Romancing the Stars (BTS)

Chapter one

Explosions rolled in with waves of heat, and the mechs let out scarlet, blinding warnings that played a wild song of life-threatening danger.

"Warning, warning--"

"Number 01 please stop piloting, Julyland is about to activate the mandatory evacuation mechanism."

"Number 01 please leave immediately in three, two, one ......"

After that, time seemed to disappear.

When consciousness returned, Jin subconsciously looked across the room the moment he was dragged out of the mech.

The original flailing red fuselage had been turned into a pile of scrap metal in the frenzy of bombardment, and on top of that was a powerless, low-hanging hand, dried crimson snaking into a gruesome scar.

Jin shouldn't have recognized it, but he didn't dare not recognize the red handcord around that wrist.

Jin's mind suddenly conjured up that wide grinning face.

[????]

"My sister gave it to me, said it was to keep me safe."

He shouldn't have had the breath to get up again, but he suddenly broke down and flung himself away from the two medics, staggering over the pile of scrap metal and clutching the growing cold body in his arms as he cried out helplessly.

That was his lieutenant, his best buddy.

Jin thought back to those forlorn eyes and the words he'd said.

[????]

"Jin, don't let me see you on the way there or I won't let you go."

Jin wiped the blood off his face with his thumb, only to realize that the body under his palm was slowly disappearing.

[Jin]

"Steven!"

Jin awoke from his bed, startled to find cold sweat soaking through his thin shirt.

At the same time, the bedroom door is knocked on from outside.

[RM]

"Brother, can I come in?"

Jin hides the aftershock on his face and responds to RM's request after a little grooming.

[Jin]

"...... Come in."

RM asked as he stepped inside and realized that Jin's state wasn't quite right.

[RM]

"Dreaming about Steven again?"

Jin leaned against the bed, closing his eyes as if meditating on something, and finally responded feebly.

[Jin]

"Hmm."

RM pulls over a chair and sits across from Jin, his gaze speaking with worry.

[RM]

"Jin, you have to learn to come out on your own."

RM didn't call him 'brother' anymore, but rather, he spoke on behalf of the Federation, eagerly expecting the old 'Jin' to come back.

Jin placed his hands on his legs and stroked his unconscious lower limbs through the quilt.

[Jin]

Bitter smile. "Why wouldn't I want to, but I owe it to him."

[RM]

Frowning. "Jin, don't strand yourself in the broken walls of six years ago, the adjutant is supposed to protect the commander, it's his mission to keep you alive."

[Jin]

"...... So did I do my mission?"

Watching Jin about to fall into another sulk, RM sighed faintly and inaudibly, then pushed a wheelchair from the side and stood by Jin's side in a tone full of soft persuasion.

[RM]

"Today is the day of your sister's differentiation, shouldn't you be the first to bring her flowers?"

It wasn't until RM mentioned you that Jin's depressed expression eased slightly.

[Jin]

"Yes, I promised her the prettiest flowers, RM, just push me out."

[RM]

"Good."

RM knew that you were always a magic bullet to comfort Jin.

It was a long time ago when we talked about the origin of you.

Into the memories...

In that war six years ago, Jin saved you.

Jin was only 19 years old, and you were only 12.

Having lost his best friend, Jin was devastated and let others pull him to the base.

It was there that Jin suddenly felt his pinky finger being hooked as he was being carried along.

He looked down and met a pair of misty eyes.

The girl's weeping eyes, the tip of her red nose, and her blood-stained white dress were like wild daisies born on top of the ruins.

[You/Aria]

"Take me away."

The next second the girl's grip on Jin's hand was ripped off by a soldier on the side.

[Soldier A]

"Sorry sir, this is a POW to be sent to the orphanage, not very obedient."

Jin, who was immersed in the pain of losing his friend, didn't care to listen to what the other party said, he just nodded copiously, taking the time to look at the little girl who was pushed behind a group of children in the meantime.

[Jin]

"Well, carry on."

Jin waved his hand and left the place.

However for a week after that he would always have recurring dreams about Steven and that little girl.

Her foggy eyes, the tattered hem of her dress, and the soft touch of her grip on his tail finger would always bring back memories of Steven's eyes that didn't close in peace for no reason.

It's as if the hang-ups about Steven, the hatred of the war, are pinned on that equally ill-fated child.

So ......

[Jin]

"You're going to be called Aria from now on, okay, baby."

Jin has never coaxed a small child, much less know where to start with it, and at the moment is just taking your hand and talking.

Unexpectedly, you opened your arms and gently circled Jin's neck, your small hands patting his shoulders in style.

[You/Aria]

"Daddy, my name is nice."

Standing on the sidelines, RM once again couldn't help but pinch his brow in distress.

[RM]

"So what did you bring this little guy back for?"

Jin replies with a smirk as he grabs the cheek flesh that feels so good on your face.

[Jin]

"Because our Aria asked her brother to pick her up at the time."

[You/Aria]

"Brother?"

It's not that you don't understand the meaning of the word 'brother', it's just that you have a preconceived notion that the man in front of you is your adoptive father because the director of the orphanage mumbled something along the lines of "I hope your new parents will like you" when he dropped you off.

[RM]

"It's time to call your brother."

RM stepped forward and rubbed your head, then couldn't resist touching it a little longer because it felt so good.

[You/Aria]

"Are you a brother too?"

[RM]

"Yeah ah, you have a brother too."

[You/Aria]

"Then I have three brothers ......"

You raise your eyes to Jin in his wheelchair, legs covered in a blanket.

[You/Aria]

"Do you hurt, brother?"

Jin froze, not knowing where to answer for a moment, not realizing that the next step you took was even more amazing.

You reach out and pat Jin's unconscious leg, murmuring.

[You/Aria]

"Ouch fly fly fly."

Innocent child, Jin thought to himself, not holding back a smile as he favored you again.

RM, who was on the sidelines, didn't hold back from whispering to Jin.

[RM]

"Brother, do you think the little one will be an Omega in the future?"

Jin just looks at you favorably and lets you caress his knee.

[Jin]

"It's good to be a Beta, unattached and free."

(End of memories)

That's true, but the results of your differentiation are unbelievable.

[RM]

"Alpha!?"

RM looked at the test report with some giggles.

His sister who loved pink and dolls was actually an Alpha, and RM still couldn't believe it even after reading the report card through.

On the other hand, Jin, even though he was surprised, only paused a little, but there was no expression on his face.

RM

"There's nothing wrong with this?"

[Doctor]

"Does the chairman of the board not believe in our hospital's ability?"

RM opened his mouth to say something else and was interrupted by Jin.

[Kim Suk Jin]

"Thank you Dr. Jang, where's Aria?"

[Dr. Jang

"She ran off to the training ground without stopping before the test report came out, this little girl has a lot of personality."

(Location change)

By the time RM pushes Jin to the training ground, you're already training.

[RM

Whisper. "When did she start training."

Jin looks tenderly at the young girl in front of him, a light smile appearing on his thin face.

[Jin].

"Her birthday wish last year, she said she wanted to be a commander like Jin."

[RM]

"Quite a lofty goal, can the little one accomplish it?"

[Jin]

"It will, you have to believe in Aria."

[RM]

"Say, how come I didn't know about this, how long has she been training like this?"

[Jin]

"Not much more than two months."

RM had a moment of guilt, he must have been so focused on politics in general that he had neglected his sister's growth for two months.

[RM]

"But ......"

RM says thoughtfully as he looks at the way you're holding your gun up.

[RM]

"Wouldn't it be better to let the little one go to V?"

The smirk on Jin's face widens at the thought of his brother, whom he hasn't seen in a long time.

[Jin]

"If you didn't mention it, I almost forgot there's V - you're right, Aria could be sent to V to learn the ropes."

You wait until the last mag in your hand is empty, and then you realize the two older brothers behind you.

[You/Aria]

"Brother!"

You say as you swoop down to Jin's knee and crouch down to look at Jin and blink.

[Jin]

"Uh, what's wrong?"

[You/Aria]

"Did the results come out?"

RM, who was standing on the sidelines, spoke up at the right time.

[RM]

"I have them here."

RM hands you the report in his hand, and you take the 'heavy white paper' somewhat nervously.

[Jin]

"Congratulations to our Aria, a handsome Alpha, and a handsome Commander in the future, right?"

You hear Jin speak and glance at the prominent "Alpha" in the second gender column, and your heart finally drops.

[You/Aria]

"Great, I'll be able to pilot an awesome mecha like Julyland!"

[RM]

"Ahem ......"

RM tries to get your attention with a cough, not realizing that you wilt when you look at RM.

[RM]

"Want to go to the Empire?”