The Bird I Saw That Day

"…Are you okay…?"

She was obviously not, the officer knew—he wasn't stupid. Why would anyone who was fine be sitting in an isolated corner, trembling as if she was crying? But as foolish as it was, that was the only thing he could think of saying at that moment to gain her attention.

It did work because as soon as he was done speaking, the blue-haired girl let out a surprised yelp and whipped her head around to face him; she had such a horrified expression that he almost regretted calling out to her.

"… I'm fine…" she answered after calming down somewhat; her voice was barely above a whisper, though her expression softened as she ran a hand across her eyes to clear off the traces of tears.

"I'm fine," she repeated afterward, which he took as more of a reassurance to herself rather than an answer for him; if it was, it didn't do much.

"…Now that I can see you more clearly, I think you're not. You have been crying," Kido said flatly, and the girl instinctively bowed her head to hide her face and avoid eye contact.

"I'm fine," she repeated the same line—with a hint of stubbornness he did not expect from her—and went a step backward, seemingly ready to run. "Sorry…I…I will be on my way…"

He was not about to let her go while she was distressed like that, however.

"Wait, Helena-san. I know you don't know me…but…well…can we talk? I want to know more about you," he said, slapping himself mentally afterward as he realized how trite his words must've sounded. Despite that, it appeared to work as she stayed though she still refused to make eye contact.

"You know my name already…" she murmured. "You are…the one from the resistance…"

"Yeah, but I haven't introduced myself to you, eh? You weren't there when I introduced myself to the others. Lieutenant Commander Tomoya Kido. It's a plea—I'm honored to meet you, Helena-san."

Helena took a glimpse at the officer as he spoke. Though the introduction was formal, he was smiling, displaying a degree of playfulness and disregard for military bearing unseen in other officers she had met. Somehow, she found it warming, perhaps almost literally, as she felt heat rising up her cheeks.

Helena quickly dismissed the thought. There was never a need for him to be friendly whatsoever; she was fully aware of what she was and why she existed.

"It's USS Helena; you don't have to mind me…We are… I'm a we—"

"…I think just Helena is fine," he interrupted, still smiling, "fewer mouthfuls that way. Maybe we can even shorten it further…"

"But… I'm a…"

"…a girl," he cut her off and was delighted when she finally looked up, incredulous.

"…a girl…?"

"…You aren't…? Could have fooled me, really."

"…No… It's just…sorry," the flustered girl looked away and stayed that way until she heard Kido laughing softly.

"…Oh, don't be sorry. It's better than seeing you sad like before."

"…"

"No, really, I hate it when I see someone being sad, especially when I cannot do anything about it," Kido continued solemnly. "Well, if you want to talk about it, I'm all ears. After all, I'm an appointed liaison to your fleet. Now, if that's okay with you, sit with me for a while."

Helena watched as Kido made himself comfortable on a stack of crates across her. She was initially reluctant; that was their first meeting, and the thought of opening up in such circumstances did not sit well with her. But still, he waited for her with a smile—welcoming and sincere.

Sighing, she finally walked up to him and took a seat as well, though she kept a considerable distance.

Nevertheless, it pleased Kido all the same.

"…This war…will it ever end…?" she began; her voice was soft but still audible enough for him to hear.

"…Well, you see, my people believe that nothing is enduring. So I cannot say when, but it will."

"…"

"Are…you scared…?" he inquired cautiously, and once again, Helena began to quiver, which pretty much already told him the answer.

"I…I… It's…Sorry. I can't…"

"…Well then, if you are, let me just say that most of us feel the same, including me."

"…But…you don't…seem to be…"

"Oh, believe me, I do. But you see," Kido said as he looked up to the tall ceiling, "in Japan, there was a certain famous person who said 'Dai-ichi, dai-man, dai-kichi.' Do one person for everyone and everyone for one person, and everyone will be happy. Sort like 'One for all, all for one' from the Three Musketeers."

He looked back at Helena; just as he expected, she was confused.

"What that means is, if you are there for everyone—your friends, anyone you care about— and let them be there for you, you can do anything. That's what I'd always tell myself whenever I find myself wavering, and suddenly nothing is scary in this world. And the way I see it, you can do that too. You are not alone."

Helena closed her eyes instead of answering.

Perhaps he's right, she told herself. I'm never alone. I have my friends and my sisters.

When she opened her eyes again, Kido could see the determination amidst the unshed tears.

"I can do it," she said, as much reassurance to her as it was to him.

"I'm glad," breathing a sigh of relief, Kido replied just as Helena rose from her seat and walked up to him.

"…Thank you, Lieutenant Commander," she offered. Meanwhile, Kido was happy, not because she thanked him, but because she finally smiled, even if only a little. It was captivating, so to speak, that he failed to respond right away, and when he realized it, he almost slapped himself right there.

Kido really hoped he wasn't staring and making her uncomfortable—because he was unsure whether he did or not. After a moment of awkward silence—which Helena apparently bore very patiently—he finally managed to speak.

"Um, yes, I'm happy to hear that…um, so…are you feeling better? At least for the time being?"

"Yes…I am."

"Great. Now, why don't you go back before everyone starts worrying, eh, Rena?" Kido suggested, only for her to look at him with an expression best described as a blend of confusion and disbelief.

"…Rena…?"

"Well, you see, it's easier to say on my tongue. Though if you mind, I will not do it again," Kido said, scratching his cheeks nervously as he surmised she wasn't too happy about it—purposefully omitting the fact that he just thought the name suited her, and he likes it. His concerns dissipated when he saw her smiling again, this time more earnestly.

"I don't mind," she said, "in fact, I might like it."

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