I fell flat on the snow, and gazed at the sky. Even though the sky was cloudy in gray like mud, it was starting to appear brighter gradually as I was watching it. I wonder if it is reflecting the snow on the ground.
My body was buried in the snow and drops of water fell on my face intermittently. They have probably flown off from grass or branches nearby.
Nothing is flying in the sky anymore.
Only our feelings still remain there.
Above the clouds.
Yeah, I really had a good time.
That black cat was wonderfully fast.
Although the aircraft model was different, the one might be the same cat whom I once encountered when flying with Tokino. Perhaps.
In the end, no one belonging to my team managed to go back to the base successfully. I could not remember even the name of our leader and could recall just the faces of other teammates. We could not fulfill the duty to lunge first at the enemy aircrafts and fly around to take their rear. It was partly because the enemy formation split into two. They might have outnumbered us as well.
It is too late for me to care about such things.
Everyone, you have enjoyed flying, correct?
I am pretty sure that no one is regretting.
As for me, ah, I feel very good now.
I cannot believe how wonderful I am feeling, despite the fact that I am now on the ground. I must have had a really fulfilling time. I flew for the first time since a long time ago. I could fly as much as I wanted. My only regret was that the aircraft was destroyed. The young mechanic tuned it up for me ... What did he say? He was ...
Oh.
I recalled one thing.
I heard Kusanagi’s voice.
If I did not lean the control stick toward the right to deflect the ailerons, I would not have been able to come back alive. Was Kusanagi watching me? No, I did not see such an aircraft image. Was it an auditory hallucination? Or, did I mistake someone’s voice for hers? But, there was no one around me at that time.
I am always saved by Kusanagi.
I am staying alive thanks to her.
So, I still cannot die so easily.
After taking a rest only for a short time, I will try to return to the airbase by foot.
And then, I will get the wound healed, stay put, and take a quiet rest. That will allow me to go back to the sky again.
I mean, pilots are suffering from overall shortages more than aircrafts.
I know I will be summoned again to compensate for the personnel shortage.
Until then. I will just dream it.
Looking up at the sky to make sure not to forget it.
Inhaling the cold air into my body.
I will wait for it.
I can fly again.
Someday in the future.
Somewhere, for sure.