"Mmm... Where is this... Was I saved?"
Lying on the hospital bed, Cagalli trembled as she opened her eyes. Gazing at the familiar yet unfamiliar ceiling and feeling the warmth of the bright sunlight, she knew—she must have been rescued.
"How was the taste of being kidnapped?"
A familiar voice snapped Cagalli out of her daze. Turning her head, she saw Yang Hui sitting on a chair by the bed, legs crossed, intently working on documents through his PAD.
"Yang Hui! Did you save me?"
"If you're thinking of thanking me, don't bother."
"Wahhh..." At these words, Cagalli suddenly burst into tears, as if some unknown strength had surged within her. "...I'm sorry... I'm really sorry... I know I was wrong... I truly know I was wrong..."
"Sigh." Finishing the last document, Yang Hui put away his PAD and looked at Cagalli with resignation. He knew her overactive imagination had kicked in again. "The people you should really thank are Vidar and his intelligence division. They worked tirelessly day and night to find you. As for apologies, you owe them to Mana and Kisaka. Because of your disappearance, they nearly got into danger."
"Sniff... I... I understand... I'll... I'll tell them..."
"That's enough."
"Yang Hui! I really know I was wrong!" Seeing Yang Hui still indifferent as he stood to leave, Cagalli suddenly propped herself up and shouted. She truly understood her mistake now, and she had truly felt fear. She had already lost her father, and this time, she had almost lost Mana and Kisaka—even herself.
Everything around her felt unsettling. She was terrified that she no longer held any place in Yang Hui's heart.
Yang Hui paused mid-step but didn't turn around. He simply waved a hand behind him before leaving the room. He had no interest in sentimental words. Cagalli had always held a place in his heart—she was still that little sister who needed looking after. Even if he had to confine or monitor her, he would never truly abandon her.
But Cagalli didn't see it that way. She thought Yang Hui had given up on her completely, and she hugged her knees, weeping helplessly.
Before long, the door to the hospital room opened again. Lifting her lifeless eyes, Cagalli saw Athrun and Kira entering together, both startled by her state.
"Cagalli! Are you alright?"
"Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine... I'm okay..." Cagalli continued to sob, hugging her knees as she weakly replied to Kira and Athrun.
"This... You don't look fine at all. Can you tell us what happened?" Kira asked gently, offering comfort. As her twin brother and last remaining family, he was the most qualified to ask—and the most qualified to be her confidant.
"Kira... Wahhh... Yang Hui... Yang Hui doesn't want me anymore..."
"Eh!?" x2
Kira and Athrun froze, exchanging glances. Both saw sheer bewilderment reflected in the other's eyes. Did Yang Hui and Cagalli have that kind of relationship? Wait, no—that wasn't the right question. The real question was—had Yang Hui ever wanted her in the first place?
"Uh... Could you explain what exactly happened?" Kira asked awkwardly. They needed to get the facts straight first—otherwise, this could turn into a huge misunderstanding.
Then, Cagalli continued crying as she recounted the events to Kira and Athrun. The more she spoke, the louder her sobs became.
"Uh..."
After hearing the whole story, Kira and Athrun felt even more awkward, realizing it was all due to Cagalli's overactive imagination.
"Um... Cagalli, Yang Hui hasn't abandoned you," Kira explained to her.
"Really?"
"!"
Cagalli suddenly sprang up from the hospital bed, gripping Kira's hand tightly, startling both him and Athrun. In that moment, they saw a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
"Y-yeah," Kira steadied himself and patted Cagalli's hand to calm her down. "Think about it—if Yang Hui had completely given up on you, would he have been the first person you saw when you woke up?"
"Right!" Cagalli's face brightened, only to darken again with anger. "Then why didn't he say anything!?"
"..." Athrun covered his face in exasperation. Having grown up with Yang Hui, shouldn't Cagalli know exactly what kind of person he was?
"He... might have been busy?"
"Too busy to spare even a single word?"
"Uh..." Kira and Athrun finally understood Yang Hui's frustration. Cagalli could be incredibly stubborn at times—even when the hints were obvious, she still insisted on digging to the bottom of things.
With no other choice, Athrun sighed and decided to explain things to her properly. Otherwise, they might never leave this hospital room today.
"Yang Hui values relationships more than anything. You're his family, his little sister. How could he ever abandon you? Even if his methods and words seem harsh, it's all for your own good—to teach you, care for you, and protect you. Do you understand, Cagalli?"
"Who... who's his little sister!?"
"...Sigh."
Well, at least she seemed to have taken it in. As long as her spirits were lifted, that was enough. Since they had no other plans for the day, they might as well stay and keep her company.
Meanwhile, Yang Hui arrived by car at the intelligence division's interrogation room. The suicide operatives had yielded no information, and the Carbon Humans were equally uncooperative. But the leader of the group was neither—just an ambitious schemer. His frail, hunched frame didn't suggest he had much resilience, so there was a good chance they could extract valuable intel from him.
And besides... this was a perfect excuse.
"How did it go?"
"He already talked. We didn't even finish the first one." Inside the office, Creuset had removed his mask and handed Yang Hui the interrogation report, his expression a mix of disappointment and lingering excitement. His somewhat twisted psyche had clearly taken a keen interest in the Top Ten Eastern Tortures Yang Hui had recommended.
"..." Yang Hui silently read through the report, his face unreadable. Once finished, he handed it back to Creuset. "Decide which ones to eliminate and which to keep. That's your call."
Spies were useful pawns—both their own and the enemy's. Exposed spies posed no threat, and leaving certain ones in place could help feed the enemy false intelligence.
"I was waiting for you to say that."
"Then it's settled. Execute all the captured Carbon Humans and spies in secret, except for the leader."
"No retaliation? That doesn't sound like the you I know."
"Of course there will be, but not now. The destruction operation for [Julius 7] will be carried out in a week. The press conference will be held tomorrow, and I'll need to head to [Ame No Minashira] to stand by."
"Understood. I'll be waiting on Earth for your good news."
"Mm. But just because we're not retaliating now doesn't mean we won't prepare. I'll inform Sumeragi and have her draw up plans."
"Heh, looks like the Atlantic Federation is about to lose another piece of flesh."
(End of Chapter)