Chapter Nine
Beta Posted 07/26/2007
Author's Note
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Note: An incomplete Beta-Chapter 8 was posted from 07/23 - 07/24. It has been amended on 07/24.
Approaching the end... There are two more chapters left in regards to the manga. In terms of the anime, I'm two-thirds through the movie already. I'm still following the manga more than the anime which might confuse some readers. Corrections and revisions are planned and they will be made... eventually. Feel free to leave questions or comments in reviews. I'm pretty fast with replies via private messages and emails.
- Free Corp Knight -
- - - - - - - - - -
- Chapter 9 -
- - - - - - - - - -
Month: September
Year: 2048
Rumors were not uncommon in high school, but few talked about a second-year student named Noboru Terao. However, his name recently became the topic of many discussions and the reason for this sudden shift of attention could be traced back to a fateful afternoon message, not that any of them knew of course. Still, it was surprising that how he wound up in so many conversations, including the ones in the teacher's lounge.
"Hey! I heard one of your kids changed career plans all of the sudden. Is it true?"
"Did Terao-san really change to aeronautics? That's a really tough goal."
"Yeah he did. Next year, he's switching to a technical school." His homeroom teacher sighed in exasperation, tired of answering the same questions from students and now faculty. "I didn't do anything to change his mind. He just came to me one day and asked if he could switch majors."
"Wow... I never expected the guy to go for that field..."
"His scores were average in my class but in the beginning, he had some of the highest marks. He could do it if he tried."
"Do you think he did it for his parents?"
"Nah, he probably wanted to impress his girlfriend. I heard that he got together with a classmate next-door. Forgot her name but she's in the same year."
"How cute..."
"Ah, young love... I remember when I did something like that to impress the girl I liked..."
"Hah! Is that why you're still single and teaching here?"
The last statement filled the room with laughter. Indeed, love changes many things.
- - -
In the meantime, Noboru shuffled down the halls. Wrapped around his neck was a large handmade scarf, the fluffy white fabric keeping him warm. It was a gift from Wakana in thanks for that rainy day long ago. It was perfect for the seasonal change. Autumn had set in along with shorter days and lower temperatures. Slipping his shoes on, Noboru made his way to the school entrance where his girlfriend waited. Seeing him, Wakana stepped from the shadows.
The two walked down the well-worn path, an uncomfortable silence between them. Their relationship, once blossoming, was now falling apart. Noboru knew it was his fault for being unable to choose between Mikako and her. Yet, the blame eventually found its way back to him... for wanting to forget. Now, he has to let one go before it's too late.
"I had begun to feel like I had no choice in my life. I had given up on myself." Noboru started talking for once. Wakana looked up, mildly surprised. Usually she initiated their conversations.
"I know it might be too late. I have no idea how long it will take me..." Pausing for breath, he continued. "And I know I might not even get to see her if I get there..."
"But you're still going right?" Wakana asked. Her eyes were soft and tears threatened to burst forth. It felt so unfair. She lost against the other girl without a fight. It was if... she never had a chance...
"Yeah..." He replied. There was just no other answer. His mind was made up and sadly, the girl next to him was not the one.
"She's so lucky." Wakana said, turning away. "So lucky..."
"I envy her" Her words were filled with sorrow. Tears fell from her eyes. Even though her back was turned to him, Noboru still saw them.
"I'm sorry... Wakana." There was just no other words that could've been spoken. "I'm sorry."
- - -
Month: December
Year: 2048
It's been three months since their breakup. Wakana didn't speak to Noboru for a week, avoiding him entirely at school. Whenever they did meet, she ignored him, acting as if he didn't exist. Their relationship meant more than he could ever imagine and losing him broke her heart. Soon enough, she got over it and the two settled back to being friends. She still had feelings for him, but both knew he was taken. The ghost of a young short-haired girl haunted his thoughts, her smile lingering in his dreams.
Shortly after Mikako's message, there were reports about a local Tracer pilot being sent back after fighting in battle. The injured girl was now on Earth for medical treatment. At first, Noboru thought it was Mikako and tried to contact her. He was denied but later learned that it wasn't her, causing his spirits to fall. Still, it gave him hope that one day, he would see Mikako again.
- - -
"Noboru, did you pack your toothbrush?" Her mom fussed at him from the door. Her eyes looked worried, seeing all the bags he packed.
"Yes! Stop worrying mom!" His face was red with embarrassment.
"Well, I can't believe you're moving into a dorm so soon! Changing schools all of the sudden..." She let out a sigh. "You're in such a rush..."
After watching him a few more minutes, his mom left to start dinner. He packed some more items and zipped up the last bag. Looking over his room again, he checked if anything was left out. His eyes fell on his mobile. He didn't send Mikako a reply yet. Reaching for it, he wondered how she would react to his decision.
To: Mikako Nagamine
From: Noboru Terao
Dear Mikako,
How are you doing? I know it might be coming a little late
but I've decided to head out to space too. I don't know how
long it'll take me to get there...
But I'm going to try to come see you.
I'm coming... Mikako.
Noboru sent the message that night, wishing to the stars for his words to reach her.
- - -
Month: November
Year: 2048
At the Saitama Self-Defense Space Force base, the medical equipment beep-ed silently as it continued to track the patient's health. The person lying in bed was a young girl with long hair. Despite the bandages and needles stuck in her, there was a smile on her face. Nearby was a fogged screen and the distorted figure of a man could be made out.
"Kanzaki-san. Good afternoon." She noticed briefly that his voice came was slightly distorted by the room's speakers.
"Hello doctor." She replied.
"I see you're doing fine. I just got the latest reports and there's some good and bad news." He paused, expecting a reaction. Recieving none, he continued. "You have a slight paralysis on your left side. It's doubtful that it will go away but otherwise, everything else has healed. You can resume normal activities whenever you want."
Her smile grew. "Thank you, doctor."
"You should have little trouble resuming a normal life..." He read from the papers. Turning the page, something caught his eye. "But I see here that you're applying for the U.N. Space Force Ground Patrol. Is that correct?"
"Yes... That's what I want to do." Hisa slowly pushed herself up. "I want to do whatever I can to help my friends out there... to be near them in some way."
"They're all such good people in my unit. My best friend Mikako..." An image of a blushing schoolgirl came to mind. "She's teased so easily..."
"Miwa..." She didn't see the man on the other side react. His hands shook as they moved toward across his desk. "She understood me best. She's so pretty... She worries about us all the time."
The doctor nodded, now holding an image of a couple embracing. The man in the picture was a younger version of himself. The other was a pony-tailed woman with a relaxed smile. It was the same Miwa who led Hisa's squadron. Clearing his throat and his mind, he intervened. "So... I suppose I can't stop you after hearing all that... I'm going to space too and it's likely that we're going to be on the same mission. I look forward to seeing you there."
Hisa grinned but it quickly disappeared. "Um, doctor? When I was hit, it wasn't by a Tarsian, was it? I heard there was a mistake..."
He shifted uncomfortably. "Yes, you're right. Unfortunately, you were hit by friendly fire..." The footage from her Tracer shown that her unit was struck by an errant missile, one that clearly had U.N. markings on it. No foul play was suspected.
"I sometimes wonder... if we're doing the right thing, going out there into space..." Hisa thought aloud.
"Humans are such a curious race... but maybe we try too hard to understand." Seeing her blank expression, he continued. "Whenever we find anything different from ourselves, we tend to fight it... trying to make it conform to our ideas."
"I wonder if the Tarsians are actually right..." Hisa replied. "After all, we are the ones who started the fight."
"Indeed, instead of humans learning to understand Tarsians..." The doctor mused. "It might be easier for Tarsians to understand humans."
- - -
Month: August
Year: 2047
Miwa gazed from her bed, looking out of her window. They were still in the hyperspace jump and all she could see was darkness. It made her feel lonely. Even the blanket wrapped around her seemed to give less warmth.
Click! "Miwa, are you there?"
She silently thanked her visitor. Company would be greatly appreciated around now... "Yes, come in."
The door to her room slid open, revealing Mikako. "What's the matter?"
"It's going to be a while before we reach Agharta so they've called another meeting..." The younger girl reported.
"Again?!" Miwa twitched. She just took a break from two of them. "I guess everyone's just getting bored..."
"There's not much to do these days..." Mikako agreed. "Probably..."
"Yeah..." Miwa dismissed. She turned to see Mikako staring at her desk. Taped against the wall was a picture. "Miwa? Is that your boyfriend?"
"Ah..." The older woman replied, suddenly feeling nostalgic. She had almost forgotten about her time on Earth. She went to space while he was busy studying to be a doctor, their lives seperate ever since. "Well, he was a long time ago... I wonder how old he is now..."
"Is that why you were afraid to go home?" Mikako asked, seeing the similiarities with her own problem. "Is it because of the age difference between you two now?"
The sad look on Miwa's face was enough. It also gave the answers to her questions. "Sorry..." The schoolgirl apologized, feeling bad for approaching such a sensitive topic.
"Nah, it's just hard..." Miwa responded a while later. "It's hard when you think about all the time you missed... how everything passed you by..."
"It doesn't matter though..." Miwa gave a fake smile, one that Mikako clearly saw through. "We've been apart for too long anyways..."
- - -
Month: November
Year: 2048
"So you plan to wait for their return... no matter how long it takes? The doctor watched as Hisa for a moment before replying, her voice filled with determination. "Yes, that's what I want to do."
"Hmmm... I can't imagine what lies ahead of you..." The doctor said. "But if you're satisfied with your decision, I'll respect it."
"You have my approval." He smiled. "I understand how you feel... because I also have someone precious waiting for me... up there... in space..."
- - -
Month: August
Year: 2047
We... we can never see what lies ahead of us but...
Mikako sat in another meeting, feeling bored as others in the meeting droned over the same plans and procedures. In her mind, only one thing stood out. "Noboru-kun..."
But until we meet again...
- - -
Month: January
Year: 2049
We've all decided...
Noboru looked out from the train. The bags he packed laid on his feet. His stop was coming up, a new school that will help him reach his dream. He was one step closer... to seeing Mikako again.
We'll grow up...
- - -
To be adults even if...
The two shared the same thought despite how time and space stood between them.
Even if it's on our own... alone...
