Episode 15: Moving

After the meeting, Kazumi went to check up on Mikumo in the med bay. She's currently resting after everything that happened. Kazumi is glad that they managed to survive the night.

His expression hardens after thinking about what happened. Wynn is back. His past is coming back to haunt him. But that thought last for only a moment. Next time, he will not let her go. He will destroy her, that much he can be sure. What occupies his thought now though is the commander, the one with the callsign Bloody Mary, or simply called Mary.

She's the strongest opponent he had ever faced. Kazumi believe he could take on any member of the Thanatos squadron by himself. By what he had seen, the other Thanatos pilots are not as skilled as their commander. But, the commander by herself is so skilled that she could possibly match the legendary Max and Millia Jenius in their prime.

Mary is the one he should be wary of the most. After all, he is sure that the sniper shot that nearly killed Mikumo was done by her while Wynn acted as a distraction. He could fight no par with her, that's a relief. But that also meant that whenever they fight, they will have to focus on each other. The other Thanatos squadron members could use that chance to get Mikumo, which almost happened if not for Keith's intervention.

It was too close.

Kazumi place his hand on top of Mikumo's. She was almost captured, no, almost killed. He almost failed to protect her. That… is unacceptable.

"Why are you making a face like that?"

Kazumi heard Mikumo asking him. He look up at the songstress who is now awake and looking back at him while showing a weak smile. He had been feeling down, disappointed at himself. It must've shown on his face and Mikumo is worried about him. He doesn't want her to worry so he immediately put on a cheerful look.

"Mikumo, glad to see you awake. How are you feeling?"

Kazumi asked. Mikumo try to sit up straight but winced slightly.

"Oi, try not to move around too much, you're still recovering."

Kazumi got up from his seat to help her but she refused and did it herself. She still appears to be in pain but she could ignore it. Her tolerance to pain is impressive.

"You shouldn't force yourself if you're still in pain."

"It's nothing I cannot handle."

"Yeah, well, I beg to differ. My job is to protect you and I'd be a poor bodyguard if I let you hurt yourself. It's already bad enough that I let you get hurt in the first place."

"You had no way of knowing. And the enemy is also strong. That woman, the one called Mary, she's the one you fought back on voldor, right?"

Kazumi nodded. He almost forgot that Mikumo was with him when he first faced the commander of the Thanatos squadron.

"She's the strongest opponent I have ever faced."

Kazumi admitted. He had came face to face monsters like Fold Evil and Vajra Frontier and various ace pilots throughout his carreer but none had strain his skill to the very limit or make him feel as wary as with Mary. She is the toughest opponent he had ever faced, and hopefully the strongest he will ever face because he don't want to imagine facing someone stronger.

"I see."

Then there's silence between the two, a comfortable silence that came easily between the two in their time together. Suddenly Kazumi move his hand and pick up a strand of Mikumo's long hair.

"I still think this looks like jellyfish tentacles."

Mikumo blinked at the sudden randomness of Kazumi's words and then chuckled. She slapped Kazumi's hand that is holding her hair.

"I took great care in maintaining this hair, Kazumi. Don't ruin it."

"Whatever you say, Kumokumo."

The two of them chuckled at Kazumi addressing Mikumo using her nickname from Makina. After that they just talked about more random things, simply enjoying the time they have until it's time for Kazumi to leave.


-A week later-

A week had passed since the Thanatos squadron infiltrated Ragna. Security had been increased since then and the Delta flight was trained harder to be able to face their new enemy inside and outside the cockpit. Kazumi and Keith became a huge help as both of them are pilots and fighters of the highest caliber.

Which is rather unfortunate for the rest of the Delta flight since they would often go home after being beaten black and blue by either Keith or Kazumi, especially in hand-to-hand combat. Of course they did not forget to have simulated combat in valkyries but Kazumi's unit is still under reconstruction and final tuning while Keith has no unit at all so for the time being they are focusing on combat outside the cockpit.

Today is a lucky day for them though since Kazumi won't have a training session with them. It's because Mikumo is being discharged and the two of them had moved to a new home close to Ragnyannyan and Island 1. Their previous house was secluded and quite far from the town and with what happened, Kazumi decided that they should move somewhere closer to their allies.

"Are you sure you're fine with lifting that?"

Kazumi asked as Mikumo carried in a box that he knew is filled with his CD and game collection. He himself is carrying their kitchen set and is about to put them in order in their brand-new kitchen he invested quite a lot of money in.

"This much is fine. Beside, I haven't moved around for a while. I just wanted to do something."

Mikumo replied as she placed the box she's carrying beside the sofa facing their TV where Kazumi's game consoles are already set up.

"If you say so. But don't carry the heavy stuff. You just recovered so you need to take it easy."

"You worry too much, Kazumi."

Kazumi chuckled as the two of them continue to work. It took them a few hours but eventually they finished moving all their things and unpacking them. By the time they're finished, it's already past noon. Kazumi decided that it's a good time to have their lunch when he heard the bell rang.

Mikumo went to the front door to see who came and when she opened it, she's greeted by rest of the Walkure and Delta flight. She even saw Keith standing behind Arad.

"Surprise Kumokumo! We heard that you and Kazukazu just moved so we came to see your new place!"

"Ojamashimasu."

Makina came in first followed by Reina and then the triangle trio followed by Arad, Kaname, and lastly Keith. The younger member of the groups made themselves comfortable immediately while the older ones look around the house.

"Nice timing everyone. I was wondering when you guys will show up. Figures it's only after we finished moving."

Makina and Hayate grinned while Mirage and Freyja had the decency to feel embarrassed. Like usual though, Kazumi went to the kitchen to prepare snacks even if he was a bit miffed with them.

"Nice place you got here."

Arad commented as he looked around the place together with Kaname.

"Kazumi found it. I simply agreed with him."

Mikumo told them. It was just a few days ago when Kazumi suddenly came visiting with a bunch of pictures and told her that they should move to a new house. Although Mikumo prefer her more secluded home, Mikumo agreed to move because she know it will put Kazumi's mind at ease.

"Heh… so the two of you get along quite well if you easily agree with him. That's good. To be honest, when we first made this arrangement, we were worried if the two of you would get along. But it seems that we were worried for nothing."

Kaname admitted. They did force her to stay with Kazumi. Honestly, Kaname did not expect the two to easily get along. Maybe in time after a few months but she was honestly surprised back then when Mikumo and Kazumi managed to get along in less than a week.

What's more surprising is that since then Mikumo is rarely seen without Kazumi by her side. She did not ditch him or anything and that actually surprised everyone, especially with how much more animated Mikumo is when she's with Kazumi.

Kaname didn't think that Mikumo noticed it herself but she had slowly changed and become even more open since she met Kazumi. She rarely disappeared by herself these days and had started enjoying the little things in life. For one thing, the old Mikumo is definitely not someone who would play games on her day off.

"I'm glad that it was Kazumi that's assigned to me."

Mikumo admitted, surprising Kaname and Arad a little with her bluntness.

"It has been fun living with him. He is a good companion. There's not a single boring day whenever I'm with him."

Mikumo told the two as she glanced at the kitchen where Kazumi is working. Mikumo smiled seeing the scene she had become familiar since Kazumi's arrival. She then turn back to Arad and Kaname.

"That's why… I'm grateful for the arrangement, Kaname."

While Mikumo is talking with Kaname and Arad, Kazumi found himself being watched by Keith as he works in the kitchen. He's used to being watched by Mikumo while he's cooking but Keith's stare is different and it's starting to bother him.

"…you know, if you want to say something then just say it."

Kazumi told him.

"It is nothing. I just wish to know what kind of man is the Star Singer's protector."

"The Star Singer's protector huh? I don't think I can be considered that since I let her be hurt."

Kazumi replied. He's still sore about Mikumo being shot. Next time, he won't let that happen.

"True. But from what I have seen, you are formidable. And Mikumo Guynemer appears to be fond of you."

"Fond?"

"…it's nothing important. Just remember about what we discussed two days ago."

Kazumi nodded as Keith leaves him to speak with Hayate this time.

Kazumi and Keith spoke two days ago about the matter of the Star Knight. As it appears that this Star Knight will be important in whatever happens in the future, they will need to learn more about this individual. So they decided that they need to visit the only place that can possibly hold the answer.

They will need to visit Windermere.