The following day.
To replenish their dwindling supplies, Mikazuki sat in a jeep alongside Kira, Cagalli, and the others as they headed toward the market in Banadeiyah, the city where a ZAFT military base was located.
Naturally, they weren't alone. The ones actually handling the negotiations with the merchants were Natarle and Jackie, accompanied by Saib from Desert Dawn and Cagalli's close aide, Kisaka.
Mikazuki, Kira, and Cagalli had split off from the main group. Cagalli had promised to bring back some treats for the children, but her primary motivation was Kira's strange behavior.
After getting a lecture from Kira the day before, she felt his mental state was off. He seemed far too suppressed. It was just as she had overheard during his conversation with Sai the previous night—no one seemed to care about how he was actually feeling.
Being kindhearted at her core, she felt she couldn't just leave him be.
"So, Shorty, do you want to buy anything?"
"I don't have anything to buy. And besides, stop calling me 'Shorty'..."
Mikazuki shot her an annoyed look. Although he wasn't particularly obsessed with his height, being called that still made him incredibly uncomfortable.
"If you're not buying anything, why did you even come along?" Cagalli asked, puzzled.
"Murrue asked me to. She wanted me to protect you two."
Mikazuki let out a yawn. He was telling the truth. When Murrue found out Cagalli wanted to take Kira out, she didn't refuse; instead, she personally asked Mikazuki to go with them.
She felt that while Kira's physical prowess was impressive, he still lacked professional military training. Furthermore, their destination was the heart of the enemy's stronghold. Letting two completely immature children wander off alone was simply unwise, so she had tasked Mikazuki with their protection.
"What? That captain worries even more than Kisaka does..."
Mikazuki popped a Date into his mouth and spoke indifferently.
"One girl who is naive beyond belief, and one idiot whose head is full of nothing but self-inflicted suffering... It'd be weirder if a combo like that didn't make people worry while moving together."
Cagalli's lip twitched. "...That's irritating."
Kira also had a few dark lines across his forehead. Was that 'idiot' comment directed at him?
"Kira, ignore that midget. Let's go buy things for the kids. You need to buy a lot of stuff for that Flay girl too, right?"
"Ah, right..."
Mikazuki watched from behind as the immature Cagalli led the way, with Kira following behind with a forced smile.
"Those two really are alike in so many ways..."
He muttered to himself before picking up his pace to keep up with them.
However, his eyes shifted subtly, casting an obscure glance toward a man sitting in a nearby café. The man was dressed in a loud floral shirt and large shorts, wearing a straw hat and sunglasses while leisurely reading a newspaper.
Mikazuki's gaze then flickered toward a tall building not far away, and he slightly cocked an eyebrow.
From behind his sunglasses, the man first sized up Kira and Cagalli, but his gaze eventually locked onto Mikazuki.
"Well, this is... a fresh face. Especially that last kid... he's radiating a terrifying aura. Is he some kind of humanoid beast? But this feeling... it's so familiar. Ah, the eyes."
The man pulled down his sunglasses in surprise, watching Mikazuki's departing back. This was none other than Andrew Waltfeld. He wore a smile that sat somewhere between astonishment and thrill.
"Wait, for real? Is the pilot of the 'Wolf' really just a brat like that? Then, those two he's with... Right, right, that blonde one is from Desert Dawn. Hehe, interesting. They just walked right onto my turf, bold as you please."
A subordinate in civilian clothing walked up and whispered to him.
"Commander, we received intel from the 'Big Sister.' Members of Blue Cosmos sneaked in last night while we were away. They're carrying heavy weapons."
Andrew's smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression.
"Is that so? Understood. They're likely planning an assassination. Notify everyone to stay hidden. They're probably watching me from somewhere right now."
"Sir!"
At noon, Cagalli brought Mikazuki and Kira back to where they had parked to have lunch. It happened to be the location of the best restaurant in the city.
Andrew had been sitting in the café across the street for nearly three hours, his eyes fixed intently on the direction of the three youths.
Mikazuki glanced sideways at Andrew across the way. Soon, a plate of thin flatbread topped with grilled meat was placed before him.
Mikazuki had never seen this kind of food before—Atra had never made it—and he felt a momentary surge of curiosity.
"What is this?"
"Oh, you don't know? This is Doner Kebab. It's delicious. First, you sprinkle some chili sauce on it, and then..."
"Wait a minute!"
Just as Cagalli was about to pour the chili sauce, Andrew—whom Mikazuki had been watching the entire time—suddenly appeared at their table. He reached out and grabbed the yogurt sauce sitting next to the chili sauce.
"Adding chili sauce to Doner Kebab? That's simply absurd! Using this yogurt sauce is common sense."
"Huh?"
Except for Mikazuki, both Kira and Cagalli were startled by the sudden appearance of this middle-aged man.
"Hmm... it's not just common sense. Actually... right, if you don't add yogurt sauce, you're practically insulting the dish!"
Cagalli was the first to snap back, speaking with clear dissatisfaction.
"Who even are you? A total stranger has no right to tell me how to eat my food!"
As she spoke, she tilted the bottle, and chili sauce instantly smothered the grilled meat.
"Look, Mikazuki, after you pour the chili sauce, you just roll it up and eat... Mmm, it's so good."
Andrew melodramatically covered his eyes. "Oh, the horror!"
Cagalli's lip twitched as she picked up the chili sauce again and handed it to Mikazuki and Kira.
"Here, you guys try it. Adding chili sauce to Doner Kebab is the only true way!"
Andrew hurriedly pushed the yogurt sauce forward, shoving the chili sauce aside. "No, no, no, no! How could you lead two innocent young men down such a heretical path? Young men, listen to me. Her way is a complete gimmick. Yogurt sauce is the only authentic way to eat Doner Kebab!"
Mikazuki looked at the two of them with dead fish eyes.
"I don't care. Any sauce is fine. Just give it to me already..."
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