Turning to look at Felix beside her, her clear, beautiful eyes now held a certain depth, as if concealing thoughts within that profundity.
After a few glances, Lacus turned back to gaze out the window at the world outside, pondering for a moment before speaking.
"This is my first time at the front lines."
"How does it feel?"
Watching her calmly, Felix asked with a smile.
Pursing her lips slightly and thinking for a moment, Lacus replied serenely.
"It's different from what I imagined."
"Oh?" A flicker of curiosity appeared on Felix's face as he gazed at Lacus's profile. "What did you imagine it would be like?"
"Serious expressions, grave faces, hurried actions, and a stifling atmosphere." Looking out the window, Lacus succinctly described the scene she had envisioned. After speaking, she turned to Felix and continued. "That's what I imagined the front lines would be like."
"That's not entirely wrong."
Looking at her, Felix nodded in agreement, but then his tone shifted.
"However, the state you described only occurs during pre-battle preparations. When there are no engagements and it's temporarily safe, our lives and interactions are quite normal."
At this point, Felix paused, a slight smile curling at the corners of his lips as he added.
"After all, people need to learn to relieve their own stress. If we were constantly in that tense state, it would lead to psychological issues."
As the words "go mad" left his lips, Felix's smile stiffened and gradually faded, replaced by a trace of sorrow.
"I'm sorry."
Seeing the hint of sorrow on Felix's face, Lacus felt a pang of guilt and apologized to him.
Lifting his head to look at her, Felix quickly concealed the sorrow on his face, replacing it with his usual gentle smile as he shook his head.
"It's not your fault. There's no need to apologize."
With that, Felix turned to Lacus and teased lightly.
"Miss Lacus, you're not losing sleep over something like this, are you?"
Gazing at Felix for a moment, Lacus shook her head.
"Not at all."
After answering, a faint smile appeared on Lacus's face as she spoke in a melodious and gentle voice.
"Since we've gotten to know each other, you can just call me Lacus. There's no need to be so formal and call me Miss Lacus."
"Mm." Felix nodded and smiled in agreement. "Lacus." After saying her name, Felix added.
"In that case, Lacus, just call me by my name too."
"Mm." Nodding slightly, Lacus said with a smile. "Felix."
"Mm."
Smiling faintly, Felix nodded in response.
Turning once again to look out the window, her smile had faded, and a trace of sorrow slowly emerged from within Lacus, revealing itself on her still somewhat youthful face.
Recognizing the sorrow on her face, Felix wisely remained silent, standing there quietly waiting for Lacus to voice the pain in her heart.
Thus, silence fell between the two.
After a while, Lacus broke the silence.
"While singing today, I felt so happy and comforted seeing the joyful faces in the audience. But when everything settled down, the thought that this might be the last time I see them made me feel deeply, deeply sad.
So sad that I wanted to cry, but I didn't dare to, afraid my tears would affect them."
Sensing the sorrow in Lacus's words, Felix gazed at the wall, then lifted his head to look at the ceiling. After a long pause, he spoke.
"People must learn to accept reality. No matter how cruel the outcome, we have to accept it, hold back our tears and sorrow, and keep moving forward. We can't stop or retreat. Once we stop or retreat, they will stop too."
These words struck Lacus, and her expression froze. Inside, however, they stirred a turbulent storm. She turned to look at Felix, just as he lowered his head and their eyes met.
Felix's deep, resolute eyes, which concealed hidden sorrow, profoundly moved Lacus's heart.
He must be suffering too, right?
"For their sake, no matter how cruel reality is, we must accept it. No matter how painful it is, we have to keep moving forward without stopping for a single moment."
His firm and determined voice reached Lacus's ears, causing her pupils to contract. Her small hands at her sides clenched tightly into fists.
Just as she was about to speak, Felix's voice sounded again, but this time it lacked the previous resolve and determination, carrying instead a tone of sorrow and grief.
"If we stop, they will disappear completely."
These brief and ordinary words once again sent a tidal wave of shock through Lacus's heart. After the shock subsided, Lacus felt ashamed when she thought about how she had been acting.
"Sorry, I have something to attend to. I must take my leave."
Hearing his somewhat desolate voice, Lacus's shame was interrupted. She looked up to see Felix turning to leave.
"Felix—"
"Sorry, I need to be alone for a while."
Felix adjusted his emotions and spoke, cutting off Lacus's words. Before she could say anything more, he strode away.
Watching Felix's retreating figure, Lacus felt a tumult of mixed emotions.
Standing dazedly in place for a long time, Lacus murmured to herself.
"I'm sorry."
After this apology, she pressed her lips together, lowered her gaze, and turned to walk toward her room.
Back in his office, Felix sat in his chair, leaning back as he quietly soothed the emotions that had just surged within him.
After staying like this for a while, he finally managed to fully compose himself, locking away those erupted feelings deep within his heart.
"It seems I'm really not good at comforting people!"
Remaining seated, Felix thought back to his time with Lacus and his own behavior, feeling a wave of embarrassment. He smiled wryly and spoke.
The next moment, the wry smile faded from his face, and the corners of his lips lifted slightly as he added with a smile.
"But my outburst of emotion wasn't entirely useless. Those words must have caused quite a shock to that little girl Lacus."
As he spoke, Felix's smile faded, and he continued with some concern, "I just wonder what she'll think after such a shock, and what she'll become?"
Meanwhile, in Lacus's room.
Having returned, Lacus sat on a chair, her upper body leaning against the table with one hand pillowing her head while her free hand poked the round Haro.
Under Lacus's poking, the Haro's small eyes lit up, emitting mechanical responses.
"Hello! Hello!"
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