(The enthusiasm from everyone in the review section had really been high. Yi Zui was excited, but also deeply helpless. It wasn't that Yi Zui didn't want to release more chapters every day, but the baby was still too young and completely unable to take care of itself, so Yi Zui had to watch over the baby almost constantly. Before, the baby's mother stayed home to look after the baby while Yi Zui worked, so there had been more time. But because the baby's mother felt stifled and exhausted staying at home every day, they switched roles: Yi Zui quit work to care for the baby at home, while the baby's mother went to work. So Yi Zui could only find a little time each night to write. The baby woke up early, getting up at eight or nine every morning, so Yi Zui had to get up too, then start changing diapers, washing the baby's bottom, changing clothes, making breakfast... Fellow full-time dads should understand, right!!!! (┬＿┬))
After Mwu left, Xiao Ran sat silently in the captain's seat for a long time, his mind chaotically producing thoughts he should and shouldn't have had. From time to time, he would let out a foolish chuckle or a self-pitying sigh, making the other personnel on bridge duty feel their scalps tingle as they watched him.
"What do you think the teacher is doing?" Kazui quietly walked over to Tolle, who was on duty with him. Looking at Xiao Ran, whose face held a jumble of expressions and who had clearly sunk into his own world, he softly asked Tolle.
Tolle scratched his head and said awkwardly, "Probably... you know... that."
Kazui nudged Tolle, displeasure written across his face. "What do you mean, that?"
"Come on, it's written all over the teacher's face and you still don't get it? He's definitely fallen for someone." Tolle gave Kazui a speechless look and lectured him with the air of someone experienced. "Back when Miriallia and I weren't together yet, I was just like that too. It's obvious you've never dated anyone."
"I think it's the captain. The captain asks Lieutenant Xiao about everything, and when the two of them talk, they keep their voices so low, like they're afraid someone will hear them."
"I think it's Ensign Nataru. The way they argue really has the style of a couple."
"Could it be Captain Mu? I've seen Lieutenant Xiao often drag Captain Mu off somewhere, and I have no idea what they do."
"Mm-hmm, those all make sense. But I still think Lieutenant Xiao with the captain, and Ensign Nataru with Captain Mu, would be more reasonable."
Tolle and Kazui nodded along in agreement, but neither of them had said anything. So where had those voices come from? Tolle and Kazui suddenly realized it and instantly turned toward the source. Seeing the four people who had abruptly appeared, their expressions immediately froze.
The purple-haired young man Arnold, the strongest helmsman in all of SEED without question, was responsible for piloting. The brown-haired young man Jackie was the controller. The fat man Rommel handled firing control. Finally, there was Dalida, a curly-haired man with glasses. The four men stood behind Tolle and Kazui, looking deeply contemplative as they occasionally offered their own opinions.
Kazui pointed at the four of them and opened his mouth to shout, but in the very next second, the four gossipmongers covered his mouth and pinned him to the floor. "Shh, keep it down!"
"Yeah, yeah." Tolle sighed and helplessly lowered his head.
Xiao Ran, already immersed in his own world, did not notice the farce beside him. Nor did he know that after the farce, the six of them had huddled together to gossip more fiercely than a group of women. If General Harborton's Shuttlecraft had not been about to arrive at the Archangel, those six bored people might have gone on forever.
"Bridge, General Harborton's Shuttlecraft is about to arrive. Open the second hangar and prepare to receive it. Personnel on duty are to remain at their stations and stay alert. Lieutenant Xiao Ran, upon receiving this message, proceed immediately to the isolation bay in the second hangar."
Bargyll's voice over the broadcast seemed to possess magic, instantly transforming the bridge from a relaxed atmosphere to a tense one. The people who had been chatting and gossiping scattered at once, returning to their seats and immediately getting to work. Xiao Ran's chaotic thoughts were likewise interrupted by Bargyll's voice. He stood up, sighed softly, and left the bridge.
By the time he reached his destination a few minutes later, Kira, Miriallia, and Sai, the students who were not on duty, were already standing in a row behind Mwu, Bargyll, and Mu. But what Xiao Ran had never expected was that there were also over a dozen young people wearing maintenance uniforms there.
Frowning, Xiao Ran lightly scratched the tip of his nose before remembering what these young people were about. "I didn't realize so many of the people Kira rescued were students from the Industrial Academy. Did they stay aboard because they didn't have discharge certificates or something like that?"
The sound of footsteps echoed through the quiet space, causing nearly everyone waiting there to turn their heads. Almost twenty pairs of eyes fixed on Xiao Ran at once, making him smile somewhat awkwardly. "Sorry, I'm a little late. The elevator down seemed to be busy."
"Hmph." Bargyll turned her head away, then faced forward again, staring straight at the small Shuttlecraft slowly docking beyond the isolation bay.
Mu waved at Xiao Ran, signaling for him to come over. However, Xiao Ran looked at the white military uniforms worn by the three people standing together, then looked at his own entirely different outfit. In the end, he pointed in Kira's direction and walked over there instead.
Seeing Xiao Ran's actions, Mu merely shrugged and smiled, then nodded and turned around. Mwu watched Xiao Ran move away and also gave a slight nod and smile.
After Xiao Ran took his place beside Kira, Miriallia quietly spoke up. "Teacher, do you think we'll really be able to leave? We haven't seen our parents in so long, and we don't even know how they're doing."
Xiao Ran smiled as he replied, "There shouldn't be a problem. General Harborton is one of the rare clear-headed and reasonable people in the Earth Force. He won't make things difficult for us, so don't worry."
"If the teacher says so, then I'm relieved." Miriallia patted her chest and smiled. Sai, standing beside her, also smiled in relief. Only Kira remained troubled from beginning to end.
Seeing Kira's expression, Xiao Ran knew that Kira was worried the Earth Force would refuse to let him leave. Perhaps he was also a little lost, uncertain whether he should continue piloting the Gundam.
Knowing that, Xiao Ran did not say anything. In Xiao Ran's view, everything Kira was thinking about was pointless, because there was no chance for him to leave the ship at all. Flay would definitely stay aboard the Archangel, Sai would stay with Flay, and as their friends, Miriallia, Tolle, and Kazui naturally would not leave either. When battle came, Kira was not the kind of person who would abandon his friends.
In short, as long as Xiao Ran had not changed the current state of events, the plot would inevitably continue along its predetermined course.
When the isolation bay opened, General Harborton, dressed in a crisp military uniform, slowly stepped down from the Shuttlecraft. Seeing his old subordinates and old acquaintances safe and sound, he unconsciously revealed a faint smile. After nodding, he walked over to Mwu and the other two.
Seeing Harborton, both her superior and elder, Mwu could not help but show some excitement. "Salute!"
Harborton returned everyone's salute with a smile. Only after they lowered their hands did he begin speaking with Mwu and the other two. Their voices were neither loud nor quiet, but in such a silent environment, Xiao Ran and the others standing behind them could hear every word clearly. Though he could hear them, Xiao Ran's eyes were completely unfocused as he stared ahead.
For once, Xiao Ran was thinking of nothing at all. As he blankly stared straight ahead, he suddenly felt the light before him dim. Coming back to himself, he saw General Harborton standing before him and the others with his hands behind his back and a smile on his face.
"You are the students from Heliopolis, and you are the academy teacher?" General Harborton looked at the students, then at Xiao Ran with a kind smile. Without waiting for anyone to answer, he continued, "We have already confirmed news of your families. They are all safe and sound. We have also informed your families of your situation. I believe you will soon be able to leave here and reunite with them."
"That's great!" The students in maintenance uniforms behind Xiao Ran could not hold back their cheers. They jumped, hugged each other, and every face was filled with happy smiles. Even Kira, who had been troubled all this time, relaxed considerably and unconsciously smiled.
Xiao Ran smiled as well. Still smiling, he turned around to look at the student soldiers behind him, seemingly sharing in everyone's happiness. Yet beneath that smile, his gentle eyes slowly swept across every person, especially the expressions on the students' faces.
When he saw that the smiles on the student soldiers' faces were genuine rather than forced or performed, Xiao Ran finally relaxed slightly.
After the students finished celebrating, Harborton, who had not interrupted them, spoke again. "Thank you for doing your utmost to help the Archangel reach this place despite such terrible circumstances. Thank you for everything you did for the Archangel. Thank you."
Harborton's words immediately left most of the students present somewhat stunned. But that quickly turned into excitement and fervor. They had never expected a general, an admiral, to be so kind to them, or to thank them so solemnly. They did not know what to do, but more than anything, they were moved.
Harborton smiled and turned toward Xiao Ran and Kira. "Xiao Ran, Kira Yamato, I have read Mwu's report. I must thank you both for your help as well. Without you, perhaps—no, certainly—the Archangel would never have made it here."
"Not at all, you're too kind. We were helping ourselves as well." Xiao Ran smiled politely. "Besides, I didn't really do much. If you want to thank someone, thank Kira."
"Kira?" Harborton nodded thoughtfully, then looked at Kira and said sincerely, "Thank you for your help."
Kira, who clearly lacked experience, seemed at a loss. "N-No, don't mention it."
"Mm." Harborton nodded, then said to Xiao Ran, "Would you have time to talk later?"
Xiao Ran paused in surprise, then quickly replied, "Of course. It would be my honor, General."