Chapter 34: I Don't Want to Stay Here Either
Eli jerked his head up, and the Ground Type Gundam mirrored his movement, looking toward the direction of the incoming beam.
It was a machine perched at the top of the ravine.
Only when he looked up did Eli realize that dawn had broken.
The light of the desert sunrise cast its glow on the machine.
Against the light, Eli couldn't make out the full appearance of the unit.
But that face—so similar to a human's yet carrying the cold indifference unique to machines—sent chills down Eli's spine.
Biting his lower lip, he barely managed to utter two trembling syllables.
"GUNDAM..."
"Mr. Eli, are you all right? The enemy's battleship is retreating, and the other Tiger unit has fled... Are you okay?"
Amuro's youthful voice carried a subtle tone of pride, forcing Eli to muster a faint smile in response.
"…Aina, let's go. Let's leave this war behind."
Amada Shiro trembled all over, consumed by grief over Norris' death.
But when he heard Amuro's voice, the words he wanted to say remained trapped in his heart.
Eli understood Amada Shiro's feelings.
Aina was a person imprisoned by war, and wasn't Amuro also a child twisted by it?
From Amuro's perspective, he had worked hard to defeat the other Tiger unit and resolve the crisis for the White Base.
He had immediately rushed to the scene, and the first thing he saw was the Tiger unit charging forward.
In such a moment, eliminating the threat to his comrades—was that wrong?
Should a child piloting such a Gundam be praised for it?
The sorrow and anger Eli felt over Norris' death were palpable, but Amada Shiro controlled his emotions well, refraining from venting them on Amuro.
He merely cradled the girl in his arms and operated his machine to kneel slowly.
Unlike the excitement he felt half a month ago when he first piloted the machine, now he only wanted to leave this steel weapon behind.
And take Aina with him.
"Mr. Eli, did I do something wrong...?"
Amuro, who had also descended into the ravine, maneuvered his Gundam to stand beside Eli's Ground Type.
Looking at Amada Shiro kneeling on the ground with Aina in his arms, Amuro felt an inexplicable turmoil in his heart.
Even the impulsive and emotional Amuro of this period was moved by the scene before him.
The bond between Amada Shiro and Aina transcended allegiance and love.
It was as if, during those brief hours in space, they had come to understand everything about each other.
"You didn't do anything wrong, Amuro. No one did... Maybe I'm the one who's wrong."
Hearing Eli's response, Amuro suddenly recalled a term:
"Newtype."
It was a word often mentioned by Colonel Ethan and the soldiers at the Southeast Asian base after learning of his identity.
But compared to his own continuous trigger-pulling, it was the two people tightly embracing each other who truly embodied the Newtype ideal.
A shadow gradually enveloped the three machines.
Amuro tilted the Gundam's head upward, seeing the massive body of the Apsalus slowly descending.
Their mission was complete—exceedingly so.
Yet, Amuro felt no joy in his heart.
He wasn't a soldier.
Even as a soldier, after understanding everything, how could one remain indifferent?
…
"Well done. Not only did you shoot down Zeon's aerial unit, but you also successfully captured the Apsalus' pilot. As expected of our ace."
At the Southeast Asian base, Colonel Ethan beamed as he patted Eli's shoulder, clearly delighted with the outcome.
Everyone was unscathed, the wreckage of the aerial unit had been retrieved, and the Apsalus had been brought back intact.
It was an achievement worthy of recognition in any military district.
"Correction, the Apsalus pilot was persuaded to surrender."
Eli didn't respond to Colonel Ethan's praise but instead saluted and corrected his misstatement.
Colonel Ethan's smile faded as he scrutinized Eli, his gaze lingering on the insignia on Eli's shoulder.
"I see. My mistake, then."
Nodding, Colonel Ethan indicated his understanding.
"Take a rest. After such a battle, the entire base is celebrating your achievement."
Returning to his desk, Colonel Ethan updated the report on his tablet, changing the word "captured" to "persuaded."
"Yes, all thanks to your excellent leadership, Colonel Ethan."
Eli saluted again, watching as the colonel smiled once more and completed his edits before slightly bowing and leaving.
Those words he had just said—they were disgusting.
Eli loathed himself for uttering them as he stepped out of Ethan's office.
Outside, Amada Shiro had clearly been waiting for a long time.
He wasn't wearing a Federation uniform, just civilian clothes, standing there quietly.
"You've made up your mind?"
Eli looked at the man before him.
It was as if he had matured overnight, the restlessness on his face replaced with calm resolve.
"Yes, I've decided. While the military won't let Aina and me leave for now, I'll take her to the rear and live under Federation surveillance for a while. When the war is over, I'll take her far away."
Eli knew Amada Shiro's words were easier said than done. To achieve this, he had traded all his military merits for the opportunity.
"It wasn't easy, was it?"
"No, it wasn't."
Amada Shiro opened the locket containing a photograph.
Aina's brother, Ginias, was undeniably a handsome man.
"I once thought I could change things, drive Zeon out, and end this war. But in the end, I accomplished nothing and could only flee."
A long silence fell between the two.
Eli thought about how he had initially failed to understand the bond between Amada Shiro and Aina, only to be deeply moved by Norris' death.
Even though they had exchanged little more than harsh words in battle, perhaps humans were always drawn to beauty.
What had Norris been thinking in his final charge?
"Ensign Amada Shiro, I believe I once told you—good people should leave Zeon."
"Yes, you did."
Shiro remembered those words vividly.
"I still think so... But you and Aina have made me realize something: some people may only need the right opportunity to become good."
Eli patted Shiro on the shoulder and strode toward the base gates.
"Lieutenant Eli."
Eli had barely taken a few steps when Shiro called out to him.
Turning back, Eli saw a hint of the determination Shiro had displayed when they first met.
"I may not have changed anything, but I believe you have the power to change this war, maybe even the world. At the very least, you have the potential."
Unknowingly, Shiro's words carried a tone of respect.
"If possible, could you do something? For that child—so Amuro doesn't end up like Aina, consumed by war."
Though he hadn't climbed into a cockpit and received no systematic enhancement, Eli understood what Shiro truly meant.
Just as Norris entrusted Aina to Shiro, Shiro now wanted to entrust his dreams and aspirations to Eli.
Eli averted his gaze, as if unable to bear the weight of such an ideal.
"I'm just a soldier..."
And with that—