Half a Day in the Life

Lacus's arrival left the others unsure of how to get the conversation started.

Yzak and Dearka were familiar with Lacus.

But they knew each other so well that they couldn't be bothered to talk about much.

Besides, the atmosphere made them hesitant to strike up a conversation with her.

Rusty and Michel wanted to talk to Lacus, but they really had no idea where to begin.

As for Ino, he was busy admiring the beauty.

Come on, this was the real, living Lacus Clyne. He might never get to see her again, so he had to take a good look while he could.

Though he didn't have a suitable plan yet, barring any surprises, he was bound to leave ZAFT in the future.

Under the circumstances, it would be all but impossible for him to have any contact with Lacus later on.

So if he didn't get a good look now, the only chance he'd have later was seeing her on the news.

Still, there was no denying that Lacus Clyne was beautiful. Her skin was crystalline white, her features lovely and pure, and her blue-violet eyes sparkled with a brilliance that drew every gaze.

Even Ino, who had seen all kinds of dark arts, had to admit that Lacus's looks were flawless.

And then there was her noble, graceful air.

It seemed intangible, yet it was undeniably real. Paired with her stunning looks, it made her the center of attention wherever she went.

Perhaps noticing Ino's gaze, Lacus smiled and turned her head toward him. "May I ask if you're Mr. Eno Kamal?"

"Hm?"

Ino looked puzzled, but nodded all the same. "Yes. Do you know me?"

Lacus's reaction was a little strange.

"I do. Your name is quite well known at the Military Academy."

Lacus smiled as she replied, "You gave up first place in the command program to transfer to Mobile Suit piloting, then became the eighth-ranked student in the program within two months. You really are an outstanding person."

"Is that so? Thanks for the compliment."

Ino would've been lying if he said he wasn't happy to hear that. But hearing it from Lacus made him... even happier?

"Outstanding? Well, perhaps that's not quite the right word, but Ino's abilities are certainly worthy of recognition. At least, I recognize them."

Just then, a hesitant voice came from the corner, drawing everyone's attention.

"Hm?"

"What?"

"Yzak?"

Dearka and the others looked at Yzak in surprise. He stood with his arms folded.

Even Athrun and Lacus looked over in astonishment.

"What are you all looking at?" Yzak felt offended by their stares.

"Gasp! Nicol, do you have the medical department's number?"

Dearka sucked in a startled breath.

"I should be able to find it. What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Nicol asked, puzzled.

"Call the hospital, quick! If we wait too long, Yzak might not make it!"

Dearka cried out.

"Huh?"

Nicol stared at him in shock.

"You're the sick one! Your whole family's sick!" Yzak snapped. What was Dearka accusing him of, out of nowhere?

"If you're not sick, why would you say something like that today?" Dearka asked, bewildered.

"What did I say?" Yzak was thrown by Dearka's expression.

"You actually said Ino was pretty good. Is that something you'd say?"

"What are you talking about?"

Yzak's eyes widened. What kind of logic was that? It was the truth—was he not allowed to say so?

"If you don't believe me, ask them."

Dearka pointed toward Michel and the others. "Ask them if you're acting normal today!"

"True."

"Now that Dearka mentions it, he's right."

"Yzak, you are acting a little strange."

Michel and Rusty exchanged glances, then nodded in unison, their expressions serious.

"Yzak, you really are acting strange today."

Ino looked from side to side, then nodded solemnly too.

Nicol frowned and thought it over before adding, "Um, Yzak, if you really aren't feeling well, you can tell us."

He didn't know what was going on, but if everyone was saying it, maybe something really was wrong with Yzak.

"You bastards! What's wrong with you? Ino may be a little weaker than me, but he's still pretty good for a Coordinator, isn't he? That's a fact, isn't it?"

Yzak felt utterly bewildered. Had he said something wrong?

No!

So why were they looking at him like that?

The others all furrowed their brows and fell into thought.

Even Athrun looked grave.

"Are you guys going to say something or not?"

Yzak looked at the suddenly silent group, feeling worse by the second.

Lacus kept looking Yzak up and down. After a moment, as if she had thought of something, she too wore a deeply serious expression.

Seeing Lacus make the same face, Yzak began to question his grasp on reality.

Was something really wrong with him?

"Pfft!"

"Heh!"

"Hahaha!"

Just as Yzak lowered his head and seriously pondered the matter, Rusty suddenly burst out laughing.

As if caught up in it, Athrun and the others across from him started laughing too.

"Hey, hey, you guys broke character way too fast. You could've held out a little longer," Dearka couldn't help complaining.

"Broke character? What do you mean? Weren't we saying Yzak was sick?" Nicol looked at them blankly, not understanding what was going on.

"Huh?"

"Wait, what?"

Ino and the others stared at Nicol in disbelief.

"Weren't you?"

Nicol grew uneasy under their stares and asked timidly.

"You really don't know?"

"Oh, Nicol, how can you be so innocent?"

"Nicol, you still haven't figured it out?"

Rusty and the others laughed even harder.

They'd thought they'd only get Yzak, but now they'd gotten an unexpected bonus.

"What do you mean?"

Nicol looked at them in confusion.

Unlike the innocent Nicol, Yzak quickly caught on. His lips twitched as he glared at Dearka, who was still laughing beside him. "You're having a great time with this, aren't you, Dearka?"

"Haha... Uh... I've got something to do at home, so I'll be going—"

"Drop dead!"

Bam!

"Ahh! Don't hit my face!"

Seeing the two of them immediately fall into a brawl, Nicol hurried to get up and break it up.

But before he'd made it halfway, Ino kindly pulled him back.

"Ino?"

Nicol looked at him, puzzled.

"Why bother getting involved in a dogfight?" Ino replied calmly.

"A dogfight..."

"Dearka, grab his hair! I've never liked that white mop of Yzak's!"

"Yzak, you're going too easy on him! There's a chair right there!"

"Come on, Yzak's got a weak lower body. Get him!"

"Dearka's about to lose! Keep it up, Yzak!"

Michel and Rusty shouted suggestions from the sidelines, delighted to stir up trouble.

Athrun wanted to break up the fight, but with Lacus beside him, he could only quietly retreat to the doorway with her, just like Ino and Nicol.

"Are you going to leave them alone?" Lacus asked the others from behind Athrun.

"No. There's another round after this," Athrun and Ino said in unison.

"Hm?"

Lacus looked puzzled.

But the next second, she understood what they meant by another round.

The two men, still fighting, suddenly broke apart and charged at Michel and Rusty.

"Laugh at me, will you!"

"What the hell are you laughing at!"

As they spoke, they swung their fists at them.

Then—

Ino and Athrun quietly led Lacus and Nicol out of the room and kindly closed the door.