Story Reader / Festival Event Story / Once in a Blue Moon / Story
Converging Streams
...
We just confirmed that all the cards were sent out randomly to people around the world without an opening and closing message.
People around the world? And that includes people on Earth?
To put it more accurately, I'd say the cards were sent to any terminals—and any such terminals, for that matter—on Earth that still function properly and have an Internet connection. In other words, that's any terminal that can receive messages and display them.
Any negative impact?
The WGAA member that just came back closes the door and scratches their head.
Well, the cards were all mid-autumn festival cards, and I can hardly imagine anyone getting upset over cards like that.
...
You've been operating your terminal this whole time, Teddy. Are you still looking for a solution?
No, I'm just writing an RCA.
An RCA? Wait, seriously?
We really messed it up...
So I thought I might as well just come up with an RCA now, so they won't ask me to write something even more challenging.
Capt, is there a way around it? I hate those reports' guts.
Chrome, however, keeps his eyes fixed on his terminal—and mumbles to himself as he watches a video recording.
It's probably not as bad as it seems...
Hearing from Chrome just said, Kamui waves his hand at him.
I'm serious.
Chrome grabs Kamui's hand and shoves his terminal up to his face.
Aboard the transport craft.
Ever since the passenger door was closed, they've finished 50% of the cleanup.
Something is going on out there.
With Nanami in the lead, they all gather up around the window and look in a certain direction together.
And that's when they see it—rising up slowly and joined together only by their ever so flimsy sheen, countless specks of light form a galaxy that streams into the distance in the sky.
Light and afloat, they slowly spread out—until they light up the entire night sky.
I don't see them carrying propellers on top of them. I'm guessing they probably have thrusters under them, then?
Uh-uh. They make their way up here the same way a hot air balloon would, with heated air.
People know them as sky lanterns in Kowloong, and they're a handicraft that doesn't take a whole lot of resources to make.
But this is definitely too early. I mean, it usually takes the celebration much longer to get to the part where they set the sky lanterns flying.
Beep, beep, beep.
From the HQ?
...
Seeing the confused look on the WGAA member's face, everyone huddles around their terminal with their permission.
The terminal now shows a map—on which the white lines outline different areas, against a black backdrop that shows that the areas are shrouded by night.
Upon a closer look, one can seem to see tiny specks of light shining on the map.
What are these...
With a light tap on the screen, an email unfolds.
It's an unsigned card—that came from a conservation area.
If you're reading this card, happy Mid-Autumn Festival...
Even more specks of light start popping up across the different areas on the map now.
With it, the hazy light slowly turns into the reflection of the stars that shines over the otherwise lightless night.
Boss, the cards are all sent out now, but we don't know for sure if the cards will reach Babylonia. Should we give the old channel a try, too?
No, that's fine. Think this will do.
Boss, we've taken the floodlights out from storage and put them in order so they read, "Happy Mid-Autumn Festival".
But it honestly seems a little iffy to me... Are you sure Babylonia can see that?
They should. I mean, because they send drones to all the conservation areas all the time these days. If it fails, though...
Clearing his throat, the Forsaken Soldier faces the night sky and shouts...
Hey, listen up, Babylonia! Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!
The lanterns in the back seem a little slow.
Pulao is up on the roof gazing at the sky lanterns. Changyu, on the other hand, puts the drumsticks back down after drumming.
That's because it takes time for sound to travel and reach the lanterns in the back.
The lanterns need to fly in perfect synchrony for them to show "Happy Mid-Autumn Festival", though!
It's okay. I'm sure they'll get it.
We have a working human terminal here, and we should be able to send the mails out with a quick fix.
Checking it now...
It's looking great. Should be able to hold out until we have the mails sent out.
...
You did go through the mails to make sure they sound okay, right? Spooner?
I wrote them based on the mail you'd written before, so there probably isn't that big of an improvement, if any...
Let's try to summarize the situation here and report it to Chairman Allen.
Who's in charge of organizing the drone's recordings?
Hurry up and get people from the front to give us a hand here before things get out of hand!
Replies from Earth are pouring into Babylonia's network at the speed of a tsunami.
When they reach Babylonia's network, they're then sent out at random to terminals by the now malfunctioning delivery system.
Though short and authored by someone the recipient might never have met, the messages are sincere and heartfelt. On people's screens, they're seeing unique greetings with pictures of the night sky.
And while old-fashioned, the scene is redolent of the good old days when people were free to imagine with paper documents.
Right at this moment, the broken world sees itself back in one piece with people's hearts joined together.
Unknown sender, huh...
But you're making it almost too easy to guess who you are with such a customary message and your messy handwriting.
Oh boy... Little Nicky sure knows what it means to be diplomatic now.
A card from Little Nicky, but who would have thought?
Piece of Junk... Piece of Junk... Piece of...
It might just be a name on a card, but still... it's never nice to address someone like that.
And I gather you're here because you've finished your battle report?
I don't want to repeat myself when I can get my message across verbally, Ms. Top Student...
With all due respect, ma'am... I'm not an undergrad anymore.
I'll probably start addressing you properly when you've done something to earn the title of a Chief, Ms. Top Student.
So... How did the card that I'd given the Gray Raven Commandant end up with you?
And speaking of "Piece of Junk", it does sound fitting for you, don't you think?
...
Should Bambinata go and get those cards back, Mistress?
No, that's fine. Nothing I gave her was important anyway.
Vanessa produces a card from an inner pocket on her jacket and gives it to Bambinata.
Is that... for Bambinata?
When the craft touches down, its passengers alight and bid farewell to those staying behind.
Are you sure we're at the right place?
It's gotta be. The thing wasn't mass-produced or anything.
****, they're rushing us again, for God's sake. This place is all yours now. Let us know when you're ready to head back to Babylonia. We need to go to pick up the other squad now.
The wheels of the craft are retracted as soon as the passenger door is closed—before it soars up with flair and speeds off into the distance.
As a token of gratitude, they stand there watching the craft leave...
Until the dazzling night sky is all that they see.
The night sky—bearing innumerable sparkling stars—seems ridiculously otherworldly.
Heard WGAA's delivery system went berserk and sent all the cards to the world through public channels.
Wait, does that include the card we gave the commandant...?
Uhm... yeah, it probably got sent out, too.
Should we write another card, then?
I don't think it's necessary, but of course, we should if the commandant wants the card handwritten.
Where did the card end up, though?
Somewhere in the universe, maybe! And who knows, it might just end up with the commandant in a different dimension!
That sounds like something that would only happen in some sci-fi fiction, but okay...
What do you mean? I think that's totally possible...
I think of it as a shooting star that travels in the infinite expanse of the universe...
Going where it wants to go...
(Check message)
(Close message)
Sshk...
Lit up, a match gently kisses the candle, bringing the room to life.
Bet the generator is out again. Maybe we should just call it a day. I'm just going to replace the whole thing.
We're truly sorry you had to be stuck down here for this meeting when the world out there is celebrating the festival.
Thank you, and we kindly ask that you disclose to no third party the information from the first half of this meeting.
Let me get you a transport craft so you can make it back to Babylonia in time for the celebration.
Aw, never knew you were so gentle, Commandant.
Switching on the emergency flashlight you've been carrying, you head up the stairs that lead out of the basement.
You came to the meeting knowing that you'd very likely end up celebrating the festival alone...
...
You were expecting the chilly wind to hit you square in the face—except it never happened.
Because there are people standing around the door.
Ta-da! Found you, Commandant!
Nanami does a weird pose, apparently having been waiting for this moment.
C-Commandant...
Holding something you seem to recognize in her hand, Lucia seems a little unsettled...
U-uhm... We never meant for it to happen, Commandant, but the letter...
Liv stands beside Lucia and looks nervously at you, as she tries to explain herself.
It was just a normal letter that's never been strengthened. But hey, Commandant, I never thought old-fashioned letters were your cup of tea.
Lee stands a little further away from the rest of you, but it's obvious that his eyes are glued to the object Lucia is holding.
Which prompts you to start thinking...
And slowly and surely, you've figured out what it is.
Bingo! That's one point for you, Commandant!
The envelope was ripped during our tug-of-war with a machine that tried to eat your letter...
And the letter fell out...
And I saw it when I tried to pick it up...
...
You were so adorable, though, Commandant!
Don't worry, though. We are the only people who have seen this picture, and we promise we'll keep our mouths shut about it.
Did she just say "we"? That doesn't sound reassuring at all.
Well... Everyone from the Joint Investigation Headquarters, I think...
He's talking about Strike Hawk, but that's not it...
Teddy and Karenina from Engineering Force...
And Chrome just told us that Cerberus and WGAA were there, too...
And everyone who helped me along the way!
You try to keep track of the people who have seen your picture, but the list just goes on and on...
Until you feel weak in the knees and seem to start seeing stars, and you can't be sure if it's because you've been sitting for far too long in the basement.
Barely able to keep yourself standing upright, you cut them off.
Hehe! A lot happened when you were away, Commandant.
Let me fill you in on it later, though, because in three, two, one...
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, Commandant!
The night sky now shines brightly with the fireworks blooming across it...
While the booms and bangs hit in waves.
Over the noises, you have to raise your voice.
Bridget told us. She said she saw you hop on the plane headed this way.
Chrome even asked WGAA to give us the list of all the flights between Babylonia and here.
President Hassen was mighty helpful, too, but Nanami was the one who asked him for help.
Hehe... I can only imagine how mad Auntie Hilda would be if she ever found out.
Without saying a word, the four of them look at each other as they smile.
And this is when you know—that they're here to stay right by your side.
Uhm... Are you still mad at us about the picture, Commandant?
Well, can I...
Lucia looks at you imploringly.
Can I keep a copy of it?
Count me in, too.
I think I can use a copy for my file addition project, too...
Count Nanami in, too!
Wait, let's get this done while we're still at it...
While you're still trying to reason your way out of their unreasonable requests, Nanami pulls out what seems to be a vintage camera.
Ta-da! I borrowed this gem from WGAA!
If you have pictures taken with your friends or loved ones using this camera, then... Wait, what did they say would happen if you do that?
They said you'd be together forever, although we all know that's just another fairytale people came up with...
Shhk.
Right when Lee raises an arm to block out the white flash, the camera spits out a picture from its slot.
Hehe, this is a nice picture.
The picture has everyone from Gray Raven in it.
Nanami wants in, too! Let's see... Let me put it here.
And let's set the timer to... five seconds.
Probably better to set it to 10 instead. We'll probably need some time to think about what face to make.
Should we get together first, then?
Man, what a hassle...
Seeing everyone waving at him, Lee reluctantly walks up this way.
5...
4...
3...
...2...
Shhk.
Under the moon and fireworks, a picture with all of you in it slowly drifts toward you.
As someone tries to correct another person for getting the facts wrong about wishing on the Mid-Autumn Festival, all of you look at the picture.
The picture is a piece of proof—one that stands for and bears witness to the time passed.
And with it, all of you make your own wishes from the bottom of your heart.
Time may pass and the world may change, and you hope that the five of you will always be together through all thick and thin.
