Chapter Text
I sprint through the school building at full speed without a care for my surroundings. I vaguely recall some rule or manner about not running in the hallways, but at this very moment, none of that matters.
This achievement—this monumental feat—must be shared first and foremost with none other than my research assistant!
"Noa—!!"
BANG! I throw the door open with enough force to nearly break it. At the same time, I shout her name—and in response, a single girl turns to face me.
".........I've told you before, Apollo-kun. No running in the hallways. And don't slam doors open like that."
"Sorry! But I was in a hurry! I just couldn't wait to see you, Noa!"
Ushio Noa—a second-year student at Millennium Science School, the Seminar's secretary, my childhood friend, and my research assistant.
"Sigh... Alright, what did you come here for?"
"Glad you asked! Ta-daaa!"
I pull out the tablet I'd been clutching to my chest and thrust it toward Noa. Her calm expression doesn't falter as she takes it with practiced ease.
"Black... No, wait. This is... stars? A camera in... space?"
Displayed on the screen is an endless expanse of darkness—and within it, the faint glimmer of distant light.
"That's right—! The Apollo Project has finally taken a huge leap forward!"
The Apollo Project—a grand, history-changing endeavor led by me, Hoshizora Apollo, and my assistant, Ushio Noa, to propel humanity beyond the skies... into outer space.
There was no particular reason for it. Ever since I was a child, I just wanted to go beyond the sky. Not just gaze at the stars, but touch them with my own hands, walk among them with my own feet, see them with my own eyes. As I grew older, that dream only grew stronger, taking clearer shape—
"Rejoice, my research assistant! With Apollo 6, we've finally reached outer space!"
"..............."
Noa's face doesn't light up—instead, she silently stares at the tablet, scrutinizing it intently. After a long moment, she finally looks up at me... and lets out a slow, deep sigh.
"...Well, congratulations, I guess. I suppose I should return the favor."
"Hah-ha! No need to hide your excitement, Assistant! This is a moment for us to share—our joint achievement!"
"I'm not your assistant. How many times do I have to say it?"
—Ah, so she's just playing it cool.
Noa has always been a composed girl. People have their own social personas to maintain, and I suppose unrestrained jubilation doesn't suit hers. Must be tough, but I get it. I can read between the lines—her true feelings aren't lost on me.
".........Actually, this is perfect timing. The Seminar has something to discuss with you, Apollo-kun."
My heart skips a beat.
"First, regarding your club, the 'Stellar Pioneers Club'... Currently, you're the only member. All the achievements you've submitted so far are failed prototypes of small rockets... Frankly, it's on the verge of being shut down."
"WHAAAT?! There are two members—me and you, Noa!"
"I'm part of the Seminar."
Noa's words hit me like a death sentence.
The Stellar Pioneers Club—as the name suggests, is a club dedicated to reaching and exploring the stars... space itself. Officially, the members are just me and Noa, but admittedly, that's an extremely small number. Even the Game Development Club has more people than us.
Then there's the matter of results. I'm already a second-year, but all I've ever submitted to the Millennium Prize are failed small-scale rockets. Sure, each one was a crucial step forward, even if they never reached space... but that's not enough to be recognized as actual achievements.
No results, no members—if this continues, the Stellar Pioneers Club will be disbanded. That's just how Millennium operates. If we lose the club, we lose our budget. And without funding, our dream slips further out of reach.
"But hey, isn't this time different? The rocket actually made it to space! It's nothing like the failed attempts from Apollo 1 through 5!"
"......Well, I suppose this should be enough for the Millennium Prize this time. But the real problem is what comes after. It took six rockets just to reach space... How many more do you think it'll take before we can actually send a person up there and let them move around freely?"
"Hmm........."
Reaching space is a one-time achievement. The real issue is what follows. The Apollo 6 only managed to send a small camera into space—getting to the point where we can launch a human and let them explore freely will require far more time and funding.
Before the Stellar Pioneers Club gets shut down, we need to produce something new—something groundbreaking.
"Oh, and one more thing—"
I've already had enough bad news for one day—is there really more? She truly is merciless. But then again, that's exactly what makes her the perfect research assistant.
"The lab you keep blowing up, and the damage to the school building from the wreckage of Apollo 1 through 6... Make sure you thank Yuuka-chan properly later for cleaning up after you."
"──Seriously, thank you! I'll go thank her right now!"
I can't waste another second.
I must rush to express my gratitude—both in words and with a gift—to the Seminar's treasurer, who's so kind to my research assistant. I've already blown most of my funds on the Apollo 6, so I can't offer much... but I'll make sure my appreciation comes across loud and clear.
Taking the tablet back from Noa, I bolt out of the room without a second glance.
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"......Sigh."
In the now-quiet room left in the wake of the storm, I let out a sigh. Watching that retreating back dart away—once again ignoring all common sense about not running in hallways or slamming doors—I silently close the door behind him.
"Honestly..."
Ushio Noa and Hoshizora Apollo—we've been childhood friends since elementary school, through middle school, and now here. Somehow, despite everything, that loud, single-minded boy and I are still connected.
The one thing you can't separate from Hoshizora Apollo is his obsession with space. I don't know when or why it started, but at some point, he began staring at the stars like they were the only thing that mattered. Sunny days, rainy days, morning, night—to him, it's all just part of the universe. A place he's determined to reach.
No matter how absurd his goal might seem, having a dream is a good thing. Even if I've lost count of how much trouble he's caused me, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't captivated by the way he keeps pushing forward, trial after trial, failure after failure.
"The next Millennium Prize is in a week... Not that he's prepared anything for the presentation, of course."
He's got a good memory—not as good as mine, but still. Knowing him, he definitely hasn't properly documented the theories or equations behind his rockets. And considering how often his clubroom gets blown up, there might not even be any records left. In the past, some things survived by sheer luck, but you could hardly call them "well-preserved."
"I swear, I feel more like his caretaker than anything else."
I glance at the clock on the wall and speed up my work just a little.
"Can Hoshizora Apollo really reach space?" It's a common topic at Millennium. Given how much he stands out, it's no surprise he draws attention from the student body. And with each iteration, his small rockets grow more refined—slowly but surely inching closer to space.
This time, he finally made it. Not only did his rocket reach space, but it even sent back real-time footage. The Stellar Pioneers Club will never gain new members even if the world turns upside down, but at least the discussions about it might get more lively now.
"......No, no. That's a good thing, isn't it?"
I shake my head, dispelling the dark thoughts that briefly clouded my mind. As a Millennium student, it's only natural to acknowledge his achievements—even if some people still treat it as a joke, not quite sure how serious he really is. It's a little sad, but... that's just how it is.
"I'm not getting any work done like this."
I didn't expect my thoughts to be so consumed by him the moment I was alone. Maybe I'm happier about his success than I realized.
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"Apollo-kun? I'm coming in— Ugh, that burnt smell..."
"Hm? Oh! Perfect timing, Assistant!"
Noa opens the door to my lab, her face twisting at the familiar scent of singed metal clinging to the air. But her expression seems more than just annoyed by the smell—is there something else bothering her? I can't tell.
"So, what brings you here, Assistant?"
"I'm not your assistant. ...The Millennium Prize is in a week. Are your presentation materials ready?"
"? If they were, you wouldn't need to be here, would you?"
"If they're not done, just say so!"
"No need to yell! It's mostly finished! I was planning to finalize it once you got here!"
Noa lets out a long sigh, then pulls out her tablet, ready to help. Honestly, this is beyond just "helpful"—it's practically a tradition at this point. Every Millennium Prize, she's here. I really owe her one.
"......This isn't bad."
After listening to my explanations and presumably absorbing all the data, Noa gives her succinct verdict. Surprisingly positive—usually, I'd get a much harsher scolding.
"It's actually properly done this time, unlike your usual 'mostly finished' drafts. And the documentation is, for once, in decent shape."
"Of course. Apollo 6 is different from the others."
Apollo 6 marks a major milestone for me. I put my heart and soul into this one.
"Apollo 1 through 5 were just failures. I only submitted them because I had to—I never really intended to show them to the world. But Apollo 6? I knew it could reach space. That's why I documented everything properly from the start."
"......Yeah, the writing's noticeably different too. If your old 'mostly finished' drafts were ancient hieroglyphs, this one's at least in hiragana. Much easier to understand."
"I'm a pioneer. Someday, someone else will walk this path. When that happens, Apollo 6's records will be a reference. I couldn't half-ass it."
"It's weirdly unsettling when you say something sensible..."
"Rude!"
Noa looks up from the screen, her gaze nostalgic, almost affectionate. Noticing my confusion, she smiles faintly before speaking.
"......It's nostalgic. Feels like just yesterday you came running to me, overjoyed after building your first rocket. It was around this time of day, too."
"You mean that glorified firework that was Apollo 1? Ugh, forget about that—wait, no, you never will."
"Nope. The way it exploded is still burned into my memory."
Apollo 1—our first step, and a black history I'd rather forget. Its grand finale was a spectacular mid-air explosion at 50 meters. Noa laughed hysterically. I moped for three days straight. Now it's a funny story, but back then? Pure trauma.
"Gah! Enough about that! Let's just focus on the Millennium Prize!"
"Hehe, sure."
In the end, the Stellar Pioneers Club won a "Special Award" at the Millennium Prize. I'm not entirely sure what it means, but it's probably even cooler than first place.
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"Nngh—!"
I stretch my back, exhaling deeply as I work out the stiffness. The Seminar's workload has been heavy lately, but it's finally easing up. For today, at least—tomorrow will bring new tasks.
"I'll be heading out first, Yuuka-chan."
"Ah— I'm almost done too. Wanna grab dinner together?"
It's an offer I've heard often recently. Hayase Yuuka, my classmate and the Seminar's treasurer—on days like this, when we're at Millennium until the sky grows dark, we often share a meal.
But—today's a little different.
"Sorry, Yuuka-chan. I need to check on Apollo-kun today."
"Oh... again?"
"Yes, again."
Yuuka's face twitches. She always makes this expression when I mention going to see Apollo-kun. Sure, Hoshizora Apollo might seem like someone who thinks of nothing but space, but at his core, he's just a relentlessly earnest boy.
"...Noa, you're way too lenient with him, aren't you?"
"...Is that so?"
"You weren't even the one who proposed that 'Stellar Pioneers Special Award.' At first I thought he was blackmailing you or something."
"But everyone approved of it, didn't they? The excitement was nearly as much as for first place."
"Still... that club's weirdly popular for having barely any members. Are you guys doing something shady behind the scenes?"
"? We're just conducting normal activities."
As she began gathering her things, Noa noticed Yuuka's unconvinced expression. It was true—Apollo had become popular. He was the one who declared he'd reach space, and through relentless effort, he'd actually made it happen.
Can Hoshizora Apollo really go to space?
After the Millennium Prize, that question no longer carried the tone of a joke. Among Millennium's students, the idea that Hoshizora Apollo might truly pioneer the cosmos was starting to feel like a tangible possibility.
"...So, what exactly do you do when you go to Apollo's place?"
"Cooking, cleaning... that sort of thing. Lately, he's been even more absorbed in his research than usual."
"Well, if you're fine with it, I won't complain... But... Do you like Apollo?"
"...Does it seem that way?"
Like—or perhaps love. Affection between people came in many forms, but Yuuka was clearly asking about romantic feelings. Did Noa harbor those for Hoshizora Apollo?
If asked directly... she didn't know the answer. Objectively speaking, Apollo was undeniably likable—both in appearance and personality—and Noa certainly thought so herself.
But whether that constituted romantic affection... even after considering it, she couldn't say.
"Come on, no normal person would baby a guy they don't like like that."
"...He's a good person. And—at this point, I just want to see how far he'll go."
"W-What's with that look...?! I've never seen you make that expression before!"
"Oh? Was my face really that strange?"
For some reason, Yuuka's cheeks flushed slightly as she raised her voice. Noa patted her own face but couldn't detect anything unusual.
"Well, I shouldn't keep him waiting too long, so I'll—hm?"
A familiar notification chime rings from my phone. The sender? Hoshizora Apollo himself. The message reads:
"'Will be out of contact for a while. Take care of things.' .........What exactly am I supposed to 'take care of'? Yuuka-chan, it seems I've been stood up. Shall we get dinner after all?"
"That guy's seriously the worst!!"
A week? Two? Maybe even a month? Sooner or later, he'll come back, dragging another failure with him—that's how it's always been.
A month passed. No word.
Three months passed. Still nothing.
Then the Chroma invaded—and still, no contact.
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"Just a little more... Almost there......!"
My heart pounds wildly as I desperately suppress my excitement. Beneath what should have been a blazing desert sun, I continue working on my life's ambition—a ship that will finally reach space.
For the past three months, I've been completely cut off from society, doing nothing but building this vessel. And honestly? This weird place isn't half bad. The sky's been turning red in real-time, and every now and then, I catch glimpses of these huge, snake-like shadows slithering around. This desert sure knows how to keep things interesting.
Sand is the natural enemy of precision machinery, but I've taken all the necessary precautions. You won't find a better spot for this kind of work.
"Alright, alright, just a bit more... Hm?"
Suddenly, the ground begins to tremble violently. It doesn't feel like an earthquake—more like the epicenter is right beneath me. I glance around, scanning the horizon—
"—Wha—WHAT THE—?!"
Unbelievable! A gigantic ship is rising from the sand! It's monstrously huge...! Something like that could easily fly to space—my instincts are never wrong! No doubt about it!
......But, well.
"Some kind of ancient relic? Tch. Or just another idiot who wants to go to space?"
I can't wrap my head around the idea of relying on something pre-existing instead of building it yourself. The real value of space lies in the journey—from zero to a hundred, achieved through your own hands and the help of your comrades. Just getting there isn't enough.
"Tch, probably some Kaiser junk. Go ahead, knock yourself out. Not interested... Aaaand—DONE! Time to call Noa!"
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The sky burns crimson, and endless waves of monsters pour forth from the false Sanctum Tower. The Chroma—the unprecedented calamity currently ravaging Kivotos.
From the operation to reclaim Schale to the united efforts of students across academies under the guidance of Sensei—everyone is fighting back. And of course, that includes me.
"......He's back. After vanishing for three months, this is the first message I get? How very like him."
A single terse notification, accompanied by coordinates—his first contact in three months. Strangely, I don't feel angry. Given the current state of Kivotos, I should ignore this. Once this disaster is over, I can hear him out properly.
"Alright. Let's go."
The fact that I reached this conclusion so easily makes me realize just how much he's rubbed off on me. The coordinates point to the Abydos Desert—if public transport isn't running, I'll just have to run there myself.
"Welcome back, my trusty assistant! It's been three months!"
"Yes, three months. Thank you so much for that heartwarming message. Glad to see you haven't changed."
After crossing the desert, I'm greeted by Apollo, covered in sand. A simple tent sits nearby—apparently, he's been living here all this time.
But my attention barely lingers on that. My eyes are locked onto the ship resting before us.
"BEHOLD! The fruit of Apollo 7 through 10's sacrifices—a fully operational space shuttle! It's armed, and I even installed a recovery pod that can fully heal one person!"
"You're going alone, right? Who's going to pilot it if something happens to you?"
"Wasn't designed with me in mind! There might be injured aliens drifting around out there, y'know!"
White hull, black wings—more like a small aircraft than his previous rockets. The shift in design is jarring, to say the least.
"......I hate to say this, but now might not be the best time. The sky's... a bit of a mess right now."
Assuming he doesn't know—having been isolated for three months—I explain the situation. The Chroma's invasion, Sensei's departure into the sky to stop it... It's cruel, but his safety comes first—
"......Quit the nonsense. Did you get rusty while I was gone? This—(an absolutely fascinating phenomenon happening right in front of us)—is exactly why I've been reaching for the stars!"
"......Huh?"
It hits me like a punch to the head.
Why did Hoshizora Apollo start reaching for the stars?
Now that I think about it... I never actually knew. I assumed it was just a dream, the kind anyone might have. But if what he just said is true—
"Apollo-kun... Don't tell me you—"
Did he know about this? Or at least anticipate it? If so, then his obsession with space, his three months of isolation—everything suddenly makes sense.
Hoshizora Apollo is stubborn, yet brilliant. What if he was the only one who sensed this crisis, unable to tell anyone, dedicating his entire life to preparing for it—?
The shuttle isn't built for one. Sensei and the others must have an escape plan, but what if something goes wrong? This shuttle could reach space—and even bring back those who couldn't return.
"......So no one gets left behind?"
I underestimated him. Just like everyone else who treated his efforts as a joke, I failed to see what Hoshizora Apollo was truly reaching for. Not just space—but what lay beyond.
"Here. A care package for you, Noa."
He hands me a small bag.
"Let me explain. First—bank account info. Consider it thanks for everything. Saved up a decent amount, so use it however you want. ......Couldn't think of a better way to repay you."
"Second—all my research data. Every failure, every scribble, every equation. If someone follows in my footsteps, give this to them."
"Third—a receiver. If anything happens to this ship, you'll know. In other words... if I die, this device will tell you. And fourth—keys to my place. If I die, clean it up real nice, alright? Maybe someone else'll find something even I missed."
"—Wait. Hold on. Just—wait."
My mind can't keep up.
"If I die, this device will tell you."
He's already factored in the risk. Of course he has. The sheer obviousness of it stings.
Space is like that. A single mistake, and life vanishes in an instant.
Everything—everything—was done with full awareness. This wasn't just about reaching space. It was about stepping into the unknown, prepared to sacrifice everything.
"......Understood."
I'm scared. It hurts. But as his assistant, there's only one thing I can do now.
"Take care, Apollo-kun. I'll be waiting for you."
"Yeah. I'll be back. See you, Noa."
"......See you later."
As he turns away and boards the shuttle, his back overlaps with the reckless boy who once burst through doors without a care.
"Time for liftoff! The space shuttle—Noah's Ark! LET'S GO—!"
"......Ah, finally got through. Just wanted to let you know—help's on the way. Hehe, don't worry. There's no one stronger than him out there."
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"WE MADE IT TO SPACE—!!"
My lifelong dream—reaching the cosmos—is finally realized in this very moment. Before me stretches an infinite void of darkness, pierced by the shimmering light of countless stars. So beautiful... so breathtaking—
"—WAIT, WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!"
Amidst the sea of stars, something colossal dominates the view—two enormous ships, one impaled through the other. What kind of insane scenario is this? ...Wait, I recognize one of them. That's—
"The ship that launched from the desert?! Then the other one must be... hostile aliens?! Are you guys fighting to protect our planet?! Damn it, I can't just stand here! I'm jumping in—hold on, warriors!"
Material analysis complete. If I ram straight in, I can breach the hull and infiltrate directly. No idea what's waiting inside, but hesitation isn't an option now!
"Obstacles? Boundaries? Doesn't matter! I'll plow through everything in my way—!"
Crashing through the enemy ship's hull, I find myself in what looks like a corridor. I should disembark and scout ahead—except...
"This ship's falling apart! Did the warriors win...?! Then my job's to save as many as I can! Leave it to me—MOVE IT, ALIEN SCUM!"
Never thought I'd ditch my own ship this fast in space, but every second counts. Cutting down the aliens swarming the halls, I search for survivors. Where are they...?
"Gotta be near the center."
Deep inside the ship, the aftermath of a fierce battle lingers—the central chamber buried under rubble, barely recognizable. But I know.
"—Under that wreckage!"
With Kivotos-grade strength, I hurl the debris aside and dig out the survivor—a seriously cool-looking figure in ornate armor and a mask. Too badass to die here.
"This is as far as I can go...! But I'm saving you, damn it!"
They're huge and awkward to carry, but nothing I can't handle. Time's running out, but if I move now, I can make it back to open space before the ship collapses.
"MOVE—! Outta my way, aliens—! BOARDING COMPLETE! INITIATE ESCAPE—!"
"...We made it out, but this is bad."
I managed to escape the crumbling ship with the armored figure in tow. But, as usual, "success" is a stretch.
"Dammit, the aliens wrecked the wings. Guess the armor was too thin... Fine in space, but we're gonna crash now."
Oh, and the armor's occupant? Human. Too mangled to tell their face or gender, but the recovery pod should stabilize them. I tested it on myself after shredding my body—worked fine.
"Problem is, their injuries are critical. If I divert all power to the pod to keep them alive... I can't activate the heat shields for re-entry."
Right now, the Noah's Ark is running on bare minimum systems, funneling every spare joule into the pod. The armored badass will live, but attempting re-entry without shields means the ship burns up—or explodes mid-air.
"Oh yeah, power diversion also killed the transceiver. Whatever. Drifting here won't help. Only way is forward—gotta believe we'll make it."
Our blue planet, our home—the Noah's Ark tore through its skies only to lose its wings in minutes. Unplanned? A failure? Just another day. Nothing worth stressing over.
Time to go home. Experiment concluded.
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"Hah... hah... hah—!"
In the biting cold of the desert night, Ushio Noa ran. From the moment Apollo's transceiver flatlined, time lost meaning—minutes, seconds, hours blurred together.
Hoshizora Apollo had gone to space. His fate, his whereabouts—only those who'd been to space and returned could know. So Noa ran.
"Noa! Are you—"
"Don't—worry about me—!"
Her breath ragged, her body pushed past its limits, Noa finally reached Hayase Yuuka and the others who'd returned from the cosmos—and screamed her childhood friend's name.
"APOLLO—WHERE ARE YOU?!"
No one could answer. No one had seen Hoshizora Apollo in space.
As despair seeped into Noa's expression—
"—Look! Everyone, look up!"
A voice shouted. All eyes turned skyward.
A streak of black smoke tore across the clear sky, hurtling downward—sucked toward the earth. Yet before it could land, it erupted mid-air, just like Apollo-1 had. A firework of failure, far beyond reach.
"......No."
Ushio Noa's eyes remained locked on that distant light—
"─────────WOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH—!?"
──And there he was, clinging to a large, spherical machine as he came crashing down, his figure now imprinted in her eyes as well.
"Hah... hah... That was too close! Good thing I made it detachable...! This awesome armor saved my ass too...! Damn it, didn't expect the parachute to burn up though...!"
Using the round machine as a shield, Hoshizora Apollo bounced off the ground a few times before finally landing. As everyone stood frozen in disbelief, there was only one girl who started running toward him.
"—APOLLO-KUN!"
Like a released spring, Ushio Noa dashed forward, her arms wide open, ready to embrace the boy before her—her vision focused solely on him.
"—NOA!"
Apollo, too, began running toward Noa. The distance between them closed in an instant, and just as they were about to reach each other──
────Hoshizora Apollo ran right past her without stopping.
"Huh?"
Noa stared blankly at the boy who had just blown past her, her brain struggling to process what had happened.
"NOAH—! WHERE ARE YOU—!? DAMN IT, DID THE EXPLOSION BLOW YOU AWAY!? I'LL FIND YOU, JUST HANG ON—!"
The crowd was speechless, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. Amidst it all, only Noa understood the meaning behind his actions.
"'Noah's Ark'... Ah, I see. So that's what you're looking for."
This time, she didn't run. Instead, she walked slowly toward Apollo, a gentle smile on her face—though her inner thoughts were anything but calm.
"At least a single screw! A scrap of metal—! Hell, the whole wreckage—! Oh! NOA! Perfect timing! Help me look for—GYAAAAH!? WHY'D YOU HIT ME—!?"
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"Well now! We're down to the final awards of this year's Millennium Prize—though let's be honest, you all already know who's taking this, don't you?"
In the Seminar clubroom at Millennium Academy, Hayase Yuuka and Ushio Noa sat side by side watching the broadcast. This was the first Millennium Prize ceremony since the Chroma incident, an event that had every Millennium student's attention—these two being no exception.
"Against all odds, through relentless trial and error, the president of the Stellar Pioneers Club has finally achieved his dream of space exploration! Please welcome—Hoshizora Apollo himself, live with us today!"
"See that? We finally made it to space!"
Noa's expression softened as she watched her childhood friend's unchanged demeanor on camera. Beside her, Yuuka simply observed quietly.
"This year's award goes to the Stellar Pioneers Club's space shuttle—named Noah! All your previous projects used Apollo-series numbering. What inspired the name change this time?"
"Was killing time reading myths and found the perfect name. When I realized it matched my assistant's, well—had to use it then."
"As everyone knows, Hoshizora Apollo and Seminar Secretary Ushio Noa are exceptionally close! Makes one wonder about the nature of their relationship, doesn't it?"
Noa's cheeks colored slightly, and she lowered her gaze, unable to completely hide her embarrassment. Meanwhile, Apollo continued unabated.
"The Stellar Pioneers Club won't stop here! Next time we'll bring back even greater results! Just you wait and see!"
Noa knew Apollo never lied about such things. He would keep charging toward the stars alone if necessary, leaving everything else behind. She found herself wishing—if possible—to stand beside him on that journey.
"—And that concludes our runner-up awards!"
"WHAAAAAT?!"
Noa sighed internally. The wind had changed direction—this was shaping up to be another of Apollo's characteristically anticlimactic conclusions.
"This year's grand prize goes to... the Stellar Pioneers Club's recovery pod! Rumor says it actually saved someone modern medicine had given up on! ...How did you create this?"
"That was just a SIDE PROJECT! Some throwaway thing! Why's THAT winning?!"
Thus concluded the Millennium Prize ceremony—a slightly disappointing outcome for Apollo, but one that filled Noa with pride.
"Finally, let's hear a word from our grand prize winner, Hoshizora Apollo!"
"Too much to say for just 'a word,' but fine! I'll take this chance to express—"
"...I'm full already. There's more?"
Apollo was reckless, selfish, and utterly chaotic in everything he did—yet unfailingly straightforward and true to his debts. While Noa couldn't claim to fully understand him, she knew exactly who he'd thank next.
"To my research assistant, Ushio Noa! Too much to list, so I'll keep it short—THANK YOU! I'D NEVER HAVE REACHED SPACE WITHOUT YOU! And—keep it up!"
"...Yes. Of course."
Noa responded softly, knowing he couldn't hear her. She wore her usual natural smile. There was no time to dwell on the past—what mattered was the path ahead.
"And one more person—!"
"Huh?"
"My main financial backer—Ichinose Asuna! Couldn't have gone to space without you! Thanks! Let's go gambling again sometime!"
"...Gambling. I see. So that explains the funding source."
"Noa?! Did you just—you SHOT the TV?!"
"My apologies. Something just came up. Excuse me."
"Noa, wait—! UGH! This is ALL Apollo's fault! I'll NEVER forgive him!"
This would remain the first and only time in Millennium Prize history that a winner got punched out during a live broadcast.
Hoshizora Apollo
Space-obsessed lunatic. A genius idiot.
Ushio Noa
Apollo's long-suffering handler. Secretly believes no one—including herself—truly understands him. Loves him anyway.
"Apollo-kun doesn't care about anyone's convenience. He's brilliant, and everything he does has to be chaotic. That's just how he is."
Ichinose Asuna
Gambling buddy. Bankrolled his rockets. Likes him.
Phrenapates
The armored survivor Apollo rescued. Will never live down being saved by "that moron."