"Where is Kira?"
Ignoring Athrun's words, Cagalli's expression darkened slightly as she questioned him in a low voice. Hearing her inquiry, Athrun recalled his battle with Kira, his pupils contracting as pain surfaced in his eyes.
Lowering his head, his voice slightly hoarse and choked with emotion, he said:
"I killed him!"
At these words, Cagalli's face turned pale, anger rising in her heart. She stepped forward, reaching out to grab Athrun by the collar.
Staring furiously at Athrun, Cagalli demanded angrily:
"Say that again!"
"I killed him."
Turning his head away, Athrun avoided Cagalli's gaze, his voice still replying.
Hearing this again, Cagalli's furious eyes instantly filled with grief. Clutching Athrun's collar, tears welled up in her eyes.
"Weren't you friends? Why did you do this?"
"He was my friend, but what did he do? He always said he had no choice, that he couldn't give up. What else could I do?
Should I just stand by and watch him kill my comrades, hurt Nicol and the others?"
The word "friend" struck a chord in Athrun, and the emotions he had been suppressing could no longer be contained. Venting his feelings, he shouted at Cagalli.
As he spoke, two clear tears streamed from Athrun's eyes, revealing his sorrow and pain, his voice growing softer.
"He always asked me to understand him, but why couldn't he understand me?"
Hearing this, Cagalli was taken aback, her grip on Athrun's collar loosening as she staggered back two steps. Seeing Athrun like this, she wanted to say something but found herself unable to speak.
Leaning against the wall behind her, Cagalli bowed her head, letting tears fall freely from her eyes.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy and silent. One leaned against the wall, the other sat on the bed, both expressing their grief in the same way.
This quiet atmosphere was eventually broken by Cagalli after a long while.
"You kill me! I kill you! What's the point of all this killing? Are we just going to keep killing each other like this?"
Hearing this, Athrun's pupils contracted. He glanced at Cagalli, opened his mouth, but said nothing.
Over an hour later,
The Orb Rescue Ship met with the ZAFT vessel that had come to retrieve them.
"Your ride is here."
After composing herself, Cagalli looked at Athrun and spoke.
Athrun glanced at Cagalli and thanked her.
"Thank you for saving me."
"No need to thank me!"
Cagalli looked at Athrun and replied flatly.
At the doorway,
As Athrun was about to board the speedboat, Cagalli called out to him.
"Wait!"
Hearing this, Athrun paused and turned to look at Cagalli. She removed the necklace from around her neck, walked up to Athrun, and, under his surprised gaze, placed it around his neck.
"They say this stone can protect people and keep them safe. I hope it will keep you safe and free from harm."
After finishing these actions, Cagalli explained to Athrun.
He looked down at the necklace around his neck, then lifted his head to glance at Cagalli. Meeting Athrun's gaze, Cagalli's cheeks flushed red for a moment.
Turning her head away, she explained, "Don't overthink it—it's just a blessing between friends!" Her words paused briefly before she continued, her tone shifting slightly. "Besides, I don't want to lose any more friends."
"Thank you for your blessing! I'll cherish it!" Athrun replied.
Hearing this, Athrun froze momentarily, a flicker of sorrow passing through his eyes before he smiled faintly.
...
"You...!"
"I killed him!"
Looking at Yzak, Athrun interrupted him, answering in a calm voice. Yzak, upon hearing this, found himself unable to continue what he had intended to say.
Athrun didn't engage further with Yzak either, stepping forward and walking straight inside.
Glancing back at Athrun, Yzak pressed his lips together and followed him in.
...
A few days later
PLANT
In an ordinary house in District 7 of Junius City
Lying on the bed, Kira woke from his unconscious state, opening his eyes to see an unfamiliar ceiling above him. Just as he was about to survey the room further, a voice sounded from within the room.
"Awake?"
Hearing the somewhat familiar voice, Kira turned his head to look.
He saw Felix sitting on a chair not far away, a faint smile on his face as he toyed with a pistol in his hand.
"Felix Leo Griffith!"
Kira uttered the name weakly, his gaze fixed on him.
Hearing his name spoken by Kira, Felix set the pistol down on the table and said with a smile, "I'm surprised you still remember my name!"
"Engraved in my memory!"
Replying, Kira struggled to sit up.
The movement immediately made him wince in pain. Seeing his attempt, Felix reminded him with a smile, "Don't move if you're injured."
Hearing this, Kira stopped moving and looked at Felix, asking, "Where am I?"
"PLANT!"
Felix replied, looking at him.
Kira continued, "Why did you save me?"
"Because there's something I need you to do!"
Felix explained calmly.
Standing up, he straightened his clothes and looked at Kira again. "Just focus on recovering here. Don't worry about anything else. We'll talk about the rest in a few days."
With that, Felix prepared to leave.
Seeing Felix about to leave, Kira quickly called out, "Wait!"
"Yes?"
Felix turned back to him, smiling as he asked.
Kira pressed his lips together, hesitating for a moment before finally asking, "Why do we look so much alike?"
"The contents of this storage device will tell you."
As if he had anticipated the question, Felix took out the storage device Creuset had given him earlier, placed it on the table, and replied.
Looking at Kira, he once again urged him to focus on recovering before walking out of the room.
Outside the room
"Please take good care of him during this time."
Looking at his like-minded companion, Felix gave him the instruction. Heyman, hearing this, nodded at Felix.
"Griffith Team Leader, rest assured, I'll take good care of him."
"Thank you for your hard work."
Looking at him, Felix spoke with concern.
Heyman shook his head in response, replying with a smile.
"Not at all!"
...
After seeing Felix off, Heyman turned and entered Kira's room. Gazing at Kira on the bed, he pulled up a chair and sat beside him, asking.
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Could you please play the content from that Storage Device for me?"
Looking at Heyman, Kira made his request.
Upon hearing this, Heyman turned to look at the table, nodded at the Storage Device.
"No problem."
--Enjoying the story? Want more chapters? Check out my Patreon and support me for 40+ advance chapters.
Just search for "TLGod" on Patreon!"
Thanks!