Mu's Plan

If Xia Ya's blue flight suit represented calmness and technological sophistication, then the pink flight suit Jiliang wore not only outlined her delicate feminine curves, but also added a touch of softness and... a certain sense of familiarity.

A vague impression flashed through Xia Ya's mind—the pink flight suit seemed to be the same model worn by Stella Loussier, the enhanced human girl from the "original work" of SEED Destiny.

Naturally, this kind of form-fitting flight suit was designed to minimize restrictions on the pilot's movements while making physiological monitoring more convenient.

As a result, the wearer's body contours were outlined with extreme clarity, leaving nothing to the imagination.

What Jiliang was wearing now was precisely this pink flight suit designed specifically for women.

Simply put, if Xia Ya was calm blue, then Jiliang was graceful pink.

Although the two had nearly collided just now, Xia Ya's gaze had uncontrollably lingered on her for a moment.

What had been hidden beneath her loose casual clothes was now fully revealed by the tight suit: her well-developed chest, slender waist, and the rounded, lifted curve of her hips that contrasted with that slim waist...

This girl... unexpectedly had quite a figure.

A profoundly ill-timed voice whispered from deep within Xia Ya's heart.

Of course, there was no way he could voice such an almost rude thought.

He could only sigh inwardly and quickly avert his eyes, as though that momentary appraisal had never happened.

He could even feel a faint, barely perceptible warmth in his cheeks.

Stay calm! This isn't the time to be thinking about that nonsense!

Jiliang seemed completely unaware of Xia Ya's brief wandering gaze. She was only still a little shaken from nearly bumping into someone.

Blinking her innocent amber eyes, she tilted her head slightly, her bangs swaying gently with the motion. Pure confusion filled her eyes as she asked, "Xia Ya? Is something wrong?"

"No, it's nothing." Xia Ya hurriedly waved a hand, trying to keep his tone natural. "I was just thinking about the battle ahead."

He quietly breathed a sigh of relief. That was close. Looks like she didn't notice at all.

Right, that suggestive subject ended here. He had to switch into combat mode immediately!

Shut down all stray thoughts!

A single moment of distraction on the battlefield could cost him his life!

Pure—or rather, with all her thoughts focused on the coming battle and her friends' safety—Jiliang seemed to believe Xia Ya's explanation easily and without suspicion.

An understanding smile bloomed on her face, and she nodded gently. "Mm, we'll do our best!"

Then she turned, and together with Xia Ya, quickly headed side by side toward the brightly lit, tense hangar.

...I'm terribly sorry, Jiliang. I absolutely didn't mean to. I swear I'll never look at you with such impure eyes again.

Xia Ya solemnly swore in his heart to a god he did not believe in at all, then hurried to keep pace with Jiliang.

Just as the two were about to turn a corridor corner, a crisp, lively female voice rang out urgently from ahead.

"Jiliang!"

Hearing the call, Jiliang instinctively stopped and turned around.

When she saw who it was, her eyes widened in surprise, and even her voice stuttered. "F-Flay? And Sai... everyone!? You... why are you dressed like that...?"

Several figures were running toward them from down the corridor. At the front was none other than Flay Allster, followed closely by Sai Argyle, Tolle Koenig, Miriallia Haw, and Kuzzey Buskirk.

They had apparently been headed in another direction, but the moment they spotted Xia Ya and Jiliang, they immediately changed course, shouting Jiliang's name as they accelerated toward them.

Jiliang looked at Flay, who was running at the front with an excited smile on her face. Surprise and delight mingled in her expression, her eyes round as a startled deer's.

Xia Ya had stopped as well, and his face showed even greater shock than when he had first seen Jiliang in that pink flight suit.

Tolle, Sai, Miriallia, and Kuzzey wearing military uniforms was one thing, but even Flay was dressed in one. That was truly beyond his expectations.

"Flay? What's with...?" Jiliang looked at her friend's dashing outfit, her face full of questions.

Flay ran up before Jiliang, her face brimming with a radiant smile completely at odds with the tense atmosphere around them.

Instead of answering Jiliang's question directly, she lifted the hem of her skirt and spun lightly in place like a little girl showing off new clothes, her skirt tracing a graceful arc.

"Hehe, does it look good?" Tilting her head, she winked at Jiliang with a sweet smile, clearly waiting for praise.

"..." Xia Ya felt as if three black lines had dropped beside his head.

Wait, wait a second... who exactly was this person!?

Miss Flay?

How could she be so different from the crying, grieving girl in the "original work," who had taken her pain over losing her father out on Kira Yamato and had even been willing to use Sai against him?

Xia Ya even felt like he might faint on the spot from cognitive dissonance.

This lively, cheerful, even somewhat carefree demeanor... was this really Flay Allster?

"The bridge... Huh!? Flay, what are you going to the bridge for...? It's dangerous there!" Jiliang finally recovered from the shock of her friend's transformation and caught the important part, her face filled with worry and confusion.

Only then did Flay put away her playful expression. Her smile remained, but her tone turned more serious. "Well, that overly fussy Lieutenant Badgiruel said that if I wanted to help out in the CIC, the Combat Information Center, I had to wear this."

"You mean help out...?" Jiliang was even more confused.

Sai Argyle, who had been following behind them, stepped forward and gently patted Jiliang's shoulder. With a mild but resolute smile, he slowly explained, "It was Flay's idea. She said... she didn't want to just hide in the back and have you protect her all by yourself, Jiliang."

His gaze swept over their other friends. Tolle, Miriallia, and Kuzzey all nodded firmly, wearing the same determination on their faces.

Sai continued, "We're all worried about you too, Jiliang. So we spoke with Captain Murrue and Lieutenant Badgiruel and decided to come help out with whatever we can. Tolle, Kuzzey, and I will assist the maintenance crew or damage control. Miriallia will help at communications, and Flay... she convinced Lieutenant Badgiruel to let her assist with information processing in the CIC."

"Sai... Tolle... Milli... Kuzzey... and... Flay..." Jiliang looked at her friends before her, listening to Sai's words as tears of emotion instantly filled her eyes.

She stared around at everyone. Flay stood with her hands on her hips, proudly puffing out her chest. Sai smiled and nodded. Tolle raised a thumbs-up. Miriallia's eyes were full of encouragement, and even Kuzzey wore an unusually serious expression. Every one of them answered her with gazes filled with trust and support.

It was undoubtedly an exchange of sincere friendship between companions, taking place beneath the shadow of war yet warming the heart beyond measure.

Xia Ya watched silently from the side. He knew the scene was touching, and he understood Jiliang's feelings. But...

Wait! There was way too much to process!

Helping out aboard the ship... was Flay's idea!?

That Flay Allster!?

She had voluntarily asked to help on the most dangerous part of the ship, the bridge!?

And she had even convinced that impartial, stone-faced Badgiruel!?

No, um... though it was truly rude to think so, please allow me to ask again: who exactly are you!?

Were you really the selfish, spoiled, willful Flay Allster from my memories, the one who had loathed Coordinators because ZAFT killed her father and had even said things like, "All Coordinators should die"?

The shadow of the original work!

There wasn't even the tiniest trace of it left!

How had things become like this!?

What on earth had the butterfly effect of this timeline turned Flay into!?

Just as Xia Ya's thoughts surged and his worldview was shaken once more, Miriallia stepped forward and gently hugged Jiliang.

"Well then, Jiliang, we're heading to our posts. Be careful, okay?" she gently reminded her, her eyes full of sincere concern.

Tolle came over as well and gave Jiliang's shoulder a firm pat. With an energetic smile, he shouted, "Yeah! Go get them, Jiliang! We'll support you from the bridge and down below! Make sure you give those ZAFT bastards an extra hard beating for us!"

"Milli... Tolle..." Jiliang sniffed and nodded hard.

Miriallia and Tolle waved one last time to Jiliang and Xia Ya, then turned and hurried off with Sai and Kuzzey toward the bridge and lower decks.

Flay also made a fighting gesture at Jiliang before jogging away with the others.

Jiliang silently watched her friends' retreating backs as they disappeared around the corridor corner. She remained standing there in a daze, as though still immersed in the sudden yet deeply sincere friendship and emotion she had just received.

...Yes, hearing that the friends she treasured so dearly were willing to risk danger and take up supporting roles for her, saying such encouraging words... Jiliang's heart had to be filled with indescribable joy, gratitude, and an even heavier sense of responsibility.

But unfortunately.

The situation did not allow them to remain immersed in that warm, sentimental feeling.

The piercing alarm still echoed through the ship, and the cold reality was that the enemy was closing in.

Jiliang slowly let out a long breath, as though she were drawing both the emotions churning inside her and the strength she had just received into that single breath.

"Wow..." she murmured softly, as if in wonder and as if encouraging herself.

Xia Ya stepped forward. This time, without hesitation, he reached out and gave Jiliang's back another firm pat with a smack. The force was just right—enough to bring her fully back to herself without being too rough.

Looking into her eyes, still moist with emotion but once again burning with determination, he spoke in an unprecedentedly serious tone. "Did you hear them? We have to protect them. Protect those important friends... who believe in us and support us."

Jiliang raised her head slightly and met Xia Ya's gaze. The last trace of uncertainty in her eyes faded, leaving only an unshakable will.

"...Mm!" She nodded firmly, her voice clear and ringing.

Xia Ya and Jiliang smiled at each other. No further words were needed. A mutual understanding and resolve called "comrades" and "protectors" had already been firmly forged between them.

Then, without lingering any longer, the two ran side by side toward the hangar once more. The roar of engines and the shouts of personnel grew ever closer, and the smell of battle rushed toward them.

They had to protect them—what Xia Ya had said to Jiliang was also something he was telling himself. Deep down, Jiliang surely felt the same way.

Though he had only known Flay and the others for a few days in this world, and they could not even be called particularly close friends yet, seeing them just now—especially Flay's unexpected change and determination—seeing them gather their courage for Jiliang and for this ship... Xia Ya realized that he absolutely did not want these kind and brave people to meet with misfortune.

That naturally arising desire to protect them weakened the sense of distance he felt from the "original work" a little more. Perhaps this was what bonds were.

When they finally reached the brightly lit, bustling MS hangar at a jog, a wave of extreme tension crashed over them. The maintenance crew were working frantically at their respective stations, checking ammunition loads and confirming energy lines. The air was thick with the smell of machine oil and metal.

The Blaze Gundam and Strike Gundam stood silently like two steel giants at the ready positions on the launch deck, waiting for their pilots.

Not far in front of the two massive MS units, Mu La Flaga, already changed into his familiar flight suit, stood quietly with his back to them.

His posture was straight, and even from behind, he exuded the steadiness and sharpness of a battle-hardened veteran.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Mu slowly turned around.

"You're here." His voice was low, carrying a faint gravity that was difficult to detect.

The usual roguish smile was gone from his face, replaced by the solemnity of a soldier facing a powerful enemy.

Xia Ya and Jiliang's expressions immediately tightened. The feelings that had relaxed slightly because of their friends' encouragement were once again dragged back into cold reality.

Every muscle in their bodies seemed to feel the pressure of the coming battle. Their steps slowed, and they came to a stop before Mu.

Mu's gaze was like the most precise scanner, sharply sweeping over Xia Ya and Jiliang's faces, especially their eyes.

He seemed to be confirming their condition, assessing their resolve, and probing for any trace of hesitation or fear that might be hidden deep within them.

After a brief silence, having confirmed the fighting spirit burning in their eyes, Mu nodded and wasted no more time.

"Then I'll briefly explain the battle plan." His voice was steady and clear. Every word struck the tense air, and struck Xia Ya and Jiliang's hearts as well.