Moonlight

Chapter 19 — Moonlight.

Jason Star's Daily Log | Day 88.

Sidonia | 11:00 PM.

An awarding ceremony was held in the forest which was near Jason's own house. It was also like a party place that was prepared for feast, and even had pleasant music currently playing.

The people who attended the ceremony were mostly the official pilots and reporters. This included the Akai Squad, and the workers from Toha Heavy Industry.

The crowds soon turned quiet, the music also stopping with them.

Jason stood besides Kobayashi on the stage, quickly brought into the limelights.

Kobayashi then started speaking, praising and complimenting about the achievements that Jason recently accumulated.

After her brief speech, Jason received two military badges from Kobayashi. He quickly pinned the badges on the breast pocket of his black uniform, earning him several applauses from the people watching him.

The first military badge was for Jason's awesome achievement of eliminating Onizume by himself, protecting Sidonia successfully.

Onizume was the most powerful individual Gauna that Sidonia have ever encountered, and Jason managing to eliminate it was enough for him to earn a badge.

The second military badge was for Jason's major contribution to the development of Guardian Knight. If not for Jason, it would have been impossible to create so early.

After earning these two military badges from the commander herself, the general public view toward Jason further improved positively as a result.

A trust was developed.

And the moment it was confirmed that Jason really contributed majorly to Toha Heavy Industry, the official pilots were not really that shocked anymore after having some guess about it.

However, the situation was very different for the others.

The trust grew more solid and tightened firmly.

On the other hand, the Kunato Development felt regretful for not recruiting Jason much more earlier. If they somehow managed to make a move before the Toha Heavy Industry, the chance of creating the Guardian Knight would have been theirs.

Despite that, there's no need for them to worry further in the future. Jason was thinking of someday merging the two companies to hasten the progress of technology.

In this dangerous world, instead of foolishly having internal war, it was more better to just cooperate with each other in order to increase the survival chances.

Expressing his sincere gratitude to Kobayashi, Jason smiled tenderly while looking at the three badges pinned on his black uniform.

It was slowly but surely growing in numbers.

Jason was now extremely popular amongst the people of Sidonia. The public mostly looking at him with positive light, feeling safe that he was protecting them.

Slowly, but gradually, without anyone realising, Jason was now starting to become a symbol of hope.

And the reason the public was able to know these information is because the ceremony was being broadcasted by the cameras, allowing the people from the residential area to watch him on their television.

Jason was interviewed by various reporters, he answered them briefly and shortly, not appearing too humble or arrogant.

It wasn't definitely ideal to act like a pushover or be too prideful and arrogant.

After completing the interviews, Jason went to interact and socialize with the official pilots who came to attend.

Jason was happy to see the Akai Squad who congratulated him, while also joking about how he now surpassed them all.

He denied those words and started to have fun with them.

Jason soon encountered the Kunato Squad that looked more proper and lively. A sense of unity covered them as a whole.

Nagate, En, and Hoshijiro immediately greeted Jason excitedly. The three of them wore a large smile, looking at him with pure admiration.

Jason was most likely the most shining man they could imagine, causing him to become their role model.

Kunato Norio also simply greeted him while being followed around by his cute younger sister as usual.

Jason smiled lightly after seeing the two siblings. Although Jason and them experienced a rough and bad start, their relationship was gradually turning back to normal.

He had even heard rumours about Norio changing slowly after almost experiencing death.

Norio was starting to change from his usual arrogant attitude, not even looking at other as something inferior anymore. He now looked like a responsible proper human.

He began to treat people close to him much more friendlier, however, it was still awkward for him to express some warmth.

As a result of this gradual change, several peoples were stunned and amazed.

Norio's younger sister, Mozuku Kunato, was the one who was shocked the most. However, she didn't hate it, but rather liked it as she finally felt her care for her brother being returned back.

It wasn't one-sided anymore.

Mozuku glanced at Jason with a gaze filled with sincere gratitude. If not for him saving Norio, she might not been able to see her brother change so good.

Jason smiled.

The experience of death can really change people's nature. Either bad or good.

It showed some people people can still change, but still not all.

A strange thing indeed.

Jason experienced death once, but he didn't know what changed within him. He vaguely changed, not knowing whether it was good or not.

He proceeded to socialize with more pilots that he haven't met before. And he must say that there were many unique and special cases of them.

An example was the Samari Squad which was composed of experienced senior pilots who were skilled and talented like the members from Akai Squad.

The Squad Leader was a beautiful woman called Ittan Samari. Her squad members were Tonami, Koichi, and Kanmado.

After Samari Squad, Jason met with the Imada Squad. The Squad Leader was called as Do Imada. His squad members were Seichiro, Haname, and Yuchi.

Jason had met with Seii who also attended the awarding ceremony. And they got along with each others.

The ceremony was about to end, Jason then decided that before the days end, he wanted to see Kobayashi's pretty face once again.

It was pretty rare to see her face since she always wore a white mask. A pity since it covered her beautiful appearance.

Jason wanted to see it, even if he is to see an expressionless face that was as cold as a machine.

He convinced himself it will be another award to make his day complete.

Jason went toward Kobayashi's assistant, Ochiai, asking him where Kobayashi went.

Ochiai was puzzled, but still replied to him anyway. He said that Kobayashi might still be somewhere outside, enjoying the view of the full moon, while on her way back to the command bridge.

Jason then went to find Kobayashi, and thanks to his acute evolved senses, he was soon able to find her.

Kobayashi stood while being covered in the veil of moonlight, looking like a lonely beautiful fairy.

"Captain, what are you doing?" Jason asked while quickly approaching her.

Kobayashi turned to looked at him.

"I was on my way to return, but after looking at the moon, I started to wonder if we will someday able to once again live in a habitable planet, and look at the real moon every night like back in the Earth. A paradise where humanity can live safely and peacefully."

Jason stopped besides Kobayashi, looking tall and muscular. Compared to him, Kobayashi just reached his shoulder.

He also looked toward the dark artificial sky, nodding his head.

The moon was indeed beautiful, but everything was clearly fake and just artificial.

"Someday..." Jason reached his arm toward the moon, grasping it with his hand.

"Someday, we'll definitely achieve it. A paradise we can call as our true home," Jason smiled and stared at Kobayashi. "The Sidonia of the past, and even present couldn't achieve it, but I'm now here to change it. I swear, I will make it come true."

Kobayashi went silent, and then started removing her mask, the wind blowing softly at her silky black hair.

Soon, Kobayashi's beautiful and almost perfect face was shown.

A small smile formed.

"I hope you can accomplish it. I believe in you, Pilot Jason."

Jason was stunned after seeing Kobayashi letting out a small smile.

It was his first time seeing it.

And her smile was simply perfectly beautiful.

Coupled with the veil of moonlight covering her, she looked very gorgeous.

Their surroundings even started to look more scenic as the starry moonlight illuminated the darkly lit place.

⟨ Host, this is a good moment. Ask the commander to dance with you. ⟩

Jason was inwardly confused after hearing Mr. Alien. The current place and mood indeed looked nice to dance, but would he need to do that?

Is there some kind of hidden achievement like Dancing In The Moonlight?

—(ノT＿T)ノ ＾┻━┻!

⟨ Just listen to my suggestion, Host! It's the perfect chance to raise her favorability for you to another level. ⟩

Jason nodded helplessly, he then gazed upon Kobayashi's charming face, and soon developed an urge to actually dance with her now after those ideas were planted in his mind.

He cursed at Mr. Alien.

In the end, he couldn't resist—

"The mood and scenery around us look pretty nice, do you wanna try dancing in such a good place, commander? Like those people back in Earth?"

Kobayashi looked around, and didn't seemed to mind it.

"What kind of dance?" She asked interestedly.

"Like this..." Jason whispered to Kobayashi's ears, wrapping his masculine arm around her thin but firm waist, and his other hand holding her soft tender hand.

Their bodies touched closely, almost as if hugging tenderly, allowing them to feel the cosy warmth of each others.

Kobayashi was slightly startled, but soon calmed down. She remembered seeing a dance like this on the ancient records of Sidonia.

She didn't expect Jason to know such an ancient dance that originated from Earth.

"Shall we dance now?"

Kobayashi nodded slightly, her chin slightly raised high.

On the other hand, Jason lowered his chin, and they face each others, their face and lips almost touching, unknowingly making her cheeks to redden slightly.

The two remained silent, their lips tight, as they relaxed their entire body and mind.

They soon started moving their body around, looking graceful and clumsy at the same time.

The dance was just slow and simple, nothing too much fancy.

However, Jason made a new core memory that was filled with various emotions and thoughts.

He somehow wanted to thank Mr. Alien.

...

Wow, cringe.

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