Days passed without much trouble for me.
For others, not so much.
Guel and Elan had their duel two days ago — and well, Guel lost. The poor guy is now camping on campus like a hobo. Truly tragic.
"You're fighting in space, right?" I ask, taking a sip of my coffee while Suletta across from me groans into her folded arms.
Beside her, her fiancé's jaw is so tight it could probably crack a nut.
Suletta lifts her head just enough to mumble, "Mmhm."
"Do you want me to duel in your place?" I offer casually. G-Self hasn't made its debut here yet, after all.
"Are you insane?" Miorine shoots me a glare sharp enough to cut steel. "Do you have any idea what will happen if people find out you own a Gundam?"
"I mean, all's well if—"
Before I can finish, a group of uniformed students march right up to me like they're about to issue a formal declaration of war.
"Cadell Cromwell," their leader says, puffing his chest out, "we of the Daigo House challenge you to a duel."
I blink. "...Okay? Why?"
"We want the code for SU-Cord OS," one of them declares proudly, like he's just said something noble instead of something incredibly stupid.
Ah. Corporate dogs. That explains it. Someone's pulling their strings from behind the scenes.
"I mean, sure," I shrug, setting my cup down. "But what do I get if I win?"
That earns me a look from Miorine — calculating, deliberate. She's definitely plotting something.
"Cadell," she begins, her tone sharp but oddly cooperative. She leaned in slightly, "ask for their Rail Cannon technology. Daigo Heavy Industries is known for that. If they want your company's main OS, it's only fair they stake theirs."
I raise a brow. "Wow, Miorine. That's almost… kind."
She crosses her arms. "Don't get used to it."
Turning back to the Daigo House, I ask, "Well? Do we have a deal?"
Their leader smirks, clearly expecting this. "We accept."
Huh. So they came prepared for this from the start.
Looking at the backs of the group marching out of the classroom, I grin.
Oh boy. Do they have any idea how long I've been waiting for this?
"You're not using G-Self."
My grin dies immediately. Miorine's voice cuts through my daydream like a guillotine.
"...Why not?" I shoot her a soft glare, already knowing I won't like her answer.
"Because they'll go back on their word — just like Jeturk did with Suletta during her first duel." Her arms cross, tone firm.
Okay, she's got me there. Still stings. But yeah, using G-Self against them would be like shooting a rabbit with a railgun.
"Guess I'll borrow one of the school's mobile suits, then." I shrug, pretending not to care. Honestly, humiliating them in a practice unit sounds way more satisfying anyway.
Suletta raises her hand timidly, her voice soft. "You can borrow Aerial if you want."
Both Miorine and I freeze, our eyes snapping to her in unison.
"Are you sure?" I ask carefully. "You still have your match with Elan, don't you?"
"I don't really mind," she says, scratching her cheek. "And I don't have a thruster right now, so it'll take a while before I can fight again anyway."
There it is again — that gentle, earnest smile.
The one that feels so painfully real it makes my chest ache.
"I can let you borrow G-Self's Space Pack then," I beam. "I've already got a replacement for it, so it's just collecting dust these days."
Choosing the [Star System] and [RG System] gave me the Absorb Shield and Universe Booster — the latter can function as a Space Pack anyway.
"Space Pack?" Suletta tilts her head, curious as ever.
"G-Self has different packs for different environments," I explain, lifting my hand as if ticking off a checklist. "Atmospheric Pack for flight within the sky, Space Pack for zero-G mobility, Assault Pack for ridiculous amounts of firepower… and a few others I'll save for a surprise."
"That sounds awfully like—" Miorine murmurs under her breath.
"—A weapon? You're right." I say before she can finish. "I can't, and won't, deny that. It's powerful enough to level cities if I stop being careful." I take another sip of coffee, the bitterness grounding me.
And after what I gained back in that void… it's safe to say I've become very good at handling weapons.
A soft ping from my student notebook interrupts the moment. Huh. They didn't waste any time.
"The duel's tomorrow," I announce, glancing over the message.
Standing up, I stretch lazily. "Guess I'll have to check in with the Dueling Committee before school ends."
Turning to Suletta, I flash her a grin. "See you tomorrow! I'll be borrowing Aerial then."
Leaving the two of them behind — one quietly nervous, the other quietly scheming — I step out of the classroom.
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"And that's why I'm thinking about letting him borrow Aerial, Mom," Suletta says brightly, swinging her legs as she chats on her phone.
"You're a good child, Suletta," Prospera's voice hums through the receiver, smooth and soft — but there's something faint beneath it. A slight edge, like a whisper of metal under silk.
"A very good child," she repeats, her tone just a little too measured.
"Ah! I'll call you again, Mom. Miorine's calling me."
At the doorway stands Miorine, arms folded, leaning against the frame with her usual unimpressed expression.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Suletta," Miorine says with a sigh. "Lending your personal mobile suit to someone else isn't exactly a good idea."
"But Cadell's our friend!" Suletta beams. "I'm sure he'll treat Aerial well!"
Miorine's gaze softens for a moment — just a moment — before she looks away. "You're way too trusting for your own good, you know that?"
Suletta only giggles. "I know!"
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I'm standing in front of four students, the Daigo House. Today's the day of our duel.
Now that I think about it, aren't they the guys who lost to Elan? Guess they didn't learn their lesson.
"Today, I hold your souls on Libra's scales," Shaddiq announces, as if he's hosting a ceremony instead of a glorified school brawl. "The duel will be between the Daigo House and Cadell Cromwell. It shall take place in Training Area Eleven — a four-on-one group battle."
"Daigo House," the blonde bastard turns his head toward them, "what will you put on the line for this duel?"
"Our company's beam cannon technology," their leader replies with fake confidence.
"Cadell Cromwell," Shaddiq's hollow smile shifts to me. His fake politeness makes my teeth grind. "What will you put on the line for this duel?"
"Venus Globe's SU-Cord OS code," I answer without hesitation.
"Alea iacta est," Shaddiq declares, clasping his hands. "The duel is hereby approved."
"Thank you," I mutter and walk out before I do something regrettable. If I stay another second, I might actually punch that smug bastard.
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"Thanks for lending me Aerial, Suletta!" I grin, pulling her into a quick hug.
"N-No worries, Cadell!" she squeaks, flailing her hands like a startled tanuki. Adorable.
"You! Stay away from her!"
Ah, there's the cockblocker herself — Miorine Rembran, storming over with her usual fury.
"Don't worry, Mio-Mio!" I beam.
"Mio—Mio?!" she gasps, eyes wide in horror at my naming sense.
"You can get a hug too if you want," I tease. "Though I doubt it'll feel as good as hugging Suletta." I step back, grinning. "Actually, on second thought… no hugs for you, Mio-Mio." Because you kept cockblocking me.
Her glare could probably melt Gundanium, but it only makes me chuckle.
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After putting on the pilot suit—which looks totally uncool, by the way—I walk toward the hangar where Aerial is docked and climb into the cockpit without any trouble.
I settle into the cockpit, my gaze drifting to the empty space beside the main monitor. It wasn't empty for me. "Hey, Ericht."
A flicker of light, and the spectral girl was there, tilting her head. "Why can you see me?"
"I can see ghosts," I say, looping my fingers around the control stick.
"How?" she presses.
"Magic," I shrug, which, technically, covers a lot.
"That doesn't explain anything." She puffs, obviously unimpressed.
"It does, actually." I grin. "Anyway, I'll be counting on you to coordinate with me."
Her gaze sharpens, like sunlight suddenly cutting through fog. "Are you my and mother's enemy?" she asks, voice small but steady.
I feel the temperature in the cockpit drop for half a second. "I will be—if you make Suletta sad," I reply, matching her glare with my own.
We stare each other down like two tiny monarchs staking out territory, then break at the same time and get back to business.
Monitor? Check.
Radio? Check.
Controls? Check.
Permet Link? All good.
"How about the weapons, Ericht?" I ask the floating ghost beside me.
"All good," she replies, her tone calm but clipped.
Suddenly, Suletta and Miorine's faces appear on my student notebook. "Is everything okay, Cadell?" Suletta's cheerful voice fills the cockpit.
"Yup! I'm having fun!" I reply—just as Aerial begins to move on its own. "Oh, I'm heading to the duel field. Do you need anything?"
"Nope! Just checking in on you," the tanuki says sweetly.
"Don't worry. I'll return Aerial to you without a single scratch!" I flash her a thumbs-up before ending the call.
Turning to the spectral girl, I ask, "Do you think I can return you to her without damage, Eri?"
"Can you? And stop calling me 'Eri.' That name's only for family."
"Sure thing," I grin. "But hey, there's no problem if I call you that, right? We might become family someday."
Ericht huffs, crossing her arms as her translucent form flickers faintly. She doesn't reply.
"The duel will now commence after the consent of both parties," a girl's voice announces over the radio.
"The win condition is as usual: the first to take their opponent's Blade Antenna. I, Secelia Dote of Burion House, shall be the arbiter."
Ah… that smug little brat again.
"I'm getting you out of the container," Miorine says, her face reappearing on my notebook.
"LP-042. Cadell Cromwell," I state. "Aerial, launching!"
"Combatants, face off!" Secelia's voice rings out.
"The victory shall not be decided by the performance of their mobile suit alone," I begin the duelist's pledge.
"Nor will it be decided solely by the abilities of the pilot," answers the leader of the Daigo House.
"Results are the one and only truth," we finish together.
"Fix release!"
I let out a slow breath, easing my shoulders as the duel officially begins. The sky of Asticassia stretches wide in front of me—blue, calm, and utterly perfect for trouble.
"I'll be counting on you, Eri," I say, tightening my grip on the levers.
"Hah? Who's Eri?" comes Miorine's voice through the open comm.
Ah—right. I forgot I'm still on call.
"Nothing! Just my nickname for Aerial!" I blurt, trying to sound casual.
A light flashes through my head and my hands move before I think. Aerial's head snaps a hair to the left. A beam lances through where its head was a fraction of a second ago—right where the enemy pilot had aimed. Close call.
Weapon Mastery from the void is stupidly OP. I've never piloted Aerial before, but it feels like the suit is an extra limb now. The controls obey like muscle memory that isn't mine.
"How?!" Miorine sounds on the line, pure bewilderment.
GUND-Bits spin alive on my HUD. I don't unleash them yet. "Not yet, Eri," I tell the floating girl.
"Why not?" she asks.
"They're still at long range," I say, eyes flicking to the scope. "If you start now you'll waste energy." Ghost-kid's translucent jaw tightens.
"I can't get tired," she replies, like it's the most obvious thing in the world.
"But I can," I shrug, which only makes her huff.
"Seriously, who are you talking to?" Miorine demands.
"With Eri," I answer, nice and simple.
Another flash—this time in my head like a ping—and I feather the thrusters until Aerial hovers a hair above the ground. A laser snaps toward where my torso had been a second ago.
"Eri, Bits to gun," I order. I don't need to micromanage; the GUND-Bits unclip, swarm, and reattach to Aerial's cannon like obedient bees. I squeeze the trigger.
The beam punches through the air and hits the Daigo pilot's mobile suit square in the torso. It sparks and folds like cheap metal. I finish it off with three more rounds, just to be thorough.
"You are not too shabby," Ericht mutters, like a ghost giving a compliment. "But I'm sure Suletta would do better."
"You think so? I think I'm better," I say, shrugging. One down, three to go. Time to close the distance.
I lock my sights on the leader. "Eri, annoy that one," I say. The GUND-Bits peel off the gun and dart toward him, pinging sensors and drawing his attention.
My mind flashes with light again: two broader beams coming from the left and right flanks—rail-cannon arrays, bigger arcs, too wide to dodge by a simple sidestep. If I try to slide laterally, the beams will clip my legs or head. If I dive, they'll angle and bite me on ascent. And I'm committed—Eri's already harassing the leader; I've got nothing in the center to take those shots head-on.
Okay. Time for classic evasive choreography.
I Shuji the hell out of it.
I tilt Aerial until its silhouette is horizontal, like a blade skimming the wind. The two heavy beams sail—one over, one under—the hull of Aerial slicing the gap between them. I feel the wind-pressure change across the cockpit as the colony lights smear by.
My heart hammers like a practical joke. That was more nerve-wracking than I expected. Lesson learned: never underestimate opponents with corporate sponsors.
As soon as I'm steady, I swing Aerial's gun toward the source of one beam and fire.
Huh? The pilot dodged the beam and fired another volley toward me. I tilt Aerial's body just enough—the shots graze past by mere centimeters. That was close.
Switching weapons, I ignite the beam saber and swing. The enemy's mobile suit splits in half like butter.
Then—light flashes through my mind again. That sixth sense… the NewType intuition warning me.
I twist Aerial around just in time, dodging another shot from a distant attacker. He's still far off. Perfect. Time to bait him in.
I trade fire with the shooter, weaving through the beams, keeping my distance, drawing him closer.
"Eri, how's your side?" I ask the floating girl beside me.
"Easy," she replies coolly. "Do you need me now?"
"Not yet."
The enemy keeps firing, getting impatient. He should've stayed at range—but no, he's charging in, blinded by frustration.
Closer…
I wait, dodging beam after beam, letting him believe he's got me cornered.
Closer…
Now!
I draw another saber and slash upward, cutting through both cannons—then straight through his Blade Antenna.
Three down. One to go.
"You can end him now, Eri," I say, watching as the GUND-Bits swarm the final mobile suit. A moment later, it explodes in a brilliant flash.
Text appears on the sky display:
「Winner!
Piloting Department
LP-042
Cadell Cromwell」
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Meanwhile— elsewhere— Prospera Mercury looks down at her phone, the faintest smile curling her lips.
"Ah~ Eri…" she breathes, a twisted joy in her tone. "My daughter is adorable today too."
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Author's Note;
Prospera Mercury is a hag.