Is Athrun's Mom Coming?

At nightfall, in the July Satellite Orphanage, Noer lay on his bed after dinner, staring blankly into space.

"If I remembered correctly, the reason Coordinators and Naturals completely fell out seemed to be that, on Valentine's Day, the Earth Alliance dropped a nuclear bomb on a PLANT colonial satellite. It not only killed countless innocent Coordinators, but also blew up Athrun's mother."

"And Athrun's father was one of the twelve members of the PLANT Supreme Council and the Z.A.F.T. Defense Committee Chairman..."

"By the way, when was Valentine's Day again? And what was the name of that satellite that got bombed?"

"Noer, you're still awake?"

Just as Noer leaned against his bed in a daze, his roommate Asya pushed open the door and walked in.

"I was waiting for you." Noer replied without turning around.

"Waiting for me? What for?" Asya, who had been about to take off his clothes and go to sleep, paused and looked at Noer in confusion.

"I was worried about you." Noer casually made up an excuse with a smile.

"What was there to worry about?" Asya was completely baffled. Worried about me?

"Nothing."

Noer realized he was only making things more confusing, so he quickly dropped the subject and asked instead, "By the way, do you know when Valentine's Day is?"

"Valentine's Day? Why are you suddenly asking about that? Also, I feel like you've changed a lot lately!"

Asya felt that Noer had been acting strange today. No, rather, he had been strange ever since he was hospitalized after getting hurt.

For example, fertilizing, planting rice seedlings, picking fruit... he was obviously much more efficient than before.

Aside from that, even his expressions and tone of voice had changed. Asya did not know whether it was just his imagination, but Noer always seemed somewhat different from before.

He had become less childish, and he no longer shouted every day about avenging his parents, as if nothing had ever happened.

If Asya had not known Noer so well and ruled out the possibility that he had been replaced, he would have thought Noer was no longer Noer.

"It just occurred to me. Do you know?" Noer continued asking.

He knew his usual mannerisms differed from the original Noer's, but even if he knew, there was nothing he could do to change it. They were not the same person in the first place, so how could they possibly be alike?

Besides, there was no way he could pretend to be miserable and consumed by hatred every single day.

"Just occurred to you... Oh ho, I get it!"

Asya seemed to have thought of something. His eyes lit up as he looked at Noer, his gaze...

"What kind of look is that? I only asked you when Valentine's Day is. Was that really necessary?" Noer felt uncomfortable all over under Asya's stare.

"Without realizing it, Noer has grown up too. You've reached that age already." Asya did not answer. Instead, he spoke wistfully and emotionally, looking exactly like an old father who had just learned his son had a girlfriend.

"Asya."

"Hmm?"

"Do you know you look really punchable right now?"

"What do you mean, punch—wait, what are you doing?! Why are you holding a stick... Holy crap, help! Murder!"

"If a child is not taught, it is the father's fault. Today, I'll show you what it means when the golden rod produces a good man!"

Perhaps it was because of Noer's memories, or perhaps because of Asya's undisguised warmth and concern, along with his pure gaze.

After coming here, Noer once again experienced what it felt like to have a close friend.

"Noer Cassia! Asya! What time is it? Why aren't you asleep yet?!"

Amid the orphanage nun Aya's angry rebuke, Noer carried his stick and dragged Asya back to their dormitory, bringing the evening farce to an end.

"What did you say?"

"February 14 is Valentine's Day?!"

Noer, who had just returned to the dormitory and was preparing to rest, let out a startled cry. Then February 17 would be... Eh, there was actually nothing to get excited about. Valentine's Day came every year. Who knew if it was that one?

The orphanage instantly lit up from top to bottom!

"Noer Cassia!"

"Uh..."

Looking at Aya, who had suddenly burst into the room, Noer's body trembled involuntarily. This was fear etched into his bones!

Even Noer, with a different soul, could not help feeling intimidated.

"Looks like you're in great spirits!" Aya said as she rolled up her sleeves and slowly approached Noer.

"Um... I... I'm still injured!"

"It's fine. I won't beat you to death!"

"Don't! You can't... Aah~!"

Leisurely days were always brief, and time flew by like an arrow.

In the blink of an eye, another half month passed.

"What the hell should I do..."

Noer sat before something resembling a computer from his previous life, studying the information on the screen with a frown.

The more Noer learned about PLANT during this period, the more uneasy he felt.

What worried him most was the news about Lacus Clyne.

This hidden final boss of SEED was already fourteen years old. Of course, her age was not the important part. The important part was that Lacus had already become a songstress.

At the same time, she had confirmed an engagement with Athrun Sarra. In other words, the plot was about to begin!

PLANT and the Earth Alliance were about to start a war of extermination!

"I still don't even know how to keep myself alive..."

Although Noer did not know exactly when the war would fully break out, he vaguely remembered one thing: when the war began, Lacus and Athrun were both very young, around fourteen, fifteen, or sixteen.

And now, Lacus was already fourteen.

In other words, the Earth Alliance's nuclear bomb was coming soon!

But he had no idea which satellite the Earth Alliance's nuclear bomb would strike. What if it was this July Satellite where he was staying?

Wouldn't he be completely screwed then?

It was not as though he had never considered reporting this intelligence to the upper ranks of PLANT, or using some method to get the information out.

But he was not a child. He was not naive enough to think that was anything more than wishful thinking.

Setting aside whether he could even get the intelligence in front of someone with sufficient authority, how could he prove the intelligence was real even if he did submit it?

Would all of PLANT alter its strategic deployment just because of something said by a fifteen-year-old kid?

Anyone could tell that was impossible!

Forget an ordinary nobody like him—even if Athrun or Lacus said it, it would not work.

PLANT and the Earth Alliance were constantly clashing now, with their forces largely gathered on the front lines. On top of that, PLANT had several times fewer troops than the Earth Federation. To ensure the front lines remained secure, a large-scale withdrawal into defense was simply impossible.

So all he could do now was protect himself, yet he did not even have the means to do that.

And even if he took a step back and assumed he really could protect himself, so what?

Was he supposed to wander alone through this unfamiliar world of war, a lonely ghost without a home?

Although he did not feel much belonging toward the other children at the orphanage, this was still a home.

At the very least, they had accepted him and treated him as family.

Even though he was not the original owner of this body, he could still sense the warmth they gave him, and the salvation from loneliness, through those subtle differences.

"Noer!"

Just as Noer's thoughts ran wild.

Asya, who had just returned from the fields downstairs, stood below with the other children and called out to him.

"Why did you come back so early?"

Noer shut down the "computer," got to his feet, and looked down.

Although the orphanage received aid from various sources, that did not mean it would raise a bunch of freeloaders. Necessary training and labor were not lacking.

Aside from attending classes and studying, they had to help out and work during the rest of their time.

However, the orphanage did not have much farmland. The thirty-odd orphans could only work in rotating shifts, and they usually did not return until around dinner.

Why had they suddenly come back so early today?

"You don't know?" Asya asked in return.

"Know what?" Noer looked puzzled.

"Dr. Lenoya Sala is coming to visit us, so the director told us to come back early and get ready." Asya explained from below.

"Oh, I see. Then good luck, everyone!"

Noer understood upon hearing that. This sort of thing was actually quite normal. It was an orphanage, after all. Anyone with even a little status who came across one would generally stop by to offer condolences.

Especially Lenoya Sala, who was bringing...

"Who did you say?!"

Noer, who had been about to turn around and continue checking the information, suddenly froze and stared blankly at Asya.

Lenoya Sala... wasn't that Athrun's mother's name?!

I'm writing myself to death here!

Someone, give me some support!

Two chapters for today, tentatively~~~

I still haven't written my other novel yet!!

Writing two at once is killing me!!!