Return to Macross
A sequel to Earth Wanderers
chapter 1
Patients lay on two wheeled beds in the same room. Each bed was enclosed in a sterile box with soft, transparent acrylic walls and separated by a polyurethane curtain. Silence was complete. In the background you could only hear the monotone pacing of the breathing machines.
The man's shadow cast across the floor as he walked towards the dividing glass: then he stood still for a few seconds as he looked at her.
His face slowly turned three-quarters.
-Still not awake, doctor?
The doctor in charge entered the room
-They are both artificially sedated, sir. We are thus taking the opportunity to run the first blood tests and make a check on the system. Exclude any bacterial infection and track the incidence of nuclear radiation on their physical state. They are both very dehydrated and bordering on malnutrition.
The man grunted, indicating that he had received the information, so the doctor made to leave. He had already turned his back, but the man spoke again.
-Did they talk in their sleep? Did she...?
-She called for her father several times and... we noted a few rambling words about a plate and a code.
The man's eyes grew cold. His pupils became narrow.
-She called out to Lieutenant Ichijo erh...
the doctor had to clear his throat
-Lieutenant Ichijo also called for Commander Hayase by name during the induced coma.
The man lifted a hand as if to cut off the conversation. The doctor remained in silence.
-Have the personal effects delivered to my office.
The man quickly turned to leave the clinic.
-Captain Global wants to debrief Commander Hayase as soon as possible. When do you think she will wake up?
The doctor coughed up.
-48 hours. They are going to wake up spontaneously, it's expected.
The man nodded.
-I do not need to tell you again that all matters concerning the rescue of Bridge Officer Hayase and the Skull Squadron pilot are highly classified.
-Yes sir.
-And furthermore... I recommend you don't let them meet. Have them wake up in separate rooms. They must absolutely not interact with each other before conferring with the council.
-Yes sir!
he replied with a little concern in his voice.
-I do trust you, doctor.
The man stepped out into the hallway that led to the medical ward exit. The silence was broken only by the whir of the air conditioning fan.
The room was aseptically white. The slight sound of the electric fan was a soothing hum that kept her firmly bound to the sleeping haze in which she was submerged. Her eyelids twitched slightly above her rounded orbit, once, twice. She felt herself rising and walking weightlessly down a bright road. Her pace was quick, more and more excited. She realized with delight that her legs were lightweight, her whole body was, she felt the blood rushing through her veins and an exquisite strength seemed to burst within her muscles. She walked faster towards what she knew was the end of the alley... when she reached the corner she heard a voice so sharp in the silence that her eardrums ached.
Hey Misa!
She felt the backlash of an overwhelming and sudden force violently pulling her backwards: she opened wide eyes and mouth, swallowing a huge quantity of air: her lungs contracted as she clenched the sheets with her fingers. She started breathing, rough and unsteady. The unit hooked up to his left index finger began to detect the changing state on her system. Soon after, a prolonged beep alerted medical staff that First Lieutenant Hayase had awakened.
The ceiling was white. In the unawareness of sleep she began to focus on a pair of white coats bending over her. She stared at their faces, she didn't know them.
-How are you Commander Hayase!?
-Good to see you!
Their voices were cheerful and loud
-I ... I ...
She tried to speak. Suddenly a new thought burst through her mind.
-Are we on... Macross?
She said almost panting
The woman in the scrubs was scanning her heart rate with a small detector fastened to her chest: she smiled softly.
-Yes, we are on Macross.
Misa sighed, then another thought crossed her mind.
Hikaru...
She took a look around. Apart from the medical staff and herself there was nobody in the room.
He lay supine, the white sheet patched up to his neck moving up and down with the sway of his chest. He breathed quietly and occasionally waved both hands in the air as if handling the key commands of his fighter.
The doctor smiled at the young nurse eyeing him quizzically.
-All pilots do that.
He said, as if reading her mind.
-They dream to fly.
The nurse had pulled up his long messy hair with a funny clip. His face was glabrous and under the tanned skin, his cheekbones popped out in his visibly thin face. When the doctor left the room, she slowly approached him, carefully looking at his features.
-So this is Lynn Minmay's boyfriend...
She murmured. Her cheeks flushed
-he's so sweet!
Suddenly the pilot's body shifted abruptly. The nurse gasped and covered her face with her hands, afraid of having hastened the waking process. With a jump she crossed the door and disappeared in the hallway.
Hikaru's eyes spread wide at that very moment. He was completely alone in the room. In the haze, he saw the lights of the device clipped to his finger, flash. Then he heard an intense and regular beep.
Beep beep beep.
He parted his mouth sharply: the sensitive flesh of his lips split in the center, showing a line of bloody red. He felt a slight pinching and, forcing his still numb muscles, he pulled up. He rubbed his forehead feeling a sort of dizziness due to the rough movement.
Then the door slid open, letting in the doctor and a couple of additional medical staff.
-Lieutenant Ichijo! -said the man- Don't make any sharp movements.
Hikaru looked at them stunned, staying still in that pose, neither sitting nor laying.
-Where am I?
he murmured, startled by the sound of his own voice, then swallowed hard.
-Stay safe Lieutenant. You're on Macross now. How are you feeling?
Hikaru all at once recalled everything. How the ship had rescued them on the ancient island. When the emergency crew had taken them into the hangars, he and Misa had been picked up by the medical staff.. .
Back in the ambulance they were lying on two stretchers set up very close together. They were holding hands the whole time. When they finally got to the medical ward and the nurses pulled down Misa's gurney, she had glanced at him encouragingly. She had squeezed his hand tighter before letting go.
-See you soon
She had murmured through her lips.
Hikaru frowned in alarm.
Where is she?
After a meticulous review of her cognitive and physical reflexes, Misa, who was still dressed in a thin white robe, was led by her nurse into the bathroom. It was a surprisingly clean bathroom.
-You can get dressed Lieutenant Hayase. A car is waiting in the parking lot to drive you back to your quarters.
Misa looked at her reflection, in the mirror just behind her, the nurse smiled warmly.
-Your system has responded remarkably well to the therapy. How do you feel?
Misa inhaled slowly, feeling the air fill her lungs. She tucked a strand behind her ear, nervously.
-Fine. I'm fine.
The nurse made to leave and Misa gasped
-I...
-Yes?
But she shook her head
-Nothing, forget it. I'll be ready in a minute.
When the door was closed behind her back Misa stripped completely off her robe and looked at herself before entering the shower. Her cheeks and nose were slightly tinged with pink, a light tan covered her skin. She turned around trying to ignore the thinness of her body. The protruding bones of her ribcage, the spiky shoulder blades on her back, then she stepped into the steam.
She thought that, waiting for her outside the medical area, she would find Claudia, or even Commander Global but was wrong: in the parking lot there was nothing but a car with a chauffer. She got into the car and start torturing her fingers.
He didn't look for me... Maybe he's sick, maybe...
Misa shivered at the possibility that something had occurred. Yet she had not been able to ask the doctor about him. Gasping for breath, she ran a hand over her chest as if to quell the anxiety that was gripping her.
Hikaru... where are you...
She squeezed her eyes tightly, cursing herself for her weakness. She didn't have the guts to ask about his comrade.
What kind of officer had she become?
She fumbled for her pager, oblivious that she had no personal effects on her.
Yes, she decided, as soon as she got to the dorms she would reach out to him, she would look up the internal number of his room, even if it meant calling the pilots' barracks. At the thought of seeing him again she blushed and her heart flipped: she realized she couldn't think of nothing else.
Hikaru...
Hikaru was seated in a medical chair. The doctor had his eyes opened wide within a machine that encased his head. He underwent some cognitive tests on his nervous system. The doctor nodded in satisfaction each time the pilot's blue irises followed the shifting target. Then he grunted turned off the device and took off his glasses.
-Lieutenant Ichijo. I can discharge you. Your recovery was excellent. I'm no longer surprised at how hard a pilot's head can be.
Hikaru shrugged his shoulders, nervously rubbing the nape of his neck.
-You mean I can go?
The doctor nodded, looking at the clumsy young man bundled up in a too-small hospital gown.
-Your uniform is on its way, you can go back to your quarters Lieutenant.
At those words Hikaru winced, and he felt lost. As if that simple sentence would define his precarious condition on board.
The doctor walked quietly out of the room, leaving Hikaru pensive.
You can go back to your quarters...
He would be sent to trial, it was only a matter of hours, he thought. He would be deprived of his rank and court martialed ...for taking Minmay into space... and having her captured by the enemy. For the death of Focker...
For a fleeting moment a dizziness made him stumble. He had to lean against the doorframe.
-Lieutenant are you all right?
A nurse was coming in with a bag in her hands.
Hikaru looked at her blankly.
It's the punishment I deserve
Misa...
The thought of her made him shiver. Butterflies flew in his stomach, while a whole series of mixed feelings left him startled. Desire, restlessness, dread...she would be disappointed, so disappointed in him. He would be forced to quit the army, he would never fly again. Maybe Misa would come to despise him. He wouldn't have a chance of redeeming himself.
Misa...
All of a sudden he felt the memory of her body in his arms. He blushed remembering how they had made love. It was truly still amazing to believe that, rather than everything else that had happened to him.
-I...
almost screamed
The nurse turned her head toward him.
-Yes, Lieutenant?
-I ...I want to know where Commander Hayase is!
he said with a cracking voice. The nurse was silent for a moment, then stared into his eyes.
-Lieutenant Ichijo..., this... this is something I can't tell you.
Misa entered her room: it was nothing like she had left it that night when Ichijo had taken Minmay to fly around Saturn's rings. The bed had been made up and the cups on the sink been cleaned. On the mattress lay a flaming uniform of pristine white. On the floor, a pair of standard white shoes with a navy blue trim, were stored in a small pale pink box. A hat box of the same color housed the cap with the UN spacy black visor gleamed in the artificial light: a small piece of light blue paper, pinned to the box simply stated "1st Lt. Hayase M.".
Misa sighed, expecting to be summoned by the Council for her debriefing. But she had no idea of when. She glanced at the small alarm clock hanging on the wall, it was 12:30 am.
She took a few steps into the room randomly. She was supposed to be looking for Ichijo, that was what she had set out to do. Yeah, but she couldn't bring herself to pick up the phone. In an unconscious move she searched for the necklace with the small spheres around her neck and realized it wasn't actually there.
A groan of disappointment escaped her lips. They had requisitioned that, too. Along with the plate with that strange engraving and the tools of the ruined house where they...
She hastily spread the curtains and faced the spectacular view of the ancient city. Macross was swaying on its top, nearly touching the highest roofs of the buildings. The sea sparkled in the magnificent light of a summer morning. She smiled, feeling ready to make that call. But before she could take it, the phone started ringing.
-Hayase
She answered in his usual cold and professional tone: she felt bewildered at hearing her own voice.
-Lt. Hayase, Colonel Hirai speaking.
Hirai was an army officer who, in spite of himself, as the war with the Zentraedi unfolded, had become the spokesman of the military with the citizens of Macross city: and had also ending being the favorite target of Lynn Kaifun's antiarmy rants... well that was before Kaifun got lost in space along with Minmay...
-Lieutenant Hayase, are you paying attention?
Misa emerged from her musings.
-I hear you Colonel.
-I hope you're okay, how are you feeling Lieutenant?
-I'm fine.
Said Misa dryly, not sure where this conversation was going.
-We are very happy to have our best tactical officer back on the Macross bridge.
Misa let out an annoyed sound.
-Thank you, Colonel.
A moment of silence occurred.
-Lieutenant Hayase, I'll cut to the chase. We' ve arranged a brief informal meeting to discuss the situation on the planet.
-Of the Earth...
Misa muttered.
-Yes Lieutenant. The civilians are waiting for our announcement regarding the state of the planet Earth. After a week the malcontents are growing and...
-A week...?
Misa was genuinely amazed. She felt as if it had only been one night since they had been rescued and brought back to Macross.
-Yes Hayase-tai, you have been under sedation for a week, but now, now... we absolutely must speak with you.
-Of course sir-said Misa at once- I'll be there any time.
He made a contented sound.
-We'll be waiting for you in 30 minutes in the Council Chamber underplank.
Hirai made to switch off the communication
-Wait a second Colonel
Misa blushed violently.
-I, I...
For a moment she remained silent, unsure of what to say.
-I... I want to know where Lieutenant Ichijo is... and... how is he?
Hirai exhaled
-Well, Lieutenant Hayase... this is something I can't tell you.
Misa stood with the phone in her hands while the mute handset reiterated the static noise.
Hikaru...
A thousand threats crowded her mind, including the worst of all, the one she didn't want to face, that he was being locked up in jail over the Minmay issue. A thin layer of icy sweat started to appear on her skin.
No, no, that's not possible. Captain Global would never have court-martialed him without a hearing...I mean he did do wrong but then so much has happened...
Misa was shocked to realize how much she has changed. She placed both hands on the window pane and stared at the glistening water. Her eyes were swollen with tears
She was now thinking like a woman, not like a soldier.
What's going on with me?
With a great effort she fought back her tears, she fought back the thought of him. She grabbed her uniform jacket and eyed it for long moments, angrily, then looked at her little watch. It was only twenty minutes to the meeting.
Hikaru Ichijo reached the male officers' dorms in less than 30 minutes. A jeep had been waiting for him just outside the medical area. Despite his subdued mood, he sincerely enjoyed driving the small car. The gearshift was smooth and his hands had a firm grip. He took a private route for the army and in a few minutes was at the entrance of the quarters on ARMDclass 01. He thought vaguely of his fellow Skull Team members. Of his friends...
Max Jenius, Kakizaki... it was 12:20 am and they couldn't possibly be in their rooms. Hikaru didn't even know exactly where the Macross was located at that moment.
In the last few minutes he had spent awake in the medical ward, he had not realized if they were still in the Earth's atmosphere or if they had gone back out into space. He heard no scramble signals in the apparently quite path he was driving. The rumblings coming from the hangars were more like routine maintenance.
He chose not to think about it. Instead, he thought that for once in his short career in the UN Spacy he would sit quietly and wait for his judgment and punishment. He didn't even question whether he deserved it. It would just be that way. He grinned realizing he had started thinking like a soldier and not some immature brat. But he would accept the punishment. That was that.
He unlocked the door to his quarters, number 215. As soon as he turned on the lamp in the hallway, he realized that someone had been in there during his absence. The front room was exceptionally clean, and the smell that invaded his nostrils was that of a mild floral cleanser and not the usual mixture of pheromones, junk food and beer spills that always greeted him after his shifts.
The small apartment was perfectly neat. His clothes tossed on the chairs and floor were gone. The sink was tidy and clean. There were no traces of beer cans. The small bed on the sleeping loft was tucked in and a new uniform, wrapped in a cellophane bag, lay on the bedspread. Hikaru approached warily, fearing he might find someone behind the closet or whatever. But the room was totally empty. He ran his palm over the spotless fabric of the blue/white jacket. It had a slight smell of laundry. At the end of the bed, tucked into two boxes, were a pair of new shiny combat boots and a beret hat. Hikaru reached out and grabbed it. He cautiously examined the UN Spacy logo and the Skull Squadron crest pin.
A small piece of light blue paper swirled slowly to the floor. Hikaru's eyes widened: the lettering was plain, hand-written, in blue ink.
"3d Lt. Ichijo H."
At that same moment, the phone started to ring.
The Council Chamber was located right below the bridge on the bottom floor. This way Captain Global could reach it at any time from his office, through a private elevator.
The other members of the council and whoever was being summoned, would walk through the main door on the secondary level.
Global took a seat in the captain's chair: the vast windows behind him let one see the impressive view of the ancient city and the sparkling ocean. The rays of the midday sun poured into the room, giving it a pleasant golden hue.
The council members looked silently at each other, then at Global, who was twisting an unlit pipe between his fingers. Then he broke the silence with a grunt, followed by a head nod.
The sergeant in charge at the gate stepped up from his desk and ceremoniously greeted her.
-Lieutenant Hayase. Welcome.
The young man's voice showed some excitement but Misa was too tense to notice and replied a dry
-At ease.
Straight in her usual stiff posture she simply awaited to be received. Her eyes, half covered by the shiny visor of her hat, were fixed on the door of the Council Chamber.
She didn't notice the approaching footsteps until she heard the sergeant speak again.
-Lieutenant Ichijo. Welcome back to Macross!
-Thank you, Sergeant. At ease.
Misa first shivered and then was overcome by a wave of heat. She waited for very long moments not moving a muscle. Then she turned abruplty... Her long hair swirled around, leaving a hint of sweet scent in the air.
He was there in front of her, dazzling in his new uniform, his UN Spacy beret dropped on his forehead in the aviator style. He straightened his back and clicked the heels of his new boots, then brought one hand to his head flawlessly.
-First Lieutenant Hayase!
he said loudly
Misa had to resort to all her self-control to remain still on her legs.
-Lieutenant Ichijo...
he said in a shaky voice. The two stared at each other for long breaths.
At last she saluted back
-At ease.
Hikaru loosened his shoulders and slightly parted his legs, heart pounding furiously inside his ears. Then he swallowed, with effort. She was simply stunning. Her uniform seemed to glow in a shade lighter than white itself: she looked taller, but then he noticed she was wearing high heels. The cast of the hat didn't let him see her eyes clearly, but her rosy lips were drawn into a small smile: on seeing it Hikaru made a step forward, facing her. He was about to speak when the device on the concierge's desk switched on, giving a small beep. The sergeant turned it off with the tip of his finger and looked back at them.
-Hayase-tai, Ichijo-chuii*. The Council will be receiving you in a moment. Please enter.
The doors slid open, letting a beam of light glide over their heads.
Captain Global rose to his feet, followed by the senior council members including Colonel Maistroff, Colonel Hirai, the Chief Engineer, Dr. Bartlow, and the Mayor of Macross City**.
Misa strode into the room, Hikaru behind her. Her presence alone seemed to stun the audience. She looked in every way the same inflexible and severe young woman who had attended the Macross launching ceremony six months earlier, yet something in her had changed, and this something could be sensed.
-First Lieutenant Hayase Misa and Third Lieutenant Ichijo Hikaru reporting to the Council sir!
her voice was loud and crystal clear.
The two young officers stood frozen, shoulders up straight, heels pressed together, hand on forehead, gaze focused on the skyline behind the Captain's back.
Global took the floor, barely concealing his feelings.
-At ease.
A blue eye peeped out from under the Commander's wide hat and it just looked damp with tears.
- It's good to have you two back on board.
-Thank you, sir.
Hikaru hadn't spoken: his superior was in charge of that. From the corner of his eye he glanced at her features. Her lips were tightened in a thin line, and a small wrinkle had appeared on her cheek. Hikaru didn't need to think about it: she was tense, like him.
Yes, he was expecting the security guards to come in to the room at any moment and handcuff him. He thought Global was about to read his criminal charges: well he didn't know much about UN Spacy case law but in a certain way he guessed it would go like this.
The captain arose, took a few steps toward the window, hands behind his back. He spoke with his back against the rest of the council members, whom he did not particularly worry about.
They were also quite aloof: Dr. Bartlow was scrolling her tablet, taking notes with her left hand on a small notebook. The Mayor was chilling in the soft chair. Maistroff and Hirai were muttering in low voices. The Chief Engineer was obsessively staring at his notes, crumpling the sheets with his fingers.
-I am apologetic for summoning you right after your discharge from the hospital
Global started to speak but did not turn around
-But as you can imagine, the Council had an extreme urge to talk to you.
Misa bit her lip unintentionally. Hikaru noticed how she clenched her fists until her knuckles whitened.
-We absolutely need to know if the other people involved in the Saturn incident are ...
Global paused and Hikaru blanched, a sudden wave of cold chill running down his spine.
The Saturn Incident...
Misa parted her lips and spoke.
-Captain, I regret to inform you that Lieutenant Commander Focker is being KIA in a Zentraedi ship where we have been captivated.
All the members let go of an astonished gasp. Misa saw that Dr. Bartlow had covered her mouth with her hands in shock.
Global turned around and stared alternately at Misa and Hikaru.
-The civilians?
-I cannot tell sir.
Then Misa unwittingly turned to Hikaru and their eyes collided. She spotted his bewildered gaze and wrinkled her eyebrows, instinctively. Her mouth was still tense in a thin line.
-The last thing we knew about the civilians was that they had been seized by the enemy.
She said dryly
Global rolled his pipe among his fingers.
-I see...
Hirai muttered something she didn't hear.
After a few long moments of silence Global spoke again:
-Hayase-tai... How is the Earth status?
-During about one month we have been searching for 15,000 km on Earth, and eventually we found the Alien city. But no... survivors.
More muttering arose from the round table.
Global sighed.
-I see...
Misa didn't know if she should keep on speaking, but Global unexpectedly nodded and pushed the button again. The doors slid open
- You are dismissed.
Misa gasped
-I'm sorry I can only give you the remaining day off. I'll expect a full report tomorrow: works will start at 8 am... for now, take a well-deserved rest.
Misa tried to open her mouth to speak but couldn't make a sound. She felt Hikaru's gaze staring at her from behind his shoulders.
-Aye sir.
She said weakly.
Then they both lifted their right arm up and stood at attention.
Hikaru just couldn't trust his ears. As he slowly turned and headed for the door he felt like floating in space. His heart was heavy with anguish. No one had mentioned a punishment. No one had mentioned his dominant and pivotal role in the whole incident... what was Global calling it?
The Saturn Incident
He wondered if he hadn't been given the condemned's last hours...that's what Roy called them... the last meal and the last cigarette before the gallows.
He was so absorbed in his lucubrations that he didn't realize that the door was being shut behind them and a woman's figure had appeared in the hallway.
-Claudia!
Misa called to her in a trembling voice.
Claudia saluted Hikaru and Misa from a distance and with a smile. Yet, when they got closer her eyes didn't look alive. They seemed focused on an empty, distant space. Her face was stern, showing only a resolute determination to hold back the pain.
Looking at her, Hikaru felt bewildered, and his own heart overflowed with emotion.
What should I say?
He struggled to find the words. But the person who saved him from his own shame was Claudia herself.
-Was Roy brave?
she said
-Yes...
he replied
-Thank you... that's all I wanted to know.
She smiled, and he saw the agony of a strong woman.
Misa closed the distance between them trying to hold her in an embrace that Claudia evaded: she wiped her hand on her face as if to chase away an insect.
-Just... -she muttered- just... I just need a little time...
Her teary eyes reflected in Misa's, and she realized that her friend was experiencing her own her friend was experiencing her own pain. The war had taken the most precious thing from both of them.
But I... I do have something to live for.
Misa looked back at Hikaru. The young pilot's eyes were moist and she knew that he was struggling with all his being to cast back the tears. Claudia disappeared towards the elevators and at that moment Misa noticed that the sergeant was looking at them.
-Goodbye Lieutenant Hayase, Lieutenant Ichijo...
The two young officers left on the same route took by Claudia, a little confused, not knowing exactly where to go. The only thing they absolutely had to do was leave the second floor: they had been dismissed.
Misa entered the elevator and Hikaru followed. None of them had said anything. The door closed with a hissing sound.
Hikaru didn't resolve to speak, both were deeply shaken by the recent rapid and painful run-in with Claudia. All the talking with the Council and Global had felt surreal, not to mention the homely physical sensation of being inside their uniforms again. All of a sudden it was as if that month spent wandering the ravaged Earth had been some kind of wild dream.
Misa realized she had forgotten to breathe for a few seconds. She parted her lips slightly and swallowed a gulp of air, letting her back rest against the wall. Hikaru was shaken by the sound of her small breath. That was Misa, standing in front of him in a very small amount of space. Reaching out a hand he could have easily touched her warm, trembling body. But he didn't.
Misa felt his presence through every fiber of her being. Like a magnet he was attracting her relentlessly. She lifted her gaze and their eyes met.
-Ichijo-kun
-Hayase-tai...
they said at the same time
The sound of their voices, so unexpected, almost wounded their ears.
-You first
-You first
they both spoke again at the same time
Hikaru giggled, and ran a hand over the nape of his neck, a gesture so purely his that it instantly brought back a thousand of memories in her mind.
-Okay... I'll go first.
he tried to smile but all that came out was a bit of a grimace.
The elevator alerted that they were reaching the female officers' dorm floor, where Misa would have to get off. Without giving it a thought, Hikaru pushed the stop button. The descent stopped immediately
Misa gasped. Hikaru couldn't believe he did that
-Oh I'm sorry, I...Hayase - tai... I swear this is the first time I'm doing it.
The way Hikaru justified himself, reminded her of these arrogant and reckless answers he used to give her on the tacnet, and this amused her: Misa let go a chuckle and he started to breathe again.
-Yeah, of course...
She was still smiling and he too broke out into a warm little giggle too.
It had all been so crazy since he'd left the hospital, and Lieutenant Hayase herself had seemed so...different. But now at seeing her so suddenly relaxed and cheerful, Hikaru's heart felt full of confidence.
He made a slight movement toward her and instantly her cheeks turned pink.
-We're about to reach the women's dorms floor and I... I figured, well...
Hikaru started to say.
-I thought that... uh, I mean...
Misa stared at him: a small wrinkle appeared between her eyebrows.
-What you thought?
-I thought... you didn't want to be seen by... someone.. passing by...together with me, you know...
Misa's eyes grew wide, it was a possibility that hadn't even crossed her mind.
She shook her head slightly. The scent of her hair hit his nostrils, making him wince.
-No..I.. why would you think something like that?
she said in confusion.
Hikaru stared at her face for a minute too long, lingering his gaze on her mouth and on the small teeth peeking out from her upper lip: she had worn a light layer of pink lipstick that made her green eyes pop. Her hair was smooth and pulled up with two bobby pins on either side of her head. Hikaru was like mesmerized, she looked so beautiful, yet so different...
-It's just that you're so different... from...
he said thoughtlessly
Misa's face changed, and her whole features became gloomy: it was Commander Hayase's look when a storm was coming.
Misa instantly thought the worst. A few hours earlier she had spent long moments styling her hair with the help of a beauty app and had spent just as much time choosing a shade of lipstick that wasn't too flashy but not too subtle, either. She couldn't lie, she'd done it because she was hoping with all her heart to finally meet him.
Hikaru noticed her annoyance. He was getting to know her by now. He also realized, in spite of himself, that he hadn't learned how to link his mouth to the brain yet.
-It's just... no, I mean...don't think that...
-If your intent is to leave, you don't need to look for that kind of excuse, Lieutenant Ichijo.
Hikaru sighed:
There she goes... distancing by using her rank
-You're dismissed Lieutenant!
Hikaru chuckled nervously
-The elevator is stopped, as you can see, I can't go anywhere at all!
he said arrogantly.
This ended up irritating her. Her eyes blinked, her eyeballs widened like those of a cat: she stretched out an arm towards the switch panel but Hikaru intercepted her movement and softly wrapped his hand around her wrist.
At that touch their skin ignited as if they had touched a burning fire.
Misa's breathing became unsteady.
-Let me go ...
she said trying to be authoritative but her tone was faint
Their eyes mirrored.
-Wait
said Hikaru with a husky voice.
Still gripping her wrist he pulled her slightly towards him. The tension was tangible and unbearable.
-I'm sorry...
Misa stood in the same stance, not moving closer, nor moving away.
- Different, uh? You're the same as always however...
She muttered casually, avoiding his gaze. But Hikaru could see that she was no longer angry. A few moments passed
-You know I...
-I was thinking...
They had both spoken again at the same time.
Hikaru pressed lightly on the soft flesh of her wrist.
- I...I was thinking about what Captain Global said...that we should take a few hours of well-deserved rest...and
Misa looked at him warily yet hopefully.
-I was thinking...do you remember when...?
Hikaru suddenly flushed
-When we talked about those udons, you know, in the house... back in the city...
Misa's lips bent into a small smile: the memory of their fake dinner still made her happy. Especially that he remembered it as well: it had been so important to her.
-Yes...
-Well...
He took the beret off his head, then ran a hand through his thick hair. Misa smelled the fresh scent of cleanliness coming off of him and was delighted.
-I...yeah, well...Why don't we go out to dinner tonight! You and me I mean! Downtown...
Hikaru blurted out the sentence all at once, forgetting to breathe. His face was still slightly flushed. He was looking at an indefinite point behind her: Misa's eyes went wide in awe, it was so much more than she had expected.
But...What was she really expecting?
-Yes, I... I would love to, I mean, yes... yes!
He didn't know what had happened or how, but he realized that since he had woken up from sedation a few hours earlier, he hadn't stopped thinking about what might happen between them "later", though he hadn't really focused on the idea of being alone with her yet again. But after seeing her in her dazzling uniform, after having smelled her scent, which he didn't know, he suddenly remembered the warmth of her body, her bare skin rubbing against his. Yes she was different now, but she was just as much his... Misa. Hikaru stepped out of the elevator at a quick pace and got lost in the huge hallway that led to the hangars.
They were back on Macross, they were alive.
They were...together.
-I'll see you at 6 pm
had said Hikaru as watching her stepping out of the elevator.
-Yes...
She had said softly. She had brushed a strand of hair over her shoulder and they had stood staring at each other until the automatic doors closed in front of their sight.
Misa smiled, clutching her hat tightly to her chest with both hands. Her neck and cheeks were sprinkled with small flecks of blushing. She brought a trembling hand to her forehead where just moments before Hikaru had left a tender kiss.
to be continued
notes:
* Tai=Commander, Chuii=Lieutenant (Japanese Navy badges of rank used in SDF Macross)
** The Chief Engineer is basically Robotech Dr. Lang, he has no name in the original SDFM, while Dr. Bartlow is his female counterpart in the manga Macross - The First. We all already know Maistroff and the Mayor and as about Hirai's character I came upon him in a japanese blog (I don't know if he's canon).
Hello everyone... as you may have figured out this new story is a sequel to my previous fic Earth Wanderers hehe.
And, as everyone knows, on last April 9th the long war between Big West and Harmony Gold for the distribution rights of Macross in the West has finally got to an end. After over two decades of disagreements, most of the Macross franchise will finally be released outside of Japan and in the future, Big West and Harmony Gold will both cooperate on the international distribution of all Macross and Robotech projects post 2021. I think it's a landmark decision, a real watershed in Anime history.
As a huge fan of Macross and Robotech I humbly decided to write this little fic to celebrate with you!
The story will be a few chapters long, I hope you like it and leave a feedback.
See you soon
Mao
edit May 1, 2021
Hello! I edited because ff dot net had actually eaten some of the writing. Sometimes it does. I apologize for any mistake. I also added a couple of notes.
I take the chance to thank you prompt reviewers! I love you so much. Mao