ~!"
Airi appealed to erma with puppy dog eyes to help.
"Actually ..."
Minaho turned away from Airi and pulled Erma close, and began to explain things so far. And a few minutes later, the number of women on the balcony increased by one, a total of eight women were now standing side by side in a row.
"UWuwuwwu~~~~!"
Airi, abandoned by both her daughter and her secretary, began to bite the binding on her like a caterpillar. but her resistance was pointless, so seto and everyone else remained focused on the spectacle going on the other in the distance.
"... .... Kiriko ... who is that woman?"
Amane asked while watching. her and Erma put down their binoculars and looked at kiriko.
" That's Tennyo ... .... Tenchi's older sister"
" Sister? ...... are you sure? I remember mihoshi told me he was the only child."
Kiriko remained silent and did not answer Amane's question.
It was Seto who opened her mouth instead of her.
"Tennyo and Tenchi have an age difference of more than 60 year. He was only recently informed that he had a sister ."
"oh ... ... that makes sense. I guess that would be impossible on earth. But why is she so chummy with Seina?"
"Actually, she looks exactly like her mother, Kiyone ... ... and in the past, sometimes she switched places with her and looked after Tenchi-chan and Seina-chan."
Erma and Hakuren who were satisfied by Seto 's explanation picked up their binoculars again.
"I see ... ... so that's why Seina looks so happy."
Amane's tone contained feelings somewhat similar to loneliness and jealousy.
The expression that Seina was showing to Tennyo was something he had never even shown to Kiriko, but it was a feeling that a child shows to his mother, and it wasn't something he would show to Kiriko or Amane.
In other words, It was a look they would never know.
And not only Amane but everyone there was feeling the same feelings in response to seeing that.
Minaho, who was looking at them all watching seina, looked at them disapprovingly. But she was glad that there was no one trying to disturb Seina and Tennyo.
-----
kennith and rajau had lunch on the floating island where they had lunch with miki.
"In the end, I couldn't make myself leave the GP Academy, how about you, Kenneth?"
"............ I'm being punished for a week."
"you and everyone else who went in the line that wanted revenge. You should have realized that was a test."
"But ... ... I figured if I we spoke to Seto she might help."
"But we don't even know how to use a ship like that, we don't even know how to investigate things yet... what where you thinking"
"I figured maybe once I got there everything would just fall into place. I wasn't thinking"
"You know Seina's probably been thinking about things like this for a long time because of his biased probability."
"... I Didn't think of that. I was really mean to him."
"I'm glad you realise that, You should apologize."
As he said that, Rajau got up quickly.
"You're right ... but before that I got to eat."
"Come to think of it, it seems that the meal management program will be starting up sometime tomorrow."
"So today is the last day for us to eat our favorite things?"
"but the things you eat are mostly within the scope of the program."
"Almost, but not all! We must go Rajau! Today we must buy everything we like and party."
Kenneth got up quickly and began to run toward the transfer port.
End of chapter
Erma Spoiler commentary:
I feel that you should know already going into this that Erma is Ryoko Balta.
If you don't then.... you haven't seen the anime or picked up on the obvious hints.
This is a prime example her lying as erma to seina. she didn't end the lease on a place she lived on airi's ship. and her place is sparsely filled because Erma isn't a real person.
her reaction to this next situation shouldn't only be thought of in terms of erma's feelings but also in terms of ryoko's.