If Fred were here, he would have realized that Lacus was showing her scheming side.
Upon hearing this, Athrun naturally froze in place.
Nicol and Yzak behind Athrun also froze just as naturally.
What had they just heard?
Why would the princess be staying at Fred's house? Wasn't that a bit too bold?
Even if the Clyne Faction valued talent, surely they wouldn't go this far.
"Lacus is staying with me!"
Seeing their shocked expressions, Flay pouted in dissatisfaction, then took Lacus's hand and declared.
Having grown up together, Flay could easily guess what they were thinking.
"Uh..."
The three of them awkwardly averted their gazes.
Their homes were all quite spacious—practically small hotels—with each room equipped with a separate wet and dry bathroom. Having one more person stay over really wasn't a problem.
But Lacus was, after all, a princess.
Especially for Athrun, who knew Fred's true identity, this was even more shocking.
Although the Clyne Faction advocated for peaceful coexistence with Naturals, he hadn't expected them to lead by example like this.
It seemed they trusted Fred even more than his own father did.
Thinking this, Athrun, who had grown increasingly mature, felt a growing complexity in his heart.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Fred didn't take too long to prepare the meal and soon finished.
Of course, if cooking had truly delayed him, Fred would have refused outright.
But for Fred, cooking could also serve as a temporary break, not really hindering his progress.
Not to mention, cooking also provided time for reflection.
Soon, a full meal took shape under Fred's hands.
Having already tasted Fred's cooking, everyone's eyes lit up at the sight of the spread on the table.
They all wanted Fred to cook for them.
But as students, they couldn't just ask Fred to cook for them outright.
They couldn't bring themselves to beg either.
Now, with Lacus here, things were different.
With Lacus stepping in, it was effortless.
Thinking this, the three of them looked at Lacus with even more affection.
"Alright, let's eat."
Heather shrugged, glancing amusedly at Lacus and the eager faces of the children.
"What about Dad?"
Fred asked.
"He's in the multimedia room. Don't worry about him—he'll come out when he's hungry."
"Let's eat. Lacus must be hungry too."
Heather turned to Lacus with a bright smile.
Hearing Heather's words, Athrun and the other two exchanged glances.
They couldn't help but feel that this mother might favor girls over boys.
But of course, they wouldn't say it out loud. Amidst laughter and chatter, the meal came to a lively end.
On this evening, as everyone began to relax, Fred retreated to his study, or rather, his workshop.
The research on the MS Engine and Balance System had only just begun.
He still had a long way to go.
Yet, Fred felt a surge of excitement, for every step taken here meant he was moving closer to the future.
This sense of achievement, of steadily progressing forward, was one of the driving forces behind his efforts.
The once-distant galaxies, which had seemed unreachable, now held the possibility of being reached and studied in their eyes.
However, they continued to engage in internal strife.
This conflict had to be resolved.
Only then could humanity move forward.
Having temporarily settled everything, he now needed to return to the monotonous routine of daily work and study.
Though it seemed rather dull, Fred considered it of utmost importance.
His survival in the future and all the battles to come would depend on this foundation.
Without effort, rushing onto the battlefield would be no different from seeking death.
With this thought, Fred took a deep breath, and his restless mindset, stirred by recent events, gradually calmed down.
...
A year passed in the blink of an eye.
During this year, it seemed as if the world's conflicts had been put on pause.
The biggest news remained the attack on Mendel.
Of course, this didn't mean that the covert friction between the two sides had diminished much.
However, all of this felt quite distant from Fred and his family.
As for Lacus, true to her word, she visited for a week each month.
Over time, Lacus became increasingly familiar with his side.
Trust between them was no longer an issue.
In fact, thanks to the efforts of Lacus and Flay, his cooking skills had grown remarkably refined.
Recalling the chaos that ensued whenever they stayed over, Fred couldn't help but wear a wry smile.
If he remembered correctly, they were due to visit again next week.
"Director Fred?"
Heinline's voice pulled Fred's thoughts back to the present.
"Yes, the first test is tomorrow, right?"
Fred tapped a few keys on the familiar keyboard, and layers of data appeared on the screen.
A year had passed, and the installation of their Automatic Mass Balance Nozzle, along with the finalization of its mechanical structure, had long entered the testing phase.
As for the remaining Engine, with Fred's experience and capabilities, there were no major issues.
Everything had proceeded step by step.
However, his involvement hadn't actually accelerated MS research.
At least, not to an outrageous degree.
After all, according to his memory, the GINN itself was completed in 67, which was this year.
But Fred thought this was normal, as he was only responsible for the development of the power and Automatic Balance System.
Beyond their progress, there were other research teams to consider. Their speed didn't necessarily mean others would keep up.
"Yes."
Albert Heinlein responded solemnly before continuing.
"But are you really going to be the pilot?"
Heinline's tone still carried uncertainty.
The person before him, his idol, was a Natural.
A Natural serving as the test pilot for the first MS.
It seemed somewhat unbelievable no matter how he thought about it.
"My decision is final."
Fred nodded simply.
In truth, after a year of piloting Powered Armor, his MS Control had reached a considerable level.
Moreover, beyond the significance of being the first to pilot an MS, Fred himself needed to familiarize himself with MS operation as soon as possible.
There were only three years left until the start of the battles in the storyline.
Having worked so hard to develop the MS, wasn't it meant to be piloted?
If so, the sooner, the better.
After all, the protective measures were already in place, and the structure of that energy battery was extremely stable. At worst, it would only blow up the jet pack.
Besides, Fred had confidence in his own ejector—it wouldn't explode.
"Alright."
Upon hearing this, Heinline knew the other's temperament and didn't say anything more.
After all, he wouldn't listen anyway.
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