The shining Shoko Toyokawa

"Don't worry, I know this goal is unrealistic, and I won't force you.

Remember, you are not soldiers, nor tools, you fight for your own will."

Aine thought that Miss Misora ​​was really cunning, just like her...

"By the way, Chihaya-san, I have something to ask of you. Your fellow pilot, Takamatsu Deng, is still hesitant. Could you please communicate with her as a classmate and pilot?"

"Little lamp?"

Su Shi, who was smiling just now, suddenly frowned, "Why is Xiao Deng also a driver!?"

Chapter 37: Towering Trees

"Why is Xiao Deng also a driver!?"

Aiyin felt that Su Shi had suddenly become a different person, and it was a bit scary.

"I'm sorry," Su Shi bowed, "Xiao Deng and I are very good friends. That child is very introverted and I don't think he's suitable for piloting a MS."

"Nagasaki-san," Naomi Misora ​​said seriously, "As an adult, I'm not blaming or criticizing your position for asking you to do such a dangerous thing.

But I still want to tell you that from my perspective, Nagasaki-san and Takamatsu-san are the same.

You are not children fit to go to the battlefield.

Chihaya-san and Kaname Rakuna-san, there are only three days left until the deadline. I hope you can think carefully about it.

There are many things that you cannot do just because you can. In fact, some drivers have already declined the invitation. You do not need to have an extra sense of responsibility.

Maybe in the future you will have a reason to board a MS, but there is no such thing now."

"No!" Su Shi's eyes were firm. "I do have that reason. I must make the world a better place!"

"Su Shisang..."

"Nagasaki-san..."

Naomi Misora ​​and Aine stared at Suye without saying a word, and Lenai left without knowing when.

After a hasty farewell, Aiyin set out on the road home alone.

"Su Shi-san is so gentle and strong. I really envy that girl named Xiao Deng. I also want to be friends with Su Shi-san."

At this time, Nagasaki Suyo, who was still staying at the Hanezawa Cafe, dialed the number that she had not contacted for a long time.

"In the next few days, please take a leave to go to Yuqiu. Don't let anyone get close to Xiao Deng during school, lunch break, and after school.

I can't show up. If I show it too obviously, it might backfire.

Someone wants the light to do something dangerous.

Hey, Lixi-chan, Xiangzi asked us to take good care of the lights...

Please, don’t let the lamp be deceived by others.”

Su Shi hung up the phone. The girl reflected in the glass in front of her had an expressionless face, as if she were dead...

"Xiao Xiang, I will become someone who can change the world. Before that, can you wait for me?"

…………

……

At the end of April, the 'rainy season' in the Elstan region has ended.

Xia Ya walked into a lush olive grove, put the olive tree in the camera, and pressed the shutter.

Although the branches and leaves of the olive trees could not cover the broken walls and tombstones standing in the ruins, at least no bombs fell in Elstein today.

Xia Ya adjusted her blue helmet and returned to the base along the same route.

She now has a new identity: a volunteer for the United Nations World Health Organization, a freelance journalist, and a video website UP host.

"Xia Ya-san, several people have stepped on landmines today. You must be careful!"

When Starlink's service was normal, she could even make a few video calls with her UP host "colleagues" on the other side of the ocean.

The UP host named Miao Meng is incredibly well-informed.

If Kesi hadn't been able to find her information accurately, Xia Ya would have suspected that she was working in an intelligence agency.

"Then I have to hurry up, Miao Meng. Maybe someone has been sent to the station where I am."

"Then be careful. I don't want to report my intelligence officer losing his leg in the afternoon."

"Um,"

Xia Ya responded, hung up the phone, and quickened her pace in the ruins.

After returning to the base, she did not see anyone who had stepped on a landmine and was sent here.

"Xia Ya, this way!"

A woman with gray hair and dark skin waved at her.

She was wearing a white coat and a mask, and only her bloodshot eyes were visible.

"Are you leaving tomorrow? Are you going back to the Foggy City?"

As soon as Xia Ya entered the tent, she asked anxiously,

"Yes, Doctor Wang, I'm going to leave here for a while, but not back to the foggy city. I'm going to Caucasus. The situation there is getting tense again."

"That's it,"

Doctor Wang was a little disappointed, but still smiled and said, "I wish you a safe journey."

"Do you want me to bring something back to Fog City for you? I can ask the logistics department to help you with the shipment."

"But I don't..." Doctor Wang was a little embarrassed.

Xia Ya knew that Dr. Wang's salary was donated to the children caught up in the war, and she didn't even have the money for the shipping fee of a few dozen dollars.

"Don't worry," Xia Ya smiled gently, "You are a formal employee, and shipping is free of charge and comes with benefits."

"Oh, is that so?"

It can be seen that Dr. Wang did not check in anything to take home. She did not dwell on this issue, or rather, she did not have the energy to dwell on it.

One operation after another has exhausted all her energy.

She rummaged through her luggage for a while, carefully took out a knitted scarf wrapped in cloth, and handed it to Xia Ya. "My daughter will be 18 years old next month. I haven't given her any gifts in these years.

But I thought, maybe one day I won’t be here anymore, so I knitted it...

Xia Ya, don't be like me, always doing things beyond your ability and making a mess of your life."

"Then why do you still want to stay here, Doctor Wang?"

As if he hadn't expected her to ask him back, Doctor Wang was stunned for a moment, and then he said as if talking to himself: "Because someone here needs me."

Behind Doctor Wang, in the tent covered by the curtain, were wounded people of different ages and genders.

"Haven't you noticed?" Xia Ya held her hand. "You are a towering tree."

Doctor Wang was stunned for a moment, then smiled with his tired eyes.

That afternoon, on the way to treat the injured who were hit by the collapsed building,

Doctor Wang stepped on a landmine...

By the time she was sent back to the base, her heart had already stopped beating.

Blood stained the white clothes red, and the towering tree finally fell...

Xia Ya no longer needs to check in the scarf. When UN staff members die in the line of duty, their bodies will be sent back to their homes.

Free...

Chapter 38: Can you fly a MS with me for the rest of my life?

"Hi, Takamatsu-san..."

"Deng, let me take you home."

Looking at the girl with long black hair, the smile on Aine's face froze.

How many times has this happened? Why did she have to come over when I was talking to Deng?

Looking at the two people walking away hand in hand (refer to the mother holding her daughter), Aine was completely numb.

"As expected, Xiao Deng, it's better not to pilot a mobile suit, right?"

After some inquiries, Aiyin learned that, as Su Shi said, Xiao Deng was a shy and introverted child.

This kind of child may be suitable for driving an EVA, but it would definitely be a bit difficult for him to drive a war weapon like MS.

"No, no, no, I haven't even asked Xiao Deng what he thinks. How can I jump to conclusions without authorization?!"

Aiyin decided that even if she had to skip class tomorrow with Xiaodeng, she would find a way to ask her.

After wandering aimlessly on the street for a while, Aine came to Sentoshi Bridge.

If you come earlier, you should be able to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom.

Unlike many people in Area 11, Aine prefers watching the cherry blossoms bloom rather than watching them wither.

But cherry blossoms are so short-lived, and she came a little late, so she couldn't see them.

"If you come here next year, you should be able to see cherry blossoms."

Just as Aine was thinking this, she heard the sound of a pigeon flapping its wings. She turned around and looked.

The white dove and the gray-haired girl are standing on the bridge.

The gray-haired girl narrowed her eyes slightly and stretched out her hand towards the setting sun that was about to fall below the horizon.

It seemed as if it wanted to get closer to the sun, or as if it wanted to catch it in its hands. Its body leaned forward to the point where it would not be surprising if it fell at any moment.

Her expression was blurred, as if she was in a dream.

"No!" That was really just a subconscious reaction.

"Seeking death is not allowed!"

My body moved on its own.

He threw the gray-haired girl to the ground.

"I'm sorry if I misunderstood, but it's not good to commit suicide!"

"Ugh…"

Aine didn't get the answer she wanted, was it because she misunderstood?

The gray-haired girl responded with a suffocatingly tight hug.

"Xiang, Xiangzi, don't... don't leave me!"

In contrast to the strength of the embrace, the girl's voice was so weak that it could disappear in the wind at any moment.

"Hey? Who is Xiangzi?"

Aine asked curiously,

The girl who was hugging her tightly suddenly froze.

In Aine's sight, her profile suddenly became extremely lost.

She let go of Aine and escaped from under her with agility far beyond that of an ordinary person.

Like a frightened little animal, he ran away quickly.

"It hurts!"

Aiyin stood up and subconsciously wanted to chase after him, but she found that her knees were in terrible pain.

She looked down and found that her knee was scratched.

'It doesn't seem to be a serious injury,'

Just as she was thinking this, a small hand and a penguin-patterned Band-Aid came into her sight.

"I really can't leave her alone," Takamatsu Deng's body trembled slightly.

She felt she had to say something.

"This... this is a chinstrap penguin, from the Adelie penguin family. I also have emperor penguins and little blue penguins. Which one do you want?!"