The Finals of the individual competition was Yuki Asahi versus Nikolai.
It was a pity. Yuki Asahi did not achieve the double championship.
The crown of the individual competition was taken by Nikolai, who was also an Emergent Body.
Nikolai seemed to be genuinely here just to have fun.
The imagined attack on Cuiyue also did not happen.
It seemed that suggestive gesture was simply to tease someone who could influence the world within the anime—oh my, this Chongzhong is so mean.
No matter how reluctant anyone was, GSAC finally came to an end. Japan was about to step into an unknown era.
What would future generations call this era?
She didn’t know. Jiang Jian Yue no longer had the heart to care about such things.
June 16th, Yuki Asahi’s birthday.
Jiang Jian Yue finished dressing and looked at the sleeping boy on the bed. She gently leaned down and left a kiss on his face, which was overflowing with happiness.
Yesterday, the war between Europe and Africa officially began. It wasn’t just Europe.
Due to the move against East Africa, Sunni countries also felt a deep sense of crisis and joined forces with Europe to fight against the evil superpower empire from Central Africa.
Africa needed her.
Jiang Jian Yue knew these background stories would definitely not be recorded in the anime.
The Soviet-uniformed man beside Nikolai who appeared in the OP, and the Commander Ikari from the Curtain Cluster, had not yet made an appearance.
Even that Shadow Girl and Catherine were still lingering in Japan after GSAC ended—could they really just be here as tourists?
The Shock Core of The Light Extinguishers… the Curtain Cluster… the unresolved anomaly in Seoul that still hadn’t been dealt with…
Yuki Asahi’s story in Japan was still continuing, but she… had to leave.
She couldn’t possibly be involved in everything, right? Wouldn’t that make her the main character?
At the door, Akimoto Miki gave a slight bow and asked softly, “Missy? Why are you sneaking away? Wouldn’t it be better to say goodbye to Yuki-kun?”
Jiang Jian Yue sniffled and shook her head. “I’m afraid… I’m afraid I’ll soften.”
Jiang Jian Yue was afraid she’d have a sudden rush of emotion and tell headquarters she wasn’t going!
She hated being love-struck, so she hardened her heart and decided to leave without saying goodbye.
“He… is no longer a child. You all shouldn’t treat him like a child anymore either.”
Akimoto Miki’s expression turned strange. It seemed like within the entire company, the one who most treated Yuki Asahi like a child was you!
“Let’s go.”
The VIP passage at Tokyo Haneda Airport was cold and empty, only the roar of engines faintly echoing under the vaulted ceiling.
Jiang Jian Yue stood before the huge floor-to-ceiling window. Her crimson pupils reflected a private jet painted with the DRG logo outside.
“Missy, all preparations are complete. We are ready for takeoff at any time.”
Akimoto Miki’s voice sounded from behind.
“The latest intelligence summary from the Africa Headquarters has been uploaded to your Personal Terminal. The front line… the situation is very bad.”
Jiang Jian Yue didn’t turn around, only giving a soft “Mmm.”
Her fingertips unconsciously traced the cold glass, as if she could touch the city she was about to leave far behind.
“Miki.”
“After I leave, the Japan side… proceed according to plan. The ‘Strategic Concession’ must be thorough. Let them perform to their heart’s content.”
“Protect… the people who need protecting.”
“Yes, Missy.”
Akimoto Miki bowed deeply. “Please… be sure to take care of yourself.”
Jiang Jian Yue took one last look at Tokyo’s hazy skyline outside the window, as if wanting to etch the city’s outline into her heart.
No matter what, this was also the place where she had lived for eighteen years. More or less… she still had some feelings for it.
She turned and walked towards the boarding gate.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
…
Yuki Asahi woke up to a sudden, intense palpitation in his heart.
Sunlight pierced through the gaps in the heavy curtains, stinging his eyes.
He instinctively reached out to pull the person beside him closer, but his hand touched only cold sheets.
“Tsuki-chan?”
He sat up groggily, rubbing his eyes.
The room was empty. He was alone.
A strong sense of unease lingered in his heart.
He jumped out of bed barefoot and pushed open the bedroom door.
There was no sign of the girl.
Yuki Asahi returned to the bedroom and picked up his mobile phone. There was a message from Morita Aoya.
With trembling fingers, Yuki tapped to open it. There was only a brief piece of text and a voice message:
“Missy departed at 6 a.m. this morning via private jet for the DRG Africa Branch to handle urgent matters. Date of return is undetermined. Wishing you well. Please focus on yourself.”
Immediately following was Jiang Jian Yue’s voice, calm without a ripple:
“Darling, I’ve left. Going to handle some trouble.”
“Don’t look for me. Do what you need to do.”
“You’re no longer the boy who needs to hide in my shadow… Wait for me to come back.”
The voice message cut off abruptly.
“Left…?”
Yuki Asahi stood frozen in place, holding the communicator.
Why?
Why wouldn’t she even say goodbye in person?
Yuki Asahi quickly figured it out. Jiang Jian Yue was afraid she would soften…
Seeing the news about the outbreak of the Europe-Africa war, Yuki had already had a premonition.
It was just that, for the past two days, Yuki hadn’t dared to ask that question.
She’ll come back safely, right…?
…
At the same time, in Mejiro, the middle floor of the “Moon” building, the newly established “Special Affairs Response Division.”
Cuiyue surveyed the slightly empty office.
The huge floor-to-ceiling window looked out onto Tokyo’s busy streets. Inside, there were only simple office desks, chairs, and a few computers.
Tsk, and they’re AMD computers at that.
After handling her “family affairs,” Cuiyue officially joined DRG.
Her onboarding process was ridiculously simple.
Akimoto Miki had only given her a high-authority ID Card and an internal codename: “Sister.”
DRG’s benefits were generous, but the atmosphere… was completely different from the bustling, energetic image of a multinational giant.
It exuded a low-key, even desolate feeling.
DRG is doomed…
However, Cuiyue, who had no great ambitions, couldn’t be bothered to care about so much. She’d work for a day’s pay and be a good, honest employee.
“Hello, I’m Inoue Long, head of the Special Affairs Response Division. Welcome to DRG.”
A young blond man walked out of the file room, carrying a stack of documents. He placed them on a desk and greeted Cuiyue.
“Your task, during the period Missy is away from Japan, is to serve as a stand-in. At other times, assist the trio.”
The trio referred to the three current leaders of DRG Japan Branch—the legendary Major-domo Morita Aoya, the strict Head Maid Akimoto Miki.
And Hattori Koji.
“Oh, but we…”
Cuiyue pointed at the photo of Jiang Jian Yue hanging on the whiteboard, then pointed at her own short hair—freshly cut. “Anyone can tell we’re different, right?”
After half a year of experiences, Cuiyue’s mental state had changed somewhat.
Combined with differences in aura, hairstyle, and build, Cuiyue looked more like… Jiang Jian Yue’s impoverished older sister who had been lost among the common people.
Huh? Was that the meaning behind the internal codename “Sister”?
Inoue Long smiled and shook his head. “We have superpowers now. Why are you still worried about that?”
Suddenly, his internal communicator rang. After a series of “Yes, yes, yes,” Inoue Long said seriously, “There’s no time for training, ‘Sister.’ There’s a press conference you need to attend.”
“Huh? But I saw that Missy… doesn’t seem to attend press conferences much, right?” Cuiyue asked, stunned.
“…If Missy doesn’t want to attend, of course we wouldn’t make her. But you’re here to work, you know.”
Inoue Long wore a puzzled expression, his tone faintly sarcastic. “Could it be you really are Missy’s sister?”
“Uh… I’m a NEET.”
“This is work…”
“Alright…”