44:- Memories

Amid the aftermath of the intense battle, Shino and Akihiro arrive to lend their support to Ichiro, Bladwin, and the rest of Tekkadan. Shino, ever the enthusiast for combat, can't help but express his disappointment as he watches the purple and pink mobile suits of Gaelio and Ein retreat.

"And there goes all the fun," Shino laments, clearly yearning for more action.

Meanwhile, Ichiro turns his attention to a particular mobile suit that has piqued his interest – the Gusion Rebake, a Gundam Frame. Tekkaden has added it to their collection, and Ichiro is eager to know more about it.

He questions Akihiro, "The Teiwaz did a good job rebuilding this thing. What's its name?"

Akihiro responds, "It's called the Gundam Frame Gusion Rebake."

Ichiro nods in approval, appreciating the sturdy and formidable appearance of the mobile suit. His curiosity satisfied, he shifts the conversation to a more personal matter.

"How's Masahiro doing?" Ichiro inquires, referring to Akihiro's younger brother.

Akihiro's response carries a hint of tension. "He still hates you, you know, for killing most of his comrades. You could have immobilized them instead."

Ichiro's voice remains as cold and unyielding as ever as he addresses the criticism. "You know, Akihiro, I don't like to leave loose ends."

Acknowledging Akihiro's efforts to provide a better life for the children saved by Tekkadan, Ichiro adds a note of appreciation, "Anyway, you did a good job by making those children your brothers."

As the dust settles from the fierce battle and the members of Tekkadan gather on their ship, Ichiro takes a moment to admire Shino's machine, which boasts a striking paint job with distinctive eyes.

"Those are some nice paint jobs, man," Ichiro remarks, clearly impressed by the aesthetic touch.

Shino proudly responds, "Thanks, man. Ride did the head unit." The red coloration and unique design elements stand out, making Shino's mobile suit truly distinctive.

Akihiro, observing the approaching Gjallarhorn ships, remarks on their overwhelming numbers, noting, "Those are a whole lot of ships."

Ichiro, momentarily consumed by his bloodlust and battle fervor, eagerly responds, "Bring them on."

However, Bladwin, ever watchful over his comrade's well-being, notices Ichiro's intense focus and concerningly remarks, "Ichiro, don't lose yourself." His words serve as a reminder to Ichiro to stay grounded and maintain control.

Ichiro nods in acknowledgment, snapping back to his senses. Shino chimes in with a suggestion, "What do you say we take off?"

Mikazuki, always attuned to the situation, agrees, "Yeah, I have a feeling they're not going to let us go." 

Amidst the tension and anticipation, a voice suddenly broke through their communication channels, commanding the attention of everyone on the ship. It was the voice of Kudelia Aina Bernstein, and her words were directed at Gjallarhorn, ringing out across the galaxy. With unwavering resolve, she dared Gjallarhorn to take action against her if her words were found to be false. Her impassioned speech, delivered with conviction and courage.

(A:N : I'm not going write the speech. Okay. : ) 

Mikazuki's typically stoic demeanor was momentarily interrupted by a rare expression of awe as Kudelia's words echoed through their communication channels. He couldn't help but be impressed by the sheer power of her voice and conviction. He muttered to himself, "She's amazing, isn't she? All those fighters who came after us, all that it took to take each of them down one by one, and she stopped them with just her voice. Even Orga can't do that."

Ichiro, known for his sharp wit and straightforwardness, chuckled at Mikazuki's remark. He couldn't resist a playful jab at his friend, saying, "So, Orga is your measuring scale now, huh? Interesting." His comment elicited laughter from Shino, who chimed in with a grin, Ichiro muttered to himself. "Well, it looks like those ignorant eyes of hers were worth a whole lot more than what I thought."

.

.

In the dimly lit room of the ship, Ichiro focused on repairing Bladwin's helmet and arm. He meticulously worked on the damaged areas, making sure they were restored to their original functionality. The room was filled with the soft hum of machinery, creating a serene atmosphere for the two friends.

Bladwin, seated in a chair nearby, sipped on a juice container, his revolver spinning idly in his hand. He looked relaxed, as if the tension from the recent battle had dissipated. Ichiro occasionally glanced at his friend as he worked, noticing the changes to Bladwin's appearance.

With a grin, Bladwin remarked, "You know, I really like what James did with my haircut. It's a nice change." He ran a hand through his freshly trimmed hair, clearly content with the result.

Ichiro, fully focused on his task, couldn't help but grumble in response, "Yeah, well, you took way too much time getting it done. I could have used a haircut too." His tone was playful, and he didn't seem genuinely upset.

Bladwin chuckled, recognizing his friend's jest, and said, "Yeah, yeah, I'll try to be quicker next time." He continued to enjoy his juice, the easy camaraderie between the two of them evident in their relaxed conversation.

As Ichiro diligently worked on the helmet's improvements, the room remained a sanctuary of tranquility amid the chaos of their lives as Tekkadan members.

Ichiro continued to work on Bladwin's helmet as he shared the story of how he knew James. Bladwin listened attentively, curious to hear more about Ichiro's past.

Ichiro began, "You know, I used to be a member of CGS when I was younger. I must have been around eight years old at the time." He paused for a moment, lost in thought before continuing. "Back then, a group of children was randomly chosen to be sent to another NGO for military training, much like CGS. They recruited orphans and human debris like us."

Bladwin nodded, understanding the harsh realities of their past. He urged Ichiro to go on with the story.

Ichiro recalled, "During my time at that military training facility, I made some friends there, including James. We were all in the same boat, trying to survive and find some sense of belonging in a world that had discarded us. James and I grew close during those days, and we shared a lot of our dreams and aspirations."

Bladwin could imagine the challenging environment they must have endured together. He asked, "So, you and James became comrades in that training facility?"

Ichiro nodded, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "Yeah, we were comrades in every sense of the word. We looked out for each other, fought together, and dreamed of a better life outside those walls. It's funny how life takes unexpected turns. We went our separate ways for a while, but it's good to have him back in our lives."

Ichiro's eyes took on a distant, almost melancholic look as he continued to share his memories. Bladwin could sense the weight of those moments in Ichiro's voice and expression.

"Yeah," Ichiro began, "there was another friend we had back then, Adam. He was with me during our time at Tekkadan, but I didn't really know him until we crossed paths at the NGO. Adam... he was quite unique."

Ichiro paused for a moment, as if trying to find the right words to describe his friend. "He had shoulder-length hair, this striking shade of blue that made him stand out. I remember people used to mistake him for a girl sometimes because of his cute face."

Bladwin listened intently, absorbing the details of Adam's appearance and personality.

Ichiro continued, "But Adam wasn't just about his looks. He had a heart of gold, one of the kindest souls I've ever known. He was a monstrous mechanic, too. He and I used to take mechanic classes together at the NGO, always tinkering with machines, dreaming about what we could build or modify to make our lives better. He was my Best Friend"

There was a deep sense of nostalgia in Ichiro's voice, as if he was revisiting a chapter of his life that held both pain and cherished memories.

As Ichiro continued his story, Bladwin could feel the weight of the past weighing heavily on his comrade's shoulders. Ichiro's voice trembled slightly as he recounted those fateful days.

"One day, Adam went missing," Ichiro began, his voice cracking ever so slightly. "At first, I thought he was just somewhere else in the building, but as days passed, I started to worry. I began searching for him, asking around, and retracing his steps."

Bladwin could sense the growing sense of dread in Ichiro's words as he described the unfolding events. Ichiro's eyes seemed to glisten with unshed tears, memories of that traumatic experience still haunting him.

"After two long and agonizing days," Ichiro continued, his voice barely above a whisper, "I was led to a room—Room of the 5th adult group. It was said that Adam had gone there to ask for some parts, three days ago. When I entered that room, it was like stepping into a nightmare."

Ichiro's hands clenched involuntarily, his knuckles turning white, as he relived the harrowing moment.

"I searched the room, opening cupboards, desperately hoping to find any sign of Adam. And then... I found him," Ichiro's voice quivered, and his eyes were fixed on some distant, haunting memory.

Bladwin could hardly breathe, a heavy lump forming in his throat as he waited for Ichiro to continue.

"Adam's lifeless body lay there, crammed into a black plastic bag," Ichiro's words were filled with anguish. "His once-shining blue hair, now devoid of its shine, hung limply over his bruised and battered face. His body was covered in brutal bruises, and there were punch marks scattered all over."

Ichiro's voice broke as he recounted the horrific discovery, and a single tear rolled down his cheek. The pain of that moment was etched on his face, and Bladwin could see the raw emotions that had been buried for so long resurfacing.

"I screamed," Ichiro admitted, his voice filled with a mix of anger, sorrow, and helplessness. "People rushed into the room, and I told them everything I knew. But... but the higher-ups in the Organization didn't take any action against the suspected group. They were the best mobile worker pilots, and it seemed like their power shielded them from justice."

Bladwin was overwhelmed by the intensity of Ichiro's emotions, and he couldn't find words to offer comfort.