NOVEL NEXT Chapter 78: Chapter 80: A Man Who Could Be My Father
Chapter 80: A Man Who Could Be My Father
"What about Dad? What about you?"
Amuro cradled the old memory circuit in his hands, standing up dazedly. His voice carried a glimmer of hope.
"I still have a lot of research to do. I'll contact you when the time comes. Now, hurry up and leave!"
Tem Ray spoke without turning around, his back to Amuro, not sparing him another glance.
As for Eli, since entering the room, Tem Ray hadn't looked at him even once.
Eli observed Amuro, whose expression grew increasingly strained. The initial excitement of seeing his father had been completely worn away.
This scene was no different from the past—his father was always busy with work, always pushing him away to a place where he wouldn't interfere.
Why did such a father take him away from his mother in the first place, especially if he found Amuro's presence such a hindrance to his work?
Amuro's heart burned with indignation and bitterness as he made one last attempt.
"What about Mom? I saw her on Earth. Don't you care about her at all?"
Amuro had not wanted to recall his meeting with his mother.
She was supposed to be his mother, yet she had scolded him for firing at Zeon soldiers.
Did she not care about his safety at all?
Carrying that grievance, Amuro had kept it buried in his heart. Now, he brought it up again, hoping for some reaction from his father. If possible, he longed for this to be an opportunity to open up to him.
"The war is almost over... Once it is, we'll go back to Earth together."
"Dad..."
"Go back now! You're a soldier, Amuro, aren't you?"
These words from Tem Ray made Amuro bite his lip hard.
"I didn't choose to be a soldier!"
He slammed his fist on the table and then, as if fleeing, stormed out of the room.
Eli did not follow him.
Instead, he looked at Tem Ray, who was sitting at a makeshift workstation, holding tools in his hands but remaining frozen in place for a long time.
For the first time in a while, Eli used the system's appraisal function.
"Tem Ray: Father of the Federation's Strongest Weapon, Sufferer of Hypoxia, Mentally Unstable MS Specialist."
The diagnosis was clear. If even the system described him this way, Tem Ray was likely beyond treatment.
"Dr. Tem Ray, you may not understand now, but Amuro has always respected you."
Eli looked out through the open door and saw Amuro standing in the night, gripping the memory circuit tightly in both hands.
"When I first met him, he was both happy and confused at the sight of the mass-produced Gundams. Seeing his father's work mass-produced genuinely made him happy. Do you understand that?"
Eli spoke earnestly, trying his best to convey emotion. He still didn't know how to project his Newtype abilities consciously, so this was the most he could do.
"Gundam?"
The dazed Tem Ray perked up at the word, like a wind-up doll suddenly set in motion.
"My Gundam is the strongest! Do you know that?"
He began rummaging through his materials frantically, as if trying to prove something to himself.
Eli remained silent for a long moment before sighing.
Even a Newtype couldn't pull someone back from such a state, especially not when their own abilities were insufficient.
Eli headed for the door, intending to close it and go comfort Amuro.
"Hey! Did you know my son, Amuro Ray, is the pilot of the Gundam? He's amazing! He beats Zeon black and blue. Like Gundam, he's my pride!"
Tem Ray was gesturing animatedly now.
"With that upgrade, Gundam could be even stronger, and Amuro could safely defeat Zeon! Amuro..."
Eli froze mid-motion, the door barely ajar, watching Tem Ray talking to the air.
"Really... Why can't these words ever be said at the right time?"
Eli glanced downstairs. Amuro was still standing there, unmoving.
Tem Ray's loud voice should have carried down to him.
"Let's go, Mr. Eli."
Despite Amuro's quiet voice, Eli heard him clearly.
Gently, Eli closed the door to Tem Ray's room and walked over to Amuro's side.
As he got closer, Eli noticed the old memory circuit in Amuro's hands. It was visibly damaged, as if it had been violently smashed to the ground.
"Amuro, he's still your father."
"I know."
Amuro replied in a muffled voice, holding the memory circuit like a child clutching a precious toy.
"Let's talk to the local government here and arrange for your father to move to a better place."
Eli suggested.
"But... money..."
Amuro hesitated, embarrassed.
The Federation's military pay was generous, but Amuro hadn't been in the service long enough to afford a better home on the colony.
"If it's money, I have plenty for now."
Eli smiled, reassuring Amuro not to worry.
Amuro glanced at Eli and quickly understood the situation.
The answer was simple yet harsh: Eli's family was gone, and all their assets had been left to him.
Amuro didn't know how much that amounted to, but since Eli had said so, it must be significant.
"...Mr. Eli, why are you so kind to me?"
The two walked through the colony's simulated night, a night that still managed to evoke a melancholy mood.
"No special reason. Just think of me as a good person."
Eli smiled, looking up at the artificial sky of the colony.
"A good person... If only Eli were my father."
Amuro mumbled something shocking as he clutched the memory circuit and kept his head low, walking beside Eli.
"Huh?"
Eli froze, mid-step, staring at the sky as if rooted to the spot.
"I know, Mr. Eli. But my dad never even hit me, you know? He didn't even have time to scold me. Compared to that irresponsible man, everything you've done feels more like what a father should do."
Amuro hugged the memory circuit closer, his shoulders trembling.
"But in the end, that man is still my father."