53 4.15

By the time the twelfth-graders returned to the academy campus from Planet Z83, Chen Yu's plans had mostly been carried out.

The protagonist had contributed quite a bit to the mission quota with his terror and death throes, combined with the public's fervor about Jin Yongguang, Chen Yu's task was 93% accomplished. Although it was a bit risky to permanently eliminate the character whose emotions were weighted most heavily, he had plenty of time, 7% wouldn't be hard to fill up.

As for the military, General Hou had been pushed forward as a scapegoat, he was compelled to broadcast an apology to Jin Yongguang and the masses. While the general's admission of guilt didn't seem to be a big issue, in fact, not only had there been a redistribution of duties behind the scenes, but also the prestige of the First Division had been greatly damaged by the evidence that its chief could be forced to bow to a mere teenager. The impact was unexpectedly so extensive that according to the rumors, if the ongoing legislation to reduce martial authority was passed, the empowered politicians would oblige General Hou to resign.

Moreover, in order to attain the talent that Jin Yongguang had displayed during the assessment trials, the cadet was unprecedentedly offered a captain position in any division he wished to join. Having received the message on his communicator the instant the space shuttle landed back on academy property, Chen Yu considered the deal as he walked into his villa with Hou Yi. After some thought, he concluded that using the military to get rid of Jin Zhong and raise Jin Yongguang's reputation was enough to wipe the slate clean, he would enlist in the Third Division—each of the twelve departments had different specializations: the First Division could still be regarded as the overall leader even with the recent scandal; the Second focused on battle tactics; the Third on mecha operation; the Fourth on logistics; the Fifth on weapon development, and so on. Naturally, the original owner's wish to reach the peak of mecha control would best be met by becoming the head of the Third Division, so Chen Yu didn't hesitate to reply with this preference.

Having settled on his course of action, he sprawled on his bed and looked up at Hou Yi, who had sat down next to him. "Ah Yi, I've decided to go into the Third Division, have you chosen which one you want to enter yet?"

Hou Yi swept his hand over Ah Guang's soft hair, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. "En, I've always been claimed by the First Division." Seeing the other boy lower his eyes in disappointment, he rushed to clarify, "I would sign up for the Third Division with you if I could, it's just that none of the other generals would take me right now..."

Of course he wanted to persuade Ah Guang to join him instead, but unless his father was disposed of, the rest of the soldiers would probably cause trouble for the boy who'd been involved in the First Division's loss of face. With gloomy eyes, he resolved to advance as soon as possible and 'encourage' General Hou to retire.

Actually, Chen Yu didn't mind that they would be in different departments, he doubted that it would affect their relationship at all and had simply been looking down to think through how things would play out from here. Nevertheless, he didn't clear up the misunderstanding since his lover's brain hole was apparently incurable, it followed him through every world.

As twelfth-graders who had passed their assessment trials with flying colors, the two spent their last quarter leisurely without having to worry about their futures, often using their statuses as the top students to lounge around in Jin Yongguang's villa.

On one such day, Jin Zhong and his wife's execution took place. Chen Yu, who had blocked off information about his parents after receiving increasingly depraved pleas from them, wouldn't have even realized that anything was happening if Hou Yi hadn't been so tense, his fingers tapping frenetically for hours. When he became aware of the situation, he moved to turn on the live transmission, but how could Hou Yi risk Ah Guang hating him for what his father had done to Jin Jia? He directly swept the boy into bed, occupying every bit of his attention.

A week later, Jin Yongguang stepped forward to state that he wasn't in conflict with the military and that in fact, he intended to accept a position in the Third Division, not forgetting, however, to express his support for civilian rights and a less bloody Federation. In order to attract viewers, various networks accompanied his speech with interviews of other academy students and research on Jin Yongguang's background, the results of which emphasized how powerful he was, his championship of gender equality, and his inevitable estrangement from his parents due to his boarding life. Women and men alike admired his talent and personality, they enthusiastically supported his exceptional treatment.

Thus, having won over the majority of the population, he was named a captain without much difficulty.

Several years passed with both Hou Yi and Chen Yu fighting on the front lines, together they dealt such damage that the Empire actively proposed to negotiate a peace treaty. Through his battles, Chen Yu discovered that while mob characters generally couldn't affect his quota much, their emotions in the face of death were very intense, allowing him to complete the mission without having to do anything further. Meanwhile, when the general in charge of the Third Division passed away from old age, the other officers unanimously promoted Jin Yongguang as their commander, having recognized that his mecha operation was far superior to theirs.

Hou Yi wasn't far behind despite Jin Yongguang's head start. He'd swiftly climbed up the ranks with his outstanding service and drained away General Hou's influence within the first two years, the old man was suppressed more and more until Hou Yi became the general of the First Division. With his blatant affection for Ah Guang and Jin Yongguang's own high status, no one dared to annoy them anymore, while neither Hou Yi nor Jin Yongguang mentioned what methods he'd used to catch up so quickly.

During this time, the couple had unquestioningly moved in together after graduating the academy and had only grown more intimate, learning everything about each other. Although the First and Third Divisions cooperated often, Hou Yi couldn't stand the occasions when they had to spend their working hours apart, on such days he took full advantage of his nano-recorders to monitor him, then used his familiarity with Ah Guang's body to coax him into tossing in bed all night.

Whereas he was confident that Ah Guang enjoyed himself physically, however, Hou Yi secretly brooded all the time on whether that was all there was for the other man. For years he concealed his anxiety, silently fending off any pests that approached Ah Guang without daring to confess again, until they were informed that they would be representing the military to sign the peace accord with the Empire. Perhaps, with the war over, Ah Guang wouldn't be so distracted by fighting and could be persuaded to turn his attention to him.

Aspiring to plant the idea in his mind, he lay on the bed the night before the event and pulled the other man close, nervously studying the features that had sharpened from his experience battle yet remained as sunny and pure as ever. In a careful voice, he started, "Ah Guang, do you remember what I told you on Planet Z83?"

Chen Yu gazed back at him with a puzzled expression. "You mean the promise I made with you?"

Reminded that Ah Guang couldn't hate him, Hou Yi relaxed a bit, his hope rising at this indication that he placed such importance on their conversation that he could recall it right away. Still, he had to push on, so he persisted, "No, before that...I-I told you that I love you..." Hou Yi cleared his throat, his grip around Ah Guang tightening involuntarily as he waited for a response.

Eyes widening, Chen Yu didn't know whether to laugh or cry, he'd never known his lover could be so refined, asking rather than seizing him. A faint blush dyed his cheeks as he murmured, "En..."

Hou Yi licked his lips, encouraged by the shy reaction, he pushed on, "We've been together for a while now, do, do you feel the same?"

Chen Yu squarely met the other man's eyes. "I'm not sure, Ah Yi, I only know that I want to give you everything you want. If that's love, then I love you, I've loved you from the beginning." He covertly scrutinized his lover's expression for any sign that he remembered their past lives, but Hou Yi just appeared ecstatic, his smile the brightest it had ever been.

Huskily answering, "En, Ah Guang, I love you too," Hou Yi hid his wet eyes by madly pressing their lips together, his heart that had been hanging at last resumed beating frantically. Clinging to Ah Guang's slim body, he hastily tore apart their clothes, running his hands across the bared skin as if he could never get enough. Through the night, harmonious sounds echoed, accompanied by a deep voice continually demanding, "Say it again, Ah Guang, don't run away."

The next day, Hou Yi and Jin Yongguang stood together to release the news that the Federation's war with the Empire had officially ended, putting into effect the legislation for demilitarization that had passed years ago. The popular generals who had been rumored to be a couple also took this opportunity to finally acknowledge that they were in love, announcing that their wedding would take place in a month. While fans of the two were delirious with joy at seeing their ship sail off into the sunset, they speculated endlessly about what could have happened to make General Jin sound so hoarse.