Gazing up at the blue sky overhead, Felix glanced back at the PLANT Supreme Council building, his mind replaying Patrick's words about the New Cutthroat Operation. He silently resolved:
'I need to get things in order.'
...
Junius City, District 7
"Captain!"
Heyman placed a glass of water before Felix, his voice filled with respect. Accepting the water with a smile, Felix asked gently:
"How has he been lately?"
"He's been doing much better these past couple of days."
Heyman glanced toward Kira's room before responding thoughtfully. Hearing this, Felix smiled faintly and continued:
"Has he seen the contents of the Storage Device?"
"He already has."
Heyman nodded in confirmation.
As he spoke, Heyman fixed his gaze on Felix, seeming to hesitate over something he wanted to ask. Noticing Heyman's expression, Felix calmly set the water glass on the coffee table and asked softly:
"What's on your mind?"
"Captain... do you know about your origins?"
Heyman pressed his lips together before voicing his question.
"I do." Felix nodded, his smile open and untroubled. "My origins are what they are - I'm still myself. My life, my ideals won't change because of them."
He looked up at Heyman, his smile unchanged as he countered:
"Don't you agree?"
Meeting Felix's gaze, Heyman suddenly realized he'd been overthinking things, and an understanding smile spread across his face.
Watching him, Felix reached out and patted Heyman's shoulder before shifting his attention to the door of Kira's room.
"I'm going to have a talk with him!"
"Understood."
Heyman turned to look at Kira's room and nodded.
...
Inside the Room
Pulling up a chair beside Kira's bed, Felix looked at the much-improved young man and spoke with genuine warmth:
"Seeing your condition now puts my mind at ease."
"What do you need me to do?"
Kira glanced at Felix before looking away, his head bowed as he spoke in a subdued voice.
Hearing this, Felix smiled slightly and stated bluntly:
"I need your help to stop a battle when the time comes."
"Stop a battle?" Kira's head snapped up, his eyes wide with disbelief. "I never thought I'd hear such words from you."
"Nothing's impossible."
Felix replied with an open, untroubled smile.
Kira stared intently into Felix's eyes, searching for any hint of jest. After a long moment finding none, he regarded Felix with renewed seriousness.
Clutching the bedsheet with both hands, pain swirling in his eyes, Kira voiced his refusal:
"I don't want to fight anymore."
"This battle will take place in Alaska."
Felix glanced at him and mentioned casually.
Alaska!
A few words reached his ears, and Kira's pupils instantly contracted. The decision he had already made surged within him, a massive wave shattering his resolve into pieces. An urgent voice escaped his lips.
"I'm willing! I'm willing!"
"Why the sudden change of heart?"
Seeing his frantic demeanor, Felix smiled playfully as he asked. Emotions churned in Kira's eyes. Clenching his fists, he replied in a lowered voice, "My friends are heading to Alaska. I promised to protect them."
"But it seems you have nothing to offer."
Felix's smile remained unchanged as he teased.
Hearing this, Kira's expression instantly fell. He turned to Felix, a pleading tone in his voice as he spoke, "I'll do whatever you ask of me—even agree to more extreme demands. I just hope you'll lend me your strength."
At this point, Kira pressed his lips together and spoke with some discomfort, "Bro... brother."
"No need for emotional appeals. Between us, there's nothing but blood ties—no real affection."
Felix cut off any further sentiment the moment Kira uttered "brother." After the rejection, Felix shifted the topic. "I can grant you the power to save your friends, but I expect that after using this strength to accomplish what needs to be done, you'll channel it toward the pursuit of peace. Not for any other purpose."
"The pursuit of peace?"
The sudden demand took Kira aback, and then memories of the past few months flooded his mind.
The destruction of Heliopolis!
The encounter with the Dawn Desert Organization!
The life-and-death battles alongside Athrun!
Each event and every word echoed relentlessly in his thoughts. These experiences and voices ultimately converged into a single phrase: the cost of war!
Realizing this, the thought that such costs might continue in the future, that others might endure what he had, made his heart ache unbearably.
At this thought, an inner voice cried out within him: 'No!'
Those two words blazed like the sun, illuminating Kira's heart in an instant. At that moment, his resolve was unshakable.
Lifting his head to meet Felix's gaze, his eyes filled with unprecedented determination, he replied, "I will use it to pursue peace. I will never divert it elsewhere."
Hearing this, Felix stood up, walked over to Kira, and patted his shoulder. "Alright. The power you need, I will grant it to you."
With that, Felix turned and headed toward the door.
Watching his retreating figure, Kira suddenly called out, "Wait!"
"Something else?"
Pausing his steps, Felix turned back with a smile.
Taking a deep breath, Kira asked, "Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?"
Felix's smile turned teasing.
Kira continued, "Giving me this power, instructing me to use it in the pursuit of peace... and why do you trust me?"
"Kira, what you've seen and heard in just two or three months is enough to make things clear."
Felix smiled faintly.
"I've been through over a year of war, fought in countless battles large and small. What I've seen and experienced far surpasses your understanding. My insights into war and peace are beyond your comprehension."
As he spoke, Felix turned the doorknob and opened the door. Just before stepping out, he answered Kira's final question.
"Because I understand you."
"Understand me?"
Kira mumbled these words in confusion, feeling lost in thought.
By the time he thought to ask more, Felix had already left the room. Seeing this, Kira could only let it go for now.
'I'll continue asking next time we meet.'
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