Disclaimer: Muv-luv Belongs to AGE and all other related partners.
"..." - Talking / speech speech - Italics – Thinking/thoughts out loud
~Sakura trees outside of Yokohama base January 2, 2002~
"so this is it." Yuuko sensei said, finding Takeru in front of his comrade's memorial.
"Yeah, I should be disappearing soon. Being here feels like home with all my friends. It's like coming back to where we all started." Takeru sighs. His feet starting glow white, the light slowly spreading up his body.
"Bye bye, Shirogane – san." Kasumi – chan, says holding her big rabbit doll.
"I supposed this really is bye bye huh?" Takeru reminisced. "Kasumi – chan, bye bye. Remember to eat properly."
"un,.." She nodded.
"Hey nothing for me?" Yuuko - Sensei said with a smirk.
"For you? Nope, I doubt you'd listen to what I say anyways." Takeru retorted back.
At this point the light had already reached Takeru's head and everything below his neck had disappeared.
"Bye bye..." And with that the rest of Takeru disappeared from that world.
~Unknown Place, Unknown Time~
It was a different feeling Shirogane Takeru had, disappearing from this world, it wasn't like anything he had felt before. It was different from travelling back and froth to his old world with Yuuko - sensei's machine, it wasn't dizzying, it didn't hurt, it didn't feel good, slimy, wet, tingly or anything. A weird sensation, whenever he looped he didn't really feel anything, he just wakes up from a dream. It just sort of happens, of course it could just be that he forgot if it did feel like anything or it was because he was asleep when he starts the loop back up again.
When he was disappearing, he didn't know what he looked like to others but to him it was like slow motion. Slowly his body started disappearing dissolving into particles of light, but he felt nothing. He felt his body going and yet he felt his limbs were still there, but he couldn't move. Despite that, he was calm, he didn't know why, but it was as if he expected this and was no stranger to the process. Maybe this is what happens when he restarts loops, but he doesn't remember. It started from his feet moving up his body, to his hands, chest, than finally his head. As his head started fading away all he could see was a bright light, so he blinked and when he opened his eyes, he suddenly found himself in a black void, with darkness all around.
No, it wasn't just darkness, there were other things there. Were those bubbles? Why were there bubbles in a place like this and wasn't he supposed to go back to his old world with everything fixed in the branch he ruined? He moved towards them, and saw... himself?
"Wha?..." He was stunned.
In the bubbles, he saw images of himself having a conversation of some sorts with Meiya, but it wasn't Meiya from this world but the one from his old world, there was the door she installed in his room, in the background. He looked towards another bubble, he saw Hayase and Haruka in it, another with Sumika and Kasumi in her house's window, in another he saw both Meiya and her sister Yuuhi in front his old classroom.
But that's impossible right? He never met them in his original world.
*Flashback*
"Did you know? Meiya had a twin sister, but because of their family they lived apart, that's why she lived here for 3 years. However an accident happened and her parents and twin sister died, that's why she was taken back to her family all those years ago." Sumika said to Takeru from her window.
*Flashback end*
That's right, she died, so she couldn't possibly have shown up like Meiya did and joined his class. Even though this world's Yuuhi is still alive, but this image is from his old world right? He tried reaching for it, but it just pass right through his fingers, he couldn't touch it. But he felt as though something got added to him, like he gained something by passing through. It was only a feeling though, he couldn't actually tell if something happened or not.
He looked around more, his vision even clearer, now he can see millions of similar bubbles all around. Some had people he didn't know with unfamiliar faces, but around him he could clearly see the images of people he knew. Himself. Sumika. Kasumi. Ayamine. Tama. Meiya. Marimo - chan. Yuuko - Sensei. The Valkyries. Miss Kyozuka. His old classmates. His parents. Sumika's parents. His friends' parents, he recognized them even though he never met them, or did he? There were multiple of each bubble of his friends, each depicting different scenes and events, from both the old world and this ones. He could see Meiya sharing most of the closest bubbles.
Then he thought of something, something Yuuko - sensei said to him. Because he passed through from one world to another, each world started to leak causality information. In order to stabilize each world, they had to deal with Takeru being there and not there, that resulted in the loss of the world's information about him in order to reduce the effects. He himself would also bring causality information fragments with him when he looped and then lose when he came back to October 22.
But there couldn't possibly be this much information, unless I've actually looped this many times and forgot that much loops as well. No that doesn't make sense either, that bubble from before was from my old world, although I'm not sure it was, what with Yuuhi being there. But it definitely wasn't the world he keeps looping in, so it must another parallel world or a branch of my old world. Then, all these other bubbles must be causality information from millions of parallel worlds where things were different from what he knew. This must be space between worlds, was it because he was no longer a causality conductor that he's here? Without Sumika to anchor him down, would he just float along aimlessly in the void for all eternity with nothing tying him to a specific world? Wasn't he supposed to go back to his old world as planned? Did that branch get fixed, hopefully it restarted and nobody got erased.
For what it's worth, I'm sorry, Shirogane Takeru of that world, I got a bunch of people killed and you probably got yourself arrested after I left too.
A lot of questions and thoughts swirled around in his head but no answers came.
I suppose it's for the best, if I were to go back to my old world now, I would probably start feeling emotional again like with happened with Marimo - chan. Everyone died, even Sumika.
He was the one who pulled the trigger on Meiya, if he were to meet her again, he wouldn't know how to react, what would he say, what would he feel? He still feels a lot of guilt even now. It literally happened not even a few days ago. He could probably guess what Meiya would say, that it was her choice, that she was glad that he did it and maybe even admonish him for hesitating, but after, would comfort him in any way she could. That was who she was, that 's who Takeru remembered her being.
However he was no longer the Shirogane Takeru that lived and loved in the old world, but one who experienced the horrors and thrills of a BETA infested earth. Where he found and lost light. While he may have been born and lived in his old world, this one was where he grew up, where he found his resolve and purpose. All he did in his old world was float along doing what ever he felt like, he didn't really care about anything, but all that changed when Meiya arrived. Sumika may have been his only constant in his life, that there wouldn't be a Shirogane Takeru without her, but Meiya was the one who interrupted his path, she brought many things with her. Happiness, sadness, tragedy, hilarity, it brought life and substance in his dull life.
From what he remembered from the parallel branches of his old world, he fell in love with all of his friends and he would never had noticed Sumika's feelings. Meiya was the catalyst for all that, without her, he wouldn't have experienced all that, he probably would've gone to university, got a job, and disappear from everyone's lives with Sumika by his side. He wouldn't have noticed their feelings, or have feelings towards them. Sumika would have spent the majority of her life looking after him and getting nothing in return. Meiya was still the heir to the financial group and would've gotten married to some stranger, but she didn't and came to meet him, all because of a promise even he didn't remember from all those years ago.
It's probably too late now, but thank you Meiya. For coming into my life, for changing it, for loving me, for being Meiya. I hope in what ever worlds you live in, you find happiness.
It's probably better that I stay here, I won't bother anyone here. If I end up in a new world, I will probably cause disaster by dragging a bunch of causality information with me. If I cause others to get killed, I don't have any way to reverse that this time.
Besides, if I go back to a world where everything is peaceful. I wouldn't know how to live and react to everyone. I'm too used to living in this war world, remembering 2 lives to my original one.
All of a sudden, some of the bubbles around him started lighting up and rushing towards him, as if they were triggered by something. They came straight for him, knocking some of the other bubbles out of the way all around him, those they hit also started lighting up and moving. He couldn't remember what their contents were, but as he put up his hands to block the incoming bubbles, all he could see was a bright light and then he blacked out.
~Takeru's Bedroom – Old house – October 22 – Morning ~
Takeru wakes up in his bed, sitting straight up as he remembers everything that happened before. He looks around, before seeing Sumika's house missing from the window.
What's going on? What happened? Why am I back here? Sumika's house isn't there, so that means this is the beta world?
His eyes widening in realisation.
Did something go wrong? Why did I loop again? Don't tell me I have to go through everything again?
It should been over when Sumika died, Didn't you say that sensei!
Takeru, frustrated over the turn of events, punches the wall beside him.
What should I d–
"uuuuu..." A small soft voice moaned in the room.
"What! Who?!" Takeru's eyes widen in shock, looking widely around his room.
Takeru then feels a warm body beside him and beneath the covers. He discovers an extra body in his bed, for a second he thinks it is Meiya, further strengthened by the blue hair he sees when he pulls back the covers. However, the person he sees is that of a 5 year old girl.
She wakes up shortly after, looking dazedly at the older person in bed with her. Takeru asks for her name.
"Huh?,.. My name is Yuuhi, Mitsurugi Yuuhi." She replied, Takeru was shocked. "Who are you?"
Takeru replies, recovering from his shock, "It's Shirogane Takeru."
Her eyes widen and brighten up yelling "Otou – sama!", and started talking about him finally finishing his mission and came back to her and her mother.
She realizes what's around her and asks "where is this?"
Takeru replies "it's my house," still reeling and stunned at the revelation and in somewhat of denial of having a daughter, since no has ever joined him in returning to October 22 before, especially someone he has never met.
Seeing her father frozen still, Yuuhi gets worried and reaches for Takeru's face and when she does, a surge of memories becomes suddenly clear in Takeru's mind, it's the missing parts from his first loop, one where alternative V happens and he falls in love with Meiya. And now he's convinced that this small blue - haired girl must be his and Meiya's daughter from the first loop, that Meiya must have been pregnant when he sent her off on the shuttle. He doesn't know why he's convinced, but the feelings of his cannot be wrong, he has to protect his daughter. Suddenly he thinks of Meiya, and if she has also recovered her memories of the first loop, his mind reeling again at the possibility that now his wife and daughter are now part of his loops. wasn't Sumika dying supposed to remove him being a causality conductor. Wait did he and Meiya even get married?
"Otou - sama?" Yuuhi was getting increasingly worried about her father's silence and called out to him shocking him out of his stupor.
"Your Okaa - sama's name is Meiya right?" Takeru slowly asks.
"yup." Yuuhi nods," Okaa - sama will be so happy father came."
Takeru winces knowing that this is no longer the time she lived in, but before she was even born. The Meiya here hasn't even met him before, much less knows about a daughter she has with him in the future.
He asks Yuuhi if she is hungry and brings her down to the kitchen to give her a simple breakfast out of things he had there, it was all going to disappear anyways when he left the house. "It isn't much, but eat up while I get ready to go." she listens and starts eating. While he gets dressed and gets ready for the next coming years. He collects all the history and school textbooks, various electronics, his game guy and his fathers tools he could in a large bag. When he's collected everything he wants he goes downstairs and sees Yuuhi waiting for him, already cleaned up the dishes and everything, nervously holding her hands together, what a responsible girl, he thought. As expected of the daughter you raised, Meiya, I'm not so sure I could do the same.
We leave the house together, holding Yuuhi's hand they see what he sees every loop the dilapidated Hiiragi district. Yuuhi asks where's is this place and where are they going. Takeru replies "this is earth about 8 years ago in 2001 and where we are going is where I have to go and where they are going to meet a special someone." Meiya, he doesn't say, but wonders if she will remember since their daughter is here.
"So this is old earth, it looks very different from new earth." Yuuhi looked confused, her eyes wandering around the area, looking at the broken and ruined houses.
Along the way Takeru tries to explain to Yuuhi, about what is happening, why are they in 2001, the current situation on earth, about Meiya at this point in time and all sorts of other things. He didn't know what to say to a five year old about what is happening, but eventually decided to be truthful and try to explain to the best of his ability.
At first Yuuhi panicked, was scared and was in denial, but by the time they made it to Yokohama base, she had calmed down, but still very nervous and now riding on her father's shoulders, it helped when he told her about the parts of the town they past by while walking and the happy memories he had with Meiya. He told her about about what used to be there, the stores, the food, the parks and playgrounds. He tried to describe life here, if there was no BETA around.
~Front Security Gate – Yokohama Base~
When he reached Yokohama base, he tells Yuuhi to be quiet and don't wander off as she grabs hold of her father's shirt when he lets her down to the floor. Then he walked slowly towards the front gates, waiting for those 2 UN soldiers to come out at any moment.
Right on time, 2 UN soldiers come out to confront them, they are confused by his appearance and of the young girl hiding behind his knees. They ask who he is and why is he here, that this a restricted area.
Takeru's raises both of his hands in surrender and says, "I'm here to find Professor Kouzuki Yuuko, tell her that Shirogane Takeru's here about the xg70 deal and supporters of Alternative V."
One of the soldiers goes back into the base to report the encounter and the other asks "what's with the girl?"
Takeru decides to speak a half - truth, "She's my daughter, And I can't exactly leave her alone now can I?"
"what's in the bag?" the soldier asks, still somewhat confused about her existence.
"the world."
"huh? What does that mean?" the soldier was confused. "nevertheless, I'm going to the need to check the contents."
Takeru agrees and leaves it on the ground and backs away with Yuuhi, allowing the soldier to take out a scanner and scans the insides of the bag for anything dangerous. He then opens up the bad and finds a large number of books and a toolbox. Opening the toolbox, he opens it up before closing everything back up a few moments later.
"It looks like it is fine, thank you for cooperating." the UN soldier says allowing Takeru to pick his bag up.
A while after, the first UN soldier come out and tells Takeru to come in with the girl and follow him. The destination is a very familiar room. WasYuuko - Sensei waiting inside?
Sure enough she was waiting inside, sitting on her desk glaring at him. Takeru and Yuuhi went inside the room and let the door close behind them before Yuuko – Sensei spoke.
"who are you?"she demands, her eyes narrowed on him "why do you know know of the xg70 deal and the alternative plan? Who sent you here?"
"My name is Shirogane Takeru and I am proof of your quantum causality theory and I am a causality conductor."Takeru calmly replies having Yuuhi take a seat on the nearby couch. "I am here because you have reached a bottle neck in completing the 00 unit and have to find a way of making a parallel processor with 15 billion superconductors fit the palm of her hand"
"You! What? How did - " She looked shocked.
"I am from a world that is without any BETA, I came here to help save the human race and prevent Alternative V from happening."
"Say that I believe that who you are is true, what's your proof?"Yuuko sensei says, with her eyes narrowed, calming herself down.
"he - he, you said that in the past loops as well." but he came prepared this, he begins taking out all the text books he has from his house and gives them to Yuuko - Sensei.
"what's this?"Yuuko sensei asks, not even looking inside them.
"knowledge from another world, of things that exist and haven't yet, and with this knowledge that is impossible to find in this world, this is my proof."
Yuuko - Sensei starts flipping through the text books getting more and more intrigued. She stops and says" alright for the time being, I believe you, that you are indeed from another world, one without BETA."
She grins with a gleam in her eyes excited at the proof from her theory.
"And what's with the girl?" she asks pointing at Yuuhi. Yuuhi suddenly looked nervous, she's been quite the entire time.
"She's my daughter, from a different timeline" he replies.
"Hoh? A different timeline you say? And? what is your proof that she's your daughter?" Yuuko – sensei was confused about her existence.
"what do you mean proof?" Takeru yells, while Yuuhi strengthens her hold on Takeru's clothing.
"You say that throughout your many loops she has never appeared before, nor do you recognize her from before, how are you sure that she's your daughter?"Yuuko calmly retorts.
"she's definitely my daughter, these feelings of mine can't be wrong, ever since I've met her, I've had these senses of extreme familiarity and was convinced when she gave back the memories of past loops back just by being around her." Takeru was sure of it.
"Hoh?" Yuuko - Sensei was intrigued, "by interacting with her you got memories of your past loops?"
Yuuko - Sensei walks towards Yuuhi in interest, Yuuhi, though nervous, stares defiantly at her for thinking she wasn't her father's daughter, in a way that reminded Takeru of Meiya's glares. Yuuko - Sensei grasps Yuuhi hand and freezes, after a moment, Yuuko stumbles back holding her head.
When she straightens up, she looks at Takeru and smirks, "Long time no see Shirogane"
huh?
"I remember, everything that happened in the last loop." She simply says.
Really?, she does?
"This is unexpected, I didn't think that even after removing the anchor, you would still be able to loop." She shakes her head for a second, before staring at Yuuhi. "Well it seems not everything is the same."
"I'll take care everything, so you don't have to worry. This time though, I'm making you a 1st lieutenant "
"Wait what?, why?" Takeru was confused at the turn of the events" shouldn't I be put in cadet squad 207?"
"you don't get it?" Yuuko - Sensei raises her eyebrows, "Have you looked in a mirror at all, right now you look too old to be a cadet."
Too old? Since I reset every loop, shouldn't I be 17, that's the right age to be in the cadet squad. Even though I keep my physique every time I loop, I haven't aged before. Has he? Or has he aged so slow that he just doesn't realize it.
"here look." Yuuko - Sensei brings a mirror out of nowhere and hands it to me. In it, Takeru looks much older than 17, with longer hair, Takeru decides he looks about 24.
"I don't really know why you aged, but that's not the problem now. You can't really expect me to put you in a cadet squad, now do you, especially when I can get much more use from you out of it. Especially with all this material you got me from your original world."
"Well, um..." Takeru stammered.
"Also I doubt, you would be allowed to take care of your daughter here as a cadet. Can't have that now can I?" another good argument.
"uh..." Takeru dumbly said, he could never win against her.
"For the time being, I'll let you help train cadet squad 207, so you can keep your precious bonds. I'll set you up with your old room, you know where that is right?"
"yeah I do."
"By the way, your daughter's name." Yuuko - Sensei suddenly asks, "what is it?"
"It's Yuuhi, why?"
"Nothing." she smirks" so you got it on with Mitsurugi huh?"
Takeru blushes and stammers
"You're the same as ever, aren't you Shirogane?"Yuuko smirks" and, when was she born I don't remember you and samurai girl ever getting it on?"
"she's from my first loop after alternative V activated, I had Meiya get on the fleet and... I guess she was pregnant..." He said, suddenly feeling down.
"Well, I don't know the feelings of a mother or a father, but it looks like you got an even better reason to win and survive this time around." Yuuko smirks.
"Yeah I do." Takeru said with determination.
"Hurry up and go, I'll have Marimo know by the time you get up there." she pushes Takeru and Yuuhi out of her room without a word and takes Takeru's bag as well. Without even getting a word out Takeru and Yuuhi stood outside her door stunned.
"she's a strange person" Yuuhi finally says.
"she is, but her heart is in the right place." Takeru replies. "sorry for ignoring you in there?"
"It's fine, otou - sama was talking about something important." Yuuhi says, grabbing on to his hand.
"Now. How about we explore then?" Takeru said, holding on to her hand and heading to the elevator.
"Okay!" She cheerfully replied.
~Yokohama Base – Surface Floors~
Takeru and Yuuhi made it up to the surface after gathering many looks because of Yuuhi's young age.
When they made it to the training courtyard, Takeru's had been explaining the place to her, where the cafeteria is, the library, classrooms, equipment and training rooms. They were just looking back at the base when behind them a voice calls out.
"who are you? what are you doing, you don't look like a UN officer?"
Looking back, It's Meiya.
Yuuhi looked at Meiya, confused at the extremely familiar voice, but stranger appearance and finally realizes that Meiya was her mother. Her eyes widen and she smiles rushing towards Meiya, calling out," Okaa - sama!"
Before Takeru could stop her, she had already rushed away towards Meiya, arms stretched out towards her. When Yuuhi turned around, Meiya was stunned at the small girl that looks like a younger her, calling her okaa - sama, she was confused, she knows she doesn't have a daughter and is stunned by one who looks similar to her. By the time she realizes, the girl had already started hugging her.
"Okaa - sama? But I don't - - " Meiya reaches down to grasp the child's shoulders and freezes and as millions of images, sounds, feeling, and memories flow into her. And because of the intense strain, she collapses and loses consciousness, before losing complete consciousness, she can hear 2 voices. One shouting, "okaa - sama!" and the other "Meiya!".
Meiya collapsed, which alerted the other members of cadet squad 207, sergeant Jinguuji ordered class rep and Ayamine to carry her to the sick bay, all while making her way over to Takeru. Yuuhi was very panicked and was scared that Meiya suddenly collapsed on her, she kept holding on to her, calling for her mother until class rep and Ayamine carried her away. She then ran over to Takeru crying while hugging his legs. Marimo – chan came over then grabbed Takeru's collar and demanded him to explain what happen, what did he do to Meiya?
But Yuuhi grabbed on to Marimo - chan and said "don't hurt otou - sama"
Marimo - chan eyes widened as if she just realised she was there and softened at the sight of her. In the end all Marimo chan said was "you better hope my pupil is fine otherwise it doesn't matter that you have a higher rank than I do." and left to go to where Meiya was.
"okaa - sama will be okay right?, otou - sama" asked Yuuhi shakily.
"Meiya will be fine she just got a little shocked from seeing you." Takeru quickly replied.
"really?"
"Really, now let's go visit and wait for her to wake up."
~Yokohama medical centre – Yokohama Base~
They made their way to the sick bay and found the rest of cadet squad 207 in front of a room, when they noticed Takeru approaching, they stared hostilely at him. A doctor then came out, said they couldn't find anything wrong, only that she experienced a large mental stress and would be fine after some rest. They could go inside and visit Meiya if they wished.
Yuuhi also heard this and calmed down before rushing through the hospital room door before anyone could stop her. Before Takeru could say anything to the rest, 1st lieutenant Piatf came along and said that professor Kouzuki called for him to meet in the simulator room. Takeru thought Yuuhi would probably be safe with the squad, and left to meet Yuuko - sensei.
Meanwhile, Yuuhi was inside the hospital room sitting on a stool holding one of Meiya's hands as if she would disappear while murmuring "Okaa - sama".
The squad slightly stunned at how Takeru just came and went, turned and entered Meiya's room just in time for them to hear Yuuhi call Meiya" okaa - sama". They were shocked and thought impossible!, Meiya can't possibly have a kid, and yet when they looked closer. The girl holding Meiya's hand looked extremely similar to them, like a smaller version of Meiya, but with her hair untied.
The cadets gathered around while sergeant Jinguuji left to report and learn about Takeru.
"that girl, she said Okaa - sama right?" Tama started.
"she did." Ayamine replied.
"that's impossible, that girl about 5 years so that means if Meiya's her mother then she would have been ..." Class rep retorted.
"12 years old." Ayamine finished.
"then, then, what if Meiya adopted her." Tama said.
"Meiya adopting is one thing, where do you think she can happen to find someone that looks like a younger her." Class rep says.
"then is she Meiya's little sister?" Tama asks.
"why would she call Meiya, okaa - sama then?" Class rep continued.
"Nickname?" Ayamine says.
"if Meiya's her mother, then who's that guy?" Class rep asks about something else.
"probably the girls father" Ayamine says.
"then he and Meiya..." Tama stuttered.
"uwaah scandal..." Ayamine said in a monotone voice.
"stop that, it's impossible" Class rep retorted.
Eventually they calmed down, after seeing Meiya was fine, they went back to training and their own barracks, leaving Yuuhi alone with Meiya.
Later that night, Meiya stirs and opens her eyes, she looks to her left and saw Yuuhi, smiling when she sees her. This time she recognizes her, remembering everything up to Takeru's death in the first loop killed by beta, Takeru's old world without beta, and the loop where everyone invaded Kashgar.
"Yuuhi" she says shaking her daughter awake, brushing away some stray hairs.
Yuuhi wakes up and sees her younger mother smiling at her, "Okaa - sama!" she jumps to hug Meiya.
Meiya hugs Yuuhi back even it was only a short while for Yuuhi, it's been like lifetime for Meiya. They embrace, while Meiya rubs her daughters back and straightens her hair.
"come now, It's time to sleep, Yuuhi," as she pulls back the bed sheets. "We can talk tomorrow, I'm sure you're tired"
Yuuhi nods and clambers into the bed. But -
"Yuuhi... take your shoes off." Meiya sternly said.
"I'm sorry okaa - sama" as she takes off her shoes and climbs into the bed beside Meiya. They embrace once again and slowly drift off to sleep.
Takeru now back from completing simulator missions and collecting data for the new xm3 that Yuuko - Sensei made, checks Meiya's room and sees Yuuhi sleeping with Meiya there, decides to stay and takes a seat and sleeps in the spare chair in the corner of the room.
~Yokohama Medical Centre – Yokohama Base - Morning~
The next morning, Takeru woke up to the sounds of laughter, Meiya and Yuuhi woke up already and are playing with each other.
"Meiya" Takeru called out, and made his way towards her.
"Takeru." Meiya replied smiling. Holding out her hand towards his face, Takeru went forward, kneeled down and grasped it with both hands.
"Do.. you - - " he said nervously.
"remember?, I do, everything about out time together, alternative V, the Mitsurugi financial group, and About Kashgar..." she slowly quieted down in the end. She remembered when Takeru shot her, when the beta was taking over her body and when everyone else died.
"It's fine" she said interrupting Takeru's thoughts, "for now let's enjoy our time together. This time we can make plenty of memories."
"Meiya..."
"With Sumika too..." Meiya suddenly mentioned Sumika.
"Huh Sumika?, but - " Takeru was confused
"I know you Takeru, and from your original world, I know you 2 are inseparable. You can't live without each other however I trust Sumika and I can get share.." Meiya went nearly silent at the end and muttered, but Takeru still heard some of it.
"share? Wait huh?" He was a little surprised and confused on what she meant.
"Don't mind that, but Takeru, please tell me, what happened to Sumika?. Sumika definitely exists, she was there in that peaceful world as well as in the previous world. But when alternative V occurred I don't remember her there, where did she come from?" She was confused, since she remembered that Sumika came out of nowhere in the last loop and she had never even met her in her original loop.
"..." Takeru was conflicted, he didn't know how to explain his friend's condition, he also didn't want to lie to Meiya.
Takeru looks at Yuuhi, and says" Sumika was essentially in a coma, she was always here on base, but you couldn't see her. I didn't even know she existed and took solace in the fact that she didn't have to live in the BETA run world."
Meiya was silent, noticing his look at Yuuhi and felt that it was something sensitive.
"I can't say anything else now, but I'll tell you more when we're alone." Takeru says.
Then the hospital door opened and from there entered Yuuko sensei.
"Yuuko - sensei!" Meiya exclaimed.
"Yuuko sensei, so you're calling me that Mitsurugi, looks like my prediction is correct, you have recovered your memories." Yuuko replies while closing the door behind her.
"Prediction? " Takeru said.
"That's right after coming into contact with little Yuuhi here, I thought of something. You know that memories get accessed and remembered by being triggered by something. And by being triggered by Yuuhi here i recovered the causality information floating around belong to me and effectively integrated all of them. In other words you can call Yuuhi a causality trigger, that everyone that comes in contact with her will also recover the various memories scattered around. " Yuuko – sensei explained.
"what!, then does that mean Ayamine, class - rep, Marimo chan will also recover their memories?" Takeru was slightly worried, especially since they had fairly gruesome deaths. He remembered Marimo - chan's death and Tama's state at the end, he didn't know if they would remember what they felt at the time.
"It looks they haven't recovered their memories yet, as for why they haven't I have 2 guesses. First is that the triggering requires physical contact between her and the receptor, or they require a strong connection in order the causality information to gather in first."
"Causality information...? Yuuko – sensei, what do you mean?" Meiya looked confused.
Ah, right. In all my loops, I don't think I ever talked about causality conductors and parrallel worlds on anything like that.
"Oh, Shirogane never said anything? Basically, Shirogane here was pulled from his original world by an anchor here in this world, because the shirogane that exists here is dead. And he ends up looping back to same point in every timeline after he dies, losing his memories of each loop in the process. Although it seems, a little someone has allowed him to keep at least some of his memories." Yuuko - Sensei explained and looked at Yuuhi at the end.
"Well, since I have also recovered my memories and the cadets don't have any mental issues from meeting Yuuhi – chan here, it seems like it's the first. It looks you have contacted a lot of people when you were moving through the facility. And Yuuhi chan should have touched Ayamine, Sakaki and Marimo when they were carrying Mitsurugi off. I suppose, it also depends on the connection between Yuuhi and them, not Takeru's connections, but I don't know why I got my memories then."
"But I don't think they have remembered anything, otherwise they would come already." Takeru felt relieved.
"Takeru, why do you look so relieved?" Meiya asks looking at him."And why would you say Sakaki's and Ayamine's names first, Jinguuji - Sensei, I understand though..."
"Nothing, It's nothing!" Takeru hurriedly said, trying to signal Yuuko – sensei with his eyes.
"Takeru..." Meiya's voice lowered.
"I think he doesn't want you to find out about the intimacies he had with the other cadets." The signal failed.
"Ta..Ke..Ru.." Meiya's voice was more like a growl now.
"Wait it's not what you think!" He exclaimed.
And just when the atmosphere was going to get more heated and an argument was going to occur...
"Noo! Otou - sama has okaa - sama and me, he doesn't need other girls!" Yuuhi suddenly yelled.
"It's fine little girly, since it seems they didn't recover any memories, but since I don't think I have any connection to you. Then I think It's because a third reason, only those you want to, will recover any memories." Yuuko – sensei said to Yuuhi.
"Heh?"Yuuhi stared confused.
"So as long as you don't give other people who likes Takeru their memories back, they won't take your precious otou - sama away from you." She simplified it for her.
"Well good luck. Hahaha" Yuuko sensei laughs as she walks out, "Also Mitsurugi, right now, Shirogane is a 1st lieutenant, so be careful." she hands Takeru a bunch of papers showing his new rank, leaving the room.
"1st lieutenant?, you are not going enter squad 207?" Meiya was confused, wasn't he going to join in like last time.
"I want to, but I have to take care of Yuuhi for now. Being a 1st lieutenant allows me to do that more easily. Also right now I look a little too old for a cadet squad." Takeru reasoned.
"Too old?" Looking closely now, Meiya noticed his longer hair and older face.
"You didn't notice? Right now, I look about 24, so entering a cadet squad would be awkward. It helps that people don't think its too strange for me to have a 5 year old daughter. So Yuuko - sensei gave me this rank." Takeru explained.
"That's right. I didn't notice, especially your long hair. " She felt it looked nice.
"I took care of Yuuhi for 5 years myself, now it's time for you to take responsibility and do your part." Meiya then said.
"Fine, but you work hard and graduate early. Especially since the squad is like that, you'll need to fix everyone relationships and bring them together. I come by every now and again to see the progress and you can come see Yuuhi anytime. Yuuko – sensei allowed to take my usual room." Takeru wouldn't be able to help them out this time, and Yuuko – sensei would be keeping him busy, especially since she has Mitsurugi as an excuse to deal with the cadets.
Grabbing Yuuhi, Takeru holds her up and says, "now let's go find something to eat, while we wait for your okaa - sama to get released from the doctor."
"okay!, okaa - sama, bye bye" Yuuhi waves to her mother.
""It's not bye bye, it's 'see you later' remember."" Takeru and Meiya both say, before smiling at each other.
"okaa - sama, see you later." Yuuhi says again.
"see you later, Yuuhi" Meiya said back.
Takeru walks out of the room carrying Yuuhi and heads for the PX.
~PX – Yokohama Base~
When Takeru and Yuuhi arrive at the PX, a voice calls out.
"oh Haven't see you around here before."
it's Ms. Kyozuka
"I've been assigned to this base as of today, Shirogane Takeru." he salutes, "who are you?" asking since he knows he shouldn't know her.
"Me? Call me ms. Kyozuka I'm in charge of the cooking in this base." putting her hands on her hips and leans down towards Yuuhi. "And who is this cute little one?"
"This is my daughter." Takeru crouches beside Yuuhi, "come on introduce yourself"
"My name is Yuuhi, I'm pleased to meet you." Yuuhi clasped her hands together and bowed.
"Yuuhi – chan is it? I'm also glad to meet you. Yuuhi - chan huh. Hmm. You look familiar.." She looked closer at Yuuhi.
Takeru wanted to warn Yuuhi about keeping Meiya's relationship with them a secret, but before he could say anything...
"It's must be okaa - sama right?" Yuuhi exlaimed.
"Okaa - sama?" Ms. Kyozuka says.
"Wait Yuuh - " Takeru tried to interrupt.
"Yeah. Okaa - sama is here too."
"You're married, no wonder you're here with your daughter. Visiting the wife huh?"
"Well not real - - " He tried to explain.
"You should be with your wife, in these times, love is precious." smacking Takeru on the back, "if you want some alone time with her, I can take care of Yuuhi chan for a while."
"Wait I - "
Smacking Takeru again, "don't be shy, You're still young, and you already have Yuuhi chan here as proof. Hahaha!" she turns and goes back to the kitchens.
Takeru stood there in a daze, a little confused by what just happened and about the misunderstanding that happened or did not happen.
"..."
"Otou - sama." Takeru heard Yuuhi call, tugging on Takeru's pants.
Shaking off his confusion."Sorry there Yuuhi. Here let's get some food."
Carrying 2 trays of food, Takeru led Yuuhi too a corner of the PX near the windows. It was still early in the morning, so the PX was relatively empty.
"do you know how to eat this?"Takeru asks Yuuhi, preparing to feed her if necessary
"I do, otou - sama I can eat by myself now." Yuuhi pouts.
"sorry, I've only just met you recently, I don't really know anything about you."
"It's okay, we'll just start now. we'll have plenty of time together with okaa - sama"
Plenty of time huh. Takeru thought about the near future events."That's right, we'll have plenty of time"
" - - so you were here huh?" A voice cuts in.
Takeru looks over and sees Marimo chan holding a tray and sitting in front of him.
"huh? Ma - Sergeant Jinguuji" It's Marimo chan. Alive. It's Takeru everything to hold his emotions in check, reconciling himself with the fact she's isn't dead in this timeline and this time, he won't let her die.
"Good morning 1st lieutenant Shirogane and Yuuhi - chan." She greeted them.
"Good morning!" Yuuhi cheerfully replied.
"Good morning Ma - Jingguji - san" I almost slipped back in my old habits."wait you said Yuuhi, how did you know her name?"
"Professor Kouzuki told me. Last night I was told about you and your daughter."
"eh?"
"I can't believe you have THAT kind of relationship with Mitsurugi."
"Wait what? THAT kind?" Yuuko - sensei what did you tell Marimo - chan.?
"How did you and Mitsurugi even meet?" She asks.
"Well, I.."
"A promise for marriage and adopting Yuuhi chan here"
"Huh?" Adoption? so that's how Yuuko - sensei's going to explain her, and a marriage promise, how does she even know about that? Or is it a coincidence? Did she find out about it in the old world?
"Well I shouldn't get into your private matters 1st lieutenant, I'll see you later Yuuhi - chan." She had somewhere in that conversation, finished eating before Takeru had noticed.
"See you later, Jinguuji - san." Takeru said farewell, as she left the PX.
Takeru thinks about how he's going to explain Yuuhi chan and Meiya to everyone else. The adoption may work, he didn't think it was going end up well with his friends.
"Otou - sama, aren't you going to eat?" Yuuhi said worried, interrupting his thoughts. He hadn't ate anything since Marimo sat in front of him.
"oh right, don't worry I'll eat now." It tasted like the regular soldier meal he's had for essentially years, worse than the regular eishi meals anyways.
"Done?" Takeru said some time later.
"I'm finished. Otou - sama." It looked like Ms. Kyozuka gave Yuuhi an eishi level meal, since it looked different and she hadn't said anything about the taste.
"Then let's clean up and I'll take your tray over to the counter. And we'll go visit Yuuko - sensei" He said standing up, stacking the trays and utensils.
"Yuuko - san?" She was confused as to why they going to meet her again.
"Yeah, I have to get a bunch of things from her and talk to her, then I'll let you meet some people..."he trailed looking a little sad.
"Who?"
"Some very special people, and hopefully your new friends."
"?"Yuuhi looked confused.
"Now let's go." picking Yuuhi up in his arms he allowed her to grab and hang onto his neck.
~B19 – Yokohama Base~
Now down in basement floor 19, Takeru and Yuuhi arrives in Professor Kouzuki Yuuko's room. She looks busy, pouring over many papers and Takeru's books, more are scattered on the floor, but when Takeru comes in she looks up.
"Oh, how fast, why have you come looking for me so quickly?" with a smirk on her face, as if she doesn't already know. Takeru could never figure her out.
"Don't you already know?" He retorted.
"The usual stuff right? And to find Yashiro and Kagami." she smiles and grins widely, that's not a good sign. "You already have Mitsurugi, but you're still going after other girls for your harem. That's a love nucleus for you, you can't help yourself now can you?"
"what?! that's not - "
"Otou - sama... is it true?" Yuuhi says with teary eyes,"otou - sama already has okaa - sama"
"Yuuhi, it's a misunderstanding. Yuuko - Sensei is just joking."He said trying to placate her.
"really?" She said calming down.
"really. You can ask your mother later all about it." deflecting the subject elsewhere.
"okay..."
"You're amusing, aren't you Shirogane." Yuuko – sensei interjects.
"And whose fault is it?" He exclaims.
"isn't it yours?" She flips it back at him.
"hah?"
"I said it already, you are a love nucleus, girls will always be gathering around you. You decide how to react." She explains.
"ughh." He couldn't deny it, with happened in all those other loops.
"well, that is that. Here." she hands Takeru case. In it, Takeru finds keys and cards, the usual stuff Takeru needs to live here on base. "you will have the usual room and security access. You'll find your uniform and some clothing for Mitsurugi junior there in your room."
"thank you, Yuuko sensei" He thankful, he didn't even think about clothing for Yuuhi. He doubted he would be get clothing in her size, and thought he might resort to making his own.
"Also, later you'll have to go through a health check up, both of you. Don't worry about your records, I'll make them and modify the health scans. So you don't have to worry about the blood connection between Mitsurugi and Mitsurugi junior."Another thing he didn't think about.
A thought just occurred to Takeru. "What about Yuuhi?"
"huh?" Yuuko - Sensei looked confused for a second, she just said what she was going to do.
"me, otou - sama?" Yuuhi heard her name being said.
"Not her, the shogun, Kobuin Yuuhi." Pointing a major potential problem.
"Oh, don't worry, the scans here won't reach imperial eyes, not before modification anyways. But nice to see you caught that." she smirks and says, "but to call her without and any honorifics, how bold of you. Or has her feelings reached you like Mitsurugi's?"
"Shogun? Otou - sama, who is that?" Yuuhi hadn't known of the term or who they were.
"The shogun is your aunt, Yuuhi - chan. I don't know if Meiya told you, but you were named in honour of her. Your name comes from her. Kobuin Yuuhi, Meiya named you after her sister after being separated." Takeru explaind to her.
"Aunt? Okaa - sama's big sister?!" She was surprised, it seems to Takeru, that she was never told of her aunt that stayed on earth instead of travelling to the stars.
"That's right Meiya and Yuuhi are actually twins. So if you end seeing her, you might mistake her for your mother, be careful. You can tell the difference in their hair, Yuuhi has her haired tied in a topknot and has a more purplish colour of hair." He warned her.
"Okay!" She agreed.
"Twins huh. Not only that but identical twins." Yuuko - Sensei has another smirk on her face."Identical twins are identical down to their DNA. Do you know what that means Shirogane?"
"huh?" He was confused, what else was it supposed to mean?
"It means genetically speaking, Mitsurugi junior here, is also your daughter with her highness." Yuuko – sensei smirks, teasing him with the idea of Yuuhi.
"!" what what? That means... delusions and flashes pop into Takeru's head of Yuuhi and Takeru hugging each other naked in a blanket among other things.
Takeru shakes his confusion off, there's no way that happened.
"And nobody can deny it if her highness doesn't. Mitsurugi junior here is also technically the next heir, a real princess."
"I didn't think of that." He really didn't, now he was also afraid of everyone finding, Tsukuyomi might also kill him.
"Well, it doesn't matter anyways." Yuuko - Sensei says, laying back against her chair.
"What why?, this is big news if it gets found out." As in riot causing, assassinations and government uprising level news.
"Right, If it gets found out. Anyways I'll be modifying the genetic profiles so as far as anyone will know. The similar appearance is just a coincidence." she sits back down and gets back to work."well, what are you doing still here. Get going Yashiro's waiting."
"Yeah, huh? She's waiting? She doesn't have her memories does she?" He doesn't remember Yuuhi meeting her, or did she already have her memories from elsewhere?
"Not really, but I can't really tell with that girl. She has the gist of from reading my memories and filling in the gaps from Kagami's connection to the fractured causality information she has in her brain." Oh I guess she could do that. "now go."
~Underground Lab – Brain Room - Yokohama Base~
Takeru and Yuuhi leave her room and head to the end of the hall, towards a heavy metal door.
"Well, time for you to meet some of my friends." Takeru says when they reach the door.
"What kind of people are they otou - sama?" Yuuhi asks, a little nervous.
"Don't worry, you'll get to know them real soon" He tries to reassure her.
The door opens to a long corridor which they follow. They arrive in a room with a glowing blue tube in the room and Kasumi standing of to the side a bit.
"Hello Kasumi, do you know who I am?" Takeru crouches down a bit to her level.
"...Yes...nice to meet you Shirogane san." She was still as quiet and shy as ever.
"Here Yuuhi, introduce yourself, this is name is Kasumi, Yashiro Kasumi." He introduces Kasumi to Yuuhi.
"um... My name is Mitsurugi Yuuhi, It's nice to meet you Yashiro Kasumi san." She said shyly.
"Nice to meet you... Yuuhi... san?" Kasumi was confused on how to address a girl younger than her.
"Kasumi is quiet, and slow to react, but she's a good girl. Unlike Sumika, whose the complete opposite of her." He tells Yuuhi about Kasumi.
"Sumika - san?"Yuuhi asks, looking around the room. "where is she, is she the other person you want me to meet otou - sama?"
"She is. Kagami Sumika, My most precious childhood friend." Takeru walks forward while leading Yuuhi and places a hand on the glowing blue tube in the middle of the room."and she's right here."
"But otou - sama, that's a brain, not a person." she starts to panic at the sight of it and stares in shock.
Takeru crouches starts rubbing her back to calm her down. "A brain or not, she is my friend, also this is temporary. Sumika's just really injured so they have to make a new body for her. You know how we can make replacement limbs for inured people right Yuuhi."
"I know."Yuuhi starts to calm down."so Sumika - san just really injured that's why she looks like that?"
"yup, well it will probably take a while for her body to be made. But after you can formally meet her. And she can meet you." Takeru turns and starts to leave the room. "This is still a secret, so you cannot tell anyone, only your mother."
"okay Otou - sama." She agrees.
Takeru starts leave the room starts saying goodbye.
"see you later Kasumi, Sumika."
"see you later Kasumi - san, Sumika – san"
"see you later Shirogane san, Yuuhi san"
~Takeru's room – Yokohama Base~
Takeru makes his back to his room, it's been only a few days, at most a week since he's last been here and yet it feels like it's been more. This time, Yuuhi will be staying with him though. Taking out some spare scraps of paper and pencils, Takeru leaves Yuuhi to draw and play on her own while Takeru looks over the documents he's received and puts them in a locked box under his bed.
Later he gets the idea to put his knowledge of the original universe to better use, not stopping at the XM3 and starts to remember and imagine various concepts and equipment he learned and remembered in his old world. Shirogane was fairly smart and in school, although he doesn't look like it or even achieved grades that a smart student would get.
But don't forget Shirogane Takeru managed to get through the entrance exams of the prestigious Hakuryo high school which has a high requirements for its entrance exam that it was a miracle for Sumika to follow him in there. Shirogane Takeru is man who achieves his greatest result when he is focused and motivated for it. And since his entrance into high school, it has been not been school, which explains his lacklustre grades, but is actually Valgern - on, a robot fighting game. Shirogane Takeru is a robot mecha otaku and has spent plenty of time researching robots, their mechanics, strategies to use in the game and the various equipment and their characteristics. Unfortunately this does not really help when he's actually fighting and actually forgets other strategies in favour for the easiest ones, since he's still known for being a lazy guy. It also doesn't really help in school in general.
He starts by writing out all he remembers about Valgern - on and robots in general, the mechanic concepts and engineering physics used by the machines in his world and theoretical physics. it's his passion after all, his collective, concept art designs and adaptations filled hundred upon hundreds of papers that filled his desk throughout the week. For now though, by noon he still had a large stack of paper filled on the engineering concepts behind integrating new cockpit designs, operating standards and the details behind valgern - on's operating system as well his thoughts on improving the previous XM3.
Since Yuuko - Sensei knows what happened in the last loop, she doesn't need Takeru's help in finishing the 00 unit. So he thought about what he could do, and thought of the xm3. With the xm3 everyone's survival would be increased against the BETA and so if he made other improvements he could help much than what he could see. It would also help Yuuko sensei out with more cards to use, there was the books of knowledge from his world that Yuuko and he knew about that can be used to recreate the technology, but it's still not made to be adapted to fighting against the BETA. But Takeru can use his knowledge on the TSF's directly.
~Training Courtyard – Yokohama Base~
Meiya was released in the morning with a full bill of health and so rejoined her fellow squad mates in their training. She knows that they have to work together in order to pass the comprehensive combat survival exam (CCSE), but has to slowly work on it. She knows her squad mates better than Takeru, even though he has spent multiple timelines with them, Meiya knows the timeline too and has the advantage of knowing them even before Takeru came into this world.
Meiya's recovery is announced at roll call.
"Cadet Mitsurugi Meiya as of now returning to Cadet training!" Meiya salutes to sergeant Jinguuji, before returning in line with her friends.
"Good to see you cadet Mitsurugi, are you okay now? No problems?" The sergeant says back to her.
"No problems, sergeant Jinguuji."Meiya replies.
"I see... Now everyone prepare for a run, let's see, 10 klicks should be fine." She says as the squad begins training.
Everyone starts to run laps around the training grounds.
"Are you really okay Mitsurugi san" Tama asks as she runs beside Meiya.
"it alarmed me when you collapsed like that." Sakaki also says.
"..." Ayamine looked at Meiya concerned.
"It's fine, My body has no problems, the doctor has cleared me to return to training. We still have to pass the CCSE this time."Meiya replies
"That's right, Mitsurugi is right. Well if there's no problem then it's fine."Sakaki concludes.
"...girl..." Ayamine says, reminding them.
"That's right, that little girl. Why did you collapse when she hugged you?" Tama exclaims.
"In the first place who is that girl, why is she here? This isn't a place for a young girl like that to be." Sakaki asks.
"I'm sorry, I was just shocked at her appearance and that she suddenly hugged me. It caused me too have a large headache and I don't remember why I collapsed." Meiya replies. "As for the girl, do you remember the man who was standing a ways away from me when I collapsed. The girl is his daughter, and he has been assigned to this base, but doesn't have anyone to take care of his daughter for him, so he had no choice but to bring her along."
"... Looks like you.." Ayamine says.
"That's right Mitsurugi san, that girl looked just like you. And daughter, how did you know that she was his daughter? Do you know that man?" Tama continued.
"That man's name is Shirogane Takeru, he's a 1st lieutenant that recently came to help out the XO" she explains."As for how I know him..." she mumbles.
"huh? I didn't hear you." Sakaki says.
"He's my fiance." Meiya blushes.
"""ehh!""" everyone yells out, tripping a little during their run.
"awawawa." Miki was shocked.
"...lies..."Ayamine doubts it.
"Since when?! " Sakaki exclaims.
"Before I became a cadet."Meiya replies with a stern voice.
Everyone quiets down and continues on running. When they pass 6 klicks, Meiya has already reached almost 9 klicks done.
"I know that Mitsurugi - san is more athletic than everyone, but how come you are so much better than yesterday. You're not even breaking a sweat."Tama remarks as Meiya once again runs from behind her.
"huh? Sorry I didn't even realize it." Meiya says, now realizing that she is so far ahead of the others. She must have retained and combined her training of all her loops together, also thinking of how Takeru was so far ahead of her in the last loop when before that loop he struggled to complete even the basics of training. This must be why.
"That's amazing." Tama says.
"...superwoman..." That was Ayamine.
"you are exaggerating." Meiya tries to brush it off and continues running.
~PX – Yokohama Base~
The cadets finished their morning training and now are at the PX. They have already taken their trays to their seats, but for some reason Meiya has taken 2 trays to their seats and place it beside her. The others were wondering why she took another tray with her when the reason why came through the doors of the PX.
"Okaa – sama!" a voice calls out and the little girl from before rushes toward Meiya as she gets up and catches her in her arms.
"Yuuhi." Meiya smiles and lifts her beside her seat in front of that second tray.
"""Okaa - sama!""" the others just realized what the girl said, they didn't hear her the first time when Meiya collapsed. But now with nothing else going on, they clearly heard her.
"What's the meaning of this? Why did this girl call you mother." Sakaki demands.
"She does look like you Mitsurugi san" Miki says, looking closely at her.
"...young mother?..."Ayamine guesses.
Meiya doesn't get to answer when Takeru sets down his tray and sits down in front of her smiling at their interactions.
"Salute" Sakaki hurriedly stands and calls out remembering their training.
"It's fine, I'm not much for formalities, you don't have to salute every time you see me. And I'll be seeing you cadets more often. So sit down" Takeru tries to calm her down.
"But you are a 1st lieutenant we must give you proper respect." She said, still not sitting down.
"It's fine... Or do i have to order you to sit down..." Takeru says in a low voice.
"No..." Sakaki finally sits back, the other not having even moved from their seats from shock.
"...So you are Meiya's squadmates." It was hard for him, knowing that they died in the last timeline. Especially Tama again since the last thing he remembered from her is when the superordinate held up her broken in half body and asked for proof that she was life. But Meiya reached out and held his hand calming him down. It must have been a subconscious action since she was still talking quietly with Yuuhi not looking in his direction when she reached over.
"Yes sir." Sakaki says in reply.
"Then I thank you for helping and supporting her all this time." Takeru says smiling, no trace of the previous mood.
"You don't have to concern yourself with that sir, helping our fellow cadets is our duty." Sakaki dutifully replies.
"Duty huh?"Takeru sighs in reminiscence of her old attitude and his experiences.
"what?" She said, confused at his response.
"Nothing, and how are you cadets doing?" he asks.
"How? What do you mean?"
"I heard that you all failed the last CCSE and this is your last chance."
"eh?!"
"How are you doing after that, and what are you doing to pass?"
"we are currently training to rectify our mistakes and improve ourselves to pass the exam."
"Well let me ask you, why did you fail the last exam?"
"huh?, that's..."
"Is it hard to answer?" Even though he already knew the answer to that.
"No. One of our squadmates disobeyed her orders and led the squad to failure in a minefield." Sakaki says, glaring at Ayamine.
"... squad leaders mistake..." Ayamine glares back.
"hah?! Ayamine!" She exclaims.
"... orders were wrong and won't work..."
"you... if you followed them we would have passed!"
"uwuwauwa..." Tama was nervous.
"Stop!" Takeru says in a tone to stop their argument.
"yes sir!" Sakaki salutes again.
"It seems that your problems were insubordination, teamwork and wrong decision making. It seems what you're doing is just physical training, which is no different from what you were doing before your last exam." He summarizes.
"sir?"
"so what do you think will happen in the next exam, you haven't worked on the reasons you all failed. You can't expect to pass the CCSE brute forcing it."
"but!"
"Here's what I think what will happen on the next CCSE, you will all fail, and for the same reasons as last time. "
"Sir that's - "
"well I might be too harsh, you won't all fail, some of you will likely pass on other requirements than completing the mission like Meiya and Tamase here. But if you and Ayamine don't get your act together, you will likely fail due to various conflicts you will eventual have on the field. On the battlefield, that will get killed even more quickly. "
"..."
"That's all I have to say, see you. Meiya, look after Yuuhi for me, I need to do some work. If anyone asks, say its an order from me. When you're training pass her over to sergeant Jinguuji to take care of." He finishes, before standing up.
"All right, Takeru, see you later." Meiya replies.
"otou - sama see you later!" Yuuhi says.
"See you later."Takeru smiles at them and leaves the PX.
~ Library – Yokohama Base ~
Where Takeru goes after leaving the PX is the library, he's been told to go to the library many times more than he can count in the old world and this one to find further information. But this is the first time in either world that he has actually stepped into it. Well, It looks like what he expected a library to, he doesn't know what he expected, maybe to be different since it's a military base and all. Maybe it was different back in the old world.
Soon he found what he was looking for, information and manuals on TSF, with this he should be to convert the knowledge and integrate his ideas more easily with a closer look at the inside of a TSF and its systems. He began taking down notes and studied the information to point that he could easily convert to a mechanic if he wanted to, but Takeru didn't want that he wanted to be able to modify and overhaul an entire TSF's design and eventual create his very own. He was reminded by his old unit he used to use in Valgern - on, the Kaiser, looking back it again, it definitively couldn't be used in a fight against the BETA, it was too bulky. And while that didn't matter in game physics, it's completely different here, not to mention when looking at all the TSF's he fought with in the last loops, they were all much better looking. Well considering Valgern - on only came out for less than a decade, while here they've been working on TSF design for 20 - 30 years it can excused.
Takeru didn't want his friends to die, so he committed himself to designing the best TSF's he could in order for them to pilot and survive in. Naturally, he couldn't forget the A - 01 Isumi Valkyries, they've taught him so much, there's no way he could forget. For now though, his first target was to completely modify the Takemikazuchi for Meiya's and Yuuhi's sake, it was natural for him to think of them first.
This world's TSF design concept is focused to speed and agility to avoid head on collisions with the BETA. So Takeru decided to improve on that concept, from his experiences he's noticed a lack of loadout space, manoeuvrability and integrated weaponry. He couldn't mess with materials, since he didn't know anything about them, but the materials he handed Yuuko sensei should also be helpful in making advancement in the world's technology.
TSF only had 2 arms for manipulating the weapons for combat while the other arms are for manipulating the armor and holding the loadout equipment. there's no space for extra ammo, and there was a time lag in combat in you which you switch weapons to change from ranged and close combat. By adding some manipulator arms and racks you would be able to carry spare ammunition and the extra arms would be able to handle rifles to shoot the BETA as you move, leaving your main arms free to use the swords. If used well the extra rifles would also be able to shoot at multiple targets instead of just facing forwards in a standby position. Currently mount pylons for the extra armaments are used for this purpose however, most do not use the capability for remote firing, likely due to lack of aiming and familiarity with this system. Only Gun sweepers typically use this, however the mounted guns are all fire - linked and lack the capability to hit multiple targets, the eishi is currently unable to assign these targets that all quickly change in the midst of battle, especially for vanguards who specialize more in close combat. Extra pylons can be mounted on the shoulder armor for added weight and can be folded when not in use.
Verniers could be added to the TSF body. Other than the jump units on its sides, TSF's don't have any other ways of mobility other than their legs, even then, all the jump unit is used for is to increase the jump height and speed. By adding extra verniers all around, it should be able to increase its 3d movement especially in midair, allowing them to better dodge attacks and land faster. Since they are used for mobility, instead of travel, they shouldn't need a large amount of fuel for their continued use, resulting in lots of jump units around the body. He remembers TSF's from other countries, the SU - 37, F - 15ACTV, and XFJ - 01 have used this in great ability in their prototype units.
There's also the power issue from increased power usage from extra armamments. TSF do not have a reactor inside powering them, but rely having to recharge their internal batteries and jump units. He didn't think humanity had the time to waste by doing this so instead, removable batteries should be applied. Using them would allow TSF return to combat much sooner and by making it replaceable, it would increase the load on supply containers. With a universal design, batteries from TSF's of multiple countries can share power in a pinch.
Not many TSF's have integrated weapons, weapons that inside the TSF and cannot be easily removed, so when one loses their loadout, they aren't forced to just rely on punches, kicks and body blows. He remembers an anime in the old world with mechs loaded with small scale ammunition to deal with small targets like infantry, one of the most famous being CIWS on their heads. Even actual tanks and jets had smaller machine guns loaded in their body when the main weaponry aren't in use. Russian TSFs are among the only to have internal melee systems added.
Takeru continued working and also eventually borrowed a personal computer using his authority from the library to use. By night - time, he had completely examined current and past designs of TSF and Came up with upgrade and modification for all current unit parts. He had already begun his plans for Meiya modified unit, the Takemikazuchi Nishiki(type 2). in it includes the capability for mounting shields, multiple mount pylons for extra armaments, thrusters everywhere, in the legs for extra speed and mobility. In the arms to quickly move the arms for increased power and allow rapid changes in direction in exchange for joint durability. He went back to his room to create his designs and fell asleep in the middle of the night.
~PX – Yokohama Base~
Meanwhile after Takeru left, Meiya was quietly talking with Yuuhi, Yuuhi told her about she's been, how she woke up with Takeru, her tour around the base and Yuuko sensei. Meiya was at first surprised at how readily Takeru accepted and convinced himself that Yuuhi was his daughter despite having never met and with all the trauma from last loop. She was happy at how Yuuhi talked about her day and was surprised again when she talked about Yuuko - Sensei having remembered everything. Meiya and Yuuhi were off in their own world while Sakaki everyone else was thinking about Takeru's words and eventually just staring at the 2 similar individuals.
"Mitsurugi - san. What do you think?" Sakaki finally interrupts the two.
"hmm? What do you think... about what exactly Sakaki?" Meiya replies.
"About 1st lieutenant Shirogane's words, about the wrong way we're doing things that will have us fail the CCSE again."Sakaki had thought about his words.
"There's nothing to think about, his word are true. Our teamwork and bonds needs to be closer in order to improve. While improving our strengths with training is fine and all, a basic method to improving oneself is to train our weaknesses."
"I see..."
"By the way, who is this girl? Just now she called you okaa - sama, introduce us Mitsurugi san."Tama says.
"Her name is Yuuhi, my precious daughter. Naturally she calls me that." Meiya replies.
"eh? Yuuhi? isn't that..." Sakaki recalls.
"... shogun's name..." Ayamine continues.
"That's right. Why is she...?" Sakaki asks.
"There's no particular reason. It is an excellent name, only her name is the same. don't mind it." Meiya says in response.
"Are you really her mother? No matter how I think of it, you are much too young to have a child this old." Sakaki says.
"No matter what others say. Yuuhi is indeed my daughter, you can't change that." Meiya declares.
"but.." Tama says.
"Enough, let's it at that." Meiya says with finality.
"That's right, we shouldn't be bothering you about this anyways. Now let's get back to training." Sakaki finishes.
"okay!"Tama
Throughout the training for the rest of the day, Meiya has been continuously showing the results of her past training, rifle assembly 3 minutes 42 seconds, increased CQC experience and capabilities, increased weight capacity on a full supply endurance run. Better marksman ship and understanding of battlefield strategies, having lived this already.
While Meiya has been training, she left Yuuhi under the care of Sargent Jinguuji, to which she agreed immediately, her eyes already softened at the sight of Yuuhi. She had a soft spot for younger children, no wonder she used to have a dream of just becoming a normal school teacher. And respectfully, Yuuhi kept quiet and didn't interrupt any of the training starring in amazement at her mother training and beating the other girls. Meiya of course in order to improve, subtly speaks some hints and encourages them, much better than Takeru did in the last time line since she knows her fellow squad mates better than he could at first and understood why he seemed so rushed last time around.
Later that night Meiya took Yuuhi back from sergeant Jinguuji, who seemed reluctant to see her go. They looked around for Takeru for a bit but left for Meiya's room after seeing Takeru hard at work on something. Meiya was once again glad for her receiving an officer's quarters despite the reasons for her receiving it in the first place due to her identity, having a place to just be with her daughter.
Lying in bed with her mother, Yuuhi began talking about the things her father told her about and about Sumika, things she couldn't say earlier because of a promise to her father. Meiya was shocked at Sumika's state and how she and Kasumi were hidden away in a restricted floor, so stunned that she didn't even realize how her daughter had already drifted off to sleep. Comforted by Yuuhi's sleeping face, Meiya held her close and fell asleep.
~Takeru's Room – Yokohama Base~
Takeru was woken up by some nudging and a voice. Still half asleep, he couldn't make it out, but he thought it was Kasumi waking him up as usual.
"Otou - sama wake up" Yuuhi was trying to nudge him awake.
"five more minutes..."
"otou – sama."
"..."
"Otou - sama it's almost time."
"alright I'll wake up now. Huh? Yuuhi?"
I thought that was summit, why is Yuuhi here?
"Okaa - sama told me to wake you up. She told me that otou - sama was a big sleepyhead and needed to woken up." Meiya naturally had woken up much earlier as part of her routine and had sent Yuuhi to wake Takeru up since he was bound to be sleeping.
Just as Takeru was changing into his uniform, his door opened and Meiya enered the room, Yuuhi meanwhile was just sitting on the bed. Topless, Takeru just stared at Meiya who just entered without knocking. Meiya turned red, hurriedly closed the door behind and covered Yuuhi's eyes on the bed. Half expecting Meiya to leave the room, Takeru was stunned at her joining Yuuhi on the bed.
"What are you looking at? Takeru hurry up and change."Meiya yells.
"yes ma'am!" he quickly changed in the UN officer uniform and turned to see both of his girls looking at him.
"what?"
"nothing, just that the official uniform looks better on you than the cadet uniform. I'm also wondering how you look in other uniforms."
"Otou – sama looks cool!" Yuuhi says.
"huh?"
"Nothing."
"Haven't you seen me in plenty of other clothing. I'm pretty sure I've also worn the imperial royal guard out fit too."
"the royal guard?!"Meiya was shocked.
"didn't you know? I joined in the alternative V loop, oh wait this was after I had you leave on the shuttle so you didn't know."
"Then you went to my sister's side.?"
"well in that loop, I didn't even know you had a sister, much less that she was the shogun of all people. I didn't even realize she was related to you. The few times I've met her was for missions, and she was hidden behind some screens so I couldn't see her face."
"I see, however why the imperial guard, what happened to the UN forces?"
"After the last shuttles left earth, g - bombs started dropping afterwards. The UN was devastated by the after effects and collateral damage, that the UN was broken and was disbanded and was the remnants absorbed by the major powers in the world . Most of the UN in Japan were absorbed by the IJF, but I guess since the Shogun and Tsukuyomi - san knew about me, so I entered the royal guard, even tried out a Takemikazuchi for a while before I died. By the way, the uniform I wore then was a brown and gold colour."
"I see, so that's what happened after I left."
"you should get going, it's almost roll call. Later today I have something to show you."
"I see, you're right. I'll be bringing Yuuhi with me today as well."
"go ahead." Meiya left with Yuuhi in tow heading for the classroom, not knowing that someone saw her leaving his room.
~~In the future, maybe~~
~In the underground lab – Yokohama Base~
"Takeru, please tell me" Meiya demands. "What happened to Sumika."
"Sumika, is the most central core of Alternative IV." Takeru sighs in defeat.
"But wasn't Sumika just the engineer for the 00 unit"
"Sumika wasn't the engineer, she was the 00 unit herself"
"...?" She was confused.
"I can't tell you the details and some are personal details that are really extreme, so you should ask Sumika yourself. Sumika... Sumika was living here when the Yokohama hive was created."
"?!"
"I was also living here, or rather this world's Shirogane Takeru lived here. Sumika And I and hundreds of other people were captured by the BETA and experimented on. I died, ripped apart by the beta in front of Sumika and that caused a lot of trauma in Sumika."
"After wards yokohama was conquered as Sumika was found, in a horrible condition, that's why yokohama base was built here, to keep her a secret. She was perfect their purposes of creating the 00 unit."
"when yokohama was conquered?, but didn't there use G - bombs in their operation?!"
"yeah"
"Then Sumika survived 2 g – bombs?!"
"Thanks to the BETA, although I don't know if I should thank them for keeping Sumika alive or not."
"As for what happened to her after I died, I can't tell you."
"You can't, Why?!"
"That's something I don't have right or permission to explain, you should ask Sumika herself."
"Herself? But didn't you say Sumika is in some kind of coma? Even in the last time line she didn't even appear until December. Are you telling me to wait until then?"
"No. I didn't. But, you know how Yuuko - sensei has recovered her memories, because of that, Sumika will be able to appear much sooner and can talk then. Yuuko - Sensei is the one in charge of her as the director of Alternative IV after all."
Author's Note:
This is just a one shot I made while working on my other story. Don't expect a continuation. I welcome others to make one for me. I might some shorts story, like on how the Valkyries react to her.