13 - Emergency x Rescue

The Stella Corpus which looked like a work of art landed in front of Regina, dropped to its knees, then had its waist armor slide away and release its matrix.

Already balled up and stiff from the tension, Regina hugged herself even tighter.

“Regina!” Ratio cried.

Using her unit’s left hand as a platform, Ratio gracefully jumped off it, took off her helmet, and smiled at Regina.

“Ah, it’s you…” Regina whispered, eyes wide open in disbelief.

She thought that if rescue were to come, it would be the Security Department.

However, the one who came to her rescue was the transfer student Regina had treated rather harshly, and on top of that, it was with an unfamiliar machine—a company’s prototype and Ratio’s dedicated unit, she would imagine.

Regina was aware she had a harsh personality. No matter who she talked to. Because of that, no one wanted to get along with her, and she had a choice between being hated or being kept at a distance.

That’s why Regina thought that Ratio wouldn’t want to have anything to do with her, either.

And yet, here she was.

Ratio saves Regina in her dire situation and even smiles while she exposes a giant clump of confidential information.

“Why… are you?” Regina whispered, her voice hoarse.

“Huh? If your friends are in trouble, you’ll help them, right?” Ratio said bluntly.

“Because I, you…” Regina mumbled, trying to find the words.

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” Ratio said, pressing a switch next to Regina’s seat.

The safety restraints were released, and Regina was free to move.

“Alright,” Ratio said, holding out her hand. “Can you stand?”

Seeing the blue sky behind Ratio, Regina said, “You’re… going to help me?”

“That’s what I’m here for. You don’t have to fight alone anymore,” Ratio said. “I’m with you.”

She’s not alone.

She’s with her.

The moment Regina understood it, her body that had been so tense suddenly relaxed, and her limbs drooped limply. Her body is numb, or perhaps it’s not listening to her, as if it weren’t hers anymore.

That’s why she couldn’t do anything about the moisture overflowing from her eyes.

“So… I’ll take it you can’t stand,” Ratio said. “Hmm, sorry about this, okay?”

“Ah……” Regina gasped.

Ratio carried the limp Regina in a firefighter’s carry.

No matter how small Regina is, considering the various components of the pilot suit, she is quite heavy. But Ratio lifted her like she weighed nothing.

“Ugh… the smell, ah…” Regina muttered.

“And?” Ratio said, her face approaching at once.

Regina sweated and blushed profusely for having muttered it.

“ Sniff,” Ratio went. “Hmm, strawberries. Smells nice.”

“…”

Regina was being gripped securely and had another girl sniff her.

Regina only wears the bare minimum of makeup, but at least she uses her favorite cologne.

There are many people who say that it’s childish when she uses it because she’s so small, but Ratio doesn’t say anything particularly negative and seems pleased about it.

“It may be a little shaky, but please bear with it, okay?” Ratio asked.

“Huh?” Regina asked.

Her thoughts already stopped because she didn’t know what to do about the heat in her face, Regina’s view changes at once.

Despite Regina being so heavy with all her gear, Ratio returns to her matrix with the same light steps as when she climbed out earlier.

“Wis, simple seat,” Ratio said.

[Huh, you want me to put it out?] Wis asked.

“We’re a good target as is. It’s safer here that way,” Ratio said.

[Roger thaaat,] Wis replied.

All Regina can do is listen to the conversation between Ratio and her partner while exhausted.

Her mind still didn’t work right, the heat in her face hasn’t subsided, but she was still strapped into the simple seat that deployed behind the pilot’s seat.

This is one of the Matrix’s standard equipment, as it is used to protect people rescued from drifting in space.

“It’s all right now,” Ratio said, smiling again.

All Regina could do was nod.

“What the?! How the?! That bastard…! What the fuck is he doing getting in our waaaayy…?!” Iniuria yelled.

[Uwaaaahhh…!] one of the Stulti yelled.

[It’s moving on its own!?]

[What the hell!?]

Iniuria and her Stulti had no choice but to endure the shaking in their matrices.

Their units have been moving automatically ever since.

It’s not like they’re piloting them. It’s just that the automatic avoidance protocols are continuously working.

The cause is that White Stella Corpus invading the training ground.

While on one knee, the beam gun on its right hand kept locking onto Iniuria and the Stulti’s machines for a long while.

The Centuria’s automatic avoidance program is for beginners and is designed to dodge once it detects a target lock.

So if a beam gun is aimed at the unit, it will dodge to safety on its own.

The White Stella Corpus captures the Centurias with unparalleled accuracy and moves its arms in small increments to force them to move without giving them any moment to stop.

That alone gave Ratio time to rescue Regina without being attacked by the four enemy units.

“Fucking hell…!” Iniuria roared.

The system that refuses pilot input while the automatic programs are running now works against Iniuria and her Stulti.

“Even though I was so close! Just a little bit more! Regina! REEGIIINNAAAAAA…!” Iniuria screamed.

The shaking external camera feed shows someone carrying Regina and returning into a matrix.

“Who are you!? Who the fuck are you!? YOU’VE GOTTA BE FUCKING KIIDDDINNNGG MEEEE….!”

Iniuria rages and yanks the levers, but her unit never stops.

It would have been possible if the automated controls had been disabled from the beginning as Regina did, but Centurias were stiffly set up for the sake of beginner pilots.

“AAAAAAHHHHH!”

The Matrix is retracts, and the White Stella Corpus rises.

“SHE WAS MINE! DON’T YOU FUCKING TOUCH HEEEERRRRR…!” Iniuria roars, eyes bloodshot, spit flying out of her mouth.

[Big Sis, I hate her,] Wis said.

“…” Ratio silently agreed but made no comment as she stood Virtus Flos back up.

Iniuria’s screaming was being broadcast by the loudspeakers, and Ratio and the others were listening perfectly.

It felt like a possessive clinginess that, to put it bluntly, was disgusting.

“Uuu……” Regina moaned.

“Regina?” Ratio asked, turning around.

She saw Regina on the simple seat frowning and trembling.

That’s right.

All of Iniuria’s focus, amid all this insanity, was directed towards Regina.

Just hearing it makes others feel uncomfortable, but from the perspective of the person concerned, it would be even more unpleasant.

“Regina, it’s okay,” Ratio said softly, smiling.

Regina’s frightened gaze meets her, Ratio says,

“I’ll protect you. I’ll make sure to protect you.”

She speaks with determination.

At that, Regina takes a deep breath.

Regina Glawis has always been forced to be the strong side. She is, in other words, she is also supposed to be a protector.

That’s why she imposed rigorous training on herself and constantly studied.

A strength that overwhelms others. Strength to protect the weak. A strength worthy of being called a hero.

However, she learned today that her hard work is meaningless. She knew failure, she knew defeat.

She’s learned now.

She’s a weak person who fancied herself strong.

The self-esteem she had built shattered.

Now she’s just a girl with good grades.

Ratio’s words gently echoed in her devastated heart.

It’s not coming as she was looked down upon, it’s not coming to flatter her, and it’s not something to ridicule or despise her.

From the same perspective, on equal terms, because her friend is in trouble.

For such a natural reason, for Regina, it was a dream come true.

Ratio smiles.

Even Regina is still a young girl.

Deep down, she wanted a friend.

Worrying about seeking strength, it’s not just once or twice that she almost gave up.

Sometimes she wanted to rely on someone but found it hard.

There were times when she cried alone, crying for someone to help her.

“… Will you protect me?” Regina asked.

“Mm,” Ratio said.

Tears flowed again from the immediate and powerful reply.

It’s not sadness. She’s happy.

The feeling that she is protected by someone else.

A warm feeling spreads in the lonely girl’s chest.

And then, her heartbeat sounded powerful.

“Don’t worry. We’ll definitely get through this,” Ratio said.

“…… Yes,” Regina said.

With tears in her eyes, the young girl gave a small smile.