"We've entered the ocean. This is the Red Sea."
Leaving behind the scorching yellow sands, they now sailed upon the azure waters. The vibrant breath of life filled the air as the sea breeze swept across the undulating waves. Dolphins leaped joyfully alongside the Archangel, as if welcoming their guests.
"Everyone is permitted to take turns going up to the deck for a while. Notify all sections of the ship," Murrue announced. Having finally reached the sea with no enemies in sight, she naturally allowed the crew some relaxation.
"That's great!"
"Chief Murdoch, how's the sonar preparation coming along?" Natarle Badgiruel, as usual, had a knack for disrupting the cheerful mood.
"Working on it. Yang Hui and the kid are doing the final adjustments. Just give us a bit more time," Murdoch reported.
"Hurry up. Also... calling someone of higher rank 'kid' isn't appropriate, is it? This is the kind of thing that undermines discipline. Be mindful of it."
"Uh... ahaha."
Once the communication ended, Murdoch covered his face in exasperation.
"Having a strict superior is such a pain," he grumbled.
"Isn't that just Natarle's adorable side?" Yang Hui teased. While Natarle gave everyone the impression of an iron-willed, disciplined soldier, Yang Hui understood her well—beneath that stern exterior lay the heart of a woman, though she never showed it to others.
"Hahaha, you're the only one who'd dare say that about Lieutenant Badgiruel," Mu and Murdoch laughed heartily. Though they'd never witnessed it themselves, rumors about Natarle's secretly girlish side had circulated plenty in private.
Yang Hui shrugged in response, offering no further comment. He knew Natarle had feelings for him, and he too felt something for her—but it was merely attraction, not even affection, let alone love.
That was why Yang Hui had straightforwardly told Natarle about his two fiancées. It wasn't a rejection, but a way to let her think carefully. She was a woman, after all, and most women wouldn't appreciate a playboy—they'd want a love all to themselves.
The adult world was direct like that, unlike the convoluted dramas in idol shows. If there was mutual interest, they'd lay it out plainly—if it worked, they'd proceed; if not, they'd part ways. No need for unnecessary complications.
As for the gap in their statuses... that was never an issue. If Natarle struggled with it, Yang Hui had countless ways to whisk her away to Orb.
"Still, Kira, you're something else—joining the military straight as a lieutenant!" Yang Hui ribbed Kira.
"Ah... well." Kira scratched his head awkwardly. Normally, becoming a lieutenant without experience or achievements was impossible, yet Kira had been commissioned at that rank—a starting point many could only dream of.
But everyone understood and harbored no jealousy. Kira's combat prowess was undeniable, and given the circumstances—his lack of fondness for the Earth Forces—his decision to stay aboard the Archangel was purely to protect Tolle and the others. Now, that protection extended to the entire crew, but at its core, it was still about safeguarding his comrades. He held no affection for the military or war itself. Thus, Murrue had granted him a high rank—partly to honor his contributions, but also to retain his invaluable skills.
"Ha! You're actually embarrassed now! You little brat! I got scolded again because of you!" Murdoch hooked an arm around Kira's neck and teased him.
"Ahaha."
"Let's hurry up and finish this, or they'll be nagging us again," Mu reminded them. "But Yang Hui, you're really something. Not just MS, but even sonar systems—you can get your hands on anything."
"With enough money, you could too," Yang Hui quipped.
"The problem is, I don't have any," Mu shrugged, looking genuinely pained. Despite being a major, the Earth Forces' pay... well, it was better not to bring it up.
"Want to switch jobs? Five insurances, one fund, plus a high salary."
"Spare me. Those conditions are so good I'm tempted, but I'm afraid your better half would shoot me."
"Don't talk nonsense. Natarle and I are completely innocent."
"Pfft. You're the only one who hasn't noticed. Everyone on this ship knows Lieutenant Badgiruel has a thing for you," Mu rolled his eyes, exasperated. Murrue was better at hiding it—only Mu had picked up on her subtle hints—but Natarle's behavior couldn't have been more obvious. What was the point in denying it?
Yang Hui glanced at Mu, Murdoch, Kira, and the other two, noticing the odd looks they were giving him. He sighed.
"...I have two fiancées."
"Ugh... Damn winner at life!" Mu immediately wrapped an arm around Yang Hui's neck and started cursing.
"Ow ow ow! I'm injured!"
"That's not enough to quell my rage! Face judgment!"
"Ahahaha..."
Everyone knew Mu wasn't actually angry. Sure, there was some envy and jealousy, but it wasn't enough to make him turn on Yang Hui. The reason he was roughhousing with Yang Hui was simply because he understood—Yang Hui wasn't bragging. He was telling them that he had noticed Natarle's feelings, but the reality of his situation meant the two of them likely wouldn't end up together.
So Mu's playful scuffle with Yang Hui was just his way of lightening the suddenly heavy mood.
"Done." Though Kira had been laughing at Yang Hui and Mu's antics, his hands hadn't stopped working. Amid the chaos, he'd already finished adjusting the sonar system.
"Nice. At least you're reliable, unlike a certain privileged brat," Murdoch teased.
"Hah, I'll just take that as jealousy!" Yang Hui broke free from Mu's hold and huffed proudly.
Just then, the ship's intercom announced that everyone was free to go relax on the deck.
"Wanna head up to the deck?" Mu asked Yang Hui and Kira. As a guest, Yang Hui wasn't on duty, and Kira, like Mu, was frontline personnel with no shift at the moment.
"I'll pass. The ocean isn't anything new to me, and I'm still in a cast," Yang Hui said, waving his useless left arm.
"Fair. Orb is an island nation. What about you?" Mu turned to Kira.
"I'll stay too."
"...Alright, guess I'm going alone then. Ugh, the woes of being single."
Murdoch had to stay in the Hangar for duty, and the other two needed to return to the bridge, leaving Mu to head to the deck by himself while Yang Hui and Kira went back inside.
"You and Flay..."
"I don't know what to do either."
By now, Kira had realized it—his relationship with Flay was a mistake. They hadn't come together out of love. Flay was using him to get back at Coordinators, and he was using her to soothe his own turbulent heart.
After spending time together, Kira knew it was wrong, yet he still didn't leave Flay. He was simply too kind-hearted. The moment Flay's father died in battle, her world lost all color. Though she was using Kira for revenge, she also saw him as her emotional anchor, preventing her from completely falling into the abyss. So even though Kira knew their relationship was wrong, he couldn't bring himself to abandon her—he just avoided further intimacy.
"Two choices: break up decisively and cut all ties..."
"But Flay... I don't want to see her collapse." Kira immediately rejected the first option.
"Then the second one—maintain this relationship."
"Yet Flay and I aren't... lovers. We're just comforting each other."
"That's for you to decide."
"If it were you... what would you do?" Kira sought Yang Hui's advice.
"I wouldn't have paid her any attention from the start." Yang Hui rolled his eyes. While he might be slow when it came to emotions, after experiencing so much, his judgment of people was spot-on. If Flay had chosen him instead of Kira, he would have refused outright.
"Yeah, I guess..."
"But Kira, as a man, my personal belief is this: once you choose to take responsibility, see it through to the end."
"See it... through?"
"Exactly. After all, she was your first woman, wasn't she?" Yang Hui teased.
"Yang Hui!"
"Hahaha..."
"I'm serious!"
"Then let me ask you—do you love Flay?"
"...I don't know."
"Then think it through before deciding. I'm not the best person to give advice on relationships."
Yang Hui wasn't lying. Though a "battle-hardened veteran," he was still emotionally dense. Most of his wives had pursued him first—Yurin being the exception, as their relationship developed naturally. So when it came to the twisted dynamic between Kira and Flay, he had no useful advice to offer.
"Alright, I understand."
"Good luck, kid. May you win the beauty's heart! o(￣▽￣)ｄ"
"Cagalli was right—you really are a jerk!"
"Ow! Don't touch my injury!"
...
The crew of the Archangel took turns on the deck, soaking in the vastness and beauty of the ocean. The tense atmosphere finally eased—unaware that danger lurked beneath the unfathomable depths.
At the ZAFT Forces' Carpentaria Base, Marco Morassim, commander of the Vosmorgov-class submarine carrier, received a transmission from Creuset.
"I was deeply shocked to hear of Captain Waltfeld's defeat. Frankly, it's shameful—allowing the Long Legs to land on Earth was already my failure, and then suffering heavy losses against unknown mobile suits... My feelings are complicated. But rest assured, my subordinates and I have fully recovered, and our forces are ready. Due to Operation Break the Situation, I'll soon descend to Earth. At that time, I'll need your full cooperation, Captain Morassim."
"Hmph! That Creuset... Sending me this message is just a cheap taunt."
Andrew Waltfeld wasn't the only one in ZAFT who disliked Creuset—Marco Morassim was another.
He was a seasoned veteran of the battlefield and immediately recognized that Creuset's words about dealing with the Archangel after landing on Earth were actually meant to provoke him into attacking the ship.
But... even though he saw through the taunt, Marco Morassim had to admit he was tempted. The Archangel was no small prize—if he could capture it, he might even be able to climb higher, perhaps even escape this detestable oceanic prison and return to the beloved vastness of space.
Staring at the nautical chart on the wall, he analyzed the Archangel's route and made his decision: "Fine then. I'll play along with their scheme and sink that so-called 'Long Legs' ship right in the Indian Ocean."
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