[Hathaway's Flash] Vol.02 Ch.09

Chapter.09 Underwear on the Bed

　As the first rays of dawn illuminated the horizon, Hathaway and his team made their way back to the Valiant. Meanwhile, Gawman and his team ventured farther south to rendezvous with the Ceelack.

　"Keria was dispatched to Darwin, right?"

　"Yeah, on a small jet."

　The topic of Keria lingered heavily in Hathaway's mind, but the invigorating breeze slipping through his slightly open flight suit provided a modicum of relief.

　"Who's the pilot?"

　"The captain wasn't exactly happy about it, but he assigned Julia Suga to the task. So they're getting everything set up for her arrival in Darwin."

　"I see..."

　The two-seater jet was a sleek civilian sports model, its wings designed to fold and detach for easy storage on the vessel. However, its range was limited, just enough to reach Darwin from their current location. It seemed that Keria and Julia, who weren't known for getting along, had taken the risk of flying in such a small craft.

　Hathaway felt a pang of guilt, realizing that his relief at their departure eclipsed his concern for their safety.

　"After experiencing the stench of death, am I really going to worry about Keria?"

　Hathaway was repulsed by how readily his heart wavered amidst such seemingly inconsequential matters.

　"Clearly, I have much to work on," he mused.

　"My calling is greater – to leave an indelible mark on this world, to transform it. Gigi was supposed to be the means to achieve it..."

　Despite his weariness of the youthful atmosphere that seemed to doubt his words, Hathaway couldn't help but be drawn to Gigi's allure. This facet left a sour note in his heart.

　"I must break free from these corporeal and emotional yearnings, or salvation will remain beyond my reach."

　Tormented by his thoughts, he sought solace from the arid wind in the musty confines of the cabin.

　Ever since assuming the identity of Mafty, Hathaway had grown markedly introspective, becoming well-acquainted with his innermost thoughts. Consequently, he could somewhat set aside his concerns about Keria. Nonetheless, Gigi's presence continued to unsettle his heart.

　"Through Gigi,　I was able to learn about my enemy Kenneth... That revelation allowed me more time to strategize against the Circe Unit."

　He tried to rationalize his fixation on Gigi with such trivial justifications.

　"But Davao wants solid evidence that Adelaide is their target, and they also need to communicate with the support troops deployed on the continent. That's why they sent Keria."

　Iram Masam attempted to empathize with Hathaway's somber mood, gesturing to the chart spread across the cramped cabin's desk.

　"Why not leave that to our contact hiding in Darwin?" Hathaway inquired, his words veiling his true contemplations while rummaging through the refrigerator.

　"It's not that simple. Remember Fabio of the Oenbelli Army that you mentioned? Their movements might prove beneficial to us. In that case, we need to send someone well-versed in our situation."

　"Right."

　Hathaway retrieved bacon and a hunk of broccoli from the fridge and arranged them on the desk beneath the porthole.

　"Since that incident, radio communications among Davao, Hong Kong, and Guangzhou have grown increasingly conspicuous. Plus, numerous cargo planes are also flying south. Still, it remains plausible that both are mere distractions."

　Masam indicated the movements of the Circe Unit's suits notated on the chart.

　"But I don't think the Circe Unit has that much leeway either," Hathaway said, biting into a bacon-stuffed bread as he traced their future route on the chart.

　"True, but Kenneth Sleg's arrival has made Davao's actions far more dynamic compared to Kimberley Hayman. There's no denying he's a formidable contender," Masam observed.

　"Hmm... interesting," Hathaway responded, gratified by such a valuation of an adversary he recognized.

　Affability alone doesn't make someone a comrade. Only when they possess the corresponding expertise will they become a valuable ally worthy of boasting about. And in the case of an enemy who challenges them with a Gundam, mediocrity isn't an option.

　Hathaway believed that was the ethos shared by pilots and warriors he had met on the battlefield.

　Defeating the weak doesn't make one a warrior nor a soldier.

　Moreover, it doesn't make one a pilot, a knight, or a samurai.

　"Will there be some supplies at Bynoe Harbour?"

　"Yeah, that's the plan. As for the matters at Ayers Rock and Gawler, Keria should be able to handle them, right?"

　Hearing Masam's evaluation, Hathaway slipped into his sweltering bed as the sun's relentless rays once again inundated the space.

　On that same morning, Gigi, still groggy from sleep, realized she needed to contact Hathaway.

　"Ah...!"

　Sunlight filtered through the curtains she loathed, casting a surprisingly beautiful glow.

　As she stretched her muscles, Gigi felt increasingly confident in her decision. Then, swiftly changing into her running attire, she hurried out of her apartment.

　The on-duty security guard was bewildered by her sudden departure, but he didn't seem to suspect anything.

　Gigi dreaded the thought of running uphill back to her apartment, but she had no choice but to make her way down to the city to find a payphone. She had a hunch that Kenneth might be tapping her phone, so she couldn't risk making the call from her apartment.

　After running downhill for a while, Gigi finally came across a few phone booths on a street lined with apartments. 

　"May I speak with Hathaway Noah?"

　"I'm afraid he isn't available at the moment. He's out for an internship."

　The somber voice of an older man, transmitted through the undersea cable, carried an air of mystique.

　Gigi, however, was surprised that the phone number for Hathaway's residence, provided by Kenneth, was accurate.

　She couldn't afford any careless communication.

　"Would this happen to be Professor Amada Mansan?"

　"Who might this be?"

　"My name is Gigi Andalusia."

　"Hathaway told me about you. What can I do for you?"

　The initially apprehensive voice softened somewhat but remained cautious.

　"Can you pass along a message? Ask him if we can have our next date in Adelaide?"

　"A date in Adelaide? That's rather unexpected."

　"We agreed on it yesterday. We couldn't settle on a spot in Davao, so when I asked Kenneth for advice, he gave me this phone number, and that's how we decided. Would you please pass that along?"

　Gigi was as nervous as if she were calling the father of a lover she had never met before.

　"Where are you now?"

　"I'm in Hong Kong. I really wanted to go visit you, but Hathaway told me you're a scary person..."

　Gigi made this remark in an attempt to gauge the professor's response.

　"I'd have to ask him about that. His work takes him to areas without phone service, so there's not much I can do unless he reaches out to me."

　"You know, I'm still trying to determine my own position in all this. I might even find myself at Kenneth's place at some point..."

　"Kenneth? Ah… He's quite busy, isn't he?"

　"That's right. I have quite a few admirers, don't I? But I'm glad I could connect with you. May I call you again?"

　Despite feeling a bit sheepish about highlighting her achievements to an older individual who seemed so ordinary, there was no other way to keep the conversation light.

　"Not at all, but I'm not always here either..."

　"Oh, really? Well, I'm glad I could talk to you today, at least."

　Gigi said a silent prayer, hoping there was no one eavesdropping on the call, as she slowly jogged back up the hill.

　News of the mass killings in Davao was reported on the local cable TV news that afternoon, just as the furniture Gigi had ordered was being delivered to her apartment.

　The footage only showed a few bloodstained bodies lying on Davao's main street, with fleeting glimpses of the Circe Unit and the special police force known as Man-Hunters in the background. There was no indication that they had obstructed the camera.

　However, the footage itself was brief.

　"What's going on?"

　Gigi doubted the credibility of the news while supervising the furniture arrangement, but she couldn't dismiss it as a lie.

　The announcer reported that over 500 arrests and more than 100 deaths had occurred in a crackdown on dissidents led by the Circe Unit.

　By evening, the distasteful room decor was hastily completed, and furniture was moved in.

　Once the work was finished, Gigi dined alone on the veranda.

　Now, the minimum preparations were completed to welcome the apartment's owner, who would likely arrive in two weeks.

　However, she couldn't help but regret taking shortcuts.

　More than anything, there was the considerable task of imbuing the place with the scent of everyday life for the elderly man who disliked the restlessness of being surrounded by new things. But Gigi couldn't do that now.

　"If only I could return before the Count arrives, I would do what's lacking..."

　Despite this thought, she knew she probably wouldn't return here.

　That news segment aired only once.

　Gigi went to sleep feeling uneasy.

　Despite their amicable nature towards her, Captain Sleg and Hathaway were frequent visitors to her dreams, making appearances only to vanish just as quickly.

　The following day, Gigi saw that her casual attire from the day before was somewhat strewn about the room. She also set up a small photo of herself and Cardias Bowndenwood in an acrylic frame on the living room table, alongside a note that she had started writing but had not yet finished.

　She set timers for some lamps to turn on in the evening and ensured the bathtub was filled with hot water each night.

　She wore several expensive accessories to pawn off but still felt she owed an apology to the Count.

　"I'm sorry... I just want to live a little--"

　Although she tried saying this, it didn't change the frustrating reality.

　Furthermore, she checked her bank account linked to her debit card because she felt she needed funds available for emergencies.

　"..."

　After mulling it over for a while, she decided that she could return the money to the Count once the need was gone. Gigi kept her personal debit card but stashed the card for the joint account she shared with the Count, which was intended for communal expenses, in the bedside table drawer.

　After changing out of her clothes, she scattered her small undergarments on the bedcover and carefully arranged them to look more natural.

　A camisole and panties adorned with pink and slightly darker pink lace...

　Socks, jeans, and a long-sleeved T-shirt were carelessly strewn beneath the bed.

　"..."

　Beside the pillow lay the black rubber band she had used to tie her blonde hair.

　Gigi shed tears as she resigned herself to the fate that had led her to this point, convincing herself that this would be her final parting gift.

　"The Count is also a victim in all of this..."

　With nothing but a shoulder bag in tow, Gigi set foot on the road as evening began to fall.

　When the guard and concierge expressed concern about her not having a car, she laughed and made her way down the hill.

　"Adieu, my benefactor! I might be walking to my demise."

　As Gigi contemplated those words, the sunlight beat down upon her, reminiscent of the sweltering afternoon heat.