DWUSS 02

Chapter 2.

In other words, it really had meant nothing.

Both of them were well aware that a kiss was usually something shared between lovers.

Of course, Greta and Percy were not lovers. They had never once harbored such feelings for each other. When you’re busy worrying about whether you’ll live or die in the aerial battle happening in just a few hours, there is no room for romance.

And even if that were not the case, Greta had only ever seen Percy as her loyal adjutant—never as a man.

The kiss that happened in that moment wasn’t a declaration of secret affection. It was closer to an explosive release of joy that they had survived.

It just so happened that Greta’s adjutant was, by pure chance, a very handsome man.

That was all.

Because of that, Greta quickly forgot the kiss they shared. Had something like that really even happened?

If a war correspondent hadn’t immortalized that moment in a photograph, it would have remained nothing more than a passing incident and been forgotten by everyone.

Even at the celebration party that night, it was the same. Naturally, no party is complete without alcohol—but of course an air base wouldn’t have any liquor lying around.

And yet, despite the lack of alcohol, the soldiers were already half-drunk. As far as Greta could tell, not a single one of them seemed sober. The only reasonably composed person was Percy, sitting quietly at a table.

They shouted half-tuneful songs at the top of their lungs, mimicked the traditional partner dances from the South even though they were all men, and even beat their helmets like drums. The metallic noise and rowdy laughter served as their substitute for alcohol.

For some reason, Greta didn’t want to be in the center of that madness. She sat with Percy in a corner, hoping to blend into the background.

Unlike the others, he seemed lost in thought—completely out of sync with the celebration. He didn’t look like a soldier reveling in victory. Was he not happy?

Trying to buoy his spirits, Greta struck up a conversation.

“So then, my beloved and respected adjutant.”

Only then did Percy smile. Nice—he looks much better when he smiles, Greta thought, continuing.

“The war is over now. What’s your plan?”

“A plan, ma’am?”

“Well, regardless of what comes next, you’ll go home for a while, right? Come to think of it, I’ve never asked about your hometown. Where are you from?”

“I was born in Stratford, but spent most of my life in the capital.”

“Oh? A city boy, huh? How old were you when you moved?”

“I believe I was five.”

“I always wanted to live in the capital. There are so many bright, glittering things there. I used to think that if I lived in a place like that, maybe I could shine too.”

“You already shine, Captain. In the most glorious way the Empire could hope for.”

“Oh, don’t flatter me.”

“For a pilot, isn’t that a bit of an odd thing to say?”

Well, look at that—he actually has a sense of humor. Greta burst out laughing. Percy seemed much brighter than earlier, though still oddly out of place among the revelry.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that he looked… melancholy.

“Is it because you’re worried about your family?”

“My family… will be fine.”

“No, I mean—you seem deep in thought. If you have something on your mind, spill it. When will you get a chance like this again? I’ll listen—as an equal, soldier to soldier.”

“…Nothing like that. It’s just… I can’t believe it’s really over. I can’t adjust to the idea. I keep thinking that maybe when I wake up tonight, everything will have been a dream.”

“Need me to pinch you so you’ll believe it?”

She extended her hand to pinch him, but surprisingly, Percy didn’t pull away.

“Would you?”

He was completely serious.

Unable to pinch him while looking into those deep golden eyes, Greta raised her voice instead.

“Don’t talk nonsense! This isn’t a dream. It’s real. We won the war. So stop overthinking and keep talking. Your future plans. What are you going to do? And don’t give me something cliché like ‘hug my family.’”

Percy thought for a moment, then shook his head.

“I don’t know. It’s something I should think carefully about.”

“Then I’ll go first. As for me…”

Finally able to voice the thought she’d been carrying deep inside her, Greta lifted her chin triumphantly.

“I’m going to apply for retirement.”

“…What?”

“I’m leaving the military. For good. It’s time I lived my own life. Don’t you think the Empire owes me that much? Surely you agree.”

Percy looked stunned—like he couldn’t understand her words, or couldn’t accept them.

Retire… He mouthed the word, just as he was about to speak—

“Captain!”

Her subordinates erupted in rowdy laughter, calling for her. The soldiers who had been entertaining themselves now turned their attention to her.

“We were celebrating without the guest of honor!”

“Unforgivable!”

“Hurry over! The star of this glorious night can’t be missing!”

“Oh, hell.”

Greta muttered under her breath. So much for staying unnoticed. Before she had time to prepare herself, the men swarmed her.

“We’ll escort you personally!”

“LOYALTY!”

“Hey—let go!”

Leaving Percy behind, Greta was dragged into a human barricade. There was no escaping it. Just as she resigned herself—

“A song, Captain!”

“A song! A song!”

“We shall engrave it upon our hearts like a battle anthem!”

Fireworks—cheap ones from who-knows-where—exploded overhead. Greta waved the falling confetti away irritably.

The atmosphere was reaching its peak. With everyone chanting in unison, she couldn’t even argue.

A song! A song! A song!

There was no choice.

“Everyone shut up!”

Her order silenced them instantly. No matter how drunk they were, the instinct to obey a superior officer was ingrained in their bones.

Once the room was quiet, she scolded them.

“If you don’t quiet down, how are you supposed to hear me sing?”

They erupted into cheers. Someone dragged over a standing microphone—probably the one used for morning briefings.

Her voice boomed through the speakers.

“You really won’t be satisfied until you hear a real song?”

“Yes, ma’am!”

“Then promise! One song. After that, you let me go.”

“We promise!”

The not-quite-soldiers burst into laughter.

With all eyes on her, Greta steadied her breath. She never imagined she would sing in uniform. Life really was unpredictable.

Far across the room, Percy was watching her. Meeting his gaze, Greta began to sing.

This isn’t just some passing tune
The noise of the city—the honking cars—or maybe the sound of your own heart…

What difference does it make?

The familiar melody pulled an old memory to the surface.

“Sally, if I ever become free… I’m going to be a singer.”

“That’s amazing! Why not do it now?”

“Are you crazy? I can’t just pack a bag and leave for the capital. Once I finish my service… once I have some power of my own… then I’ll finally do what I want. By then, I’ll finally be free from my family’s shadow.”

“You can do it. And when you get famous, you’d better sign something for me first.”

“Sign?”

“Never mind. I’ll get it in advance. You were born with a voice for this.”

The men had only wanted to tease her, not listen to something genuinely beautiful. No one had expected this.

A singer stood before them—a singer dressed in military uniform. Her voice was powerful, yet as soft and tender as a harp.

It wasn’t the voice of war. It wasn’t of this dry, colorless world. It was a voice from somewhere far beyond.

Even Percy listened, unable to look away—until, for a moment, she stopped being his superior officer, and he saw her simply as a woman.

This is wrong.

But her voice unraveled his thoughts. The longer he listened, the more terrified he became of what he might do. So, taking advantage of everyone else’s distraction, he slipped out quietly.

He didn’t stop walking until her voice faded completely.

With a sigh, he replayed the sight in his mind.

Her blond hair, slightly disheveled.

Her eyes—not sharp and commanding, but distant, dreamy, enchanting.
And… that voice.

He had never heard her sound like that.

It might have been the most beautiful voice a woman could possess.

Lost in the memory, Percy shook his head sharply.

His commanding officer merely sang.

He was the one who saw something he shouldn’t have. He chastised himself and stood there, motionless.

He pushed the memory away—no, he tried to force it out.

Because it wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.

And whatever this feeling was—

It was forbidden.

That much, he knew for certain.