Partner Swapping
With so many injured from the partner swapping and the bugs showing unusual activity, they needed every available hand. Was that why? Karen couldn't bring herself to stop it. Him swapping with Seres, that is.
"…Karen. You really okay with this?"
Asuna, who had been watching from the side, spoke up.
"Messing up the coupling wavelength you've finally tuned with swapping would be a problem, right? Your body's not gonna take that long to recover anyway."
"……"
Was Asuna thinking the same thing? Karen gave a wry smile.
Asuna was right. Sure, her coupling compatibility was still the worst compared to the other pilots, but it was a fact that her wavelength had improved a lot since before. With every battle, it matched a little more bit by bit.
……So yeah, it would be a lie to say this didn't feel uncomfortable. What was the word? Like all the effort they'd built up so far was going down the drain. Their match rate was already low, and suddenly swapping now….
…What the hell is that guy thinking.
No, this wouldn't do. She couldn't stand it. Irritation bubbled up in Karen.
What was the point of all that hardship tuning the wavelength if the oblivious guy wouldn't cooperate? And the partner was none other than Seres. If Netoru had any sense, he couldn't miss how wary she was of him. And yet he could just casually suggest swapping like that?
No, forget that—shouldn't he at least talk to her first before deciding on a swap?
…She harbored those complaints inwardly, but Karen forced a smile and said, "…Honestly, I'm most worried about Seres. Netoru's piloting is so reckless. Even I come out barely breathing every time."
"…Ugh. Yeah, it is pretty wild."
Asuna nodded in agreement.
Rien and Asuna hadn't suggested swapping with Netoru for a reason. Coupling wavelength aside, honestly, no one else in the unit could handle him except Karen. Too big a skill gap, and it would backfire. The others were still way too green to keep up with Netoru.
As her thoughts reached that point, …Seres.
Karen gazed at Seres's Holy Knight, which evoked the image of a gallant knight, her expression turning complicated. She'd thought she was the only one in the unit who could handle Netoru, but was that really the right call?
Deep down, Karen knew it. No, she couldn't not know. Netoru's skill was far beyond what she imagined. And that he wasn't satisfied with her.
She was still immature too. Wasn't she struggling just to follow his lead? She was the only one exhausted after every fight. Netoru had never shown a hint of fatigue.
A one-sided coupling partnership wasn't good. It needed to be parallel, not vertical. If they couldn't rely on each other, the relationship would inevitably creak.
In pure terms of ability, Seres might actually be the best match for Netoru. Even if she'd been kicked out of the knight order, her skills remained top-notch. As a female pilot, she had to be way better than Karen, who'd only been trained by the institute.
But would Seres really be any different? That was hard to say for sure.
It was kept secret from the rest of the unit, but Karen, Asuna, and a few others knew. Seres had one fatal flaw.
…Misandry.
She seemed gentle and soft-spoken on the surface, but underneath lurked a deep hatred of men. That's why she avoided coupling with Chandler, even after knowing him so long.
Thinking of Seres's personality like that, how could she not worry? And with Netoru's personality on top… No matter how she sliced it, those two were a terrible match.
"Wait a sec! Rin! Hold up! You can't just leave me and go first!"
A boisterous voice snapped Karen out of her reverie. Looking around, she spotted Rin and Ran hustling about.
The twins had been excluded from the swapping due to their special coupling bond. So why were they rushing here…?
Karen called out to Rin, who was climbing into her Holy Knight. "Rin, you heading out?"
"Huh? Yeah, pretty much!"
Rin hopped into the cockpit with spry movements and replied, then sealed it shut as Ran entered. Soon after, Ran's Holy Knight's eyes flashed as it began to move.
Watching Ran's Holy Knight, Karen turned back to Seres's. "……"
As expected, the coupling had succeeded. Seres's Holy Knight, which had been still for a while, started moving too.
Karen watched with worried eyes.
2.
Thanks to being mid-coupling at the perfect time, Netoru took Seres's Holy Knight straight out on sortie.
The platoons had been reorganized as unit strength dwindled. Naturally, 5th Platoon had been disbanded and absorbed into others.
…Well, guess I'm done babysitting.
He was still in the same platoon as Pera and Kyoko, but at least he wouldn't have to wrangle the rowdy brats alone. What a relief. How annoying had they been….
……Or so he thought, right then—
The voice of a girl even younger-sounding than the 5th Platoon kids connected over the voice channel. Rin, no doubt. Still the noisy brat. He still couldn't believe she was the same age as Karen.
"Yeah, can't you tell?"
Was it that shocking? Rin's voice was full of disbelief. She kept yapping on with more nonsense, but Ran shut her down.
As Rin quieted down, Ran continued.
Seres was 2nd Platoon's platoon leader. That's why Rien had rushed to check the coupling results with the two mid-swap. If it was bad, they'd need a new leader.
No answer from Seres, so Ran tried again. But Seres stayed silent, as if she hadn't heard. She just sat there in the cockpit, lips pressed tight.
What was with this woman? Ever since coupling, Seres had been spacing out, just absorbing Netoru's mana and moving the Holy Knight. She looked like a soulless doll.
Netoru shut all the connected voice channels and narrowed his eyes at her behavior.
"Seres, snap out of it. What the hell's the platoon leader doing?"
"……"
No response. Ignoring him? Or actually not hearing?
He wouldn't tolerate daydreaming in combat, so without hesitation, he grabbed Seres's control stick and yanked it up.
"Kyaaah!?"
The recoil made her huge chest heave as her back arched, finally snapping her back to reality. With a scream, Seres slowly turned around.
"Wh-what… why all of a sudden?"
Her startled purple eyes trembled. The eyes of a frightened woman gauging his reaction.
Netoru stared into her fearful eyes, his own narrowing as he cocked his head sideways.
"Why? Seres. You seriously asking 'cause you don't know?"
"Th-that's…."
Seres averted her gaze, eyes dropping to the floor. Then she started sniffling again.
"……"
Netoru was baffled. What the hell was up with this woman all of a sudden? Her old snippy attitude would have been preferable.
"Tch."
"…Eek!"
Just a light click of his tongue, and Seres flinched like startled, turning to peek at him again.
Netoru said nothing to that.
"Eek…. Hic!"
Instead, he gripped the control stick hard and ramped up the output. Seres let out a shallow groan, shooting him a dissatisfied look—but when their eyes met, she naturally looked away again.
Karen would've said something, for sure. Why was Seres so cowed? Had he done something that brutal?
Netoru replayed what had happened. Seres had started the power play during coupling. Sure, he'd overreacted a bit, but that shouldn't break her like this.
…Can't fight properly like this.
He had plenty to say, but combat was imminent. So Netoru sighed and said, "Seres. I'll handle platoon command. That cool?"
Seres nodded weakly. But her eyes were still red. At this point, it was getting scary. If she kept sniffling like this back to base….
It wouldn't end quietly. Even for Netoru, it'd be serious trouble. She was popular with the unit, after all. Even Rien's reaction was unpredictable. This was the military, and a commander's authority was absolute.
Netoru sighed again and added, "…Seres. How long you gonna cry?"
"I'm not crying. It's just…."
Don't even try hiding it. Netoru sighed once more. He missed Karen right then.