It was Saturday night at Naha Base. Kisaki and Ohara came to my dorm room to invite me to Naha City the following day, as none of us were on duty this Sunday.
"Going out to the city?" I asked.
"Yes, tomorrow is Sunday, Lydia! You're still unfamiliar with Naha, and it's the perfect time to go out with Aaron. We already cleared it with him; he's fine with the plan since things are quiet right now," Ohara said.
"I see. In that case, I'd be happy to go," I replied, accepting the invitation.
"Great! We'll meet at the gate at 11 o'clock," Kisaki added.
"Sure, I'll bring Aaron along," I said.
Sunday finally arrived. While some personnel stayed back for duty, many took the day off to refresh themselves in the city. Aaron, Ohara, Kisaki, and I changed into civilian clothes and headed into Naha around noon. As we reached Kokusai Street, Aaron looked around in awe. The area was bustling with people of all ages.
"Woah... it's packed for a Sunday," Aaron remarked, impressed.
"It's actually not that crowded during the day," Kisaki explained. "The best part is at night, when the Naha nightlife really comes alive."
"Say, Lydia, Aaron—have you ever tried Okinawan food, like Taco Rice?" Ohara asked.
"Taco Rice?" Aaron and I asked in unison, confused.
"Okinawa isn't just known for Soba; Taco Rice is famous here too. It's like a blend of American and Okinawan tastes," Ohara said.
"There's a famous stall that serves both. Let's go," Kisaki said, leading the way.
We headed to the stall Kisaki recommended. She ordered Taco Rice and Okinawa Soba for the group. The first bite of Taco Rice reminded me of the Mexican flavors Aaron and I had tasted back in New Mexico, but this Okinawan version felt like a whole new level of comfort food. I ate half of mine before trading with Aaron so I could taste the Soba—specifically, Soki Soba. It featured thick noodles in a clear broth with generous portions of pork ribs, rafute, and luncheon meat. It was amazing. I realized then that Japanese cuisine was about much more than just Sushi and Ramen.
After lunch, we explored the city further, visiting parks, museums, and vintage shops. Naha felt incredibly safe; Kisaki pointed out that with the widespread CCTV and the local culture, even women felt safe walking alone at night. Later, they took us to Naminoue Beach. The view of the ocean as evening approached was breathtaking.
"What a view..." I whispered, mesmerized.
"It's beautiful," Aaron agreed.
"My parents used to take me here when I was in elementary school," Kisaki said softly. "It's always been my place to escape when I needed some private time."
"I have to confess, Kisaki—Okinawa is a wonderful place," I said. "I think Barry Abbot transferred me to the right spot after all. He really helped me find a unit with... well, less problematic soldiers."
Ohara's phone rang—it was Emiya. She told us we should meet at an Izakaya (a Japanese pub) near Kokusai-dori as night fell.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Naha underwent a total transformation. The quiet, salt-aired afternoon evaporated, replaced by the electric hum of the night. Kokusai Street became a river of neon lights—pinks, blues, and ambers reflecting off the windows.
"Now you see the real Naha!" Kisaki shouted over the distant rhythm of a Sanshin drum echoing from a nearby alley.
The air felt warmer, filled with the savory scent of grilled yakitori and the sharp aroma of Awamori. We passed 'Min'yo' pubs where people clapped along to traditional folk songs. Despite the crowds, the sense of safety Ohara mentioned remained. Finally, we met up with Emiya, Kyosuke, and Emma and headed inside the Izakaya.
The vibe was "Chanpuru"—a word meaning "mixed"—where tourists, locals, and military personnel blended together. We were careful with the Awamori, as the local spirit is quite strong, ranging from 30% to 40% alcohol. Emma gave me advice on Japanese hangover cures, mentioning drinks like 'Ukon no Chikara' or 'Hepa-lyse,' and light meals like Umeboshi or Ochazuke. She even suggested an Onsen trip or medicines like 'Solmac' if things got really bad. I took mental notes; you never know when you'll need a hangover cure in Japan.
Luckily, we didn't overdo it, keeping an eye out for any potential Zeon activity. Kyosuke joked that they didn't invite Isao because he becomes a "total asshole" when drunk, often going on rampages he doesn't remember the next morning.
The next morning, thankfully hangover-free, was the scheduled sparring match between Aaron's G-Line and Isao's Gundam.
"The new model is impressive! But I won't lose to a Newtype!" Isao shouted over the comms.
"I won't lose to a delinquent like you either, Isao!" Aaron countered.
Their beam sabers clashed. Aaron's handling of the armored G-Line was superior, allowing him to dodge Isao's aggressive, sometimes "dirty" tactics. Eventually, Aaron managed to take Isao down in a fair fight. But the victory was short-lived; a siren blared through the base. A new mission had arrived.
The mission was at Kadena. Known as a major hub for the Air Force, it housed Saberfish, Core Boosters, and Medea transports. However, Kisaki explained that Kadena was a complicated place. As the largest Air Force installation in East Asia, it was a flashpoint for tension between national security and the local population.
She outlined the "Dark Side" of Okinawa:
* Noise Pollution: The relentless roar of jet engines caused sleep deprivation and health issues for residents.
* Environmental Concerns:
Hazardous chemicals (PFAS) had been detected in the groundwater.
* Safety Risks: Being in a densely populated area, the fear of falling debris or crashes was constant.
* The Burden: Okinawa hosts 70% of the military facilities in Japan despite being only 0.6% of the landmass.
"Do the locals want the military to relocate?" I asked.
"There are programs, but they are controversial," Kisaki explained, mentioning the relocation of Futenma to Henoko and how it threatened marine ecosystems. "Many Okinawans just want the bases off the island entirely."
I was stunned. "I thought Okinawa was just a peaceful tourist destination. I had no idea about the tension between the military and the locals."
"It's the side you don't see in travel brochures," Kisaki said. "My parents even signed a formal complaint because of the noise. But moving isn't easy; the costs are too high."
We suited up and deployed in two Medea transports. The mission: defend Kadena from a Zeon Remnant attack. The amphibious unit, led by Aaron in the Gundiver with Ohara's Aqua GM along with two pilots in Aqua GM, hit the water. The ground unit, led by Isao with his Gundam and myself in my Zaku II F2 with two pilot of GM Type-C, prepared for a hot drop.
"Listen up!" Isao barked. "Support the Kadena forces in evacuating civilians! Don't let those Zeon bastards reach the base!"
We dropped from the sky. Below us, Saberfish fighters were already engaging Zeon forces. The enemy had a mix of Zogoks, Doms, Acguys, and Zakus.
"Lydia, back me up! Others, help the civilians!" Isao ordered.
I followed Isao into the city center. Suddenly, two Zakus intercepted me—one with a bazooka and one with a 90mm machine gun. I dodged a bazooka round and told Isao to go ahead. Using the superior thrusters of my F2, I took cover behind a building. One Zaku tried to flank me. I vaulted over a building, firing my machine gun's grenade launcher. I took down the first Zaku, then snatched its 90mm machine gun to fire at the second. When the second Zaku closed in with a Heat Hawk, I threw my own Heat Hawk, hitting it square in the chest before finishing it with a shield bash.
I hurried to catch up with Isao. He had already downed an Acguy and was dueling a Zogok.
"The Zogok is the commander—he's mine!" Isao shouted. "Lydia, take the ones behind him!"
A Dom and a Z'Gok charged me. The Dom swung its Heat Saber. I realized then how much more reach a saber had compared to my short Heat Hawk. With an assist from a Core Booster's beam fire, I found an opening and sliced the Dom's midsection. I grabbed the falling Dom's Heat Saber and immediately used it to bisect the approaching Z'Gok.
"Now this is better than a hawk," I muttered.
The battle ended quickly. The Federation forces began arresting the surviving Zeon pilots. Strangely, I realized that only Naha Base units had fought; Kadena's own mobile suits were nowhere to be seen. Ohara explained that because Kadena is so central to the city, the locals strictly forbade the stationing of mobile suits there to prevent collateral damage.
On the Medea ride back, I saw Isao staring at an old photo. I peeked and saw a younger Isao with another person.
"Is that Koga?" I asked softly.
Isao looked up, surprised. "How do you know about him?"
"Aaron mentioned him... and Zuckerberg. He wanted to know about the stolen Gundam."
Isao sighed, looking back at the photo. "Koga was my buddy. We were delinquents together before the Federation recruited us. He was going to confess his feelings to Ohara after the war... but fate had other plans."
"I'm sorry, Isao," I said.
"The war didn't end at A Baoa Qu for some of us," he replied, tucking the photo away and leaving the cabin.
I finally understood Isao's rage. It wasn't just about the stolen Gundam; it was the guilt of a man who had to watch his best friend die with unspoken words.
As I sat in my room that evening, the sounds of the base humming around me, I looked out the window. Okinawa was beautiful, but as Kisaki said, it had a dark side—a heavy burden of history and conflict that the tourists never saw.
To be continued...