"Glory" prt 02

[garde723]

[OOC: I messed up my previous write up for Glory part 02. Please ignore it in favor of this one. Thanks.]

Later after everyone is treated, and Hiyama and Hoshijiro have left, Nagate decided to rest for a bit. Still concerned and touched by his defending them, Izana decided to stay and read while he slept. Merely in case he needed help or further medical attention of course. Picking up their datapad, they set to reading, occasionally glancing to ensure Nagate was alright; at least until a knock sounded and the door opened. Expecting Hiyama, Izana didn't bother to stand but looked up, only to see Mochikuni Akai, star pilot and four time winner of the Garde Duels.

Iznana immediately stood, cheeks flaming in embarrassment, but Akai waved her off. "It that Nagate Tanikaze sleeping there?" He asked with a grin.

Izana nodded and turned to try and shake their friend awake. "Nagate! Nagate!"

"Don't bother waking him," Akai said quickly, though likely he didn't need to. Nagate was out cold. Akai tilted his head to the side, seeming to recognize Izana. "Aren't you one of the cadets that was on the extraction mission also?"

"Yes, Sir!" They said with a salute. "Shinatose Izana!"

"Me and my team, we're going to the sea tomorrow and we were hoping he could join us. Would you mind extending our invitation for me? Once he's awake"

"Wow!" Izana replied, unable to hide their enthusiasm, having always wanted to see Sidonia's marine section. "Yes, yes. Of course." They added with a slight bow.

"You can come too." Akai added, with a smile for Izana's somewhat restrained enthusiasm.

"What? Do you really mean it? Wow, thank you!"

Izana managed to wait, keeping their composure for a full three minutes after Akai closed the door before leaping in the air, arms raised, and squealing in excitement. 

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[garde723]

Izana stood at the submersible's handrail and gazed out into the sea with wonder. The submersible was the size of a small room, maybe four meters squared, and shaped like a glass bubble so that there were no interrupted views; well, except for beneath and behind. The engines and air filters had to go somewhere. Out in the water it was dark but schools of sardines, salmon, tuna, and many other fish could be seen in the light of the submersible’s flood lamps. Izana was even certain they could see the large shadows of whale sharks out farther and, as they watched, an oar fish and a sea turtle swam beneath them. Nagate wasn't quite as enthralled as they were but Izana could tell he was impressed.

They shared the submersible with two of Akai's team; Kashiwade Aoki, a tall and dark haired man, and Midorikawa Izumo, who was slightly shorter, lanky, and green haired. Madorikawa seemed familiar to Izana though they couldn't quite place why. Both had been friendly and welcoming to the cadets, encouraging them not to stand on protocol and etiquette, but to relax and be casual.

"Akai and Momose should've joined us too." Nagate mused as he looked about at all the fish.

"These submarine pods only hold four people, Nagate." Izana points out, craning their neck to watch a manta ray swim above them.

"Let's give those guys some alone time. This might be their last date, you know?" Midorikawa comments with a flippant air.

"Midorikawa!" Kashiwade scolds, his eye brows knitting.

"Sorry, sorry. I was just kidding." Midorikawa scoffs, answering the eye brows with a light laugh.

By now Izana and Nagate have turned. "What did you mean, this could be the last?" Izana asks.

"The gauna that attacked your expedition team, the one we knocked back with the heavy mass canon? It is on the move now," Kashiwade replies. "It's heading towards Sidonia."

Izana and Nagate gasp, right as Midorikawa adds, "The four of use were selected to be part of the strike team."

At Izana's shocked and worried expression, he smiles. "Hey, don't look at us like that, Shinatose. I was only kidding around. Come on."

"Akai mentioned it to us," Kashiwade assures. "All the reservations he had disappeared when he met you the other day."

"What?" Nagate asked, clearly shocked.

"He said, ‘Not even the man who battled the gauna could beat an empty stomach’.” Midorikawa clarified, putting his hand on his hip.

"Oh, well, that's..." Nagate started to say before Kashiwade and Midorikawa interrupted him by laughing.

"That's why we're sure to beat the gauna. Wait and see." Kashiwade promised.

"Right," Nagate replied just as Midorikawa's phone chimed. When he answered it, the whole pod could hear the strident voice of the caller. "REALLY? COME ON! Did you really go to the sea with Tanikaze?" it said and Midorikawa grimaced.

"Yuhata," Midorikawa tried to interject with no luck. "Why didn't you invite me too?!? I hate you so much!"