Episode 16: A Brief Moment of Respite

Out of all the thing he imagined doing since joining Chaos, being part of a housewarming party is not one of them, let alone being the host of said party.

Eversince he graduated from the military academy, he never had a place to call home. No, he never had a home since his mother died. All he does is went from one squadron to another and the room he is most familiar with is a military bunk beds, which is why sometimes he finds it odd to sleep on a more comfortable bed in a room that he could call his own.

That's basically what it feels to wake up in the first week of his job as Mikumo's bodyguard. That and the feeling of living in a proper home once again and knowing that someone is there with him in the same house. It feels… nice. It feels like he belong somewhere. Doing housework with Mikumo, cleaning the house, buying grocery, cooking for her, those may seem like simple things but those are things he enjoy the most, simple days where he doesn't have to think more than what's for dinner.

He had felt this once when he lived with his mother, when he was a young boy. But he lost his first home when his mother died. Then he met his friends in the academy, they who would later become the Virgo squadron together with him under the command of his senior, Alisa Ivanov.

Sweet academy days, he could still remember fondly when his classmate, Josh Copland, made his best friend, Jun Yamada, admit his feelings for Carol Madison, the second best pilot in their class. The four of them under their senior went on to become the Virgo squadron.

He misses those days when the worst thing that can happen to them is getting caught by their instructor skipping class, thinking about their grades and teasing their friends about their crush on someone, those are much simpler days.

He could still remember them vividly. Josh Copland, the class playboy. Loves hitting on girls and who knows how many girls he dated back then. Jun Yamada, the techie and shy boy who has a cute crush on the cutest girl in class. Carol Madison, the second best pilot in class next to himself and an all around cheerful girl. They died much too young, way before they can even begin to live.

And then there is the senior who he look up to and he would admit, had a crush on during his academy days. Alisa Ivanov, the senior who is two years older than him and the best pilot in her year. She was his tutor and even when they were put in the same squadron he never stopped learning from her. She was his old crush and commanding officer, which made things a little awkward back then.

It was among them that he found his second home, a place where he belongs… and then came the Vajra War.

True they were not on the frontline of that war but they have been deployed numerous times against the Vajra. And at the climax of the war, he lost it all. His friends, no, his family shot down one-by-one by the bastards from Galaxy. Once again he was all alone.

After that, he could never fit in anywhere. It's like a curse. Everywhere he went, those close to him dies. Every squadron he was put in got wiped out with him being the only survivor. It got so bad that people said that he brought bad luck. It doesn't help that back then he became rather… unsociable after losing the Virgo squadron.

It was during those dark days that he joined Harvamal. He couldn't really remember why he joined in the first place and went along with the Commander's plan to change the past using the power of Fold Evil. Perhaps it is because he had the hope of changing the outcome of that battle over the Vajra's home planet so his friends could survive and changing the past sounds like a good way to do that back then.

Those were complicated times. At least he decided that it's a crazy idea and bailed out at the right time and lost another squadron for the last time… by his own hands. Figures that the only dead squadron of his that would have a survivor other than him would be the one he personally eliminate. If Alisa were to see him now, what would she say?

Kazumi sighs. Now he's reminiscing his life when everyone else is having fun.

"Why are you sighing?"

Someone asked from beside him. There's no need for him to turn to know that it is Mikumo who just joined him. He would recognize her voice from miles away.

"Just remembering some stuff. It's funny how life goes sometimes."

Kazumi answered her. Right now would be a good time for a bottle of scotch but even if he has one in the fridge, Kazumi doesn't feel like drinking. Then again, Mikumo wouldn't like to see him drink any alcohol after that one incident where he chased her around when drunk.

"If you asked me around seven years ago, I wouldn't imagine being here at all."

"Is that so? Where do you see yourself back then?"

Mikumo asked. Kazumi chuckled and answered her.

"Maybe just a simple squad leader serving in Macross 22. I certainly wouldn't imagine all this to happen back then."

Kazumi wave his hand at the scene in front of them. He certainly wouldn't imagine being in a new team back then, and one as interesting as this one. A group of ace pilots working as bodyguards for an idol group. Hearing that he would be part of such a group would make him laugh if it was him from seven years ago.

It is not quite like the feeling from back then but Kazumi would admit that he like being part of the Delta flight, even if he just stood in the sideline like he was simply an observer. That is what he feels about the Delta flight right now; a part of them yet not quite a part of them. And that is fine for now.

"…you do have an interesting life, Kazumi."

Kazumi smiled at Mikumo's words. Indeed, he's had an interesting life.

"Remind me to tell you some interesting stories later."

"Ufufu, I will. But first…"

Mikumo grabbed something from beside her. Kazumi did faintly remember hearing Mikumo put something on the counter they're leaning on earlier. What she has surprised him. It's his scotch that he kept in the fridge. Mikumo gave him one bottle while she has another one in her hand.

"You… took one from my stash?"

He asked while raising an eyebrow, mildly surprised that Mikumo would drink his scotch. Mikumo shook her head and point at someone among the crowd. Kazumi follow the direction she is pointing at and found himself suddenly not feeling surprised seeing a laughing Arad with another bottle taken from his stash.

"Hahaha! Shinomiya, come and join us here! Don't be shy!"

It seems that Arad let the alcohol get to him as he call out loudly to Kazumi. The top ace sighs but smiled as he and Mikumo join the crowd.


Kazumi rarely speak with Makina and Reina. Usually, the two of them hangs around Hayate, Mirage, Freyja, and Chuck while he and Mikumo are usually by themselves or with Arad and Kaname. All he knew about them are basically basic stuff like Makina is also working as a mechanic since she's the one who tuned his aircraft and Reina is a hacker. His interaction with those two are limited to when Walkure came visiting Mikumo as a group and even then he doesn't really speak with them.

He also doesn't know Chuck very well. He knew that he is the cook in Ragnyanyan and is a native to the planet but that's it. Apart from training and briefing he barely talked to the guy. In fact, he probably knew Chuck the least out of everyone in Walkure and Delta.

He is closer to the trio of Hayate, Mirage, and Freyja who visited a number of times since their visits are more personal. He tends to talk with Hayate and Mirage while Freyja occupied Mikumo's attention. It's obvious that the Windermere girl look up to Mikumo as a mentor. But outside from those visits and occasionally bumping into them on the street when Hayate was being dragged by his girls around, Kazumi doesn't actively socialize with them.

The main reason is because of the difference in age and place where they usually hang around. The younger and livelier members of the group usually hang around in Ragnyanyan, especially Chuck, Reina and Makina since he never saw them around the city apart from there.

He only ever visited Ragnyannyan a handful of times and each visit are not very long, just an hour or two. He usually stays at home doing housework or in a bar, drinking. So it stands to reason that he doesn't know much about Chuck, Reina and Makina because they barely hang around each other.

But right now he is right in the middle of the 'young people group' since Arad is having his fun drinking his stash with Kaname also sharing a drink while talking with Keith. The White Knight of Darwent seems to avoid the lively group of younger people, mostly because they're too energetic for his taste. He should've joined him but somehow he ended up being dragged to sit with the lively bunch by Mikumo.

"…why am sitting I here playing uno again?"

Kazumi asked as he put down another card. The next to go is Mikumo and she put a reverse card. Kazumi clicked his tongue and put a draw 2 card.

"It is a good way to know each other, Kazukazu."

Replied Makina as she put a draw 4 card.

"Yeah. We rarely ever talk outside of training and briefing. A good game will help us know each other!"

Chuck added, putting down another draw card.

"Getting to know each other over a game of uno? Heh, we're more likely to punch each other by the end of this thing. This stuff wrecked friendships."

Kazumi replied while scoffing. Back in his days in Virgo squadron, there was that one time they played uno during their down time. Josh lost badly after he had to draw more than thirty cards. He almost decked Jun and him for that. Carol got off fine since Josh will never punch a girl but the boys got into a minor scuffle until Alisa separates them.

Yeah, a game that destroys friendship.

"Come on, how bad can a single card game be?"

Hayate sadi, adding another draw card along with Mirage and Freyja. Then Mikumo's turn came. Kazumi look at the cards in his hands and saw that if Mikumo put another draw card, he is screwed. Mikumo smirked and put down a blue draw 2 card. Kazumi's eye twitched since he has no card to add. That means he gets to draw.

"Ohh come on!"

By the end of the game, Kazumi lost badly.

"It's fun playing with Kazukazu. You should play with us more."

Makina said as he pat the sulking ace pilot's back. It's a funny sight to see a grown man sulking after being beaten in a card game. And it is also a pathetic sight in Mikumo's opinion but she knew better than to say it because Kazumi would sulk even more if she voiced it.

"Guh… how can I lose so badly! I never lost so badly in uno before. Dammit!"

"Uwaah, Kazumi-san is blowing up!"

"A sore loser!"

Reina's comment definitely did not help him as he send her a glare and then sighs. He felt stupid letting a card game get to him but well… he did say the game destroys friendship.

"Next time we play something, let's not play uno."

Kazumi said.

"So you are a sore loser. I never thought you are one, Kazumi."

"Mikumo… please shut up."