The bustling atmosphere along with its vibrant laughter, neverending cheers and countless congratulations started to gradually fade out. The moment the hangar's giant roller shutters reached the ground, thousands of voices were reduced to a quiet mumble.

The stress and tension eased up, and my body was finally able to find some rest.

I already felt unable to do so much as stand right after the battle. However now—after just another event that used up the last bit of my energy... After all those people who kept talking, and kept congratulating me. After all this, it was already a difficult task trying to breath, let alone to speak.

I didn't exactly keep track of time, but it felt like hours before I managed to escape the crowd. I said 'escape', however... In reality, I don't think I did. I probably went more with the flow than anything else.

Fortunately Super GunBuild-1 took over most of the attention at some point, giving me a good opportunity to sneak away. And so, I found myself at this old airport hangar—the very same place where it all began.

Without the shutters being opened there was an absolute lack of natural sunlight. Usually, I would have turned on the lights right away. However... it seemed like someone else already did so. That's right—

Almost a decade ago—right here, on this very island—'her' idea was born. In fact, not merely an idea... Her wish went far beyond that.

No matter how ambitious, no matter how foolish. 'She' continued to pursue her goals. Following the dream that sparked from her wish. And in the end—as that dream crossed the border of reality—she was no longer on her own.

In this very moment... the person caught up in that girls' dreams the most. She was right here.

Kneeing in the corner of the room, in front of her covers that spread out all over the floor. And on top of them: 'Her' slender and seemingly weary figure. The figure of a person that has finally returned home—after seven long years.

The girl whose dreams—unreachable as they may have been—finally became true. Right here, on this long forgotten airport. A far off place in the middle of nowhere, that all of a sudden became a spark full of hope.

And at the same time, the girl who chose to become the enemy of the entire world. In exchange for her dreams and hopes, in order to protect what she cherished most of all: A mere two children, who long since became an important part of her life.

I closed the distance to Misa-nee and sat down on the other side of her enfeebled body, right in front of Akiho. Misa-nee was still covered by the bodysuit she wore while piloting KAMINAGI. Even now, she appeared to be unconscious—only her breast moved to the rhythm of her breathing.

I directed my gace at her face. Her eyes were completely closed, her face expressionless. On the right side I could see a long scar, probably caused by the pile bunker that hit KAMINAGI's pilot hatch during the battle.

Even so her face was still reminiscent of the person she has shown to the world—the smart and beautiful PR-girl, that used to appear in ExCo's HUG announcements.

Akiho slightly shakes her head in response to my question, a regretful expression on her face.

Right after the battle, the two of us made a decision. Had we called an ambulance right away neither of us might have seen Misa-nee again. After all, it still hold true she carried out a crime that can never be forgiven. Police might have been involved and for what came after... we wouldn't know.

For one last time, Akiho and I wanted to bring Misa-nee to the abandoned airport hangar. To the very place where the Robotics Club was born. If she were to wake up, we wanted her to remember...

That dream.

A dream, that must have seemed forgotten and buried ever since the day she left.

“I wonder... will you ever see this place again?", Akiho whispered, gently holding Misa-nee's right hand.

Something wet dropped onto her nose, leaving behind a moist trail as it slowly moved down her cheek. I looked up... was Akiho crying?

That's right. Nine years ago, following that unforgettable incident...

'You' were never leaving her side. Silently praying, and desperately hoping—just like Aki-chan is now. Still waiting for 'you' to finally wake up.

Carried away by Akiho's sentimentality, I tried to put some off my own thoughts into words.

Despite becoming an object of ridicule. Despite being Misa-nee's legacy, that noone besides Akiho acknowledged for the longest time.

It was difficult to remember all the names and faces of who I've been talking to. A few of them however... I won't forget that easily.

Admittedly, none of them joined of their own accord. However, devoting their talents to GunBuild-1, all of them pursued their individual dreams.

Without the overwhelming support this whole island gave to us, where would we have ended up? Without all those skillful hands, and all those brilliant minds? Just how much of GunBuild's final modifications were thanks to them.

That was as much as I could say, before...

A sharp word cut me off mid-sentence. As if it sliced straight through my throat, what I had left to say became stuck in inside. That voice—