Part 17: Mission 8 (JUDA Route) - Beacon For Tomorrow
We open at JUDA, right after Kouichi has been told that he was killed by the Linebarrel. Remember when Moritsugu said he became the bot’s Factor by accident? As we know, it wasn’t a satellite that caused the accident three years ago, but the Linebarrel – the Machina had just warped into our world, and Kouichi was precisely at its landing zone. To sum it up: he got squished by it.
That done, Kouichi’s body was injected with the Machina’s regenerative nanomachines; thus his body was strengthened, and he was reborn as a Factor. And as a Factor, Kouichi now has inhuman abilities… provided the Linebarrel is intact. On the other hand, if the Machina is destroyed, Kouichi will follow suit. Putting it simply, the kid’s life is now bound to the bot.
This all sounds insane and Kouichi has a ton of questions: “What the hell are those Machinas?! Why did you even make something like that?!” Ishigami has no answers for him, as JUDA weren’t the ones behind them. They don’t even know who did make the things; rather, the Machinas simply materialize in our world, just like what happened to Sun Quan’s group and the newly arrived Frontier Fleet.
Quan asks if that means the Machinas also came from a different world, but Ishigami can’t answer that one way or another. Who made the Machinas? What for? What is their purpose in materializing in our world? All questions without answer, and that is precisely why JUDA’s working to gather all 11 of them. But Ishigami figures that’s enough exposition for now, and moves to the meat of this reunion: he wants Kouichi to help JUDA with their project.
Over by the infirmary, Shangxiang’s just told everyone that they won’t be returning to Mirisha until they’ve dealt with Lu Bu… though, as she herself notes, they don’t even know HOW they’re going to get back in the first place. At least Zhou Yu is hard at work to recover ASAP, wanting to start being of some use to our group.
Yamashita’s disappointed that Lu Xun and Zhou Yu are down for the count, considering how they’re renowned as some of the greatest generals in the Three Kingdoms. Lu Xun gets all giddy over praise like that, but Shangxiang tells him to get off his high horse: back in their world, he’s still just an apprentice strategist. Buzzkill…
Either way, Saya walks on over to call in the others. Yamashita looks forward to seeing the bedridden Hyaku Shiki later.
Back to the President’s office, Kouichi’s a bit uneasy at being told to help gather Machinas. But, of course, Ishigami wouldn’t ask him to do it for nothing: “You said you wanted to be a Champion of Justice, yes? Champions of Justice need enemies to defeat. We can give you that.”
Ishigami presents him with images of the Katou Organization: another group with Machinas and the ones responsible for the attack that got Yajima killed. Ogawa interrupts them, bringing in other interested parties to this meeting. Ishigami’ll make the introductions…
But is interrupted when Shizuna (top portrait) yells that she still hasn’t signed up on working with these people. Her twin brother, Izuna, tries asking her to calm down, only to get brushed aside: Shizuna is NOT going to team up with this dumdum, Hayase, and a Federation deserter!
As Arnie and Kouichi reel back, Shizuna carries on: “Our work as Factors ain’t a game! We take our battles damn seriously – like pros – and I really don’t feel like having a buncha aimless goons dragging me down!”
Arnie takes it on the chin, but Kouichi doesn’t – seems to him that they don’t need his help, then! Oh, is he just going to turn tail and run from all this? Kouichi tells Ishigami that he’s got absolutely no reason to help JUDA, so, yeah, he’s taking off.
: Uurgh, and it was such a pain to bring that guy in…
: Blah, forget him! All you need is me, Izuna and the Deceive to ace whatever mission comes next! 
: Hahah… Shizuna’s attitude is still going strong, I see.: What now, Ensign? Got anything to say after being told off like that?
: Well, if they can’t bring themselves to trust me, then they can shoot me down whenever.
: Whaa…?: But, if possible… I’d like to go and see for myself what Maj. Richard and Saya are trying to do. I’d like to find out what is truly right… that’s what brought me here.
: …: And there you have it. I’d really appreciate if you could also give him a chance, Shizuna…
: Um… I’m Izuna…
: OH! My bad!: I know you did that on purpose, old man!
: But you two really look so much alike. Are you twins?: We are, but I’m a boy, FYI.
: If you ask me, everyone in this world looks pretty much the same.: You’re one to talk! Your whole crew’s got that same Gundam face, so ya can go and shove it!
: Shove what where?: Th-That’s… I-I-I— Aargh, ya huge dumdum!
Mission 8 – A Beacon For Tomorrow
: Intel said they picked up a signal coming from around here…
: I don’t see a Machina anywhere, though.: What I wanna know is why the boss picked this group comp to go look for that there Machina. : This is the first joint operation between JUDA, the UX, the WSO and Sun Quan’s forces. I presume Mr. Ishigami wanted to start things off with the team members more likely to work well together. : Aw, isn’t it great that us ladies get along so swimmingly?: But I’m a boy…: Whatever, there’s nothing ‘round here. Guess we got some bad intel.
: Wh-What?!
: Yeeheeheehee! They fell for it hook, line and sinker…: I’m Riku Ousei, captain of the Katou Organization’s 8th Unit!
: The Katou Organization?! What’re they doing here…?!: My guess is the “Machina signal” we pinged was them baiting us into a trap!: What do you mean? Are they not piloting Machinas?
: No, they’re not. Those are the Katou Organization’s own Armas, mass-produced copies of Machinas.
: Mass-produced copies…?!: In other words, those’re a buncha knock-offs! And now they’re gonna see just how strong an original is!: Give ‘em a real nasty one, Izuna!
: Okay, sis!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_qt-b1aX9A
: Gyaaaaaaah! M-My arms… they tore my arms in half!!: Wh-What just happened?! All you did was touch him with that cable…!: Hmm, I get it. That’s a weapon that sends illusions into the pilots’ minds, eh…?: Damn straight! And you can’t defend against our Nerve Crack as long as you’re all are sitting in those mechs!: Eeeheeheehee! And you think you’re going to beat me with smoke and mirrors?! Your imagination’s not very good! And because of that…
: You won’t be able to protect this city!: ?! What the hell are ya doing?!: The townspeople still haven’t left that part of town…!: I told you: imagination! You didn’t even try to imagine why I chose this town to lure you into, hmm?: It’s because I’ve set explosive pellets across the whole place! : What did you say?!: So, still feel like taking a swing at me? Go right ahead! The second you do, this whole place and everyone inside it’ll get blown to kingdom come! Yeeheheheheeee!
: This is unforgivable…! I’ve never met someone as sickening as him!: But what’re we gonna do?! He just took all the townspeople hostage…!: Only option we got now is to hang tough ‘til Moritsugu and the others get here!: You guys all heard him, right?! Don’t try anything with that fatass’ unit or this’ll go south in a big way!: C-Copy that!
Destroy everything except the Yaoyorozu, and don’t lose anyone. If you ever attack the Yaoyorozu, it’s game over as well. Another fight with the Katou Armas, with the added annoyance that Riku will immediately rush down your forces and start shooting – and you’re just gonna have to take it.
The good thing is that the AI seems to prioritize the Deceive and it is very well equipped to take that punishment. Dealing damage, however, not so much. But take things slow and steady and you’ll start to wear the enemies’ numbers down; even with the Deceive's lower firepower, the generic Armas still have piddly defenses and our other girls will soon build up morale to start using their better weapons. After that, it’s simple.
Deceive (Shizuna and Izuna Endo)
Pilot Skills:
Factor (on Izuna) – D-S.O.I.L. baseline is 40.
Prevail L1
Support Attack L1
Support Defense L1
Spirit Commands – Shizuna:
Invincible
Fighting Spirit
Spirit Commands – Izuna:
Trust
Focus
Mech Features:
Shield
Resupply Module
10% HP Regen
Nerve Crack – Requires 120 morale, costs 30 EN, range is 1-5. Works like 00 Raiser, only the stats get boosted/lowered by 15.
Squad Bonus: HP +500, Exp +10%, A in Air (HP +1000, Exp +20%, S in Air)
Shizuna’s voice actress: Kana Ueda (other roles: Pascal in Tales of Graces, Rachel in BlazBlue, Tsubaki in Steel God Jeeg and many more)
Izuna’s voice actress: Rie Kugimiya (other roles: Nena in 00 Gundam, Alphonse Elric in Full Metal Alchemist, Kagura in Gintama and a ton more)
Like in L, the Deceive’s the odd Machina of the bunch. It is 100% tailored around debuffs, so much so that its piss-weak Nerve Crack attack is the only damaging move it’ll have for quite a while (its “hands” are now its shield). On the flip side, it is dirt cheap and will reduce not only morale, but also all of the target’s stats.
But the real draw here is the AoE Nerve Crack which, while not too useful now since the mooks are so weak, will get progressively more interesting as we progress. Being so cheap, the Deceive’s EN regen will all but negate the cost, which’ll allow you to spam that buff/debuff every turn. Keep your people bunched up, draw the mooks in, and go to town.
Plus it has a nice Squad Bonus and a Resupply Module translates into a 10% EN regen for its team, so it could make for a nice companion to some hungry Super Robot. The Deceive’s L size and the new way Factor regen works have made it VERY bulky, too.
I got a surprising amount of use from the Deceive in L because it fulfilled its purpose of fueling Daiya’s rampage quite nicely – we’ll see if it’ll happen again here.
SRW UX - Shadows that Rend Darkness
SRW UX - Linebarrel
Again, don’t attack him back.
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIalK9axU0I
Keep on killing, and the plot’ll kick in in time.
Riku’s getting annoyed that we’re still fighting and figures we need another taste of horror – maybe then we’ll get what’s what! So he goes and blows up another section of the city: “those without imagination never realize the danger until it’s too late! This is what you all deserve for being incapable of visualizing your future!”
Moritsugu and the others arrive right then, but they’re immediately attacked: Sawatari has arrived with another batch of troops. Riku isn’t happy to see him, though, as he’d clearly said that he didn’t want any help from him or his men. He did, but Katou himself ordered Sawatari to get out here and kill our folks, so that’s what he’s doing!
Ishigami’s looking and is slightly concerned: first hostages and now an ambush? Oh, dear. Arnie has left to bring in Kouichi, hoping to convince him to change his mind, but things aren’t looking good.
“Then I guess my hands are tied. I’ll go and prostrate myself before the Champion of Justice as well,” Ishigami ponders. “And if even that doesn’t work… then Ms. Kizaki will handle the rest.”
: …: Yajima… nothing makes sense anymore. What would you do now…?*Door opens.*
: Kouichi…: Risako…!: Where have you been all this time? I was so worried about you.: … Yajima died in that accident… We already had the funeral…: I know…: That’s it…? Is nothing on your mind? Aren’t you feeling anything?: When are you going to stop shutting yourself off like that?!: Rrgh… What the hell do you think you know, huh?! I’ve always been shutting myself off! I… I…!: Kouichi…: D-Damn it…! I… I miss him too… so much…!: …: You don’t have to do that anymore…: What…?: That “tough guy” act. Try it all you want, that’s not who you are – that’s not the real Kouichi. Just be yourself… Even if no one accepts that Kouichi, I always will…: Risako…: Hm…?: …*Ring, ring!*
: ?! Of all the… Who is it?
: Heeello there, is this a Mr. Champion of Justice speaking?: ?!
: Aaah!: Th-This is too much, sis! We’re going to get overwhelmed!: Damn it, we’re pros, aren’t we?! We can’t go down like this…!
: Sorry, I didn’t quite catch that? What pros are ya talking about?: Us! The pros that kick the asses of trash like you for a living!: Ah, OK. Glad we got that sorted out. Then how about you try shooting back some?: ‘Course, that’d mean curtains for everyone in this city! Ahahahaha!: You piece of…!
: Just stand your ground for now, people. Make sure you don’t fire back at them, no matter what!: Easy for you to say! Gaah… We’ll get you all for this, just you wait!
Don’t attack Riku OR Sawatari, and instead continue to destroy everything else.
I’ve already cleared out Riku’s posse of mooks, and Sawatari’s gaggle is too far away. When our turn comes up…
: Hahaha! Aw, what’s the matter?! Weren’t you gonna kick our asses?!
: Gch… Blasted cowards!: Come again?! But they said they wouldn’t work with me!: True, true, but the fact is they fell right in a trap of that Katou Organization I told you about. Things are looking quite dire right now…: So I’d like to ask you to go help them out.: Wh-Why should I—?!: Oh, and we’ve a satellite feed of their cockpit. Take a look, will you?*Beep.*
: Uwaaaaaah!: Aiiieeee…!!: Th-That’s…!: Like I said, quite dire. And the enemy’s taken hostages, so they’re all sitting ducks out there. If some Champion of Justice doesn’t intervene – and soon – I fear they might die…: Now you’re threatening me…?: Don’t be silly – this is no threat. 
: This is a sincere plea for your help…!: …!: What’s wrong, Kouichi?! Did something happen?!: Tsk…!*Kouichi runs off.*
: Ko-Kouichi, wait…! Kouichi?!
: Goddamn it…! “Sincere plea”, my ass! Why’d you go and show that feed, then, huh…?! : What the hell does he want from me?! Yajima… what should I do now?!: Hayase…: You…! You’re that ex-soldier…: I’m glad you remembered. Mr. Ishigami asked me to come pick you up.: Pick me up…?: Hmph, you really got told off by that twin girl and you’re still going along with what the guy asked? You’re a real sucker, aren’t you? : Hahah… maybe I am. Still, she didn’t say anything untrue. I have just been drifting through life, aimless. : I joined the army because I wanted to protect the lives of others… But my idealized vision and reality were two completely different things. I was never really sure about what I was doing.: …: Still, there’s one thing I did figure out: there’re some people in this world I could never tolerate!: …?!: So you can call me a sucker and laugh right at my face, that’s fine. All that I want to do… is to protect the lives of others from those that are too evil to be left alone!: …: What matters isn’t what you should do… It’s what you want to do…!
: Urgh… Hrmm!: Psh… This bunch doesn’t know when to quit. I’m just about sick of messing with them.: Yo, Riku, go for it. Blow them up along with the city.: Wh-What…?!: Heeheehee… I don’t like taking orders from Sawatari, but fine. : Truth is, I’m also pretty bored here…: S-Stop! Don’t do it, I’m begging you!: Yeeheeheehee! Oh, now that’s music to my ears!: Take a look! This whole place is about to learn the true meaning of—
: O-Ow!: Wh-What was that…?!
SRW UX - Linebarrel (Full Intro)
: Hmhmhm… Ain’t easy being you, eh?: Wh-Who are you?! Where’d you come from?!
: What, can’t you imagine who I am?
: Because it’s pretty obvious: I’m a CHAMPION OF JUSTICE!: Ha-Hayase…!
: Thank god; looks like we got here in time!: Everyone, the hostages are safe! You don’t have to worry about them anymore!: Wh-Whaaat?!
: This is the WSO’s Gren Falcon Squad speaking!: We’ve found and disabled all of the explosive pellets!: Cpt. Scarlet!: With me, maggots! We’ve leaving this area pronto!
: Sir! Yes, sir!: Ahahah… Looks like our patience paid off!: And now we’re going to repay you in spades for all that abuse!: G-Go to hell, you!: Shizuna, Izuna! I… I saw you guys getting hurt out here. That was when I realized: I want to help you!: So I ask you two… What do you want me to do?!: …?!: They… They killed a buncha people who had nothing to do with any of this…: And we couldn’t do a damn thing to stop them…!: Sis…: So… Please, Hayase… kick their asses!: There we go… Now I know for sure what I want to do AND what I should do! You with me, Ensign Berge?: Aye, aye. And what we should do is one thing only: wreck all of them!: We’ll take care of the rest, guys!
: Hah, them’s fighting words I hear!: The name’s Takurou Sawatari, captain of the Katou Organization’s 4th Unit! Now come and get me, Horns!
: Everyone forward! Counterattack!
Yaoyorozu (Riku Ousei)
Pilot Skills:
Prevail L2
Support Attack L1
Guard
All Attack
Riku’s voice actor: Daisuke Sakaguchi (other roles: Jun in Aquarion, Shinpachi Shimura in Gintama, Uso in V Gundam and many more)
Riku and his bot are designed all around soaking up damage before tagging you with an Attack Down debuff. Both his attacks can do that but, thankfully, he’s not a terribly good shot (though that’ll be somewhat offset by his Prevail as it starts running).
The Yaoyorozu’s got superlative armor, but not all that much HP. Even with most of our troops at base morale, we should be able to barely kill him in one round. Best to get rid of him now, lest he debuff your guys and/or gain morale to trigger Guard, which’d only make him even bulkier.
Linebarrel (Kouichi Hayase)
Pilot Skills:
Factor – Baseline is 100
Prevail L2
Support Attack L1
Support Defense L1
All Attack
Spirit Commands:
Invincible
Strike
Mech Features:
Sword
Gun
10% HP Regen
Squad Bonus: Melee weapons’ power +100, Mobility +5 (Melee weapons +200, Mobility +20, S in Air, Range +1)
Kouichi’s voice actor: Tetsuya Kakihara (other roles: Simon in Gurren Lagann, Natsu Dragneel in Fairy Tail, Angelo in Gundam Unicorn, and many more)
Funnily enough, mangabarrel’s Kouichi joins with slightly better stats than the one in L – notable his Accuracy and Skill. As before, he’s a good all-around character, though he prefers melee attacks than ranged ones. The Linebarrel’s better geared towards dodging now, especially with that S rank I got him, but I reckon the lowered tankiness is merely to offset Kouichi’s huge battle regen. Like we saw in the previous mission, he’ll get back 50% of all damage he takes.
As far as attacks go, he’s got a mix of pre and post-movement attacks, with the majority (the three Executor attacks) being the former and very nice range coverage. He’s even got that MAPW he used before, which hits up to 8 squares in a straight line.
As before, the plot will demand that you field him throughout the game, but Kouichi and the Linebarrel are so good that you don’t have a good objective reason not to do it.
And, of course, his kill count matters for a secret: he needs 200 kills by the end of mission 44.
SRW UX - Future-Bound Fighting Spirit: Hurting people, taking their lives just for fun…!: What of it? Those who can’t even imagine their own fate don’t deserve to live!: You monster…! It’s you who doesn’t deserve to live!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frKEwuZzLbY
Didn’t connect, but it’s fine – all that happens is there’s a big explosion.
SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend: You’re about to learn that those who toy with the lives of others always get their due!: You’re the one who’s going to get her due for daring to stand up to me!
SRW UX - Linebarrel: Why don’t we go and find out whose imagination is greater, yours or mine?: I don’t care enough to compete with you. All I see here is an obstacle to remove.
SRW UX - The Eternal Soldiers: You can’t even imagine what’ll happen if you try to mess with me?!: Someone who can’t imagine the pain he’s causing others doesn’t have the right to use that word!
SRW UX - Linebarrel: You can’t imagine your future, so it’s up to me to grant one to you. Grant you a future of pure despair, that is!: Took the words right outta my mouth! Give him what he deserves, Izuna, and don’t hold anything back!: Okay… That man really doesn’t deserve any mercy!
SRW UX - Shadows that Rend Darkness: Come on! Let’s see what your imagination amounts to!: I’ll do more than that. I’ll teach you that true imagination means being able to grasp the pain of others!
SRW UX - Linebarrel
: Say your prayers, fatass!: Eeeheehee… Are you assuming my Yaoyorozu’s slow because of its bulky looks?: Your lack of imagination will cost you your life!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buYbX5q-ByI
Now that’s a very pretty DK.
: Wh-What… How could I have been…?!: What’s up? You look surprised!: …?!: Can it be that you didn’t imagine this outcome, I wonder? Seems to me that your imagination’s not all that either!: RrrghARAAAAARGH! You maggot! Trash! Worm! Piece of goddamn, worthless CRAP!: MY imagination is not all that?! I’LL SHOW YOU!!
: Wh-What’s he doing…?!: Yeehee… Eeeheeeheeee! You can’t even imagine this either, can you?! Too bad!: My imagination’ll always get the better of you! 
: Wha…?!: He self-destructed…?!: Kch… Are you kidding me? That’s not using your imagination, it’s just giving up! SRW UX - Tales of Mirisha ~ The Brave Legend: I cannot and will not ever tolerate fiends who’d use the people as shields!
SRW UX - Shadows that Rend Darkness: Come closer. I’ll pay you back with interest for all the pain you put my baby girl through!
SRW UX - Linebarrel: Now that was a filthy tactic if I ever saw one. And I am here to give you your just desserts. : Hahah, that just a lil’ game. Don’t get hung up on stuff like that, guy!
SRW UX - Future-Bound Fighting Spirit: How could you even consider killing innocent civilians as an acceptable tactic?!: Hey, we’ll do whatever it takes to get the job done. Just like your little gang, eh?!
SRW UX - Linebarrel: A random, totally average kid gets a whole bunch of power to use without eve breaking a sweat…: I swear, I hate Factors!: Bring it on, ya lowlife! I feel like I could take on anyone right about now!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4SMKYP19zY
: Hrk… Goddamn brats!: Done already? Then I’ll put an end to this!
: Gwaaaargh!: Hah… You’re not too clever, are you? Did you seriously think you could beat me with that…?: …?! Wh-What’s this chill down my spine… this anxiety…?: Am I actually afraid of him…?! No, no way…!: You better be ready, lowlife, ‘cause here I come!
: Ack…! Wh-What the hell is up with him… He’s like...!
: I-Is that how he’s really like?! I-I can’t stop shaking… WAAAAAAH!: What’s up, old man? You look like you’ve seen a monster or something!: ?! This cable… You didn’t!: Ah, I see what’s going on. When did you kids manage to tag him with the Nerve Crack?: Courtesy of all the openings in his guard. I could hit someone like that in my sleep!: Rrgh, so you’re doing this?! You tricksy little pricks!: What’re ya gonna do now, bud? Only way you’ll be safe from that big ol’ monster is by ditching your mech!: Damn… DAMN IT ALL! Next time I find you, you’re dead! You’re all dead!
: Hmph, did you say something? Because all I heard was a lot of whining!: Whew…: Did we… win?: Yeah… Yeah, we won!: Pah… He relies so much on the Linebarrel’s superior specs. What a ridiculous way of fighting…: Eh, I think we can let that slide. It’s some major progress compared to how he was before.: Major…: Let’s just be happy with this win, I say…
: Well, well… Looks I didn’t need your help today after all.
: I’m not what’s important right now… Are you really going to carry on with Kouichi Hayase, sir?: Do you take issue with that?: I seriously doubt he’ll be able to make good use of the Linebarrel. One needs only look at his actions thus far to see that.: Sooner or later, he…: Hmm… I understand that the Linebarrel means much to you. But the fact is that the Machina now means just as much to young Hayase. 
: Mr. Ishigami…: Why don’t we wait and see? Who knows, he might just wind up a real Champion of Justice…: …
And Riku’s survived, and very pissed at the humiliation he suffered today. Sawatari calls in, all like “Yo, buddy, still alive?” but Riku isn’t happy to hear from him. He would’ve won today had Sawatari not shown his face around here. He threw his plan off course and gave the enemy time to regroup!
Yeah, yeah, whatever – don’t get your panties in twist and come back to base. After Sawatari ends the call, Riku is left fuming. That piece of crap, Kouichi, dares berate his imagination?! Riku’s gonna get him for this! He’ll rain hell right on top of that kid! Yeeheeeheeheee!
Kouichi’s got a new suit – standard issue for all JUDA employees – and Ogawa thinks it looks quite good on him. “I’m already having second thoughts about this,” he sighs and Ogawa has a laugh at his big mouth persisting even after his change in attitude.
Arnie does ponder that he shouldn’t keep wearing this Fed uniform forever – maybe he should ask Richard for something? Ogawa suggests he doesn’t, as while Richard may be an amazing pilot, he’s a bit peculiar in regards to other things – including fashion. Arnie would probably wind up wearing bright yellow tights or something. That doesn’t sound good.
Shizuna and Izuna walk on over, and Kouichi asks if she’s here to yell at them again. “N-No! I… w-well… Hayase, Arnie, I…” Yes? Izuna pokes her not to chicken out now: “Um, I… Thank you for what you did today…” Shizuna says eventually.
But the atmosphere is quickly diffused as Kouichi stammers that he’s still blown away by how much Shizuna and Izuna look alike. Of course they do – they’re twins, damn it! Sure, but Shizuna’s a girl, so she should try to at least look different from her brother. And he’s got an idea of something that could help… which he tries offering to Izuna. “Hayaseee! You did that on purpose…!”
But before Shizuna’s done yelling, Kouichi inches over and pins her hair a wee bit back with his tie clip. That should make it way easier to tell them apart. Shizuna’s stunned for all of five seconds before yelling at him to piss right off and stomping away (Izuna runs after her).
Well, Arnie figures that was her way of opening up to them and Ogawa also thinks so. That said, what’s Kouichi going to do now? What does she mean? That isn’t it about time he faced his best friend and paid his respects?
: (Yajima… I know I’m really late for this, but…): I figured I’d find you here, Kouichi…: Risako?! You too…?: Whenever I’ve the time, yeah… I kind of feel like I can talk to Yajima again when I’m here…: …: But I’m glad you decided to come over. I know you two weren’t in the best of places the last few days…: That was because of me… I was a complete idiot…: Kouichi…: Yajima was right all along… He never once stopped believing in me… And, still, I…: …: I know it’s too late for me to say this… but I have to say it anyway…: I don’t think it’s too late at all…: Risako…: What matters… is what you want to do, right?: …!: Don’t get hung up on “should haves” – focus on what you’ll do from here on out. I’m sure that’s what he would’ve said…: …: Yeah… Thanks, Risako…
Back at JUDA, Richard’s just gotten word that the Celestial Being are coming to Earth – seems the goodwill ambassador has finished her talks with the Frontier Fleet. They're accompanying the Elshank and coming to join up with us.
Having that famous group on our side sure makes Ishigami rest easier, but the Elshank has a problem: they’ve got almost no fuel left. Scarlet and Tsubasa think the WSO may be able to help with that: the ship let them have a sample to analyze and, from what they’ve seen, it’s possible to refine something extremely similar to the Elshank’s Kylhasium from a mineral found on Earth.
That’s great news for everyone and Ishigami will let the ship know… only there’s a catch. Said mineral is only found on a certain, very “unique”, island. As luck would have it, the place is the site of the WSO’s upcoming operation: a lone island far southwest of Japan, wholly isolated from the world behind the so-called Gravity Curtain.
Saya knows where this is going and doesn’t like it: it’s the infamous Machine Island.
And the one convo we missed today:
: Why don’t ya start crying and screaming again, girlie? I might let you keep your life if you do! Hahahahahaa!: Yeah, run your mouth while ya still can, jerk! Give us a sec and we’re gonna have ya crying so bad, you ain’t even gonna see five feet ahead!