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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.

────────────────────

"......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.

────────────────────

"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.

────────────────────

"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.

────────────────────

"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!"

────────────────────

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."

────────────────────

"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.

────────────────────

"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—!?"

────────────────────

"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."

Chapter Text

"Alright, starting the prototype engine!"

The sound grows louder with increasing acceleration. The piston, prepared as an energy dispersal mechanism, also rapidly gains speed.

Good, really good. With this engine, we can explore space faster and more efficiently. My own talent is terrifying. Look, the engine keeps accelerating even now──────

"Ah."

Oh no, this thing's gonna blow.

"────Watch out!"

A large shadow cuts between me and the prototype engine as it begins to explode────in other words, someone shielded me.

"Scared me—thanks, Asuna. Sorry for always putting you through this."
"Not at all! Are you hurt, Apollo?"

She’s not a member of our Stellar Pioneers Club────but a maid. That’s Ichinose Asuna.

"Cough cough, too much smoke… Asuna, open the window, clean up, and collect the scattered engine fragments."
"Got it!"

As usual, I leave everything to Asuna. As the smoke clears and my vision improves slightly, I glance around. Fragments of the exploded engine are embedded all over the walls. Getting hit by those would’ve hurt—bleeding would’ve been unavoidable────yet Asuna, who should’ve taken the brunt of it, has no injuries.

"………………"

I pick up a fragment lying on the floor, likely one that flew toward us, and examine it. Compared to the ones stuck in the wall, its severe warping and damage point to only one conclusion.

The fragments that flew toward us miraculously collided with each other and veered off in a completely different direction.

And this was no coincidence—it was inevitable. This is why Ichinose Asuna is an indispensable member of the Stellar Pioneers Club.

"Hmm, the output is good, but…………"

While pondering, I recall the day I met Asuna.

"We’re broke!"

I remember it clearly—we were broke. My research costs a fortune. The club’s budget was nowhere near enough, and if I messed up, everything I built with that budget would go up in smoke.

"Ah, an empty can……… Who littered this?"

While wandering aimlessly, an empty can caught my eye. For a second, I considered collecting and selling them, but realizing it’d take a lifetime to gather enough funds, I dismissed the idea.

I tossed it into a nearby trash can. That was the judgment passed on the empty can.

"Here goes."

It flew in a perfect arc, hit the trash can’s lid, bounced off, then ricocheted off a vending machine, landing somewhere completely different from the intended target.

"───Oh crap."

Tracking the can’s trajectory, I noticed a maid-uniformed girl walking right into its landing spot. If this kept up, the can would undoubtedly hit her head.

But the can never struck her. A sudden gust of wind slightly altered its path, and the girl walked away unharmed.

"────────"

To me, that sequence of events didn’t seem like coincidence at all. I immediately pulled out my tablet and wrote a simple program—one that randomly selected and outputted a number between 1 and 500 million.

"Hey, you there."
"………Me?"
"Yeah, you."

I called out to the girl who dodged the can────Ichinose Asuna—and proposed a test.

"Pick any number and run this program. If it outputs the exact number you chose—a one-in-500-million chance—you pass. What’ll it be?"
"Hmm, I don’t really get it, but… okay, 1!"

Asuna ran the program. The result appeared in less than a second. A brief silence hung between us────

"───Yay! Jackpot!"

────The program outputted 1.

Doubt turned to certainty. Neither the can nor the program was coincidence—it was inevitable. Just two incidents were enough to convince me. Her absurd luck shone brilliantly.

"Congratulations! You passed!"
"Eh? W-Wait, I passed something?"

That was how I met Ichinose Asuna. After that came our chaotic rocket experiments, the Black Market casino-clearing incident, and so on. To this day, she remains the Stellar Pioneers Club’s funding manager and maid, working tirelessly for us.

"In conclusion, the materials can’t withstand the engine’s output. We urgently need to develop new ones."
"Materials, huh… Another tough problem we’ve hit."

With Noa now joining us in the Stellar Pioneers Club lab—cleaner than before the explosion—we discussed the engine development for the planned space shuttle, Noah 2. Progress is slow, but that’s nothing new, so I’ve learned to accept it.

"Materials……… Isn’t this getting too difficult?"
"Apollo was just cheering, 'This is my masterpiece—!' though!"

We’ve faced material issues before, of course. What we’re currently using────the thing that just blew up—was developed back then. In terms of cost and performance, it’s top-tier.

Honestly, if we spent a bit more, we could get something durable enough to handle the engine’s output. But overspending isn’t ideal. Costs must stay minimal—eventually, I want space travel to feel as casual as riding a train. That’s what pioneering is about.

"Materials, materials… Ugh, nothing’s coming to mind. Guess we’ll just have to test everything………… Wait, do we even have the funds?"
"About the budget? Let’s see… Oh no, we’re flat────Wait, hold on. A funding shortage is a serious issue for researchers, and while there might be an easy solution, it feels a bit unorthodox────"

"Let’s go, Asuna! Time to liberate the assets of innocent citizens trapped in the Black Market!"
"Woo!"
"Everything’s so rushed with you two! Mou.....!"

"Well, making money has never been this easy before."
"This should keep us set for a while!"
"In the end, I couldn’t stop them……… Is this really okay…?"

The Black Market────true to its name, a place where illegal weapons and all sorts of shady goods gather. Naturally, security is terrible, and I’d strongly advise ordinary people to stay away. That’s a promise to my big bro.

Our target? The illegal casino there. Because it’s unregulated, the stakes are high, and for Asuna, winning at gambling is a breeze. Doesn’t matter if they’re cheating or rigging probabilities—her insane luck bulldozes through it all, and we walk away with every last coin.

The money flowing through a place like this is dirty cash—scams, illegal arms deals, you name it. Liberating that money and putting it toward space exploration? The cash itself would probably be grateful. Ethically, it’s flawless.

"You know, despite everything, I kinda like how you still come along, Noa."
"Me too!"
"…………I give up. On everything."

Noa drives the car loaded with suitcases full of cash, Asuna sits in the back, and I nap on Asuna’s lap. Just another day for the Stellar Pioneers Club. If Noa ever hesitates, just beg hard enough and she’ll cave.

"………Alright, money’s sorted for now, but what about the materials?"

We’ve got funds to test things out, but I’m still drawing a blank on solutions. The materials we’ve been using are already too refined—it’s hard to imagine improving them further.

"Guess we just gotta make another good one?"
"Yeah, but…"
"Didn’t expect to hit a wall here…"

This position—the so-called lap pillow—is nice, but Asuna’s chest is so big I can barely see the car’s ceiling. Her body’s soft and all, but maybe we should keep this indoors. Outside, it blocks the sky.

"………………The sky."

I tilt my head slightly and gaze out the window. It’s a clear day, and the sky’s as beautiful as ever. That deep red sky before was novel, but honestly, I prefer the usual────

"That’s it───! Mmph!"
"Wah!"
"……………………………………"

I jerk upright suddenly, burying my face straight into Asuna’s chest. For some reason, she locks me in a tight hold, and I quickly give up on escaping.

"…………Did you think of something?"
"No idea why you’re making such a scary face, but yeah! We’re getting started the second we’re back!"
"What’re we doing?"

Talking all at once leaves me a little breathless, and I puff my cheeks as I lift my head. Asuna’s arms are still clamped around me like a vice. Noa, for her part, looks unusually startled but soon returns to her usual expression.

"────Round two, space exploration! You’re coming too!"

Several days after securing the funds.

Using data from the obliterated Noah-1 as reference, I boarded the newly improved Noah-2 space shuttle and launched into space once more.

And this time—I wasn’t alone.

"Wahaha~! So floaty~!"
"T-This is zero gravity...?"

The Noah shuttle had already proven itself spaceworthy. So naturally, I had to bring my fellow Stellar Pioneers Club members along.

"────Actually, the first time I went to space, I saw something crazy. Ancient human warriors using alien relics to fight hostile extraterrestrials."
"Really!?"
(Perhaps I should stay silent before this story spirals...)

That sight had been burned into my mind. I don’t have perfect recall like Noa, but I doubt I’ll ever forget it.

"Anyway, both ships were destroyed in the end. But they didn’t vanish completely—their wreckage should still be drifting out here."
"So that’s the 'new material' you meant?"
"I just want samples."

Factoring in planetary rotation and orbit, I had a rough idea of where the debris might be. This mission was simple: retrieve the wreckage and return immediately.

Analyze the material, replicate or improve it. No guarantees, but it’s the only lead I’ve got. Try it, and if it fails? Back to the drawing board. Business as usual.

"Anyway... Noa, you’ve been staring outside this whole time. What’s up?"
"...It’s just... We really made it, huh?"

────Reaching space had been our club’s long-cherished dream. Our true goal is exploration, and that’ll never truly end—but getting here was the first step.

Apollo-6, Noah-1, and now Noah-2. For Noa and Asuna, this was their first time in space. For me? I’d finally brought them here. That made this trip pretty damn special.

"To think... we’re actually inside the starry sky we always gazed at from the ground. It still doesn’t feel real."
"If you’re getting emotional now, we’ll never get anywhere. We’re going way farther than this."
"───Right."

Before long, we arrived at the wreckage site.

"Deploying mechanical arms!"

Two custom-made arms, designed for debris retrieval. Basically giant human-like hands—anything they grab gets auto-stored in Noah-2’s hold!

"The damaged parts were brittle enough to shatter from Noah-1’s ramming, so we want the most intact pieces possible. We’re running material scans, but... Asuna, which ones look good?"
"That one! And that! And—that!"
"Got it."

The arm snatched up the fragments Asuna pointed at. Scans confirmed they were nearly flawless—ideal specimens.

"Confirmed retrieval of both ancient relic ship and alien vessel debris. Alright, materials secured! Time to head ba—
...Asuna? Why are you staring outside?"

"────Uh... That meteor. Isn’t it heading straight for Kivotos?"
"HELL YEAH, BRING IT ON YOU LITTLE SH—"
"WAIT, YOU’RE RAMMING IT HEAD-ON!? HOLD ON, STO—"

"W-Wow... We actually survived?"
"We’re invincible! ...Outta fuel, though."
"I brought spares!"

"Heh~ Noah-3's construction is going smoothly. Our third space trip might come sooner than expected."

After safely returning to Kivotos, we analyzed the recovered samples and successfully recreated a hybrid alloy combining the ancient relic ship and alien vessel materials. Durability tests were cleared without issue, and now our third space expedition is just around the corner.

"By the way, Apollo-kun... I noticed the Stellar Pioneers Club didn’t submit anything for this year’s Millennium Prize?"
"Ah... Well, the funding gap’s just too big, so we dropped out. We’re not at risk of disbandment anymore, and it felt kinda unfair to bulldoze through with our resources."

While other clubs rely on the student council’s budget, 90% of our funding comes from Asuna’s gambling winnings. The difference in scale is absurd—of course our results would outshine everyone else. It just didn’t feel right to compete.

"I see. That’s... reasonable. Though some students might be disappointed. Your projects were one of the highlights for them."
"If there’s a chance, I’d love to show everyone our work someday... Hmm..."
"...Well, we can think about that later. The award ceremony’s live now—want to watch?"
"Hell yeah!"

I’m curious about the other clubs’ efforts, and award ceremonies are always hype. I scoot closer to Noa, and we huddle around a small display. The winning entries flash by in no time—until...

[『────And now, the Stellar Pioneers Club Special Award! Here’s what they’ve invented for this Millennium Prize—tentatively named, the "New Material"! Lightweight, ultra-durable, impact-resistant, and even flexible depending on processing—all while being cost-effective! A revolutionary breakthrough! The Stellar Pioneers Club’s momentum is unstoppable!』]

"WE GOT INDUCTED OUTTA NOWHERE?!"
"…………How, exactly, did you make this?"
"Just threw stuff together and—bam! No big explanation needed!"

They’d carved out a separate category for us without my knowledge. Guess someone behind the scenes really pushed for it. Not that I mind!

"—APOLLOOO! You saw the Millennium Prize, right? You saw it?!"
"Ghk—!"

Asuna suddenly tackles me from behind, slamming me face-first into the ground. Noa, the traitor, dodges with a startled hop. Unforgivable.

"A special award! We did it!!"
"Ggrrkk—!"
"...Asuna-senpai, you’re crushing Apollo-kun."
"Eek, sorry!"

She rolls off just in time to spare me from suffocation. Love how soft Asuna is, but yeah, breathing’s kinda non-negotiable.

"Inducted, huh..."

The truth is—I couldn’t have done it alone. Without Noa and Asuna, I’d never have reached this point. Funding, daily life, everything outside R&D—they handled it all.

And in return, there’s only one thing I can do for them—

"───Landing complete. External environment stable. Ready for surface excursion at any time."

After countless twists and turns, the Noah-3 space shuttle—carrying Hoshizora Apollo, Ichinose Asuna, and Ushio Noa—now stood firmly on the lunar surface.

"…………Let's go."

None of their usual boisterous energy remained. Clad in bulky spacesuits, they moved in silence through the disembarkation procedures.

A single step forward would place them on the moon's surface—and with emotions too vast for words, they took it.

"───────"

Crunch. The vibration beneath their feet was the only confirmation they needed. They'd arrived. One step, then another. Slowly, steadily, they pressed forward.

['It's... blue.']

Sound doesn't travel in the vacuum of space. The voice that reached them came through their suits' comms—Noa's, as she turned to look behind them.

['It really is blue.']

Asuna had turned too. Their gazes fixed on the azure planet—Kivotos, their home, a world teeming with life.

['...Can you see it, Apollo? We've come all this way────']

Noa turned, expecting to find him sharing the view. Instead, she saw Apollo staring in the opposite direction—into the infinite void.

['.........When the path grows too dark to walk alone, someone must become the light.']
['────How far away it seems.']

His eyes held nothing but the endless expanse of stars, their distant glow his sole focus.

['Let's plant the flag.']

He drove their handmade banner—a clumsily drawn rocket on fabric—into the regolith. A permanent mark. Proof that the Stellar Pioneers Club had reached the moon.

['...Oxygen levels dropping. We should head back soon.']

A few dozen minutes—that was their limit in this airless realm. Reason demanded their return. And yet────

['Just... a little longer?']

No one in the Stellar Pioneers Club could refuse that request.

Hoshizora Apollo

The Chaotic Genius
From the outside, he’s just a fun-loving troublemaker—but the moment he sees any potential usefulness in you, he’ll latch on like a barnacle. The headaches he causes are legendary, but if you stick with him, he’ll repay you with insane results and genuine gratitude.

Problem? Zero foresight. Someone needs to keep him alive.
Current Status: Got evicted (again) and is now crashing at Noa’s place.

"Noaaa! Let me staaay! My place? Kicked out! Couldn’t pay rent… Huh? Of course I spent my living expenses on research—funds were short! …Wait, why are you mad? STOP, NO—"

Ushio Noa

The Suffering Voice of Reason
Recently went to the moon. Also, somehow became the designated babysitter for a certain disaster human.

"LIVING EXPENSES ARE NOT RESEARCH FUNDS!"

Ichinose Asuna

The Luck-Blessed Maid
Has accepted her fate as Apollo’s walking ATM. Now hands him money on a regular schedule.

Phrenapates

The Deeply Confused
Tried to thank the Stellar Pioneers Club once. Left in tears after realizing communication was impossible.

Shiroko (Terror)

The Unwitting Recruitment Target
Apollo has his eyes on her combat skills. There is no escape.

Chapter Text

A heavy, imposing metal door, incongruous with the adorable wooden nameplate labeled "Stellar Pioneers Club" hanging on it.
Before it stood a girl and a woman.

"Here, right?"
"Nn, but for a clubroom, it's kinda..."

The girl, while differing slightly in appearance, closely resembled Abydos High's Sunaookami Shiroko—or rather, she was her parallel-world counterpart.

The woman had until recently been recuperating inside a spherical machine. The one who stuffed her into the machine called her "That cool armored dude (or chick)." Those who properly faced the world's crisis called her───"Phrenapates."

"I heard explosions happen here pretty often, so maybe that’s why (the door’s like this)."
"Explosions……?"

Millennium’s scary, Shiroko thought.

Regardless, the two had a reason for coming here. Their goal was simple—they just wanted to express their gratitude.

For one, her own life. For the other, her mentor’s life. Both owed the Stellar Pioneers Club president a debt they could never fully repay.

"Shall we go?"
"Nn."

After a few knocks, they placed a hand on the heavy door──────

"───Sensei!!"

Shiroko’s scream, and a flash of light. Along with the sensations that filled their vision and hearing, Phrenapates’ body was flung sideways.

An explosion. Shielded and avoided. Even though neither was injured, it was still a pretty harsh welcome.

"—cough cough... Ugh, this club’s always like this..."

As smoke spilled into the hallway, a girl crawled out of the room.

"…………Chihiro?"
"Hmm…? Huh… umm… should I call you ‘that sensei’ from other side?"

Veritas member, Kagami Chihiro───definitely not a member of the Stellar Pioneers Club—had emerged from the clubroom.

"Shiroko, thank you. Chihiro, you’re───not hurt, right?"
"I’m fine, I’m used to it."

Chihiro replied while closing the heavy door to keep the smoke from flooding the hallway.

"...Umm, why’re you here, Chihiro?"
"Hmm?—well, it’s kinda a long story."

Apparently, it started out of simple curiosity.

It was impossible not to be intrigued by a guy who ran a one-member club, endlessly building and launching rockets into the sky. After a chance encounter one day, they gradually became acquaintances who talked often.

"And then, the other day, he begged me for help."
"Begged for help?"

Space exploration, moon landings, activities in outer space───the achievements and reputation of the Stellar Pioneers Club had long since spread beyond Millennium.

To put it simply, some shady corporate types made some shady offers, and when he refused, things got dicey.

When he wailed, "Help me, Chii-chaaaaaan!!!", Kagami Chihiro couldn’t just abandon him.

"Apollo asked me to protect his research. I answered that call, so now I’m standing here."
"I see."

Her expression, demeanor, tone───Phrenapates could tell that, for all her complaints, Kagami Chihiro really liked the Stellar Pioneers Club.

"...Should be about time now. If you have business here, it should be fine."

She opened the heavy door again and stepped inside. And there───

"Smoke doesn’t even cover it—more like smoke-smoke-smoke-smoke. Hmm, maybe I should get a workshop like Utaha."
"Apollo-kun, you’ve got soot on your face."
"Help meee—"
"Honestly..."

Asuna silently continued cleaning the wrecked clubroom, while Noa wiped the soot off my face. Chii-chan, who usually helps Asuna…… huh? Chii-chan’s gone.

"Chii-chan?……… Huh?"

Wondering where she went, I shrugged it off. Eh, she’ll be fine. With each new project, the scale (and explosions) kept growing, and the clubroom was getting way too cramped.

Maybe I should get a big workshop like the Engineering Club. Who should I beg for one───? Oh, right, the student council rep’s right here.

"Noa!"
"What is it?"
"I want a huge workshop like the Engineering Club!"
"………………………………………I'll try my best to the best of my ability."

Request submitted. Soon, I’ll have a proper workshop. Back to work───

"...? Who?"

The sound of the metal door (which I’d begged Noa for not long ago) opening. One familiar person and two strangers stood there.

"Chii-chan, you're outside."
"You didn’t notice I closed the door…?"
"Yeah."

Found the missing Chii-chan…… but she brought two people I don’t know. Who are they? New recruits……? Nah, they don’t really look like Millennium students.

"That sensei over there and Sunaookami Shiroko-san. They’re here to see Apollo."
"...? Sen…?"
"The adult without a Halo, summoned by the missing General Student Council President."
"...? General…?"
"She's an important person in Kivotos!"
"Got it!"

I kinda got it, but why would someone like that need me? I don’t know these two. Like, at all. Their faces, names—heck, I’m just learning they exist now.

"Umm, we came to thank you."
"Nn, me too."

Thanks, gratitude.

If it’s about something worth thanking me for… there’s only one thing that comes to mind.

"—Ah, so you finally got out of the recovery pod."

The "cool armored dude (or chick)" I picked up from that half-wrecked ship. Turns out she was a chick, and now she’s finally healed up and moving around.

"Thanks accepted! Then I’ve got just one question for you.───Which one were you on?"
"...Atra-Hasis’s Ark…"
"The what now?"
"Huh?"
"The one that didn’t fly away from the desert."
"Got it!"

I see, I see. So she’s from the black ship that was originally flying through space. Therefore──────

"─────You're aliens!? You were controlling that huge ship and acting hostile toward us—that much is correct, right? Though you don't seem hostile now—what changed your mind? Wait, you can understand our language! Did you learn it? Where did you come from? Exact distance? What's your planet's environment? Is it similar to here after all? You came all the way here in that ship—what functions did it have? What was that cool armor about? You have a Halo but you don't—what's the difference? Any special physical functions? Anything, absolutely anything! If there's even one difference between us, won't you tell me? Actually just let me dissect you already!? Don't worry! I can do it cleanly and skillfully! It won't hurt and you won't die! Also, are there other aliens besides you? Have any already come here or are planning to? Do other aliens look like you too? Are there aliens from different stars than yours? First of all, why did you come to Kivotos? Was your objective achieved? What were you thinking coming to this planet!? What are you planning to do from now oooooon!?"

"Please be quiet before this gets out of hand!"

Th-this feeling is Noa! My mouth is being covered! Why!? There are aliens right in front of me!? What am I supposed to do without asking all these questions!? Even as I pleaded with my eyes, Noa showed no signs of loosening her grip.

"Mmph, mmphmmph───mmph!?"
"There there, just behave now"

Even Chii-chan betrayed me!?

"U-umm..."
"Ahaha, sorry about that. I think he got your thanks"

Aah, even Asuna! At this rate the alien duo will escape! Wait! Don't go! I still have so many things to ask──!

"Nn.........storm...?"

"....................................sniff"

Shiroko*Terror had a problem.

A recently developed problem, to be precise - ever since visiting the Stellar Pioneers Club's room. At every possible moment of daily life, a certain man would appear.

"───Thank you for your purchase! How about joining our club~?"
"───Nn!"
"Not getting away this time!"

At the checkout counter, the man who absolutely shouldn't be working there - Hoshizora Apollo - would appear with complete nonchalance and immediately start recruiting.

When she visited the Stellar Pioneers Club to express her gratitude and exchanged just a few words, Apollo must have seen some potential in Shiroko*Terror during that brief interaction.

Apollo chasing, Shiroko*Terror fleeing. This pattern continued relentlessly for days. Even with her warp advantage fully utilized, she couldn't shake him off.

"───Vending machines are pretty expensive, huh? Recently Noa, Asuna or Chii-chan have been treating me. So nice~"
"───Nn!"
"Not getting away!"

Her home should still be safe - she didn't want to wake up to find Apollo there. Or maybe... with such thoughts, she fell into shallow sleep every night.

Continuing this lifestyle naturally wore Shiroko*Terror down. Her mind gradually became corrupted by the thought that maybe she should just accept the recruitment.

"───You always end up looking at storm drain grates, right? Surely you didn't think I'd be here?"
"───Nn!"
"Not getting away!"

Apollo wasn't kind enough to miss that slight change in her thinking. He exploited the weakness, becoming more persistent than ever that day.

"Haa, haa─────"
"Haha~, my win."

By sunset, there they were - Shiroko*Terror collapsed on a park bench, breath ragged, and Apollo sitting comfortably beside her with a relaxed expression.

"........what, do you want"
"Like I said - recruiting. Come join the Stellar Pioneers."
"...recruiting...like this...?"
"Hmm? Well, depends on the person I guess."

Over these days, Shiroko*Terror understood - she couldn't shake off this unhinged man. If anything, she'd just exhaust herself.

"Couldn't you...try other methods..."
"Running away is the problem here."

Anyone would run if some guy they barely talked to started appearing everywhere to recruit them, Shiroko*Terror thought. It honestly pissed her off, but she lacked the energy to get angry anymore.

"........why me?"
"Because I decided we need you."

No hesitation. Not a prepared question with a rehearsed answer - Apollo replied as if stating the obvious.

"...need?"
"Hmm, let me explain step by step."

"First Noa. Millennium student council member with perfect memory - remembers everything she's seen or heard once. Even without that she's amazing, takes care of me too. Necessary."

"Next Asuna. That girl's ridiculously lucky. With just her, we don't need to worry about injuries during experiments or funding. Also crazy strong. Super strong. Necessary."

"Finally Chii-chan. Great at hacking. Asuna protects our research physically, Chii-chan handles the electronic side. Super important."

"......haa"
"Ah, don't get me wrong - we interact because I want to, not just because their skills are necessary."

Necessary skills borrowed, but relationships built by choice, Apollo explained.

"What do you want from me?"
"Strength."

Shiroko*Terror desperately hid her rising agitation. Her interactions with Apollo amounted to a few exchanged words and these days of chase. She'd never even held a gun in front of him, let alone fought.

She knew her own strength. But never imagined this man would recognize it.

"Space is vast - who knows what's out there. You could handle any threat. ...Well, I'd have wanted you even without that."
"Why"
"You're depressed, right? Can't forget past troubles."

You're strong but take on too much. Good at hiding it though─── Apollo added. Shiroko*Terror couldn't tell how much he actually knew or saw.

"Can't just leave you depressed. I know I'm not normal, but I'm not that much of a jerk either. ...Got sidetracked. Back to recruiting."

Apollo stood up, simultaneously tossing a gray rock to Shiroko*Terror.

"This is?"
"Moon rock."

The ultimate proof of human lunar visitation - in Kivotos, a treasure only the Stellar Pioneers could possess.

"Our goal is pioneering. Lighting the first lamp in untrodden darkness─── For that, you'll devote all your abilities to me. In return, I offer one reward!"

Backlit by sunset, Hoshizora Apollo smiled.

"────I'll show you sights no one's ever seen."

Without further words, the boy reached out to the girl. Understanding full well what taking that hand meant─── Shiroko*Terror took it.

"Welcome to the Stellar Pioneers! Your first mission is fundraising - let's call Asuna and go gamble!"
"Nn, there are more certain and efficient methods."
"Not many better than gambling but I'm listening!"

"───Rob a bank."
"That's why I like you!"

"───Ta-daaa! Prototype warp device!"

In the cramped research lab sat a large device that barely fit. The central unit packed with mechanisms, thick cables extending to both sides, and platforms at their ends.

Whew, that was quite the project to build. You might wonder how it was even made, but that's where Apollo-kun's jack-of-all-trades skills come into play.

"Its name is Warp-kun."
"Your naming sense..."
"Umm... So this is a device that warps objects between platforms, correct?"
"Exactly!"

With that settled, it's time for testing. Though of course, we can't jump straight to human trials. So───

"Tadaa, Felt Noa!"
"So cute~!"
"Nn, well made."
"I modeled it after Noa when she's not scary."
"That makes it sound like I have scary moments, Apollo-kun."
"Eh? But you do have scary times! Like when I just got out of the bath and suddenly feel some intense staring AAAAAHHH!?"

Reacting instantly to Noa's lunge, I leap back. Someone - I need to cling to someone who'll protect me. Before Noa attacks, I've gotta──

"HELP ME CHII-CHAN!"
"Wai───"

In less than a second after jumping back, I'm already clinging to Chii-chan for dear life. Even Noa couldn't easily punch me like this.

"Eh? W-wait, you live together? Staring after baths... huh? Ehhh........"
"It's a misunderstanding!"
"What misunderstanding!? When you grabbed my wrist yesterday I seriously thought I was gonna get punched, it was terrifying!"
"Uuuuuuu~!"

Noa's face is unusually bright red. Angry? Is she angry? She's definitely angry - I can feel terrifying strength in her hands, enough to crush me.

"Nn... indeed, calculated..."
"Shiroko-san!?"
"Personal space... is important..."
"Chihiro-senpai!?"
"Huh? Why so many allies?"

What's with this sudden support? Somehow it feels like only people on my side are here. Weird - rare things do happen.

"───sigh Fine. So... you're using felt-me as the test subject for the warp device?"
"Yep. If successful, Felt Noa will warp from one platform to the other."

I hurriedly place Felt Noa on one platform. Device ready, test subject prepared - time for immediate execution.

"This time I prepared reinforced glass as a shield too."
"Nn, safety first."
"I'll be clinging to Asuna just in case."

Hiding behind the reinforced glass shield while clinging to Asuna - preparations complete.

"Power on!"

With a clank, the lever pulls. The device activates, emitting a roaring sound and white light that gradually intensifies────

"Too... bright......"

......Couldn't see well, but the light stopped. Silence - the device powered down. Where's Felt Noa───?

".........At least not in the original position. Not on the destination platform either..."

Looking around - behind, ceiling, sides - searching everywhere for the vanished Felt Noa. If the warp coordinates misfired, we might need to search outside the room────

"Huh?"

Found it. On the floor.

On this side of the reinforced glass - the body.
On that side - the head.

This is... the warp coordinates misfired, causing decapitation against the glass? In other words, if we'd used a real person......

"Uh."
"Nn..."
"Oh dear."
"................."

Everyone seems to have realized too.

"Noa!"
"..................What is it."

"Thank goodne—GYAAAAAH!?"
"Apollo, even I can't protect you from that."

Hoshizora Apollo

Idiot, trash, no-delusions, crazy
About to get attacked

Ushio Noa

Her doll got decapitated. Has every right to be angry
About to attack

Ichinose Asuna

Doesn't really understand but smiles seeing Apollo having fun. Thinks "if Noa's scary, he could just come to my place"

Kagami Chihiro

New member after the moon landing. Debating whether to hide Apollo before he gets attacked. Likes Apollo

Shiroko*Terror

Lost to crazy recruitment tactics. That aside, the club is fun. Trying to keep Noa and Apollo separated as much as possible. Likes Apollo

Phrenapates

Might have been an alien after all

Chapter Text

"Well, I guess this should do for now...?"

Having successfully achieved stable operation for Warp-kun No. 3, I compiled the accompanying calculations and theories into a paper, making it as easy to understand as possible. Given the nature of what I’m doing, writing it so even an elementary schooler could understand... wouldn’t be enough. Unless I wrote it at a level a newborn could grasp, this ancient thesis would end up incomprehensible to anyone.

"Huh!?"

The sky outside the window was far too dark. Before I knew it, the night had grown late. Noa, Asuna, and Shiroko had all gone home. As for Chi-chan... huh? Now that I think about it, she mentioned something about getting held up by Veritas-related stuff. Maybe she’s still here? I think she even said something about possibly staying over?

"...Well, whatever. Going back to Noa’s place now would be kinda... yeah."

Dark streets are dangerous. That’s common knowledge.

"Hmm... ...Hm?"

Thanks to begging Noa, we—the Stellar Pioneers Club—finally got our hands on a proper, engineer-level large workshop recently. Since we’ve been handling everything there, our original research room (this one) has slowly turned into more of a lounge space.

Which means... this room has basically become my living quarters.

"I think Chi-chan said something about staying over...?"

Which would mean staying overnight on campus is allowed, right?

"───In other words, wouldn’t it be fine to remodel this research room?"

That way, I wouldn’t have to force Noa to let me live at her place!

I get a free place to stay, Noa doesn’t have to deal with a guy forcibly crashing at her house—mutually beneficial, a fantastic idea!

"Then it’s settled! Time to get started right away! Let’s see, electricity and toilet are fine, but gas, water, bath... the space is probably too tight for a proper bath, but I’d at least want a shower... Hmm, maybe I can warp a connection and just steal one... ..."

"All done~!"

After some creative tinkering—repurposing lab scraps, fiddling with gadgets, hollowing out walls, and all sorts of other tweaks—it only took about two hours. Now I’ve got a kitchen, running water, a shower… Wait, is this fancier than my old apartment?

"Well, it’s still not as nice as Noa’s place, but… At least now I don’t have to leave Millennium, and research’ll go way smoother…"

That said, I’m definitely hungry now. If I had ingredients, I could cook something… but do I go shopping? At this hour? Nah, no way. Instant cup noodles from the convenience store are pretty much the best I can hope for.

"Eh, good enough."

I can always buy proper groceries later. For now, better dash to the nearest conbini. No time to waste, no time to waste—

"Which flavor should I—… Huh?"

I shove the heavy door open with all my strength, ready to bolt for the store—when suddenly, someone’s standing right in front of it.

"……Chi-chan?"
"You really were here."

"There's something about school buildings at night... gives you the feeling of doing something bad, doesn't it?"
"You do plenty of bad things already, Apollo. Need I remind you I'm keeping quiet about that bank robbery?"
"That wasn't actually bad though."
"What's wrong with your moral compass...?"

The nighttime visitor turned out to be Chi-chan. Like me, she was part of the late-night school stay-behind crew. When she tried to leave, she noticed the Stellar Pioneers Club room still had its lights on. Thinking "no way," she came to check... and that's how we ended up here.

"I thought you'd just forgotten to turn off the lights... I never imagined you'd remodeled the club room."
"Free housing get!"
"What about Noa's place?"
"Don't need two houses, do I?"
"I see... Okay, done with the hair dryer. You've got nice hair."

Sitting on the floor with my back against the sofa, I surrendered completely to Chi-chan who was positioned above me. Went to the convenience store for cup noodles, took a shower, and even got my hair dried. Somehow this naturally led to Chi-chan staying over too?

"At the very least, if you're not coming home, you should contact people."
"Ah! I forgot!"

This was bad. I immediately tried to call—but at that exact moment:

"She's calling you first."

Noa's call came through. I hadn't noticed, but there were quite a few missed messages and calls... Hmm, this late at night, she's probably checking about the room remodeling.

["───Finally got through!"]
"O-oh. Sorry, Noa. I was busy with stuff and didn't notice... Hm? What's wrong, Chi-chan?"
["Chi-chan...? Is Chihiro-senpai with you!?"]
"Yep!"

Noa's extremely surprised voice blasted through the speaker. That was loud—hope the neighbors didn't hear.

"Sorry for the late notice, but Chi-chan and I are staying over tonight!"
["......I see."]

Noa's energy suddenly dropped. Was there a problem? Maybe she's mad I forgot to contact her────

"Hyahn!?"
["─────?????? Huh? Wh-what was that?"]
"Don't make weird noises. I just massaged your shoulder."
"W-wait... this... Nngh♡ Chi-chan♡, stahp♡, ahh♡"]
["Apollo?? Apollo?????"]
"Ah, uh, i-it's nothing. It's♡ nn♡ nothing♡... ah♡"]
["Apollo!!?!?!?!?"]
"Ahh♡ St-stop♡, too♡ rough♡♡"]
"...Sigh. Fine then."

My phone was suddenly plucked from my hand. When I reflexively tried to grab it back, a firm press on my shoulder instantly immobilized me.

"Yeah, that's the situation. I'll take care of him tonight. Bye."
["────Hah!? W-wait, Chihiro-senpa─────"]

The call was mercilessly ended, and my phone remained in Chi-chan's hand as she placed it on the distant desk. All I could do was stare up helplessly.

"Apollo, your body's too stiff."
"Eh, really~?"
"Really. ...I'll work on loosening you up over the next few days. Stay here after school."
"I'm living here now, so that's fine... Chi-chan, you're good at massages."
"Thanks."

While we talked, Chi-chan's fingers kept exploring my neck and shoulders. The occasional firm pressure suggested she was still assessing the situation.

"...Hey, are we really doing more? You went pretty hard earlier."
"Not♡ nearly♡ enough♡."
"So greedy."
"Don't make it sound like I'm the one who wants this."
"Ah, w-wait, too♡ strong♡, nngh♡ ahh♡"]
"I told you not to make weird noises."
"B-but♡ ah♡ ngh♡ sto-op♡! Let♡ go♡!"]
"Stay still."

No matter how I struggled, resistance was futile. For the next thirty minutes, my body was mercilessly manipulated to her heart's content.

"Apollo-kun is unreachable."

Him staying out late into the night—that in itself wasn’t particularly unusual. What made this situation abnormal was the complete lack of contact from him, coupled with his failure to respond to any of my messages.

"……………"

What flashed through my mind was the incident with Chroma—that moment when Hoshizora Apollo’s life had brushed closest to death. So much time had passed since then. Under the same roof, sharing the same moments, no matter where he went, he would always return to me in the end—or so I had begun to believe, clinging to something that felt almost like certainty.

And yet, that terror still clung stubbornly to the back of my mind.

"Let’s go look for him."

I could ask the rest of the Stellar Pioneers Club for help—but before that, maybe I should try contacting him one last time, just in case—

"───Finally got through!"

A sigh of relief escaped me. At the very least, the worst-case scenario had been avoided. But now, the question was—where was Apollo-kun right now?

["Sorry for the late notice, but I’m staying over with Chi-chan tonight!"]
"…………I see."

Now that I had reached him, the questions should have resolved themselves one after another. He was staying overnight at Millennium with Chihiro-senpai. …I understood. I had my own thoughts about it, but if he wasn’t caught up in anything dangerous, then—

["Hyahn!?"]
"------?????? Huh? Wh-what was that?"]

An oddly sensual voice came through the phone. That sound—like he was being overtaken by some unfamiliar sensation—only made my confusion swell further.

["W-wait... this... Nngh♡ Chi-chan♡, stahp♡, ahh♡"]
"Apollo?? Apollo?????"
["Ah, uh, i-it's♡ nothing. It's♡ nn♡ nothing♡... ah♡"]
"Apollo!!?!?!?!?"
["Ahh♡ St-stop♡, too♡ rough♡♡"]

This is bad. This is really bad.

["Yeah, that's the situation. I’ll take care of him tonight. Bye."]
"────Hah!? W-wait, Chihiro-senpa─────"

Click.

"……………Take him????"

Shiroko*Terror was thinking.

Though she had reluctantly given in to persistent recruitment... it was also true that her heart had been stirred by Hoshizora Apollo that day, leading her to join the Stellar Pioneers Club. For Shiroko*Terror, the club—including its members—had become a place she could confidently call comfortable.

That was precisely why she was thinking.

(What happened to the Apollo in my world?)

The recovery pod that even her sensei had perfectly demonstrated—in Shiroko*Terror's Kivotos, it had never been used. Was it never built? Did it become unusable for some reason? Or was its existence simply unknown?

No matter how she tried, she couldn’t imagine Hoshizora Apollo facing such a crisis.

(...I can’t. But he probably didn’t meet a good end.)

A stabbing pain shot through her at her own conclusion. To Shiroko*Terror, Hoshizora Apollo was undeniably significant. The thought of him being hurt—or worse—filled her chest with intense revulsion.

(That’s why I have to protect him.)

Lost in thought, she arrived at the clubroom door. Beyond the heavy door, she sensed no presence other than Hoshizora Apollo’s. If he was in the clubroom, he was either resting or writing a thesis.

This time, she predicted he was resting—so she opened the door.

────And saw Hoshizora Apollo pressing a knife against the upper part of his own ear.

"──Apollo!"
"Wah—HYAH!?"

The moment she registered the sight, a gunshot rang out, knocking the knife from his hand. Whether startled by the sudden impact or the sheer absurdity of the situation, Apollo let out a ridiculous yelp and collapsed onto the floor. Shiroko*Terror closed in on him.

"What!? What!? Shiroko!?"
"What were you trying to do!?"

"………Part of an experiment?"
"Yeah, that."

Cornered by her furious interrogation, Hoshizora Apollo readily confessed the meaning behind his actions.

"To properly judge whether it worked, it’s easier to tell if there’s a missing part somewhere. So I was figuring out where to cut—"
"………And you chose your ear?"
"Well, if this attempt failed, I’d have to keep my body intact until it succeeded, right? Eyes are a no-go, legs would make walking tough, and hands are way worse, yeah?"

She could kind of understand his reasoning. If he had to lose a part of his body, he’d naturally pick the one with the least impact on daily life, but—

"Why did you have to cut yourself at all?"

The fundamental question. What kind of experiment required cutting his own body? The obvious doubt escaped Shiroko*Terror’s lips.

"……Hmm… Well, guess there’s no hiding it now."

Frowning, he hesitated for a moment—then, as if resigning himself (yet somehow proudly), he grinned and spoke.

"Rejuvenation research."
"──Re… juvenation?"

The word that left his mouth was something straight out of fantasy—utterly unscientific.

"Yep, rejuvenation. I’m researching tech to reverse time. …It’s, well, dangerous stuff, so I’ve been hiding it and working alone."

If it could be achieved—it would be a world-shaking discovery. Humanity would be freed from the fate of death, allowed to live eternally in youth.

"Since it rewinds time for my entire being, I should be able to revert from an Apollo with a missing ear back to an Apollo before losing it."
"Should? You weren’t certain?"
"Well, obviously. I’m the first test subject, so it’s all trial and error—super tough. If it fails, I just keep trying until it works."
"Apollo… do you want to rejuvenate?"
"Huh? Yeah."

He answered cheerfully, as if it were obvious. With the same face he wore when declaring he’d "reach for the cosmos."

"──I see. You want to see everything."
"──Yeah. There’s not enough time. Giving up isn’t an option."

Understanding his true feelings was laughably easy for Shiroko*Terror. Having seen his eyes, having witnessed his "dream," she knew.

"…Fine. But no more cutting yourself. If something has to be cut, I’ll do it."

She was aware how insane that sounded. But if the alternative was Apollo getting hurt, she’d choose to hurt herself without hesitation—that was Shiroko*Terror’s unwavering answer.

"──Huh!? No no no no, what are you saying!? Even if it gets fixed later, you’d still be stuck like that until then! You have to take better care of yourself!!"

(…………This guy, seriously.)

Shiroko*Terror loved Hoshizora Apollo.

That said, sometimes he made her really angry.

Hoshizora Apollo

Will do anything for research. Weak to massages.

Shiroko*Terror

Saw something dangerous. Learned something dangerous. Now sticks to Apollo even more than before.

Kagami Chihiro

Mine now.

Ushio Noa

TakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTakenTaken.

Chapter Text

"I turned into a kid..."

The day after remodeling the clubroom. Early in the morning, Shiroko and Chi-chan—who happened to be there—joined me in testing the prototype rejuvenation device. First, we tried it on a broken pen, then on Shiroko after she chopped off her hair, and finally on me after I gave myself a small cut on my finger.

"Nn... Nnn...?"
"About five years old... maybe?"

Now that I think about it, I didn't actually need to cut off a whole body part—just a tiny wound would've been enough. That was close.

"Hmm, the pen and Shiroko worked fine, though... Does it just not work in succession?"
"...I think there's a bigger issue to consider here..."
"Huh? This is all to get back to normal, y'know."

To restore my body—now reverted to that of a five-year-old—I'd need to build an aging device. But doing R&D in this state sounds like a pain.

"Getting back is important, but... we also need to figure out how to take care of Apollo like this."
"Take care of me? Only my body changed."
"Exactly."
"Ugh."

Poked in the cheek, I fell silent. Looking up at everyone from this height feels weird—usually, I'm the one being looked up to. Interesting, interesting.

"Don't expect this body to move like normal. Injuries hit harder when you're small."
"Yeah, but what choice do we have?"
"You should stay put until you adjust."
"Ehh?!"

Not like I can argue—she's right. Honestly, I can already tell my body isn't listening to me like usual.

"...H-how long will this last?"
"Dunno, but..."

Until the aging device is done... We're acting casual, but this is actually a huge problem.

"I've got Veritas stuff too, so I can't watch over him forever..."
"Me neither..."
"Uwaah..."

I'm already a handful normally—no way I can live alone like this. Noa... has been kinda scary lately. Hmm, she's busy too, so I don't wanna bother her...

"Apollo, good morni—... Huh? You got smaller?"
"Perfect timing!"

──────────────────

"..........................."

Dawn, far too early. In a quiet corner of Millennium Science School, where almost no one was around yet, sat a girl curled up on a bench, hugging her knees—Ushio Noa.

"..........................."

Watching this clearly distressed Noa was Kivotos' second Sensei.

"N-Noa...? What's wrong...? At this hour...?"
"Sensei..."

Noa's demeanor was completely unlike her usual self, prompting Sensei to speak up. But the response was far from reassuring—she was clearly in a terrible state.

".........What do you think... about stolen love?"
"That's... a heavy topic..."

Right from the first exchange, Sensei was hit with a devastating emotional punch. Even with an adult's composure, this subject was way too heavy.

"W-Well... I'm guessing this is about Apollo...? As for 'stolen love,' well... that's kinda bad, isn't it...?"
"Sensei."
"Y-Yes?"

Trying to reason with her proved futile—Noa's next words shattered any attempt at logic. With a sinking feeling, Sensei listened as Noa pointed at herself and declared:

"......I'm the one who got stolen from."
"Oh no..."

Her eyes were hollow, her sanity clearly frayed. Leaving Apollo with Noa in this state would trigger an unpredictable chemical reaction—no, it was better not to imagine it at all.

(But I can't just leave her like this...)

Deciding to at least hear her out, Sensei sat down beside Noa.

"......He was taken from me. Apollo-kun."
"T-Taken...?"
"When he didn't come home, I called him over and over... and when he finally answered, he was making those noises. Those kinds of noises. He was definitely──fu──ing────press her───cream───────"
"WAH! WAHHH—!!"

Completely unlike her usual self, Noa spoke rapidly in a hard-to-follow manner. Words dangerous enough to violate broadcasting standards started coming out, so Sensei immediately drowned them out with loud shouts

"......We're childhood friends. I've watched over Apollo-kun from the very beginning, from zero. And yet... and yet..."
"So that's why you're here this early in the morning...?"
"My room still smells like Apollo-kun."
"Oh dear..."

The severity of the situation hit Sensei harder than expected, leaving her dizzy. The person in question was that Hoshizora Apollo—there was no way things were as bad as Noa imagined, but...

"............Then why are you here at this hour, Sensei?"
"......W-Well, uh..."

Trying to deflect, Sensei was met with a counterattack. There was a reason, of course, but—

"I, um... wanted to check on Shiroko."
"Mhm."
"And if I see Shiroko, I'll probably see Apollo too."
"......Ah."
"And, well... it might be like that time again, you know... that kind of situation..."
"Aliens."
"GYAAAAHH!?"

The memory of her technically-not-first meeting with Hoshizora Apollo flashed back—him aggressively invading her personal space with terrifying intensity—and Sensei let out an involuntary shriek.

"......So it traumatized you. That's why you're doing something weird like coming here at dawn."
"Y-Yeah... guess so."
"Somehow... we're both in trouble, huh?"
"Really..."

The crisp morning air froze over in an instant. Silence settled between them—until Sensei suddenly looked up and—

"───Huh?"

There, in her line of sight, was Ichinose Asuna, carrying a five-year-old child who looked eerily like Hoshizora Apollo—

"───ABABABABABABAHH!?"

Ushio Noa's brain short-circuited, suffering another catastrophic meltdown. She crumpled back into a ball on the spot.

(─── Apollo is 16! That kid looks about 5! This makes no sense! That can't be his child!)

Surprisingly, Sensei remained calm—well, calmer than Noa, at least. Her mind raced.

(Not his child... but a kid who looks just like Apollo...... meaning——that's Apollo's clone!? Has the Apollo Army Project been progressing behind the scenes...!?)

The moment she reached that conclusion, everything clicked in Sensei's mind—and her imagination spiraled out of control—

『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』『ALIENS!』

"GYAAAAAAAAAAHHH!?"

The auditory hallucinations had begun.

──────────────────

After being entrusted to Asuna (for some reason), I was carried—unnecessarily—to the rest of C&C.

"Mhm, mhm... Yep, this is definitely Apollo-senpai."
"T-Toki, stooop."
"Fufu, sorry. Couldn't help it..."

For some reason, they kept pinching my cheeks. Honestly, I get it. If I saw Noa as a kid, I'd probably do the same.

"So you really turned into a child, huh..."
"Right?! So cute!"
"You don't have to hold me that much..."

Everyone's eyes were full of curiosity. Well, that's a normal reaction, I guess.

"—Hah! You got real tiny, huh?"
"Picking on a five-year-old? Really?"
"President and Apollo aren't even that different in height now, are they?"
"Oh dear..."

Neru sunk into despair way too fast. Pathetic. Thinking you can finally flex your height on me just because I'm five? You've only just barely reached my level now.

"......So, uh. Why exactly was I brought here again?"
"We thought we'd take care of you until you turn back! ...Unless you don't want us to?"
"It's not that, but......"

Just as I hesitated, the door swung open. Two figures stepped in—one white, one black.

"────I HEARD APOLLO TURNED INTO A CHILD!!!!"
"Himari, lower your voice."

Rio and Himari. Noa's boss and Chihiro's boss... I think? Rio's a big shot at Millennium, and Himari... uh, holds some fancy title like "President of Super [Something] Task Force."

"Himari and President Rio-chan? What's up?"
"I came to see the tiny you!!!!"
"...Sorry about the noise. Same as Himari."

Himari was unusually hyped. Rio, ever the proper council president, remained composed.

"Fumu, fumu──Even as a child, your overflowing talent remains undiminished. You were Hoshizora Apollo from the moment you were born... Fufu, I'm thoroughly satisfied."
"W-W-W-Wah!"

Himari, having taken me from Asuna, inspected me with a scrutinizing gaze. Her stare tickled, making me squirm.

"...Fufufu, how adorable."

Then she started patting my head. Maybe she's excited by this rare situation, but hey—I'm still me inside! This is kinda rough!

"Complete rejuvenation... What happened?"
"W-Well, it's... kinda unexpected for us too?"

Only Asuna and I know about the rejuvenation research. Since we shouldn't carelessly spread that info, I had to dodge the question.

"...Well, fine. If you need help, just ask. I won't hold back support—neither I, Seminar, nor surely any other club would."
"President Rio-chan...!"

Amazing. President Rio-chan's never looked more radiant. So reliable. So cool...!

"I assume C&C will handle your care until you return to normal...?"
"Apollo, that okay?"
"Yeah, sure..."

With five maids around, even a kid's body should be manageable. Works for me. Now I just need to develop the aging device and—

"Senpai, your phone's ringing."
"Hm?"

A barrage of messages. Who the heck is—?

『Apollo』
『Did something happen?』
『It did, didn't it?』
『It's okay.』
『I'm coming.』
『Wait there.』

"Uh... Ayame...? Apollo-senpai, who's this—?"

The next instant—clack—the door opened.

"────Came to save you, Aaapollo."

Standing there was my acquaintance—Nanakado Ayame—

"Hey, Apollo."

A familiar voice whispered in my ear—but with an unfamiliar intensity right behind me.

"Who's this?"

...Seems I'm stuck between something dangerous.

Hoshizora Apollo

The guy who turned into a kid. Tried to test the device in order: pen → himself, but Shiroko forcibly took the second slot.

Nanakado Ayame

Sensed Apollo's crisis and arrived at lightning speed. Has a long history with Apollo.

Ichinose Asuna

"Who's Ayame?"

Kagami Chihiro

"Ayame who?"

Sunaookami Shiroko

"Ayame?"

Ushio Noa

Her mind is completely occupied with Child Apollo.

Phrenapates (Sensei)

Her mind is completely occupied with Clone Apollo.

Chapter Text

".........Thinking back, it was a strange affair."

The voice of Ushio Noa resonated quietly within the Stellar Pioneers Clubroom───which had now become Hoshizora Apollo's private room.

"No matter how you look at it, the idea of Apollo-kun having a child is an absurd story. If one could just realize that, it would be simple to arrive at the fact that Apollo-kun's current appearance is identical to that of July 8th, eleven years ago."
"Uwa............"

It was Chihiro who let out a bitter voice. She was sitting on the sofa with the still-childlike Apollo sandwiched between her and Noa. The way she was hugging Apollo, as if to protect him from Noa, who had a somewhat dangerous atmosphere, strongly showed her anxiety.

"Hmm............"

As for the Apollo in question, he paid no attention to the conflict on either side. In the notebook he always carries, with the pen he also always carries, he was mindlessly writing something down.

It wasn't that the vibrations in the air weren't reaching him, but none of the content was getting through to his brain. He only thought, for just a moment, that it was somehow noisy.

"In other words───that small Apollo-kun is, due to some reason, Apollo-kun himself having turned into a child. It is absolutely, absolutely not Apollo-kun's child."
"That's obvious, right......"
".........For you to be the one to say that, Chihiro-senpai."
"Eh?"

Noa's eyes narrowed sharply. They were eyes that seemed to accuse Chihiro.

"I know, you see──about your relationship with Apollo-kun."
"Yes?"
"Playing dumb is useless! Did you think you wouldn't be found out after doing that, doing that over the phone!?"
"Eh... no, eh?"

What Noa was saying was incomprehensible to Chihiro. A truly unfortunate misunderstanding. The man at the center of the storm wasn't listening to anything.

"W-, wait, there's probably some misunderstanding───"
"You did this and that with Apollo-kun, didn't you!?"
"Apollo! You say something too!"
"Hmm........."

Unfortunately, Hoshizora Apollo in this state would not budge even with a lever. No voice was spun from his mouth; he was simply engrossed in thought.

Noa would not stop. No rescue was in sight. Chihiro felt a slight despair.

".................."

Shiroko, who had visited the clubroom as usual, also saw the scene. She felt it had been a while since she'd seen Noa, but her interest was directed toward Hoshizora Apollo.

The monitor placed in front of the sofa. On its simply black surface, Apollo's figure was reflected. Perhaps because of his reduced height, the chests of the two girls were sandwiching his head────

"Nn, retrieving."

Using her innate ability, she retrieved Apollo without getting close. She caught him as he fell from above, which resulted in her holding him in a princess carry.

Apollo, who thought he was suddenly falling only to be caught, didn't particularly raise his voice. As soon as he was held, he just turned his gaze toward Shiroko. A momentary crossing of glances. After that, he entrusted his entire body to Shiroko.

"Let's go."

There was no reply to those words, but Shiroko silently took Apollo and left the clubroom behind. From behind her, the sounds of the argument could still be heard, but she ignored them with all her might and left.

"Giiive baaack Aaapolooooo-guun!"
"Gyaa!"

She thought she heard a heartrending scream, but it was probably just her imagination. So Shiroko chose to believe.

──────────────────

Although she had managed to take him out of the danger zone, she naturally hadn't decided where to go. So, as she was walking around outside aimlessly, a familiar figure came into view for Shiroko.

It was an adult male. This world's Sensei had come to check on Shiroko, replacing Phrenapates who had collapsed mid-journey.

"......I'm not giving him to you?"
"I'm not asking for him???"

It was a natural confusion. He came to check on Shiroko, only to find her holding a child, and this was her first remark.

"So, umm......?"
"Nn, Apollo turned into a child."
"Eee......?"

Apollo still hadn't taken his eyes off his notebook. He probably hadn't even noticed the change in location.

"He gets like this sometimes. When he's like this, Apollo doesn't hear anything."
"I-, is that so..."
"Nn.........For now, maybe we should go to Himari-senpai's place. What will you do, Sensei? Are you coming along?"
"......Well then, I'll come along too."

There was no objection to the idea, and the group proceeded towards Himari's location.

"......Um, isn't Apollo going to walk?"
"If I let him go, he'll either walk without looking ahead, or just stand there forever. And the clubroom... we can't go back right now."

Before long, they reached Himari's place────

"───Apollo! It's Apollo, isn't it! I can't believe I get to see you again today!!!!"
"Himari, lower your voice. ...My, Sensei. You're here too."
"Nn, the clubroom's a battlefield. Came to evacuate."
"You can come anytime, no matter when!!!! Now, please come inside!!"

Somewhat overwhelmed by Himari's enthusiasm, the two went inside the clubroom. The usual members were relaxing as usual, waiting for them.

"Rio's here too."
"Somehow, I had a feeling Apollo would come......"
"Apollo-senpai, Apollo-senpai............It's no use. There's no reaction."
"It really is-"
"Nn, the current Apollo won't move no matter what you do."

Even when Eimi and Toki poked his cheeks from both sides, his reaction was faint. Ever since being in the clubroom, he had been endlessly writing something in his notebook.

"I wonder what he's writing......?"

Himari and Rio peeked at the contents of the notebook from the side. After staring for a few seconds, their expressions were in contrast. Rio frowned, while Himari looked happy, her cheeks relaxing.

"I have absoooooolutely no idea."
"I can tell it's some kind of blueprint...... but beyond that, nothing at all."

Even the Omniscient and the Big Sister were stumped. No one could figure out what Apollo was doing.

"As a club member, what do you think?"
"Nn, normally, it should be a machine to return him to his original form. Even if you ask for the theory, we wouldn't know unless Apollo tells us."

The conversation was sparse, and everyone present simply continued to watch Apollo draw something in his notebook. A very calm and comfortable time flowed like that.

"Hm...... Hmm?"

As if trying to focus, Apollo moved the notebook back and forth in front of his face and groaned. Eventually, he closed the notebook────

"Alright......... Huh, where is this?"

Finally, Apollo had returned to normal. Seeing the scenery of the clubroom and the faces surrounding him, he seemed a little confused.

"Nn, I carried you. The clubroom was a battlefield."
"????......Well, whatever, it's fine. Himari! Gimme some snacks!"
"Eh?"

Anxiety seeped into Himari's expression. That was only natural; this wasn't the first time Apollo had pestered her for snacks, in fact, it had been happening almost daily lately.

"Uu... W-, well, that's really no good. You've been eating too much lately, Apollo."
"Ehh-, come ooon."
"I heard she gave too much to Apollo and now she has less for herself."
"I'll show you an unpublished paper, okay? The one on spatial translocation?"
"Wha...! U, ugugu...! N-, no! ...No......!"
"Apollo-senpai, what will you do?"
"What a pain- guess there's only one thing left. Ehh-, ahem."

"───Himari onee-chan, pleeease?"
"Take as much as you want."
"Alright, that was easy."

Having been defeated all too easily, Himari offered snacks to Apollo. Rice crackers and such; the choices were oddly mature for his age, but they were delicious snacks to Apollo.

"Shiroko, feed me-"
"Nn, okay. ...Here, aaah~n"
"Aaah-"

Leaving the eating to Shiroko, Apollo opened his notebook again. Sensei, along with Shiroko beside him, peered into the notebook's contents.

"This, is...... What are you writing?"
"Umm...... Wait, who are you?"
"Ah, I'm Schale's Sensei... Wait, we've met, right? During the Eden Treaty..."
"Huh, was that so? Sorry. Anyway, I'm going to the workshop now, gotta build a device to return me to normal quickly."
"If you are returning to the workshop, we will accompany you."
"Then let's all go-"

──────────────────

The group had become quite large, but they reached the workshop without any particular problems. The moment they arrived, Apollo took out his tools and began constructing the device.

".........It was obscured before, but just how did Apollo end up turning into a child, I wonder?"
".........I cannot say anything."
"I see."

The technology was meant to be secret in the first place. Shiroko could not speak about it. All decision-making authority lay with Hoshizora Apollo───

"...Huh, but he's building the machine to return to normal in front of everyone. I guess it's not a secret anymore? Oh well. A malfunction with the rejuvenation device made him rejuvenate too much."
"Eh?"
"Eh?"
"Don't tell anyone."

The Stellar Pioneers Club is unfettered. And so are its members.

"Th-, that is...... what kind of approach did...?"
"It seems it really turns back time. Ask Apollo for the details later."
"...I will do that."
"Alright, it's done-! Let's go!"
"Done, you say. Now's the time to ask───Nn?"

It was something only Shiroko would understand, but it was probably a modified version of an early-type warp device. It probably only needed to work once. It was likely made from spare parts and a pre-existing device──but if the creator was Hoshizora Apollo, it would surely work.

"Wait a se────"

Before Shiroko could stop him, Apollo activated the device. A dazzling light enveloped the entire workshop.

"It's bright...! No, I mean, Apollo!"

Rubbing her eyes, dazzled by the light, Shiroko strained to open them and capture sight of Apollo────

"───Hey there, granny, where might this place be?"
"Rejuvenation-!"

And thus, the Hoshizora Apollo Childification Incident came to a close.

Apollo

Things he likes: The universe. Next, interacting with people.

Chihiro

Worked hard to clear up the misunderstanding.

Noa

Worked hard to have the misunderstanding cleared up (for her).

Shiroko

Is just a little sad that she can no longer carry Apollo.

Sensei

Actually has talked with Apollo before. Has been forgotten.

Himari

Her snacks are gone.

Rio

Is thinking about who "granny" was referring to.