2: Mizuki
Airi and Mikami arrived back in Airi's office at the Academy very tired.
They were tired from being chewed out at a meeting of the leaders of the galactic federation where everyone was briefed on the impact of the good luck fleet. They had been propped up as scapegoats.
But the secretary general of the academy soon interrupted their rest to report that there had been massive losses to the fleet since they left for the meeting. Soon Airi's office was flooded with damage reports.
As Airi complained about the amount of work being placed on her one of her employees called to tell her something, but hesitated when he noticed what a bad mood she was in.
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It was a large dock that Seina came out through the transfer gate.
The blue sky was visible above and there was a compact Kamidake anchored in such a huge space so as not to be disproportionate.
"Is it really ok to store it in such a wide space?"
"Even if it's small, it's a ship with power equal to that of an Royal ship plus a second generation ship."
"You can't forget that it has Kiriko's ship Mizuki with it "
"Yeah but it's just the core."
"Well without an exterior, we can't distinguish it from any other ship .... isn't that all the more reason to keep it stored in the same bay?"
Amane gazed at it and no matter how much she looked at it she could find no difference in it's shape
"You'd think there would be some kind of customization. It's not like they don't have the money."
"We don't need to. An owner can tell their ship from one another without any exterior differences."
"Really!?" Amane looked at Seto.
"Of course, of course and the design is a symbol of Jurai, so no one is even allowed to change it."
"... Well certainly it is obviously Juraian at a glance, so it's design is kind of like a national flag then?"
"Well kind of it's mostly so that without an exterior it isn't immediately obvious who's ship it is."
Royal ships must apply in advance for navigation clearance and have their location confirmed. But then there's a limit to it's behavior. So it is also done so that they can have a degree of covert camouflage.
"... ... I see that makes sense"Amane was convinced.
"Luckily its also easy to hide the ships because they're stored in such small units."
"So how did you manage to get clearance to fuse it with the kamidake?"
"Ehem well ... ... we got confidential permission so we could take down the good luck ships.While Kiriko is a royal family member now, it still hasn't been made public knowledge. The ship still doesn't exist publicly. So please treat it as such."
"Hey Kiriko, have you finished adjusting the unit?"
"Oh, yes ... Although the residential unit is still under construction, the workers have been working hard at it and the bridge is completed."
"Okay, then, would you show us around the bridge?"
"Wow! Is it really OK for us to see that?"The girls said aloud as if surprised.
"Why are you so surprised?"
"Well, I wonder ... ...." Amane and Ryoko face each other in a way that seemed strange to Seina.
"The residential area of a royal ship, and the bridge where the trees are located are top secret.."
"Oh well it's fine for anyone to know as long as you have permission from the tree." Seto said like it was nothing.
"Is it really that simple!?"
"How are you doing, Mizuki?"
"She want's to play... ... That's what she says." Kiriko said looking at he ring key it has a cabochon cut amber embedded in it.
"Well, let's go then!"
However unlike the others Amane approached Kiriko with reserve,
"Uh ... ... I'll stay here and provide support if you don't mind Kiriko-sama..."
"No I insist and you come with us..." Amanes face turned red.
"It's alright you don't have to act any different then usual around me, nothing has changed, and you can just call me Kiriko."
"Oh, I see ... ... ... Well then I guess I'm fine to go when you are Kiriko."
"Alright, let's go then, Mizuki-chan, please proceed."
Kiriko spoke to the key. A ring shaped light was generated from the key, and the space around them was distorted, They were transferred to Mizuki's bridge.
"Eh!?"There was no discomforting feeling that you usually feel when transferring.
The scenery around then had just switched in an instant. It took a while for their senses to realize it was a different place now covered in a refreshing breeze and the smell of sweet fruit.
"Did we just transfer?"
"Yes it's much smoother then and ordinary transfer, the Kamidake also seems like it should be able to do the same once Fuku-chan grows up." Kiriko told Amane who was a little puzzled,
"Welcome, this is Mizuki's bridge!" Kiriko bowed to greet them like they were customers.
"This is a bridge? It's almost like a garden ..."
"I could never imagine that this is a ship's bridge ... ... This is the best kept secret of of Jurai, isn't it?"
Amane and the others looked around around busily, and it seemed that Ryoko who was a former Space Pirate was particularly impressed. Mizuki's unit was in better shape then it was last night, in particular the receiving terminal for the neural lights was decorated with old trees, Besides that, various decorations were laid out in a nice way.
"It's different from Seto's Mikagami, isn't it?"As expected Hakuren and her crew were calm because they were used to it.
"Well ... Although the appearance of the unit is a standard, the interior is customized according to the size and shape of the tree and to the tastes of the contractors, but this time we had to rush things and Mizuki-chan is still very young, so I'll be making improvements to it little by little. "
"......so in the middle... Is that your royal tree?" Amane looked the place where the young tree Mizuki was sitting.
"Since it's called a royal tree, I imagined it was huge, I expected to have to look up ...."
"This young tree is of the second generation ... ... like Mikagami, she is the core of a ship that is said to be the strongest of the universe ... ...."
"Yeah but haven't they been beaten before?"
"To be honest, yes, I'm afraid that's true.'"
"Mizuki-chan please say hello." Mizuki emitted a nerve light, which was amplified through the terminal, covering the entire bridge.
─── Hello! Hello.
"Mia!"
Fuku who was held in Seina's arms suddenly slipped out of his grip and began jumping around Mizuki. He noticed that Mizuki was one of the Trees who greeted him when he came to Jurai.
─── Fuku! Fuku!
"Miao! Mya!"
"Oh good, this is going to work just fine." Seto looked relieved as she saw Fuku jumping around Mizuki happily.
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Seina who had finished greeting Mizuki went to the residential district. he sat on the rock like terrace which was made of the the roots of the giant tree in the middle, he was breathing as if had just been intensely exercising.
"Ah that tickled, it was like being licked by a hoard of puppies."
"It sure seemed happy to see us."
"A tree with a will of it's own ... ... It's quite different from what you imagined isn't it."
Ryoko seemed to feel that way.
Indeed, before she had seen it as a god of death and destruction from her time as a Space Pirate and now it seemed like a "puppy". Her mental image of it did a 180 degree flip.
"Isn't it cute?"
"Isn't it, but is Seto's like that?"
"Well ... ... Their personalities vary, but the other trees have a similar feeling to them."
"The area around my back is still tickling." The girls were hardly able to keep from falling over laughing.
Amane took a deep breath to stop the tickling sensation before looking around at the scenery.
"...... Even though I'm somewhat use to it on the Kamidake .... It feels strange seeing such a large subspace in a ship."
Fixing such a huge subspace was a was luxurious and inefficient waste of energy for most ships. It's unnecessary to have such a large space on an personal ship, and it would be cheaper just connect a physical residential unit to a ship.
"This residential district is relatively small though."
"Even so it's about 8 kilometers wide and the height is about 5 kilometers .... for an individual's private quarters its far too big, but compared to Seto-sama and Azusa's it's nothing. Although it's just a basic layout, there are units included that produce clothes, give medical care, and necessities for daily life are also provided, so thousands of people here can live on their own self-sufficiently. Actually You could in theory attach even more subspaces, many people have about thirty or so on their second generation ships, and use them for growing resources using time acceleration, It's not unreasonable to say that in theory you could house an entire planets worth of people here and run this place like an independent nation if you wanted to."
"That's a ridiculous amount of power for a ship to have no matter how you look at it."
"No one has tried to see what the actual limits are, so 30 is not even the upper limit. It's just a waste to have that many for individual use. Even those who make a hobby out of making these subspaces, really only end up using about 5 of them in practice. A royal ship itself can be used like a nation of it's own and as for defense it generates an unreasonable amount of energy. It actually doesn't have to be armed because the exterior of the ship is actually a limiter."
"A limiter?"
"The ship has too strong an attack power, no matter how we suppress it it still has the power to blow up a planet in one shot, even with a limiter."
"...... so in theory you could rule the entire federation with only one ship?"
"That would be possible in theory, but the ships don't like fighting."
"Oh hehehe ... Well, that kind of makes sense." Amane felt the tickles from earlier as she remembered Mizuki.
"They're just like Fuku-chan" Neeju stroked Fuku.
"Do you like being dizzy and dazzling?"
"The smell of nature ...... The beautiful clean air ... I can't believe this is all in a spaceship .... It certainly feels unnatural to do battle with such a ship."
For those who have always lived in space, this environment was heaven. There was no need to worry about clothing, shelter, living space, there was no need to fight to get food for living.
"So... Ms.Seto... how much would it be to have one of these units made for me?" Amane asked
"Oh? Are you interested?"
"I'm just doing a bit of window shopping, It's not like I don't have money."
"Well a basic unit can make more assets then the entirety of Tenju produces... Is that what you're after? Well sorry but they aren't for sale, besides causing various inconveniences, it would be impossible to fix such an area in subspace without something generating enough power."
"So... Ms.Seto... how much would it be to have one of these units made for me?" Amane asked
"Oh? Are you interested?"
"I'm just doing a bit of window shopping, It's not like I don't have money."
"Well a basic unit can make more assets then the entirety of Tenju produces... Is that what you're after? Well sorry but they aren't for sale, besides causing various inconveniences, it would be impossible to fix such an area in subspace without something generating enough power."
"Ha ha ha! Of course, that's why I'd decided fix it to Kiriko's ship."
"Amane-san ... that's truly genious ... ...." It was a wonderful idea.
"It's a good idea I could recreate my palace... ... I wouldn't fix it to Kiriko's ship but what about the Kamidake?" Neiju chimed in. Everyone hopped in in the idea.
"Oh! I want a big outdoor bath and pool!"
"Why stop there you can fix entire planets and even a small solar system if you want
"A few planets ...... that's crazy Ahahahaha!"
Amane seemed dizzy with excitement.
"How about you?"
"Well ... ...." Hakuren who was asked by Seto was a little puzzled because she still considered herself to be one of seto's officers.
"If everyone else is getting one wouldn't you want something?"
"Well you see..."
"Hakuren you're also a part of the Kamidake's crew, don't be so modest."
"Well, I guess you're right ......" Hakuren 's heart shook.
"Huh ... ...?" Seto noticed that Seina was looking around as if he were looking for something.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Oh, no ... ... I just noticed that Kiriko isn't here anymore ..."
Fuku jumped away from Seina's chest.
"Oh, Fuku !? Hey, where are you going?" Seto smiled as Fuku and Seina ran off to a transfer. Amane and the others were so excited thinking about units that no one noticed.
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"A weed ... ...? Where did the seeds come from?
Kiriko was squatting as she tried to pull out a weed that grew next to Mizuki.
─── Please don't do that.
"Eh?"
─ ─ ─ Don't bother it, it's my friend.
"... Are you sure?"
There were various meanings to what it said. It wouldn't be a strain on Mizuki's growth and of course, because it's life span was much shorter than Mizuki's, it would die soon.
─ ─ ─ yeah.
"Okay, so are you also friends with Fuku-chan?" Kiriko softly sat down in the vicinity.
─── I like Fuku a lot.
Mizuki shined nerve lights here and there. It was a fun gesture.
"Hehe, I see that's good."
"Myaang!" Suddenly Fuku ran in from the behind Kiriko.
" Fuku-chan!? ... ... ...You surprised me!"
"Mia!"
"Did you finish the tour? Is anyone with you Fuku-chan?"
─── Seina is headed here. Mizuki said
Kiriko looked around.
"Fuku where are you?" seina called as he transferred in.
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"Oh hey! Where are Seina and Kiriko?"
Amane and the others finally realized that they weren't there.
"They must have left while we were talking!"
"Chhh ... Why do I feel like we've been caught in another mosquito net? Yesterday was Ringo and today it's Kiriko." Seto looked away. In other words, it was like Seto had started the conversation in order to give them time alone.
You shouldn't complain so much, besides they will be fine together if you don't have an eye on them. Plus, if you shoot down the good luck fleet I can maybe see about getting you a fourth or fifth generation ship for a reward. Think about it, then you can fix two units or maybe even three."
"Woah are you serious?"
"I'll also throw in a special vacation."
"Roger that!"
everyone was happy and pleased with Seto's suggestion of a reward.
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"Mia! Myamamiaa"
Fuku was entertained as she played with Mizuki. She ran around the tree like she was playing a game of tag as the nerve light chased her. However, even though she was focused on playing, Fuku avoided the weed that Mizuki said was her friend.
Seina and Kiriko were sitting side by side, looking at the cabbit and the tree silently.
"Mia!"Fuku hid behind Seina.
"That's cheating." Seina caught Fuku, and handed her over to Mizuki.
─ ─ Aha! I got you!
"Miah! ......... Miau" Mizuki 's nerve light shined on Fuku.
"Mizuki chan won !" Mizuki's nerve light moved from Fuku to Seina' s forehead.
─── hey, Seina ... ... is there anything you want to talk about?
"Ah!!"
Mizuki's question startled both Kiriko and Seina who were avoiding talking about something.
"Mi Mizuki-chan!"
─── Kiriko seems like she has something she wants to say too.
─── Kiriko seems like she has something she wants to say too.
"............"
Mizuki's remark was childishly naive, and stepped on the landmines exquisitely.
Seina and Kiriko turned red ear to eat.
Seina and Kiriko turned red ear to eat.
"... .... uhm! Actually about yesterday ........."
Seina decided to start talking about the incident he had yesterday.
"Its alright ..."
There was no reason to be angry after knowing the detailed circumstances, and it wasn't what she had imagined. However, as soon as she heard it from Seina she felt fine, If he has said nothing she might have remained suspicious.
─── Fuku. Fuku.
"Miah, Mia!" Kiriko calmed her mind as she watched the two playing joyfully.
"Sorry to make you worry"
"Good, but it's Yuzaki-sama's fault."
Despite being embarrassing, the matter of concern was settled. Kiriko's heart felt sluggish.
Fuku was once again captured by Mizuki's nerve light.
Fuku was once again captured by Mizuki's nerve light.
"They've became friends, I supposed that's good."
"Well yes ... but I'm a bit disappointed that she doesn't have a terminal form like Ryo-ohki."
"Maybe we should ask Washu to make her a moving terminal form like Honoka or Kyoko."
"Sounds good……"
Seina looked closely at Kiriko and breathed heavily as he decided.
"... .... Kiriko ... ... that kimono, you look nice in it." He said.
"Oh ... oh ... Thank you, It's not like you to notice a womans outfit ... ... I'm a little surprised."
Kiriko was touched, but she returned the comment with small talk because the tension was resolved.
"... ... Kiriko remember the suit you were wearing when you left my village to go find work."
"Oh!" Kiriko remembered Seina's expression when she first showed up like that. The facial expression of him when he was still a junior high school student, overlapped with the expression of Seina currently had on.
"Oh……"
The face was happy but the eyes were like a puppy being abandoned. He understood the reason for her leaving back then, she had ran away to overcome her feelings towards his luck.
Now being a royal family member for Kiriko was an act of trying to approach Seina in rank.
But for Seina it seemed like Kiriko had gone far away from him once again.
Seina was always within reach of her. If she wanted to reach him she could have at any time ─ ─ Kiriko noticed that.
"... I'll always be here for you." Kiriko gently moved her hand to hold Seina 's hand.
"............"
They both sat without saying anything as they locked eyes. The warmth of their hands superimposed on each other was enough. They knew the truth of the existence of each other from the feel alone.
"There they are." A voice put an end that precious time shared between the two.
"Ms. Seto!" Seina and Kiriko quickly let go of each others hands and got up.
"Everything seems ready. Let's get started right away. "
"OK!"
To be honest though he regretted having to end that moment between the two of them.
When he saluted, he took Fuku and ran away.
When he saluted, he took Fuku and ran away.