Upon returning to the Archangel, Mikazuki disengaged his Alaya-Vijnana System, left Barbatos, picked up the coat hanging on his chair, and drifted expressionlessly to the corridor along the wall.
However, the hangar corridor was now filled with many people who weren't from the maintenance crew: Murrue, Natarle, Muu, Kira, and... Lacus.
These people blocked Mikazuki's path. Mikazuki said indifferently,
"What do you want?"
Murrue stepped forward, her face grim.
"Mikazuki, do you know how dangerous your actions just now were?"
Mikazuki put on his coat, took a date from his pocket, and threw it into his mouth, saying somewhat indifferently,
"So?"
Natarle's words were interrupted by Mikazuki before she could finish.
"I'm on this battleship to fight. Although it wasn't explicitly stated, protecting you is my condition for staying on this battleship, isn't it?
Since that's the case, how I act and what I do are not for you to dictate."
Murrue frowned.
"Mikazuki..."
Mikazuki remained unconcerned, his hands in his pockets.
"Can you move aside now? I'm hungry."
"No."
A voice bravely refused Mikazuki.
"Huh?"
Mikazuki's expression grew strange, because the owner of the voice refusing him was Lacus. Lacus pouted, looking at Mikazuki with dissatisfaction.
Everyone subconsciously cleared a path, allowing Lacus to communicate with Mikazuki.
"Mikazuki, if you don't realize your mistake, you won't be allowed to eat."
"Why?"
"Because you did something wrong."
Mikazuki's eye twitched, and he looked at Lacus with dead-fish eyes.
"What did I do?"
"You know."
"I don't."
"You do."
"I don't."
"You do..."
This dialogue went back and forth for over ten seconds, leaving Murrue and the others bewildered. They suddenly wanted to laugh, feeling... it was somewhat comical.
Finally, Mikazuki thought for a moment.
"Alright, I was wrong."
Lacus said delightedly,
"Do you know where you went wrong?"
"Mm."
Mikazuki nodded decisively, but in reality, he had no idea what he had done wrong.
He admitted he was wrong because he was too hungry to argue with Lacus. Eating was the priority.
Lacus, a seasoned observer and intelligent, naturally saw through Mikazuki's little trick but didn't expose him. She also felt for Mikazuki.
Although she hadn't seen Mikazuki's battle, she heard Murrue describe how reckless Mikazuki was. Just hearing about him chasing a battleship was enough to infer some things.
In a word: too reckless.
"Alright, since you've recognized your mistake, let's go eat."
"Mm, hurry up."
Seeing the initial "interrogation" turn into this current situation, Murrue was somewhat exasperated, shaking her head helplessly.
What's the use of saying more? He's already back, and that's the best outcome. Besides, Mikazuki was the type who wouldn't be disciplined. Could he even listen if you lectured him?
However, just as Mikazuki and the others were leaving the hangar, Flay rushed out and blocked their path. Sai followed, floating out and holding onto Flay.
"Flay!"
Flay struggled in Sai's embrace, crying hysterically.
"Mikazuki Augus, how could you? You promised you would save my father! Why? Why was the battleship sunk?!"
Kira, hearing Flay's words, looked crestfallen. Before the battle, Flay had approached not only Mikazuki but also him.
Mikazuki, hands in pockets, showed no expression and said indifferently,
"I only said I'd do my best. I never promised I would absolutely save him."
"What?! You... you... I hate you! I hate you! You will definitely die a terrible death, just like those people you killed!
No! You will die even more tragically, even more disgustingly than them!"
Flay's words grew increasingly nasty, making everyone present, except Mikazuki, unable to listen.
Sai desperately hugged Flay while trying to persuade her,
"Flay! That's enough. Mikazuki did his best, and you saw it, didn't you? He was fighting to protect the Montgomery."
"I don't care! It's him, it's him, he killed my father!
Go die, you monster, go die!"
Lacus, standing by Mikazuki's side, was about to step forward when someone else swept past her from behind.
Slap!
Flay's cheek was struck hard again. This time, it was her left cheek. And the person who slapped her wasn't Lacus, but the captain of this battleship.
The curses stopped. Flay stared blankly at Murrue. Not only was she stunned, but so were the crew members behind her.
Murrue glared at Flay with an icy expression.
"Put away your spoiled temper. This is a battlefield! Unexpected things happen all the time.
That Nazca-class's attack on the Montgomery—even our Archangel didn't notice it. How could Mikazuki, who was still communicating with the Montgomery's bridge, have noticed it?
Mikazuki was desperately trying to find a way to get the Montgomery... that is, your father, away! Do you think your father was the only one who died?
Everyone in the advance team died! And after the Montgomery was shot down, Mikazuki alone pursued a high-speed combat vessel with over twenty weapons attacking him, and two MS units. Do you know how dangerous that was?"
⛔ Vote for this story on Patreon poll so I don't stop updating for it I'm trying to focus on the storys that you reading and actually get support I will keep the poll for a week so everyone can vote ⛔
🚨 Note : Consider to Support this Story on Patreon.com/Flokixy to access +300 advance Chapters & 2 Chapters Daily and To Support The Daily Update