Chapter 46: Parting, Farewell

Inside the seaplane belonging to the Orb rescue team.

Shihe saw Li Boyong wake up and heard what he said, so she couldn't control herself anymore and cried on Li Boyong's chest, not caring that her captain was right beside her.

"Don't cry, am I not fine?"

Li Boyong comforted her by stroking her head.

Looking at Shihe crying with pear blossoms and rain on his chest, Li Boyong felt a little proud in his heart, without any anger that he was almost killed.

When this emotion surged up, he knew that he probably really liked the girl in his arms.

Is this kind of liking too "luxurious" in this war?

Li Boyong thought for a long time but couldn't give an answer, so he could only stare at the ceiling, thinking about his little thoughts, and also ignored the wonderful expressions of Athrun and Cagalli on the side.

After Athrun and Cagalli saw Shihe throw herself into Li Boyong's arms, the two small faces that were still hanging with tear stains suddenly became wonderful.

These two... what is the relationship?

A red-clothed pilot of the ZAFT military...

An MA pilot of the Earth Alliance...

Except for killing each other, people who couldn't be reached by eight poles, but now they are in such a bloody look...

"It's him..."

Athrun's memory was still okay. Although Li Boyong was wrapped in bandages like a mummy, he still recognized that this was the "enthusiastic citizen" from the day he infiltrated Orb.

It turned out to be a pilot of the Alliance, but what is the relationship between him and Shihe?

Athrun was suspicious in his heart, while Cagalli asked directly: "You... know each other?"

Li Boyong heard this and wanted to get up to explain, but it seemed he was seriously injured and couldn't get up.

"Be careful."

Shihe comforted him to lie down, and the two smiled at each other, simply telling the ins and outs of their acquaintance one by one.

From the battle in the Pacific, to the life-and-death duel on the deserted island, and finally to the friendship of supporting each other through difficulties.

Originally, this story should have ended here, but as fate would have it, Shihe was transferred into Athrun's pursuit squad, and the ill-fated connection between Li Boyong and Shihe continued.

Li Boyong told everything slowly until he was shot down by Shihe.

Athrun only then knew that someone was like him, because of Nicol, he killed someone he didn't want to kill.

It was just that Li Boyong was lucky to survive, while he really killed Kira.

Thinking of this, the young master of the Zala family couldn't help but cry like a fool again.

Cagalli was also kind-hearted. Although she hated him for killing Kira, she could understand his helplessness, so she couldn't help but comfort Athrun a few words.

"Hey..."

As a result, when she turned her head, Cagalli saw the scene of Li Boyong and Shihe holding hands affectionately, and suddenly had the illusion of being shown a face of dog food, not knowing how to complain.

One from the Alliance... one from ZAFT...

What kind of absurd love drama is this?

Such a bloody thing actually happened by her side...

"But what are you planning to do next?"

Cagalli scratched her hair and gave a bitter smile.

Yes... what should I do next?

Li Boyong and Shihe were silent at the same time, not knowing how to answer.

After a while, Li Boyong asked tentatively: "Cagalli, you are the princess of Orb, can you let the Orb government accept me?"

"Don't make things difficult for me, you guy, it will cause diplomatic problems." Cagalli gave a bitter smile: "After we rescued you, we notified the Earth Alliance, and they will send someone to take you away immediately."

Li Boyong shook his head slightly upon hearing this. Although Orb would be attacked by the Earth Alliance in the future, if he went to Orb, he could find a way to sneak into the Three Ships Alliance. If he met Shihe on the battlefield, he could simply pull her into the Three Ships Alliance again, which would allow Shihe to escape the purge of PLANT in the ZAFT military after the war.

But now it seems that this road is not going to work.

Then Cagalli pointed to Shihe and Athrun again: "And you guys are the same, the ZAFT military will also come to pick you up."

Li Boyong and Shihe looked at each other, and there was some bitterness in their eyes.

The two eventually belonged to different camps. Now it seems that they are going to return to their respective armies, and I am afraid that they will meet again on the battlefield.

Or maybe, there is no chance to meet again...

In the final analysis, this is an ill-fated relationship.

Thinking of this, Li Boyong suddenly asked Athrun: "Captain Zala, can you do me a favor?"

Without waiting for Athrun to agree, he said to himself: "I hope you can help hide this past between me and Shihe from the ZAFT military."

"Shihe is a kind-hearted girl. In the final analysis, she didn't betray the ZAFT military. It was just because I saved her on that island, and she couldn't bear to start with me."

"You and Kira are childhood friends, but you have to fight with him all the way. Some things, I believe you can understand."

The implication was that he hoped that Shihe would not be implicated because of her involvement with him, a pilot of the Alliance, after returning to the ZAFT military.

Athrun glanced at Li Boyong, thought for a while, and nodded: "I promise you."

He basically believed the words of the two, and personally understood Shihe's torment in that situation, so he didn't want Shihe to be embarrassed by the military law department.

"Thank you."

Hearing Athrun's promise, Li Boyong thanked him sincerely.

The transport plane was silent, and the four of them didn't know what to say next.

After a while, Cagalli received a communication from the cockpit, saying that the Earth Alliance plane to pick up Li Boyong was coming soon.

Li Boyong knew that the time to part had come. He reluctantly let go of Shihe's hand, looked at Shihe's red and swollen eyes from crying, and all the words turned into a "take care".

Shihe didn't say much, just gave a light "hmm".

Not long after, the seaplane of the Alliance arrived. Li Boyong, who was seriously injured, was transferred to the Earth Alliance like that.

After the person in charge of the Alliance side and the Orb side finished the handover, the plane took Li Boyong and flew into the sky.

Li Boyong struggled to lean against the window, looking reluctantly at the Orb plane below that was getting smaller and smaller, until his vision was covered by a piece of white clouds.

A few hours later, the plane stopped at an airport of a certain Alliance base.

Li Boyong was transferred to the hospital belonging to the base. Feeling the slightly stuffy and humid atmosphere in the ward, he couldn't help but ask the nurse in surprise: "This is not the Alaska base?"

The nurse curled her lips: "Of course not, Alaska doesn't have such good weather."

Li Boyong asked: "Then where is this?"

He originally thought that after he, a pilot belonging to the Archangel, was fished up, he would be sent to the Alaska base, and he was planning to mix into the Three Ships Alliance with the Archangel.

"Didn't those guys who sent you here tell you anything?"

The nurse rolled her eyes, which was quite cute, but Li Boyong didn't have any intention of appreciating it, but was full of anxiety.

"Okay, okay, I'll tell you, don't get excited."

The nurse said helplessly: "This is the hospital belonging to the San Antonio Joint Base in California."

California?

San Antonio Joint Base?

I probably understand the location, but what the hell is this base name I've never heard of?

An absurd feeling of the world line deviating from the plot surged into his heart, and Li Boyong spent a lot of effort to suppress it.

It was not the world line that deviated from the plot, but himself... ===== CHAPTER 47 =====