Build Gundams Ch 23

Hayato approached Ryuuichi, a bowl of noodles in hand. "Here, this bowl of noodles is especially for you." He placed the offering before Ryuuichi with a familiar gesture.

"Thank you, Hayato." Ryuuichi accepted the noodles with a nod.

Avina, having witnessed the exchange, observed the dynamics between Ryuuichi and Hayato with a discerning eye. It seemed to transcend the typical superior-subordinate relationship.

"Lieutenant Takeshi," Avina began, her tone laced with curiosity, "what exactly is your relationship with the Boss? Your demeanor suggests something more than just a professional connection."

Shirayuki, who had been on the verge of gently correcting her brother Haruki's manners, found her own interest piqued. The unspoken question hung in the air as she, too, looked toward Ryuuichi and Hayato, eager to glean insight.

Hayato chuckled, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. "Well, the Boss and I have been inseparable since childhood. We hail from the same hometown. When he embarked on this venture, I simply couldn't resist joining him in building this empire."

Ryuuichi, seemingly unfazed by the ongoing conversation, added with a touch of dry wit, "He also had the added incentive of evading a prospective fiancée."

Hayato's expression momentarily faltered, betraying a hint of discomfort.

Severine, balancing a tray laden with a minimalist meal, approached the group and settled into a seat beside Ryuuichi. She leaned in, murmuring a few words into his ear, her tone discreet and professional.

"I understand. You have my full support." Ryuuichi responded, his gaze unwavering.

Severine resumed her meal, her plate containing only a few slices of whole-wheat bread, lean ham, a pair of hard-boiled eggs, and a steaming cup of green tea.

Ryuuichi, having finished the meal he had initially selected, was about to partake in the noodles Hayato had provided when the latter spoke again.

"Ryuuichi," Hayato began, a hint of hesitation in his voice, "do you still remember Ayase?"

Ryuuichi's chopsticks paused mid-air, the noodles momentarily forgotten. "Of course, I remember her. Why do you bring her up now?"

"It's just that Luna kept bombarding my old communicator with messages, and as I was clearing them out, I stumbled upon a message from Ayase— or, rather, Suzuka-san," Hayato corrected himself. "Apparently, she's been trying to reach you. She expressed a desire to meet. I found it curious that she contacted me instead of you directly."

"When I left the Kaneshiro estate," Ryuuichi explained, "I deactivated all my personal communication channels and online profiles."

"That explains it," Hayato mused. "No wonder she reached out to me instead. And it wasn't just her; your sisters have been in touch as well, seemingly concerned about your well-being."

"Who is Ayase Suzuka-san?" Avina inquired, her curiosity piqued by the mention of a past connection.

"The Boss's… well, some might say his ex-girlfriend, perhaps even his first love," Hayato offered, a hint of mischief in his eyes.

A ripple of surprise spread through the group. The notion of Ryuuichi having had a romantic relationship seemed almost incongruous with his image as a focused scientist and pragmatic leader. He seemed too immersed in research and technological advancement to have indulged in matters of the heart.

Ryuuichi, however, quickly dispelled any romantic notions. "She was neither my girlfriend nor my first love."

He set aside the bowl of noodles, his appetite seemingly diminished. "Alright, we have new Gundam performance data to gather. Ensure all systems are prepared for rigorous testing. We cannot afford any errors." He rose from the table, collected his belongings, and prepared to oversee the evaluation of the new Mobile Suits.

Ryuuichi arrived at the expansive hangar, his gaze sweeping over the trio of newly developed Gundams: the RX-78GP02A Physalis, the RX-78GP03 Dendrobium/Stamen, and the RX-78GP04G Gerbera.

"Boss," Kenji Takeshi, the leader of the Antares Mercenary Group, approached, his voice carrying a hint of concern, "you've created these three remarkable Gundam Mobile Suits, but we've yet to identify pilots who are truly capable of unlocking their full potential."

Kenji was followed closely by Reika and Sakura Fujimoto, their expressions reflecting a mixture of anticipation and professional curiosity.

Kenji's eyes lingered on the imposing Physalis. "Boss, the design specifications for the GP02 Physalis— particularly the 'A' configuration— left me speechless. Equipping a Gundam with tactical nuclear warheads… Even in a limited capacity, it's a concept that borders on the unthinkable. If you were ever to deploy such a weapon, you'd be branded an international pariah."

Ryuuichi offered a measured response. "Commander Takeshi, those are merely theoretical configurations. Blueprints, if you will, exploring potential capabilities."

"Boss," Kenji countered, "I have no doubt that you're capable of turning such a theoretical concept into a tangible reality one day."

Ryuuichi met Kenji's gaze, then turned his attention back to the Physalis. "If I ever possess the means to realize that potential, it would signify that I have attained the power to challenge the established world order."

Kenji's right eye twitched almost imperceptibly. He struggled to discern whether Ryuuichi's statement stemmed from a naive understanding of global politics or an overabundance of self-confidence.

Kenji also noted that the Physalis possessed alternative configurations— denoted as "B" and "C"— which featured conventional, albeit formidable, armaments.

Reika Fujimoto stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the streamlined form of the RX-78GP04G Gerbera. "Boss, the GP04 Gerbera seems to share a similar design philosophy with the GP01Fb Full Burnern. Why pursue its development? Was there a pressing need for another Mobile Suit with similar capabilities?"

"Initially," Ryuuichi conceded, "I shared that assessment. However, I ultimately decided to incorporate new tactical concepts, differentiating it from the existing GP01."

Ryuuichi took a few steps closer to the Gerbera, his expression thoughtful. "The Gerbera prioritizes unparalleled speed, exceptional maneuverability, heightened responsiveness, and formidable firepower. I envisioned it as a Mobile Suit capable of deep penetration into enemy territory, disrupting their lines, and neutralizing their command structure."

Sakura, ever eager to learn, posed a question. "Boss, just how fast is this Gerbera?"

"Its top speed surpasses that of any known Mobile Suit," Ryuuichi replied. "With additional propellant tanks and enhanced thrusters, it could even exceed the velocity of contemporary fighter aircraft."

Reika and Sakura exchanged glances. While fighter aircraft still constituted the primary aerial combat force, Mobile Suits faced inherent limitations in terms of speed and target acquisition. Intercepting a missile launched by a fighter aircraft was a near-impossible feat for most MS pilots.

The Gundam Mobile Suits were intended to surpass fighter jets, to break through defenses and take down the enemy Commander.

Hayato and the other test pilots joined the group.

"Alright," Ryuuichi announced, "let's begin with the Gerbera. We'll conduct a series of performance evaluations, gathering comprehensive data to assess its capabilities."

Kenji, ever meticulous, raised a point of clarification. "Boss, will we be testing the other two Gundams as well?"

"The armaments for the other two are still under development," Ryuuichi explained. "The GP03's Orchis weapon system, in particular, requires further refinement. There's no need to test them at this stage."

"Who will be the first to pilot the Gerbera, Boss?" Kenji asked, ever practical.

"Let's determine that through a lottery," Ryuuichi suggested. "A fair and impartial method."

As fate would have it, the first name drawn was that of Reika Fujimoto.

With a determined nod, Reika donned her flight suit, strode towards the Gerbera, and prepared to initiate the Mobile Suit's activation sequence.