Chapter 10: Old Friend

(Miramon Wave... arriving early...)

(... Surely that will limit the manpower Utgard can spare.)

(And at a time like this...)

Hey, stop looking at your communicator!

I'll tell you a secret!

I can see through things.

?

Can you guess what I've seen?

I saw that, behind your headset, you've got a sad face!

(It's true, I'm worried about this journey.)

(And she can actually tell?)

And sadness is contagious!

So even if it's just for the people around you, you've gotta cheer up!!!

Sorry! I'll try.

Good, then take this!

It's the reason my luck is so good.

(... Eh, you're just forgetting all of your bad luck...)

Just hold onto this amulet and your luck will get better.

This... Didn't your mother give this to you, Sachiko?

And you're just gonna give it to me...

I sure am!

You've always got so much on your mind, and your face is always so worried.

Even if you explained everything to me, I might not be able to understand, and I probably couldn't help.

So the best I can do is to give you good luck!

I'm sure we'll find the Gate and fix your body up with no problem, Captain!

Then you can take off that headset and let the world see the real Captain...

And live life like a normal person!

So take the amulet.

And give it back to me after you take off that headset.

Thanks, Sachiko.

Alright, let's get to that Supply Station, and quick!

The Utgard exploratory team will meet us at the Supply Station...

And once we board the Tundra Cruiser, we won't have to walk in the snow anymore!

Wait...

Look up ahead.

Huh? Aren't we still inside the security perimeter of Utgard?

How could there be...

... Miramon?!

(Who am I? Where am I?)

(Right, I'm on my way to the Supply Station.)

(We're so close to Raine's Wall. How could Miramon attack here...?)

(Utgard clears the area frequently. There shouldn't be so many Miramon here at once.)

(Something's not right.)

(We've got to reach the Supply Station as quickly as possible and meet up with the Utgard exploratory team.)

Sachiko?

What's wrong, Sachiko?

My heart started pounding... and I couldn't help but think of my past.

That feeling... It's like divine power surging in the background...

We're not far from the Supply Station now.

If we hurry there, maybe we can rest and you'll feel better.

Eh?! Look over there!

We have to save her!

Thanks, you saved me!

You're the ones coming to meet up with the exploratory team, right?

I'm Tang Na, the manager here at the Supply Station.

... Miss Tang Na!!!

You woke up! I'm so happy!!!

Oh, who... would you be?

You couldn't have forgotten me...

You're even wearing... the hairpin.

The "hairpin"?

I made it myself all those years ago!

(Strange fluctuations that interfere with divine power...)

(Meeting an old friend who has amnesia...)

(It seems like the tundra holds many mysteries for us...)

Sachiko.

?

Do you want to talk about what happened between you and her?

It was... thirteen years ago, I think.

Miss Tang Na was a teacher at the Nielheim Orphanage.

I was her student, and a real pain in the butt.

I was always fighting with my classmates.

I hated when they said I didn't have a mom or dad, or that I was thrown away like trash.

Because I knew...

... that they were right.

I spent most of my childhood in a rage.

Until one day, Miss Tang Na handed me an amulet. She told me my mother had wanted me to have it.

She told me to take care of the amulet, and that my mom would come to see me.

I was so happy. I told all my classmates that I had a mom!

So I hadn't been abandoned after all! I didn't fight anymore, and I tried to behave well.

I became close with Miss Tang Na during that time. She taught me how to weave cattails.

I secretly weaved a hairpin so that when my mom would come to see me...

I could give it to her.

But time passes so slowly when you're a kid, you know.

I waited and waited, but my mom didn't come...

So since waiting didn't work, I decided to go and find her.

I opened up the amulet, hoping to find some clues about my mom.

And that's when I noticed the knot in the amulet.

It was made with the same technique Miss Tang Na had taught me...

I didn't really have a mom... My teacher was just trying to get her annoying student to behave.

The hairpin I'd made for my mom would never be a gift for anyone...

I started fighting again and causing lots of trouble for Miss Tang Na.

She told me that she'd learned that knot from my mom.

But I didn't believe her. I didn't even want to talk to her at all.

I wasn't going to get tricked again like an idiot.

Because the only thing worse than sadness is happiness that's fake.

As I grew up, I waited for the day I could get the heck out of there.

But that day came sooner than I imagined.

The day the Miramon stormed in, the rage of my past suddenly seemed as light as a snowflake in Nielheim.

Because I saw so much blood that day.

I couldn't think of anything but Miss Tang Na's cozy embrace.

When I came back to my senses...

Miss Tang Na had brought me to a shelter, but she was badly hurt.

I didn't know what to do.

No matter how hard I pressed on her wounds, the blood wouldn't stop.

Sachiko...

You know...

Every time I see you alone, it breaks my heart.

You weren't abandoned, Sachiko. You have a mother.

It really was your mom who taught me how to weave cattails. She was a wonderful person.

It's such a shame she couldn't be by your side.

But that's why she left you this amulet.

I can't be with you forever, Sachiko...

So you have to believe me, you have to believe what I'm telling you.

You have always been loved, Sachiko.

And just the same, you can give love to others.

You have to go and connect with people, trust people, embrace them.

Okay?

I told her I would.

And then I gave her the hairpin I'd made for my mom.

I suddenly understood...

That it didn't matter whether the amulet really was from my mom.

Why... Why hadn't I embraced the teacher who was trying to be sincere with me?

How much do we have to go through before we can trust someone?

That day, I hugged my teacher for a long time, afraid that she would turn cold.

And then... I became an Esper.

I used up all my Divine Power, until I finally passed out.

When I woke up, the doctor told me a miracle had happened.

My teacher had survived.

But her spirit might have already gone away...

And she would never wake up again.

I pinned the hairpin on her head and said my goodbyes.

And then I left Utgard.

Sorry for all the sad talk...

I hope I don't infect you!

Don't be sad...

Sachiko, you've become the person your teacher wanted you to be.

Everything happens for a reason. If life has any meaning, it's got to be...

To connect with other people.

And don't forget: I wouldn't have made it this far without your help!

So you're right. Why didn't I trust my friend sooner?

Why didn't I embrace the person who was trying to be sincere with me?

Thank you, Sachiko!

Thanks, I needed to hear that.

Miramon!

Lots of Miramon!

Fortress-class nexus cannon.

Usually mounted atop Raine's Wall.

And the only vehicle capable of carrying such power: the Tundra Cruiser!

Sorry I'm late.

Are you guys alright?

Miss Tang Na, don't you remember me?

I'm sorry, but I really can't recall.

Ever since I woke up from my coma, I just forget things all the time.

In a way, that's actually why I chose to be the Supply Station manager.

Work is organized very strictly at the Supply Station. Everything has to be written down.

So when I forget things, I can just check the work logs.

That's why the job is perfect for me.

Okay, but if you really forgot everything...

Then why are you still wearing that hairpin?

I'm actually not so sure myself! I just have this feeling like it's important.

Like it's some kind of connection to my past, I guess.

*Cough* *Cough*

What's wrong, Miss Tang Na?!

Oh, it's okay. I'm used to it.

Whoa! You're an Esper?!

Oh, yes. I draw my strength from El, who has healing powers.

It seems that while I was in a coma, my strong will to survive caused me to Ascend.

It seems like your Divine Power is unstable, Miss Tang Na. Are you sure you're okay?

I've probably just overdrawn on my Divine Power again. It's nothing. I'm already used to it.

No, that's dangerous! You can't just overdraw any time you want like that!

But that's the only way I can...

... stay alive.

My injuries were so severe, my body was struggling to stay alive.

So even though I became an Esper and can use Divine Power to heal myself...

I can really only use it to hold off my deterioration.

I have to use Divine Power to heal myself continuously. That's the only way I can stay conscious.

Miss Tang Na...

It's alright, don't worry about me.

After overdrawing so often, my Divine Power seems to be growing stronger.

Lately, I can stay awake most of the day.

You have to rest, Miss Tang Na.

Is she okay?

She's in a bit of a weird state. Her amnesia kicks in periodically, and her Divine Power is really unstable.

Maybe...

It has something to do with overdrawing on Divine Power.

Overdrawing on Divine Power? What happens if you do that?

Espers can only use Divine Power safely because their humanity and divinity are in balance.

Some people argue that if you overdraw on Divine Power, you might upset that balance.

After all, a human spirit is less durable than an Esper's nature, right?

Some even say that overdrawing on Divine Power can cause amnesia.

But that research is highly classified, so I can't access it.

Still, I suspect Miss Tang Na is suffering from that kind of condition.

Is there anything we can do to fix it?

I don't know. Even the Union doesn't have a full understanding of Divine Power.

While we wait for the Tundra Cruiser to be refitted, I'll keep a closer eye on her.

Let's see if we can help her get better.

This is all the people we have?

That's right. The Miramon wave might come early. Utgard has detected that some Miramon are forming a cluster.

So we have to leave behind enough manpower to defend.

The timing of this Miramon wave is really weird. It's happening right as Utgard planned to explore the tundra.

And those fluctuations, did you feel them?

Do you think someone might be controlling the Miramon?

Whether they're being controlled or not, we'll have to crush them all the same.

So don't overthink it. We're as prepared as we can be.

This notebook is for you!

Oh! A parting gift?

Yep! So now you can record anything you want to remember, not just the work logs!

Sometimes, you might remember your past, but then you forget it.

But now, you can write down whatever little bits you recall.

Thanks. If I remember anything, I'll be sure to write it down.

I'll tell you a secret, Miss Tang Na.

Oh? What secret?

That hairpin you wear... Actually, your daughter gave it to you.

I know her, it's just that she can't come and see you at the moment.

You have to work hard to remember things. Write down whatever you can recall, no matter how small.

That way, you can bring your memories with you...

To see your daughter.

...

I... I've forgotten everything.

I even forgot whatever it was I was so focused on that made me become an Esper and wake up.

Maybe I've just been waiting for a really important moment.

I'll be patient.

Thank you, really. You're a wonderful girl.

Alright, time for you to go.

And when you make it back safe and sound...

I'll be waiting for you.

It's too quiet.

At this point, there are even fewer Miramon on the tundra than usual.

It's really strange. They were restless two days ago, but now they're all gone.

Isn't that a good thing?

Maybe the Miramon are scared of the nexus cannon, so they ran away to hide.

If only that were true.

But Miramon aren't like wild animals. They can't be scared away by simple firepower.

They're more like...

Berserkers.

You can scare an animal with flames, but not a berserker.

What if the reason we didn't see any Miramon...

... is because...

... they were all gathered somewhere?

That fluctuation from before!

It feels awful...

Like Divine Power is boiling over...

Prepare to engage!!!

This is Utgard!

This is Utgard!

Urgent alert from the observation deck! A horde of Miramon has appeared on the Raine Tundra!

All Supply Station personnel are instructed to evacuate immediately!

Supply Manager No. 9420!

Respond if you copy!

Supply Manager No. 9420!

Respond if you copy!