As dusk fell and the sun dipped below the horizon, it seemed even the heavens mourned the cruelty of war, staining the golden desert with a hue of blood.
"Kira, there you are."
Yang Hui carried food as he searched around, finally finding Kira in a secluded corner, with Flay by his side.
"Yang Hui..."
For some reason, Kira found it difficult to face Yang Hui, his gaze flickering away as if he wanted to leave but couldn't move his feet.
Seeing this, Yang Hui shook his head and asked Flay, who was clinging tightly to Kira, "Mind if I borrow your boyfriend for a few minutes?"
"No! Yang Hui, Flay isn't—"
"Stop." Yang Hui cut off Kira's flustered explanation. "If you've done it, take responsibility. You're a man, aren't you?"
Kira froze, then turned to look at Flay, who seemed on the verge of tears, before lowering his head again—but this time, he took Flay's hand in his.
Flay, feeling the warmth of his palm, suddenly stiffened. Her pitiful act was interrupted, leaving her unsure whether to look at Kira or Yang Hui.
"Is it alright? Just a few minutes with Kira."
"..." Flay didn't answer, instead staring at Kira with a complicated expression.
She didn't want Kira to be alone with Yang Hui. She was afraid—afraid Yang Hui might see through her, afraid he'd persuade Kira to leave her, or that Kira might accidentally reveal how she had privately badmouthed Yang Hui and tried to drive a wedge between them.
But... at this moment, the warmth of his hand melted a drop of ice in her cold heart. For the first time, she wanted to listen to Kira. If he told her to leave, she would.
"Flay, can you wait for me for a few minutes?" Kira asked softly.
"...It's fine." After a moment of silence, she buried her disappointment deep inside, picked up her food, and slowly walked away.
Yang Hui watched Flay's retreating figure before sitting cross-legged in front of Kira and digging into his meal.
"Yang Hui..."
"Eat first. Food is precious in the desert—don't waste it."
"..."
Silence. Kira grew even more confused. Yang Hui had deliberately sent Flay away to talk, but now that she was gone, he was just telling him to eat?
Never mind. He'd stop overthinking it. He'd always followed Yang Hui's lead before, hadn't he?
Kira imitated Yang Hui, wolfing down his food. In no time, both plates were empty.
By now, night had fully fallen, the firelight flickering across their faces, intensifying the heavy atmosphere.
"Yang Hui... Flay, she..."
"Stop. Don't tell me about your relationship problems. I don't care. Just send me an invitation when you get married."
"Huh? But we're not—"
"Kira."
"Yeah."
"Do you remember what I told you when we parted?"
"I remember."
"I'll say it again—do what you want. Don't overthink things."
"But Flay and Sai..."
"That's the choice."
"Choice?"
"Yes. Even though you're still underage, you're already someone who can stand on his own. Once you've made a choice, you have to bear the consequences."
"But... I really don't know what to do, Yang Hui. After you left, I've been so lost. I still want to protect Tolle and the others, but I also hate fighting. I truly despise it!"
"I know."
"But if I don't fight, I can't protect them! When what you want to do clashes with what you don't want to do, how would you choose?" Kira asked Yang Hui.
"Simple."
"Huh?"
"Find your purpose for fighting."
"I'm not..."
"You lack conviction right now, Kira. This applies to your relationship with Flay too." Yang Hui gazed up at the starry sky as he spoke to Kira. "Because you're wavering, that's why you're suffering. Fighting... should indeed be painful. At its core, all combat is about killing. No noble excuse can mask that truth."
"..." Kira fell silent. Yang Hui's words struck the wound in his heart. His hatred for fighting stemmed from not wanting to kill, from not wanting to see people die.
"But those with strong convictions won't retreat because of this. Because they—because we—have clear objectives. Goals we must accomplish even if it means killing."
"What... objectives?"
"I can't speak for others, but for me... it's protection."
"Protection?"
"Exactly. Protecting those I love, safeguarding everything I hold dear. That's my reason for fighting."
"But... don't you care at all? About people dying..."
"No."
"Huh?"
"If someone tries to destroy what I cherish, I'll protect it even if I have to kill."
"...You're really something, Yang Hui." Kira shook his head bitterly, joining Yang Hui in stargazing. "I'm not as strong as you. I truly can't accept it."
"Then try not to kill, Kira."
"Huh?"
"There are many ways to fight. Some don't involve killing. In MS combat, you can disable the enemy's fighting capability—that's another way to end a battle."
"Really? Is that possible?" Kira stood up excitedly, pressing Yang Hui for answers.
"It is. But you must also be prepared."
"Prepared for what?"
"The possibility that you'll die more easily. That your comrades will die more easily."
"That's—!"
"So Kira, it all comes down to choices. Showing mercy to enemies is cruelty to yourself and your allies. And your enemies won't thank you for your mercy—they'll just laugh at your foolishness before returning with greater numbers."
"I... I refuse to accept that outcome!"
"Then persevere, Kira. Unless you're willing to abandon Tolle and the others, to abandon Flay, and run away alone?"
"Never! I could never abandon Tolle and the others! Nor would I abandon Flay!"
"Then keep moving forward, Kira. Grow stronger—not just in MS piloting skills." Yang Hui pressed a finger against Kira's chest. "But here too. True strength comes from the heart."
"I... I'm not as strong as you, Yang Hui... And Flay... I've already hurt Sai so much, even though he's done everything for me..."
"No one is born a strong person, Kira. I'm no exception." Yang Hui stood up, carrying both his and Kira's trays as he prepared to leave. "I can't advise you on matters of the heart, but... if it were me, I'd find a way to maintain both relationships."
"Huh?"
"I'm an adult, Kira." Yang Hui turned his head slightly with a teasing grin, his back still facing Kira. "Only children make choices—I'll take it all! Hahaha..."
Hearing Yang Hui's bold declaration and unrestrained laughter left Kira momentarily stunned. It wasn't until Yang Hui had walked away that he finally snapped out of it.
"What nonsense is this guy spouting? Aren't we the same age?" Kira shook his head with a bitter smile, though he couldn't help but acknowledge that this was just like Yang Hui—always so self-assured.
"Take it all... Can I really do that too?"
...
Yang Hui hadn't gone far before stopping abruptly. He turned toward a nearby shadow and spoke seriously, "I know you're using Kira. I also know you hate me. I have no right to ask you to let go of that hatred, nor do I have the right to seek your forgiveness. But... protect him. He can protect all of you, but right now, the only one who can protect him is you."
Without waiting for any response, Yang Hui continued walking. Only after he had gone did Flay emerge from the shadows, her expression twisted with complex emotions—not frightening, but pitiable.
"What the hell... You're just a murderer! You don't know anything! Just some loudmouthed braggart! Kira is just my tool! I'll use him to kill every last Coordinator—and you! I'll kill you too! But..." Hot tears streamed uncontrollably down her face. "Then why... Why say those things to me? I don't need your pity! I... I... Kira..."
...
After dropping off the trays, Yang Hui didn't seek out anyone else. Instead, he found a quiet spot to lose himself in the mystery and vastness of the starry sky.
"You're getting more and more fond of acting all profound, aren't you?" Lyle approached and plopped down beside him.
"I'm exhausted. What else can I do?" Yang Hui grumbled.
"That's your own fault," Lyle teased.
They could have easily followed the same approach as in the Gundam AGE world—leveraging their superior piloting skills and technology beyond this world's level to establish an independent force and become heroes. Or they could have repeated their strategy from the Gundam 00 world, playing the role of shadowy masterminds challenging the entire world, consolidating hatred to eliminate twisted factions like Blue Cosmos and Logos before gracefully bowing out.
Though that would have been tiring too, it would have been far better than their current situation. Just look at how much Yang Hui had to juggle now—combat, research, diplomacy, economics, internal affairs... Every aspect of running a nation weighed on him. How could he not be exhausted?
"Just wanted to experience this kind of life," Yang Hui said with a lopsided grin.
"Hah, even Ms. Huang and Wang Liu Mei wouldn't buy that. Maybe you could fool Cagalli, though."
"Yeah, probably."
The whole "wanting to experience life" was just an excuse. The real reason Yang Hui chose to govern a nation was for the future.
As Prometheus Fortress continued to expand and connect with more worlds, dealing with these matters would become inevitable.
Prometheus Fortress had no nation of its own, but each connected world represented a different country. As its commander, he naturally had to ensure every world remained aligned with Prometheus Fortress. If internal strife broke out, they'd be finished long before any unknown enemies appeared.
"Alright, now that we've found Cagalli, we should head back."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing, just a feeling." Yang Hui glanced at the Archangel docked nearby. "I have this sense that my ill-fated connection with this ship isn't over yet."
At that moment, chaos suddenly erupted at the frontline command post.
"Emergency! Tassil is under attack by ZAFT Forces!"
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