Chapter 3: A Shadow Among the Bamboo (2)

Part 2

A military helicopter was descending with precision onto NovaTech's massive aircraft carrier, anchored off the coast of Okinawa.

Inside the cabin, four teenagers wore flight uniforms with embroidered crests on their chests.

The first, a young man with silver hair, bore the emblem of Israel. Next to him, a brown-haired teen wore the symbol of India, while the third, with jet-black hair, proudly displayed the crest of Peru.

And among them…

A girl with pitch-black hair, braided with a red ribbon, gazed at the colossal structure of the carrier with wide, gleaming eyes. Her expression was relaxed, almost amused, as if she had just arrived at a futuristic amusement park.

"It'd be amazing to pilot something like that in space… It'd be… sublime," she exclaimed with delight.

"We didn't come here for sightseeing, Li. We're here for the scholarship," said the Israeli boy, not even looking up from his book, his tone dry and calculated.

"Oh, come on, you should loosen up a bit. You've been tense the entire flight. As soon as we touch down, we're heading straight to the hot springs," laughed the Indian boy, his grin as wide as it was contagious.

The Peruvian teen scoffed with a stern expression.

"What a shallow way to see things… This is our chance to represent our countries. Not to play tourist."

The others looked at him with a mix of skepticism and amusement.

"We all know you're actually here for the Japanese girls. But now that Li's around, you're pretending otherwise," the Israeli remarked flatly.

"Ahem… Of course not! I'm here for the culture," the Peruvian stammered, visibly blushing.

The Indian nudged him with a knowing elbow.

"Yeah, yeah… 'for the culture.' Don't worry, Li's not gonna judge you."

"Leave me alone," the Peruvian grumbled, hiding his face.

But Li Meiyun wasn't even listening.

In her mind, there was only one thought.

Flying.

Piloting. Feeling the roar of the reactor, the pressure of air against the cockpit glass, the vibration of the engines under her feet.

She didn't do it for prestige, or recognition. Not even for national pride.

She simply loved to fly.

Despite being a beautiful young woman—one of those who, in other stories, would spark wars with just a smile—Meiyun never cared about her looks or how others saw her.

There was no room for love in her life.

Only for her mecha.

Meanwhile, in the main office of Seisen, Director Vergil was silently reviewing reports spread across his desk.

Vice Director Ayaka entered with her usual firm stride and composed expression.

"Director, I brought the foreign pilot reports, as you requested."

"Oh, Ayaka… my ever-faithful companion. Efficient as always."

"Don't call me that. It sounds like I'm… some kind of well-trained puppy."

"Sorry, sorry…" he said, lifting an eyebrow in a distracted tone.

"It's just—now I'm imagining it. Pulling a tiny Ayaka out of a hat…"

"Wearing a bunny suit—one of those fluffy ones for kids' parties."

"With chubby cheeks and those giant plush eyes?!" she cried, horrified.

"Yes, yes. Just your little face visible in the center. And saying, 'Don't look at me like that!' as you waddle around awkwardly."

"You'd be the highlight of any welcome event."

Ayaka waved her hands as if trying to physically dispel the mental image she knew he was having.

"I am not a child, Director!"

"Yeah, yeah… but you'd still be super photogenic."

"Anyway," she said, regaining her composure with a sigh.

"I brought what you asked for. Apparently, NovaTech is offering a new pilot scholarship this year."

Vergil turned his gaze to the papers displaying the candidates' profiles.

"And we already have Todou and Maverick… Well, I suppose you can never have too many pilots."

His attention drifted to one image in particular: a young girl with striking red hair.

"What I don't get is what this little redhead has to do with any of this…"

"You mean Tsubasa?" Ayaka asked, adjusting her glasses with practiced precision.

"Exactly. Plus, there are four pilots… but five containers."

"Unless we're talking about a new mecha unit, it doesn't make sense."

"Each unit costs millions. They don't just make them on a whim."

"Do you think what's inside the fifth container is some kind of experimental prototype?"

Vergil flipped over a card that had been resting on his desk. From its reverse side, a steaming cup of tea appeared, spoon included.

"The NovaTech board asked me to allow Tsubasa to compete in the Seisen event."

"But she's not a pilot. She's not even enrolled in the advanced combat program."

"Maybe they believe her Astra Core warrants a closer look…"

"Wouldn't be the first time NovaTech tried something like this," he said, lifting the cup gently.

"So I expect you to keep a close eye on things."

"I don't like it when they experiment on my students."

Ayaka nodded silently.

Then, she rose from her seat and walked to the large window of the office. From there, the Seisen Institute sprawled out below them, bathed in the warm glow of sunset.

"It's one thing to fight for humanity," Vergil said firmly.

"But it's something entirely different… to use people as lab rats."

His eyes narrowed with gravitas.

"Not while I'm director."