A Certain Pilot's Promise, Vol. 2

A Certain Pilot's Promise, by Koroku Inumura

Illustrations by Haruyuki Morisawa

Air Hunt Officer Academy (Continued)

Part 9 (Part 1 of Volume 2)

Main Characters

Sakagami Kiyoaki. Third-year student at the Air Hunt Officer Academy.

Mio Syira. Third-year student at the Air Hunt Officer Academy.

Illia Kreischmidt. Third-year student at the Air Hunt Officer Academy.

Reiner Beck. Third-year student at the Air Hunt Officer Academy.

Murasaki Kagura. Fourth-year student at the Air Hunt Officer Academy.

Cecil Hauer. Second-year student at the Air Hunt Officer Academy.

Balthazar Grim. Fourth-year student at the Air Hunt Officer Academy.

Utaguni Tokiwa. Dispatch officer for the Akitsu Daily News, Selfaust branch.

Sakagami Masaharu. Flight Chief. Father of Sakagami Kiyoaki. Former ace of the Akitsu Federation.

Karsten Kreischmidt Captain. Father of Illia. Lost his right arm in a duel with Sakagami Masaharu.

Akmed. Knight leading the aerial mercenary group "Valkyrie."

Illustrations

World Status

Chapter 1: Air Hunt Officer Academy (Continued) The sky is a graveyard. Fire and smoke, and thousands of traces of bullets weave a tapestry of hell—airships are the iron coffins thrown into that hell.

A Pilot is merely a particle of iron. Being iron, they feel no fear of death. There is no thrill in shooting down enemies, nor any joy. The only thing they must do is point the nose at the enemy's tail, bring it into the sights, and pull the trigger at a distance where they are sure to hit—that alone.

Air combat is a torture. Performing aerial manoeuvres on the brink of bodies and aircraft shattering—flying as if stitching through the limits of human and airship weight. There is only suffering. The lungs are constricted by the gravitational pull, the muscles continue to creak, and the blood remains in the extremities due to centrifugal force, failing to reach the brain. It would be easier to faint. If that happened, they would surely plunge straight into the sea, and before they could feel pain, be shattered into pieces.

Surviving in air combat means continuing the pain. Endure, shoot down, endure, shoot down— A circle of suffering that does not end until one is shot down and dies.

A Pilot lives, caught in that cruel circle. No matter how much they are an ace, they cannot escape it.

So, why does a Pilot fly through the eternal hell? For their comrades? For the family they must protect? For the future of the nation?

“No.”

With a cheap wine in hand, Karsten Kreischmidt answers his own question. “To rule the skies.”

In his eyes as he speaks this, his only daughter is not reflected. He is looking at the great sky beyond his memories. “Nothing can oppose it, all can do is bow to its might—”

With a glint in his eye, he brings the wine to his mouth. If his right arm had not been lost, that hand would surely have been raised grandly to the sky. “I fly to become the king of the sky.”

What is reflected in Karsten's eyes is only the past self who once ruled the skies of the archipelago. Twelve-year-old Illia Kreischmidt quietly watched her father, who was lost in memories. She knows that her present self does not reflect in her father’s eyes.

Illia lowers her gaze to the old wooden table. A piece of dried bread and a cold can of soup. Her father receives a veteran's pension, but nearly all of it is spent on maintaining the training aircraft. To make Illia an ace, Karsten had, astonishingly, purchased a second-hand twin-seater training aircraft released by the military. The cost of the purchase, fuel, replacement parts, maintenance fees, and hangar fees have become enormous, putting a strain on the Kreischmidt family's finances, reducing dinner to something akin to dog food.

Before school for two hours and after school for two hours, Illia goes to the nearby airfield daily to fly with her father. The footbar has been modified to accommodate a child's legs, allowing for smooth operation. During the flight, her father quietly monitors Illia's piloting from the back seat, pointing out corrections once they land. Despite being harshly scolded and sometimes hit, Illia endures the training in silence.

After a long lecture, Karsten, covered in mud, collapsed onto the table and fell asleep. Illia draped a blanket over her father's back and went out to the backyard.

The cockpit of a discarded fighter was wet with night dew. Karsten had obtained it from the military so she could review her flight practice at home. The front propeller blades were all bent, and with both wings and the tail missing, only the front part of the aircraft lay exposed to the elements.

Alone, Illia removed the rain cover and slipped into the rusted cockpit. Gripping the control stick with her right hand and setting her left hand on the throttle, she closed her eyes and recalled the day’s flight, mentally flying through the skies to reflect what Karsten had taught her in her piloting.

In her imaginary flight, only the aspects of the hellish sky described by Karsten appeared. Though she had no real combat experience, hearing the same stories repeated daily allowed her to vividly envision a battlefield filled with fire, smoke, and bullet traces. The screams of falling airmen, the long trail of black smoke, and the thousands of explosions blooming in mid-air. The wreckage of aircraft that shattered upon being hit in the fuel tank. Friendly airmen approaching enemy soldiers parachuting down, poking their parachutes with their wingtips. The parachutes crumpling, and the enemy soldiers plummeting into the sea with pitiful screams. The black smoke that diffuses over time paints all death in its colour.

Twelve-year-old Illia gripped the control stick of the discarded fighter, flying through that cruel sky with all her heart. —If I lose in this sky.

—Father will abandon me too.

Recalling the manoeuvres from earlier, she kicked the footbar and moved the control stick side to side. She accurately reproduced the pressure pushing against her body within her imagination. —Just like mother abandoned me. If father abandons me…

Illia desperately tightened her grip on the control stick, dodging the rain of enemy fire. —I will be all alone.

Six years ago, her mother left Illia and the family. The gentle arms that used to lift her up were gone, leaving only the harsh training imposed by her father. —To avoid being abandoned by father, I must fly.

Gritting her teeth, Illia painted the sky with the colours of hell. —If I become the “king of the sky,” father will look at me too. —Not my past self, but the me in front of him, reflected like a net.

After shooting down her imaginary enemy aircraft, Illia opened her eyes and looked up at the night sky.

“Why are you a girl?”

“If Only You Were a Boy”

The words that Karsten had thrown at Illia, countless times in drunken stupor, fall from the starry sky. A glimmer of tears forms at the corners of her eyes, which she wipes away with her palm. “Don’t lose,” she encourages herself. —When I become the “king of the sky.” —Father will surely praise me. —I will be acknowledged as a child.

Bitten lips, Illia glares at the night sky and tightens her grip on the control stick. —To avoid being abandoned by Father. —I will become the “king of the sky.”

For the past six years since her mother abandoned her, Illia has etched this determination deep within herself day after day.

So—

Seventeen-year-old Illia opens her closed eyes and gazes at the blue sky. —I cannot lose in this sky to anyone.

The engines of the propeller planes lined up in formation roar to life. The familiar sound of the training aircraft “Gray Fox.” Illia checks the instruments, verifies the responsiveness of the controls, and switches on the radio. The speakers on either side of the instrument panel relay the instructor's orders from the control tower.

“Today, we will conduct a two-on-two mock air battle. Form a pair and cooperate to shoot down the enemy formation.”

“Understood.”

Illia replies through a small microphone positioned at her mouth and connects the engine shaft to the inertial guidance system. The propellers begin to spin, and as she slightly opens the throttle, the sweet smell of burning gasoline envelops the cockpit.

She taxis on the ground and reaches the take-off position. From behind, the aircraft of her senpai, who will be forming a pair with her today, follows closely. She forgets his name. It doesn’t matter; it’s only a formation for today. The speaker crackles.

“It’s an honour to fly alongside a celebrity. Please go easy on me.”

Though Illia is a third-year and one year below him, her previous record in mock air battles has earned her the role of formation leader today. A few journalists await her flight on the ground, eager to report on Illia, one of the “Seven of Eriadore.”

“Nice to meet you.”

She responds with only a courteous greeting to the nameless senpai. It has been two months since the incident with the Eriadore airship's infiltration, yet the seven cadets, including Illia, still attract attention both inside and outside the academy. There is a subtle tone of mockery in the words of the current fourth-year students.

Ground crew signals that it is time for take-off.

Illia presses the brakes and revs the engine. The familiar sound of the internal combustion engine, something she has grown up with. Exhaust flames dissolve into the atmosphere. The heartbeat of the aircraft and her own synchronizes.

The depths of Illia’s eyes take on a calm hue, a steel colour devoid of any emotion. She recites the words she always tells herself before take-off. —The sky is a graveyard. —I am iron. —I am a machine for eliminating enemy aircraft from the airspace. —I am not human. I am a part of a fighter plane.

Illia becomes a lump of iron, releases the brakes, and opens the throttle fully. The aircraft lunges forward with vigour. The landscape outside the windscreen becomes a blur.

Without mediation of thought, her senses capture the moment when the lift accumulated in the wings overcomes gravity. The propellers roar loudly. The sound of the engine is sucked away into the distance.

The ground below recedes, and the airfield beneath her becomes a model, losing its presence. As predesignated, she begins a turn at an altitude of 1,500 meters, waiting for the formation to rise. Before long, a silver-painted aircraft appears behind Illia, moving sluggishly.

“This is Arrow 2, in position.”

Illia’s speaker crackles. She responds. “This is Arrow 1, visual on the enemy aircraft. Turning at the same altitude.”

To her left, about 1,000 meters away, a pair of aircraft painted entirely in blue, the Gray Foxes, flies in formation. Those are today’s opponents. Blue for enemies, silver for allies. Illia confirms this once more. Shooting down a friendly aircraft would lead to significant point deductions and disqualification from the “Ace Race” at the Air Hunt Officer Academy.

Today’s opponent is the fourth-year Murasaki Kagura. She learned this earlier from the bulletin board. Though they cannot communicate via radio, Kagura is surely glaring confidently at her from afar.

When she first transferred from the Akitsu Federation's officer school to the Air Hunt Officer Academy two months ago, Kagura had no real experience in mock air battles. The manoeuvres required in combat are vastly different from normal flying; pulling the stick downward can quickly lead to stalling or mid-air disintegration. Initially, she had been easily out maneuverer by the other students, but as she was undoubtedly a top talent, having never lost in her four years at the officer school, she soon grasped the essentials and began a streak of victories. Recently, even the flying instructors have recognized her as one of the future ace candidates, due to her overwhelming record.

Illia gazes at the enemy aircraft through the windscreen. As expected, Kagura's gaze pierces through from afar, challenging her with a serious intent to compete.

At a horizontal distance of 700 meters, both at the same altitude of 1,700 meters, they turn right in the same circular path, each trailing their own formation. When the enemy’s silhouette cuts across the edge of her wing (when she visually spots the enemy behind her wing), the mock air battle begins.

Gradually, Kagura's blue-painted aircraft, Lance 1, approaches Illia’s wing. For a typical Pilot, this would be a moment to heighten tension, but Illia only becomes more focused. —I am iron. Iron. Iron...

Only that mantra seeps into her mind. Unnecessary human emotions have no place in air combat.

When Illia completely merges with her aircraft as a part, Lance 1’s wingtip cuts across. In that instant, she tilts the control stick. Choosing an immediate head-on engagement, she faces the oncoming Lance 1 straight on.

In an Instant, Four Aircraft Approach

Beyond the shield and windscreen, Kagura’s aircraft rapidly looms larger. As they pass each other, Illia fires paintballs from her 7.7mm machine gun. Upon impact, the special plastic projectile bursts, covering the opponent’s aircraft with paint—a round lacking penetrative capability. The presence or absence of a hit is judged by the instructor aircraft flying above the training area, which communicates the results.

Illia’s speaker does not sound. In other words, there are no hits.

Kagura’s Lance 1, having flown too far back, pulls up to gain altitude. Illia observes that the blue formation, Lance 2, follows suit. She tilts her aircraft and makes a sharp turn to target Kagura’s underbelly.

“Arrow 1, I can’t keep up!”

The panicked voice of her wingman, Arrow 2, comes through the speaker. They are unable to maintain formation, lagging behind in pursuit.

—Whatever.

Illia quickly abandons Arrow 2 and presses relentlessly towards Lance 1. Kagura's aircraft is losing speed, likely due to her attempts to gain altitude. Now is the moment to strike.

She opens the throttle. Realizing Illia's rapid approach, Kagura attempts to twist her aircraft while at 2,000 meters. However, considering the manoeuvrability of the Gray Fox, Illia will surely breach Lance 1’s right flank first.

Illia peers through the sights. The side of the blue aircraft, desperately trying to turn, rapidly approaches her field of vision. —I’ve got it.

Confident of victory, she squeezes the trigger, and at that instant, Lance 2 dives into Illia’s sights to protect Kagura.

“!?”

In a coordinated manoeuvre, Lance 2 suddenly passes right alongside Kagura’s aircraft. The instructor’s voice crackles through the speaker.

“Lance 2, shot down. Withdraw from the battlefield.”

As she looks up and back, she sees Lance 2, now covered in bright red paint, exiting the training area. Lance 1 and Kagura remain unscathed.

—So, the wingman became a shield.

Confirming this fact, Illia realizes that despite being shot down, it was impressive formation flying.

Kagura, having narrowly escaped defeat, immediately targets the lagging Arrow 2 instead of approaching Illia. Recognizing the disadvantage of a two-on-one, she intends to shoot down Illia’s wingman first.

From an altitude of 2,200 meters, Illia again turns and pursues Kagura from above. Ignoring Illia, Kagura reaches above Arrow 2 and begins to dive into its left flank.

“Arrow 1, help me!”

The cry for help from her wingman shakes the speaker, but Illia knows rescue is impossible. The skill gap between Kagura and Arrow 2 is far too evident. Within two turns, Kagura takes the rear position behind Arrow 2 and unleashes a barrage from her machine gun. Vivid red paint stains the tail of Arrow 2.

“Arrow 2, shot down. Withdraw from the battlefield.”

After confirming the instructor’s declaration, Illia launches an attack on Kagura from her superior altitude.

While Kagura is preoccupied with Arrow 2, Illia accelerates, gaining about 300 meters in altitude and prepares to attack. Even if Kagura's skills matched Illia's, holding a higher position in aerial combat is always advantageous. Illia’s victory was secured the moment she abandoned her wingman.

“Lance 1, shot down. Victory for Arrow 1.”

With her gunfire from above dyeing Kagura’s right wing a vivid red, Illia changes her expression not one bit, tilting the control stick as she heads for the airfield.

Today was more challenging than usual, but there was no echo of victory. —I am iron. —I feel no pain or sorrow. —I feel no joy.

Reciting her father Karsten’s teachings in her heart, Illia safely lands at the airfield. The cadets watch Illia return to the pilots’ waiting area without applause or cheers, merely observing from a distance. Journalists approach Illia, and photographers flash their cameras, but she maintains her usual expressionless demeanour, responding to no one as she reports the day’s mock battle outcome to the flying instructor.

Meanwhile, after landing, Kagura approaches a group of cadets watching the outcome of the mock battle and stops in front of one boy.

“I’m so frustrated! Kiyoaki, comfort me!!”

With a very serious expression, she clings tightly to the body of Sakagami Kiyoaki, a third-year student at the Air Hunt Officer Academy.

“W-Wait, Kagura!”

Kiyoaki’s hair stands on end as he tries to push her away, but Kagura furrows her brow, tightening her embrace with an expression of utmost frustration.

“I fought seriously, but I still lost! This is the shame of a samurai; I can’t live like this anymore!”

With a face that seems about to cry, she clutches the back of Kiyoaki's head with one hand, pulling him close as if he were a stuffed animal.

“Get off me, Kagura!”

Kiyoaki flails his arms, but to Kagura, he is her favourite plush toy. Repeating her frustration and disappointment, she plays with him roughly.

“Hey, Kagura, I want to try that too! I was the shield back there, remember?”

From the side, Reiner Beck, a third-year student, looks at Kiyoaki enviously. Kagura regains her usual dignified expression and turns her face towards Reiner while still hugging Kiyoaki.

“You did a perfect job as a wingman, Lance 2. However, I find hugging you physiologically uncomfortable. While Kiyoaki is a cute, cuddly toy, I can feel the typical teenage boy’s sexual desire coming from you.”

She states this plainly, resting her chin on Kiyoaki's head, continuing to lament about her frustration and sadness.

“You really say some horrible things while looking so dignified. It hurts! I risked myself to protect you, Kagura…”

Kiyoaki’s face turns bright red, and he struggles to break free from Kagura's grip.

“Illia has been flying fighter planes since she was a child and has experience in mock battles, so it can’t be helped… Kagura, you shot down one plane and put up quite a fight; that’s impressive.”

“Put up a fight is not good enough! If that were real combat, I would be dead! Ugh, I’m so frustrated, sad, and pathetic…”

Usually calm and collected, it seems Kagura is quite competitive. This time, she expresses her frustration by tightening her grip on Kiyoaki’s neck.

“Get off me, Kagura!”

Kiyoaki moans, waiting for Kagura's emotions to settle down.

In late October, on an Akitsu afternoon, the signature training of the Air Hunt Officer Academy, the “Mock Air Battle,” proceeds smoothly amid the students’ enthusiasm and excitement. The records of the top twenty students are posted on the bulletin board before the control tower, igniting the competitive spirit among the 140 students in the flight department.

So far, Illia is far ahead in first place. With a record of 24 wins and 1 loss out of 25 battles, and an astonishing 33 aircraft shot down, she stands out significantly. The second-place fourth-year student, Balthazar Grim, has a record of 16 wins, 3 losses, and 8 draws from 27 battles, making Illia’s strength unparalleled. In mock battles between students, it is common for neither side to score due to time running out or ammunition depletion, resulting in draws. Continuing to secure clean victories is a difficult feat, but Illia has never had a single draw; she has continuously won alone.

“Illia, you’re too strong. It’s really amazing…”

Freed from Kagura's grasp, Kiyoaki sits by the runway, watching the other students’ mock battles, and casually talks to Reiner, who gazes at the sky lazily.

“She’s a biological weapon specialized for air combat. She lives to fight in the sky; no one can win against her.”

“She’s trained tirelessly since she was a child, all to please Captain Karsten…”

“Is that okay with you? Your dad is her rival, right? Your records don’t even compare to Illia’s.”

"Yeah... I’m still having a hard time getting used to it...”

Kiyoaki bites his lip, looking slightly frustrated as he watches the aerial combat above. Four students are entangled in a chaotic battle. Compared to Illia and Kagura earlier, their air battle is several notches lower in skill. They fire at each other from ridiculous distances, ascend for no reason, and their turns lack coordination. It’s a fight between amateurs that would result in quick defeat in real combat. Yet, Kiyoaki cannot laugh at them.

His current record is not much different from theirs.

“I managed to break through enemy lines with the Eriadore and successfully land at night, gaining attention from the higher-ups, but it feels like I’ve completely ruined it with these mock battles. You probably aren’t cut out for being a fighter pilot.”

Reiner bluntly says this, and Kiyoaki can’t retort. The results speak for themselves.

Kiyoaki's record stands at 11 battles, 2 wins, 0 losses, and 9 draws. He has not shot down a single enemy, placing him 66th out of 140 students.

Considering that he transferred in midway, it’s still an average record. While he can take pride in not having lost, the number of wins is meagre, and most matches have exceeded the 20-minute time limit, ending without a decisive conclusion. His two wins came from colleagues in the same formation shooting down enemies, not from Kiyoaki’s own skill.

“It’s pretty rough to have worse results than me. Your dad, the ace, is probably crying in the afterlife.”

Reiner continues to say worse things, and Kiyoaki can only let out a frustrated groan in response. Reiner, despite everything, manages to handle things well, with a record of 21 battles, 10 wins, 5 losses, and 6 draws. One of those wins is a big trophy from Illia. Reiner claims, “I fired randomly, and a stray bullet hit her,” but regardless, he is the only one in the flight department to have beaten Illia, landing a respectable 17th overall.

“N-No, it’s just a matter of getting used to it. You have more experience in mock battles than I do...”

He struggles to come up with excuses, fully aware that it isn’t just that.

Why can’t he win in air combat? —It’s not suited for me...

He thinks to himself. He has brought enemy aircraft into his sights many times, but embarrassingly, he can’t pull the trigger. Whenever he tries to shoot, his hands and feet begin to tremble.

—I can’t shoot a person.

He knows well that this is a weak mindset. Such thinking is unfit for a soldier. Shooting down enemy soldiers is a fundamental duty of a soldier, and if he can’t do that, he has no business being at the officer school.

His mind understands, but his body does not follow. As the enemy aircraft grows larger in his sights, the trembling in his limbs intensifies, causing him to miss the fleeting opportunity to shoot down the enemy.

If he’s told he isn’t suited for this, he might agree. Yet, he doesn’t want to give up on flying a single-seat fighter. He wants to become a great Pilot like his father, the ace of the Akitsu Federation, Masaharu, or like his mentor, the “Holy Knight” Akmed. If he can’t achieve that, the dream of destroying Urano will remain just that— a dream.

Yes. He entered the officer school to crush Urano. He has not forgotten the invasion of Messus Island by Urano three years ago in July. His beloved sister, Yumiko, died shielding him from the gunfire of Urano’s ace, the black leopard “Karnasion.” His parents sacrificed themselves as decoys to protect elementary school students from the whims of Urano’s fighter squadrons. Their homeland, Messus Island, is now occupied by Urano, and they cannot return.

To honour the sacrifices of his family.

—I will destroy Urano with my own hands.

A fourteen-year-old boy holds a goal that is far too grand. It’s a dream so childish that no one would take it seriously, yet Kiyoaki still earnestly considers how to destroy Urano.

The most realistic means would be— —I will become an officer in the Akitsu Federation military.

If he can rise to the rank of general—major general or lieutenant general—he would be able to command a large army at his discretion. He doesn’t know how many years it will take, but eventually becoming a general to lead an attack against Urano and annihilate them is the most realistic path.

To achieve that, he must first graduate from the Air Hunt Officer Academy with excellent results. Most military officers who rise in rank in the Akitsu Federation come from the top ranks of the officer school. No matter how talented one is in practice, those with poor grades at the academy never rise in the Akitsu military.

In August, when Kiyoaki and the others, known as the “Seven of Eriadore,” achieved a breakthrough in enemy lines while piloting the Eriadore, they garnered significant attention from the public. They were even invited to dine with senpai officers of the St Vault military, where they had the chance to have their faces and names remembered. This was a promising first step toward their grand dreams.

However, Kiyoaki has stumbled significantly in the second step—his mock air battles.

No matter how good the first attempt was, if he falls in the next, it’s all for naught. The long-distance race to rise above his classmates suddenly turns into an unfavourable development. To fulfill his grand goal, he wants to defeat Illia and take the top spot in the mock battles.

Kiyoaki gazes up at the vast sky. Amid the magnificent blue, he can see the smiles of his parents and sister shimmering through. Even after three years, tears fill his eyes every time he recalls them. Not a day has passed that he hasn’t regretted and mourned the irretrievable loss.

To ensure that no one else experiences such sorrow. To eliminate war from this world. —I will destroy Urano.

“Hey, is Kagura going for another match?”

Reiner’s voice breaks Kiyoaki from his thoughts as he looks over to see Kagura boarding the Gray Fox, her anger evident in her posture.

“She probably directly appealed to the instructor. Since the transfers haven’t had enough air battles, they allowed it. You’re not doing enough either; you could easily have three battles a day.”

Students in the flight department are required to complete fifty battles within a year. Since both Kiyoaki and Kagura transferred in midway, they won’t reach the required number unless they participate in multiple mock battles each day.

“Yeah... I want to get a better feel for it first...”

As he watched Kagura take off, shaking off his frustration, Kiyoaki is acutely aware of his own inadequacies. Despite also being a transfer, Kagura is getting accustomed to mock battles, and she will likely rise in rank from here.

—At my current level, no matter how hard I try, I won’t reach Illia’s rank...

Two months ago, when they piloted the Eriadore together, Illia felt within reach, but now she seems immensely distant.

“Hey, is the captain not around? He’s not flying today, right?”

Lost in thought, Kiyoaki hears Reiner’s question from beside him. The captain refers to Balthazar Grim, a fourth-year student. Because he was the captain of the Eriadore during the breakthrough, Kiyoaki and the others still refer to him as the captain even after coming ashore.

“He’s going to a dinner party with the influential people of this island. Mio and Cecil were called along with him.”

“Again? He loves it, doesn’t he? Isn’t he invited to every gathering?”

The so-called “Seven of Eriadore” continue to be widely covered by the media, and they are still well-known on Air Hunt Island, receiving invitations to various parties, receptions, and dinners. Events are often attended by high-ranking officers, politicians, and business figures, making it a good opportunity to connect with influential people. However, simply being students, they find themselves becoming little more than conversation starters for the adults, and Kiyoaki, Reiner, Illia, and Kagura have completely stopped attending.

Only Balthazar continues to engage actively in social gatherings. Although Mio and Cecil dislike going, they possess a charm that catches adult attention and know how to entertain those around them, so Balthazar forces them to accompany him, skilfully navigating the tables at these events.

“The captain is probably thinking about life after graduation. Impressive. Meanwhile, I’m just struggling to complete daily assignments.”

As Kiyoaki looks up at Kagura shooting paint at enemy aircraft, Reiner grumbles.

“Yeah... It seems like he has some goals.”

In Kiyoaki’s mind, a memory from two months ago surfaces, when Balthazar had said something directed solely at him during their discussion about the pros and cons of night landings in front of the Chandler Fortress.

“I can’t die in a place like this. There are things I must do for the rest of my life.”

What he aims for remains unclear. Yet it seems Balthazar, like Kiyoaki, harbors a goal that is far too great, and he works daily to achieve it.

That’s amazing. That’s admirable. Kiyoaki genuinely thinks this. In contrast, he is struggling to pull the trigger against enemy aircraft.

“I feel pathetic...”

As Kagura paints the body of an enemy aircraft bright red, soaring into the sky in triumph, only a sigh escapes Kiyoaki’s lips.

Part 10 (Part 2 of Volume 2) Mio doesn’t own a dress. Instead, she wears the navy female officer uniform provided by the school. The pure white outfit with shoulder insignia, collar insignia, gold trim, and polished white dress shoes that reflect her face. She has been instructed by the principal to wear this when receiving media coverage or attending dinner parties.

“I wonder how long we’ll have to keep doing this.”

Dressed in the constricting formal attire, Mio Syira, a third-year student at the Air Hunt Officer Academy, murmurs beside Cecil.

“At this rate, we’ll probably be doing this until the captain graduates. The principal has gotten used to dragging us around.”

Cecil Hauer, a second-year student at the Air Hunt Officer Academy, responds with resignation.

In their line of sight stands Balthazar Grim, a fourth-year student, engaging in cheerful conversation with high-ranking officials from the St Vault Naval Trade Department.

“Was he always this sociable?”

“He can do it if necessary. He won’t for students, but he’ll do it for someone he wants to get close to.”

“...I don’t know. It feels kind of strange.”

As they observe Balthazar’s lively profile, which they’ve never seen at school, Mio’s tone grows colder.

Today’s party is being held in the grand hall of a luxury hotel on Air Hunt Island. Beneath the high, boat-shaped ceiling, nearly a hundred dignitaries, officials, military personnel, and bureaucrats are engaged in lively conversation.

Mio remembers hearing from the principal in the car on the way over what kind of party it is, but she has forgotten. It’s the 10th anniversary of the governor of Air Hunt’s inauguration or something like that. Surely any topic would suffice. The people gathered here aim to assess the situation of their respective societies, gather information, and stave off boredom. For young, single men and women, it’s also a chance to meet.

“Ladies, are you bored? How about some cards in the smoking room?”

A gentleman, perhaps in his early twenties, approaches them from the side. He is one of Air Hunt Island’s influential politicians, here for a fundraising party. Beside him stand local representatives and officials, all dressed in expensive suits, exuding an air of familiarity with the setting.

Mio instantly wipes any displeasure from her face and puts on a social smile. “Thank you for your concern. However, we are with someone.”

“Oh, Balthazar! What a clear-headed young man; no wonder he’s the captain who accomplished a solo breakthrough. Of course, it was also lucky to be blessed with such excellent partners like you.”

“It’s an honour. However, we’re still students. We can’t smoke.”

“I see. You’re quite serious about this. I thought today’s students would indulge in that much.”

The young gentleman speaks with an air of sophistication that suggests he comes from an aristocratic background. Mio maintains a forced smile, concealing her discomfort, and replies, “The principal is here too. I’ll save smoking for after graduation.”

While not extinguishing her charm, she firmly declines. The young gentleman looks slightly disappointed, furrowing his brow and shrugging his shoulders. “That’s a shame. I’ll wait for another opportunity, Ms. Mio Syira.”

The three gentlemen, polite as ever, move on to another table in search of their next encounter.

“Mio, you’re always popular, aren’t you?”

Cecil remarks with admiration, but as soon as Mio removes her social mask, she shivers and wraps her arms around herself. “I can’t do this. I really don’t like this.” “It’s not impossible! You’re just getting better at handling it...”

“I don’t want to handle it. I’m really not good at this. Look, I have goosebumps...”

“Wow, you really do!”

Mio pulls up her sleeve to show Cecil the goosebumps covering her arms. “As soon as those people approached, this happened all over my body. The men from St Vault really do approach girls so easily. It’s unbelievable...”

Mio shrinks back, hugging herself as if she were seeing a scary bug. Her expression is somewhat pale.

“While you look like a St Vault person on the outside, inside, you’re an Akitsu Federation person, right? Is it true that if an Akitsu woman dates a man before marriage, it’s the death penalty?”

“It’s not that extreme, but if a pair of minors is seen walking alone, people look at them strangely. It’s fine for a girl to walk about three steps behind a boy, but if they walk side by side, adults will definitely yell at them...”

“That’s incredible! I can’t imagine that here—it sounds like prison! But that’s why you’re so rare and attract attention. You’re really popular at school.”

Cecil isn’t being sarcastic; she genuinely admires this. But Mio’s goosebumps only rise further as she shakes her head. Having spent her sensitive years from age twelve to seventeen in the Akitsu Federation, Mio's ideas about chastity are entirely coloured by her upbringing there.

In the two months since transferring to the Air Hunt Officer Academy, Mio has thrown dozens of love letters into the incinerator and has run away from countless invitations for dates. It’s not that she has high ideals or is being pretentious; she simply doesn’t accept the opposite sex, both physically and conceptually.

However, with her striking blonde hair and clear turquoise eyes, she inevitably draws attention, and the disparity between her eye-catching appearance and her overly strict attitude seems to stir the affections of the boys. Mio’s popularity continues to rise rather than wane.

“We’re officer candidates, yet everyone is acting strange, right? Why aren’t they focusing on studying instead of getting caught up in such unclean matters?”

“There’s a mindset in St Vault that enjoying life is essential. Therefore, those who don’t enjoy romance are missing out. Air Hunt students take both study and play equally seriously.”

Though the younger Cecil gently tries to counsel her, Mio merely tightens her embrace around herself and doesn’t listen.

“If I’m getting married, I can’t help that, but if I’m not, dating or becoming a couple is absolutely impossible. It’s disgraceful. That can wait until adulthood...”

Mio’s voice trails off. She lacks confidence in her own words. It’s true that looking at the students at Air Hunt, everyone is dedicated both to their studies and to having fun. In contrast, students at the Akitsu Federation’s Kanan Officer Academy focused solely on academics, and any involvement in romantic affairs was heavily discouraged. Students who indulged in such distractions were considered “slackers,” and sometimes faced disciplinary action from upperclassmen. If an Air Hunt student were to transfer to Kanan, they’d likely have their faces rearranged by the next day.

“Different countries have entirely different mindsets. I’m surprised. Of course, you shouldn’t just play around, but thinking that play itself is bad is harsh for St Vault people.”

“Yeah... I understand what you’re trying to say, Cecil. I get it, but...”

Mio struggles to articulate her thoughts, unsure of herself.

In the end, until the party ends, Mio silently fulfills her role in enhancing Balthazar’s reputation, all the while dealing with the advances of the dozen or so gentlemen who approached her, all the while shivering with goosebumps. By the time it’s 9:30 PM, she finally manages to get into the car for the ride home.

“Captain, how long are we going to keep doing this?”

In the backseat of a luxury car owned by the Air Hunt Officer Academy, Mio and Cecil sit on either side of Balthazar, glaring at his face. The principal remains at the venue, continuing casual conversation with influential figures, leaving only the students to make their way home.

“Whenever the opportunity arises.”

Removing the social mask he had worn at the party, Balthazar reveals his usual icy expression as he stares ahead, responding flatly.

“I don’t want to do this anymore. From now on, you can go by yourself, Captain.”

Mio firmly declines, but Balthazar answers nonchalantly in a familiar tone. “Do you know who your squad leader is? Who influences your grades?”

“It’s you, you know. I’ll report to the supervisor. No matter how much of a squad leader you are, you can’t treat squad members however you like.”

“Do as you please. It’s absurd for an officer candidate to refuse an invitation from higher-ups. If anyone’s being lazy, it’s you.”

“We’re not your accessories, Captain. There are plenty of other girls who are more socially adept.”

“If it were just any girl, I would have done it long ago. But the ones invited are the ‘Seven of Eriadore.’ I can’t bring Illia. She may excel in the air, but on the ground, she doesn’t even know how to smile politely. And Kagura might cut down any man she doesn’t like. It’s only natural that you and Cecil remain.”

“I’m not very charming either. I turned down all the invitations today.”

“You have social experience, right? The way you handled today’s men is not something an ordinary schoolgirl could do. You’ve grown up surrounded by the upper class since childhood. Isn’t that right?”

“...”

Mio swallows her words, feeling embarrassed that he can see through her.

“Cecil also knows how to socialize. She behaves innocently and freely but never crosses too far or allows others to invade her space. She expertly makes her presence fade behind you, Mio.”

Cecil, startled, widens her large eyes. “W-What!? That’s not true! I mean, I do try not to stand out too much, but I’m not disappearing like some ghost...”

Balthazar snorts, facing forward. “I know you’re just playing dumb. But someday, I’ll expose your true self. You’re hiding something...”

Mio and Cecil exchange glances. Today, Balthazar is more aggressive than usual. They can’t understand why he’s speaking so irrationally, as if he knows something.

Curious, Mio leans closer to Balthazar’s neck and, sniffing the air, suddenly exclaims, “Captain, you’ve been drinking!”

“I was with a lieutenant colonel from the naval command. I couldn’t refuse.”

Looking closely at Balthazar’s profile, she sees that his cheeks and the tip of his nose are slightly flushed. “Even though you’re underage! The principal was there too! If you get caught, you’ll be suspended!”

“I was just following orders. There’s no way I’d get drunk from just a glass of brandy. Hic.”

“You’re drunk! And that’s troublesome!”

“Shut up. Don’t meddle in my actions. I’ll continue to bring you along; refusal of orders will affect your grades, so don’t resist, just behave...”

As Balthazar tries to lean back and sleep, Cecil retorts, “Captain, you really enjoy socializing with the influential, don’t you? Is there some grand objective behind it?”

Balthazar, who had been about to close his eyes, opens one just slightly. “To achieve something, it’s quicker to borrow the power of others. It may seem like a roundabout way, but it’s the most efficient way to accomplish my goal.”

He dismisses this with an air of annoyance, closing his eye again. They wait for him to continue, but nothing follows.

“So, what is that goal?”

Cecil unusually puffs out her cheeks, pressing for answers, but already, Balthazar’s breath has turned to sleep. “He’s falling asleep. Drunk. He’s so selfish.”

Cecil grumbles, looking ahead. Mio, too, gazes out the window, her expression one of exasperation as she absently watches the dark, rural roads of Air Hunt Island.

“It’s been two months since we came to this island. Time flies...” “It’s been a real commotion, hasn’t it? Things have calmed down recently, but I guess the captain still wants more excitement...”

She likely wants to be able to play freely with her peers instead of attending these stuffy gatherings in her constricting formal attire. Today, for some reason, Cecil’s tone becomes more agitated.

“The media, magazines, radio interviews—he’s taken them all. It feels like all the credit is going to the captain. That’s how the world sees it. He’s the one who opposed the night landing until the very end, but that gets ignored. Is that okay with you, Mio?”

At the question, worry fills Mio’s eyes. To raise war morale and increase the number of volunteers, the naval public relations department has greatly embellished the “Seven of Eriadore’s” journey, restructuring it into a “heroic story” with Balthazar as the protagonist. The climax is the night landing incident.

To save Mio, who had suffered a severe injury to her thigh, Captain Balthazar decided on a night landing. If they failed, all seven would die, but Balthazar boldly insisted, “I can’t survive by sacrificing my comrades. We all must return alive.” And pilot Illia magnificently fulfilled that expectation, successfully landing... that’s how the story goes.

But that’s not the reality. It was Kiyoaki who insisted on the night landing. Balthazar had argued, “Are you suggesting we risk all our lives for Mio alone?” and “If Mio is lucky, she might just lose her left leg.” He opposed it until the very end, but after being persuaded by Kagura and Illia, they ultimately took a vote and, having suffered a crushing defeat, he reluctantly agreed to land, throwing out a casual remark about how they could kill him if they wanted.

However, the truth was never conveyed to the public; it became a tale of the brave and considerate Balthazar saving Mio. It is more convenient for the St Vault Navy that Balthazar is the protagonist rather than Kiyoaki, who would attract attention as an Akitsu person.

“That’s not good. But in the end, the captain approved too, so I guess it’s fine. If he had used his authority, he could have opposed it until the end and prevented the landing.”

Mio can only say this with uncertainty. She feels guilty for putting the lives of the other six at risk for her own sake, and even if she were the captain, she would likely share Balthazar’s views. Logically, one shouldn’t risk the lives of the entire crew to save a single member. What Mio can do is only to express her gratitude to the six who put their lives on the line for her.

“Mio, you’re such a nice person. Ahh... That’s why you get used by the captain. In the end, it’s those shameless people who benefit.”

Cecil mutters, loud enough to be heard, but Balthazar continues to sleep soundly. Among the “Seven of Eriadore,” Balthazar has appeared most frequently in the media, actively mingling with politicians, military leaders, and high-ranking bureaucrats, making sure his face and name are well known.

Incidentally, Kiyoaki was the primary pilot during the night landing, but in the naval “heroic story,” it’s claimed that Illia was the one who piloted the plane. It’s better for the propaganda and morale of the St Vault Air Force that the daughter of the former “King of the Sky,” Karsten Kreischmidt, successfully accomplished the landing rather than an exchange student from Akitsu. What is circulated in the world is a heavily altered tale of the seven.

And just as if to escape Cecil’s cold gaze, Balthazar’s head tilts to the side, and his body leans onto Mio. “Hey, Captain...”

Balthazar rests his head on Mio’s left shoulder, falling into a deep sleep. Mio, who has no resistance to the opposite sex, flails to push him away, but Balthazar clings to her, sound asleep. “Oh my, you two look good together.”

Cecil teases with a sidelong glance. The usual coldness, calculating demeanour, and arrogance are nowhere to be found; it’s a boyish sleeping face that seems innocent and soft.

“Captain! Enough already!”

As Mio pushes him away forcefully, Balthazar finally corrects his position, opening his eyes slightly. “...Huh? Was I asleep?”

“It’s fine to sleep, but please don’t use me as a pillow.”

“...Is that so? Was I asleep?”

With a faint scent of brandy wafting from him, Balthazar repeats his earlier words and closes his eyes again, quickly falling back into slumber.

As she gazes at the sleeping Balthazar, Mio reflects on how she had been angry the entire time, but now, Cecil’s tone turns somewhat worried. “Captain, you must be really tired... Even though you attend parties every week, you still maintain top grades in mock battles and classes. That’s impressive.”

“...Yeah. I heard from the supervisor that he studies late into the night. They say he’s up past lights out, studying until dawn in the officer’s quarters...”

Mio and Cecil look at Balthazar from both sides. His usual mature sternness has vanished, revealing a pure, soft sleeping face. While the average student would be exhausted just completing daytime classes at the Air Hunt Officer Academy and would go straight to bed at night, Balthazar compensates for the time he spends attending parties with intense late-night study sessions.

Though he seems arrogant, selfish, and indifferent to others, the sight of him diligently devoting himself to a goal is impressive. Mio thinks this to herself.

The moment she does, Balthazar tilts again, this time resting his head fully against her left shoulder. “So, Captain...”

Cecil gives Mio a playful smile. “He’s a jerk, but let him sleep. He’ll probably study late again tonight.”

“Easy for you to say...”

Mio puffs her cheeks but, as Cecil pointed out, she thinks it would be cruel to wake him up.

With a huff of irritation escaping her, Mio rests her chin on the window frame, allowing Balthazar to lean against her shoulder, her gaze drifting out the window.

She decides to let him sleep. While she can’t call him a nice person, he certainly risked his life for her during the night landing, and she feels grateful that he’s still alive.

From Balthazar’s blonde hair comes the scent of alcohol and tobacco. Though she’s uncomfortable with the opposite sex, Balthazar views Mio more as a tool than a woman. While she finds it frustrating, the physiological aversion is mild. More than that, she wants to give rest to the comrades with whom she exchanged that “oath.”

—Even if we become enemies, we will not hate each other. —Friendship is eternal.

Quietly repeating the “oath” in her heart, Mio smiles reluctantly. “For now, Captain.”

For the next ten or so minutes, until they arrive in front of the student dormitory, Mio continues to lend her left shoulder to Balthazar.

Having achieved a breakthrough in enemy lines with the Eriadore and enhanced the reputation of the Air Hunt Officer Academy, the principal awarded Kiyoaki and the other six a coveted "privilege" to encourage the motivation of other officer candidates.

This is the ultimate privilege that all 2,400 students at the Air Hunt Officer Academy drool over—

A dedicated officer room for the seven of them.

“Wow, finally done! Now we have free time!”

Leaning back on the three-person sofa and gazing at the ceiling, Reiner exhales a sigh of relief. He has discarded his uniform, now dressed in a long-sleeve T-shirt and cotton loungewear, looking casual.

“I’m done too. Meteorology was tough at first, but once I got the hang of it, it became interesting.”

Kiyoaki, having finished his preparation for tomorrow’s classes, collapses onto the sofa across from him. The clock on the bookshelf shows 10:30 PM. If he were still at the Kanan Officer Academy he had attended two months ago, it would have long passed lights-out time. But in this officer room, there is no set lights-out time. It’s a paradise where no one complains if they stay up until dawn.

The living room is equipped with two sofas, a table, a radio, and shelves filled with books along the walls. There’s also a kitchen, allowing for nighttime snacks if they stock up on ingredients. Opening the door leads to a study room with seven partitioned desks for studying. For officer candidates who would normally be crammed into shared dorms, this is an unparalleled environment, making it only natural that the seven of them call this place home.

After finishing their daily routines and lounging on the sofa, Mio and Cecil, still in their uniforms, enter the officer room.

“Good work! Aki, are you done with your duties too?”

Cecil cheerfully exclaims, hopping onto the sofa next to Kiyoaki with a grin. Kiyoaki responds with a warm smile. “Yeah, somehow I managed. Are you accompanying the captain again today?”

“I don’t want to go anymore! I complained to the captain the entire ride, but he didn’t listen at all! I really can’t take it anymore; I’m totally worn out!”

As Cecil pouts, Kiyoaki looks up at Mio. “You must be tired too, Mio. It’s tough for you, especially since you dislike parties.”

Mio sighs in response. “You should join us once in a while. After all, you’re invited too.”

“I’m not really... I don’t even know what to do there, and the captain clearly told me, ‘You don’t have to come.’”

“Really, that captain...! He treats others like tools. It’s unbelievable.”

With her anger evident, Mio walks over to the kitchen and puts on an apron over her uniform. “Ooh, late-night snack? I want pasta!”

Reiner immediately demands. Mio realizes she’s still in her apron and exclaims, “No way, this is scary!”

“Mio, you’ve made cooking a habit. You’ve been doing it every day, right?”

Mio, slightly troubled, pinches the hem of her apron. “I wonder if it’s stress. As soon as I get here, I instinctively put on an apron. I can’t help but cook. Kiyoaki, do you want something?”

“I want katsudon!”

“At this hour!? No way, frying is too much hassle.”

“Yeah, but I’m really hungry...”

“Mio, I want salted pasta! Just boil it and sprinkle some salt on it!!”

“Fine, fine. Cecil, you’re not hungry anymore, right? Just wait a bit. I’ll make it for the two of you right away...”

Reluctantly retreating to the kitchen, Mio returns fifteen minutes later with two steaming bowls of katsudon. “I told you I wanted salted pasta!!”

Reiner shouts, but Mio looks puzzled. “What? Really? I didn’t hear that.”

“Thank you, Mio! You’re so efficient!”

Kiyoaki accepts the katsudon and digs in with his chopsticks. “Wow, this is delicious! Mio’s katsudon is the best!”

With rice grains sticking to his cheeks, Kiyoaki beams. While katsudon is a popular dish among the young in the Akitsu Federation, Reiner looks suspiciously at the bowl. “What is this...? The egg is all runny. Why is the fried pork wet? Akitsu food makes no sense...”

Complaining, he scoops the contents with a spoon, presenting the bowl towards Mio. “Refill, please.”

“You seem to like it. Dinner is over now. Eating a lot at this hour isn’t good for your health.”

“Really? What is this? It’s so good...” Kiyoaki says, looking at Reiner. “You always make her cook for you, huh? That’s so unfair.”

While munching, Kiyoaki glances at Reiner. “I don’t make her do anything. Mio’s good at cooking, so she makes it for us. ...Thanks for the meal. Mio, it was delicious. I ate a lot for dinner, but I got hungry again quickly...”

“Anytime. I end up cooking a lot to relieve stress. I wish I could do something about it...”

Complaining to herself, Mio starts cleaning up the bowls while looking around the kitchen. There’s a frying pan, a soup pot, a large oven, and among the St Vault kitchen utensils, there are also Akitsu tools her parents sent her like cooking chopsticks, fish grilling nets, steamer baskets, and a rice cooker. Officer school students receive a stipend, but Mio spends most of it on ingredients, passionately making delicious meals every night.

“I’m still hungry. I want more of that soggy pork cutlet!”

As Reiner throws out his envious request toward Mio, Kagura appears at the entrance, peeking her head in. “Oh, what a nice smell. Is that... tonkatsu?”

Throwing down the kendo equipment she was carrying, she approaches the kitchen, drawn in by the aroma. Mio smiles and says, “It’s katsudon. Would you like some, Kagura?”

“No, I’m good. You're already cleaning up.”

“Not at all, I can make more. I was thinking about eating a bit too.”

“Really? ...Can I take you up on that? It’s embarrassing, but I always get a little hungry after practice.”

“Sure, I’ll make it right away! Just wait a moment.”

“Thanks. I’m actually quite hungry. I think Illia is too.”

Just then, Illia enters, carrying her kendo equipment behind Kagura. Mio beams at Illia, “Good work, Illia. You must be hungry, right? You’re having a late-night snack, aren’t you?”

Illia’s usual stoic demeanour softens a little at Mio’s warmth. Nodding slightly, she says, “...Thanks, Mio. ...I appreciate it.”

Gratefully, she awkwardly expresses her thanks. Mio waves her hands in front of her. “It’s fine, it’s fine. Just wait. I’ll make it right away.”

Mio re-ties her apron, pulls out the cooking oil she had put away, and begins frying new tonkatsu for the two of them. As Reiner’s envy intensifies, “Mio, make sure to get me some too...”

“Oh, I totally forgot. Fine, I’ll make it...”

Efficiently coating the next batch in breadcrumbs, she tosses Reiner’s portion into the pot.

Looking up at Kagura and Illia, Kiyoaki greets them. “Good work! You’re practicing kendo late again.”

Kagura plops down heavily onto the sofa, exhaling a sigh of relief.

“The number of members has significantly decreased. We’ve pushed them hard, after all. Only those who truly want to master kendo remain. It’s down to... about eight now.”

“Anita and William submitted their withdrawal notices today. Including me and Kagura, there are six members left.”

At Illia’s words, Kagura nods with satisfaction. Cecil, listening to their exchange, furrows her brow and sighs. “I don’t get it. There were so many members at first. Why would you want to reduce the numbers like this? Kagura, you were so popular with the underclassmen...”

Two months ago, after transferring to the Air Hunt Officer Academy, Kagura established a kendo club to pass on the traditional martial arts of the Akitsu Federation to St Vault. Initially, she thought if she gathered five members, that would suffice, but over eighty students showed up, leading to a situation where they couldn’t supply equipment for everyone. Many students joined not to learn kendo but simply to get closer to Kagura, who was popular among the younger girls. After some consideration, Kagura imposed harsh training on the members to encourage those with less serious intentions to leave voluntarily.

“You can’t master the way of the sword with impure motives. It’s a waste of time for everyone. I want to train only those who are genuinely seeking kendo.”

Kagura states firmly, glancing at Illia. “...I agree.”

Illia responds with minimal words, crossing her arms and leaning against the wall with her usual stoic expression, closing her eyes. Kagura has said that Illia’s potential in kendo is quite significant and that in three years, she could become a master instructor.

“Kiyoaki, it’s not too late to join now. We would welcome you!”

Encouraged by Kagura, Kiyoaki ponders. Initially, he intended to join just to help establish the club, but after seeing the overwhelming number of applicants, he thought, “The club will be recognized even if I don’t join.” However, if they continue to drive out the less serious students, they’ll soon fall below the required five members and be forced to disband.

“Illia said that kendo can be applied to aerial combat. After trying mock aerial battles, I really felt that. Even though I lack experience compared to everyone else, I’ve recently started to win, and it’s largely due to the benefits of kendo.”

“...I’ve heard that from my father’s colleagues a few times as well. But it feels awkward to join now. It’s just... I don’t know how to explain it...”

Kiyoaki mumbles, glancing at Illia, but she remains still.

“Illia—does kendo help in aerial combat?”

Cecil asks, and Illia slightly opens her eyes to respond. “...It’s helpful.”

She bluntly states before closing her eyes again. Kagura adds to her incomplete sentence. “Kendo is a unique system of techniques that evolved from the battlefield where swords clashed. It’s the crystallization of combat techniques honed over centuries by masters called geniuses during times of war. The essence lies in controlling the enemy’s actions—essentially, shoot before being shot. While it’s easy to say, executing this technique is difficult. The superiority of kendo comes from being able to repeatedly train this on the ground. By mastering kendo, I believe Illia will become even stronger in aerial combat.”

As she finishes, Kagura’s gaze shifts to Kiyoaki.

Kiyoaki simply hangs his head. Even as he is now, he can’t keep up with Illia in aerial combat, and at this rate, the gap will only widen.

“...Well. Um... yes. Please let me think about the joining matter...”

Kagura smiles. “I’ll be waiting. I’m sure it will help you overcome your weaknesses.”

Kiyoaki hangs his head even lower, responding only with a murmured acknowledgment. —I’m definitely being overshadowed by Illia.

He thinks to himself.

In these two months, he hasn’t really spoken to Illia. Her words have always been few, and unlike when they were both holding the control stick of an aircraft, there’s no real connection in their daily lives. Even when they meet here in the officer room, they don’t open up to each other; only a tense atmosphere lingers, and as time passes, their distance seems to grow.

Just then, “Sorry to keep you waiting! Please enjoy!”

Mio brings three steaming bowls of katsudon to the table. Kagura’s expression brightens. “Katsudon! It’s been a while. Thanks to Mio, we can enjoy Akitsu cuisine here. Itadakimasu!”

After clapping her hands together, Kagura grabs a bowl and digs in with gusto. With her eyes closed, she chews and savours, emitting a satisfied “Kuu...” as she shakes her head from side to side. “Ah... this is... delicious! It’s the best, Mio. Marry me!”

“Yay! I’d love to!”

She enthusiastically offers a refill. “Please!”

Receiving the empty bowl thrust toward her, Mio happily returns to the kitchen. Meanwhile, Illia stands still, holding her bowl in her left hand and chopsticks in her right, merely staring at the contents. Kagura notices and asks, “What’s wrong, Illia? Is this your first time having katsudon?”

“...Yes. How should I eat it?”

“In Akitsu, we eat dishes like this heartily. Stuff your mouth full and chew with gusto!”

At this, Illia looks even more tense as she gazes at the katsudon. Hesitantly, she picks up a piece with her chopsticks, sniffs it, and cautiously takes a bite, as if a sparrow pecking at its food. “...It’s good. Yeah... Mio, it’s delicious.”

As she offers her praise, Mio turns with a smile. “I’m glad. I was worried about whether St Vault folks would like it.”

“Really... Mio, you’re an excellent cook.”

For some reason, Illia says this sadly, then sits down next to Kagura and eats quietly. After a moment, she places her empty bowl on the table with a clatter, “...Thank you for the meal. I’ll clean up.”

“Oh, it’s fine. Just leave it. I’ll take care of it.”

Mio quickly moves to clear the bowls. Illia looks apologetic. “You don’t have to do everything by yourself...”

“It’s fine, really. Just let me do this. Otherwise, I’ll feel bad.”

“........”

As Mio retreats to the kitchen, Illia silently watches her.

Mio takes to heart the sacrifices the six made for her during the night landing. That’s why she works selflessly for everyone, trying to give back in whatever way she can.

“...Then, I’ll study. Cecil, don’t stay up too late.”

After stating this quietly, Illia disappears into the study room at the back. “Okay!” Cecil replies, watching her go. “I wish Illia would chat with everyone a bit more. Aki, you haven’t talked to Illia much lately, have you?”

“Uh, yeah... It’s just hard to approach her...”

“She got closer to you after the night landing. Illia tends to retreat into her shell immediately. I thought you’d be able to change that!”

“I don’t think I can change her... I’m not that impressive.”

“It’s not about being impressive. Ah—... how do I put this?”

“I’m hopeless. Whatever works, I guess? It’s hard to imagine Illia being friendly with everyone.”

Just as Reiner interjects, Cecil puffs out her cheeks. “You don’t understand Illia at all! She’s really feminine at heart... but she never shows that side...”

In the end, she says this with a hint of sadness. It seems Cecil has been very attached to Illia since they first met five years ago. Her feelings for Illia are stronger than anyone else's.

After everyone finishes their meals, Mio wraps up the dishes and joins them on the sofa for casual chatter.

“I hear Illia’s hair is done by Cecil, right? That’s a skill!”

Cecil responds proudly, “I do it because if Illia does it herself, it’ll end up looking like a boy’s cut. I first met Illia five years ago, and she had that short boyish haircut because her dad told her to do it. I felt so bad for her... So, I’ve been taking care of Illia’s hair ever since. It’s such a waste for someone so beautiful to have such a short style...”

“Yeah, that hair is stunning! It really suits Illia. Cecil, you could become a hair designer in the future!”

“Really? I’m so happy! If you’d like, I can do your hair too, Mio!”

With an innocent smile, Cecil continues her light-hearted talk. Her cheerful demeanour brings warmth to the atmosphere, and just having her around eases the tension.

Then, the door at the entrance opened again.

“Still awake? Hurry up and sleep,”

Balthazar, who had just woken from a nap, entered with a cold remark. The atmosphere, which had just been lightened by Cecil, instantly froze, but Kagura maintained her usual friendly demeanour,

“Hey, Balthazar. I see you’re busy networking again.”

“I’m doing this instead of you all. I don’t have to take your criticism.”

Without a proper greeting, Balthazar headed straight for the study room when Mio called out to his back.

“Captain, are you going to eat katsudon too?”

“Is that a dish from the Akitsu Federation? Sounds unremarkable.”

“It’s fried pork cutlet topped with egg and sauce, served over rice.”

“That sounds strange. I have no need for it.”

“Well, if you’re not hungry, that’s fine.”

Balthazar, still holding onto the doorknob of the study room, thought for a moment, then slightly turned his profile toward Mio.

“I’m a bit short on calories. Do you have any sandwiches?”

“I can make a ham sandwich right away.”

“The saltiness of ham is unnecessary. An egg sandwich would be preferable.”

“An egg sandwich? Yes, I can make that.”

“Don’t add salt. No seasoning is needed. I want boiled egg sliced and placed between toasted bread, served with hot coffee.”

After giving his order, he opened the door and disappeared into the study room.

Watching Mio prepare, Cecil sighed dramatically, “Mio... you’re too accommodating...”

“The captain’s demands are too detailed.”

“That’s fine, I like cooking.”

Mio cheerfully replied as she started boiling eggs. Kagura, looking affectionately at Mio, said, “If you ever want to get rid of Balthazar, let me know. I’ll slice him in half anytime.”

“Please don’t say such reckless things... I’m actually scared you might do it. The captain is fundamentally a difficult person, but he’s not entirely without good points.”

With a troubled smile, Mio skilfully made the egg sandwiches and took them, along with coffee, to the study room. After watching her leave, Kagura muttered contentedly to herself, “She’s my wife.”

“That’s not true,” Cecil countered.

Denying her, Kagura stretched and tightened her expression. “Well then, the break is over. I should study too.”

“I think I’ll take a nap...”

“I’ll sleep too—Kiyoaki, what about you?”

“Yeah, I think I’ll study a little longer.”

“Oh, I see. Then good luck with that!”

Kagura entered the study room, while Cecil and Reiner returned to their shared dorm.

Left alone in the living room, Kiyoaki washed the dishes that Mio had left in the kitchen. Shortly after, Mio returned from the study room.

“Oh, it’s fine, you don’t have to do that. I’ll take care of it.”

“I’m okay, Mio. Just take a little break.”

“I’m fine, really.”

“Just let me handle it.”

“...If you really want to, then okay.”

With a somewhat displeased expression, Mio sat down on the sofa. Letting out a sigh, she looked around the living room, now just the two of them. “It feels like we’ve gotten quite accustomed to living here...”

“Yeah. It feels like home.”

After finishing the dishes, Kiyoaki sat on the sofa opposite Mio. “Do you want some tea? I can make it quickly.”

“Oh, sure. That would be great.”

Feeling relaxed, Kiyoaki leaned back against the chair and gazed at the ceiling.

Now that he thought about it, it had been quite a while since he had been alone with Mio like this.

Since transferring to the Air Hunt Officer Academy, they had been constantly surrounded by noise as “The Seven of Eriadore.” The busyness and clamour had made it so they hadn’t spent time together like this since before coming here.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. I’ll be studying too, so make it a little stronger.”

Mio expertly placed two cups on the table and poured steaming straight tea from the pot.

The lively atmosphere from earlier disappeared, leaving only the quiet of the two of them in the living room. It was a comfortable silence, one that he had known since childhood.

“It’s been a while since it’s just been us like this, hasn’t it?”

Mio asked from across the table. It seemed they were both thinking the same thing.

“Yeah, this is the first time since coming here. It’s been so busy...”

Kiyoaki took a sip of the tea. It seemed Mio's brewing was good, as the refreshing aroma filled his nostrils.

“...Thank you.”

Suddenly, Mio said that awkwardly.

“Eh?”

Caught off guard, Kiyoaki stared at Mio in confusion.

Her cheeks flushed bright red, and she looked away.

“...I wanted to say this two months ago, but I didn’t have the chance. I hadn’t said it yet, so I’m saying it now. That’s all.”

Mio said this unusually seriously and then looked down shyly.

Wondering what she meant, Kiyoaki finally realized it was about the night landing.

He had been the most adamant about the night landing, even hurling insults at Balthazar, daring to attempt a reckless landing that even veteran airmen would avoid, and miraculously succeeded.

“...About the landing? Well, you can thank everyone for that.”

“...I already did. But I was late telling you.”

Mio mumbled her words.

Over the past two months, her usual lively demeanour had disappeared, replaced by an odd shyness, and now Kiyoaki understood why.

He exhaled and smiled at Mio to reassure her.

“Don’t mention it. Is that why you’ve been so quiet?”

“...Well, I can’t act all high and mighty after putting everyone’s lives on the line.”

“It's fine now. You don’t need to feel indebted forever. By the way, have you heard anything about Fio?”

“...Nothing at all. I’m worried, but I think she’s still alive somewhere...”

When the topic shifted to Fio, Mio gazed out the dark window with a concerned expression.

Fio was a very intelligent bird that Mio had kept since she was a child. She was the reason Kiyoaki and Mio had first gotten to know each other, sometimes behaving as if she understood Mio’s words.

When they took the Eriadore airship to St Vault, Fio had to be left at Mio’s home. It was necessary because pets were not allowed in the student dormitory. Shortly after transferring, they received a telegram from Mio’s family saying that Fio had gone missing. Since then, they had no news of Fio.

“She probably flew off after chasing after you. She was attached to you.”

“Yeah... probably. We’ve been together since she was born... I’m worried. I hope she isn’t trying to find this place...”

“Don’t worry. Fio is really smart; she’s definitely alive. You’ll meet her again someday. So, you need to cheer up and do your best.”

“I know. I’m doing my best. I’m busy every day right now...”

“Mio, you’re in navigation, right? That must be tough...”

At the Air Hunt Officer Academy, the curriculum was divided into three specializations. Kiyoaki and Illia were in the pilot specialization (Pilo), while Mio and Cecil were in the navigation specialization (Navi). Balthazar, Kagura, and Reiner were in the combined pilot and navigation program (PiloNavi).

“It's better than the combined program. Those in the combined program are definitely aiming for promotions in the military. I can’t do that. I mean, apart from the captain and Kagura, I think Reiner is keeping up pretty well.”

“Reiner is skilful. He acts carefree, but his abilities are impressive.”

“He would be amazing if he took it seriously. But he probably won’t.”

Mio said this without much concern. Kiyoaki decided to ask something that had been bothering him.

“Since then, has Reiner said anything strange to you?”

“Eh? What do you mean by strange?”

“Well... like what he said when you first met.”

Mio looked at Kiyoaki with a puzzled expression, then realized what he meant and responded with a sigh.

“Not really. Why are you worried about that?”

“U-uh, it’s not worry or anything... But still, people here are a bit different from those in Akitsu, right?”

“Yeah... it’s quite different. But Reiner doesn’t say anything... Other people do, though...”

Mio looked down; her eyes clouded.

Two months ago, Reiner had suddenly started flirting with Mio upon their first meeting, shocking Kiyoaki. He had never seen a boy express his feelings for a girl in public back when he was in Akitsu. He thought Reiner was the only one, but now he saw numerous boys openly approaching Mio.

Every time he witnessed or heard about such scenes, something painful stirred deep within Kiyoaki.

“Yeah... I see. That must be tough.”

He hid his turmoil and responded earnestly. Unlike the students in St Vault, Kiyoaki didn’t know how to express these feelings. He had been taught that such emotions should not be displayed.

“Yeah, well... I don’t really know.”

Mio mumbled, unsure.

“But, how should I put it... it’s impressive. It’s great that you’re popular with everyone.”

"......"

"Yeah... I think so. Really."

Struggling to find the right words, Kiyoaki slumped his shoulders. He should have been happy to finally be alone with Mio, but things felt different this time.

—Mio is popular.

That single fact threw off Kiyoaki’s rhythm. A feeling of anxiety he had never experienced before stirred within him. He couldn’t manage himself well and couldn’t converse with Mio as easily as before.

"......I don't really understand."

Mio seemed equally at a loss for how to respond, her words lacking clarity. Both of them fell silent, their faces flushed.

Once again, a stillness settled in.

Not knowing where to direct his gaze, Kiyoaki absently wandered his eyes around and suddenly noticed a ring on Mio's right hand.

He didn't know when it had slipped onto her finger. It could have been there for a long time or since they arrived here. But that ring brought back memories of the canola flower fields back on Messus Island.

After Kiyoaki had placed a tiara made of canola flowers on Mio's head.

"Next, I’ll give you a silver ring, Kiyoaki! That way, the ritual will be complete, and our love will last forever!"

In the end, the promise of that ring had become vague, and she never received it. The ring now on Mio’s right hand could perhaps be related to that promise.

Clatter.

His thoughts were interrupted by an odd sound. A strange presence seemed to be coming from the door. Keeping his gaze fixed on it, Kiyoaki stood up from the sofa.

"......?"

Mio looked up at him, puzzled, and Kiyoaki raised a finger to his lips to signal her to be quiet, then approached the door on tiptoe and opened it suddenly.

"......What are you doing?"

In the hallway, Cecil and Reiner were crouched down, pressing their ears against the space where the door had been.

"I remembered something important!"

"I thought about coming back, but it was awkward with you two here!"

Both of them wore exaggerated smiles, offering excuses for eavesdropping.

Kiyoaki sighed and looked down at them with an exasperated expression.

"Just come in normally..."

"Y-Yeah, you’re right! But, you know, I felt like I should be more considerate!"

With a giggle, Cecil stood up, tugging on Reiner's hand as they walked down the hallway again.

"I felt like there was something I needed to do, but thinking about it, there wasn't! Well then, Kiyoaki, good luck studying!"

While being pulled by Cecil, Reiner hurriedly followed her out into the hallway. Kiyoaki watched them disappear down the stairs before returning to the living room. Mio was just about to take the empty tea cups to the kitchen.

"......What a bunch. They could just walk in instead of sneaking around."

He muttered to himself. Although he pretended not to notice, he truly understood what Reiner and Cecil were expecting.

An awkward atmosphere inevitably drifted between Mio and Kiyoaki.

While washing the cups at the sink, Mio spoke up from behind.

"I... I'm going to bed now."

"......Ah, okay. Sure..."

"Y-Yeah. You should take it easy too. If you wear yourself out, it won't do you any good."

"Yeah..."

"Well then, good night."

After awkwardly saying that, Mio, her face bright red, hurriedly left the living room.

Left alone in the space, Kiyoaki felt lost. He had finally been given the chance to talk to Mio without barriers, but even that simple thing seemed to elude him.

—I'm no good...

He sank deeply into the sofa, staring up at the ceiling with a troubled expression. Coupled with his inability to win mock air battles, he felt like he was going to sink into despair.

But realizing this, he lifted his face and slapped his cheeks with both hands. Then he tightened his expression and forced himself to shake off the negative feelings.

"Let's study."

Encouraging himself, Kiyoaki entered the study room. He passed by Kagura, Balthazar, and Illia, who were all focused on their desks, and turned on the light at his own desk. He decided to review the subject he struggled with the most: political science. Among the four students in the study room, he resolved to be the last one remaining to study.

He concentrated, pouring all his efforts into understanding the geopolitical interpretations of the archipelago and the concept of sea power.

He awoke to the morning light. By then, no one remained in the study room, and Kiyoaki was the only one, drowsily looking around.

Somehow, a blanket had been placed on his back. He didn't know who had done it, but considering who had been in the study room, he thought it was Kagura. Later, when he thanked her, she responded with a puzzled, "No, it wasn't me."

Part 11 (Part 3 of Volume 2) Shooting down an enemy fighter.

It's as simple as that in words, but achieving it requires a certain kind of "miracle."

—You must push all human abilities to their limits to achieve a "kill."

The words taught to Kiyoaki by Akmed back on his hometown of Messus Island exploded in his mind.

He gritted his teeth. Tilting the control stick sideways, he raised the nose and desperately chased after the enemy's tail in a right turn.

Beyond the shield, the silver aircraft was trying to escape. The vibrations accompanying high-speed flight conveyed directly into the sights. Adjusting the throttle meticulously to catch the enemy within the crosshair, the enemy aircraft slipped out of sight in the blink of an eye.

Flying at around four hundred kilometres per hour, they moved through three-dimensional space without restraint; Kiyoaki had to fit the enemy aircraft into this small crosshair and pull the trigger to shoot it down. Pilots were recognized as competent only after shooting down enemy aircraft, but Kiyoaki realized how endlessly far that path was.

If he shot down five enemy aircraft, he would earn the title of ace. Indeed, it would be impossible for an ordinary human to achieve the "kill" five times. When he was on the ground, he had thought, "Only five?" But now, engaging in mock air battles, he understood how much of a miracle it was to achieve a "kill."

However, he had no time for complaints. If he threw the controls away now, the enemy would soon take his back and shoot him down. In twenty minutes, one side had to achieve that "miracle." Chosen as someone capable of doing so, that was why the students of the flight department were flying in the sky.

—I can do it. I can do it. I can do it...

As he told himself this while pursuing the enemy aircraft, the silver silhouette struggled violently, trying to shake him off.

—I have been flying since I was a child.

—I was at the top of my class in piloting at the South River Officer School. I was taught directly by Master Akmed.

—And I am the son of the ace of the Akitsu Islands.

—I am used to mock air battles. I am not the same as I was two months ago.

—I cannot lose. No, I should not lose.

Chastising the faltering part of his mind, he fixed his gaze through the windscreen, waiting for the enemy to weaken.

In a dogfight, just as it was hard for him, it was hard for the enemy too. The opponent must also be suffering from a lack of blood flow, breathing difficulties, and the terrible cries of overworked muscles. Both sides were putting all their cultivated mental and physical abilities to the limit; whoever gave up first would lose.

Then—.

The enemy silhouette wavered and began to settle into the crosshairs.

The opponent was the first to reach their limits in stamina and morale. The fierceness of struggling like a large fish trying to shake off a hook had vanished, leaving only a position waiting to be caught.

Kiyoaki placed his right thumb on the trigger of the 7.7mm machine gun mounted beside the control stick.

All he had to do was pull the trigger, and the special round would fire, dyeing the enemy aircraft's body red, granting him victory.

But.

—Why do I have to shoot it down?

Such doubts skimmed the edges of his thoughts.

—Am I flying to kill people?

Even with a one-in-a-thousand chance, his thumb stubbornly refused to press the button.

—I love the sky. I love flying.

—Will I be flying to kill people in such a beautiful sky from now on?

—I want to be a pilot. I don't want to be a flying killer.

Those thoughts wouldn't stop. They overflowed. His thumb on the trigger became as stiff as stone.

He loved the sky more than anyone else. That pride prevented him from killing the enemy with all his skills.

And the battlefield wouldn't let even a moment of hesitation slide.

"Ah..."

Before he knew it, the enemy aircraft had regained its strength and escaped into the distance outside his crosshairs. He hastily descended to pursue it, but the enemy, having realized Kiyoaki’s superior skills, wouldn’t face him directly. It was better to draw and not lose points than to lose.

"The time limit has been exceeded. It's a draw."

The familiar voice of the instructor echoed through the speaker. Kiyoaki stared blankly at the enemy silhouette in the distance, then lowered the control stick with a pale expression.

That made it fourteen battles with two wins, zero losses, and twelve draws. Zero kills. Ranked fifty-first out of one hundred forty.

Carrying such a mediocre record, he lowered his heavy feet to the ground.

On the runway, the Gray Fox was lined up in formation, waiting for the next group of students to board for mock air battles.

At the front was Illia. Kiyoaki glanced at her awkwardly, but Illia didn't even look his way.

She was completely indifferent to him.

That reality crushed his heart.

He trudged to the air command centre to report the battle’s progress, feeling dispirited. After finishing his report to the instructor and stepping outside, he saw Illia skilfully bombard an enemy aircraft with paintballs in the clear sky. Instead of hesitation, her shooting was mechanical, like a document piercing through holes.

The closeness he had felt when piloting the same Gray Fox together two months ago was now gone. He silently watched Illia's back as she aimed for the high heavens, feeling distant...

—Illia feels so far away...

While he gazed blankly at Illia's silhouette soaring through the unoccupied sky, he suddenly heard a voice.

"Excuse me, Sakagami Kiyoaki, right?"

Startled, he turned around to see a woman he had never met approaching him with a blank expression. Stopping three steps in front of him, she pushed her glasses up with her fingertips without a smile.

"Ah, yes... I'm Sakagami."

"I am Tokiwa, a member dispatched from the Selfaust branch of the Akitsu Federation. I apologize for bothering you while you are busy. I appreciate your cooperation today."

She handed him a business card, and Kiyoaki looked closely at the woman in front of him. Trying to remember, he finally recalled.

"Oh... right, the interview today. Uh, is it happening now...?"

"No, I recognized your face, so I thought I’d greet you. The interview for the two of you will be after classes, in the student building. For now, we just need to do some filming."

Upon hearing "the two of you will be interviewed," Kiyoaki recalled.

That's right. At the request of the Akitsu Federation's national newspaper, Akitsu Daily, he was supposed to have an interview with Illia. He had wanted to refuse if possible, but the media-loving principal had readily agreed without consideration.

"I see... Thank you."

"I would appreciate it if I could accompany you for a while to capture your natural school life, but I have already obtained permission from the school."

"Uh... well... Sure, I don't mind."

Faced with Tokiwa’s authoritative announcement, Kiyoaki couldn't refuse and reluctantly agreed. With semi-long hair and glasses, and dressed in a stylish black suit that accentuated her figure, she seemed to be in her mid-twenties, exactly the type of career woman working for a major newspaper. The strong gaze behind her glasses hid undeniable intelligence and ambition.

—She looks intimidating...

Kiyoaki kept his thoughts to himself as he led Tokiwa to the group of flight department students watching the mock air battles beside the runway.

The students had been observing the media coverage of "The Seven of Eriadore" for the past two months, so they weren’t concerned that Kiyoaki was being followed by a female reporter. Instead, they seemed more interested in the skills of their peers, intently watching the sky to memorize their rivals' tactics, special moves, and weaknesses.

Kiyoaki looked up at the azure sky. Balthazar was the one fighting. It was known that he excelled in academics, but he was also ranked second in mock air battles, right behind Illia. Using the enemy’s weaknesses that he had researched beforehand, Balthazar relentlessly targeted them, striking when it mattered. The opposing aircraft was helpless against his assault and succumbed to a paintball hit in the side. The top ten were all strong, and the gap between them and the lower-ranked students widened over time.

Hawks and prey.

In the arena of aerial combat, only these two exist. Kiyoaki understood this concept intellectually. No matter how much a prey cries out for love after losing its wings, being skinned, and having its flesh eaten, it’s nothing but the lament of a pitiful loser. The hawk, unaffected by such pleas, flies in search of new prey.

—Which one do I want to be?

He asked himself that question. There was no need for an answer. Who would willingly offer their blood and flesh to the enemy? Anyone who would do so would be nothing but a fool.

—I want to be a hawk.

Without thinking, he clenched his fists at his waist. Tokiwa immediately captured his profile on camera. Though he found it somewhat bothersome, Kiyoaki continued to watch his peers’ battles until the end.

After classes ended, they had dinner in the cafeteria, and then it was time for the interview with Akitsu Daily in the student building's conference room. Tokiwa sat across the table, with Kiyoaki and Illia sitting side by side.

"Thank you for meeting with us today, Sakagami-san, and Kreischmidt-san. Have you had a chance to review the questions I sent beforehand?"

Kiyoaki tilted his head, and Illia remained completely still. Tokiwa looked puzzled.

"Did they not arrive?"

"I... don’t remember seeing them."

"And you, Kreischmidt-san?"

"......Yes."

Tokiwa slightly furrowed her brows.

"It seems there was a mix-up. I had informed the principal in advance... It must be a communication issue. Normally, I should inform you later, but..."

Tokiwa fell silent. No one in the conference room spoke. An uncomfortable stillness filled the air. Both Tokiwa and Illia sank into a serene silence.

Who should break the silence first? Who should speak the words Tokiwa was waiting for? Kiyoaki found himself resenting his tendency to be overly considerate of others, and finally, he awkwardly broke the silence.

"Um, since it’s a hassle to do it twice, it’s okay to continue as we are..."

"Is that so? That helps. Kreischmidt-san, is that alright with you?"

"........................"

"........................"

Another long silence fell, reminiscent of a deep valley in the mountains. It felt like his heart would freeze in this stillness.

"Um, I’ll check the draft later, so it’s fine. Illia, you’re okay with that too, right? It would be a hassle to repeat the same thing."

"........................"

Ilia kept her gaze fixed on the empty space in front of her, slightly lowering her chin. She seemed to have nodded, although perhaps she didn’t. Still, Kiyoaki decided to proceed, interpreting it as a nod.

"Yes, Illia says it’s fine too. Thank you."

"Thank you. Then..."

Tokiwa took out a recording device and placed it on the table. After pressing a button, the recording tape vibrated softly and began to spin.

After confirming that the device was operational, the first question was posed.

"Both of your fathers, Sakagami Masaharu, the Flight Captain, and Karsten Kreischmidt, are sworn enemies. Do you think there will be any issues with you living the same school life as children of these two?"

Kiyoaki nearly choked on his words. Illia remained motionless.

"Sakagami-san, what do you think?"

Tokiwa's icy words pierced through the air. Kiyoaki swallowed hard and offered a safe response.

"Um... I try not to think about such things. We are ourselves..."

"And Kreischmidt-san?"

"........................"

"Kreischmidt was reported to have lost his right arm due to a betrayal by Sakagami. Do you believe that?"

Ilia's eyes glinted with murderous intent.

"......What other causes could there be?"

In a subdued tone, she returned a question for a question. Tokiwa opened her bag and placed a thick document on the table.

"This is the testimony of the Akitsu military pilots who witnessed that duel. Although there were interruptions from the wingman or other aircraft, the outcome was decided before that. The Sakagami aircraft's 'snake shot' took down Captain Karsten... Almost everyone agrees with this."

"The records of the St Vault military state that a wingman shot down my father."

"Do you personally believe that, Kreischmidt-san?"

Kiyoaki watched as an ominous cloud of tension began to build between Tokiwa and Illia.

This interview was going poorly. Tokiwa had come with some sort of ulterior motive, likely intending to stoke conflict between Kiyoaki and Illia to pique the readers' interest...

His instincts whispered this, prompting Kiyoaki to interject.

"Um, Tokiwa-san. It's not possible to discuss events that happened in the past here, so that question might not be appropriate..."

"By the way, it seems that within the military, cowards are referred to as 'Sakagami.' What do you think about that, Sakagami-san?"

At that moment, Kiyoaki felt as if he had been struck in the head. He had never heard of such a term.

"W-What’s that? I’ve never heard of such a thing."

"It’s said to be military slang. If you joined the St Vault air and naval forces, you would inevitably hear it."

He was unaware of it.

Kiyoaki glanced at Illia's profile beside him. She showed no response or reaction, only an increasing coldness surrounding her.

"W-What kind of person are you? Are you really a journalist? Why would you say something like that in front of us?"

His voice trembled without him intending it. He didn’t want his father to be insulted by a stranger. A surge of intense anger welled up within him, making it hard to control himself.

However, Tokiwa seemed unfazed. She had probably repeated such rude interviews, writing articles that captured readers' attention. The more Kiyoaki expressed his emotions, the more Tokiwa's voice took on a composed, intellectual tone.

"Once called "The Kings of the Sky," two ace pilots. The children who inherit their blood gather at the same school and compete against each other. Everyone in the Akitsu Federation wishes to know about your lives. I must write an article that responds to that. There may be difficult questions, but please bear with me."

Her tone was like a pre-recorded message. This woman is dangerous; it’s best not to get involved. Kiyoaki decided this and rose from his chair.

"I’m sorry, but I don’t want to continue this interview. I don’t want it in the article. Illia, let’s go."

He urged Illia, but she remained frozen, glaring at Tokiwa. Illia's pride wouldn’t allow her to flee while her father was being spoken about like this.

"......Please, ask your questions."

Ilia’s voice was quiet, but it was clear she had been provoked. Kiyoaki could see the atmosphere around Illia shimmering like a flame.

"Regarding your performance in the mock air battles, I’ve heard that Kreischmidt-san is overwhelmingly outperforming you. What do you think about this outcome?"

Kiyoaki instinctively held his breath, standing still as he looked down at Illia. He wanted to hear the answer from her lips.

"........................"

Ilia didn’t answer. Tokiwa didn’t urge her further. Kiyoaki remained paralysed.

After a long silence, Illia finally answered the question.

"That result is still a work in progress."

With just that, she fell silent again. Tokiwa pressed on.

"The final results of the mock air battles will be revealed in mid-February. Indeed, there are still about three months left. Is there a possibility for change during that time?"

After Tokiwa's question, another uncomfortable silence stretched between them. Kiyoaki was deeply concerned about Illia's response.

"I don’t know."

Ilia answered succinctly. Seeing Kiyoaki’s bewilderment, Tokiwa reacted swiftly as if to jab at Illia.

"Is there a sense of pressure not to lose to Sakagami-san?"

"......I feel that way toward all the students in the flight department."

"You won't bring the rivalry between your fathers into the mock air battles?"

"I don’t understand the intent of your question."

"The records indicate that Kiyoaki Sakagami shot down your father, and it would be proven that Captain Karsten is superior to Sakagami Masaharu by defeating you... Is that something you think about?"

"........................"

Ilia glared at Tokiwa, remaining motionless. Kiyoaki wanted Illia to deny it. If he were asked the same question, he would immediately deny it.

The rivalry between their fathers was irrelevant. Their achievements were not connected to their parents' standings. Such a response should be easy to state.

However, Illia merely directed her icy gaze at Tokiwa.

The eyes behind Tokiwa's glasses sparkled with the light of intrigue. It felt as if the question she had just posed had touched upon a deep-seated desire within Illia... That unspoken satisfaction radiated from Tokiwa. Without missing a beat, she pressed further.

"By the way, silence can be more eloquent than a thousand words."

".............................."

"Let’s take it to mean an affirmative response. One last question. After graduation, you will both be commissioned as lieutenants in the St Vault Navy and the Akitsu Air Force. If you were to meet on the battlefield, would you fight each other honourably to the death?"

"Tokiwa-san!!"

Kiyoaki could no longer contain his anger. But Tokiwa maintained her composure, focusing solely on Illia.

"Ilia, let’s go. We don’t need to answer this interview. Tokiwa-san, you can write whatever you want for your article, but I will protest formally when the time comes. Also, please don’t come back."

Tokiwa raised her eyes only to Kiyoaki.

"What about you, Sakagami-san? By defeating Kreischmidt-san in a duel, would you wish to fulfill your father's regrets of being called a coward...? Is that what you think?"

"I don’t think so!!"

He yelled.

"Really?"

"Of course!! Illia, this interview is meant to hurt us. We shouldn’t engage any further."

Finally, Illia lowered her gaze and stood up.

"Are you running away?"

Tokiwa threw a challenge at Illia’s back. Illia glanced back, as if she was about to say something, but swallowed her words and followed Kiyoaki out of the conference room.

Just before closing the door, Kiyoaki took one last look at Tokiwa, left behind in the room. The eyes behind her glasses were unreadable, and he couldn’t gauge her emotions. He sensed she would continue to come here in the future. With an ominous feeling, he decided he would never get involved again and left the room.

"What’s with that person? That’s way too off the mark."

As he walked down the corridor alongside Illia, Kiyoaki’s anger remained. Illia followed him closely, not even giving a nod of agreement.

"To come in and investigate someone’s family matters and then throw challenges around. It’s shameful. I’m embarrassed as an Akitsu citizen."

"........................"

"There are supposed to be polite Akitsu people, but there are those like her. All they think about is their own gain, and they’ll easily insult and demean others for it. She’s the lowest kind of adult."

They stopped under a gas lamp in the courtyard. It was already quite dark, and the chill of November had settled down to the ground.

While he expressed the emotions he couldn’t contain, Kiyoaki noticed Illia’s expression.

The bluish-purple light from the gas lamp enveloped Illia’s entire body. Her expression remained unchanged, but for some reason, his heart skipped a beat.

Come to think of it, it had been two months since he was alone with Illia. He realized this now.

"Oh... Sorry. I’ve been talking on my own."

"........................"

Illia stood silently in front of Kiyoaki, not responding or leaving. Her deep green eyes remained fixed on him.

"Um... yeah. That was a rude interview..."

For some reason, his heartbeat quickened. The sweet scent, reminiscent of grapes, wafted from her hair, making him feel good.

He knew that she was someone with whom conversation was difficult, but since they finally had this time alone, he wanted to share the things weighing on his heart.

"There’s no way we’d bring our parents’ rivalry into mock air battles... that’s just not it. We are who we are."

"........................"

"And... my performance doesn’t even compare to yours. If we were closer in scores, it would make for an interesting article, but it’s just not a competition."

His words felt foolish. He wished he could come up with something more clever to say, but he couldn’t stop himself.

"Reiner mentioned it, but I really don’t have a talent for fighter aircraft. I can escape from enemies or crash into clouds, but if I can’t shoot them down, it doesn’t matter."

"........................"

Illia offered no comments, nor did she provide any words of comfort, disdain, or anger about his inadequacy. She simply stood there, looking straight at Kiyoaki. He had realized she couldn’t engage in conversation, but it seemed this time had been wasted.

"Sorry. I shouldn’t have kept you. Well then, goodnight..."

With a sigh, he raised his right hand in farewell and turned to leave when a low, cold voice reached his back.

"If you had shot when you should have, your record would be twelve wins, zero losses, and two draws."

Her voice was hard and clear, like climbing a cliff with climbing gear.

He turned back. The blue light enveloped Illia as she maintained her usual icy demeanour.

"......Huh?"

"If converted to score, you would be in the top ten. There is no issue with your technique; the cause is psychological. Think carefully about why you should shoot down enemy aircraft. That is the only thing you need to overcome."

“...Then.”

With a single breath, Illia turned on her heel and left into the darkness.

“...Illia...”

Kiyoaki stared blankly at the darkness where Illia had vanished.

It was an unusually long speech for Illia. This was likely the first time he had seen her weave such a lengthy sentence while on the ground.

Moreover, the content was an analysis of Kiyoaki's aerial combat abilities.

He had thought Illia paid him no mind, but she had been carefully observing his manoeuvres and even calculated the scores he should have achieved. Looking back on the previous battles, it was indeed true that if he had shot when he was supposed to, he could have achieved around twelve victories. If he had pulled the trigger today, he might have won.

What was even more surprising was—

—Illia is cautious of me...

That fact filled him with immense joy. She even went out of her way to share how he could overcome his weaknesses. Considering her own performance, there was no benefit for her in doing so.

“Illia... thank you.”

He sent his gratitude into the darkness where Illia had disappeared.

—What is the purpose of shooting down enemy aircraft...?

He contemplated the message Illia had conveyed. Seriously, earnestly, and with all his being, he examined his own issues.

When he returned to the dormitory and lay down on his bed, he continued to think about Illia's words. Of course, he wanted to dispel the frustration he felt, but he also wanted to overcome his weaknesses to respond to Illia, who had generously offered her advice.

—What is the purpose of shooting down enemy aircraft?

—What is the purpose of flying on the battlefield?

—What is the purpose of killing people...?

That question was more profound and distant than he had anticipated. As he began to delve deeper, he realized he had to confront the very reason for his existence here. Moreover, there should be no justifiable reason for killing someone in the first place.

Staring intently at the ceiling of the bunk bed and listening to Reiner’s breathing from the upper bunk, Kiyoaki continued to search for an answer. He didn’t expect to find an answer to such a philosophical and abstract question, but he also understood that if he didn’t answer it, he would remain stuck with his current performance.

—Can I fly to kill people? For what purpose...?

He pondered that until he nearly fell asleep. Even as consciousness faded into darkness, the question continued to sink into his subconscious, searching for answers.

Part 12 (Part 4 of Volume 2)

“Is it just you? Where’s Reiner?”

With her emerald eyes blinking, Mio pointed at Kiyoaki.

“And what about you? Where’s Cecil?”

Kiyoaki was equally puzzled, pointing at Mio, who had arrived alone at the meeting spot.

The two of them faced each other, unable to move.

—Could it be a setup?

Realizing this, Kiyoaki was exasperated with Cecil’s meddling. Though bright and innocent, Cecil sometimes played childish pranks like this.

“Oh... yeah. Just the two of us, huh?”

Reiner was probably involved as well. Given their personalities, they might be hiding in the shadows, observing them.

Kiyoaki glanced around.

The clear December sunlight illuminated the laughter of young people wandering through the main street of Air Hunt, Canal Street in Matonrouge. Small, stylish shops lined both sides of the street, their colorful signs, shop windows, and umbrellas contrasting beautifully against the blue sky. The aroma of freshly baked bread and pizza wafted everywhere, and the orderly cobblestone streets reflected the bright sunlight, creating a blissful Sunday afternoon atmosphere.

Although they were mostly young people, nearly all were students from the officer academy. Many wore uniforms, but just as many were in casual clothes. On weekends, more students preferred to go out into the city rather than stay in the dorms, and the main street reflected the vibrant energy of youth. At the open cafes that jutted out onto the street, many young men and women chatted happily, coffee cups in hand.

Mio, too, was dressed in casual clothes suitable for a Sunday outing instead of her usual uniform. A white blouse paired with a navy skirt and a pink cardigan. She wore a matching pink ribbon at her chest and had applied light makeup on her eyes and lips. She looked like a typical seventeen-year-old girl, showcasing a side of herself rarely seen within the confines of the academy.

Kiyoaki, simply clad in his navy-issued jumper over his uniform, regretted not wearing something a bit more appealing, but he shrugged his shoulders to maintain a stoic expression.

“Reiner suddenly had a date, so she couldn’t come.”

Mio crossed her arms in front of her chest, looking somewhat displeased, as if sensing something off.

“And Cecil said she couldn’t make it because she was feeling unwell.”

The two of them exchanged glances for a moment, then let out a simultaneous sigh. It was likely that those two had conspired together, hiding behind trees or around buildings to observe them, but neither Cecil nor Reiner appeared anywhere in sight, half-hidden smiles betraying their plans.

What was going on?

The origin of this situation was yesterday.

During the second period of naval history, they had coincidentally ended up together in a group of four. Although they were all in the same flight department, they were in different specializations, so it was rare for them to be in the same class. After the lesson, while casually chatting, Cecil suddenly exclaimed, “Tomorrow is a day off, so I want us all to go see a movie!” It seemed that a romance film that had become a massive hit in the Harmonia Empire was showing in Matonrouge, Air Hunt. Its excessively sweet content had been a hot topic among the students. Kiyoaki wasn’t particularly interested, but Cecil insisted, “It’s supposed to be so embarrassing that you’ll blush and fall over just watching it! It won’t be scary if we all go!” So, with a light-hearted agreement, he said okay, but when he arrived at the designated meeting spot, both Cecil and Reiner were absent.

Go on a date.

In his mind, Cecil and Reiner urged him in unison.

It was frustrating to succumb to such childish, shallow antics. Did they think he was that kind of frivolous guy? His relationship with Mio wasn’t of such a trivial nature. They were still students, and since plans had fallen through, it would be embarrassing to watch such a romantic film alone together.

As he was about to convey this sentiment to Mio, she puffed up her cheeks in an uncharacteristically displeased manner, crossing her arms and turning her face away.

“W-Well, if the two of them can’t come, I guess that can’t be helped... I mean, I really don’t want to. But if you really want to see it, I guess I can go with you.”

It seemed Mio was willing to go. After a moment of internal confusion, Kiyoaki managed to compose himself.

“Oh, uh, really? Well, if you’re okay with it, I’m okay too...”

Upon hearing that, Mio placed her hands on her hips and looked angry.

“I-I don’t want to see it! I’m just reluctantly agreeing since you want to...”

“Oh, yeah, sorry, I got it. I want to see it, yeah, sorry about that...”

It seemed Mio was indeed curious about the movie. He had no idea what kind of film girls enjoyed. Feeling unexpectedly flustered, Kiyoaki glanced around once more to confirm that Cecil and Reiner were truly absent, steeled himself, and nodded.

“Got it. Alright, let’s go. To the movie theatre.”

With an awkward prompting, Mio, still blushing, nodded nervously, and the two of them headed toward the theatre.

Kiyoaki felt restless and fidgety.

This was something he could never have done in the Akitsu Federation. If he had walked side by side with Mio in the vicinity of the Kanan Officer School, rumours about them being an embarrassing couple would have spread throughout the town, and he would have been summoned to the gym by upperclassmen, facing rigorous training until dawn.

But here, students could openly date in the streets. Some even walked closely together, hugging shoulders or waists.

And within this new normalcy, he found himself walking through the Sunday streets with Mio.

—His heart raced.

Inside, my heart reacts dramatically to the turmoil within me. I can smell a lemon-like scent coming from Mio, who is walking right beside me. The ends of her hair, bouncing playfully, catch the sunlight, making her seem dazzling.

— Mio isn’t a child anymore...

When we first met, she was pure innocence. With an attitude like a princess, she almost forcefully made a promise to marry me.

“I’m going to be Kiyoaki’s bride!”

She had been laughing in the canola flower fields in August, wearing a tiara made of flowers.

Five years have passed since then. I lost my hometown and family to Uranos and could no longer remain the carefree boy I once was. I vowed revenge against Uranos, and alongside me, Mio also pledged to share the same goal.

Since then, I haven’t mentioned that marriage promise to Mio.

And Mio hasn’t said a word about it either.

It was just a fleeting whim between innocent children.

I could dismiss it with such words, an ordinary promise that kids make while playing house.

It would be awkward to bring it up again. If she were to laugh it off, I would get hurt. So, I don’t bring it up.

— But I have never forgotten.

Every time I meet Mio like this, that smiling face with the canola flower tiara flashes in my mind. Sweetness and sadness push up against a membrane, making my heart race.

Neither of us says a word. There’s no need to rush, yet somehow, we walk faster. To break the awkward silence, I need to talk about something trivial.

“It’s nice weather today. It’s already December, but it’s warm.”

“Yeah, it is.”

“...”

“...”

The conversation ends, and we continue toward the movie theatre, like industrial products on a conveyor belt.

What’s this? This is no good. When did we become like this?

I scold myself while searching for an appropriate topic. Lately, I’ve been too focused on answering the questions posed by Illia, and it seems my ability to engage in normal conversation has deteriorated.

Right, as a cadet deeply involved in world affairs, I should bring up the current economic downturn facing the St Vault Empire.

Just as I was about to start speaking...

“We’ve arrived.”

We had arrived at the movie theatre. Kiyoaki sighed and swallowed the economic jargon he had planned to say, looking up at the impressive three-story concrete building. Currently, there was only one movie playing—rumoured to be a romantic film—and it was quite crowded.

"Wow, what a long line. It must be really good."

As Mio said, it was surprising to see so many young people lined up in front of the theatre on the somewhat rural Air Hunt Island.

Cadets receive a salary, and since they don’t usually go out to have fun, they have more money than students their age. After purchasing tickets and lining up at the end of the queue, we quickly moved inside. Since it was a switch system, we passed by the audience coming out from the previous showing. Most of them were students from the same school, so, as expected, there were familiar faces among them.

"Hey, Kiyoaki, you’re watching something so risqué too? ...Wait, Mio! What are you two doing? Is this a date?" "Hey, what’s going on? Why are you dating without telling me?"

I had been caught by the last two classmates I least wanted to see, who immediately made a fuss over trivial matters, and I couldn’t help but feel exasperated.

"Are you two really dating?! Are you gonna kiss? KISS?!"

The two idiots puckered their lips and excitedly moved closer while calling out "kiss, kiss" repeatedly. I couldn’t recall their names, but I recognized them as two of the more crass cadets.

"N-No, it’s not like that..."

"Then why are you watching this erotic film together? It has to be that kind of thing!"

Upon hearing the phrase "erotic film," Mio froze. The two idiots continued to throw around vulgar terms at her without mercy.

"Shut up! Don’t say those disgusting things! Mio, these two are no good, let’s go..."

Panicking, I pulled Mio's hand and fled the scene. Their excited shouts chased us from behind, but we hurried away.

"Ugh, this is the worst... I ran into the most obnoxious pair."

Sitting next to each other, I glanced back to check if they were coming in. Mio, beside me, had a strained expression on her face.

"...."

"I’m sorry, I surprised you, didn’t I? They always talk about such vulgar things, and they know about you too..."

I realized I was still holding Mio's hand.

"Oh..."

I hurriedly released it. Mio looked down; her cheeks flushed. The sensation of her soft, slightly cold hand lingered on my palm.

"Sorry, did I hurt you?"

She shook her head without looking up.

"...I’m fine. Yeah... But, those two earlier... didn’t they say something weird? About some erotic whatever film...?"

When she glanced up at me with concern, the opening buzzer rang, and the room went dark. The audience quieted down, and the projector cast a bright blue light onto the screen.

"Well, since Cecil wanted to see it, it must be something that kids would enjoy. Those two just exaggerate everything, so it’ll be fine..."

Encouraging Mio, I turned my gaze to the screen, only to be confronted with provocative and bold imagery that I had never seen before, filled with challenges to social norms—something I had never encountered in the Akitsu Federation.

"......!!"

Blood vessels popped in Kiyoaki's eyes.

"......!!"

Beside him, Mio widened her jade-coloured eyes in shock.

The opening scene suddenly presented graphic depictions, which after delving into the characters' inner thoughts, escalated further in the middle, leaving both Kiyoaki and Mio in a bewildering situation they had never experienced before.

"W-What...?!"

Kiyoaki couldn't help but let out a voice in response to the spectacular imagery he was witnessing.

".... This... I can't take it!!"

Mio covered her bright red face with her hands and wouldn't look at the screen. The audience from St Vault seemed accustomed to such expressions, laughing and commenting loudly as they enjoyed popcorn, whistling and cheering at the scenes.

"...Cecil, why would you want to watch this?!"

Kiyoaki finally screamed. Beside him, Mio stood up from her seat.

"Let's go! This is a movie students shouldn't watch..."

Following Mio, who hurriedly kept her face down, Kiyoaki also dashed out as if escaping from a disaster, crossing in front of the audience and seeking refuge outside into the bright sunlight.

"I might have underestimated Cecil..."

Stirring his soda float with a straw, Kiyoaki reflected on the situation.

"Seriously, the people here have a different sense of humour. How can they laugh at something like that?"

Finally calming down from the embarrassment, Mio took a sip of her hot lemon tea.

In the middle of the wide, stone-paved street, deck tables and aluminium chairs were set up, with colourful umbrellas sprouting in the open café. Kiyoaki and Mio were trying to shake off the unsettling experience of the unhealthy movie in the open, cheerful environment of the café.

However, for the two who had grown up in a pure, strict environment, it was too much stimulation. Each time their eyes met while sitting across from each other, a strange awkwardness enveloped them, causing them to look down. The scenes they had just seen overlapped with Mio in front of him, leading Kiyoaki to despair over his own shamefulness.

—What am I thinking?

Kiyoaki clenched his right fist and thumped himself on the head.

"W-What...?"

Mio looked up in surprise.

"I just lost my focus, so I needed to pump myself up."

At the Kanan Officer Academy, he often got hit by senpais. Here, there was no one to hit him, so he had to do it himself.

Mio looked at Kiyoaki with a slightly exasperated expression before breaking into a smile.

"...Me too. I'll pump myself up."

She gently tapped her own fist against her temple.

"...Things aren't going well, are they?"

Then, to cover the awkwardness, she stuck out her tongue playfully. Kiyoaki returned a vague smile and searched for another topic.

Although they had known each other for a long time, it was their first experience going out alone, watching a movie together, and having tea like this. It felt different from being with the others.

A cold wind blew once. The street trees had already donned their winter attire. The sky was clear, resembling a pristine water tank, and high clouds drifted peacefully.

"It's already winter, isn't it?"

"Yeah. Time flies."

It's been more than three months since they arrived at Air Hunt Island. By April next year, they would be in their fourth year, and the following year they would graduate and head to the battlefield as candidate officers. Their time to live peacefully as students was not very long.

—Right now, a very precious time is slipping away in front of me.

Looking up at the drifting clouds, Kiyoaki suddenly felt a wave of sentimentality.

—A precious time that can never be reclaimed...

It's a common sentiment that many teenagers probably feel multiple times. However, for some reason, Kiyoaki's heart ached at that rather clichéd thought.

"I wonder what will happen to us after we graduate?"

He muttered that thought aloud.

"...Kiyoaki, you're joining the Akitsu Air Force, right? I'm going to the St Vault Navy."

Mio replied with a straightforward path. It was obvious, but since they had different nationalities, they would be joining different military forces after graduation.

"...It's lonely, isn't it? We just managed to get close to everyone, and now it's just me and Kagura who have to join different forces."

"...Kagura is feeling lonely too... But we have to repay the Akitsu Federation for sending us here with their taxes."

"...Yeah, I know..."

Kiyoaki nodded. Being able to study at the world's top military academy was thanks to the blood taxes of the Akitsu people. The impoverished Akitsu Federation was becoming a proper sovereign nation, and they were spending valuable money to allow him to attend. After graduation, he would have to repay everything he learned here as a soldier for the Akitsu Federation.

And that meant there was a possibility of encountering Illia, Mio, Reiner, Cecil, and Balthazar as enemies on the battlefield one day.

—Even if we become enemies, we will not hate each other.

—Friendship is eternal.

That vow eerily brushed against the depths of his memory. They had unknowingly made a very cruel promise.

"This conversation is getting dark. It's a day off, after all. Let's talk about something brighter."

Perhaps sensing the same feeling, Mio said this in a cheerful voice to dispel the heavy atmosphere. She clapped her hands in front of her and smiled as if remembering something.

"That's right! Today, I finally got to try the rumoured Fairytale donuts!"

"Wait, really? They exist?!"

Kiyoaki asked again in surprise. Mio's smile brightened.

"We had a fierce competition for them, but I got half! They were so delicious! They smelled so much like eggs, were moist, and the sweetness was so refined..."

As she spoke, Mio's expression became dreamy. Kiyoaki felt envious.

"That's awesome. They say they just appear on the student council table early in the morning, right? I had no idea..."

The mysterious donuts that Cecil mentioned when they broke through enemy lines in the Eriadore airspace. The creator's identity was unknown, and they reportedly appeared on the student council table without any warning. Their flavour was said to be heavenly, and many claimed that the creator should be running a donut shop rather than being a soldier.

"They're surprisingly delicious, and they have cute drawings of bears, raccoons, and rabbits. I really don't understand why the person hides their identity. If they put that much effort into making them, they should be happy to let everyone see them eat them. What does it mean to sneakily make donuts at night and quietly leave them behind with animal drawings?"

"I don't know, but when something unpleasant happens, people have various ways of letting off steam. Maybe for that person, making donuts is a way to relieve stress."

"That's a bit odd, right? It's amazing that they can keep making donuts without anyone noticing. The animals they draw seem strangely angry, and that makes them oddly cute. I wonder who makes them..."

The conversation about the Fairytale donuts became the catalyst for light-hearted chatter between the two.

"Speaking of odd, I guess it's really Reiner. He always goes to the clubhouse on weekends. He doesn’t drink, but it seems like he's always hitting on girls. So today, I thought it was suspicious that he wanted to hang out with us."

"Why does he like girls so much? Isn't that a bit strange?"

On Air Hunt Island, there was a popular clubhouse among officer candidates, and on weekends, local girls came to try to catch the attention of "future candidates for commanders," hosting various parties. It seemed that Reiner went there every week, changing girls like clothes.

"He spends all his time having fun, but his grades are still decent. He always seems carefree, but He really is talented, Reiner. His results in mock aerial battles are better than mine..."

"You can't let Reiner beat you when you only have piloting skills to brag about! Even if you're not good at studying, you should be at least as good as Illia in mock aerial battles, right?"

"Yeah, that's true, but... Illia really is impressive. She's been trained since she was little. I think she has put in an incredible amount of effort."

"Yeah, she seems amazing. Kagura was feeling envious. She said that while she can beat Illia on the ground, she can't do it in the air."

Mio joked. In the girls' dormitory, the "Seven of Eriadore" were being treated with care, and Mio, Illia, Cecil, and Kagura lived together. Kiyoaki was curious about how Illia lived day-to-day and decided to ask.

"Cecil is always sticking around, so I'm just living normally. Lately, I've been talking to her a lot. We can’t really joke around, but she helps me with studying and practice."

"Wow... So, you communicate with girls, huh? It seems like guys can’t get close at all."

"It seems she really hates being seen as a girl. But at the same time, she doesn’t want to be treated like a guy. It’s a waste since she's so beautiful."

"Oh, but I learned from Illia. She said that not shooting when you should can't lead to victory, and I should think about why I'm shooting down enemy aircraft... Since then, I've been thinking about it. The words are simple, but when you start to think, it becomes quite a deep issue."

Kiyoaki found himself pondering that topic again.

"I think Illia has probably gone through the same issues. Maybe that's why she can see my shortcomings so clearly. The hesitation I feel when I pull the trigger is obvious even from the ground."

".........................."

"There’s a theory that women are more suited to being pilots than men, and it might actually be true. They’re calm, bold, and artistic. Their flying style is high and graceful. They fight like they’re dancing, and just looking up from the ground is mesmerizing..."

At that point, Kiyoaki finally noticed something was off with Mio.

It was too quiet. And there was a troubling light deep in her eyes. That was...

A chill ran down his spine. He realized he had made a mistake.

"Ah... I mean, she's an opponent I don't want to lose to..."

"Is that so?"

Her reply was noticeably sharp. The way she lowered her eyes and brought the tea cup to her lips suddenly felt distant.

"Uh, yeah... that’s right."

That's right. Ever since the Eriadore breakthrough, whenever Kiyoaki talked about Illia, Mio would inexplicably get angry. He thought that maybe she had let go of her anger after he successfully completed the night landing for her, but apparently, the embers were still smouldering.

He decided to change the subject. He had to talk about something that would make Mio happy.

"By the way, winter break is in a week. I’m looking forward to it. Are you going back home, Mio?"

After the abrupt topic change, Mio gave him a slightly suspicious look, then took a breath and spoke somewhat wistfully as she set down her cup.

"My dad got transferred to Crossnodal Island in October. He took my mom and my two younger brothers with him."

"Oh, really? That's a lot of transfers. Crossnodal is in the North Maris Sea, right?"

"Yeah. It's technically an independent country. I heard it keeps its distance from the Hydrabard Alliance, so it seems they haven't been caught up in any wars. I plan to spend winter break with my family in Crossnodal."

Mio's foster father was a diplomat, so they moved frequently. It seemed he was currently stationed far away in a small country northwest of Air Hunt Island. After losing her biological parents to war when she was young, Mio was taken in by her foster parents, and she truly cherishes her new family. The eight siblings were all children who had been picked up from around the world by her foster parents, and although they had no blood relation, they were reputed to be closer than a real family even when they were on Messus Island.

"Are your siblings doing well?"

"Yeah. My older brother and sister graduated and are traveling around the world. They’re all amazing. Sometimes I wonder if my dad only took in children with bright futures."

"The oldest is a businessman at a top trading company, the eldest daughter and the second son are bureaucrats, and the second daughter works at the Central Bank of St Vault, right? That’s impressive. It must be pressure for you, being the next in line."

"Yeah... But I want to repay my parents. The reason I can study here is because of my family. I think if I can do well in the St Vault Navy, they'll be happy."

"Yeah, you can do it, Mio. You have to make your family proud."

Kiyoaki encouraged her sincerely. His parents and older sister were already gone, and his hometown of Messus Island had also been taken by Urano, so he had no family waiting for him to return during winter break. So he felt a little envious of Mio.

"Are you... going to be okay? What about winter break?"

Noticing her concern, Mio asked worriedly, so Kiyoaki smiled.

"I'll stay here and study. There are others in the dorm who aren't going home, so I'll be fine. Maybe I can stretch my wings in the empty campus."

"...I see. I'll bring you a souvenir. Look forward to it."

Feeling the atmosphere getting darker again, Kiyoaki forced himself to find another topic to talk about.

He had a feeling that time alone with Mio wouldn't come by again, so he wanted to share a little more time like this. The topic didn’t really matter; what was important was that Mio was right in front of him, sharing the same moment. The initial awkwardness faded away, and Mio regained the straightforward expression he had known since childhood.

They talked endlessly about their practical training, instructors, and squad members... Enjoying the way Mio's eyes widened, her cheeks puffed, her carefree laughter, and how she lowered her lashes in thought, Kiyoaki lost track of time, and before he knew it, the shadow of the parasol had grown long across the pavement.

"Mio, aren’t you cold? Are you okay?"

"Not at all. Let’s keep talking."

The tomato-red sun was burning in the sky beyond Mio. The clouds drifting by were about to be dyed in the colours of night. This enjoyable time was coming to an end soon, and that thought made him feel very lonely.

Maybe Mio felt the same way; she suddenly turned serious and stared at Kiyoaki.

"About Illia's words from earlier... the question of why we shoot down enemy aircraft... I have a feeling I understand what she wants to say."

"Really? You think so...?"

"I'm not sure. But I think... if I watch you normally, I can kind of guess what she's talking about..."

"Wait, what do you mean about me?"

There might be something that women notice in each other. Kiyoaki eagerly asked.

"I don't know, but probably... you don’t really want to win by kicking others down, do you?"

That statement pierced deep into his heart.

"You’re not suited for competition. The moment you try to win against someone else, you start feeling bad about it. It’s impossible for someone like you to kill someone on the battlefield."

That hit hard. Mio’s words stabbed into him without mercy.

"But there’s something about you that stands out among others... This is going to sound cheesy, so please don’t laugh. If you promise not to laugh, I’ll tell you."

Suddenly being so serious made Kiyoaki respond while pulling the arrows of her words from his heart.

"Come on, just tell me. I won't laugh. I understand it's serious."

After a brief pause, Mio reflected Kiyoaki in her emerald eyes.

"I think the reason you can fight is... for others."

".........................."

"I can’t fight for myself. But for someone important, I’d fight tooth and nail... I think that’s the kind of person you are."

With that clear statement, Kiyoaki let out a soft groan.

Being told that to his face made him blush and feel embarrassed, but he knew it was true; there was indeed that side to him.

Immediately, he thought of that night landing. At that time, he had confronted Balthazar to save Mio. He had defied the captain's orders, insisting on landing to save Mio, ultimately putting the lives of the other five at risk to execute his plan.

Looking back calmly, he realized the horror of his own argument.

What Kiyoaki had essentially said was, "I want to save Mio, so you five bet your lives on my piloting skills." From Balthazar's perspective, such arrogance in a subordinate must have been hard to stomach. Though Balthazar reluctantly agreed to go along with Kiyoaki's insistence, swayed by Illia and Kagura’s support, Balthazar's gaze on Kiyoaki was still cold.

──At that moment, I just wanted to save Mio.

──And I shouldered the lives of the other five on my piloting skills...

──As if it were the most natural thing. Without a hint of doubt.

"Here’s a suggestion: next time before you fly, think of someone important, like your parents or your sister. Consider it a battle to protect that person. That might help you perform better."

Mio's suggestion sank straight to the depths of Kiyoaki's being. If that were the case, he might be able to shoot down the enemy. He had a feeling about that.

"…I understand. I don’t have anything to say to that. Yeah… I do think I have that side to me..."

As he hung his head, Mio smiled.

"That's a good thing. It’s part of who you are. It’s kind of cool and kind of pathetic at the same time, but that’s just you."

Mio's encouragement warmed his heart. Although he had lost his entire family, he was immensely grateful that Mio was right there with him.

The sky, unforgivingly, was losing its colour.

He wished the sunset would last for another two or three hours.

Looking up at the crimson sky, he suddenly spotted a shadow flying toward them.

"Hmm...?"

It was a bird.

Flapping its wings, it was approaching straight toward them. Kiyoaki recognized its flight and wing shape.

"Is that... could it be...?"

As he pointed, perhaps out of surprise, Mio's hair lifted slightly. Her eyes widened.

"Fio!!"

With a cry, Fio landed on Mio’s shoulder as if it were returning home.

"Ah, Fio! Fio!"

Almost in tears, Mio gently placed one hand on Fio and rubbed her cheek against it. The clever bird responded with a "Fi!" and accepted the affection with a completely natural expression.

"Fio, that’s amazing! You crossed the sea for three months just to see me!"

"Oh, Fio! Please don’t do this again!"

Tears streamed down Mio's cheeks. Fio, who had been pure white, was now dirty with a light gray from the long journey, with patches of feathers missing. It must have been a difficult journey for such a small bird to come here alone without any companions. But still, Fio wanted to see Mio.

"Fio, I’m sorry. I won’t leave you behind again. We’ll always be together..."

Mio apologized to Fio through her tears. Kiyoaki felt a warmth rising in his chest as well.

"Fio is amazing. No matter how far apart, you can find Mio’s location."

"Maybe because you were with her. Fio can find you too. We first met thanks to Fio..."

Mio ordered some walnut bread, tore it into small pieces with her hands, and fed it to Fio. Although the bird couldn’t possibly understand human emotions, its earnest pecking at the crumbs radiated a sense of relief as if it had returned home after a long journey.

"We'll always be together... always, Fio..."

Mio repeated those words several times as if to reassure Fio. The two of them and the one bird rejoiced in their reunion in a foreign land, far from their homeland, until darkness fell.

Part 13 (Part 5 of Volume 2) The weather is not at all pleasant. I am merely continuing this life because I must go through the status of a student to achieve my goal.

The Urano special operative "Hachidori" muttered this soliloquy without justifying it to anyone, then obediently attended the academic class.

There’s no need to learn this again. I acquired all the education necessary to become an officer at the age of ten. The other students seem like fools to me, but if I display my exceptional abilities and overwhelm my surroundings, I will definitely arouse suspicion about my identity. I must discipline myself, making sure not to stand out too much while not falling too far behind, and continuously adjust the output of my abilities.

── These idiots.

The elite officer candidates look utterly foolish. I want to make all of them taste the hell that I have endured in the special operative training program. Out of the hundred selected children, only eight could survive the inhumane training that led me here. If they were thrown into that situation, none of them would survive.

── I will kill them all someday.

Continuing to repeat such curses in my mind is something I do intentionally. If I don't, I might find myself influenced by the softness of this environment.

Honestly, there are times when I occasionally envy these peers of my age.

And strangely enough, sometimes I find myself inadvertently helping them due to their complete ineptitude. When I see the grateful expressions on the faces of those I've helped, I realize that, unknowingly, I feel happy.

Every time I notice this side of myself, I hastily direct silent curses toward my surroundings to remind myself of my purpose in infiltrating this place.

── To rise through the ranks of the Urano Intelligence Division, buy back my sold home, and treat my mother.

── I want my healed mother to remember me.

Reconfirming the motivation that led me to become a special operative, Hachidori feigned focus on the boring lecture once again.

May this life continue forever.

The former heir to the Sylvanian throne attended the usual academic class, harbouring such a wish deep in her heart where no one could hear it.

Although it has been a considerable amount of time since I started living as an ordinary student, having forgotten my status, life at the Air Hunt Officer Academy is tough but also filled with many enjoyable moments. Moreover, I have made comrades with whom I shared the same oath. Lately, I remember less about my birthright, and I wish to enter society as an ordinary citizen.

However, there are still former retainers who refuse to leave me alone. It's commendable that they remain loyal to the Sylvanian royal family, even after being exiled from their territory, but to be honest, I would like to live as a plain student for a little while longer, at least until I graduate from this school.

Coincidentally, I have become one of the "Seven of Eriadore," and my former retainers are anxiously worried that my identity might be revealed. Among them, the Holy Knight Akmed is said to be seeking my audience with the consent of my guardians. During the invasion of Urano, Akmed protected me and broke through enemy lines, ensuring that the blood of the Sylvanian royal family would continue to the next generation. He likely wishes to confirm with his own eyes how the faint hope that was left has grown.

I like Akmed. I am alive here thanks to him. If I were just an ordinary officer candidate, I would surely be thrilled to welcome the visit of the famed "King of the Skies."

However, as the heir to the throne, I honestly wish he would not come here. If Akmed, known as the "King of the Skies," were to visit the school, he would undoubtedly attract unwanted attention. If he were to kneel before me in front of everyone, I would surely not be able to escape unnecessary scrutiny.

Fortunately, Akmed's visit is said to be after the winter break. Before then, I should arrange to meet him somewhere discreetly, away from others. There’s no need for him to kneel in front of me on the throne; just showing my face in the back garden of the student dormitory to reassure him should keep him quiet for a while. While it may seem cruel to someone who has come all this way to visit, I have a life I wish to cherish. I don’t want the happiness I’ve built up as an ordinary student to be destroyed by my former retainers. As I indulge in such foolish thoughts in my heart, the heir to the throne resumed concentrating on the lecture with a nonchalant expression.

Wings cut through the air, turning it white.

With a creaking right turn, thin lines of steam flowed into the December blue sky.

Beyond the windscreen, the silver shadow of the fleeing enemy aircraft.

As speed increased, so did the vibrations. The target in the sight moved up and down, left and right. Amidst the vibrations, I cautiously operated the controls, trying to catch up to the enemy aircraft fleeing at over 400 kilometres per hour.

── Am I going to kill an unknown person?

── Am I flying in this sky to kill people?

The familiar whispers stroked Kiyoaki Akira's mind.

His finger, poised over the trigger, trembled.

In that instant, Kiyoaki envisioned the faces of his deceased family over the enemy aircraft in his sights.

His parents, who died as decoys to protect their child from gunfire.

His sister, who hugged him tightly and died using her life as a shield.

The people he couldn’t protect, who would never return.

── If I don't shoot down this enemy, the important people will be lost.

── I don’t want to kill. But the world is cruel. I can't live on ideals alone.

── To ensure I never lose important people again.

At that moment, another important person’s smile overlapped with that of his parents and sister.

Someone very dear to him, living in this moment.

If it’s to protect this person, I can shoot down the enemy.

── Mio.

I could shoot down dozens, even hundreds, without hesitation.

── If I don't shoot this enemy, Mio will be shot.

The moment he thought that, Kiyoaki pulled the trigger.

The fired special round shot straight and dyed the enemy aircraft's tail red.

The speaker announced.

“Arrow 1, shot down. Lance 1 wins.”

Kiyoaki exhaled as he looked down at the runway below.

With this, it made six consecutive wins since the day before yesterday. He felt like he wanted to have one more match today. As his ranking rose, his pride also grew, and the way others viewed him was changing.

He put the training aircraft, Gray Fox, into the hangar, reported today’s achievements to the control tower, and returned to the group of air force students gathered by the runway.

“You’ve really changed lately. Has something good happened?”

Approaching with a light wave was Kagura. As his friendly smile got closer, he stared intently into Kiyoaki’s eyes.

“Did you get a girlfriend?”

“Your face is too close. It’s not that.”

“Good. But it really looks like a sleeping lion has awakened. The top ranks are wary of you.”

“I'll do my best. But there’s still a gap with the top ranks…”

“I think today’s results will put you in the top twenty. A match with me or Balthazar should be coming soon.”

Currently, Balthazar was in second place, and Kagura had recently climbed to sixth. As the end of the year approached, matches between the top ranks would start to be organized. The truly tough battles would begin from here.

The upperclassmen, who were in the top ranks, cast sidelong glances at Kiyoaki. He could feel the wariness in the air. With the third-year Illia at the top, the upperclassmen wouldn't take kindly to Kiyoaki climbing the ranks further.

As Kagura looked up at the aerial combat above, she spoke.

"Did you hear? During the final battle, Knight Akmed is supposed to visit our school to observe mock aerial combat. I have no idea what his purpose is... but surely he's not trying to recruit officer candidates for Valkyrie."

This was the first time hearing this. Kiyoaki couldn't hide his surprise.

"Master Akmed is coming here?!"

"Baltha heard it from the principal. It seems Akmed himself was eager for the visit. Judging by that, it's probably not for you..."

"I haven't seen my master for about five years, and I'm just calling him master on my own. I doubt he even thinks of me as his disciple... He won't come just to see me."

"Hmm. It feels suspicious. The King of Aerial Assault crossing the seas just to visit this remote island... It's enough to make one wonder about his intentions."

The aerial mercenary unit "Valkyrie" is the world's strongest combat squad, formed by Akmed, who gathered elite ace pilots from around the world. Sponsored by small countries in the Multi-Island Sea and emerging financial groups that do not fall under Urano's influence, they traverse aerial battlefields worldwide as an independent combat organization, including support operations. However, the condition is that they must fight against Urano; they supposedly do not even make contact with enemies affiliated with Urano. Rumour has it they maintain the organization solely to eventually restore the Sylvanian royal family.

"The tale of a presumed dead heir escaping into the city and surviving is the stuff of national legends. There are rumours that during the fall of Santos Island, Akmed fought through enemy lines to protect the heir. Perhaps one of our students is the heir, hidden among us."

"No way. Kagura, you're surprisingly romantic."

When Kiyoaki joked, Kagura suddenly shot him a sly glance.

"I'm a romantic. The one I care about never notices."

Kagura gently placed her pinky under Kiyoaki's chin, lifting his face. Up close, her expression, usually so masculine, bore a feminine charm.

Kiyoaki's face turned beet red.

"W-What? Stop joking! I can't handle that kind of thing!"

He hurriedly turned away, and in an instant, Kagura dropped the flirtation and smiled sweetly.

"Yes, that’s quite adorable. I hope you stay just like that."

"Please take it easy... I might get killed by your fans."

"That sounds nice. Kagura, let me do that too."

Before he knew it, Reiner had appeared beside him, grinning as he teased.

"I refuse. I have no interest in a dirty boy."

"That's harsh. I'm pure white!"

"A boy who spends every weekend picking up girls at the clubhouse can't be pure white."

"No, no, I’m definitely clean. I haven't gotten involved with anyone. By the way, Kiyoaki, you've been impressive lately; did you get a girlfriend?"

"Why does everyone keep saying that? It's not like that. I’ve just managed to prepare myself to shoot down opponents."

"Oh really? What’s the mindset?"

"I won't say because it's embarrassing. You, Reiner, have been doing well lately too."

"Well, my biorhythm is on the upswing. I'm riding a good wave lately."

Just like Kiyoaki, Reiner has been winning more often than tying lately. It wouldn't be surprising if he broke into the top ten soon. Even though it looks like he's just playing around, Reiner's abilities are indeed very high, as shown by his results in both piloting and navigation.

"I can't lose now. Want to face off against me next?"

As Kiyoaki challenged him with a fierce gaze, Reiner let out a strange noise and shrugged.

"I think I’ll pass. It feels too intense. I’ll do it if the instructor orders it, but I don’t want to fight someone I know I’ll lose to."

Easily brushing him off, he looked up at the blue sky. It was Illia who was engaged in a two-on-two formation aerial battle.

"You want to do that, right? From what I can see, you're probably the only one who can compete with Illia right now."

As if in response to those words, Illia shot down the enemy aircraft with manoeuvres that could rival a regular aerial officer's dogfight (where both sides approach head-on and fire at each other while passing). She executed a slow roll to evade the pursuit of the second enemy, and in a battle reminiscent of an ant's hell, she drew the enemy into a horizontal turn, gaining their back on the second spin.

"She’s getting stronger every day. I’d like to see what happens when she’s unleashed on the battlefield. Competing with Akmed and Karnasion might not be a dream after all."

Without waiting for the end of his words, Illia painted the enemy's right-wing red. As Reiner said, Illia was gaining experience and strength with each mock battle. She might one day challenge the two aerial kings of the current multi-island sea: "Akmed of Valkyrie" and "Karnasion of Urano."

── I want to catch up to Illia quickly...

Longing for that, Kiyoaki looked up at Illia flying in an empty sky. He felt he had gotten a little closer recently, but Illia was also growing at quite a pace. Through daily training in the swordsmanship club, she seemed to be discovering something new. Her distance management and tactics with enemy aircraft had progressed significantly compared to the beginning. The back that was just coming into view could disappear into the heights again if he let his guard down even a little.

"The climax is finally approaching after winter break, with more matchups among the upper ranks. It would be great if you could show off in front of Master Akmed."

Kagura murmured as she gazed up at the same sky. Completely forgotten, it dawned on him that winter break started the day after tomorrow. Kagura, Cecil, Mio, and Illia would spend the fifteen-day break in their hometowns, while Baltha planned to use his saved wages for a trip to the Vestelant continent. Among the seven, only Kiyoaki and Reiner would remain in the dormitory. With no family waiting for him and no hometown, Kiyoaki felt a bit lonely but was grateful that Reiner was there.

"Yes. I’ll be training here over winter break. So I can beat Illia."

He declared resolutely to Kagura’s profile, and the talented woman smiled refreshingly in support.

The Imperial Capital, Selfaust.

This metropolis, which has nearly a thousand years of history as the capital of the St Vault Empire, has seen its three million citizens invigorated by the long-awaited war since the outbreak against the Hydrabard Federation three months ago.

Such a grand war hadn’t occurred since the "Multi-Island War" fought against the Akitsu Federation nearly twenty years ago. The war named the "Hydrabard Campaign" is a major invasion operation allied with the Akitsu Federation, the former enemy. With the market capitalism entering a saturation phase and the closed economic situation needing to be broken, it was essential for the St Vault Empire to seek new capital and interests. The quickest way to achieve this was to seize from their neighbours. It was barbaric, but without doing so, they would lose in the struggle for supremacy against the Harmonia Empire to the north and the Zunjin Dynasty to the east, creating a three-way conflict. To avoid being devoured by the strong, they would devour the weak—this was the natural national policy in the world ruled by imperialism.

Until now, the St Vault Empire had been unable to expand into the multi-island sea due to fear of the northeastern strong nation, the Harmonia Empire. The border with the Zunjin Dynasty was separated by a steep mountain range, so there was no concern there, but the border with Harmonia was unclear, merely a vast plain claimed by both sides. The reason they could finally embark on a full-scale invasion of the multi-island sea was largely due to the completion of the "Kukuana Line," which secures the entire lengthy border with Harmonia. The Kukuana Army Headquarters, which designed it, boasted that "not even a fly could pass" through this massive complex of trenches, bunkers, and concrete barriers, making a ground invasion by Harmonia very difficult. With the Kukuana Line protecting their rear and eliminating concerns, the St Vault Empire finally moved towards their long-cherished goal of "conquering the multi-island sea north and south."

Illia Kreischmidt stepped off the platform at Selfaust Central Station, buried her mouth in her scarf, and pulled her wheeled suitcase behind her as she walked down the main street, breathing out white puffs of air.

The town was dull and gray. The main heating fuel was coal, and by the end of December, the sky was always polluted with smoke from chimneys. Wearing a bright-coloured coat would make the dirt stand out, so everyone on the street was wrapped in black or gray overcoats, walking with slightly hunched backs to avoid inhaling too much of the polluted air.

Soon, she arrived at the tram station. As she stood in line with a dozen citizens, a heavy tram arrived, packed with passengers even on the roof. Paying the fare of 2 pesos, Illia received help from the other passengers to sit on the roof, gazing blankly at the flowing stone, tile, and concrete buildings in front of her.

Balloons floated beyond the row of department stores, advertising for new recruits. Military officers in uniforms were using megaphones to urge passing youths to enlist and fight for their country. Whether it was the patriotic fervour being stirred or a desire for stable employment, many young people were lining up to enlist.

── Am I going to lead those kinds of people into battle once I leave school?

Sitting on the roof of the tram, Illia pondered this. If she graduated from the officer school, she would be in a position to give orders to non-commissioned officers and soldiers older than herself. Watching the cheerful faces of seemingly carefree youths, she felt anxious about whether she could joyfully send them into battle to face death. Most of the conversations among the passengers were about the Hydrabard Campaign, filled with rumours about the upcoming major operations.

After swaying for about an hour on the slower-than-a-car tram, the number of passengers decreased, and there were now empty seats in the cabin. The roof passengers rushed into the warm interior, but Illia stayed on the roof, raised the collar of her plain black coat, and extended her long, slender legs into the air, looking at the townscape of Selfaust.

Ilia had disembarked in a suburban residential area.

The desolate shopping district had few stores still open, and passersby were sparse. The fading daylight illuminated the decaying signs and closed shutters with a dazzling bronze hue. Dragging her suitcase along, Illia stopped in front of a bakery.

Though the shop looked old and worn, it was still in business. On the shelves, a few leftover breads were marked down. After hesitating for a moment, Illia entered the store.

An elderly woman scratching a cat's back behind the counter looked up, surprised to see Illia.

"My goodness, isn’t that Illia! Have you come back?"

Illia maintained a stiff expression as she greeted the bakery owner.

"Yes. I’m back for the winter break from the officer school."

"Oh, that's nice! Your father will surely be happy. He’s been looking so lonely all by himself..."

"Yes. Um, about my father..."

She hesitated, her voice trailing off. The bent old woman, with an expression that seemed to understand everything, said:

"He's doing fine, really fine. Another war just started recently, and it seems like some people are coming by to visit him, so he's okay. As for food, we’re here for that."

"Yes. Thank you so much. Um... I hope it's not a bother..."

"We're so used to it by now, it's nothing. If anything, we’d feel anxious if he weren't here. The ones who complain are the newcomers, so you don’t need to worry about that."

"...I’m terribly sorry... I really appreciate everything. You’ve been taking care of him for so long..."

"It’s fine, it’s fine. It’s nothing at this point. Just leave it to us, from now on too. We're like family now anyway."

The old woman’s words warmed Illia’s heart. Just like she said, the owner of this bakery had been looking after Illia since she was a child, practically like a real mother. Illia wished she could express her gratitude more through words or expressions, but she was terribly bad at things like that. Feeling frustrated, she bought all the leftover bread as a small token of appreciation.

"You didn’t need to do that, really."

"No, there’s likely nothing at home. It’s a big help."

"You always liked donuts, right? I’ve kept some for you, just wait a moment."

Without giving her a chance to refuse, the shopkeeper disappeared into the back and soon returned with colourful donuts in a plastic bag.

"Your father must like them too. Strawberry, almond, and, um, lemon cream. Take them home."

She forced them into Illia's hands. It would be rude to refuse too much, so Illia graciously accepted.

"…I'm sorry. Thank you very much. My father will be pleased."

Illia lied. In truth, her father hated being reminded of her mother. The donuts from this shop were her mother's favourite, so she couldn't show them to her father.

After a while of exchanging pleasantries with the bakery owner, Illia confirmed once more that her father wasn’t causing trouble in the neighbourhood before leaving the bakery and heading home.

As the sun set and the redness faded from the western sky, she arrived at a house slightly detached from the surrounding homes.

It was an old two-story building like any other. The front yard, overrun with weeds, had a rusty bicycle and flowerless pots scattered around, giving no sign of habitation.

She pressed the doorbell. No one answered. Unlocking the front door, she stepped into the dark house, where the musty smell of liquor filled the air.

"I’m home."

When she turned on the living room light, her one-armed father was slumped over the table, sleeping. Beside him lay an empty whiskey bottle. Illia maintained her expressionless demeanour as she went upstairs, placing her belongings in her room, which contained only a bed, a table, and a bookshelf. She took a blanket back down and draped it over her sleeping father. Since childhood, it had been Illia's routine to cover her father with a blanket while he slept at the table.

Without changing clothes, she sat down opposite her father and gazed at his sleeping face.

Karsten Kreischmidt.

Once called the "King of the Skies," he was the man who once ruled the skies of the Multi-Island Sea.

How had the father, who seemed so large and robust in his childhood, deteriorated into this withered state?

His posture, with one arm resting on his forehead as he slept, was melancholic. The right arm that once skilfully handled the control stick had been taken from him by another "King of the Skies."

"Have you returned?"

It was twenty minutes later that Karsten opened his eyes, sensing Illia's presence. He blinked his yellowed eyes wide, taking in the sight of his only daughter.

"What’s with that hair?"

"My friend insisted I grow it out."

Karsten snorted.

"Getting a bit fancy, are we?"

"Not really."

"You need to take care of it."

"My friend helps with that."

"Cut it short, then. What does a fighter pilot care about appearances?"

"…Yes."

"Are you getting paid?"

"Yes."

"Go buy some liquor."

"Yes."

Illia left the house and walked to the local liquor store. After asking the familiar owner about her father’s condition, she received a response that things were generally as usual and bought her father's favourite wine and whiskey before returning home.

"It seems the war has started."

Sipping cheap alcohol, Karsten murmured toward the empty air.

"Yes."

"It’s as I predicted. First, they’ll take down Hydrabard, then secure a foothold in the Southern Multi-Islands before crossing swords with the Akitsu Federation again. Conquering the entire Multi-Island Sea is the Empire's long-held ambition. The great Imperial Army wouldn’t continue to ally with those monkey people forever."

"…Yes."

"I saw in the newspaper. The monkeys have mixed in with Air Hunt, huh?"

He was referring to the Seven of Eriadore. The "monkeys" likely meant Illia's friends, Kiyoaki and Kagura. Illia, who had been looking down, finally looked her father in the eye for the first time today.

"The monkeys?"

"The Akitsu monkeys. You know that."

"……………………"

"What's your answer?"

"……Yes."

"What’s with that face? What don’t you like?"

"Nothing."

Illia looked down again. Having been trained since childhood to absolutely obey both physically and mentally, she trembled just from her father’s glare.

"We’ll transfer the little monkeys to our officer school to prove that the alliance is genuine to the great powers. It’s also possible they could accompany the Imperial Army as dispatched officers after graduation. How filthy. Where has the once proud and powerful Imperial Army gone?"

Karsten took a swig of whiskey. His drinking had become more careless than before; his cheeks were hollow, and he had a thick, unkempt beard. The yellowing of his eyes was more pronounced than ever.

"Father, what about dinner?"

"I don’t need it."

"Wouldn’t it be better to eat something?"

"You’ve become quite bold with your words. I said I don’t need it."

"I overstepped."

The whiskey bottle was empty. Karsten immediately uncorked the wine.

"I hear the son of Sakagami Masaharu is in the same aviation department."

He must have seen it in the newspaper. That was already covered in various newspapers and magazines in an amusing manner.

"…Yes."

"Did he say anything about me?"

"……………………"

Illia fell silent, pondering. She hesitated to share the truth about Kiyoaki’s one-on-one duel. The scenes in Karsten’s memory and what Kiyoaki had heard were too far apart.

"…No."

After careful consideration, she lied. If she spoke of it, it would only lead to more drinking.

"Is that true? Did he really not say anything?"

Suspicion flickered in Karsten’s yellowed eyes as he peered at Illia. It felt as though he could see right through her, and Illia instinctively looked down.

"…I spoke about it a little."

The truth slipped out before she could stop it. She scolded herself for being so weak.

"Oh? What did you say? Did you apologize? Not that I would forgive him."

Karsten asked forcefully. It seemed he was quite concerned about Kiyoaki being Illia's classmate.

"It was just a brief conversation. We have no points of contact in daily life and don’t really talk."

"He? You speak as if an Akitsu person were human. I don’t care if he’s a monkey; what did the little monkey say?"

Illia desperately tried to think of an innocuous lie. But since she had never done such a thing before, she couldn’t come up with a story on the spot. All that surfaced were fragmented, unconvincing tales.

Resigned, she steeled herself. She was not the kind of person who could easily lie.

"In the Akitsu military records, it says that Sakagami Masaharu shot you down," she said honestly.

As soon as she said it, she regretted it.

—Why can’t I understand people’s feelings?

Her father’s brows furrowed, his skin pale instantly, the tiny blood vessels standing out against the whites of his eyes, and his lips quivered. She should have known this would happen.

—I've hurt my precious father, my only family.

As she felt ashamed of herself, Karsten slammed his fist on the table.

"You cowardly monkey pack!! You shameless pretenders to be human!! Bring that bastard here, and I’ll rip off his right arm and shove it up his ass!!"

His twisted expression spewed forth crude words in rapid succession. Such lowly military slang was too vulgar for his only daughter to hear. Illia closed her eyes, telling herself these were just meaningless sounds. Like thunder, they carried no meaning; this torrent of words from her father’s throat and tongue held no significance.

"I accepted the duel!! He betrayed me!! He tricked me with his companions and tore off this right arm…!!"

His angry voice had shifted to a scream. His harsh words were mixed with tears. Having lost his right arm in a duel twenty years ago, Karsten had become a body that could no longer fly, consumed by curses against the Akitsu people and Sakagami Masaharu, lost in the past, and warped his humanity.

In the records of the time, newspaper articles, and photographs, Karsten Kreischmidt appeared as the gallant ace. He loved the skies more than anyone, proudly soaring high and bravely. He was said to be a pilot who understood the respect owed to enemies, much like ancient knights. Illia did not know that version of him. The man she knew was a one-armed drunkard who scattered crude words and violently drove her mother away.

—How pitiful.

Looking at her father before her, she felt that way. No matter how harshly he was treated, or how he was forced to train her to learn nothing but about aircraft, she could not abandon this pitiful man.

And—

—I don’t want to be abandoned.

Illia herself clung to Karsten. The memories of her mother, who had left her behind, would not fade. If her father turned his back on her too, she would have nowhere to belong.

So, she endured. Until the day Karsten reflected her own image and praised her for a job well done.

"Kill the monkeys, Illia. That is why I raised you. Don’t let those lowly monkeys fly the skies. If you see a flying monkey, make sure to shoot it down with your own hands."

His eyes bloodshot, Karsten finished off the two bottles he had just bought, breathing out a stench of alcohol. Illia silently looked down, imagining herself standing in the rain without an umbrella, and continued to absorb every word from her father as if they were lifelines. If she could think of it that way, some semblance of mental peace could be maintained. With the methods she had learned since childhood, Illia spent her time during this long-awaited reunion with her father.

Karsten again collapsed onto the table, asleep. She draped a blanket over him that had fallen to the floor, then stepped out to the backyard alone.

Under a sky full of stars, the cockpit of an abandoned fighter was damp with dew.

It was a place she had grown accustomed to since she was twelve, meant for flying through a virtual hell. She removed the rain cover and climbed into the cockpit, gazing up at the stars.

The stars shone brightly in the December night sky. Their purity, living through the ages, offered solace to her tired, wilted heart.

This cockpit, left for training by Karsten, was Illia’s home. Surrounded by levers, switches, the control stick, and instruments, she had grown up in this cramped space.

Wrapping herself in the blanket she had brought from her room, she ate the donuts the old woman had given her. Her mother had often shared these with her in secret in the backyard. Perhaps there had been unpleasant or painful moments. The memory Illia had of her mother was of a sad face, stroking Illia's head while hiding away to eat donuts. The sweet, moist taste brought back the fading memories of her mother.

After finishing the donut, she sat in the cockpit, gazing at the stars.

Among the stars, her father’s curses, her mother’s sad face, Kiyoaki’s expression, and the image of Sakagami Masaharu she had heard about overlapped.

On that night during the water landing, she had placed her hand atop Kiyoaki's and gripped the throttle. The hand of the cowardly son had felt noble and gentle.

Illia could not discern what the truth was. She had come to understand that the truth of history is something that will remain eternally unknown. The testimonies of those present differed on both sides; over time, memories are rewritten, and only the facts one wishes to see eventually become the truth. It would be pointless to argue which side was correct.

—But at the very least, I want to comfort my father.

As she looked up at the stars, Illia thought this.

—If I can win against Sakagami Kiyoaki in mock aerial combat, my father will surely be pleased.

Illia closed her eyes and pulled the blanket up to her shoulders.

—He will see me for who I am now, not for past glories...

Sending her tiny wish to the stars, Illia fell asleep in the cockpit.

"Why are we riding around in a place like this with a guy on board?"

Reiner, gripping the motorcycle's handlebars, grumbled. Kiyoaki, seated behind him, held onto the seat with both hands under his rear and replied to the complaint.

"There's nothing we can do about it. Everything fun is closed."

"How lame. Everyone's probably having a good time back in the country. Lucky them."

He revved the engine, and the 250cc bike emitted a lively sound as it sped along the national highway of Air Hunt Island.

This was a used motorcycle that Reiner had bought on loan. Normally, on weekends, he would be riding with girls he picked up at the clubhouse on the back seat. But during winter break, all the students disappeared, and the clubhouse closed for the long holiday. Since students were the centre of the economy on the island, all the shops closed during the long break, leaving nowhere to play. With time on their hands, Kiyoaki and Reiner decided to go touring together.

"Stop complaining. We should be getting close, right? To Cross Cape…"

Three minutes later, after Reiner pouted, they parked the bike at the bicycle parking lot of Cross Cape, a tourist spot on Air Hunt Island. Reiner often came to this cape with girls.

"It's sunset. How romantic. Ugh."

After taking off his helmet and looking up at the sky, Reiner made a distorted face.

"And there's no one else here. Just the two of us, Reiner."

"Stop joking. I wish at least Mio or Cecil were here."

At the end of December, the sun cast its slanted light across the hard, frozen blue sky. They exchanged light banter as they walked together to the edge of the cape.

Far below, a rocky outcrop jutted into the sea, curiously carved in the shape of a cross, with seawater seeping into it. This cape was named after the cross that could be seen from above. It was said that if you threw a one-peso coin into the cross, your wishes would come true.

Looking to the north of the cross, Kiyoaki spotted Air Hunt Port clearly about ten kilometres away. From here, the three docks and the ships entering and exiting were clearly visible.

"A battleship's docked there. It seems the Air and Navy is already using the third dock."

"This island can't remain unrelated to the war forever. It’s tough, really."

Perhaps preparing for the upcoming invasion, military ships had begun entering Air Hunt Port. During the day, they could even see fleet manoeuvres being trained offshore from this cape. The Hydrabard Campaign was finally moving into the full-scale operational phase.

"Look over there, there's a huge battleship… I’ve never seen a battleship that big."

Two ships were docked at the pier, with a large battleship towering over the others. It was probably a new model, and Kiyoaki didn’t recognize its class. Reiner glanced at it with little interest before turning his gaze toward the sea.

The setting sun painted a vibrant contrast against the deep blue sea.

Even now, sporadic battles were occurring beyond the horizon between the Akitsu-St Vault Alliance and the Hydrabard-Urano Alliance. Once they graduated from Air Hunt, they would also be thrown into that conflict. The peaceful days they currently enjoyed would surely be something precious that would never return.

"Next year, we'll be seniors. Time flies, huh?"

"Yeah. Man, I didn’t think being at the officer academy would be such a hassle."

Reiner's familiar grumbling tone filled the air. Kiyoaki suddenly felt curious and asked somewhat hesitantly.

"Reiner, why did you want to come to Air Hunt in the first place?"

"Huh? Where’d that come from? Didn’t I say? I’m gonna serve five years in the military and then quit to become a civilian pilot. It’s much easier in a company—no life-threatening risks, and the salary is great."

"Yeah, you mentioned that before, but you’re dual majoring, right? Isn’t that aiming for promotion after joining the military?"

When he asked, Reiner's expression became somewhat bewildered as he looked at Kiyoaki for a moment.

"Uh… yeah, about that…"

clearing his throat, he gazed out at the sea with distant eyes.

"I thought it would be cooler to be dual-majoring."

Kiyoaki's knees buckled in surprise. The reason was just too trivial.

"That’s it!? You're studying twice as hard just for that!?"

To learn both navigation and piloting meant doubling the work compared to a single major. Unless aiming for future promotions, one wouldn’t typically choose a dual major course.

"Shut up. It’s whatever. It doesn’t matter. I don’t care about promotion; I’m just someone who can do a little bit of everything. I can't match you or Illia in piloting, and I can’t beat Mio or Cecil in navigation, but combining both gives me a better overall score. So I’m just competing where I can win. Don’t make me say that out loud."

Reiner was unusually defensive, rattling off his explanation in one breath. Feeling somewhat pressured by his unexpected intensity, Kiyoaki nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, I was just a bit curious. But you're right, Reiner, you're skilled enough to do anything."

"Whatever. Let’s make a wish. It probably won’t come true, but at least it’ll be comforting."

"Why so pessimistic? We’ve come all this way, so let’s believe it’ll come true. Uh, do we throw the coins…?"

Taking a one-peso coin from his wallet, Kiyoaki threw it toward the cross below, about thirty meters down. The coin veered off course and plopped uselessly into the sea.

"This is tough. I don’t think anyone can do it."

With one peso, you could buy a loaf of bread. Even if he was getting paid, it wasn’t an amount a student could just toss away. After wasting three pesos, Kiyoaki gave up on his wish.

"Look, I’ll show you how it’s done."

Reiner also tossed his coin, but it flew in an entirely different direction.

"Nice demonstration."

When Kiyoaki joked, Reiner snorted in response. He held up a second coin near his temple, took careful aim, and with the precision of a darts expert, he shot the coin down.

The coin descended diagonally through the air like a bullet, hitting the cross dead centre.

"Wow, Reiner, that’s amazing!"

Kiyoaki was taken aback and turned to Reiner, who seemed utterly nonchalant.

"I’m multi-talented."

"Hurry up and make your wish; it’ll definitely come true!"

"Shut up, I’ll do it without being told. Not that it’ll come true, though…"

Despite his words, Reiner closed his eyes, clasped his hands, and prayed to the cross over the sea.

Kiyoaki watched Reiner’s profile. The usual carefree expression was gone, replaced by a serious look he had never seen before.

—I didn’t know he could make a face like that.

He was a bit surprised. It was a sincere expression, almost desperate, something he had rarely shown in front of others.

"What did you wish for?"

When Reiner opened his eyes and asked, his usual casual demeanour returned.

"I wished to have a hundred women."

That was a lie.

Kiyoaki's intuition whispered that there was no way Reiner could make such a wish with that kind of expression.

Reiner must have been offering something much deeper—a serious wish to the cross. But if he were to ask about it, Reiner probably wouldn’t answer sincerely.

"That sounds like something Reiner would say."

"Is there really any other wish in life?"

"I'm sure there are plenty."

"What are you looking so smug for?"

Kiyoaki smiled. He had thought of Reiner as a frivolous playboy, but it seemed there was more to him than that. Even though he spouted lies, something in the depths of Reiner's heart showed through when they exchanged words, and Kiyoaki found himself drawn to it.

Though Kiyoaki had no hometown or family to return to during the winter break, he was grateful to have Reiner by his side.

"During break, there's no curfew, so let's play until morning."

"Huh? What’s that about? There’s nowhere to have fun."

"Teach me how to ride the bike. I want to try it."

"You don’t have a license. That’s dangerous."

"It’s easier than flying a plane. I’ll learn quickly; it’ll be fine."

"Why are you suddenly so eager? It’s creepy."

"Just lend me the keys. I’ve been watching how you drive, so I have a general idea. This is the gear and that’s the clutch, right?"

Getting on Reiner's bike, Kiyoaki placed his left hand on the clutch and tapped the gear shift with the toes of his left foot. Reiner, with an exasperated expression, tossed him the keys.

"If you break it, you’ll have to pay for it."

Kiyoaki smiled as he caught the keys, kicked the starter, and revved the engine. The roar of the internal combustion engine was familiar, and compared to a plane, the controls were much simpler.

"This is so fun!"

As he started to shake and wobble, Reiner heckled him.

"What’s that? You’re shifting too low!"

"Shut up, I’m doing well for my first time. Look, I’m riding it!"

With Reiner’s jibes and guidance coming from behind, Kiyoaki quickly learned to ride, and soon he had Reiner on the back seat as they cruised down the public road.

"I feel like a delinquent!!"

Exceeding the speed limit by about twenty kilometres, Kiyoaki shouted into the wind.

"You’d be a real delinquent. If they catch us, we won’t just get suspended!"

"We’re riding all night!!"

"Who are you? Do you change into a different person when you grip the handlebars? ... Don’t crash."

With a resigned look, Reiner stayed with him as Kiyoaki continued to ride around Air Hunt Island. They circled the coastal highway multiple times and climbed up a winding mountain road. Famished, they sped around until they found a diner open late, where they stuffed themselves with hamburgers and fries while chatting about nothing in particular, then enjoyed hot coffee before riding some more. Reiner grumbled the entire time but ultimately stayed with him until morning.

"Hey, Reiner."

"Huh?"

"Are you not going back home?"

Stopping the bike at the pier of Air Hunt Port, which was just beginning to redden with dawn, Kiyoaki asked as they sat on a mushroom-shaped mooring post.

"I don’t know, it’d be boring to go back. Wasting train fare, you know."

Looking at the scorched sky, Reiner sat down with his back to Kiyoaki and spoke nonchalantly.

That was a lie.

Once again, Kiyoaki’s intuition whispered to him. It was as if Reiner had predetermined his answer to such a question.

A deep feeling in Kiyoaki's chest resonated with something Reiner was hiding. From Reiner’s back against the backdrop of the dawning sky, a great loneliness radiated.

"I see. Then during winter break, I’ll play with you."

"I don’t need it."

Reiner coldly declined and looked up at the sky. The winter constellations that had been twinkling were swept away by the dawn.

— Reiner is an interesting person...

As Kiyoaki watched the reddish lead-coloured sun rise above the horizon, he thought that.

Part 14 (Part 6 of Volume 2) The year had changed to Imperial Year 1348.

As the new semester began, the mock aerial battles reached their final stage, with upperclassmen starting to clash against each other. Since the results at the officer academy directly influenced future promotions within the military, all fourth-year students were flying with the same determination as if they were facing real aerial combat, eager to improve their ranks.

This year, there was also something that inevitably spurred on the aviation students.

A crowd of several newspaper reporters and cameras were stationed by the runway. The outcome of this year’s mock aerial combat was no longer a concern limited to within the school.

Among the “Seven of Eriadore,” two significant figures had unexpectedly come together: Illia Kreischmidt and Reiner Sakagami Kiyoaki, both descendants of the former “King of the Skies.” Citizens from both the St Vault Empire and the Akitsu Federation were showing considerable interest in the outcome of their duel.

The instigator was Akitsu Daily reporter, Tokiwa.

The article discussed the differing accounts of the duel between Karsten Kreischmidt and Sakagami Masaharu during the Twenty Years’ War, the tragic end of Masaharu due to the invasion of Urano’s Messus Island, as well as the current standings and states of mind of Kiyoaki and Illia. And then—about the current situation of Karsten Kreischmidt.

Kiyoaki had seen the article. It hadn’t contained any lies. However, its clear purpose was to sensationalize the conflict between the two and gather public attention. The descriptions of Karsten were tinged with malice. It claimed that the arm lost by Karsten had fuelled Illia's resolve against the Sakagami family, entrusting his desire for vengeance to his only daughter.

The article sparked reactions, and in St Vault, especially in gossip magazines, numerous follow-up articles emerged. There were growing calls within the Empire for Illia’s victory in the mock aerial combat, and voices began to rise again condemning the Akitsu military’s cruel tactics during the previous duel. Similarly, in the Akitsu Federation, there was a dominant tone of supporting Kiyoaki, criticizing Karsten for putting Illia through harsh training.

Citizens from both great nations, separated by the Archipelago Sea, were focusing their attention on the outcome of this aerial race on a remote island. The Hydrabard campaign was currently in a slight lull before the large-scale operation plans, with no other major topics of discussion, further increasing the number of reporters.

— I don’t care about that.

Kiyoaki thought with a sense of aversion. The connections to his father and the dignity of the nation had nothing to do with him and his peers right now. He only needed to unleash all his power against his opponent. It was troubling to have the expectations and grievances of people he had never seen before placed upon him.

Currently, Kiyoaki had climbed to sixth place overall. The top was Illia, followed by Balthazar in second, and Kagura in third. As expected, the “Seven of Eriadore” had gathered top performers, and it seemed that the race would ultimately come down to four contenders, including Kiyoaki.

— The connection to my parents doesn’t matter. I just don’t want to lose to Illia.

That was the only thought occupying Kiyoaki’s mind. Because he admired and respected Illia’s abilities, he wanted her to acknowledge his strength as well.

— I’ll keep winning until the very end.

As he marked the fleeing enemy aircraft with red bullets, Kiyoaki spread his wings. The instructor's voice came through the speaker.

“Sakagami, you’ve moved up to fifth place now. This is where the real contest begins; don’t let your guard down.”

“Yes, I will do my best.”

Kiyoaki glanced around the canopy and checked the airfield as he entered a descent manoeuvre. As the ground approached, he noticed a row of cameras pointed at him. This was likely part of the military’s intentions to attract public interest in the officer academy and recruit more applicants. Recently, not only had the media flocked to Air Hunt Island, but tourists were also pouring in as if a mock aerial combat festival was taking place.

After landing and finishing his report to the instructor, he was quickly surrounded by reporters before his classmates. Among them was a face from the Akitsu Federation. He held back any resentment and stuck to standard responses, answering the questions about his upcoming match against Illia with a simple, “I will do my best.”

He wanted to keep as much distance as possible from the interviewers. The matter concerning the Akitsu Federation was unpleasant, and there were many horrible reporters as well. Just four days prior, a fabricated article about Illia’s past had been published in a tabloid, prompting a protest from the principal of Air Hunt Academy. Kiyoaki had glimpsed that article, which unjustly tarnished Illia’s family, and anger welled up inside him. He could only imagine the extent of the emotional wounds that Illia carried, but she showed no signs of change after the article, continuing to go about her daily life with calmness as usual.

Kiyoaki managed to shake off the reporters, finish the afternoon training session, have dinner in the cafeteria, and then headed to the dedicated officers’ room for the seven of them to study.

Amidst the noise surrounding the publication of the Tokiwa Udakuni article, he realized he hadn’t really spoken to Mio since winter break ended. He opened the door, thinking he should at least greet her for the New Year.

“Aki-chan, good evening! Today, there’s no one else here!”

Sitting comfortably on the sofa was only Cecil.

"Ah, I see. That's rare. Is Mio not here?"

When Kiyoaki asked, the usually cheerful expression of Cecil clouded.

"Did something happen with Mio at home?"

"Huh?"

"Since she returned, she's been acting strangely..."

"...What do you mean?"

"Umm, Aki-chan, do you not know? There are quite a few rumours among the girls..."

"What? What’s going on?"

According to Cecil,

A week ago, after the break ended, Illia, Kagura, Cecil, and Mio finally got together in their shared dorm room. Cecil was eager to share stories from the break, but no matter how fun the conversation was, Mio seemed somewhat absent-minded. Eventually, she drifted away from the conversation and went off by herself. At that time, they thought she might be feeling unwell, but as the days passed, Mio spoke less and less, and now she avoided interacting with anyone, preferring to study alone in the study room or sit in a corner of the dining hall.

"What’s going on? Why is Mio like that?"

"I don't know. She wasn't there during the recent Fairytale Donut Festival either..."

"Oh, now that you mention it..."

Three days ago, the Fairytale Donuts had appeared again in the student hall. It was an unprecedentedly large appearance, and students gathered in droves to get their share, leading the squadron monitors to intervene and instruct the crowd to line up, eventually distributing all the donuts equally in a commotion.

"The donuts were weird but tasted amazing. It’s no wonder they’re so popular. But yeah, Mio wasn’t there at that time..."

"Since we share a room, I see her every night when we go to sleep, but no matter what I say, she hardly responds... Kagura said it might be because something happened at her home, so it’s better to leave her alone for a while and ask her about it later..."

From what I’ve heard, it’s clear that Mio’s behaviour is quite odd. She’s usually bright and cheerful, valuing the bond among the seven of them. It’s surprising that she’s still dragging along the weight of having put her comrades’ lives at risk during the night landing.

"I thought since you’ve known her the longest, you might be able to help her..."

"I’ve been so focused on the mock aerial combat that I didn’t even notice... Tomorrow, I’ll have class with Mio in naval history, so I’ll talk to her then. I know her family too, so I can casually ask if anything happened at home."

"Yeah... Thank you. I really hope she gets better soon. For some reason, just looking at Mio like this makes me feel sad..."

Comforting the dejected Cecil, Kiyoaki entered the study room. Despite preparing for the next day’s lessons, he couldn’t shake off a strange sense of unease.

The next day, as he entered the naval history classroom for the second period, he saw Mio sitting alone in the back corner, staring out the window.

Kiyoaki approached her with a smile, took the seat next to her, and greeted her.

"Mio, it's been a while. Happy New Year! How have you been?"

Mio's back stiffened in surprise.

Her colourful eyes turned towards Kiyoaki.

"Oh, um. You..."

That was all she said before quickly turning her gaze back to the window, falling silent.

"Is something out there?"

Kiyoaki asked, glancing outside as well, but no one was on the grounds. Mio wouldn’t look at him, fixating instead on the empty field.

I see, this is definitely unusual.

"Winter break was fun. I spent most of it playing with Reiner. I learned how to ride a bike, and I'm thinking about getting a license."

"Is that so..."

Mio continued to stare out the window, only giving a brief acknowledgment.

Another silence fell between them.

It felt as if he were conversing with Illia, where the connection was severed.

"How was your family, Mio?"

He asked, but she wouldn’t even glance his way. Anxiety began to creep in.

"Hey, Mio. What’s wrong? You seem down... Are you sick?"

As he continued to question her, Mio responded without looking at him.

"Shut up. Just leave me alone."

Kiyoaki was taken aback. He had been with Mio since they were twelve, but he had never seen her like this.

"Ah... um... yeah. Are you just lost in thought? If so, I won’t disturb you..."

At a loss for words, he sat next to her and attended the class. Throughout the lecture, Mio was focused on the blackboard and never once glanced in Kiyoaki's direction.

After the lecture, he tried to speak to Mio again as she put her notebook away.

"Want to have lunch together? I’d like to hear how your uncle and aunt are doing. Is your little brother doing well?"

But even when he brought up her foster parents, Mio didn’t even return his gaze.

"I’m not hungry."

She said bluntly, quickly getting up from her chair.

"Mio, wait, why...?"

Kiyoaki called after her, but she left the classroom without looking back.

"................"

Kiyoaki could only stare blankly into the emptiness. He wondered if he had done something wrong to her, but he hadn’t said anything to upset her.

Mio’s personality had suddenly changed.

Something must have happened on Crossnodal Island when she visited her foster parents during the winter break. That was the only explanation. But what kind of event could have changed her so drastically?

"Must be that time of the month."

In the afternoon, while watching the mock aerial battle overhead, Reiner replied.

Kiyoaki returned a vague smile.

"But it felt more serious than that."

"It’s a serious one. Just let it be."

At an altitude of five hundred meters, four Gray Foxes were engaged in a fierce battle. As expected from a clash of top-ranking students, the excitement was several notches above previous encounters. All the students in the aviation department lined up next to the runway, holding their breath, as two blue aircraft, "Lance," overwhelmed two silver aircraft, "Arrow."

"Kagura and Illia are teamed up. That’s unfair. They’re so strong."

The two "Lance" aircraft belonged to Illia and Kagura. With the first and third place pilots teaming up, they were a force no ordinary pair could contend with. In no time, the two "Arrow" aircraft were marked with red paint, signalling their defeat.

"Illia is being protected by Kagura, the point getter. If that’s how they fight, I can’t see us winning."

Reiner was more engrossed in the mock aerial battle than in Mio’s situation, not giving Kiyoaki much attention. Beyond the fence separating the runway from the outside world, younger female students gathered, cheering loudly for Kagura and Illia’s impressive performance.

"I wish I could be that popular. I wonder why I don’t have any fans..."

Realizing he had chosen the wrong person to confide in, Kiyoaki sighed and looked up at the blue sky. The sight of Kagura and Illia returning to the airfield, wings aligned, was quite majestic.

"More pair aerial battles are increasing. Is that the trend nowadays? Is one-on-one battles going out of style?"

As Reiner mentioned, as the mock aerial combat progressed, one-on-one encounters decreased, and two-on-two formations increased. It was said that in the battles of the Multi-Island sea, three-aircraft formations were being promoted. The match against Illia could also potentially turn into a two-on-two situation instead of a one-on-one.

"While worrying about others, you should think about your own grades. The results of this will determine your future. If you want to continue being an aviator, you have to beat Illia here."

"...Yeah, I know..."

From here on, Kiyoaki would be facing opponents of equal skill. It wasn’t a situation where he could afford to be complacent. Just as Reiner had said, this was an essential skills test that would shape their future. He decided to wait a while before approaching Mio again, as Cecil suggested.

But──.

"What happened to Mio? She hasn’t come here lately."

The abnormal situation continued for another week, and even Balthazar began to worry.

At 10:30 PM, the other five gathered in the Seven’s exclusive officer room, exchanging dark looks.

"I’ll make it clear that I’m not worried about Mio. However, if some foolish person has angered her with light words, then you should apologize immediately."

Balthazar said, looking directly at Reiner.

"Why are you looking at me? I haven’t done anything! We’re in trouble because we don’t know the cause."

"Have you thrown any crude remarks? Your usual language is sexual harassment for any decent woman. Reflect on your behaviour."

"How can you say that with certainty? It wasn’t me! You’re the one treating Mio like a maid!"

"I didn’t treat her like that; I merely issued orders. What’s wrong with a candidate officer giving commands to their subordinates?"

"That’s called treating her like a maid in common society!"

"That aside. It’s probably not just the two of you at fault. There’s something deeper."

Kagura interrupted the two, and the room fell silent again. Cecil sighed.

"Even Aki-chan doesn’t know the cause? That’s quite serious. Mio used to be so bright and cheerful, but now she’s completely changed..."

"...The cause probably isn’t us. Something must have happened at home. She may want to avoid us, or maybe she can’t... That could be it."

In response to Kagura's guess, Cecil tilted her head.

"At home...? Is it about her diplomat parents? I heard Mio has eight siblings, all adopted, right? I’ve heard that all of them, including Mio, are incredibly gifted..."

Balthazar leaned back deeply into the sofa, staring at the ceiling.

"Does a diplomat really adopt eight children? What for?"

Cecil turned a worried face towards Kiyoaki, who answered in her stead.

"It seems that they either have acquaintances request them, do volunteer work, or take in talented children who can't continue their studies due to family circumstances. It’s a wealthy and lively household."

"What are the nationalities of the adopted children? Do they share the same skin colour?"

"…The nationalities include people from Akitsu, Hydrabard, and small countries from the Vestelant continent. The skin colours also vary depending on their places of origin."

"Why was Mio taken in by that family?"

"I heard she was taken in after her parents died in the war, but… I don’t really know the details. It feels bad to pry..."

After this exchange, Balthazar thought for a moment and posed a strange question.

"Is Fio kept by the family?"

Everyone exchanged puzzled glances, not understanding the intent behind the question.

"Fio is closest to Mio, but it’s the family that keeps her. The food is given by the servants, parents, and siblings."

"Were there multiple birds of the same type as Fio kept at home?"

Balthazar continued to ask strange questions for some reason. Kiyoaki recalled Mio's family from when they were on Messus Island.

"...Yes, there were. I didn’t count, but it might have been five or six... maybe even more. I think they were close to her parents and siblings."

"Does Fio have a mate?"

"Yes. A female mate was at Mio’s home."

With a furrowed brow, Balthazar stared intently into space. Kiyoaki felt a bit uneasy and asked in return.

"...What’s it to you, Captain? We’re talking about Mio, so why are you concerned about Fio?"

Balthazar didn’t respond. After a long time lost in thought, he finally spoke.

"...In my mind, the puzzle pieces are coming together. However… the picture that emerges feels very theatrical. It’s not something to be conveyed verbally with sincerity. But if my deduction is correct, I can say this."

After a dramatic pause, Balthazar locked eyes with Kiyoaki.

"Mio will likely sever all ties with us forever."

Kiyoaki’s heart skipped a beat.

"...What?"

"There’s no chance she’ll appear in this officer room again, and once she graduates, she will completely cut ties with us. Being praised as one of the 'Seven of Eriadore' is nothing but a burden for Mio."

Kiyoaki felt a surge of anger at Balthazar’s words, which seemed to see through everything.

"W-what are you talking about?! On what basis are you saying that?!"

"It’s my deduction."

"That’s just… there’s no way Mio would do that!"

"I hope I’m wrong. I wish for things to remain unchanged. Losing my familiar coffee maker would be quite inconvenient."

"W-who is this coffee maker you’re talking about...?!"

Before the conversation could veer off course, Kagura intervened.

"Balthazar, what’s the basis for that claim? It can’t be…?"

"You understand, don't you, Kagura? The true nature of the diplomat profession. Eight adopted children, gathered from around the world, all exceptional and of different skin colours. The uniqueness of the bird named Fio. If you analyze these elements, you can deduce the cause of Mio's sudden change."

As the points of deduction were laid out, Kagura's eyes widened. Rarely expressive, Kagura couldn't hide her surprise.

"However, that can't be the case..."

"Wait, what is it, Captain? I have no idea what you're talking about..."

Cecil leaned forward, but Balthazar stood up from the sofa with a look of annoyance.

"It's just a guessing game; proof is impossible at this point. Mio is currently lacking mental stability, but there's a chance she could return to normal tomorrow. That's all. I can't keep playing around. I'm going to study. Cecil, make some coffee. A strong black, please."

"I refuse. Just tell me the answer."

"Are you defying my orders?"

"Captain, you're not my superior. You have no authority to order me around."

Cecil closed her eyes with a composed expression, remaining seated on the sofa. Balthazar looked down at his junior with a scowl.

"As expected, substitutes are useless. You're several steps inferior to those I'm familiar with."

"I'm not a substitute or anything."

"Sakagami, you make it."

"Please take back what you said about calling Mio a coffee maker."

"Kagura, you give it a try."

"If Balthazar makes pancakes for me, I'd gladly do it."

"Illia, do you know how to make it?"

"........................"

"Fine, I'll make it."

Balthazar sighed and entered the kitchen, starting to boil water himself. With meticulous hands, he folded the filter and set it perfectly in the dripper.

"Balthazar, make one for me too."

"Please make one for me as well."

"Be quiet."

Reiner pouted and asked,

"Captain, why don’t you ask me to do it?"

"I don't want to drink coffee made by you."

"That's harsh. It's exquisite..."

While Reiner sulked beside him, Illia, who hadn’t spoken a word since the discussion started, suddenly said,

"I... was apologized to by Mio last night."

All eyes turned to Illia. She continued slowly.

"In our dorm room. Mio is in the lower bunk of the same bunk bed... I heard her struggling to breathe at night, so I thought she might be unwell. I got down to check on her. At that moment..."

Illia paused, thought for a moment, and continued.

"I think Mio was crying... She noticed I had gotten down and was suppressing her sobs. I asked if she was feeling unwell, but she didn't respond. She seemed like she didn't want me to say anything, so I went back to my upper bunk... After a while, she called out from the lower bunk, saying 'I'm sorry.'"

Illia clumsily wove her words together and then closed her eyes.

"Was Mio crying? Alone?"

"Yeah. It was dark, so I couldn't see, but probably."

"...What does that mean? I don't understand. If something sad happened, why didn't she tell me anything?"

Kagura added her words.

"...There must be circumstances she can't talk about. I don't know what they are, but what we should do isn't to press her for answers. We should treat her as we normally do and wait for her to open up again. That's all."

A heavy atmosphere filled the officer's room. Just a little while ago, the seven of them had been cheerful with Mio at the centre, but now it felt as cold as a mountain cabin without a stove.

──Mio, why...?

The anxiety continued to burn in Kiyoaki's chest.

February──.

Mio still continued to shut herself off, while on the other hand, the mock aerial combat race was finally approaching its final battle. With graduation just a month away, the fourth-year students were showing fierce competition, and Kiyoaki had finally climbed to second place, surpassing Kagura and Balthazar. First place was Illia, third was Balthazar, and fourth was Kagura. The final battle was planned to be a one-on-one between Kiyoaki and Illia, considering the public excitement, but then the naval air force intervened.

It was stated that the naval air force was no longer promoting one-on-one aerial combat and encouraged three-plane formations instead. Therefore, in the final battle, they would conduct a three-on-three formation battle, hoping to convey to the public and military the new era of aerial combat.

As for the confrontation between Kiyoaki and Illia, curiosity from the citizens of both the Akitsu Federation and the St Vault Empire extended beyond the academy, and the military wanted to use this content effectively to boost morale and increase enlistment. The academy leaders could not defy these intentions, and they decided to divide into Arrow, led by Illia, and Lance, led by Kiyoaki, to conduct the final battle, with the winner being crowned the champion of the mock aerial combat race.

The assignments were as follows.

"Hey Kiyoaki, tough luck. Your victory is gone. After all, I'm here."

Reiner, who was in the same formation, grinned and threw an arm around Kiyoaki.

"We're going to win, Kiyoaki-kun. Starting now, we're having a strategy meeting, and we won't lose for sure!"

Kagura, too, declared with determination, promising victory in the final battle.

The Lance group consisted of Kiyoaki, Reiner, and Kagura. On the other hand, the Arrow group led by Illia...

“Ilia, Balthazar, and Obando… they’re strong.”

Kagura groaned as she looked at the team formation displayed on the bulletin board in front of the control tower.

Obando Ezmo was a fourth-year student who struggled with academics but excelled in aerial combat. He was currently ranked fifth. Kiyoaki had managed to win against him in a match, but it was clear that he possessed considerable talent. On the ground, he was known for his boisterous personality, often leading a large group of underclassmen in wild revelry at the clubhouse during weekends.

“This means the captain will definitely come up with a strategy… I’m sure he’ll study our weaknesses and devise detailed tactics. We need to think ahead as well.”

As Kiyoaki discussed this with Kagura, Obando approached them with a towering figure over 190 centimetres tall, his spiky blonde hair and tanned skin radiating confidence as he stood in front of Kagura.

“Kagura, marry me.”

“Where is this coming from, Obando?”

“This is conditional on our Arrow team winning this match. What do you say?”

“If I had a sword right now, I would cut you down.”

“If we graduate like this, we’ll be separated. Aren’t you sad about that?”

“I won’t particularly miss parting from you.”

“I’m sad, Kagura. So if our Arrow team wins this battle, let’s get married.”

“That’s not a fair exchange. What’s the benefit if the Lance team wins?”

“I’ll be your slave. You can do whatever you want with me.”

“No thanks.”

“Then how about this guy, and this guy too, as your slaves?”

Obando flashed a broad, carefree smile, putting his arms around Kiyoaki and Reiner.

“I understand now that your synapses are made of muscle fibres, Obando. I look forward to the showdown. I’ll shoot your withered brain first.”

As Kagura said this with a clever smile, Obando beamed even brighter.

“Oh, you’ll agree to it? If I win, we’re getting married. I’ll make sure you wear a transparent wedding dress!”

With a triumphant fist pump, Obando dashed back to his group. Cheers erupted among the crowd, and in the centre, Obando joyfully reported something in a loud voice, while underclassmen began chanting “Marriage! Marriage!” at their teary-eyed senior.

“...Kagura, when did you agree to this?” Reiner asked, looking at Kagura’s back.

“I… don’t remember agreeing to anything…”

Kagura turned around, looking puzzled.

“What’s this transparent wedding dress thing?”

“Not that! What was that just now?”

“I don’t really know, but it seems that if we lose, Kagura will have to marry that muscle-bound guy.”

“That’s why I didn’t agree!”

“Perhaps that muscle-headed guy can’t understand human language. This is going to be a problem. Don’t worry, if we lose, I’ll accompany you on the run.”

“No, I told you I didn’t agree… What was that?”

Kagura gazed at Obando being lifted into the air, feeling at a loss, while Kiyoaki turned to her with a serious expression.

“Let’s win, Kagura. Obando is strong in aerial combat, and I’m starting to feel a heavy responsibility…”

“Yeah, let’s win. But wait, even if we lose, I’m not marrying him! I never agreed to that!”

While Kagura, unusually flustered, was distracted, the excitement surrounding Obando continued to grow. Eventually, even the newspaper reporters, noticing the commotion, rushed over to ask Obando what was happening. Kiyoaki could only watch, realizing that another reason to absolutely not lose had been added to the already pressing match against Illia…

Part 15 (Part 7 of Volume 2) The morning of the decisive battle was a refreshing winter day.

Waking up as usual, Kiyoaki washed his face, got dressed, and headed to the cafeteria. Along the way, he looked for Mio.

He hadn’t spoken with Mio for a while. Being able to face Illia today was thanks to Mio’s advice. So he wanted to at least thank her before the results were in.

However, the cafeteria was packed with over two thousand students, making it a daunting task to find her. After asking friends about her whereabouts and wandering the campus, he finally spotted Mio alone on a bench by the side of the ground, stuffing a sandwich into her mouth.

“Mio, you were here! I’ve been looking for you.”

As he spoke, Mio flinched and straightened her back. She resembled a frightened kitten.

“...What is it?”

Even under the clear blue sky, the colour had drained from Mio’s eyes. The once vibrant hues seemed to have turned into a flat board, unable to meet Kiyoaki’s gaze.

“Can I sit next to you?”

He asked, but there was no response. Mio only stared down at the ground. Without waiting for her permission, Kiyoaki sat down beside her.

“It’s not cold here, is it?”

His voice turned to white steam in the frosty February air.

Mio, holding the half-eaten sandwich, kept her head down.

“Today, I’m going to battle Illia. Reiner, Kagura, and I are teamed up against Illia, the captain, and Obando. The winner becomes champion.”

“...Is that so?”

“I couldn’t do it at all before, but I’ve gotten better. It’s thanks to you, Mio. You gave me advice when we watched that movie, right? Because of that, I can hit enemy planes now.”

“...Um, I’m busy.”

Mio said in a hoarse voice, trying to get up and leave. Kiyoaki instinctively stood up and placed his hands on her shoulders as she turned away.

“...!”

Mio stiffened and looked away. Kiyoaki, surprised by his own actions, still didn’t let go of her shoulders.

“Mio, why are you running away?”

Mio lowered her head, hiding her expression behind her hair. She looked like a child caught misbehaving by a teacher, frozen in place. Though he couldn’t see her face, he sensed that it was twisted with sadness. He understood that much.

Frustration turned into heartache.

“What happened at home? Is it something you can’t tell me?”

“...Let go.”

“Tell me the reason. Why are you avoiding everyone?”

Mio’s lips, barely visible through her hair, were tightly pressed together. It was a gesture he had never seen from her before.

“...I told you to let go, didn’t I!?”

Raising her voice, Mio twisted away like a cornered cat, trying to escape Kiyoaki’s grip.

An intense surge of emotion welled up inside Kiyoaki. Whether it was anger, sadness, or frustration, he didn’t know, but something hot surged through his arms.

He wrapped his right hand around her back, using his left hand to hold the nape of her neck.

The sweet scent of Mio’s hair filled Kiyoaki’s nostrils.

“...!”

Kiyoaki felt Mio's surprise up close.

"Don't run away."

He quietly said, still holding her. Mio's warmth and heartbeat transmitted directly to Kiyoaki's chest.

He could feel his own heartbeat quickening. The scent of Mio, her softness, transformed into something painful yet strong within him.

A cold wind blew. Apart from Mio's heartbeat, all sound faded. It felt as if the world had stopped for just the two of them.

"When I'm about to shoot the enemy, I think of you."

Normally, he wouldn't say such embarrassing things, but the words slipped out.

"After I line up the enemy plane in my sights, I imagine that I must protect you, I see your face. That way, I can shoot without hesitation."

He tangled his fingers in Mio's silky hair.

"If you're with me, I can take them down."

Mio's forehead pressed against Kiyoaki's shoulder.

"If you're not there, I can't fight."

He noticed that Mio was trembling. A half-eaten sandwich fell to the ground, and her slender hands rested against Kiyoaki's chest. It felt like she was either trying to push him away or seeking support.

Thoughts bubbling up from deep within him turned into words.

"Don't bear it all alone. Tell me anything. I’ll do whatever it takes."

Even if it means killing or committing acts of violence.

"I can do anything for you."

He could even burn this world to the ground for her.

Mio was sobbing. The sound of her suppressed cries brushed against Kiyoaki’s ears like a sad caress.

"Why are you crying? I don't understand."

"Forget it."

Mio replied in a voice he had never heard before, hoarse and rough.

"It’s a lie. Everything I've told you until now has been a lie. I'm a liar."

Her words lacked conviction. They were just a jumble of airy sounds. It was clear that this wasn’t her true feeling. What came through was the pain she was currently carrying.

Frustration turned into heartache.

"Mio, it's okay. You don’t have to talk. But please stop avoiding me. When you run away, it truly makes me feel sad."

He tightened his grip. The more he did, the more strength Mio put into her hands resting on his chest. She was trying to pull away.

"Please, just leave me alone. Let me be. I’m begging you."

Her voice was drenched with tears, impossible to hide. She twisted her body, trying to turn away from Kiyoaki and escape.

Seeing Mio like this was too painful, too unbearable, and Kiyoaki finally released his hands. After stumbling slightly, Mio lifted her face but turned her back, running away without looking back.

"Mio...!"

He called her name. But her beautiful, proud back only moved further away. It felt as if his heart was shattering into pieces. He couldn’t find the words to call her back.

"Mio..."

He could only call her name. As her figure disappeared, Kiyoaki was left alone in the winter-barren ground, standing frozen.

For Kiyoaki, who had lost his family and hometown, Mio was family and the place to return to. Because she was there, he could avoid despairing over life. If he lost her now, he would have nowhere to stand.

"…Why…"

He wanted to know at least the reason. Something he couldn’t understand that had changed the bright, cheerful Mio—who valued the bonds of friendship more than anyone else—into this. He wanted to uncover what it was, remove it from Mio’s life, and see her smile again.

The celebratory cannon announcing the start of the festival echoed in the sky. The mock aerial battle would begin soon.

He would report his victory to Mio. Perhaps that would revive her wilted spirit. If he won against Illia and the others and could proudly say it was thanks to her, she might smile again…

The combat airspace was devoid of clouds or wind, with nothing but an endless blue sky. The training airfield was bustling from early morning with a large crowd of students, tourists, reporters, and island residents, creating a festival atmosphere.

Carrying the weight of dark feelings, Kiyoaki arrived at the control tower by the runway. Upon seeing the figure of Masaharu Sakagami, the only son of the prominent family, cheers erupted from the audience of St Vault people gathered beyond the fence. Even though a military alliance existed, there were still many St Vault citizens who disliked the Akitsu people, and about nine-tenths of the tourists and media were supporting Illia's group.

While he was bombarded with hateful slurs and curses, the image of Mio from earlier still lingered in his mind, refusing to leave. Words that belittled Kiyoaki himself paled in comparison to the hurt caused by the current state of Mio.

“You're quite popular, huh?”

Kagura, with her usual calm smile, greeted him. Though she was also from Akitsu, it was strange that she wasn’t subject to any jeers. Her cool and elegant demeanour seemed to pre-emptively shut down any dirty words. It was as if she had an invisible filter against discrimination surrounding her.

“I’m not bothered. Let’s definitely win.”

Kiyoaki forced a brave smile.

“If we win, we might get killed! Let’s just lose already.”

Reiner joked beside him. Kagura shot a stern look at Reiner, who had let his humour slip.

“Don’t hold back. Give it your all.”

She said with a serious tone. Reiner quickly wiped the smile off his face.

“Yeah, I know. Just joking. I’ll take it seriously... within my limits.”

Stepping back a couple of paces, he managed to evade Kagura's glare. Kagura snorted and turned to Kiyoaki.

“By the way, I heard the Holy Knight Akmed is here to observe. He’s your mentor, right? Aren’t you going to greet him?”

“I’d like to, but since he’s a celebrity... it’s not like I can just ask to meet him. I’m not sure he even remembers me.”

“Since he went out of his way to come and watch the mock aerial battle, he must have some interest. Although he might have other undisclosed reasons as well.”

“I don’t know. But I definitely don’t want to lose in front of my mentor, so I’ll do my best.”

“Alright, let’s find a quiet place to devise a strategy. With Balthazar on the opposing side, he’s sure to target our weaknesses, so we need to prepare.”

Guided by Kagura, Kiyoaki and Reiner walked to an empty hangar to hold their strategy meeting.

“I don’t want to create a complex plan. Let’s keep it as simple as possible. There are two key points we need to decide on: the order of attacks and role assignments.”

Kagura stated decisively.

“The attack order will be Obando first, then Balthazar, and lastly Illia. We will always act as three together, maintaining numerical superiority to take down one enemy at a time. Taking down the target will be Kiyoaki’s job. Reiner and I will focus on protecting you. This is our only chance to win.”

“That makes sense. We’ll aim for the weak spots, right? That works for me.”

Reiner agreed, and Kiyoaki also accepted his assigned role without hesitation.

“...Understood. I’d like to finish it with all three of us intact.”

“Yeah. That would be ideal, but the enemy won’t let us have it easy. As long as Reiner or I are alive by the time we reach Illia, that’s a win in itself... but Illia is really the one to watch out for. If she targets either of us, we won’t last long.”

“Kagura, you’re surprisingly quick to give up.”

“I’m frustrated too, but while I’ve trained alongside Illia in swordsmanship, her talent is exceptional. I have to admit there’s a gap in our abilities. To counter her in the air, I can only rely on tactical vision using formation flying.”

Kagura expressed this plainly, without a hint of regret. Kiyoaki admired her attitude; she didn’t cling to her own pride and could compare her abilities with a level-headed perspective.

“Now then... it’s almost time. Let’s go. Should we form a circle before the battle?”

“No need for that. It’ll just be too hot.”

“Is that so? It gets you pumped up.”

“If it’s just you and me, I’d happily form all sorts of formations.”

“Yeah, I’ve lost the desire to do that. Let’s go, Kiyoaki. Use your refreshing strike to take that muscle head down.”

Leaving Reiner behind, Kagura led Kiyoaki toward the waiting area. Reiner followed behind, making excuses. On the airfield, the Gray Foxes lined up in formation, waiting for the start of the final battle. With Mio still on his mind, Kiyoaki heightened his tension as he prepared to confront Illia...

"The troublesome one is Sakagami. If we take him down, Kagura and Reiner won't be an issue."

Inside the control tower, Balthazar was explaining the strategy in the waiting area on the first floor. Obando and Illia sat on pipe chairs, listening to the lecture.

"Sakagami specializes in vertical and horizontal combat. Due to his underdeveloped physique, his tolerance for rapid climbs and descents is mediocre. Additionally, his mental immaturity causes him to hesitate when it comes to shooting down enemies, often taking too long to fire after getting a target in his sights. His piloting skills are exceptional, but both his body and mind are incomplete, leaving him open to attack. We’ll drag him into vertical combat with three of us and take him down when he runs out of stamina. Even if we get behind him, don’t give up; keep swaying left and right. Don’t shoot unless it’s Illia."

Balthazar stated this while looking directly at Obando. Obando shrugged.

"Since when did you become the squad leader?"

"Considering overall abilities, I'm the best at planning strategies."

"The squad leader is Illia, isn’t it? Is Illia okay with this?"

Illia answered quietly.

"I have no objections. However, I suggest not underestimating Kagura and Reiner."

Balthazar coldly replied, "Kagura is excellent in combat motivation and shooting, but her piloting skills aren't that great. Reiner is good at dodging attacks and targeting unsuspecting enemies, but he’s easily discouraged and gives up quickly if he gets flanked. If we know their tactics in advance, they won’t be a problem."

Illia nodded, seeming to share Balthazar's view.

But...

"...Reiner is good. Very good."

She stated cautiously. Balthazar and Obando looked puzzled.

"It’s rare for you to say that. He doesn’t seem that impressive to me."

"Occasionally... he shows exceptional skills at crucial moments. I think it’s accidental, but... we should be wary."

"Now that you mention it, your only loss was to Reiner, right? How did you lose?"

"...He hit my right wing with a stray bullet from a considerable distance. It was probably a fluke..."

"How far is considerable?"

"Approximately three hundred meters away by estimation. Normally, you wouldn’t hit from that distance."

"That’s quite a coincidence. If he aimed and hit, that’s beyond human capability."

"...Yes, I think so too."

"Undervaluing the enemy is foolish, but overestimating them can also affect morale. If Reiner pursues, we can deal with him. Our primary target is Sakagami. If the three of us pressure him, we can definitely win."

"...Yes. I have no objections."

"You’re good too. Don’t act on your own."

"Okay, boss."

Obando saluted with a joking expression, avoiding eye contact. After looking down at him disapprovingly, Balthazar urged them on.

"Let’s go. This battle will impact our careers in the military. It’s attracting a lot of public attention. Everyone, give it your all."

"Yes!"

Illia followed Balthazar, with a somewhat bitter-looking Obando trailing behind. The three Gray Foxes of the Arrow team lined up, gleaming in the morning sun as they awaited the start of the final battle.

On the tail fins of the three aircraft were large numbers: "1," "2," and "3." Illia stepped onto the wing of the aircraft marked "1" and climbed into the familiar cockpit. She checked the instruments and received status reports from the maintenance crew about various equipment, confirming the functionality of the three control surfaces.

When she started the engine, white smoke rose from the exhaust. Boost, exhaust temperature, fuel pressure, oil pressure, and oil temperature—all were normal. She throttled back the engine, extended one hand through the canopy, and signalled the maintenance crew to remove the wheel chocks.

The take-off was to be done as a formation. Looking left and right, Balthazar was to her right, and Obando was to her left, also signalling to remove their chocks. She turned on the communication equipment and spoke for a functional check.

"Arrow 1, no issues." "Arrow 2, no issues." "Arrow 3, no issues."

Illia, Balthazar, and Obando confirmed that there were no problems in order. The voice of the controller came through the speaker.

"Arrow formation, move to take-off position."

"Understood."

As Illia opened the throttle slowly, the Arrow formation began to advance, forming a triangle with her at the apex. When she glanced back, she saw the Lance formation led by Reiner also starting to taxi on the ground. There must be four or five thousand spectators gathered beyond the airport fence. Excitement buzzed in the air as they awaited the long-anticipated aerial battle, with loud cheers and whistling mingling with the roar of the propellers.

With a calm heart, Illia gazed at the infinite blue spread out beyond the windscreen.

—I will definitely win, Father.

That thought alone propelled her forward into the sky.

"Arrow formation, take-off approved."

The speaker crackled to life. As they throttled up, all three aircraft surged forward together. Illia called out crisply, "Take-off!"

She pulled back on the control stick. The sound of tires scraping against the ground echoed once, and then the wings tore through gravity.

Sunlight poured into the cockpit. Bathed in golden light, Illia observed the battlefield ahead.

Far below, the Lance formation was also ready for take-off. The lead aircraft would ascend while waiting for the others to follow. The three planes tilted their wings in unison, gracefully drawing a large circle in the sky like hawks.

—Sakagami, let’s settle this.

Illia’s gaze sharpened, transforming into that of a fierce predator.

By defeating Kiyoaki, she hoped to at least deliver some relief to her father. Though the lost right arm could never return, she wanted to proudly report that the blood of the "King of the Skies" ran through her veins. To do that, she must win.

As the Arrow formation circled above, Kiyoaki entered full throttle for take-off. Kagura and Reiner followed closely on either side. After witnessing the splendid take-off of Illia’s formation, Kiyoaki naturally felt a surge of determination.

Feeling the lift accumulating in the aircraft through the control stick, Kiyoaki commanded, "Take-off!"

He pulled back on the stick. The lift broke through gravity, and the wings soared into the sky like returning home.

The ground fell away beneath him. Cameras from news outlets, noisy spectators, and the mixed cacophony of worries shrank into the distance below.

Outside the windscreen, the blue of February enveloped them. Pure and transparent, the blue sky sparkled as if the colour itself radiated light.

—This is where I live.

Kiyoaki's insides filled with excitement for the battle about to begin and the joy of piloting through the skies.

—I love the sky more than anyone.

In that regard, he didn't want to lose to anyone.

—Not even Illia.

Reaching an altitude of two thousand meters, he levelled the aircraft and began a left turn. A thousand meters away, Illia's formation was also turning in the same direction.

The frozen sky was clear, with visibility extending to the ring of clouds about thirty thousand meters away. Today’s weather was perfect for a pure battle of skill, free from obstructions.

Kiyoaki focused on the three-silver aircraft in the distance.

The moment these three planes, currently visible ahead, cut off his wing and dropped behind, the battle would begin.

Gradually, slowly, the Arrow formation approached Kiyoaki's wingtip. The undeniable connection between the fathers, both called the "King of the Skies"—the weight of that legacy caused a shiver to run through him, dampening his grip on the control stick.

After nearly twenty years, this moment marked a rematch between their children. The outcome of the battle would be rapidly reported to both the citizens of St Vault and the Akitsu Federation, bringing joy to one side and despair to the other.

Due to regulations, they couldn't communicate with the enemy formation via radio, but if they could, what words would Kiyoaki say to Illia?

It wouldn’t be hollow words of comfort, sympathy, or familiarity.

If Illia were right in front of him, he would surely say this.

"You will fall."

That was the message meant for the warrior of the skies.

The moment Illia cut the wings, Kiyoaki transformed into a hawk, commanding his squadron, "Let's go!"

He swiftly pushed the control stick forward, charging straight for the Arrow formation.

The silhouettes of Illia's squadron loomed closer by the second.

A battle they could not afford to lose had begun.

Part 16 He kept his eyes on the enemy's tail. According to the posted formation, Arrow 1 was Illia, Arrow 2 was Balthazar, and Arrow 3 was Obando.

Spotting the aircraft marked with a "3," Kiyoaki shouted into the mic.

"Obando is on the right; we'll take him down first!"

Following the prior briefing, he pivoted to face their first target.

The Arrow formation, agile as ever, tilted its aircraft and charged straight at them. Leading the pack was, of course, Illia.

Kiyoaki banked sharply to the left, raising his nose. They were both trying to draw smaller circles than the opponent, attempting to close the distance with as tight a left turn as possible.

The enemy Arrow formation moved up towards his windscreen. Kiyoaki looked up at the approaching enemy planes. To his sides, Kagura and Reiner closely flanked him, ready to protect. The enemy also appeared to enter a horizontal turn—at least that’s what he thought.

"The enemy is losing altitude. They're trying to bring it vertical!"

Kagura relayed through the speaker. The enemy was rotating horizontally while subtly dropping in height. The previously horizontal ring gradually tilted, and then it looked as if it would stand vertically. This was likely Balthazar's strategy, having identified their vertical turn as a weakness.

"It'll be a G-force contest. Mental strength will decide the outcome; do not lose!"

"Understood!"

Kiyoaki responded to Kagura’s urgent tone.

"Especially you, Reiner! Don’t give up easily!"

"Why am I being singled out?!"

Listening to the exchanges over the speaker, Kiyoaki glared at the top of the windscreen. Flying at high speed in three-dimensional space made it difficult to sense up and down. Beyond the windscreen, the land seemed to descend from the sky, creating a bizarre view.

On the fourth rotation, the turn completely transitioned to vertical. The Arrow and Lance formations continued to chase each other's tails, rolling through the air.

With each dive, air was sucked from his lungs, and with each ascent, his weight bore down on him like a rock.

Negative Gs and positive Gs slammed against his body with both fists. If he relaxed even for a moment, his consciousness would be swept away entirely; the heavens above and the earth below intertwined in a hell of gravity and inertia. Yet both formations tore through that hell, breaking free.

Kiyoaki bent his neck back as far as possible, glaring at Illia above him. The sky and ground alternated, descending in a dizzying array around Illia. No matter how painful it became, he would never take his eyes off her. Breathless, he held his breath, the crushing weight of inertia pounding at him relentlessly. But those who succumbed to this agony would fall behind. To win in aerial combat, one must endure, endure, and endure again.

—I will never lose. I will not lose. I will not lose...

Holding onto that singular thought. Clinging tightly and not letting go. No matter how much the plus Gs battered his lungs or how the minus Gs threatened to pull his soul away, he kept his gaze fixed on Illia above.

Ilia was struggling too. Balthazar and Obando were surely gritting their teeth, both their eyes reddened as they endured the hell of gravity and inertia. The pain felt by everyone in this cockpit was equally felt by all engaged in the aerial battle. There was no way he would be the first to give in.

The clash of wills continued, keeping their vertical dance alive.

As they danced, the two formations began to unravel.

What had once been a perfect triangle at the start of the battle now morphed into a distorted shape over time.

The differences in the stamina and mental strength of each pilot were becoming evident in their formations. The least experienced were being pushed out of the dance.

—Obando is falling behind...!

Kiyoaki could see Obando in the right wing of the Arrow formation gradually slipping from the upper part of the windscreen to the front. Frustrated with the agony of continuing to fly in circles, he was likely opting for another manoeuvre. Though he had the best stamina among the six, his mental state was faltering. During aerial combat, the brain often lacks the oxygen needed for normal functioning, leading to unexpected actions. Regardless of the reason, this crack was a stroke of luck.

Kiyoaki aimed his nose toward Obando. Against the rapidly shifting sky and ground, the silhouette of the faltering aircraft began to fit into his sights.

Closing in to the point of guaranteed hits.

Obando noticed and hurriedly turned his controls to the side. The Arrow formation began to break apart dramatically, with Illia and Balthazar flipping vertically, while Obando fled horizontally. The Lance formation, sticking to their original plan, closed in on Obando's tail, pulling him into a horizontal chase.

Chasing Obando at full speed, Kiyoaki also pushed his throttle wide open. The windscreen rattled.

He was concerned about Illia, but there was no time to glance her way. Trusting that Kagura and Reiner would protect him, he focused all his attention ahead.

He locked onto the struggling silhouette of Obando.

With all emotions set aside, he placed his finger on the trigger.

Like a ritual, Kiyoaki superimposed Mio's smiling face over the enemy aircraft.

An irreplaceable smile he never wanted to lose.

To ensure that people like his parents and sister never had to face Mio.

—I will take down the enemy.

He pulled the trigger without hesitation.

The specialized round shot through the air, leaving a white trail as it lunged toward Obando.

He watched as red splashes erupted on the "3" tail.

"Arrow 3, shot down. Leave the airspace."

The announcement from the monitoring instructor's aircraft echoed through the speakers.

In that moment of relief—

"Kiyoaki, up!!"

Kagura's shout struck his ears.

He looked up.

Suddenly, a hawk was diving down, backlit by the sun.

"Illia!!"

—There’s no way to avoid it…!!

The moment when he would be most defenceless was targeted. Kiyoaki had completely exposed the upper surface of his aircraft to Illia. From her perspective, the target was large, and he couldn't shoot back. It was a beautifully executed, precise attack by Illia.

He tried to tilt his aircraft desperately, but Illia was faster.

—This is how I lose...!!

In that moment of regret, a shadow intruded between Kiyoaki and Illia.

From the corner of his right eye, he spotted the "2" on the tail.

"Kagura!!"

As soon as he shouted, red splashes scattered in the air, and Illia descended past Kiyoaki's aircraft.

"Arrow 2, shot down. Leave the airspace."

Looking down at Illia shrinking toward the ground, Kiyoaki heard the merciless voice of the instructor.

"Kagura..."

"I'm sorry, this is it. Win, Kiyoaki."

Kagura said this and turned her red-stained aircraft toward the airfield. She had been shot down by Illia, acting as Kiyoaki's shield. His own inadequacy had forced Kagura into this situation. The guilt burned in his throat.

"There's still one left!!"

Kiyoaki snapped back to reality at Reiner's yell.

He glared at the sun. A second hawk was diving down.

It wasn't just Illia. There was a second arrow.

"Ugh...!!"

Clenching his jaw, Kiyoaki flipped his aircraft and began to glide diagonally through the sky. A special round's mark grazed nearby. If Kiyoaki hadn't been yelled at by Reiner, it would have been a direct hit. He quickly scanned the area around the windscreen and saw Balthazar diving toward the ground above him.

—They’re targeting my moment of distraction.

Kiyoaki shivered, realizing Balthazar had picked up on the fact that he was using up energy in the vertical manoeuvre and was solely focused on Illia. After dodging Illia’s attack, Balthazar seized the exact moment Kiyoaki was caught off guard.

—The captain is strong...!

The combination of Illia’s raw strength and Balthazar’s cunning and calmness was truly the worst for any opponent.

Just as Kagura had said, Balthazar should be the next target after Obando. If possible, Kiyoaki wanted to create a situation where he and Reiner could team up against Illia.

"I'm targeting Arrow 2!!"

Kiyoaki announced his target to Reiner and shifted his wings. Though he was still struggling to breathe from the vertical manoeuvres, there was no time for hesitation. Illia and Balthazar were continuing their manoeuvres and fighting as well. To win in aerial combat, he had to push his body, mind, and spirit to their limits.

—Throw everything into this.

Kiyoaki encouraged himself and opened the throttle. More weight pressed on his struggling lungs, causing his body to scream. Yet he didn’t stop pursuing the enemy aircraft.

Noticing he was being pursued, Balthazar dove low. While chasing Balthazar, Kiyoaki glanced back but saw no sign of Illia.

She was probably hiding in a spot out of sight—perhaps directly behind the aircraft. However, he couldn't take his eyes off Balthazar.

Forcing his bloodshot eyes wide open, he glared solely at Balthazar.

Balthazar dropped to an altitude of one hundred fifty meters and switched to level flight. He was likely trying to dodge Kiyoaki's attacks by flying low. Dropping to that altitude required a significant level of skill from the pilot. If he faltered, he could crash to the ground, causing a major accident involving the spectators.

However, this only heightened Kiyoaki's determination. His instincts as a pilot drove him to pursue Balthazar, who was opting for a risky manoeuvre.

"I won't let you escape...!!"

He plunged down and used the momentum to latch onto Balthazar's tail. Balthazar shook his aircraft from side to side in an attempt to flee, but Kiyoaki quickly closed the distance.

—I've taken his tail easily.

There was no way Balthazar, known for his cunning, would resort to such an easy escape.

—It's a trap.

Kiyoaki’s instincts whispered to him. Illia was undoubtedly targeting him from behind. However, he couldn’t ignore Balthazar.

—Even if it’s a trap, I’ll keep pursuing.

—Because I have Reiner.

To break Balthazar’s trap, he had no choice but to rely on his teammates.

With a raspy voice, Reiner strained to speak into the mic.

"Illia...!!"

It was difficult to get that much out. Perhaps Reiner was struggling with the same burdens; there was no response from her. Yet he believed that just those words would convey his intention to Reiner as he concentrated on Balthazar.

The gathered spectators below looked like a colourful mosaic. He flew past them in an instant, with Balthazar slithering away like a sea snake. Kiyoaki did not ease up on his pursuit for even a moment. Veins bulged at his temples as he grit his teeth, locking onto Balthazar.

But then—

"Watch out!!"

Reiner's shout reverberated through the speakers.

At the same time, Kiyoaki kicked the right footbar.

His aircraft slipped sharply to the side, and a barrage of special rounds flooded toward him.

Looking back, he saw Illia, just about to fire another shot aimed at him. In front, Balthazar turned left. He was likely planning to escape in that opening.

—Not if I can help it...!!

Focusing entirely on Balthazar, Kiyoaki tilted the control stick left and lifted the nose, enduring the approaching inertia while calling out to his reliable partner.

"Reiner!!"

"I got it...!!"

As Kiyoaki continued, Illia pursued him from further behind.

Just as Kiyoaki focused on Balthazar, Illia concentrated on him. Reiner, at the back, aimed to take advantage of Illia’s momentary lapse.

—Reiner, take her down...!!

He prayed but had no time to check behind him. The instructor's voice did not come through the speakers. All he could see in the corner of his vision was Illia dodging Reiner's shots with a swift sideways manoeuvre.

Illia was pulling away. Reiner was chasing. Balthazar, pressed by Kiyoaki, fled in the opposite direction from Illia. Kiyoaki entrusted Reiner with dealing with Illia and pursued Balthazar.

The surface of Air Hunt Island disappeared, and in an instant, the view below turned blue. They had reached the sea. A ten-kilometre radius around Air Hunt Island was designated as the combat area; leaving it meant an immediate loss. Balthazar was flying close to the edge of this boundary. If Kiyoaki got too caught up in the chase, he risked leaving the area himself.

—What a sneaky move...!

He had anticipated that he couldn't win against Kiyoaki's skills. It was a cunning but undeniably tricky tactic. After coming this far, he couldn't afford to lose out of bounds.

Balthazar flew enticingly close to the boundary line of the ocean. Above them, an instructor’s large aircraft monitored the mock aerial battle. The moment it was deemed out of bounds, the speakers would sound off. Kiyoaki couldn't pursue below.

He observed Balthazar's piloting. How was he keeping track of the ten-kilometre zone? He made educated guesses based on his flying.

—He’s only making right turns. He has to do that to keep track of the airspace.

—The captain must be judging the approximate distance by the shape of the island.

—Don’t make wide turns. If I stick closely behind, I can win.

There wasn't a clearly marked boundary in the sky. If he strayed too far outside the designated area, the instructor would surely stop him, but they would likely overlook slight deviations. What was essential was not to be shaken by Balthazar's psychological tactics; that was the only thing that mattered.

Determined, Kiyoaki increased his speed.

He closed the distance to Balthazar. At this point, Balthazar finally challenged him to a horizontal manoeuvre. Perhaps he was reading Kiyoaki’s fear of going out of bounds, and he engaged in a dogfight right at the edge of the designated airspace.

—Don’t be afraid.

Without hesitation, Kiyoaki accepted the challenge. If he let the fear of losing out of bounds stop him, Balthazar would gain the upper hand. As long as he turned tighter than the enemy, he couldn’t lose. He should only focus on that; there was no room for other doubts.

—Don’t get heated. Stay calm.

He reminded himself. Balthazar's aim was to provoke his opponent and make them lose their composure. He couldn't fall into that trap.

At an altitude of three hundred meters, they engaged in a low-level horizontal manoeuvre. As the fight continued, their altitude gradually decreased. If he fell too low, he would crash into the sea. But Balthazar was just as afraid. He steeled himself, keeping his eyes locked on the silhouette above him.

Kiyoaki was worried about Illia. However, he had no room to divert his gaze. He believed Reiner was keeping Illia in check, and on the third rotation, Kiyoaki focused the sights on Balthazar.

Current altitude: one hundred fifty meters. It was a dangerously low flight for a candidate. If Balthazar lifted his nose, the upper surface of his aircraft would fill the sights, and that would mean victory for Kiyoaki—but Balthazar continued to fly low. He was trying to shake off Kiyoaki by swerving left and right without fear of crashing into the ocean.

—He's not just cunning. He’s bold and brave...!

Kiyoaki had long understood that he couldn’t measure up to Balthazar in theoretical knowledge, but there was something noteworthy about his piloting skills. The aircraft currently in his sights belonged to someone who would be remembered in history as a great commander or strategist. Holding that thought, Kiyoaki imposed Mio's smiling face over it.

"Arrow 2, shot down. Leave the airspace."

With his tail marked "2" stained bright red, Balthazar effortlessly withdrew from the battlefield. It was as if he were saying he had fulfilled his role.

Kiyoaki turned his gaze back.

—Now, only Illia remains...!

It would be great to battle Illia with Reiner by his side. But where was Illia...?

In an instant, Kiyoaki scanned the entire airspace and spotted them.

High above Air Hunt Island, about three thousand five hundred meters up, two silhouettes were tangled together.

Reiner was desperately fleeing, while Illia relentlessly pursued her.

"Reiner!!"

He shouted, flipping his wings and heading straight for her. But by the time he realized it, victory was already on the line. Illia unleashed a precise shot at Reiner, who struggled to keep her aircraft upright.

"Arrow 3, shot down. Leave the airspace."

As Kiyoaki finally returned to the sky above Air Hunt Island, the speakers sounded off.

"You’ve stuck it out till now; you better be grateful."

Reiner’s nonchalant voice reached him. While he was chasing Balthazar, Reiner had taken on Illia's pursuit as bait. Kiyoaki expressed his gratitude.

"Yeah, thanks, Reiner."

"Win for me. For my score."

"I know. I won’t waste your efforts."

"Stop it. That's too mushy."

Ignoring the teasing tone, Kiyoaki fixed his gaze on Illia, who was soaring toward the zenith.

From here on, it would be a one-on-one fight.

Illia, who had seemed so far out of reach, now spread her wings in the same airspace as Kiyoaki. She was aiming for him.

—Let’s settle this, Illia.

He surrendered to the surging emotions and opened the throttle. Illia, realizing he was coming for her, began to gain altitude.

In aerial combat with aircraft of the same performance, the one at a higher altitude held the advantage. Kiyoaki pulled the control stick back, but since Illia started at a higher position, they would engage with a difference of about five hundred meters in altitude.

The horizontal distance shrank to less than one thousand meters. Current altitude: two thousand two hundred meters. Illia, from about two thousand seven hundred, twisted her aircraft.

A silver silhouette descended diagonally from above like a hawk. With both using the same engine to ascend, there would be a significant energy difference.

—Don’t dodge. Go straight in.

His instincts whispered. Rather than initiating a circular manoeuvre, he wanted to set up a position where they would pass each other.

Illia noticed his intentions. Instantly, she corrected her stance and prepared for a counter manoeuvre.

Kiyoaki clenched his teeth and twisted his aircraft, aiming to ascend toward Illia’s front.

Through the windscreen, he saw Illia descending from directly above.

As if tracing the pre-set rails, the two planes followed the same trajectory. If they were trains, a head-on collision would be unavoidable.

Illia's wings slipped out of the sights.

From those wings, bright red flames erupted.

At the moment he was shot at, Kiyoaki twisted his aircraft.

For an instant, a trail like a bullfighter’s lance pierced the outside.

The sound of the enemy aircraft’s propeller pierced Kiyoaki’s right ear.

Hearing was suddenly taken away, and a flickering light remained in the retina.

In a flash of light and the tail of an explosion, the two aircraft passed each other.

Looking down at the lower part of the aircraft, I saw Illia swiftly ascending, using her momentum. She was drawing a large diagonal trajectory, aiming for my side.

My climbing power was diminishing. The engine of the Gray Fox alone couldn’t sustain its ascent. I flipped the aircraft and started descending towards Illia.

Again, I looked up at Illia and the ocean above the canopy. The longer the air battle dragged on, the more my ability to grasp three-dimensional space weakened. I was confused about which way was up or down; my spatial awareness was in disarray.

Illia’s silhouette grew larger and larger, without allowing me a moment's respite. It’s generally said that women have better G-tolerance than men, and Illia showed no signs of fatigue despite the intense aerial manoeuvres.

— Am I going to lose?

A tremendous negative G-force struck me, as if pulling my spine out. Illia’s aircraft pushed down behind my canopy, and the ocean loomed closer.

I was about to crash into the water.

“Ugh…”

With all my might, I pulled the control stick. The Gray Fox responded as if to a prayer, barely lifting its nose to fly level at 350 meters. I hurriedly looked up, but Illia, who had just been visible, was gone.

— I lost sight of her.

The moment I realized this; I kicked the left foot bar. As my aircraft slid left, Illia’s shots tore through the position I had just occupied. If I had been even a fraction of a second slower, the battle would have been lost.

I looked back. Illia had already positioned herself above and behind me. How did she manage to take her shot? My thoughts couldn’t keep up. But I had to escape.

“Come on.”

Resolutely, I dropped my altitude to 100 meters, the absolute minimum allowed during training. The instructor’s warning came through the speaker.

“Do not drop lower. You risk touching the ocean.”

“Yes!”

I replied, but my focus remained on what was behind me. I wanted to regain altitude and counterattack, if possible, but for now, all I could do was endure. I swayed from side to side, gauging Illia’s shooting timing. Even if she was chasing me, due to both of us flying at high speed, there would be a slight delay before her bullets reached me. In that time, I could kick the foot bars to avoid them, but Illia surely knew this too.

As expected, Illia didn’t shoot right away.

She merely followed me, pretending to shoot.

She was trying to frustrate me, waiting for my stamina to drain.

As I fled at low altitude, I had to constantly glance back at the ocean, which severely drained my stamina and concentration. Illia knew that being chased put far more strain on a pilot than chasing.

— It’s not just about technique. She’s calm and clever...!

I knew this, but actually going head-to-head made me realize Illia’s brilliance anew. In a few years, she could very well stand alongside Akmed and Karnasion as the King of aerial combat in the archipelago.

— But.

I twisted my body as much as I could, enduring the pain while glaring behind me. Illia was closely observing me as she followed from above and behind. If I got flustered and lifted my aircraft, I would be taken down on the spot.

— I won’t give up.

— Shoot me.

If I could read her shooting timing, I could escape this predicament. Until I figured that out, I would endure — and just then, Illia’s wings glimmered.

In that instant, I kicked the right foot bar.

Into the sliding gap, special ammunition streamed forth.

In a split second, Illia’s second shot pierced through the airspace.

I kicked the left foot bar. The bullets grazed by as they passed.

I looked back at Illia. She was closing in, having adjusted her aim to the point where she could shoot accurately. She intended to finish the fight here.

In that moment when her wings shone — I increased my speed and slightly pulled back on the control stick.

Every one of Illia’s arrows passed under my aircraft and plunged into the ocean.

I ascended diagonally to the left. Illia was pursuing, but because I had leaned slightly forward during the shot, her pursuit was delayed just enough.

— I’ve got it!

Excitement surged through every cell in my body. I had captured the timing of Illia’s ascent by mere milliseconds. From here, I could move into a dogfight.

The speaker crackled.

“Five minutes remaining.”

It seemed that fifteen minutes had passed since the air battle began. I was surprised that so much time had flown by, and I turned my wings. I aimed for Illia’s tail, twisting my aircraft.

Ilia also adjusted her position. In a manner reminiscent of fighting dogs, we chased each other’s tails, a dogfight that looked exactly as it should in February’s sky. In a normal fight, we would be flipping through the air repeatedly, but Illia didn’t draw a perfect circle. She aimed for an even smaller turning radius, drawing elliptical aerial manoeuvres in all directions. To keep up, I had to aim for an even smaller radius, creating a bizarre pattern of overlapping ellipses in the blue sky.

“Ugh...”

I endured the pain, straining my eyes to follow the silhouette before me, determined to stay with Illia.

— Don’t let her get away.

This was a level of flight I had never attempted before. Spins, stalls, and aerial disintegration, even crashing into the ground or sea were all possibilities. But if I fled out of fear, I would be shot down the next moment. There was no way to win against Illia without challenging the unknown.

— Stay with Illia.

It felt as if I were being pulled by a stage dancer, stepping into unknown movements during the aerial battle. I used every piloting skill I had, with no time to think.

My body and mind pushed beyond their limits; I squeezed every ounce of oxygen from my cells to keep Illia in my sights.

My thoughts began to falter. My brain function groaned. Perhaps due to oxygen deprivation, the pain began to fade gradually.

At that moment — I suddenly recalled a conversation I had overheard between my parents.

Shortly after my father’s friend’s funeral, a drunken Masaharu had spoken to my mother.

“Unprecedented aerial manoeuvres began to emerge one after another.”

Young Kiyoaki had hidden in the shadows, listening to his father speak of a past duel.

“It felt like I was dancing with Captain Karsten.”

My father, who had never spoken about aerial combat in front of the family, had let that slip just once.

“I wished this moment would never end.”

My father gazed nostalgically out the window and said:

"I understand now that I was born into this world for the duel with Captain Karsten, having left the battlefield."

For a long time, I didn’t grasp the meaning of those words. At that time, I thought my father was deeply intoxicated with grief from losing his best friend, and his words were simply sentimental.

But now…

I’m sure I’m experiencing a fraction of what my father felt during that duel with Illia. A sense that transcends worldly logic understands this.

Enduring the positive Gs, I force my eyes open.

Before I knew it, the pain had transformed from suffering into something else, something almost euphoric, seeping from my heart. My oxygen-deprived brain, gasping for breath, was likely conjuring up images unlike anything normal.

The colour of the sky was different from before.

It was a deep, vibrant blue I had never seen before.

Against that shimmering blue, Illia danced in silver.

It felt as though tiny particles of light were swirling down from around Illia, showering me.

— Illia.

The power that had laid dormant deep within my soul began to rise.

New strength surged into my limbs, which should have been at their most exhausted.

— Let’s dance.

My body, which had been screaming in agony, now craved to pursue Illia.

— There’s something ahead.

— With Illia, I can go even further beyond this airspace.

I opened the throttle.

Beyond that dreamlike blue, into a place…

— A place no one has ever reached before.

Illia, residing in my consciousness, was both a warrior of the skies and an angel.

With her wings spread wide, drawing unseen spirals, she beckoned me to the lofty heights of the sky. The purity and elegance of her dance stirred something that had long been dormant within me, awakening it.

The sentimental words of my father, which I had thought were overly emotional, became understandable beyond the logic of the ground.

— Illia.

It almost brought tears to my eyes.

I wanted to grasp Illia, dancing in the air, and pull her close to my chest.

Together, I wanted us to become one and dance freely in this sky.

Words weren’t necessary. Our flight paths, our spread wings, would convey our true feelings through the air.

— Illia feels the same way.

— Surely, she wishes this moment would never end.

“Right? Illia?”

I knew we couldn't communicate with the enemy aircraft, yet I spoke to the sky.

“Sakagami.”

As she soared high, cutting through the blue, Illia whispered that name.

The burden of deceleration and acceleration faded into thoughts I no longer comprehended. I could no longer perceive suffering as suffering.

A sense of euphoria I had never felt before suddenly emerged in the midst of my duel with Kiyoaki.

My sharpened senses, to the point where I could see the differences in air pressure, grasped everything within the battle airspace.

There was no longer any need to observe the outside through the canopy.

— I know where you are.

It felt as if I were melting into this sky along with the aircraft.

— I can hear your words.

As if I were a breeze, Kiyoaki and I danced freely through the sky.

— I can feel your wings.

My current state was likely influenced by the high altitude and rapid flight, causing effects on my brain function. It was probably a phenomenon similar to runner’s high. If I descended to the ground, this special mental state would undoubtedly dissipate.

Illia observed her own state with such calmness and surrendered to that sweet consciousness without resistance. I thought that was just fine.

— I want to keep dancing like this.

— With you.

Thoughts that I would normally shake off on the ground were now met with acceptance. After all, these were illusions conjured by my oxygen-deprived brain, and trying to eliminate them seemed futile. Instead, I wanted to indulge in this pleasantness.

— I never knew flying could be this joyous.

The painful flight that had been tormenting me transformed into joy for the very first time.

— Airplanes are not coffins.

The sky taught me that.

— Pilots are not mere particles of iron.

Tears fell.

— The sky is not a hell.

The curse of my father, which had bound me since childhood, dissolves into the clear blue as if it were nothing.

— The sky is so free and full of joy.

Illia communicates with Kiyoaki through the sky.

— Right? Kiyoaki.

Beyond the shield and the windscreen, a brilliant blue silhouette dances as if guiding Illia.

My chest burns with warmth. It’s painful yet sweet and pleasant.

What a graceful dance. What a swift and beautiful way to fly. I've never met someone who flies like this before.

— I want to keep flying with you like this forever.

I sent that prayer into the sky.

Even without words, I understood that my feelings were reaching Kiyoaki.

“Time remaining: one minute.”

The instructor’s voice reached Kiyoaki’s ears.

There’s only that much time left. This moment will end. It’s sad. It’s lonely. I want it to last forever.

But childish hopes won’t reach me. In one minute, this dance will end.

— Then, right here.

Suddenly, a thought flashed in the back of my mind.

— The technique my father used.

In the duel twenty years ago, my father Masaharu supposedly defeated Karsten Kreishmidt with the secret technique "Snake Shot." On the St Vault side, it was said that Karsten was shot down by an intervening aircraft, and it’s recorded that Kiyoaki never executed such a technique. When this was debated last August on the airship, Illia dismissed the Snake Shot as a "fantasy."

— Maybe now I can do it.

By following Illia, new techniques that I’ve never executed are emerging one after another. This is a special state; I don’t know how many times this could happen in the future.

It’s worth challenging.

Kiyoaki opened the windscreen. The parachute has been strapped on since boarding. If I fail, I can quickly deploy my parachute into the sea.

I glanced at the instrument panel to check the remaining fuel. It’s running low. I looked back to confirm Illia’s position.

I gradually increased altitude without being noticed.

Illia was coming up from below.

I increased my speed. Illia also opened her throttle.

Through the airspace, I sensed Illia’s suspicion.

This is something I’ve never shown before. Illia can’t read my intentions. That’s how it should be.

— Here it is.

Resolutely, Kiyoaki suddenly tilted the aircraft upward.

A tremendous G-force hit me.

Transitioning from straight flight to vertical ascent, the Gray Fox was met with sudden deceleration that could pop my eyeballs out.

Kiyoaki endured.

Illia was pushed forward as if she stumbled.

I couldn’t see. If I could level the aircraft again from here, I could take Illia’s back in an instant…

—

Kiyoaki’s consciousness cut off at that moment.

—

“Are you stupid…?!”

Illia turned around and yelled without thinking.

The severed left wing spun helplessly down, with the fuselage following it. Among the remnants of the Gray Fox that had broken apart in mid-air, Kiyoaki, with a yellow parachute deployed, fell limply with arms and legs stretched out.

He must have fainted from the G-force. If you suddenly tilt the aircraft while moving at over 400 kilometres per hour, that’s only natural.

“What are you doing…?”

With a dumbfounded expression, Illia watched Kiyoaki fall. It must be cold in the sea in February, yet he attempted such a reckless manoeuvre.

A patrol ship approached Kiyoaki as he fell into the sea, leaving a white trail behind.

“Lance 1 has been shot down. Congratulations, Illia. You win.”

As the instructor's voice came through, Illia finally realized Kiyoaki’s intention.

“Snake Shot…”

It was the aerial combat technique that Masaharu had claimed to have used to shoot down Karsten. It’s said that the snake rises, slamming into the enemy who stumbles forward and takes them down... but no pilot has succeeded in reality. Nearly everyone who attempted it ended up in the same situation as Kiyoaki, so in St Vault, it was dismissed as a fictional technique.

“It’s impossible.”

After watching Kiyoaki being lifted onto the ship by the approaching sailors, Illia turned her aircraft towards the airfield.

It seemed like an anticlimactic ending... yet her heartbeat didn’t settle. In fact, it became stronger.

Just a moment ago—when Kiyoaki suddenly transitioned to a steep ascent and demonstrated the Snake Shot manoeuvre.

He Lost.

He thought so.

If only his aircraft had been more resilient, if Kiyoaki's body had been strong enough to endure the forces of inertia, and if he had the experience and skills to dodge the brink of disintegration, the Snake Shot could have been executed perfectly.

“Foolish.”

As she dismissed her own thoughts, Illia returned to the skies above Air Hunt Island. The spectators were waving their hands toward the sky with expressions of joy. The St Vault people were probably cheering, while the Akitsu people were biting back their frustration.

She had no interest in how the ground would report today’s duel.

More importantly, she wanted to remember what she felt today.

The sky she hadn’t known. The flying that had always been painful since childhood had transformed into joy for the first time today.

—It’s thanks to you, Kiyoaki.

If she could, she would have liked to fly a little longer. With a heavy heart, Illia returned safely to the airfield.

Part 17 (Part 9 of Volume 2)

As thousands of excited spectators discussed what they had just witnessed, a man walked toward a place unrelated to the mock aerial battle.

He was in his late twenties. With his hands tucked into the pockets of a black long coat, he slouched his tall, thin body and walked discreetly across the vast Air Hunt Officer School grounds, like a wild cat, until he reached the back of the Navy Memorial Hall.

The person he was supposed to meet had not yet arrived. He had been instructed to come here right after Kiyoaki’s mock aerial battle with Illia Kreischmidt, but it seemed he was too early. With no one around, the man took off his bothersome hat and gazed at the clear sky.

A pale face. Skin rough like it had been scraped with a knife. Cheeks that looked like they had been shaved down and eyes too sharp. Just standing there, a strange aura emanated from him.

The Holy Knight Akmed.

He was the modern “King of the Skies,” boasting a confirmed record of 186 enemy aircraft shot down.

If someone were to spot the number one aviator of the Multi-Island Sea in such a place, it wouldn’t end well. A crowd would quickly gather, causing a big commotion. It seemed his appointment was chosen in this inconspicuous spot out of fear of such attention.

Akmed looked up at the clear sky and pondered the recent mock aerial battle.

—Kiyoaki is getting stronger. So is Illia.

Though still rough around the edges, they had both reached a level of skill that was impressive for students. It was clear to him, having trained Kiyoaki over five years ago, that this progress was significant. The talent passed down from Sakagami Masaharu, coupled with their continuous effort, was yielding results. Even the last challenge of the “Snake Shot” seemed to hint that it might be accomplished someday.

—I want them in Valkyrie.

Akmed found himself thinking such things. While there’s no guarantee for the future compared to the regular army, and being constantly sent to the front lines doubles the risk to one’s life, Valkyrie was filled with true warriors of the sky who would gladly accept such conditions. Being able to train among them would bring more benefits than joining the regular army.

Just as he considered this, he scoffed lightly, shaking off the daydream.

—It’s this kind of thinking that makes me disliked by the heir.

He knew he was being self-centred. It was clear that joining the regular army and aiming for a high-ranking position in Akitsu would be more beneficial for Kiyoaki’s future.

—Similarly, for the heir...

The heir was still young. she probably had many choices for her future and was in a state of confusion. She was likely troubled by being the first in line for the Sylvanian royal family. He had heard as much from her guardians.

But still...

The faces of the king, queen, and many comrades who had died protecting the royal family clung to the back of Akmed’s mind.

Having been attacked by Urano, Valkyrie, led by Akmed, had been unable to protect Sylvania’s royal family, leading to its destruction. He had never forgotten the king’s wish as he lay dying while holding Akmed’s hand.

“Please, Akmed. Take the child and escape.”

Akmed, who had wanted to die alongside the king, had received that request in his final moments.

“Leave behind the blood of Sylvania. It will become the hope of the Multi-Island Sea. A beacon of hope to one day destroy Urano.”

He cut through the desire to stay close and accepted the king's final order. He took the heir on the back seat, broke through the encirclement of Urano surrounding the capital, Sierra Greed, and delivered her safely to his aunt waiting on Chandler Fortress on Mauregan Island. Five and a half years had passed since then, and now he was here to meet the grown heir.

The purpose was to confirm the heir's intentions for succession.

Valkyrie continued to exist as an aerial mercenary force, still fighting in various parts of the world for the restoration of the Sylvania royal family. But if the heir did not wish for that restoration, it would make exposing his comrades to danger meaningless.

—She must want the restoration of the royal family.

That was not merely Akmed’s personal desire. It was the wish of the many comrades who had died defending the king and the old officials. It was unfortunate for the heir, but she needed to consider that weight once more. He had brought words written to express this. By reiterating the king’s wishes here today, he hoped to guide the heir toward a better direction. He believed in that.

—She’s late.

As his anxiety began to rise, a shadow appeared behind the history museum.

He could not be mistaken. It was the royal heir.

Akmed looked at the person and immediately knelt down. He had been asked in advance not to kneel, but he couldn’t help it.

The heir, who had been a fragile child five and a half years ago, had grown into such a remarkable figure.

Tears threatened to spill.

As the King of the Multi-Island Sea Skies, who had become the object of admiration for all aviators, Akmed pressed his forehead to the ground in front of this person.

“I asked you to stop,” came the cold voice of the heir from above. However, Akmed remained on his knees, unmoving.

“Raise your face. I am in disguise. What would happen if someone saw us?”

Reluctantly chastised, Akmed lifted his face while still kneeling.

The heir glared at him as if reproaching him.

Unable to contain the swell of emotions, Akmed spoke the name of his lord.

“Your Highness Cecil.”

The heir to the Sylvanian throne, Elisabeth Cecil Sylvania, stood with her arms crossed in front of her chest, staring at Akmed.

“You have grown splendidly. The King would surely be pleased.”

In a sincere tone, while admiring the figure of the one he should serve, Akmed conveyed his thoughts.

Though remnants of childhood remained, the strong gaze and stubbornly set mouth resembled the King. The colour of her hair and the shape of her nose and ears were inherited from the Queen. He had worried about what would become of her when she expressed a desire to advance to military school, inspired by her friend Illia Kreischmidt at the gymnasium, but the training at the military academy had undoubtedly had a positive impact on the princess. The girl who had appeared frail when rescued had become dignified and strong.

Akmed could see it.

One day, she would unfurl the royal flag and proclaim her dominion over the Multi-Island Sea as Queen Elisabeth.

She would be the Holy Scepter of the Queen of Hope, transforming this world filled with blood and betrayal.

“The wings shall forever belong to the Sylvanian royal family.”

Akmed repeated the vow he had exchanged with the deceased king.

The Valkyrie continued to spill blood across battlefields worldwide, simply to honour Cecil as their Queen.

“The Valkyrie is your wings, Your Highness Cecil.”

For the day of resurrection that would come, Akmed and the Valkyrie existed solely to be her wings. They would travel across the skies of the world, honing their skills, and one day, they would rule the skies pointed out by Cecil—this was the very purpose of the world’s strongest combat squadron, the Valkyrie.

When I opened my eyes, I saw a pure white ceiling.

A faint smell of chemicals stung my nostrils. Bringing my arm in front of my face, I noticed I was wearing a white hospital gown, and there was a bandage wrapped around my forehead.

“……?”

Kiyoaki sat up halfway. I was in a bed in the infirmary. A soft reddish light was filtering in from the window, reaching the middle of the hospital room.

I tried to recall the events of the day. Kagura had fallen, Reiner had fallen, I had a one-on-one duel with Illia, and the fight had somehow turned into a dance. Then I attempted the Snake Shot—and I had no memory of what happened afterward. Given my current state, I must have lost. I felt frustrated, but I had no regrets. The memories of dancing with Illia were far more vivid.

There was someone sitting next to the bed.

“Oh…”

It was Illia. With her arms crossed, she leaned against the wall on her left side, eyes closed, and soft snores were escaping her lips.

She must have fallen asleep while keeping me company. Kiyoaki found himself watching Illia’s defenceless sleeping face, illuminated by the evening sunlight.

The usual sharpness that kept others at bay was gone, replaced by a soft, innocent expression typical of a late-teen girl. I had never seen this kind of unguarded expression on her before.

It seemed that the other friends had kindly left us alone together. They might just be having fun, but I was grateful for their consideration. I had so much to talk about with Illia.

“Illia…”

I called her name, but there was no response. She was likely in a deep sleep, exhausted from pushing her physical and mental limits.

Her sleeping face stirred some indescribable feelings within me. I wanted to express them, but something held me back.

“Illia.”

There was still no sign of her waking up.

Thinking back, she was indeed a person with a mysterious connection.

Not only was it the duel between our fathers, but also how we sat next to each other on the aerial ship, and how we fought for the top spot in the mock aerial battle. These encounters felt significant. After graduating from this school, we would belong to different military branches, but surely our connection would continue.

—I wonder what lies ahead for us…

As I gazed at Illia’s innocent sleeping face in the sunset, those thoughts crossed my mind.

“Mm…”

Illia’s lips moved slightly. Her long eyelashes fluttered. Kiyoaki hurriedly averted his gaze to the window.

“Oh…”

As she opened her eyes and noticed Kiyoaki sitting up, Illia let out a sound. He smiled in return.

“Good morning, Illia. You slept well, huh?”

For just a moment, Illia looked away, embarrassed, but quickly regained her usual dignified and confident expression.

“…I asked you not to. You were sleeping too, so I got careless…”

“Yeah, thanks to you, I got a good rest. I appreciate you staying with me.”

“I only did it because I was assigned. I had no choice but to do as Kagura told me. Someone should be coming to relieve me soon.”

Saying this awkwardly, Illia glared at him for some reason. Predicting that if it were Kagura's arrangement, a change wouldn’t come for a while, Kiyoaki smiled.

“You won, congratulations.”

As Kiyoaki praised her, Illia continued to glare at him.

“…You just fell out on your own. I didn’t do anything.”

“I don’t remember. Did I get thrown out?”

“The aircraft broke apart in mid-air, and you were ejected from your seat, and the parachute opened. You really are lucky.”

“…I see. I’ll probably get scolded by the instructor. I damaged the aircraft.”

“This isn’t the first accident. There was no harm to the spectators. You should accept the instructor’s reprimand.”

“Yeah, I’ll do that. …Hey, Illia, can I ask you something?”

“?”

“When we were fighting together, what were you thinking?”

When I asked, it was as if I had thrown a stone into a lake, causing ripples to form in the depths of Illia's eyes.

“It’s a strange question, but… I want to know how you felt.”

Her expression remained stern, but for once, a hint of hesitation and confusion appeared in the usually expressionless Illia.

“That is…”

Illia stared into space as if searching for words, then suddenly snapped back to reality and glared at Kiyoaki.

“First, you should tell me how you felt.”

“Oh, yeah, that’s true. Um… I…”

Faced with her counter-question, Kiyoaki searched for his own words.

What I felt at that moment… It was as if I became one with Illia through the sky. The aircraft, our bodies—everything that separated us melted away, and I felt directly connected to Illia's heart. I had never experienced such happiness before. It was a moment when I felt all of Illia.

Thinking that far, Kiyoaki raised his flushed face, looking apologetically at Illia, who was waiting for his response with a tense expression.

"I'm sorry, I can't say it because I'm embarrassed."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, it's impossible. You’ll definitely get angry."

"That's even more intriguing. If you’ve said that much, you should say it."

"I'm sorry, but I was in a bit of a strange state at that time. How should I put it, it felt like I had evolved, in a cool way? It's like I was myself, but not myself... something like that..."

"...Flying at high altitudes affects brain function. It's not an especially rare phenomenon."

"Yeah, that's true, but it felt different. I mean... well, yeah, maybe that was it."

Kiyoaki tried to end the conversation, but Illia unusually pressed for more questions.

"You're trying to dodge the issue. That's cowardly. You should say it clearly until the end."

With unexpected pressure from Illia, Kiyoaki's cheeks grew even redder as he retorted.

"If you're going to say that, what about you, Illia? You haven't said anything at all!"

"I-I will say it after you. If you say it honestly, I will say it properly."

"Is that really true?"

"What kind of face is that? Do you think I would lie? You're being disrespectful. I am a candidate officer; I will definitely keep my promises."

Illia said this with an angry demeanour, leaning back in her chair.

Breaking a promise would result in being branded unfit to be an officer. This is true for any military in the world. The duty of an officer is to give orders to non-commissioned officers and soldiers, leading them into danger, which requires the officer's character to be honourable. Keeping promises is fundamental. Those who break promises or lie are deeply resented among officer candidates, ostracized, and it even affects their advancement. The sense of "promise" for soldiers is far stricter than in general society.

──If Illia is saying all this.

Kiyoaki made up his mind. It was embarrassing and awkward, and if he expressed it incorrectly, it could be misunderstood, but as long as he chose his words carefully, it would be fine.

With a resolute expression, Kiyoaki looked directly at Illia.

"...I understand. Then I'll say it. If I say it, you have to say it too, okay?"

Illia also regained her composure and glared back at him.

"I intend to. I won't run away or hide. Now, say it."

clearing his throat, Kiyoaki recalled the memory of that moment.

"When the one-on-one battle started and the remaining time dropped below five minutes... the colour of the sky looked different. It was clearer and brighter than usual... It might be an exaggeration to say it looked divine. Even though I should be used to it, it was a sky I had never seen before."

"...........It can be thought that due to maintaining extreme concentration, the senses became sharper than usual. I also felt that the colour of the sky was bright."

"Yeah... that might be it. So, it's embarrassing to say, but for some reason, it felt like I was sharing the pain, suffering, and joy of flying with you... I can understand it when I watch how you fly..."

Upon hearing this, a faint blush appeared on Illia's typically stoic face.

"..............That's a coincidence. ................I can't deny that I also felt like I was sharing sensations with you."

She blushed awkwardly, struggling to articulate her thoughts.

Illia was earnestly trying to be honest. She couldn’t fabricate what she saw or felt and report it falsely.

As long as he spoke honestly, Illia would respond sincerely.

Kiyoaki’s heart raced more as he spoke. The fact that Illia had shared the same sensations in that sky made him very happy. He leaned forward, eager to continue.

"Really!? Yeah, I find it really strange, but it felt like... my body was disappearing, or something like that... I was merging with the sky. My senses were so finely tuned that I could grasp where and how you were flying..."

In Illia's expression, a flicker of emotion broke through. Her typically tightly closed lips and slightly tense cheeks showed a hint of human emotion.

"...........I was probably in a similar state. No... I experienced the same state."

Kiyoaki couldn't hide his joy. The fact that Illia had flown while feeling the same way as him—this meant that she had also experienced the feeling of transcending physical barriers, where both the aircraft and body had dissolved.

──At that moment, Illia and I were one.

That realization filled him with fundamental joy. He couldn't suppress his smile or words.

"I felt you so close. Close, or rather... it felt like we were the same."

"................"

"Everything you're thinking, your feelings and emotions... I could feel them all, and indeed, it became a reality. Everything about you came into me..."

"................"

"My body disappeared, and my heart melted together with you in the sky."

"................"

"It felt like the sky was... wait, Illia?"

I realized there was no response or even a nod.

Ilia's face, and even the tips of her fingers, were completely red. She was completely frozen. It seemed my expression had been too much.

"Ilia, I'm sorry! I said something strange!"

"Ah, ah... no, um... it's fine..."

"Your face looks like a tomato...!"

"Y-yeah, I'm fine! It'll be back to normal soon..."

"I'm sorry I couldn't say it well. That was a strange thing to say, maybe a bit exaggerated."

"Y-yeah... um, it's okay. It's just that you felt that way."

"...I understand it must be hard to hear something like that suddenly. I couldn't choose my words well..."

"...There's no need to apologize. ...We don't usually talk that much, so I was just confused about what you were feeling..."

Illia placed one hand on her chest and let out a big breath, raising her expression to a softer one than usual. A hint of kindness and empathy flickered through her usually cold lips.

"...It was a mysterious experience. ...It was a sky I had never felt before. It was like something that had been sleeping within me was drawn out and blossomed into the high-altitude atmosphere... I think I misunderstood my perception of the sky."

I could tell Illia was doing her best to express her honest feelings. She was trying to respond to Kiyoaki's sincerity.

"...For a long time... the sky had been a painful place for me. For the first time today, I felt joy in flying. I understood that flying together with someone can be so enjoyable... I can't express it well, but that’s my impression."

Kiyoaki smiled back at Illia's awkward but sincere words.

"I'm so happy! Yeah, I'm really happy, Illia. Today was the best. This was my first time enjoying flying so much."

"...I see. ...Yeah. ...If that's the case, I'm glad."

"Right? We barely talk normally. If we talked more, we might understand how to express ourselves better. Honestly, I want to talk to you more, but I’ve always thought maybe you didn’t like me."

"I don't dislike you. ...I'm not very good at socializing... I don't really know how to enter a group."

"There’s no method. You just talk about things you find interesting. It’s fine if it’s silly or meaningless. What’s important is spending time together."

"...I see. ...That’s how it is."

Kiyoaki laughed happily, finding a casual topic to start some light chatter. Illia only nodded along, but when he asked questions, she responded each time with diligence. The conversation wasn’t particularly lively, but Kiyoaki was enjoying himself. He was genuinely happy to be spending time with Illia.

Even as it got dark outside the window, Kiyoaki continued to bring up topics as best as he could. There were many things he wanted to talk to Illia about—school, subjects, friends. As Illia's initial awkwardness began to fade, Kiyoaki brought up the topic of "The Seven Wonders of Air Hunt."

"By the way, the other day, the FairyTale Donuts appeared again! It was an unprecedented massive emergence! Have you ever had them?"

At this, Illia, who had been responding calmly until now, showed a slight flicker of movement in her expression.

"D-Donuts? I don't know about them."

She said this in an even more awkward tone than usual, looking down unusually.

"What? You don’t know? They're so famous! By the way, you weren't around during the supply uproar the other day, were you?"

"Y-yeah. I was somewhere else. I had no idea about any commotion."

She spoke as if reading each sentence in an awkward syllabic manner. Kiyoaki continued, feeling puzzled.

"You've never had them? You’re definitely missing out. I had heard the rumours, but I was amazed. I've never had donuts that good."

After saying this, Illia, who had been looking down, glanced up at him uncertainly.

"...Really? They were that good?"

"Yeah, they were the best I've ever eaten."

"Th-that's an exaggeration. Mio's cooking is way better."

"Ah, well... Mio's cooking is definitely good, but those donuts are in a different league. The aroma of the eggs, the balance of the flour, the baking time... it's unbelievable. It's divine."

"Th-that's too much praise...! That's going too far; it’s way too exaggerated."

Illia, who was rarely flustered, became a bit more animated, and Kiyoaki intensified his tone.

"No, really! They’re that amazing! Plus, they have cute designs like bears and rabbits made with chocolate chips! I thought the person who made them was amazing!"

At this, for just a moment, Illia’s lips seemed to twitch into a smile, but she quickly looked down again to hide her expression.

After taking a couple of deep breaths, Illia spoke again in that strange syllabic manner.

"R-really? The bears and rabbits are cute? Is that so?"

"I hope you can see the Fairytale Donuts, too. The problem is we don’t know when they’ll appear... The person making them should just make them in public. Then you could eat them too."

"W-well, there might be some deep reason for it. The maker probably doesn’t want anyone to know they have such a girlish hobby. Maybe."

"Y-yeah, that’s true, there might be some reasons they can’t reveal themselves. But it’s a shame. Just talking about them makes me want to eat them again. I wonder how many times I can meet them before graduation...?"

"...By the way, which donut was the best?"

"Huh? Oh, right, the one I ate was lemon cream. Reiner got strawberry and shared a little with me, and it was really good. I want to try different ones, but you know, it’s rationed. The almond one looked delicious, too..."

"...I see. ...Strawberry, huh? ...Got it."

Illia nodded to herself, looking as if she understood something. It was a rare reaction, so Kiyoaki wanted to continue the donut talk, but Illia stubbornly refused to delve any deeper into the topic. He had no choice but to change the subject and keep talking.

The happy conversation continued for another hour. Medical staff brought in dinner, and Illia returned to her room. Despite feeling a twinge of regret, Kiyoaki was glad to have spent a fun time with her.

The next day, the Fairytale Donuts made another massive appearance in the student hall. This time, for some reason, there were more strawberries, and the bears, rabbits, and tanukis seemed to dance joyfully. Kiyoaki got his share of strawberries and enjoyed them.

"I wonder who makes these donuts?"

Cecil, munching nearby, tilted her head.

"You shouldn't investigate. They probably don’t want anyone to know they have such a girlish hobby..."

Kiyoaki said with a smile, stuffing strawberries into his cheeks. He already knew who the maker was, but he thought he would keep this secret in his heart until he passed away.

The newspapers and magazines sensationalized the results of the mock aerial battle, and the people of St Vault rejoiced while the Akitsu citizens felt frustration but still praised Kiyoaki’s efforts. Both Kiyoaki and Illia faced a flood of interviews, and following the principal's request, they managed to provide exemplary responses. Even Karsten Kreischmidt, who was hiding, was surrounded by numerous media outlets. About a week later, when the Odessa Fortress Assault began, the press finally began to disappear.

By the time things settled down, March was fast approaching. Kagura and Balthazar were about to graduate. Just when Kiyoaki felt a bit lonely, he received an unexpected joyful report from the Akitsu military headquarters.

After graduating from Air Hunt Officer School, Kagura and Kiyoaki would be "deployed as candidate officers" directly into the St Vault military.

Although the title seemed rather peculiar, according to the explanation from the embassy, it was a request from the St Vault military headquarters. Kagura and Kiyoaki were recognized by both nations as "The Seven from Eriadore," and their fighting as St Vault soldiers would greatly boost the morale of the young St Vault people and increase volunteer recruits. Simultaneously, it would also demonstrate the strong alliance between both countries to the continental powers. For the Akitsu Federation, it was also possible for Kagura and Kiyoaki to learn advanced military science at the frontlines and bring it back home. There were no disadvantages for either country—so they said.

Both Kagura and Kiyoaki were overjoyed. They had planned to join the Akitsu military after graduation, but now they could fight as soldiers of the St Vault military. They had thought they would be separated from Illia, Cecil, Balthazar, Reiner, and Mio, so this was the best news they could hope for.

Immediately after receiving the news, Kiyoaki searched for Mio. He wanted to be the first to share the good news with her. However, he couldn’t find her anywhere. Feeling frustrated by the vast campus, he asked passersby if they had seen Mio. But there was no sign of her. Exhausted, he sat weakly on a bench by the field where he had last talked to her when someone tapped him on the shoulder.

"Ah... Reiner."

"Hey. You look down. Did you get rejected by Mio again?"

With a playful grin, Reiner approached, dressed for an outing. Kiyoaki could only laugh awkwardly.

"Yeah... something like that. Have you seen Mio?"

"Nope. If I see her, I’ll let her know you were searching for her, crying."

"...Thanks. Oh, by the way, Reiner, Kagura and I will be able to join the St Vault military after graduation."

Reiner raised one eyebrow.

"Oh, really? Kagura is joining us? That’s great."

Kiyoaki explained the situation briefly, stood up from the bench, and smiled at Reiner.

"Yeah. It's just a deployment, but I can officially become a St Vault soldier. Let’s keep in touch, Reiner."

He extended his hand for a handshake, but Reiner continued to smile playfully, shrugging his shoulders and refusing.

"Don't do that. It’s annoying. Well, let’s keep it casual from here on out."

Kiyoaki kept his hand extended, speaking seriously.

"I want to thank you. Even though you hide it, you sometimes silently help me, right? It was like that during the mock aerial battle, but also in other ways, behind the scenes."

Reiner looked at him suspiciously, raising the other eyebrow.

"You’re really capable and a good guy. I’m sure... you’re probably the most well-rounded among us seven."

As he maintained his seriousness, Reiner turned his face away, sending only his left eye toward Kiyoaki.

"...What’s with the sudden seriousness? That’s creepy. Did you eat something weird?"

In response to Reiner's cold words, Kiyoaki smiled back.

"I want to stay friends with you. Even when we join the military. Even if we quit. For life. We’re the same age and get along."

"................"

"I think of you as my best friend. So, please shake my hand."

Reiner made a strange face, mouth forming a frown, eyebrows furrowing in a way Kiyoaki had never seen before. Then, hesitantly, he raised his right hand, reaching for Kiyoaki's hand... but then dropped it again.

Kiyoaki’s expression turned sad. After clicking his tongue, Reiner suddenly wrapped his right hand around the back of Kiyoaki's neck and twisted him sideways.

"Ouch! What are you doing!?"

In a classic headlock position, Kiyoaki struggled frantically, but Reiner tightened his grip on Kiyoaki's head with his right hand.

"It hurts, stop it!"

"Shut up. This is punishment for saying something stupid with a serious face."

"It really hurts! Stop, stop!"

"I'm going to teach you something, rich kid. I’m not the kind of guy you can just trust easily. Don’t just believe in people blindly."

"I get it, so stop it! My back hurts!"

"Alright, don't ever call me your best friend again, okay? Got it? If you say it again, there’s going to be worse than this."

"I understand, I won't say it again!"

Finally, when Kiyoaki screamed, Reiner let go of his right arm. Kiyoaki stepped back as if escaping a rabbit. Reiner's strong arms felt like they might actually break his neck.

"I'm sorry! Are you mad!? I didn’t think you’d get angry...!"

As Kiyoaki hurriedly tried to explain, Reiner snorted and turned his back.

"...You’re just too cheerful, so it annoyed me. You’re so carefree, it’s impressive how you can live like that."

He spat that out and began to walk away.

Feeling the unusual atmosphere pressing down on him, Kiyoaki couldn’t move.

"Reiner..."

At that moment, the blue sky was behind Reiner. The light clouds were drifting in the refreshing February sky.

It was so clear, without a single impurity, an exceptionally pure blue that Kiyoaki would never forget.

Reiner stopped walking and gazed up at that sky for a while.

A gust of wind blew past, sweeping away the dust at their feet.

"Hey, Kiyoaki."

Suddenly, Reiner spoke in a serious tone without turning around.

"................?"

The atmosphere felt different from usual.

"If... someone deceives you and betrays you in the future..."

Reiner turned to face him. A light-hearted smile was on his face.

"You can hate them."

The smile was there, but something behind it was clearly different.

"Hate them, resent them... you can even think you want to kill them."

This was a Reiner Kiyoaki knew, yet it felt unfamiliar.

"You’re too much of a nice guy. Even after being betrayed, it seems like you’d still want to trust them... Don’t do that."

Reiner smirked.

Kiyoaki didn’t understand what he was saying. Yet somehow, he could feel Reiner's underlying sadness seeping through that light-hearted smile.

"Reiner...?"

Reiner chuckled again and turned away.

"...Just kidding. It was just a youth game. Anyway, I’ve got to go; some girls are waiting for me at the club. You should tone down the warmth a bit."

Waving a hand over his shoulder, Reiner walked away. Kiyoaki could only stare blankly at his departing figure.

"Idiot."

He clicked his tongue, donned his helmet, and mounted his bike in the parking lot.

"Ugh, what a hassle."

He kicked the starter angrily, reflecting his feelings in his rough driving, and reached the familiar clubhouse in about fifteen minutes.

The building was a white pension-style structure by the seaside. On weekends, dressed-up girls flock to mingle with future sailors and airmen. In this remote island community, the only entertainment for young people is romance, so as long as there are no serious issues, officer candidates tend to be popular.

Reiner sauntered into the shop, casually chatting with familiar faces while sipping a soft drink.

Several local girls cast glances at Reiner. He was well-known as one of "The Seven from Eriadore," and his impressive performance in the recent mock aerial battle had been reported. It was undeniable that he was a promising Pilot, so many girls wanted to approach him.

But Reiner paid them no mind. He watched the entrance, looking for today's target.

One girl with red hair and a plain look entered. It was unusual for someone to come alone; typically, they come with a group of friends.

Reiner got up and approached her.

The girl noticed and looked up. Reiner held up his glass in a pretentious manner.

"My sister is in the hospital. I'm thinking of a gift, but I don’t know what girls like. What would you give?"

Caught off guard by the sudden question, the red-haired girl hesitated before answering.

"Maybe a cake. Like a strawberry shortcake."

"I see. Sweet things are probably good."

He made small talk, adding a few more words, but it was clear Reiner had lost interest in the girl. She noticed his aloofness, and soon they parted ways.

Reiner sat back at the counter, observing the new arrivals as he had done before.

He didn’t approach any girls who came with friends. Instead, he only targeted those who came alone, asking about gifts for his sister, receiving answers like "stuffed animals," "books," or "underwear," and having short conversations before parting. He repeated this process continuously.

"Reiner, you still aren't very popular."

The bartender teased, but Reiner shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

"I’m the one turning them down."

He responded confidently.

Another girl entered. She had nondescript brown hair, cheap tortoiseshell glasses, and an outdated half coat with a pleated skirt. Reiner approached her casually and threw out the same question.

"My sister is in the hospital. I'm thinking of a gift. What would you give?"

The girl assessed Reiner from behind her glasses, thinking for a moment before responding.

"December roses."

Reiner nodded and smiled at the girl.

"I'm Reiner Beck. And you?"

"Heather."

"Alright. Let’s go, Heather."

Without hesitation, Heather nodded, and the two left the shop together.

Reiner mounted his bike again. Heather, as if on cue, took a helmet and settled into the back seat.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at Jujiji Cape, dismounting from the bike.

From the cape, they could look down on Air Hunt Port. They could easily discern the passing ships and warships from there.

The cold wind howled across the sparsely populated cape, and the two spent two hours there in silence.

"Time’s up. Let’s go."

Reiner suddenly urged Heather, and after seating her again, they headed to the ferry terminal at Air Hunt Port. There were two daily sailings to the homeland of St Vault, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Heather bought a ticket for the ferry home. Reiner pulled a thin envelope from his pocket and handed it to Heather.

"It's a love letter."

"Sure."

"Well then."

"Okay."

After exchanging short words, Heather headed alone to the ferry waiting room. Reiner didn’t even see her off as he mounted his bike and returned to the officer school.

The ferry departed for the homeland an hour later.

Heather sat alone on a bed in a first-class cabin, gazing out the round window at the receding Air Hunt Island.

Once the island disappeared from view, she opened the "love letter" she had received from Reiner. Inside were three sheets of report paper, each neatly handwritten with the following content:

"Responses to the various questions concerning Air Hunt Port 1.The third pier has been opened to the military. The total number of moored ships is around 150. 2.Two new model air battleships. Model names unknown. One Greenland-class battleship, one Southern Cross-class battleship. One Nashville-class escort carrier. Twelve Percival-class air cruisers. 3.The new air battleships are moored at the third pier. The carrier is in the first dock. The standard battleships and cruisers are anchored in a double column formation in Sanjiru Bay to the southwest of Air Hunt Island. 4.The new battleships, standard battleships, and cruisers form one strike group, and they all conduct exercises at sea from 8 AM to 5 PM on weekdays before returning to port. 5.It takes about 45 minutes for the strike group to leave the anchorage and head outside the port. 6.The strike group does not conduct exercises on Sundays, and all ships are moored. 7.Neither the battleships, carriers, nor cruisers install anti-torpedo nets when they are anchored. 8.The Nashville-class carrier is in dock for repairs. As of February 17th, it has been there for over three months. 9.In Sanjiru Bay, the ships are always anchored in a double column formation. 10.Patrols by large aircraft are conducted at dawn and dusk. The number of planes is unknown, but it is assumed to be seven or eight in a fan-shaped patrol. 11.There is only one air base on Air Hunt Island: Saragana Base. The number of permanently stationed aircraft includes over 20 carrier-based fighters, over 10 polar fighters, over 20 dive bombers, and over 20 attack aircraft. It is estimated that about 70% of these aircraft are operational. 12.There are barrage balloons present in the airspace. They are indicated on a separate diagram. 13.Possible enemy landing points are also indicated on a separate diagram. 14.There is an anti-submarine net installed in Sanjiru Bay. The type is unknown. 15.The possibility of temporary anchorage at nearby islands cannot be ruled out. 16.The size of the underground fuel depot is..."

The remaining two pages were filled with detailed enemy information, and the last page was a map of Air Hunt Island. In red ink, the positions of the fleet, the anti-submarine nets, the barrage balloons, and three possible enemy landing points were circled.

Heather put the nameless, sender-less letter into her pocket. Once she arrived in the St Vault mainland, she would take the train via the Zunjin Dynasty to the Harmonia Empire. From there, she would travel by air to the 11th Air Fortress "Balsinos" of Urano. Once she handed over this letter to her superior officer, her mission would be complete.

Being a courier wasn’t easy, but it was still better than being an undercover agent, Heather thought. As a courier, you only had to meet most people once, but undercover agents had to live their lives in their assigned locations, constantly deceiving those around them. Just thinking about it was exhausting. As she gazed out of the round window at the approaching silhouette of the St Vault Empire, Heather erased any thoughts of Reiner from her mind, knowing they would never meet again.

After parking his bike in the officer academy’s parking lot, Reiner walked alone along the path back to the dormitory.

The campus was as large as a small city. In addition to the school buildings, there were three stadiums, a memorial hall, and even a canal. It was designed to be modern and sophisticated without unnecessary grandeur, as a hub for St Vault’s military education.

As Reiner walked, passing a few scattered people, he noticed a familiar figure.

It was Mio.

She was heading behind the school building, alone.

Feeling a vague sense of unease, Reiner quietly followed her.

Mio, occasionally checking her surroundings, entered the shadowy area behind the gym equipment shed. Reiner, with skilful steps, stayed out of sight, hiding in the shadows and observing her.

After confirming once more that no one else was around, Mio whistled.

After a short while, something descended from the sky.

It was Fio.

As always, Fio landed directly on Mio’s shoulder.

Mio pulled a slip of paper from her pocket, twisted it into a string, and tied it to Fio's leg.

"I'm counting on you."

Fio chirped as if understanding Mio's words and flew off into the sky. Mio stood silently, watching the sky where Fio had disappeared.

Reiner observed the entire sequence from the shadows and thought back to Balthazar's words.

"The true nature of a diplomat. Eight highly skilled children, adopted from around the world, each with different skin tones. The special nature of the bird called Fio. When you analyze all the factors, you can deduce the cause of Mio’s transformation."

A diplomat, in the broad sense, is a spy.

They openly reside in enemy countries, working both overtly and covertly for the benefit of their own nation. It’s not uncommon for agents trained by intelligence agencies to be given the title of "diplomat" and sent to enemy countries. Likewise, diplomats are always targets for bribery by enemy countries. Money, women, power—every possible means is used to bribe diplomats, turning them into assets for the enemy. Many diplomats, after long stays in enemy nations, have become entangled in enemy interests and turned into double agents. Mio's parents had been stationed in the Harmonia Empire for a long time, so it’s not out of the question that some issue arose during that time.

And then there’s the matter of too many adopted children.

The strongest bond in the world is the bond of family.

It's much stronger than friendship or romance. If children are raised and nurtured with love from a young age, they would likely never disobey their adoptive parents. What if Mio’s parents had gathered exceptional children with the sole purpose of sending them into key institutions of the continental powers, raising them to never defy their orders? And then, there’s the special nature of Fio, the bird.

An extraordinary bird.

Usually, carrier pigeons can only carry messages in one direction—from the sender to the receiver. When a pigeon is released, it flies to its "mate" on the receiver’s side. It’s a communication method that relies on the bird’s homing instinct, so once the pigeon returns to its home, it can’t be sent back to the original sender.

But Fio is different.

Fio can fly not only to the mate but also back to Mio. Mio sends Fio to the mate, the receiver writes a reply, and then Fio flies back to Mio.

With Fio, two-way communication through written messages is possible. For undercover agents, this is a dream come true.

The greatest challenge for agents is maintaining communication with their home country.

If they were to use simple methods like wireless telegraphs or telephone communications, they would immediately be intercepted and arrested by the enemy’s counterintelligence agency. Coded messages may also be deciphered, so they should not be used either.

The safest method is to entrust the documents to a courier. No matter how much communication technology advances, documents remain the most secure means of transmitting sensitive information. However, it’s risky to use a familiar courier, so they must use cumbersome methods, like exchanging code words, as we saw earlier. If the courier’s identity is known in advance, there’s a risk that if they are captured and given truth serum, they could reveal the entire intelligence network.

There’s no better courier than Fio.

And Mio, who skilfully controls Fio, might be an extremely valuable asset as an undercover agent.

––It wouldn’t be surprising if the Urano Special Intelligence Agency had already set their sights on her.

Having thought this far, Reiner left the shadows and approached Mio.

"Ah... Reiner."

Mio noticed him and turned around in surprise.

With his usual frivolous smile, Reiner approached without answering.

Mio’s expression clearly showed caution.

"...What? Why are you here?"

Her eyes held a fear she had never shown before, even when she was aboard the Eriadore.

Reiner grinned and asked:

"My sister was hospitalized. I’m trying to decide what to get her as a gift."

At that moment, Mio’s eyes lost their colour.

With just that reaction, Reiner understood everything.

He had seen eyes like that many times before.

There was probably no need to ask further questions.

But Reiner continued.

"Mio, what would you send as a gift?"

Mio stared intently at Reiner.

Before the winter break, her eyes had shone so brightly, but now they had lost all their light.

Hope was gone, leaving behind only despair for the future, eyes filled with sadness as if cursing her own birth.

Reiner Beck, the Urano Special Agent known as "Hachidori" (Hummingbird), had seen many children with eyes like hers since he was young.

Many of them had died with those same eyes. Out of the hundred selected, only eight had survived.

Filled with sadness, hatred, anger, and despair—Mio’s eyes continued to stare at Hachidori.

Hachidori had already seen through Mio’s current situation and internally mocked her.

––To think there are two traitors hidden among "The Seven of Eriadore."

What awaited them was a cruel stage designed by the malice of the gods.

As Mio came to the same realization, her lips parted.

"December roses..."

Along with her words, a single tear traced down Mio’s cheek.

End Volume 2

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