Some members of the alliance and Imperial command were of the opinion that no matter how much was at stake, destroying an entire solar system was going too far. “Were” being the operative word. The fall of Europe silenced them. Ever since the war began, there had been a strong belief in certain portions of the population at the civilian level that the Jave were sent by God to punish mankind for destroying the environment, and they should accept these angels and allow themselves to be destroyed. Naturally, this viewpoint was ignored. The current belief the world over was “kill or be killed.”
But their lives went on. They still had homes.
After twenty-four hours off, Kuon was back at school.
Europe had been horrific, but class was super peaceful. The spiky-haired kid he’d fought in the mock battle during the entrance ceremony brought over a motorbike magazine and was all, “Yo, yo, Okegawaaa, dude, this V-Twin is badass, right? Right? You know it is, that senpai of yours was all riding this crazy cool bike the other day. I bet that thing’s a new model, lucky!” and showed him a bunch of pictures. Kuon didn’t get much studying done, but he took a make-up test designed for Lunatic Order members.
The history lecture was on the Ancient Roman Empire, and this felt like such a sick joke that he started laughing, which was bad. He remembered what happened in Sicily again and locked himself in the bathroom, which was bad. He’d forced a whole meal into his stomach, but now his breakfast was all over the toilet and he felt like his heart was turning into Suzuka Hachishiki’s again. He’d been through his share of hell in his previous life, and even he was this messed up by the aftermath of Europe’s fall, so Hanabi and Rin and Fuji must be really bad. Was Hanabi okay? Was she crying again? He’d have to go check on her later.
Hanabi, like most of the soldiers who’d been on that scouting mission, was getting mental health care at the military hospital. She was told that it was far easier to develop PTSD far away from home—especially given her childhood experiences—
as opposed to in battles she knew would be protecting her homeland. Nevertheless, she went to school in the afternoon, sitting in class 3-A with Fuji and Rin and Nao and Okayama, earnestly listening. The concept of “college exams” literally didn’t exist for her, but she felt she needed at least the minimum level of education expected of an Air Force officer. Then she realized she was five years older than Kuon and started wondering just how much she’d outrank him by the time he was allowed to formally enlist. Giving him orders not as a senpai but as a commanding officer sounded fun. She let her thoughts dwell on a future that might not ever come.
Their lives went on. They still had homes.
Until the time came.
At the time, Tooka Nürburg was sleeping in the alliance mobile mothership’s medical ward, but she woke up screaming. She had all her memories back and knew exactly what was coming. No time! Her Device, Mother, onii-chan, she had to call now, now, now, where was her Device, out of bed, legs collapsed under her, cut her lip as she fell and her blood was red and that was a relief.
At the time, Nanahoshi Kaede was in a seat on an airplane on her way home from Europe, her first sleep in thirty hours. En was sitting on her shoulder, back in her original small body, organizing the intel gleaned over the last few days. A call came in on Kaede’s Device from Tooka, who’d been sleeping on the alliance mothership. It seemed urgent.
At the time, Rin was in class 3-A, half-listening, trying to decide how to answer Okayama. She’d thought about him a lot on their scouting mission. When Hanabi was curled up with Kuon instead of her, she’d felt so weak. Having someone to rely on might help. She’d have to talk to him after school. Where, though? Give him a ride on her bike to Mount Suribachi? You could see all of Jogen Island from up there, and only the Motegi family were allowed in, and you needed a bike or car to get there.
At the time, Okayama was staring at the back of Rin’s head, a few rows ahead and to the right of his desk. When she asked what he liked about her, he hadn’t known what to say. Really, he just liked that she was weird. And sometimes very fragile. Gunning for the eldest girl in the formidable Motegi clan was pretty scary, but the way she was lately, he couldn’t just let her be. He wanted to protect her.
At the time, Fuji was looking over his left shoulder at Nao, desperate to see her in a wedding dress. He’d been on the fence for ages but decided he preferred Western style over Japanese traditional looks. Nao in a pure white bride’s veil would be the most beautiful thing in all the world. They would talk about her in the world to come. He would have to find an artist to paint her portrait. Once they got married, they should have lots of children. Two boys and two girls. Never a quiet moment. Such fun.
At the time, Nao had narrowed it down to two venues and was trimming the fat from the budget. She knew Fuji would want to make a spectacle of it, the times be damned, and had been fussing over what dress she would wear for ages. She knew he’d want lots of children, and no matter how old he got, he’d never beat her at mahjong, and she was absolutely certain she loved him more than anyone else.
At the time, only Kuon noticed that their last three hours had begun.