Toaru Hikuushi e no Seiyaku:V3Part3

Part 20 (Part 3 of Volume 3)

Against the vast blue sky, spring flowers of various colours were thrown up above as two Gray Foxes flew past, making explosive sounds.

Petals caught in the propeller wash danced into the May sky. The training aircraft, Gray Fox, climbed high, leaving trails like frolicking puppies.

At the airfield, all the students from the Air Hunt Academy’s aviation department were looking up at the two fighter planes with rapt attention. And they all understood that the skills of the two soaring through the sky had already far surpassed those of mere cadets.

Kiyoaki Sakagami and Illia Kreischmidt.

These two were destined to rise to the top of the multi-island archipelago.

Even the instructors observing the air combat felt a sense of awe, realizing that the two were reaching a realm far removed from the ordinary aviation students. As the raw talents of the two clashed head-on, they rapidly honed each other, radiating brilliance that was dazzling to behold. Rather than having them spar with regular students, it would make more sense for Kiyoaki and Illia to have exclusive matches for their progress. This decision by the instructors, made a month ago as they began a new mock air combat race in April, had now yielded astounding results visible in the blue sky.

And the ones feeling this progress the most were the two at the controls.

"Illia."

As if it were a habit, Kiyoaki looked up at Illia dancing in the windscreen, murmuring her name.

The green landscape of Air Hunt Island spread wide above him.

Descending at a speed of 530 kilometres per hour, Kiyoaki stared up intently, keeping his gaze fixed on Illia’s movements.

Although they fought one-on-one almost daily, he never grew tired of watching Illia's aerial ballet. Her refinement increased day by day, captivating not only those watching but also those pursuing her.

Noble and dignified, the knight of the skies danced.

—I want to embrace her.

He no longer denied or rejected the whispers of his instincts.

Transmitting the longing from the depths of his soul through the control stick and throttle, he poured all his strength into chasing after Illia, who danced like a fairy.

As he focused all his physical strength and senses on following Illia, he eventually entered a mysterious realm.

He could see even the wind being torn apart.

The sunlight bouncing off the wings scattered like droplets into the air. The wind, light, and colours felt as if they were seeping into a world different from the ground. Every cell in his body was cleansed, and his heart felt reborn, as his worries and frustrations from the ground faded away, forgotten.

If only he could keep flying like this.

—With Illia.

No thought was necessary. He just needed to communicate this longing to the Gray Fox. His beloved aircraft sensed the pilot’s heartbeat and reflected it in its aerial manoeuvres.

Like a child running through a flower field, Illia looked back at Kiyoaki, beckoning and escaping.

Kiyoaki followed her invitation. He knew a trap awaited ahead, but he was confident he could surpass it.

As the sunlight bounced off the top surface of the aircraft, Illia began a barrel roll. Perhaps unusually, she seemed to miscalculate her manoeuvre, the trajectory becoming slightly off.

—I've got this.

Kiyoaki was sure of his victory as he pursued.

But just before reaching the apex of her roll—Illia’s aircraft slid slightly.

"…?!"

It was an aerial manoeuvre he had never seen before.

As if time had stopped at that moment, Illia’s aircraft floated in the air.

Kiyoaki leaned forward.

Illia remained suspended in that one point, rotating gracefully—as if dancing in solitude—and then...

She stalled and entered a spin.

"What?"

Kiyoaki didn’t understand what was happening. The instructor’s voice came through the speakers.

“It’s a win for Sakagami, Illia! Recover!”

Illia’s plane spun around like a kite with a broken string, falling about a thousand meters. Then, she corrected her direction and regained control. Since it was just a mock air battle, she was fine, but in an actual combat situation, she would have been shot down before she could recover.

Having escaped the spin, Illia descended towards the airfield as if nothing had happened. Kiyoaki realized he had won and followed behind her.

With this, his record against Illia stood at seven wins, six losses, and four draws. For the first time, he had a winning record. While he felt satisfied, another kind of battle with Illia awaited him on the ground. Lately, he had been looking forward to that daily challenge just as much as the air battles.

The polished floor of the gym reflected the shadows of the two facing each other.

Both were clad in their uniforms, wearing men’s masks, and holding their shinai with focused eyes.

Outside the window, it was already dark. The silence after classes fell heavily upon the two.

Through their masks, they sharpened their senses to perceive everything about their opponent.

Gaze, tip of the sword, arms, footwork—everything provided clues to anticipate the next move.

Forgetting even to breathe, they concentrated solely on the opponent before them, as if they were immersed in a sweet intoxication, separated from the outside world into their own inner realm. A sense of happiness, felt only in that moment, arose from deep within the tension, and they unconsciously wished for time to stand still.

Suddenly, the surrounding atmosphere quivered.

In that instant, Kiyoaki made a big step forward.

The tip of his sword aimed for his opponent’s throat, but it was evaded. In the next moment, Illia’s sword came down from the side and struck Kiyoaki’s men.

A loud “thwack” echoed throughout the gym, breaking the silence.

The match was decided.

Kiyoaki, panting heavily, returned to the starting line and bowed.

Then he removed his mask and smiled at Illia.

“As expected, I still can’t match you with a sword.”

Illia also took off her mask. Her tied-up red hair suited her striking features very well.

“Are you saying you can beat me in the sky?”

She tightened her gaze and boldly challenged him.

At first, Kiyoaki was taken aback by her strong tone, but he had come to understand that it was Illia’s way of hiding her shyness.

The narrow gym was currently almost monopolized by the kendo club. Most students were exhausted from mandatory practices, so there weren’t many clubs still actively training after school. This kendo club was also in a position where it borrowed the names of Reiner, Cecil, and Mio just to maintain its existence, and only Kiyoaki and Illia trained diligently every day.

There was not a hint of loneliness. Kiyoaki found immense joy in spending his afternoons alone with Illia in the gym.

“That's not what I meant. But I did manage to win one against you in the sky.”

As he joked lightly, Illia became even more intense in her tone.

“Today’s loss was certainly my mistake. However, the losses before that were due to engine trouble. It wasn’t a difference in skill!”

Kiyoaki recently learned that Illia was quite competitive. And he was also figuring out how to handle her.

“That’s an excuse. It doesn’t hold up on the battlefield.”

“What are you talking about? On the battlefield, I have to look after my own aircraft! I can’t see it at school; I leave everything to the mechanics!”

When he teased her, her face turned bright red as she retorted, revealing a youthful innocence. Although Illia usually had a blank expression, she would change her gaze and become animated when the topic of the sky came up, which made Kiyoaki feel the emotional distance between them had greatly shortened.

After losing in the mock air battle, Illia would often come to Kiyoaki to ask detailed questions about her piloting. It seemed she wanted to know what kind of evasions were the most bothersome from the perspective of the one being chased. Kiyoaki was willing to engage with her, but he knew it would take a while.

“Let’s continue this in the officer’s room. I’m hungry.”

“…Got it. I’ll see you later. I have some questions I want to ask you about today’s air battle.”

Illia put on a serious face and quickly left the gym. Kiyoaki also took off his uniform, showered, and headed to the officer’s room reserved for “The Seven of Eriadore” in the student building.

A month and a half had passed since they became fourth-year students.

Kagura and Balthazar had graduated. Mio had improved a little compared to before, but she still tended to retreat into her shell. Now, only Kiyoaki, Cecil, Reiner, and Illia used the officer’s room. The days of the seven of them laughing and chatting late into the night had passed, and the officer’s room had become quite lonely.

“Good evening… Oh? Is it just you, Illia?”

When Kiyoaki entered the officer’s room in his loungewear, he found Illia sitting alone on the sofa, reading the air combat training manual.

“Yeah. Cecil was here until a moment ago, but she went back to her room because the daytime practice was tough.”

Illia replied curtly without looking up from her book.

She wore a comfortable outfit, just a T-shirt paired with sweatpants.

Recently, Kiyoaki had been seeing Illia in such casual attire more often. Apparently, she didn’t care much about clothing, so Cecil had forced her to go shopping and pick out outfits that suited her. In casual wear, her feminine figure was more apparent than it was in uniform, making Kiyoaki feel a bit flustered at times.

Oblivious to his feelings, Illia looked up from her book.

“Do you want some tea?”

“Oh, yeah, thanks.”

Illia went to the kitchen, poured tea from the pot into a cup, and roughly squeezed some lemon before placing it on the dining table.

“It’s delicious.”

Kiyoaki sat down on the sofa across from Illia, took a sip, and smiled.

“I just made it casually. I can’t compete with Mio.”

Illia blushed slightly and sat up straight on the sofa. She crossed her long legs, arms wrapped around her chest, trying to hide her overly feminine curves, and tightened her expression.

“Now, as for the reason I called you…”

Without any small talk, Illia began in a commanding tone.

“I want you to tell me how you perceived my movements just before I stalled in today’s air battle.”

Kiyoaki had suspected that question would come. What Illia had shown at that time was an unfathomable manoeuvre he had never seen before.

“I thought I had won up to the apex of your manoeuvre. Your wings were outside my sight. But then… you were suspended in mid-air for a moment.”

Illia nodded firmly.

“Yeah. I felt the same. It was as if lift and gravity had perfectly balanced out, and I was in a state of weightlessness. But even in that brief moment, I was able to control the aircraft.”

“It looked like you were spinning freely. I was leaning forward, and you seemed to be facing me while just hanging in mid-air…”

“Did it look that way? …That might be…”

Illia hesitated to speak her next words.

Kiyoaki understood the name of the manoeuvre Illia was about to mention. He also understood why she hesitated to say it.

“Karsten Turn.”

As Kiyoaki takes over the conversation, Illia shoots a piercing glance at him.

“I’ve never seen that technique either. It seems it was only possible for my father, but he would never teach it to me.”

The legendary manoeuvre that raised Illia's father, Karsten Kreischmidt, to the status of “King of the Sky.”

Its existence has been passed down orally in the St Vault Air Force, but no one has succeeded in mastering it, and it is often dismissed as a fantasy technique, much like Masaharu Sakagami’s “Snake Shot.”

Could it be that Illia’s aerial manoeuvre today was the legendary Karsten Turn?

“...The stories say that with the nose aimed at the enemy’s side, it delivers a fatal blow in one strike, but... it’s impossible. You lose your centre of gravity and can’t steer. Just like I did today, you can only stall.”

In Illia’s mind, her father Karsten is deified. The thought of grasping even a thread of his skill seems almost sacrilegious.

“If you hadn’t stalled there, I definitely would have lost.”

“Just before the stall, at that one moment when the controls shouldn’t work, there was a spot where I could steer perfectly. It felt like there was a hole in the sky where gravity was absent... If I had utilized that spot well, I could have maintained my speed while executing a minimal turn. That could allow me to circle around to the enemy’s side in one go...”

“But that’s a pretty dangerous spot, right? It’s where both stalling and disintegration could occur, right? If you had pitched up there, I think you would have disintegrated in mid-air.”

“Yeah. I could feel through the control stick that the aircraft was at its limits. But perhaps the greatest manoeuvres exist in the most dangerous places for an airman...”

Illia ponders this. Kiyoaki, too, is intrigued at the thought of mastering such a technique.

“Snake Shot” and “Karsten Turn.”

If he could master these two techniques, it would no longer be a dream to shoot down Karnasion, the super ace who killed his sister, right before Kiyoaki’s eyes.

After a long silence, Illia lifts her serious expression.

“...I want to try it. It’s worth it. I might get yelled at by the instructor, but... I want to ask for your cooperation.”

“Of course. So we just need to recreate today’s situation, right?”

“Yeah. I’ll be fleeing while you pursue me. After entering a diagonal loop, I want to try a few manoeuvres. I think the adjustment of the foot bar will be the key...”

“Sounds good. But I think while we’re doing that, you might end up losing more.”

“I don’t mind. The results of mock air combat don’t interest me. What matters more is experiencing a high-difficulty manoeuvre now. Plus, if I can master the Karsten Turn, I can catch up quickly.”

Illia states this a bit angrily. The determination on her face is cute, and Kiyoaki finds himself wanting to see more of her expressions, teasingly saying something mischievous.

“You’re asking me nicely, huh? I guess I’ll have to cooperate. But actually, I have a few things I want to try as well.”

“What’s that? Do you have complaints? I wouldn’t mind hearing your requests if you have any.”

“Really?”

“I’m saying I’d listen. Do you think I would lie? If you have something to ask, just say it, and I’ll help if I can.”

“Oh, really? Then what should I do...?”

Kiyoaki contemplates.

What does he want to ask Illia now?

──I want to see her smile.

He thinks of this immediately. Recently, Illia has been showing a variety of expressions, but he has yet to see her smile.

Even when they crossed cumulonimbus clouds in the Eriadore, or when she succeeded in a night landing, or after winning the mock air combat last year, Illia only slightly relaxed her expression but never showed a smile.

──I want to make Illia laugh.

However, just asking her to “smile” probably wouldn’t work. It wouldn’t mean anything to see a forced smile; he wants to see Illia’s true smile, one born from genuine happiness.

That’s right.

“I got my license in April and bought a used bike. I ride it when I go out, but I’ve never had anyone on the back before. I’d like to practice riding with someone on the back.”

“...Me? On the back of your bike? Just sit there?”

“Yeah. We’ll just ride around the island. Easy, right?”

Illia exhales lightly, relieved, apparently expecting a more demanding request.

“That's a cheap request. Is that all? I feel a bit guilty.”

“Oh, really? Then... come in casual clothes! I want you to wear casual clothes!”

Even on her day off, Illia walks around the island in military uniform, showing no hint of femininity for a girl her age. She must have some casual clothes that Cecil made her buy, but no one has seen her wear them.

“Casual clothes, huh... I have some, but I’ve never worn them. Cecil picked them out for me, and there’s never been an opportunity to wear them.”

“Then wear them! Casual clothes, this Sunday at ten o'clock at the parking lot, okay?”

As he urges her with enthusiasm, Illia looks slightly perplexed but nods awkwardly.

“...Alright. If that’s all it takes... I’ll go along with it.”

──A date with Illia!

Kiyoaki barely manages to restrain himself from jumping for joy, nodding back at her with a usual smile.

“Thanks! I’ll be careful not to fall. I’ve never had anyone on the back before.”

“A bike, huh... I’ve never ridden one before, but...”

Illia murmurs while looking up at the ceiling, appearing somewhat doubtful.

Two days later, on a sunny Sunday in May.

Kiyoaki waits for Illia in the parking lot, straddling his beloved bike and warming up the engine.

It’s a blue 250cc bike. He just bought it a month ago, and whenever he has free time on weekends, he rides it around the island for no particular reason.

Dressed in a long-sleeved shirt and jeans, he waits with a fluttering heart when, precisely at the promised time, Illia arrives.

“W-Wait, did I keep you waiting?”

She greets him, looking uncomfortable and turning her face away.

Surprisingly, Illia has done her makeup. Her eyelashes are standing tall, her eyes are accentuated with eyeliner, and her lips are lightly tinted with red.

Kiyoaki beams at her.

“You look great! It really suits you!”

“...Cecil did it. When I told her I was going out with you on the bike, she got all excited... and made me wear this outfit along with the makeup.”

Illia looks down with uncertainty, glancing at her appearance.

A thin white shirt that is slightly see-through. Black slim pants that cling to her legs, and short boots adorned with silver accessories. Both the shirt and pants fit Illia's body perfectly, exuding a refined elegance and a hint of allure.

“You look great! Way cooler than in military uniform!”

“...It's too constricting. The military uniform is much more comfortable.”

Though Illia seems reluctant, the way she is fully dressed up makes her look more like a fashion model than a cadet officer.

──She really is incredibly beautiful...

Kiyoaki knows this, but reaffirming the fact sends his heart racing.

Hiding his pounding heart, he hands Illia a silver half-helmet.

“Okay, please just sit on the back. It’s nice out today, so it’ll definitely feel good.”

Illia casually gathers her hair into a ponytail with a rubber band, puts on the helmet, fastens the chin strap, and mutters softly.

“I don’t know how to get on.”

Though Illia is invincible in the sky, her knowledge of life on the ground is less than that of an average person. In the back seat of the bike, she just needs to hold onto the tandem grips at both sides of the seat. But that would be such a waste of a rare opportunity.

“Tandem riding can be dangerous if we don’t move as one. If you move strangely, we might lose our balance and fall. So, while we’re riding, try to stick as close to me as possible.”

He requests this with utmost seriousness.

This isn’t a lie. There are ways to hold onto the grips, but he simply hasn’t explained them. Justifying to himself internally while looking at Illia, she awkwardly nods.

“Okay, so I just need to stick close to you.”

“Yeah. The faster we go, the closer you can stay, the better.”

There’s no real necessity for this, but at least it’s not a lie.

“Got it. I’ll do my best. I hardly ever ride anything other than airships...”

Illia always studies on her days off, so she rarely goes out to have fun. Like a student who humbly seeks guidance from a teacher, she accepts his straightforward request with a sincerity that feels almost pure.

“Ready?”

“Yeah.”

Illia straddles the back seat with her long legs, awkwardly grasping the hem of Kiyoaki’s shirt.

“Is this okay?”

“Yeah, that’s about right.”

By the way, this is his first time actually carrying someone on the back. He resolves to avoid any accidents as he steps on the gear pedal.

The engine’s roar is quite mild compared to an airship. Illia silently holds the hem of Kiyoaki’s shirt tightly.

They start off slowly, merging onto the public road. The roads on Air Hunt Island are remarkably quiet, with only occasional military vehicles passing by.

With each gear shift, the wind picks up. Illia grips the hem of his shirt even tighter.

Turning his head back, he asks, “The wind feels nice, right?”

“Yeah.”

In the cockpit of an airship, this wind cannot be felt.

“I’m going to speed up. Hold on tight!”

“Okay!”

As he kicks the pedal and shifts to fifth gear, Illia’s arms wrap around Kiyoaki’s waist.

Illia’s warmth and softness radiate against his back. Like a child obeying orders, Illia clings tightly to him.

His heart races. Looking back again, he asks, “Are you scared?”

“Nope.”

Though she puts on a brave face, her voice is a bit tense. The road signs whizzing by in an instant, the large vehicles that suddenly appear from around bends, the body tilting dramatically with each curve—everything is a unique experience of being on the ground.

As they ride, Illia grips him tighter. It feels like her heartbeat syncs with his through his back. He can even discern the differences between her firm and soft areas.

──Illia...

The faster he goes, the closer she feels. The warmth, softness, and breath he feels from her stir his emotions.

“Illia.”

That emotion becomes a call of her name.

“Yeah?”

Illia responds softly, still firmly attached to him.

“Are you scared?”

He throws out the same question like a child.

“I’m not scared.”

Despite her words, her hands around his waist tighten.

──Please let today not end...

Holding onto such a childish wish, he makes a full loop around the island and stops at the Jujiji Cape.

“Great job! Let’s take a break.”

As he smiles at her, Illia dismounts and removes her helmet. Her cheeks are slightly flushed as she says,

“I don’t really understand how to maintain balance.”

“You were completely fine. Thanks to you, I’ve gotten the hang of it.”

“Really? I’m glad to be of help then.”

Illia nods with a serious expression before hesitating, as if she’s gathering her courage.

“Isn’t it a bit improper to ride like that? I mean, being so close…”

“No, not at all! That’s the safest way!”

Kiyoaki is surprised by how much strength he puts into his words.

“...Is that so? Well, if it doesn’t bother you, then I don’t mind…”

Illia trails off, her gaze turning to the ocean.

This is one of the tourist spots on Air Hunt Island. From the edge of the cape, which rises about thirty meters above the sea, they can look down at the vast ocean and the distant Air Hunt Port. Below, the rocks form a diamond shape, with the seawater that seeps into the narrow gaps creating a cross shape, giving the Jujiji Cape its name.

A dozen or so tourists are throwing something toward the cross. Illia watches their figures with a suspicious look. Kiyoaki smiles and says,

“They say if you throw a pesos coin from here and it lands in the cross, your wish will come true.”

“Is that so?”

"Last year, Reiner threw something in there. He was praying for something. He was vague about what he wished for, though."

"…Reiner, huh. I see."

Illia nodded deeply for some reason and took a one-peso coin from her wallet. It seemed she was determined to give it a try.

"It's pretty difficult, you know."

"Yeah, I figured."

She aimed carefully and threw the coin.

The coin struck the rock surface.

"How many did Reiner throw?"

"He hit it on his second try. That guy is surprisingly skilful in strange ways."

Without changing her expression, Illia took out her second coin, aimed, threw, and missed again.

Biting her lip in frustration, she threw the third and fourth coins, but they also missed.

"It's tough, right? I won’t do it since it's a waste of money."

After missing the fifth coin, Illia peeked into her wallet. There were no more coins left. With a disappointed expression, she pulled out a ten-peso bill.

"Change it for me."

"You said it's a waste. Let’s just give up."

"…It’s frustrating. If Reiner can do it, why can’t I? I can’t accept that."

She seemed quite competitive even outside of airships. To calm Illia, who looked like she might stomp her feet in frustration, I gazed out over the sea and stretched my arms overhead.

"It feels nice. Sometimes this kind of thing is good, right? Studying is important, but you also need a change of pace."

Illia looked in the same direction as me, closed her eyes, and breathed in the salty sea breeze.

"Yeah. The wind feels nice. It makes me feel relaxed..."

As she spoke, her tone and expression were softer than usual. Her red hair, swaying in the wind, vividly contrasted with the colours of the sky and sea.

Suddenly, Illia squinted at a corner of the sky. Her tone turned serious again.

"A Flag Ship… It’s a ship type I’ve never seen before."

In the distance, to the southeast, there were silhouettes of an airship fleet. Two large airships formed the centre of a spherical formation, cruising offshore from Air Hunt Port. Judging by the shape of the upper deck, they appeared to be aircraft carriers rather than battleships.

"Last time, there was a new type of battleship here too. This place has completely turned into a fleet relay base."

"Yeah. It seems the navy has been preparing for the southern archipelago conquest for a while now. A lot of new ships with landing gear equipment have arrived..."

Illia was fascinated, unable to take her eyes off the air carrier. In the distant sky, she stared intently at the movements of the carrier-based aircraft taking off from the upper deck.

"I want to see them land. I hope they land soon..."

Although the atmosphere had been pleasant, Illia’s focus was completely consumed by the airships. They stood there for about an hour, witnessing everything from the launching to the landing of the carrier’s aircraft, and Illia nodded in satisfaction.

"I learned a lot. This is a view you can’t see if you don’t leave the school."

"We’ll be doing offshore landing training in the summer too, right? Even just watching was a good preview."

"Yeah. It’s a training that can result in casualties. I wanted to gather as much information as possible beforehand."

In three months, in August, the fourth-year students would embark on a long ocean voyage for carrier landing training. The most challenging aspect of piloting airships is landing on an aircraft carrier. To land on the narrow and short deck while other colleagues wait in the air requires considerable skill.

But right now, I wanted to forget about those tense discussions.

More than anything, I wanted to see Illia as a teenage girl.

"Shall we head back soon? I want to try climbing the mountain path next."

"Hm? Oh, right. We were training for two people."

"There’s a diner at the top of the mountain. Let’s grab something to eat."

"Dining out, huh? That sounds nice for a change."

“Since it's a mountain road, hold on tight so you don’t get thrown off.”

“Got it. I’ll do my best.”

Illia readjusted her helmet and straddled the back seat again.

Kiyoaki emerged onto a rural public road. Until now, he had been traveling along well-maintained coastal highways circling Air Hunt Island, but now he entered a mountain road in the island's central region. The path was narrow and winding, with the surface bare earth and uneven.

The mountains were filled with greenery and sunlight.

The breath of the trees dyed both sides of the road in vibrant green, and the branches overhead intertwined as if traveling through an emerald tunnel. Sunlight filtered through the green canopy, sparkling like powdery snow as it poured down onto Kiyoaki and Illia.

As they dashed through the pale green layers, the scent of earth and fresh foliage filled their chests to the brim. It felt as if the mountain were smiling down at them, a landscape only seen from the ground, not from the sky.

“It feels great!”

“Yeah.”

Illia's response was livelier than usual.

With the light-dappled road ahead, Kiyoaki pressed the accelerator.

The poor road condition caused violent vibrations. At times, the vehicle even lifted off the ground. Each time, Illia's slender hands gripped tightly. The traffic was nearly non-existent, with no oncoming cars, as if they were swimming alone in a sea of green.

Suddenly, the left mountainside dropped away, revealing a view of the sea. Before they knew it, they had exceeded an altitude of one thousand meters, and the vast ocean sparkled below them, reflecting the sunlight.

“Wow, it’s beautiful.”

Illia exclaimed in awe. Although she should be used to views from this height, the scenery while rushing along the ground felt different.

“Yahhooo!”

When Kiyoaki shouted toward the sea, Illia didn’t shout along but leaned her cheek against his back. She gazed at the ocean like a child hugging her favourite pillow and engrossed in a picture book.

Illia trusted Kiyoaki's driving, surrendering her body to him. Just that filled Kiyoaki with happiness, saturating his entire being with new energy.

──Illia, how cute... Why is she so adorable?

He reflected on this deeply. Though she seemed tough and quiet, beneath that mask lay an innocent, almost naive girl.

──If only we could keep driving like this forever...

As another childish desire arose, his stomach growled. It was already past one in the afternoon. Ahead, he spotted a diner he often visited, and he reluctantly began to slow down.

“Here. The cheeseburgers are delicious.”

“Really?”

The large store, resembling a log cabin, had no customers inside, making it just for the two of them. He ordered two cheeseburgers, two sodas, and a potato salad from the familiar female owner and settled into a window-side seat.

The view from the window opened up to the sight of the mountains leading to the sea. Under the May sunlight, the fluffy clouds, ocean, and mountains created a vibrant contrast of white, blue, and green that lifted his spirits.

“It’s calming. What a nice view.”

Illia, sitting across the wooden table, gazed softly out the window. He sensed that she might smile with just a little more encouragement, but that smile didn’t seem likely to come easily. Searching for a topic that would please her, all he could think of were aircraft stories.

After talking about the aviation department for a while, the owner placed a basket on the table. Illia looked puzzled.

“It’s pretty big. I don’t think I can finish it.”

The cheeseburger, as rumoured, came wrapped in partially opened paper. It was stuffed with lettuce, onion, rich cheese, and a thick hamburger patty, standing nearly fifteen centimetres tall—definitely too large for a girl to bite into all at once.

“You squeeze it with the wrapper to make it smaller and eat it. Don’t worry about manners; just open wide and eat.”

To demonstrate, Kiyoaki took the hamburger with both hands, pressed it down with the wrapper to make it more manageable, opened his mouth wide, and took a big bite of the top bun and ingredients.

He chewed; cheeks puffed out like a squirrel. The juice from the freshly cooked hamburger mixed with the gooey cheese, and the crispness of the lettuce and the refreshing onion added to the experience, making a smile involuntarily rise on his face. The contrast of flavours from all the ingredients, including the bun, was nothing short of an artwork.

Watching this, Illia awkwardly lifted her own hamburger. She stared at it with an expression of curiosity, like observing a rare creature, and then squeezed it from both sides. Looking up at Kiyoaki with uncertainty, she opened her mouth and attacked the upper bun.

“Brrt.”

With a strange noise, lettuce, onion, and rich cheese spilled out from the bun. A half-hearted opening caused this mishap.

“Mmm.”

Issuing another odd groan, Illia's eyes darted around as she pulled her face away from the burger. She chewed awkwardly, with cheese stuck to the tip of her nose. Kiyoaki struggled to hold back laughter while observing her. After she finally managed to swallow, her eyes widened.

“It’s delicious!”

She exclaimed in surprise, gazing at the nearly crumbled burger.

“It’s hard to eat, but it’s really good.”

“Glad to hear it. How you eat it doesn’t matter, as long as it tastes good to you.”

“Really? It’s difficult. The filling keeps spilling out.”

Perhaps she was just very hungry; with cheese still on her nose, Illia continued to approach the burger while mumbling. Relieved that she seemed to enjoy it, Kiyoaki also dove back into his meal.

“I finished it all!”

Holding up the empty wrapping, Illia looked astonished at her own feat. Cheese still clung to the tip of her nose.

“Good. I thought you wouldn’t eat something like this.”

“This is my first cheeseburger. But it’s really good. I think I can eat it a bit better next time.”

“Yeah. Let’s come again. And here.”

He handed her a tissue, but Illia looked puzzled. When Kiyoaki laughed and poked his own nose with his finger, she squinted at him before applying the tissue.

“Oh…”

She stared at the cheese stuck to the tissue, bewildered. Then, with a hint of embarrassment, she furrowed her brows.

“…Was it there the whole time?”

“It seems to have gotten there on the first bite.”

“…How mean. You should have told me right away.”

After wiping around her mouth with another tissue, Illia shot him a light glare.

“Were you watching and laughing?”

“I wasn’t laughing. I thought it would be fine to wait until you finished eating.”

“That’s a lie. You were definitely laughing.”

“I really wasn’t.”

He laughed as he denied it, but Illia, feeling a bit embarrassed, wiped her nose with the tissue again.

“You’re a liar. You look harmless like a rabbit at first glance, but you’re actually mean. A black rabbit.”

Saying that, she broke into a shy smile.

──She smiled…!

Though it wasn’t a full-blown grin, it was a face he had never seen before. While mentally doing a victory pose, Kiyoaki served up some potato salad.

“A black rabbit? Is that my nickname? I like it. It’s cute.”

“It sounds like a villain from a fairy tale. It suits you perfectly.”

“Hehe. Since you gave me that nickname, I’ll cherish it. So, can you still eat?”

“Yeah. I can eat slowly.”

Illia gazed down at the served potato salad with sparkling eyes, like a child. Perhaps because she had only eaten in the student cafeteria at the Air Hunt Academy since enrollment, this meal felt new to her.

As she washed down the salad with soda, Kiyoaki relaxed and talked about trivial things.

“Riding a bike is nice sometimes, right? The scenery flows by, and the wind feels good. It’s a different kind of enjoyment from flying.”

Illia poked at the potatoes with her fork.

“Yeah. Since there are objects on the ground, the sensation of speed feels faster than in an aircraft. The bumps and curves in the road are also things you don’t find in the air, and you probably need to maintain focus while cruising.”

Kiyoaki decided to test the waters.

“Do you want to try drive one for yourself?”

A new light shone in Illia’s eyes.

“Just a little.”

Hearing the roar of the internal combustion engine must have made her want to try riding. Kiyoaki sensed a certain anticipation in her demeanour, as if she had been waiting for him to say that.

“I practiced with Reiner at first. I was able to ride in about an hour. You can practice in the parking lot over there, do you want to give it a try?”

“…Is that okay?”

“Of course. It’s fine. Hey, Miss, can we practice riding bikes in the parking lot?”

When Kiyoaki asked, the kind owner smiled brightly.

“Use it as you like. There’s no one here, so it’s fine. I’d be honoured if a future ace pilot used it.”

Since last year’s mock air battle, Kiyoaki and Illia had become celebrities on Air Hunt Island. The owner seemed to recognize Illia from a newspaper or something.

“Thank you! Come on, Illia, we can use it!”

Illia glanced at Kiyoaki and relaxed her cheek tension just a bit.

“Well then, just a little.”

“Yeah, yeah! If it’s Illia, you’ll be able to ride it in no time. It’s easy compared to an airship!”

“We won’t be going on public roads. Just a bit of practice in that parking lot over there.”

Saying this, Illia quickly finished the remaining salad and gulped down her soda.

“Thanks for the meal! Now, let me use it for a bit.”

“Sure! Come back again!”

After splitting the lunch bill and thanking the owner, they headed to the diner’s parking lot. The spacious lot could accommodate thirty cars, but only the owner’s vehicle was parked there.

“Alright, get on. We’ll start from turning on the engine.”

“Okay.”

Illia obediently got on and learned how to operate the bike from Kiyoaki, starting the engine.

“The gear is the pedal, and the throttle is on the right grip, right?”

“Wait, you know that?”

“I was watching you ride. I wasn’t just admiring the scenery.”

“Impressive. Do you understand the clutch?”

“It’s either the right or left lever... it’s the left. The right one is the brake.”

“Maybe you won’t need much practice. Stepping on the pedal puts it in first gear, and lifting your toe changes the gear up.”

“Got it. I want to get a feel for the engine output first.”

With a firm voice, Illia removed the centre stand, engaged the clutch, and started moving in first gear.

“Whoa, whoa!”

She let out a cheerful voice as she wobbled and started moving. It was only natural she couldn’t ride smoothly right away, and she seemed a bit unsteady.

“Go for it, Illia!”

I waved my hand encouragingly from behind her.

“Don’t mock me!”

Without even looking back, Illia shot back while unsteadily navigating. It seemed she was embarrassed to have her lack of skill on display. However, since she was used to piloting an airship, her riding gradually became smoother.

“Gear change!”

I announced loudly, and Illia shifted to second gear. Suddenly, the bike jolted, but she adjusted the throttle and stabilized it.

“Great, great!”

As Kiyoaki clapped, Illia zoomed around the parking lot, shouting, “Gear change!” as if communicating with a mechanic. I wasn’t sure, but it might have been a way to hide her embarrassment. This time, she accelerated without jolting and began to execute beautiful circular manoeuvres proudly.

“How about that!”

Like a cowboy who just tamed a wild horse, Illia looked at Kiyoaki with a vibrant expression.

“You're amazing, Illia! So cool!”

When I praised her, her face brightened. It wasn’t a full smile, but it was the happiest I had ever seen her.

“I’ve got the hang of it! I understand the basics now!”

After going around the lot about five times, she slowed down and stopped next to Kiyoaki, her eyes sparkling with joy. Once she grasped the changes in engine output with gear shifts, it wouldn’t be too hard for Illia.

“Yeah, at this rate, if you ride for another hour, you’ll have it completely down. You really are incredible; you might get your license in no time.”

“A bike license, huh... I’m starting to want one. Can I ride a bit more?”

“Of course! Ride as much as you want until you’re satisfied.”

“Thank you! It’s fun once you get the hang of it. I’m getting greedy.”

Her eyes sparkled as she looked out at the scenery. Kiyoaki had a hunch about what Illia would do an hour later.

“Let’s speed up!”

An hour later, while speeding down the public road at eighty kilometres per hour, Illia shouted to Kiyoaki in the back seat.

“Um, maybe it’s better to follow the speed limit...”

“Hold on tight! I’m getting the hang of cornering!”

Trembling, Kiyoaki wrapped his arms around Illia’s waist. He felt happy being so close to her, but at the same time, there was fear.

The gear shifted up. The engine roared. The trees blurred into lines and soon became a green curtain.

Ahead, a large curve approached.

The bike tilted significantly. A strong centrifugal force pressed him against the opposite side.

Illia scraped her left knee against the ground as she navigated through the curve.

“Haha! How about that? Not bad, right?!”

She laughed triumphantly. Kiyoaki resigned himself to fate, clinging tightly so as not to hinder Illia’s driving.

Normally, being this close would confuse or anger Illia, but it didn’t seem to bother her now. It appeared that like Kiyoaki, she transformed when gripping the handlebars.

She skilfully maneuverer through the difficult series of hairpin turns, smoothly accelerating down the slope.

Soon...

“The sea!”

Illia exclaimed with joy. They had reached the coastal road after descending the narrow mountain path.

Suddenly, the horizon opened up in a brilliant blue, the lanes widened, and the sun poured down in a straight line. The sense of liberation pushed her to open the throttle even more.

At double the legal speed, Illia sped along the coastal road. If they were caught, it could mean expulsion. However, Kiyoaki remained silent, content to be a passenger.

“Let’s go around again!”

“Go ahead.”

After completing one lap around Air Hunt Island, Illia was still not satisfied. She made a second lap, a third lap, riding her steel steed like a knight of old, never tiring.

Eventually, they reached an observation deck near the mountain summit. The crimson sun was already painting the sea a deep red.

“Ah, that was fun! Riding on the ground is interesting too; the wind feels great!”

Illia said with satisfaction, stretching her arms up while gazing down at the sprawling Air Hunt Island. The thin shirt she wore clung to her sweat-drenched body. Kiyoaki’s hands, which had been wrapped around her waist the whole time, were also damp.

“Good job! You’re amazing; you might even be better than me now.”

“That’s not true. There are still things I haven’t completely grasped. But yeah, once I get a little more used to it, I want to race and see who’s faster.”

Turning to Kiyoaki, Illia said this.

“I don’t want to race. I’d rather ride slowly together.”

When Kiyoaki proposed this, Illia momentarily wore a distant expression.

“Is that so? That sounds like you. Racing would be more exciting.”

Then she smiled.

“But that could be nice too. A leisurely ride together on a day off. That doesn’t sound bad.”

It was the first time Kiyoaki saw Illia smile.

The innocent girl’s smile had been hidden beneath the iron mask she wore every day.

If he took three steps forward, extended his arms, and hugged Illia as he had done from the back seat of the bike, how would she react?

Such thoughts surged strongly, breaking free from reason.

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

Illia smiled, tilting her head slightly.

“N-No, it’s nothing.”

Coming back to himself, Kiyoaki hurriedly denied it. Illia laughed mischievously.

“You had a funny face. You make interesting expressions.”

“R-Really? I didn’t notice.”

“If there was a mirror, I’d show you. You had a spaced-out look.”

Illia turned away again, holding her hair against the wind as she looked down at the fading Air Hunt Island.

He called out to her back.

“Hey, Illia.”

“Yeah?”

"Can I invite you again?"

Illia looked back at me once more, her expression a bit stiff.

But…

"Sure."

She smiled innocently.

"I want to eat a cheeseburger again. And I want to run on the beach. In the summer, the wind will feel even better. I'm looking forward to it."

Against the backdrop of the sunset, Illia's smile pierced deep into Kiyoaki's heart, more precisely than ever before, like an arrow that could never be pulled out again.

From the centre that was pierced, ripples spread out, coursing through Kiyoaki's insides. Everything that had been submerged until now was washed away, as something new began to fill the surface of his heart.

—I want to make Illia mine.

—Mine alone.

His heart whispered that against its will. Unless that desire was fulfilled, the heart that had been pierced would continue to bleed. While watching the fading sunset and Illia, Kiyoaki felt that instinctively.

When they returned to the parking lot of the Air Hunt Officer Academy, the sun had already set, and the gas lamps on the campus were lit. He turned off the engine and removed his helmet.

"Thank you for today; I really had fun."

"Me too. It was such a nice distraction. I haven't had this much fun in a while."

Illia, looking soft and gentle, seemed like a different person from before. It felt a bit wasteful to part ways like this, so Kiyoaki searched for words, glancing into the empty space, when he suddenly felt something was off.

"Huh…?"

He thought he saw someone beyond the parking lot's fence, in the trees, looking this way. But straining his eyes into the dark, he saw no one.

"What’s wrong?"

"Oh, it's nothing…"

He brushed it off and turned back to Illia, smiling. It was probably just his imagination.

"…Well then… goodnight. Let's go again next time."

"Yeah. Goodnight. I broke a good sweat; I think I’ll sleep well tonight."

They waved lightly to each other before parting ways.

As Illia walked alone towards the girls' dorm, she savoured the events of the day, slowly chewing over them.

Embarrassment, happiness, warmth, and shyness swirled inside her, and for some reason, it transformed into warmth, making her steps light. This was her first experience like this. Her heart's workings, which didn't go as she wished, were frustrating yet oddly pleasant.

She could still feel Kiyoaki's hands on her stomach and back.

Under normal circumstances, she would have felt repulsion at being that close to a man, but today, she didn’t feel even the slightest bit of that. Rather, a part of her even wished for it to happen more strongly. It was a shameful and indecent thought, yet she was also surprised at herself for feeling this way.

"Sakagami."

Walking, she whispered his name to herself.

"Kiyoaki."

Calling his first name, she indulged in the pleasure of it. If someone saw her, they might think she was suspicious, but the campus was dark and empty.

"Black Rabbit."

She murmured the nickname she had just given him. It seemed harmless and meek, yet sometimes a bit wicked—a fitting nickname for Kiyoaki. Just as she was pleased with that thought, a lightning bolt flashed through her mind.

"?!"

Startled, she stopped walking.

—Black Rabbit.

Somewhere, she felt she had seen that before. Someone had that kind of nose art.

"…Ah."

She remembered. During the single enemy air raid on the Eriadore airship, she had seen a strangely realistic dream while on Cameron Island.

Illia was flying in a future fighter jet above a burning city. At that moment, the nose art of the enemy plane she shot down while crying was a black rabbit.

Could that black rabbit be…?

"…Ridiculous…"

She shook off the thought, snapping back to reality. It was just an event in a dream. Although it had left a strong impression due to its strange realism, dreams could not become reality.

Kiyoaki was her friend. The Akitsu Federation and the St Vault Empire had formed a military alliance and were cooperating to launch an attack on Hydrabard. There was no longer any benefit to fighting each other.

"It’s impossible, silly…"

Muttering to herself, Illia resumed walking. While she felt happy, there was also a vague sense of foreboding simmering within her.

In the shadows of the trees near the parking lot, Mio crouched down.

The parking lot was now empty, with only Kiyoaki's bike parked there.

Night was coming soon. She needed to return to the girls' dorm. But for now, she couldn't seem to move from here. She needed to calm the storm of emotions swirling within her before going back.

Earlier, when she happened to pass by, she saw a two-person bike enter the parking lot. The moment she realized it was Kiyoaki and Illia, she reflexively hid in the shadows of the trees.

It was pathetic, but she couldn’t help but secretly peek at the two of them from behind the tree trunk.

Even from a distance, it was clear they looked intimate.

She could tell that Illia had opened her heart to Kiyoaki from her expression.

Seeing the two of them illuminated by the gas lamp's light, Mio's heart shattered.

She instinctively crouched down, unable to take her eyes off them.

The two of them exchanged words happily and waved goodbye before parting ways.

Illia walked away in casual clothes she would never normally wear, looking happy, with a light and bouncy step.

They must have gone on a date on the bike. It was obvious from their intimate demeanour that they had a great time.

Kiyoaki and Illia.

Both had fathers who were shot down in battle, tied together by fate. They had been featured countless times in the media, both possessing exceptional talent as airship pilots, and they honed their skills every day through duels.

Because they bore the same burdens, they surely understood each other better than anyone else. As time passed, they would grow closer.

Inside her stomach, chest, and head, a dark, hot, heavy sensation filled her. It felt painfully burning as if every cell in her body was going to be scorched.

She understood that the source of the pain was jealousy.

She knew she had no right to be jealous anymore.

Mio, still crouching, tried to convince herself.

—Illia deserves Kiyoaki far more than I do.

—Much more than the traitor that I am.

—Illia is much more suited for Kiyoaki.

She tried to reason with herself, but countless painful arrows continued to ricochet inside her body. She genuinely worried that a pool of blood might form at her feet. The pain was that intense.

Her heart was beyond her control.

"Ugh…"

She couldn’t hold back and groaned. Even after the two figures disappeared from the parking lot, Mio remained crouched, enduring the pain.

Tears rolled down her cheeks.

She couldn’t stop them. She wiped the tears away with her arm while still crouched.

It was only natural that she had avoided Kiyoaki for nearly half a year. And yet, crying out of jealousy for Illia's relationship felt pathetic.

But…

—It’s fine. No one is watching.

—Just for now, it’s okay to cry like this.

She vowed she would never cry like this again, yet at this moment, she wanted to allow herself that weakness. It was a pitiful, embarrassing way to cry, and if anyone saw her, they would surely laugh. But unless she turned that pain into tears, it felt like she would die from the hurt.

"Ugh… ugh…"

Like a child, Mio sobbed. Water poured from her face. The handkerchief she used to wipe her face became so wet that it dripped when she squeezed it.

This was the last time, she firmly vowed in her heart that she wouldn’t cry again, as she tried to wash away all her overwhelming emotions with tears.

Suddenly, the scene of the canola flower field on Messus Island resurfaced in her memory.

"I’m Kiyoaki’s bride!"

Wearing a tiara made of canola flowers, she had declared it in the summer, feeling like a princess.

"Yeah, I’ll become a pilot and marry Mio."

Forced words from Kiyoaki.

“Don’t cheat on me! We promised we’d get married!”

There was nothing to fear during that summer when I was twelve. I believed without a doubt that I would someday marry Kiyoaki, unaware of what awaited me ahead.

── I can’t go back now.

I chose family over comrades, weighing them in a balance, and I don’t think I made the wrong choice.

I had no choice but to pick one, and I chose that one.

I couldn’t abandon my stepfather, ensnared in interests, nor could I leave behind my brothers and sisters who became spies to protect each other. I didn’t want to see Dominic, Kazuki, and Bonita suffer like this.

So surely, this is for the best.

Even with a stepfather like that, if he hadn’t taken me in, I would have died in a detention camp. He is the one who gave me a life.

── This is the natural consequence.

From now on, Kiyoaki and Illia will walk the path toward glory as the future kings of aerial combat.

A bright and hopeful, radiant future awaits.

In contrast, the path I walk is one of betrayal, mired in deception and trickery.

If that’s the case, at least.

── I don’t want to be hated by Kiyoaki.

── So I’ll just disappear like this…

I want to remain, if only as a faint memory in the corner of Kiyoaki’s heart. To do that, I have to slowly fade away from before him.

Not in an unnatural way, but gradually, letting time take its course.

Eventually, I’ll be downgraded from being a comrade to a classmate, then to an acquaintance, and eventually become like a stranger passing by… Until I’m buried among the many people Kiyoaki will meet in the future, so that he won’t even remember me unless he consciously tries.

── That’s how I will disappear.

Telling myself that, Mio curled up and continued to cry. She thought it would be nice if her body, heart, and all past memories could dissolve into tears and be absorbed by the ground.