Chapter 356 - 357: All Three of Them Felt a Twinge of Jealousy

Chapter 356: Chapter 357: All Three of Them Felt a Twinge of Jealousy

The sector where the fierce battle had raged for several hours was now filled with thousands of pieces of metal wreckage.

They were the remains of fleets and Moebius units that had been torn apart.

Le Creuset gazed at the slowly rotating wreckage of the Doolittle outside the viewport, his fingertips rubbing the edge of his mask.

"What a beautiful starry sky."

He murmured softly. Beyond the viewport, three Gundams were returning.

The sight was truly beautiful.

Seeing the wreckage left behind by the human forces put Le Creuset in an excellent mood.

He had not been happy about being caught in the trap, but anything that could deepen the conflict between both sides delighted him immensely.

Now that Blue Cosmos had suffered such a severe blow, they would certainly launch an even larger retaliation. To Le Creuset, that mattered far more.

Ades sent over a report at that moment. "Captain Le Creuset, we just received a transmission from Athrun. He has reached the target area and met Lacus-san."

"Ohhh!"

The entire ship breathed a sigh of relief at the news.

They had finally found her.

The most important task for Le Creuset’s team right now was finding Lacus. Fortunately, that was finally over.

"Prepare my CGUE."

Le Creuset gave a cold smile.

This was the perfect opportunity to deal with those two.

It would be even better if the Earth Alliance could be made to do it for him...

[This Le Creuset guy... why do I feel like he’s kind of a villain?]

[I thought he had a Char sort of vibe before, but maybe not?]

[At the very least, he’s an ambitious schemer]

[Feels like he just wants to watch the world burn]

[Hot take: Captain Creuset is the final boss]

[I think he’s more likely to betray his side]

[The kind who keeps switching sides?]

[Wonder if we’ll get any famous Char moments]

[Doesn’t feel like it. Le Creuset’s personality seems completely different from Char’s]

[To be fair, if Inori weren’t around, Le Creuset’s previous scheme would’ve worked]

Le Creuset’s behavior was finally making the audience sense that something was off—this man seemed seriously suspicious!

Unfortunately, the Stage did not give Le Creuset much screen time. By then, the view had already cut back to the Strike.

"Is this... Mirage Colloid?"

When the two hidden Astrays revealed themselves on the asteroid, Athrun jumped in surprise.

"It’s a light-transmitting metamaterial. It works on a different principle from Mirage Colloid."

Kira had already reached the Astray Blue Frame and opened a communications channel.

"Lacus."

"Kira!"

Lacus’s voice immediately came from the other side.

That sweet voice sounded more intimate than anything Athrun had ever heard Lacus say to him before.

"Is the battle over? It’s so boring here!" Lacus had nothing to do here except hum songs and rest with her eyes closed.

"Lacus, do you know Athrun?" Kira asked.

"Mm. Athrun is my fiancé," Lacus said.

"...Huh?"

"My Haro was a gift from Athrun too," Lacus said.

"Haro! Haro! Lacus!" Haro chirped twice at that moment.

Kira seemed to freeze completely.

[Ohhh! It’s out! The bomb finally dropped!]

[It finally came out!]

[I’ve waited so long, and today is finally the day lol]

[Athrun is right beside Kira too. The drama is perfect]

[But they’re not face-to-face. The reveal would hit harder in person]

[I feel like if Lacus could see Athrun face-to-face, she might not say it this way]

"It’s a political marriage!" Athrun blurted out almost instantly from beside Kira.

"Athrun? Is that Athrun?"

Lacus had heard Athrun’s voice too.

"Ah... I came... to take you home."

Athrun said.

By then, the Strike had already opened its cockpit.

The Astray Blue Frame opposite it opened its cockpit as well.

Lacus stood there wearing the same model of MUV Protective Suit as Kira.

Unlike Kira’s suit, however, Lacus’s was red.

And Lacus’s MUV Protective Suit had its Gundam-piloting enhancement functions removed. In their place, it had an invisibility function.

(This suit)

(The character is Kagami Sumika)

(They all need black censor bars...)

In other words, the red MUV Protective Suit Lacus was wearing could turn completely invisible, like the "Emperor’s New Clothes."

It also provided mental enhancements, but that function was still locked and had not been enabled yet.

Inori planned to unlock it when the time came.

Drama was the most important thing, after all.

But this was the first time Athrun had seen Lacus dressed in something so eye-catching, and he could only turn his head away awkwardly.

Then he turned toward Kira beside him, only to find Kira wearing the same thing.

One was red, and one was black.

"Sigh."

Athrun could only sigh.

He jumped out of the Strike’s cockpit and made his way over to the Astray Blue Frame.

"Athrun!"

Lacus immediately moved to hug him, but Athrun stepped back, leaving Lacus to embrace empty air.

Only then did Athrun extend a hand toward Lacus. "I came to find you."

"...Mm."

[Classic straight-guy move]

[Feels like Athrun genuinely doesn’t like Lacus]

[Lmao, the way Lacus hugged empty air killed me]

[Athrun’s inner monologue: That was close. Kira almost misunderstood]

[Hahahaha!]

[Athrun: Lacus, don’t come looking for me anymore. I’m afraid Kira will misunderstand]

[You sure you don’t mean Cagalli?]

[Honestly, I think Cagalli is part of it too. Those two developed feelings over time]

[But it really does feel like Athrun has no romantic feelings for Lacus]

[Maybe a little friendship, but not much]

[At least he still gives her Haros]

[Haro is basically an official mascot they sell, right?]

[I think it’s actually meant to match the rice-cooker robot. Two pink-haired heroines, two mascots, two Songstresses. Perfect symmetry]

[You’re freaking talking about wings, aren’t you?]

[It really does look like that]

[So they’re both Kira’s wings, huh?]

[I’m dying]

[Hahahaha]

[Athrun: Then what am I?]

[Kira and Cagalli are Athrun’s wings]

[It’s a mess. Everything’s a mess]

[The whole Gundam SEED relationship chart has turned into one giant pot of stew]

The audience absolutely loved this scene.

But the atmosphere at the actual scene had become rather awkward.

"I’ve already contacted ZAFT. They should be here soon. Kira, you..."

"I’ll leave after they arrive," Kira said. "Until then, I’ll make sure you’re safe."

"But you’re alone..." Athrun was still worried.

"I alone am enough."

As soon as Kira said that, the two Astrays that had not yet been activated began moving.

"Drones?!"

Athrun jumped in surprise.

"They can be operated unmanned," Kira said. "So I’ll be fine."

Lacus blinked.

She looked at Kira aboard the Strike opposite her, then at Athrun beside her.

How should she put it? A subtle pang of jealousy stirred in the innocent girl’s heart.

Kira... talks to Athrun more intimately than she talks to me...