Yang Hui felt something hard press against his lower back. The boy who had been threatening him froze in fear, while Athrun's icy tone left both the girl and the other boy at a loss for how to react.
Yang Hui was also startled by Athrun's actions, but quickly shook his head and reached out to lower the gun in Athrun's hand.
"Since when did you start intimidating underage boys and girls?" Yang Hui asked Athrun with genuine surprise.
"Huh? Weren't you having a confrontation?" Athrun looked utterly confused. He'd heard the boy's agitated, aggressive tone and immediately moved to restrain him.
"...These three? What threat could they possibly pose to me?" Yang Hui pointed at the trio with dead-fish eyes.
"Well... better safe than sorry." Realizing his mistake, Athrun blushed in embarrassment.
"That's why I told you to relax. We're just here on vacation—"
"Incidentally on vacation!"
"It still counts as vacation, doesn't it?"
"...Inhale— Exhale—" Ath
"Mmm, yes. At that time, our family followed your orders to evacuate. We came directly to PLANT to stay with relatives and never went back..." Mayu said somewhat sheepishly. She really liked Orb and deeply respected and admired Yang Hui, but their family had already put down roots in PLANT, and none of them wanted to uproot again, so they simply stayed.
"It's fine. As long as you're living well, what difference does location make? Anyway, we can catch up more later—weren't you in a hurry?"
"Oh right, Mr. Yang Hui, we should get going now. Goodbye!"
"Goodbye."
Yang Hui watched the group of young people leave, only lowering his hand after their figures had disappeared into the distance.
"Ah, youth," Yang Hui mused, only to be mercilessly teased by Athrun.
"Aren't you still under twenty yourself?"
"Hmm? Didn't you already know the truth?" Yang Hui gave Athrun a puzzled look. If Athrun hadn't known the truth, this remark would make sense, but saying it now was odd.
"Er... sorry, I'm still adjusting," Athrun admitted awkwardly. He hadn't fully come to terms with the fact that Yang Hui's body housed the consciousness of someone over a hundred years old.
When Yang Hui turned away, covering his eyes, Athrun didn't think much of it. Given the suddenness of his remark and the ongoing investigations into Carbon Humans within the nation, anyone would be suspicious.
"..." Yang Hui lowered his hand and turned back, expressionless as he stared at Athrun.
"Uh... my bad this time," Athrun conceded. Knowing he was the real deal, he had nothing to fear, and Yang Hui hadn't even reached for the gun at his waist.
"Just be more careful next time." Yang Hui's cheerful mood from touring Armory One had evaporated. Honestly, being blindsided like that by Athrun would ruin anyone's good mood.
"Ahaha... how about... I treat you to space chicken skewers again?"
"Make it a hundred!"
"Can you even finish that?"
"I'll take the leftovers!"
"I... fine, consider it my debt to you." Athrun's understanding of Yang Hui's shamelessness reached new heights.
Meanwhile, Shinn and Mayu's group were on their way to the Minerva, their new assignment. Having graduated from ZAFT's military academy with top honors, they were directly promoted to Red Uniform status. As SEED bearers, they had also caught Durandal's attention and were selected to join the Minerva, becoming part of the elite unit he was assembling.
"Ugh! Brother, you're being ridiculous. It wasn't Mr. Yang Hui's fault at all," Mayu pouted, complaining to her older brother in the car.
"Hmph! If it weren't for him, why would we have ended up in PLANT? If they'd just... just handed him over, everything would've been fine!"
"Brother, you're acting like a child!"
"Who's a child?!"
"Whoever throws a tantrum is," Mayu shot back, completely unfazed by Shinn's temper. She often wondered if she should've been the older sibling instead.
"Mayu! That's nonsense! I am not a child!"
"That's not true! Lord Yang Hui was already on the battlefield when he was our age. He led troops to defend an empty country just to buy time for our evacuation, all for us citizens!" Mayu argued.
"Tch, he could've just sacrificed himself to stop the war."
"And what if it was me, or Mom and Dad in that position? Would you still say that?"
"Tch..."
"Alright, alright, no more arguing."
"Hmph!"
"Hmph!"
"Ahaha..." Their traveling companion could only mediate, though they were used to it. When did these siblings ever stop bickering? Though today's argument was particularly fierce.
"But Mayu, you really admire Lord Yang Hui, don't you?" the friend asked.
"Of course! He's my greatest idol! Incredibly strong, handsome, with political skills, diplomatic abilities, military prowess... he's amazing at everything! My goal is to..."
"Become someone like Lord Yang Hui?"
"No, I want to be like Lady Sumeragi!"
"Lady Sumeragi?"
"Sumeragi Lee Noriega, Lord Yang Hui's fiancée. She's Orb's Chief of General Staff with military command skills equal to Lord Yang Hui's. Rumor has it she commanded the Orb Defense War, and Lord Yang Hui entrusted her with full command in other battles too."
"Wow, that impressive?"
"Yes! Lady Sumeragi, along with Lord Yang Hui and Lady Wang Liu Mei who handles domestic affairs and diplomacy, form Orb's unshakable Iron Triangle—the absolute core of Orb's stability! Now we should probably include Lady Mina, Commander of the Space Forces, making it the Four Pillars."
"Mayu, you really know everything about Orb."
"Hehe, it's nothing special."
"Tch, what's so great about that..."
"Brother!"
"Urk..."
"Haha, when Mayu gets serious, you're no match for her."
"What did you say..."
"Enough arguing. Look, there's our ship."
The group turned to see the elegant Minerva, their attention completely captured—enchanted, excited, and filled with anticipation for the future!
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