Editing KSGU:Volume 3 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 6===

‘Banagher. Banagher.’

The moment the door opened, the basketball-sized ball leapt over. “Haro!” Banagher answered as he hurriedly caught that thing.

Haro flapped its ear-like round discs as it remained in Banagher’s clutches, asking in a synthesized voice, ‘Are you alright? Are you alright?’ “Of course.” Banagher answered as he turned Haro upside down to check. Even though there’s a bit of soot, the surface that was covered by a layer of rubber did not show any signs of scars. After scarring in a relieved manner, “Banagher!” “You’re still alive!” The familiar voices entered Banagher’s ears, and he frantically looked around the room that was 10m wide.

At a corner of the recreational room for officers, which had vending machines, plants, and several simple tables and chairs, Banagher found the owners of the voices. Standing up from the sofa and looking over with a blank expression was Micott Bartsch. Takuya ignored the NCO who looked like he was in charge of watching over them as he dashed over. As he saw their faces, Banagher could not hold back the emotions swelling in him as he answered, “I thought you guys were…!” the words remained in his throat as he stamped the floor and caught Takuya who was flying over.

Micott then caught up to them and hugged them. The trio were all bundled up and floating in the air due to inertia. Mihiro stands beside them and stops the NCO who was trying to stop them, giving a wry look. Banagher uses his body to embrace the warmth of his friends. This warmth, this is reality—even if the ‘disjointed feeling’, he would not feel shaken. This was the warmth that showed that he belonged to this world. The skin that was tense due to the cold was warmed up, and Banagher enjoyed the comfort that came with the hugs. ''This is where I should be in.'' His heart was filled with such thoughts. ''I’m not going to ride on the mobile suit again; I’m not going to get involved with the Vist Foundation and Neo Zeon. The day I got involved in nightmares has ended…''

It had been about a mere 2, 3 seconds in the air. The moment they slammed into the wall, the trio was grabbed by the gravity they once left as they collapsed onto the sofa “It hurts!” “Gyah!” All sorts of cries could be heard. And then, it was unknown who started laughing first as the room is then filled with the trio’s laughter. Takuya and Micott only had some light scratches on their legs and arms, and it looked like they did not get injuries that were too severe. Both of them look a lot livelier than the last time they met, and it seemed that they bathed and washed off the sweat and dirt on them. After looking at both of them, Banagher repeated it again, “It’s great to know that you two are fine…” “Of course not.” Takuya clenched his fist loosely and jabbed it into Banagher’s stomach, grumbling unhappily,

“We had it rough. We were shaken about by the mobile suit’s hand, moving all around the battlefield. I really don’t know what you were doing that time.”

“I was really worried about you, seriously. I heard that you were kept in the ship with us, Banagher, but they wouldn’t let us see you. Is the injury on your head fine? They said that you never regained consciousness…”

Micott wanted to touch the bandage on Banagher’s head but was blocked by his hand. As Banagher wants to tell her that it was not too serious, a light Banagher saw before came from opposite the table, behind Mihiro and the NCO, causing him to gasp. 

Emerald eyes. The eyes that declared that everything had changed. The eyes that were gleaming intensely were in the same room as her. That person was staring at him while looking like she was hiding behind the NCO. Immediately, Banagher was not looking at other people as he stands up from the sofa.

“Audrey!”

Her shoulders jerk and the emerald eyes widen slightly. Banagher did not care as he steps on the floor, and as he was about to fall, he passes by Mihiro and the NCO.

That’s right. It was Audrey Burne. The chestnut-colored hair, clear white skin and long legs with jeans on were the same as yesterday. He feels a burning sensation climbing out from deep within him—it was not warmth, but something much stronger. The heat caused Banagher’s body to become anxious and made him move to those emerald eyes. For some reason, the first words Banagher said were “I didn’t expect you to be on this ship too…!” On hearing this, Audrey diverted her gaze to the floor.

“Ehh…things ended up like this.”

Looking over, Audrey turned her stare behind Banagher’s shoulders. Banagher realized that Audrey was staring at Takuya and Micott, and the heat inside him subsides.

''The two of them know Audrey. They know that Audrey, who looks like she’s part of the anti-Federation forces, snuck into Industrial 7 yesterday, met the Vist Foundation—and definitely has something to do with the battle last night.'' Banagher, not anybody else, was the only one who told them these. As Banagher thought about this, it was too late by the time he took a step back from Audrey. “So you’re the Audrey Banagher mentioned before.” The stinging words came from behind, causing Banagher to turn around.

The one who spoke was Micott. The bone-chilling stare passed by Banagher as it landed on Audrey alone. Banagher noticed at Micott was staring over at him with a suspicious stare at well and got in front of Audrey.

“Who are you? Why did you come over to Industrial 7?”

Perhaps Micott was wary of the NCO’s stare as she never asked Audrey so directly. Mihiro interrupted Micott, who let out stinging words after being unrestrained, saying, “Oh my, aren't the four of you friends?” Banagher clenched his sweating fists tight as such a situation developed right in front of the one person he did not want knowing what was going on — the Federation officer. As Banagher could not think of any words to break the deadlock, he subconsciously raised his arms to protect Audrey…“She just moved into Industrial 7 yesterday,” another voice rang inside the room.

“She’s Banagher’s childhood friend, and she’s supposed to transfer over to our school, right?”

Takuya gave a look, but Banagher could not catch up for that moment as he vaguely answered, “Eh? Ahh…”

“Hm? Is that so?” Mihiro asked. Before Micott could show a doubtful look, Takuya patted her on the back and said, “You’re worrying too much, Micott.”

“Even if there are friends who suddenly come by for an hour, Banagher probably won't look at any girl other than you, right?”

Even Banagher was dumbstruck by these words as his mouth gaped open. Mihiro let out an understanding expression as she nodded away, while Micott, who was left behind, immediately went red. ''You said too much! What if she gets angry!?'' Banagher was worried as he could not help but close his eyes. “What are you saying!? What I mean is…!” Micott’s enraged voice rang, and the helpless Banagher had to endure this—

“Is Banagher Links around?”

A sharp voice suddenly interrupted them. Banagher looked over at where the voice came from, and he saw two men walking through the door of the recreation room.

One of the men was tall and burly, had short hair, and had a physique of a wrestler, and the other was a man with sharp attention and ferocity all over him. Both of them were also wearing Federation uniform, but the presence they gave off was obviously different from the other passengers. If the other soldiers were wooden sticks, these two were metal bats. The man with the sharp expression alone may even be described as being like a sharp knife.

Banagher met that knife in the eyes, and as Mihiro and the NCO remained still, those two walked over without much thought. Even with a cast on one of the men’s left arm, the footsteps were not showing any signs of faltering. The sharp stare scanned Banagher from the head to the fingernails, and the body that resembles a giant cat species arrived in front of Banagher. Banagher tried his best not to look away as he stared straight at the man’s face. The man’s stare remained still, asking without any emotion on his face, “Is this the boy?”

“Yes, Commander Daguza.” Mihiro answered. The man looks away from Banagher and immediately questions Mihiro, “I did say before to immediately bring him to me once he’s awake, right?”

“I was the one who let him meet the refugees who were detained. That’s because I heard that they were schoolmates.”

Mihiro gave a bold expression that did not match her babyface as she never looks at the men. Her attitude shows that she had some contempt for the men. However, the man called Daguza did not seem to mind as he looks down at Banagher, telling him “You, follow me” before turning away. The tone that did not allow for any objection caused Banagher to step forward before he could even think.

“Wait a second…! You’re saying that you’re taking him? To where?”

“Banagher’s like us! He managed to escape to this ship!”

Takuya and Micott then added in, causing Banagher to stop immediately. Daguza turned back and glanced at them, and said with an unwavering tone, “That’s for us to decide.”

“Aren’t you being too bossy here!? Besides, when are you going to send us back to Industrial 7!?”

“The ship’s in a precarious situation. I can’t make any guarantees.”

“My father Fabio Bartsch is the factory owner of Industrial 7’s Third Workzone. If you’re only going to take Banagher away, please state the reason first.”

Micott knew that most adults will change their attitude after hearing these words, but this time, the outcome was not what she desired as Daguza stared at Micott and said solemnly,

“He piloted a military mobile suit as a civilian and entered the battlefield. This heavy crime alone is enough to warrant capital punishment.”

“Military mobile suit…?” “You’re the one who piloted it?” Takuya and Micott let out their shocked voices respectively. Banagher saw that Mihiro seems to be begrudging Daguza for saying too much as she glared at the side of his face. His eyes started to move around. “Banagher, don’t tell me you…” A soft voice came from behind, causing Banagher to be so shocked his eyebrows twitch.

Audrey, who instinctively reached her hand out for Banagher’s shoulder before taking it back immediately, was showing signs of faltering in her expression. Banagher recalls that everything changed the moment he saw these eyes. ''Me, Audrey, and maybe even including Takuya and Micott may have taken on a path of no return.'' Banagher harbored such a thought that might be instinctive and answers, “I’ll tell you later.”

“Wait here for me, alright?”

''Don’t tell anyone else.'' Banagher said this to Audrey with his eyes. Audrey backs away, showing a silent stare at Banagher. Banagher felt the warmth that spread when his shoulder was touched, and followed Daguza out of the recreation room. Mihiro looks like she was saying “Don’t worry”, and the hand that was patted on Banagher’s shoulder gave him the strength to walk forward with his head held high.