Daily Life at the Banquet (Extra Chapter for Your Support)

Essaria Jul and Irene Canaver made no effort to conceal their voices.

Although the two spoke at a low volume, the banquet hall wasn't large. Coupled with their special status, they were already at the center of attention, and their voices soon reached Athrun and the others.

"Ugh, they're arguing again."

Yzak turned his head and saw his mother and Canaver arguing. He didn't know what to say for a moment.

Athrun's father was the leader of the Pro-War Faction.

Yzak's mother was part of the Pro-War Faction.

Lacus's father was the leader of the Moderate Faction.

Diakka's father was part of the Moderate Faction.

Nicol's father was part of the Neutral Faction, leaning towards the Moderate Faction.

Latis...

Actually, the members of the PLANT Council were once all good friends and shared deep bonds.

If not for the ties of their parents, Yzak and Athrun's relationship wouldn't be so harmonious, nor would Lacus be engaged to Athrun, given their completely opposing political views and ideologies.

But these bonds were gradually wearing away under their differing ideals.

"Does PLANT really have to fight Naturals to the death? We're all the same humans."

Lacus, standing nearby, looked at the council members who, at some point, had become clearly divided. She felt a mix of emotions.

Since the war began, the council members had lost the harmony they once shared.

"The same humans? When they destroyed Junius 7, they..."

"Cough cough!"

Just as Yzak was about to say something, Diakka quickly coughed to interrupt him.

"Athrun... I'm sorry."

Yzak came to his senses and realized he had said something too harsh.

It had to be said, although Yzak often teased Athrun and spoke harshly to him.

He possessed both a sharp tongue and a tsundere personality, but that didn't mean he lacked upbringing or common sense. He knew what was important.

Lacus looked at Athrun's unconsciously clenched fist, a flicker of pain in her eyes. She couldn't help but tighten her grip on his arm.

"It's okay. I think you should apologize to Noer instead."

Athrun patted Lacus's arm and forced a smile.

Lenoya Sala's death was a grief that Athrun couldn't easily erase.

"Heh—It's fine."

Noer smiled at the remark and waved his hand, indicating he was okay.

It's in the past now, isn't it?

"You—"

Just as Diakka was about to say something, Athrun suddenly interrupted him, saying, "Some things aren't meant to be discussed."

The tragedy of Junius 7 was an indelible sorrow for all of PLANT.

Athrun and the others looked at Noer's face and fell into silence.

Even Athrun and Lacus didn't know what to say. They could only look at Noer, silently understanding.

Sometimes, the power of words could change the world, but at other times, words felt pale and powerless.

Yzak silently reached out and patted Noer's shoulder. The usually sharp-tongued Yzak couldn't find any biting words at this moment.

"Noer."

Just as everyone was in silence, Cruze's voice suddenly came from not far away.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Cruze, who had walked to a spot not far from them at some point.

"The thing you wanted."

Cruze stood at a distance, took out a small bottle, and shook it.

"Excuse me, I'll be right back."

Noer excused himself to Athrun and the others and quickly walked over.

"That thing..."

Yzak stood in place, his brow furrowed as he recalled the bottle in Cruze's hand. It looked somewhat familiar.

"Yzak, do you know what medicine Noer is taking?" Diakka asked, confused.

They had actually known for a while that Noer carried medicine with him. Although Noer always took it secretly, they had been together for so long, and they weren't blind or stupid. They had naturally noticed some clues.

It was just that Noer's medicine was too unusual, and they couldn't figure out what kind it was.

Athrun and the others couldn't help but look over as well.

"I feel like I've seen it before, but I can't quite recall... Diakka, what are you looking at?"

As Yzak frowned in thought, about to say something.

He suddenly noticed something off about Diakka's gaze, a hint of doubt in it.

"If you know, you know. If you don't, you don't. There's no 'can't quite recall'."

Diakka pouted, his expression one of disdain.

"If I say I can't recall, then I can't recall! And what business is it of yours whether I can recall or not?!" Yzak instantly bristled.

"Yzak, are you sure you've seen that medicine bottle before?"

Athrun asked from the side, his brow furrowed.

He didn't know what kind of medicine it was, but the symbol that flashed by didn't seem like something you could buy just anywhere.

"Believe it or not!"

Yzak turned his head away, no longer bothering with them. However, his eyes flickered towards Noer as he clearly struggled to remember.

Meanwhile, Noer reluctantly approached Cruze.

"This is your supply for the week."

Cruze ignored Noer's expression and simply pulled a bottle of potion from his pocket.

"A week? Wasn't it a month last time?" Noer was stunned. That was a huge reduction.

"Where on me do you think I could carry a month's supply?" Cruze retorted.

"Never mind."

Noer sized up Cruze, realizing he probably couldn't carry that much.

"Oh, right. I'm heading to the front lines tomorrow," Cruze continued.

"Why are you telling me this?"

Noer was taken aback. What did his going to the front lines have to do with him?

"We're friends, after all. Aren't you even a little concerned I might not come back?" Cruze asked with a smile.

"Is that even possible?"

Noer rolled his eyes. It would be a miracle if Cruze died at this point.

"So you have that much confidence in me." Cruze wasn't surprised by Noer's reaction.

"You..."

"Athrun! Are you looking for a fight?!"

"Can't you use your brain for once, Yzak!"

CRASH--

CRACKLE--

Athrun's response was the sound of shattering glass, along with the voices of Diakka and others trying to intervene.

"Athrun!"

"Yzak, don't get worked up!"

"Athrun, are you okay? Yzak, have you gone mad!"

"Yzak, Yzak! Calm down, calm down!"

"Athrun..."

The sounds of fighting drew everyone's attention, and Noer also looked in the direction of the commotion.

He saw that, at some point, Yzak and Athrun had started fighting again.

However, it was less of a fight and more of Yzak being skillfully pinned to the ground by Nicol and the others.

As for Athrun, he stood to the side, cleaning the alcohol off himself with Lacus's help.

The daily life scenes are mostly written. It's time to start connecting to the main plot.

But honestly, where the heck am I supposed to start?

I could start with Z.A.F.T., or the Earth Alliance...

Or maybe I should just jump back and forth?

This is so annoying