'The Prince of Orb' and His Companions

January 28, CE 71, approximately 12:15 PM standard time.

Although there was still a mountain of tasks to be handled throughout the Archangel, perhaps it was precisely because Kira Yamato's identity as the "Prince of Orb" had been exposed that he and his friends were able to sit together at this time to enjoy lunch.

Thanks to the ample supplies just obtained at Artemis Fortress, even though no one had been granted a military rank yet, everyone had received an officer's meal.

Relying on his "Ultimate Coordinator" physique, Kira Yamato had largely recovered from the intense combat earlier that morning;

However, it was clear that his spirit—or rather, his mind—had not yet fully returned to its senses;

Therefore, when he took the lunch handed to him by Miriallia, he only muttered a listless "thank you."

With Kira currently the focus of everyone's attention, such a display naturally caused a heavy atmosphere to permeate the long dining table.

Under these circumstances, even though he harbored many doubts and anxieties of his own, Sai still attempted to shoulder the responsibility of leadership.

"To everyone's safety, cheers!"

Encouraged by Sai's words, Kira also pulled himself together and raised his cup of energy drink along with his friends.

"Cheers!"

With this simple little gesture, the atmosphere at the table improved quite a bit;

After sipping or gulping down their energy drinks, the friends regained some of their usual spirit and opened up the conversation;

Yet, judging by Tolle's opening remark, topics regarding war and combat had inevitably become the new core of their discussion.

"I have to say, when Kira was grabbed by that white mobile suit, it really scared the life out of me.

'We're all finished now!'

That's honestly what I thought at the time.

Thanks a lot, Kira; it's all thanks to you that we managed to escape danger again."

Although he received Tolle's gratitude and everyone nodded in agreement, Kira's overall mood remained quite low.

"I only did what I could, and everyone wasn't just standing by idly, so how could it be considered my achievement alone?"

Facing Kira's humility, Kuzzey reached out and gave Kira's back a firm pat.

"There's nothing to be humble about, Mr. 'Ultimate Coordinator, Prince of Orb' Kira Yamato!

That old man La Flaga was beaten back the moment he sortied; if it weren't for you, Kira, the Archangel would definitely have been destroyed by that white mobile suit!"

Amidst the nodding and agreement of the group, Kira instead voiced the reason for his distress.

"Please don't call me that. 'Ultimate Coordinator,' 'Prince of Orb'—I'm just..."

Though Kira's voice was not loud, his emotions were very evident, and his friends were at a loss for how to respond;

Fortunately, Miriallia was the first to react.

"You are just you, Kira Yamato, our classmate and friend. That is something that will never change, Kira.

Besides, whether it's being an 'Ultimate Coordinator' or the 'Prince of Orb,' neither is a bad thing.

At the very least, haven't we survived death twice thanks to your abilities as an 'Ultimate Coordinator'?

As for being the 'Prince of Orb,' look, the food has improved quite a bit, and Lieutenant Badgiruel's attitude is much better too, isn't it?"

As Miriallia spoke words of comfort, she offered two practical examples;

And as Miriallia gestured toward the meal boxes, Tolle, as her boyfriend, tacitly played along, cutting a large piece of black pepper chicken steak and stuffing it into his mouth, speaking while he chewed.

"Exactly, exactly. I don't want to remember those damn synthetic meat patties and fish paste patties ever again."

Under the comfort of Miriallia and Tolle, Kira managed to squeeze out a faint smile and cut a piece of the red wine pork rib from his own meal box to put in his mouth;

After chewing, it seemed that, just as the two had said, it had much more texture than the synthetic meat and fish paste patties of the past two days.

Seeing that Kira's mood had improved, the friends naturally continued to chat while they ate.

However, Kuzzey's choice of topic was, as always, slightly poor.

"Speaking of which, the pilot of that white mobile suit threatened Kira, saying they were 'going back to tell Flay and Cagalli.'

How did Flay end up on a 'Celestial Being' warship?"

With Kuzzey's unfortunate choice of topic, everyone stopped eating, not knowing what to say;

Finally, after looking at one another, Sai, as Flay's "boyfriend," tried to break the deadlock by offering a speculation.

"I'm not clear on Miss Cagalli's situation either, but as for Flay, she must have entered a shelter escape pod when Heliopolis collapsed and was subsequently rescued by 'Celestial Being,' right?

Looking at it this way, combined with the 'Celestial Being Formation Declaration,' I'm afraid 'Celestial Being' really isn't made up of bad people."

Echoing Sai's statement, Kira added his own input.

"Cagalli must have also been in a shelter escape pod and then rescued by 'Celestial Being.'

Although 'Celestial Being' acts in quite a peculiar manner, they truly cannot be judged simply by 'good' or 'evil.'

Haman—that is, the pilot of the white mobile suit I fought—isn't a bad person either;

If I had to say, she's actually quite similar to Flay in some ways, and it seems she and that 'Celestial Being' leader named 'Luther' are in a romantic relationship."

Although Kira was merely expressing his feelings straightforwardly, Miriallia's gossip radar as a young woman was instantly activated.

"Wait, didn't that Haman also appear in the 'Celestial Being Formation Declaration'?"

"When they made their final appearance, aside from that Luther Deikun, it was all young women. They aren't all his lovers, are they?"

"If that were the case, wouldn't Flay and Cagalli be in danger in a whole different sense?"

Following his girlfriend Miriallia's gossipy topic, Tolle carelessly cracked a 'joke'.

Clearly, whether for Flay's 'official boyfriend' Sai, or for Kira, who was both an admirer of Flay and a makeshift brother to Cagalli, this joke was not funny in the slightest.

"Tolle!"

Amidst the protective scolding from his girlfriend Miriallia, Tolle pressed his palms together in an apologetic gesture.

Kira squeezed out a smile once more, signaling that he didn't mind.

As for Sai, after also forcing a smile, he found an explanation that sounded quite 'reasonable'.

"If I had to say, I think that after their sudden appearance, 'Celestial Being' might be seeking contact with various factions. Look, Flay's father is the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Atlantic Federation, and Miss Cagalli is the daughter of Representative Uzumi himself."

Faced with the explanation Sai provided, not only did Miriallia and Tolle find it logical, but even Kira nodded repeatedly; however, the ill-timed, blunt truth that Kuzzey voiced next made everyone's expression change.

"So, is this ship running around everywhere like this just becoming a convenient excuse for 'Celestial Being' to make contact with all these different factions?!"