Observation Tower 1
These were memories that had grown hazy before she knew it. Or rather, memories she'd desperately tried to forget. In her childhood, life at the academy had been grueling and harsh. It had to be. The instructors were frantic, desperate to churn out as many pilots as possible and ship them off to the front lines. Verbal abuse and beatings were daily occurrences. For Karen, who had been born into a wealthy family and lived without want, the academy's existence was an unending string of hardships she could barely endure. From the day she arrived, she clutched a photo of her deceased parents every night as she went to sleep. Each night, she wondered if it might have been better to die alongside them at the hands of the bugs that day. But people adapt, don't they? Over time, she made friends she could lean on, like Natsuo, and what started with crying, begging, and trembling before the instructors gradually faded away. Before long, she'd grown accustomed to life there.
And with that came the realization. The instructors who terrified the kids were just scared adults like anyone else. They seemed fearless, but in truth, they were more afraid than anyone—of the war raging outside the academy's walls. Once that dawned on the sharper kids, rumors spread like wildfire. The kingdom's done for against the bugs. We'll last days out there at best before dying. No chance of winning this war… Negative talk like that never stopped. Even the seniors on the verge of graduation trembled in fear, including the top students. And so time passed until it was Karen and Natsuo's turn to graduate.
Like the others, they couldn't sleep that night. They held hands and whispered in the dark. What happened to the kids who left before us? Are they dead or alive? Can we survive? What unit will we get assigned to? What's the commander like? The veterans?They'll be good people. It'll be fine. At last, the fearful night ended, and they were assigned to the 393rd Unit in the 39th Sector. Tension was constant, of course. She and Natsuo vowed not to give the veterans any reason to pick on them—advice from the instructors, who warned that getting on the wrong side early made unit life hell. For all their devilish ways, they'd apologized on graduation day before sending them off. It was almost laughable, a blatant attempt to ease their guilt. But she accepted it. The past didn't matter anymore; reality did.
Deep down, she knew she wasn't the type to truly hate anyone. Maybe it was Natsuo's annoyingly kind influence. Anyway, their first impression of the 393rd Unit wasn't great, honestly. The facilities looked hastily slapped together—ramshackle and worn. The academy's training grounds seemed better by comparison. But fortunately, unlike the base, the people were decent. No, better than decent.
On their first day: "Alright, alright! Everyone smile big! We've got some cute rookies for the first time in ages!" Click! As she stood awkwardly with Natsuo and the other newbies she'd just met, the unit's oldest veteran snapped a group photo right away. Before they even knew each other's names? Apparently, it was a long-standing tradition. She learned later the photographer was Kami—the 393rd's ace pilot. Or maybe she'd sensed it instinctively. He was the unit's core. For Karen, it was a huge relief. Unlike the instructors, his easy smile and relaxed vibe felt like the ideal adult she'd dreamed of at the academy. Just watching him inspired trust. He was popular for a reason—everyone liked him. They'd all been saved by him at least once. Even when they grumbled about him being a pain, they listened when he spoke.
That first-day group photo ended up decorating the unit's mess hall, part of a long row lining the walls. Walking past, seeing all those unfamiliar faces, Karen found herself relaxing and smiling at the warm atmosphere in the shots. Yeah, this unit's not bad. It'll be okay. It felt like unexpected luck. Time flowed on, and she and Natsuo settled into unit life.
2. That day must have started like any other, on a mission with the squad. But where did it go wrong? Kaboom! Explosions and gunfire screamed through the air. Endless shelling sent dirt fountains erupting around them.
—Fall back! Everyone, get out of there now! Damn incompetents! Kami, what the hell are you doing? You too, get out! You trying to die!?
Amid the roaring chaos, she came to—Commander Rien barking urgent orders. In her foggy mind, Karen wondered why she'd blacked out. Her head wouldn't think straight, blood loss probably, and her whole body throbbed. Breathing hurt her lungs. But she pieced it together. …Right. We just took a direct hit from a Spider shell.
Snapping her eyes open, she scanned around. The battle raged on, but her Holy Knight was combat-ineffective. Its side was half-blown off, one arm lying mangled on the ground in a pool of red. Lucky, maybe? Surviving with just a torn arm. A bit more to the right, and the cockpit would've exploded. Natsuo must've twisted them away at the last second.
That thought led to: "…Natsuo?" Startled, she turned. Relief—he was fine, just out cold. "Natsuo… wake up." Biting her lip against the pain, she shook him. Without her coupling partner conscious, the Holy Knight was dead weight. One arm gone, but legs intact—if he woke, they could move.
Then—Thud-thud-thud. Bugs approaching. Heavy footsteps from the massive armed beast. Frozen like a broken doll, Karen spotted it: a Mantis, its scythe-like arms wielding eerie high-frequency blades.
Cold sweat trickled down her spine as she shuddered. Her black eyes tracked the blade rising slowly. When that drops, I'm dead. No scream escaped—just a hollow murmur. "…Am I dying here?" She'd ignored it, but death overflowed around her. Squad Holy Knights lay shattered across the field, including her classmates'. Red blood oozed from ruptured hulls, mixed with pilot guts no doubt. Horrific. Is this the battlefield the instructors truly feared? Recalling their forgotten faces, she closed her eyes, accepting death.
—Karen, you okay? Not the Mantis blade, but a warm voice full of worry. Opening her eyes, she saw a Holy Knight blocking it. "…Kami bro."
—How's Natsuo? Kid okay? Even fending off the Mantis, he checked first. Karen nodded. "Yeah. Bumped his head a bit, but he's fine…"
—Good. Wake him and run. We'll hold their attention. "Wait, then you and Sanae…"
—Karen. Who're you worrying about, chick? Forget who we are? "…"
The last voice was Kami's partner, Sanae—the self-proclaimed ace couple of the 393rd. Her lively tone unchanged. But Karen knew it was all an act, laced with lies. How could it not be? Sanae's Holy Knight was a wreck—covered in wounds, bleeding everywhere, nothing intact. Fighting like that? They should be the ones running. Karen's lips trembled. She should say something, but couldn't. Pragmatically, the aces surviving helped the unit more than rookies like her and Natsuo. But she couldn't voice it. Too scared of dying to reject their kindness.
And as if reading her: —Karen. Leave this to the adults. Not sending kids to die here. Kami said it, and that day, Karen and Natsuo survived. Half a year after joining the 393rd—unfortunately, on Karen's birthday.
3. A sad dream. Disappointed in her powerless self, yet relieved to be alive—selfish memories. Maybe that's why, even unconsciously, tears welled up from her chest, unstoppable. Then, something hotter than tears brushed her cheek. Startled, she snapped her eyes open to pitch blackness. Where am I? Thought it was still a dream, but the damp chill on her back said no. Instinctively wriggling to escape: "…Hold on, don't move."
Netoru's weary voice, right in front of her nose. She'd felt something pinning her—his body, apparently. Obeying: "…Ngh?" His hand groped her breast, startling a yelp. Squish-squish… deliberate squeezes. What the— Narrowing her eyes in disbelief, seconds later he grinned slyly. "Oops, that was an accident."
"You joking right now?"
"Can't help it. Too cramped here."
"W-wait… Ah… d-don't touch!"
"Sorry, bear with it. Just shifting position."
Trapped somewhere tight. Feeling his body press hard against her chest, Karen gathered mana. Need to see where we are. Netoru sounded surprised. "…What? You know magic too?"
"Nothing impressive, just basics." Knowledge from her once-wealthy parents. Not Rien-level, but handy daily spells mastered.
—Light, come forth. A simple incantation, and a white orb bloomed in her hand. Darkness receded, revealing their surroundings. Tension eased as she looked up, wondering what Netoru was doing.
"……"
She froze. No choice. Netoru was covered in blood.
"…You."
Easy to guess why—protecting her. In the narrow space lit bright by her orb, he'd braced the collapsed earth with his back. Their eyes met; he asked quietly, "Karen. You okay?"
Who should be asking that? Speechless at his shameless calm, she worked her lips. That hot splash waking her? His blood, probably.
