New Meeting 2

He paused, then turned his gaze to Nicol and Michel once more.

"If a soldier can no longer believe in the justice his military represents, then he can no longer pull the trigger—this is true for anyone with a conscience." Mu's voice was steady and clear. "Canard's situation... I've heard a little about it. He has his own reasons, so perhaps this doesn't entirely apply to him. But Nicol Amalfi, Michel, you are different."

His gaze sharpened.

"You still have people in PLANT you need to protect, don't you? Your comrades, your family, the home where you grew up. Even so, have you truly prepared yourselves to stand against them? To fight alongside us for a future we have envisioned together but have yet to achieve?"

Every word Mu spoke struck heavily against Nicol and Michel's hearts. What he was asking about was not loyalty, but something far weightier—resolve.

"I'm sorry for being so direct." Mu straightened, his gaze growing even sharper, almost confrontational. "If we are to live and die together as a team on the battlefield, I need to be able to entrust my back to you. I hope you can become people we can truly rely on... can you?"

He looked directly at Nicol, waiting for his answer. He asked this question for everyone present, for the companions who would fight together on the battlefield from now on. He needed a definite answer to determine whether this newly formed alliance was an unbreakable rock or a sandcastle that could collapse at any moment.

The entire room fell into another silence, every gaze fixed on Nicol. The young former ZAFT pilot was under immense pressure. His lips were pressed tightly together, and his face had gone somewhat pale, yet there was no evasion in those green eyes.

He