Sachi moved quickly.
In no time, he returned to the dorm with a medical kit.
"What's been going on with you lately? Why do you seem so distracted?"
Sachi asked as he bandaged Ino's wound.
"I miss home."
Ino replied calmly.
At Ino's answer, Sachi's hands paused for a moment. Then, without a word, he continued bandaging the wound.
The cadets in the command track had all heard about Ino's circumstances and what had happened to him.
There were plenty of people at the military academy who had suffered the same fate. The best-known was Athrun Zala, son of Senator Zala.
Faced with classmates like that, those of them who had been "fortunate" had neither the right nor the ability to offer comfort.
"By the way, tomorrow morning we have Natarle's tactical analysis class on the Nova Defense Battle."
Sachi changed the subject.
"The Nova Defense Battle?"
Ino looked puzzled.
It wasn't the name that puzzled him, but how soon it was happening.
Today was July 21, C.E. 70.
The Nova Defense Battle referred to the conflict that began on June 14, when the Earth Alliance Army and ZAFT—the name commonly used for PLANT's military—fought over the resource satellite Nova in the L4 Area, administered by the East Asian Republic.
Neither side had gained a decisive advantage in that war, and small-scale clashes had continued for nearly a month.
Most of the L4 colony cluster had sustained damage during that time.
It wasn't until a few days before his predecessor had been poisoned that the Earth Alliance Army finally chose to abandon Nova, allowing ZAFT to formally take control of it.
"You've been absent for three days straight. Natarle's already annoyed with you," Sachi continued.
"What could she—... All right."
Ino had been about to ask what she could possibly be annoyed about, but then he thought better of it. This wasn't an ordinary university back on Earth.
It was an advanced military academy in wartime, and he was a cadet officer in ZAFT's command track.
Under the circumstances, after three consecutive absences, the fact that she hadn't come to give him a hard time in person was already remarkably considerate.
"Anyway, just keep your hand out of water for the next couple of days."
Sachi finished bandaging Ino's right hand.
"With bandaging skills like that, it's a shame you're not in the medical department."
Ino moved his bandaged hand, surprised by Sachi's ability.
"The medical department? I'm going to become a battlefield commander."
Sachi smiled as he packed up the medical kit.
"A battlefield commander..."
Ino couldn't help feeling speechless.
If Sachi knew that Gundams would rule the battlefield in the future, how would he feel?
Especially those monsters like Kira Yamato and the others.
It hadn't seemed that way while he was watching, but thinking it over now, Lacus and the others were downright overpowered. With just a few Gundams and warships, they had torn the battlefield apart.
"What's with that look? You don't believe in me?"
Sachi noticed Ino's odd expression.
"If I said I did, would you believe me?"
Ino shot back.
"What?" Sachi was taken aback.
"But a Mobile Suit... might actually be an option."
Ino suddenly thought of Mobile Suits.
If he became a Mobile Suit pilot and went to the front lines, could he survive?
His identity as a spy had probably been exposed.
But for some reason, the other side had chosen to assassinate him instead of killing him openly.
Considering that, if he became a Mobile Suit pilot and headed to the front lines, he might actually have a chance of escaping the battlefield alive.
Ideally, he could be sent to the battlefield on Earth. Once he got away from the fighting, he could disappear under an assumed name for a year or two. By the time the war ended, he'd be in the clear.
But there was a problem: time—
It was July, and graduation was in September, less than two months away.
What could he accomplish in that time?
The front lines were dangerous. One careless mistake and he'd be dead.
He'd also have to stay on guard against whoever was trying to assassinate him, while making sure he could get to Earth...
Suddenly, a flash of insight lit Ino's eyes.
He didn't necessarily have to go to Earth.
The Archangel!
If he remembered correctly, there was a Gundam and the Archangel on a neutral satellite belonging to Orb—or some other country.
All he had to do was reach the Archangel and reveal his identity. Then he could leave with the ship.
But that raised another problem: how could he prove who he was?
His records were classified at the highest level, so the Archangel's crew wouldn't be able to verify his identity.
What if they just shot him?
Even if, in the best-case scenario, the busty captain didn't kill him...
The Archangel belonged to the Atlantic Federation, after all.
And he belonged to the Eurasian Federation... Wait, did he belong to the Atlantic Federation or the Eurasian Federation?
The Eurasian Federation had trained him, but Blue Cosmos was affiliated with the Atlantic Federation. Who had he been passing information to, then?
Thinking carefully, he still had no idea who had received the intelligence he'd handed over.
"Ino, Ino!"
As Ino's thoughts wandered, Sachi's voice reached his ears.
"What...? Instructor Natarle!"
Ino gathered his thoughts and looked at Sachi, but his gaze quickly fell on the instructor standing beside him.
Reacting instinctively, Ino jumped to his feet and saluted. "Sorry, I was distracted."
Natarle returned the salute. "At ease. I heard you were sick, so I came to check on you."
"Thank you for your concern, Instructor Natarle," Ino replied quickly.
"What happened to your hand?"
Natarle looked at Ino's bandaged right hand.
"I accidentally cut it just now," Ino explained.
Natarle nodded, then continued, "Be careful. In two months, you'll be forced to graduate and sent to the front lines. Make sure you spend the time you have left studying."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Perhaps because of his body's ingrained memories, Ino's reply came out crisp and forceful.
"You're the cadet I have the highest hopes for. You have exceptional insight and talent when it comes to reading the battlefield. I hope you won't waste that talent."
Instructor Natarle was telling the truth.
Of course, it wasn't hard to understand why.
As a Coordinator raised from childhood for a specific purpose, Ino had been groomed from the start to infiltrate ZAFT and rise among its senior officers.
So, at the age of three, Ino and nearly a thousand others had begun training far beyond what children their age should have received.
In the end, only a handful of them had survived long enough to leave the base at fifteen.
"Understood!"
Ino nodded.
"Make sure you attend tomorrow's tactical analysis class. You've already fallen far behind."
After saying that, Instructor Natarle patted Ino on the shoulder and turned to leave the dorm.
He had come over just to check on his star student.
"Yes, ma'am! Take care, Instructor Natarle!"
Ino saluted as he saw her off.
A little while later.
Only after Instructor Natarle had left did Sachi emerge. "Looks like Instructor Natarle really likes you."
"Likes me?" Ino was taken aback.
"Obviously. When you're around, it's one thing, but when you're not, Instructor Natarle praises you in class all the time. Looks like we'll be rivals from now on."
Sachi sounded a little jealous.
They were both Coordinators, so why was this guy so special?
"Cut out the chuunibyou stuff. Instructor Natarle's liked you for ages."
Ino was at a loss for words over Sachi's occasional bouts of chuunibyou.
A battlefield commander, huh? Just wait until you see whether Freedom Gundam tears through you.
As a Mobile Suit pilot, he might at least survive thanks to Kira Yamato's mercy.
But if he was commanding from the flagship... once that thing blew up, there'd be nowhere to run.
Before you continue