Flay and Cagalli's Decision

After briefly considering what Flay might care about, Luther laid out the pros and cons for her.

"Your main reason for going to Mendel is that it's relatively safe.

After all, it's our rear base now, unlike the Gwameir, which has to stay on the front lines.

Also, living conditions on Mendel are definitely better than on the Gwameir. There are more civilians there, too, so you could think of it as returning to an environment similar to Heliopolis.

If you stay aboard the Gwameir, then your life will remain as it is now.

And if the Gwameir enters combat, we can't guarantee the safety of the residential areas.

If I had to name an advantage, it would be what I mentioned when we first met: you might run into your father on the battlefield—though, well, that might not be a good thing either."

Although Luther had said a great deal, Flay seemed to have picked up on just one "keyword."

"Dad? I can see Dad if I stay on the Gwameir? Then I'm staying on the Gwameir!"

"Maybe. It's only a possibility."

As Luther tried to explain, Flay said something that took everyone present by surprise.

"Lord Luther, you're the strongest Newtype, aren't you?

"Everything that's happened so far has gone according to your predictions, hasn't it?

"So if I stay on the Gwameir, I'll see Dad, right?"

Faced with Flay's earnest, captivating gaze, even the battle-tested Luther couldn't help but feel moved.

And although every statement Flay made contained a "technical error," when put together, they formed a "perfectly self-consistent" argument. Luther couldn't explain the flaws in just a few words.

So Luther could only sweep a pleading gaze over the others. Haman and Monica turned away in a sulk, while Aina merely smiled without saying a word. In the end, Luther had no choice but to look to Cagalli.

"Cagalli, you're Flay's roommate. Can you help me talk to her?"

"I'm not getting involved in this.

"It's fine, isn't it? If Flay wants to stay, let her stay.

"I'm planning to stay, too, so we can keep being roommates."

"Cagalli!"

Flay happily threw her arms around Cagalli, and Cagalli immediately paid the price for her words.

"Let go of me, you're so warm! You really should go to Mendel after all!"

The sight made Haman and Monica, who had just been pretending to sulk as they watched, burst out laughing. Aina laughed along with them.

Amid the laughter, Luther turned to try to persuade Cagalli instead.

"Cagalli, have you considered going to Mendel?

"They have more comprehensive training facilities, and we could also run a full assessment of your Newtype abilities."

"No. The Gwameir is obviously more important. Let me see the Celestial Being's ideals and power with my own eyes.

"I'm also rather interested in that Archangel and Kira Yamato. The Gwameir will keep pursuing them, won't it?"

Cagalli had clearly made up her mind. Knowing her stubborn streak all too well, Luther reluctantly gave up trying to persuade her.

Just as he was about to sum things up, the communication device on the table rang. Seeing that Tessa was calling, Luther answered and projected her onto the main screen in the reception room.

"Luther, a fast, unarmed shuttle bearing Orb's flag is approaching from Heliopolis. They wish to discuss the evacuation of Orb residents, including Cagalli Yula."

Given Luther and Tessa's relationship, they skipped the pleasantries. Tessa simply nodded to everyone and went straight to the reason for the call.

Though Tessa hadn't explained things in detail, Luther understood as soon as he heard her. One look at Cagalli's expression told him she understood, too.

"I'm not going back!"

When Luther looked her way, Cagalli gave him a firm reply.

It seemed that, rather than return to Orb and have a proper talk with her adoptive father, Uzumi, Cagalli had chosen to witness the Celestial Being's ideals and power with her own eyes—and, while she was at it, keep an eye on her adoptive little brother aboard the Archangel.

"Tessa, that's the situation."

Luther gave a helpless shrug, making a show of having nothing to do with it. Tessa nodded, muted the call for the moment, and turned to deal with the other side.

The curious group didn't have to wait long. Soon, Tessa reconnected.

"Someone calling himself Ledonir Kisaka has requested permission to board. I've approved it. Should I have him come straight to the reception room?"

Luther glanced at Cagalli. She seemed reluctant, but said nothing. He gave Tessa an affirmative reply.

"Let's do that. Sorry for the trouble, Tessa."

Tessa nodded to Luther again, then ended the call.

As soon as the call with Tessa ended, Aina, who had guessed what was coming next, took the initiative and excused herself.

"Luther, Ginias and I will go organize the cargo transfer and supplies first."

"Thanks for all your effort, Aina. And you too, Ginias."

As he spoke, Luther stood and kissed Aina goodbye. After watching the bashful Aina leave ahead of them, he also nodded to Ginias.

After the Sahalin siblings left, Monica stood up as well.

"I'll go get ready and hand over my duties, then."

Monica had barely finished speaking before she tried to leave, but Luther caught her and kissed her senseless—er, no, just gave her a passionate kiss. Her body went limp in an instant.

After leaving him a look that promised, I'll make you pay tonight, Monica met Luther's I'm looking forward to it gaze and stumbled away in a fluster.

When Luther turned to the last person still there, Haman, Flay and Cagalli were still present.

Or perhaps it was precisely because Cagalli was there, and because Haman would soon get to watch the fun unfold.

And Flay's earlier interaction with Luther had brought Haman back to that possibility, making her want to show off on purpose.

In any case, Haman boldly threw her arms around him and clearly had no intention of leaving.

Luther naturally welcomed it, and the two of them began kissing as if no one else were there—with limits, with restraint, more or less.

Under the circumstances, Flay quietly called Cagalli's name.

"Cagalli..."

"It's fine. You can go back too, Flay. I'll help you think things through and talk with you tonight."

Instead, Cagalli comforted her in a low voice. Flay nodded gratefully.

Though Luther was kissing Haman, he heard Flay and Cagalli's exchange, and it partly answered the question he'd had earlier.

It really was Cagalli who had been helping Flay "with politics" from the sidelines, though Cagalli herself had plenty of shortcomings in that area.

After Flay bowed and left as well, Haman, feeling she'd won a major victory, intensified her kisses with Luther while occasionally shooting Cagalli a provocative glance.

Faced with Haman's look of seeing her as an "obstacle," Cagalli briefly looked away, then squared off against her. Luther was left with a situation that was, in a word, both painful and delightful.