Gundam: Changing the World Even with a Mass-Produced Unit

Chapter 78: Rise, Bright!

"Huh?"

Bright immediately reacted as if someone had stepped on his tail. He raised his hand, ready to scold Eli.

"Bright?"

However, at that moment, Milai's puzzled voice came from behind.

The hand he had raised turned into a fist, which he brought to his mouth, lightly coughing a few times.

"We're about to enter the colony satellite for supplies. I came to remind you, Milai."

Seeing Cameron also poking his head out to look at him, Bright instinctively puffed out his chest, displaying the slight authority he had accumulated over time as the captain.

"Captain Bright, I'd like to take Milai back home for a bit. I hope you'll grant permission."

Cameron maintained a composed and respectful posture, even stepping down slightly to align himself with Bright's level, a gesture meant to show respect.

However, this respect wasn't necessarily directed at Bright but was instead because Milai was one of his crew members.

"What do you think about this, Milai?"

The two men raised their heads simultaneously, looking up at Milai, who was still standing above them. Her face was obscured in shadows due to the backlight from the dock.

"Well then, Bright, do you want me to go?"

Bright squinted slightly.

With Milai's face hidden in the shadows, he couldn't discern her true thoughts from her expression.

At that moment, Bright desperately wished he were a true Newtype, capable of understanding others' thoughts.

But he wasn't.

At least, not yet.

All he could do was squint his already narrow eyes further, trying to make out Milai's expression.

This futile effort was quickly abandoned.

As Bright hesitated, Eli seized the opportunity to act again.

"Hey! Captain, what are you doing? Everyone else is waiting for you!"

Eli, sitting in the jeep, shouted loudly at Bright.

Though Bright might find it difficult to confront his feelings for Milai, he wasn't a fool.

"You heard her, Milai. Let's go. Don't keep them waiting."

Bright ignored Cameron standing beside him and extended his hand toward Milai.

Milai didn't take Bright's hand. Instead, she stepped down on her own, floating toward the supply convoy.

As she passed by Bright, she let out a soft "hmph," leaving Bright even more uncertain about her thoughts.

"Mi-Milai, wait—"

"That's enough, Prosecutor Cameron. I think Milai has her own plans."

Cameron reached out, trying to stop Milai, but Bright blocked him.

"Hey, you should know, right? Milai doesn't belong on the battlefield. Women like her shouldn't have to face war."

Cameron, seeing Milai drifting farther away, tried to persuade Bright to let go.

Bright fell silent for a moment.

"Milai isn't as fragile as you think. Besides, someone like you, who has never experienced war, can't possibly understand her feelings."

Bright wasn't one to harshly criticize others, especially on matters of war.

But Cameron's well-meaning yet superficial attitude made Bright say something he wouldn't normally remark on.

After speaking, Bright didn't wait for Cameron's response. He pushed off with his legs and floated toward his crew.

As Bright passed by the jeep driven by Christina, where the girls were gathered, he tried to catch Milai's eye.

But Milai seemed to be deliberately avoiding him.

Left with no choice, Bright floated above Eli's jeep and then climbed into the passenger seat.

"That man really did his best within his own understanding," Eli remarked as Bright settled into his seat. The elevator they were on descended from the central axis port to the artificial ground.

"…You agree with him too?" Bright asked.

"Not at all. I'm just saying that you weren't decisive enough, Captain Bright. That's a cardinal sin for a man."

Bright, hearing Eli's words, was visibly annoyed.

After all, it was Eli's intervention earlier that had helped him save face and take Milai away.

Eli was implying that Bright should have made the decision himself, showing enough determination to let Milai know she was important to him.

Bright understood this principle well.

"Easy for you to say. You're not exactly decisive yourself," Bright retorted, somewhat embarrassed.

Eli smirked at Bright's counterattack, his tone tinged with amusement.

"Captain Bright, that's precisely your problem."

Eli had already had a heart-to-heart with Sayla.

Bright's tendency to deflect whenever it came to his own issues was perhaps why his relationship with Milai had made no real progress.

Through the rearview mirror, Eli saw Sayla chatting with Fraw and Milai.

Sayla, noticing his gaze, glanced back and caught Eli's eye in the mirror.

She gave a faint smile before returning to the women's conversation.

Eli blinked and suddenly adjusted the rearview mirror.

Amuro, who had been sitting silently in the backseat, was also using the mirror to observe others!

Caught off guard, Eli met Amuro's startled eyes.

"Who are you staring at? Christina?"

"No! It's Fraw. She hasn't spoken to me all day."

Amuro sighed gloomily, resting his chin on his hand. He turned his face to sneak another glance at Fraw.

But this time, Christina noticed. She smiled sweetly at Amuro, waving a hand from the steering wheel as if greeting him.

Meanwhile, Fraw caught sight of their interaction.

What a youth-filled romantic comedy…

Eli, having observed it all, silently muttered to himself as the elevator shook slightly and the doors opened.

Then, Eli's expression turned serious.

Because what lay ahead would no longer be a comedy.

It would be one of the greatest tragedies of war for Amuro.

Tem Ray, a key figure in the V Project and Amuro's father, had suffered brain damage from oxygen deprivation after being cast into space during Amuro's first battle.

On Earth, his mother had rejected his decision to fight. Now, he would face the wreckage of his father's condition—a consequence of his own actions.

And within this colony satellite, there was a Newtype girl who would haunt Amuro for over a decade.

What could he change here?

Eli wondered as he drove the jeep forward.