After thanking her, Felix headed toward the appropriate department with his medical examination form.
A little over an hour later, he finished all the examinations and left the central hospital to go home.
When he opened the front door, he saw that his parents weren't home.
"They must've gone to work."
He murmured to himself.
Felix returned to his room, lay down on his bed, and began thinking about what he needed to do next.
"Now I just have to wait for the results. Once I'm accepted into ZAFT, I'll apply for guard and patrol duty near Junius Seven.
That way, I can prevent Junius Seven from being bombed."
He thought it over, his mind set on the plan.
Felix continued mapping out the things he needed to do in the near future.
As he thought it over, the whole morning passed.
He ate a simple lunch at home, put away the dishes, then sat on the living room sofa to watch TV.
A few minutes later,
The phone in the living room rang. Felix stood up, walked over, and picked up the receiver.
"May I ask if this is the home of Felix Leo Griffith?"
A gentle female voice came through the phone.
Felix nodded and replied.
"Hello, this is Felix Leo Griffith. Who is this?"
"Hello, Felix! I'm calling from the ZAFT military department's recruitment office. Your medical report has come in.
"Your examination shows that you're in excellent health and fully meet ZAFT's enlistment requirements. We're pleased to inform you that you've been accepted.
"You'll receive your admission notice from the ZAFT Military Academy soon. You'll study there for a while, and after you graduate, you'll officially join ZAFT."
The gentle female voice recited the prepared script as mechanically as a robot.
Listening to her, Felix nodded in acknowledgment.
"I understand."
"All right."
The woman on the other end said goodbye and ended the call.
After hanging up, Felix returned to the sofa and sat down.
Two hours later,
Felix received his Military Academy admission notice, delivered right to his door.
That evening
At the Griffiths' dining table
"Dad, Mom, I've been accepted. I may have to leave home soon to study at the Military Academy."
Griffith told his parents what was happening.
Wendy paused slightly as she reached for a dish. A moment later, she resumed, then drew her hand back and set down her chopsticks. Her voice carried a hint of reluctance.
"Are you leaving so soon?"
"Yeah. The Military Academy is different from other schools. They have stricter rules about time."
Seeing how reluctant his mother was, Felix felt a pang of sadness too. But he hid it deep inside and didn't let it show.
Wendy didn't ask anything else. She stood up and headed toward Felix's room.
"Mom?"
Felix watched her, puzzled.
Wendy answered, her voice heavy with reluctance.
"I'm finished eating. I'm going to pack your things."
With that, she opened the door and went into Felix's room.
The two of them were alone at the table now. Chris used his chopsticks to put some food in Felix's bowl, his deep voice slightly hoarse.
"Study hard when you get there. Don't let yourself down, understand?"
"I will, Dad!"
Felix nodded, doing his best to keep his voice calm as he spoke with his father.
Chris didn't say anything more. He quietly continued eating.
The next day
The departure lounge at the spaceport in District Seven, Junius City
"Mom, Dad, you can see me off here. I can make my own way from here."
Felix said goodbye to his reluctant parents. Wendy's eyes were slightly red as she reached out to straighten his clothes and remind him.
"Eat well! Get plenty of rest, and be careful!"
"Mm!"
Felix nodded.
Chris reached out and patted Felix on the shoulder.
"Be careful."
"I will."
Half an hour later,
Felix said goodbye to his parents and boarded a shuttle bound for Dissenbell City.
The shuttle passed through the pitch-black expanse of space and eventually docked at the spaceport in District Two of Dissenbell City.
After getting off the shuttle, Felix took his luggage and rode the space elevator into the satellite. Then he took a bus to the Military Academy.
January, C.E. 70
After a full year of study, Felix completed all the Military Academy's coursework thanks to his outstanding talent. He graduated at the top of his class, with the best grades in the academy's history.
A few days later,
Near Junius City, on PLANT's homeworld
Inside the Hawkins Team, a ZAFT unit responsible for security and patrols
"Captain Hawkins, hello!"
Felix entered the captain's room, raised his hand in salute, and greeted the captain standing before him.
Hawkins looked up at Felix with a friendly smile. He stood, walked over, and gave Felix a pat on the shoulder with his broad hand.
"Felix, welcome aboard!"
Hawkins greeted him warmly.
Feeling the captain's enthusiasm, Felix relaxed a little.
Hawkins continued.
"I'll show you to your room."
"Thank you, Captain!"
Felix thanked him.
Hawkins waved it off and replied kindly.
"Don't mention it. It's my job."
"Heine! This is your new roommate. As the senior man here, make sure you look after the newcomer, all right?"
Inside a room,
Hawkins led Felix in and gave the man inside a reminder.
Looking at the orange-haired man before him, Felix thought to himself,
I can't believe that ace who showed up and died in the second series is now my teammate.
Heine heard the captain and saluted.
"Yes, Captain!"
After replying, Heine lowered his hand, looked at Felix, and offered it warmly.
"Hello, I'm Heine Westenfluss. Just call me Heine."
"Hello, Heine. I'm Felix Leo Griffith. You can call me Felix."
Felix shook the hand Heine had offered. He smiled faintly and spoke in a gentle voice.
When Heine heard Felix's name, a look of surprise crossed his face. He stared at Felix and asked in astonishment,
"Are you the graduate who got the highest marks in the Military Academy's history this year?"
"I wouldn't call them the highest marks. I was just lucky."
Faced with Heine's enthusiastic question, Felix felt a little embarrassed and gave an awkward smile.
Seeing that the two were getting along well, Hawkins left the room, leaving the two young men to themselves.
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