Who is Playing the Love Development Game in Gundam

Their opponents were clearly startled by Elina's maneuver. The damaged Blitz and another intact Blitz quickly re-engaged their cloaking systems, vanishing from sight.

"They're targeting you," He Kui noted to Elina, who, moments earlier, had performed a maneuver reaching near-elite Red Coat skill levels. Though she'd blocked the attack, her auxiliary plane was now gone. She transformed her Strike into a Raider-like MA mode, but her power was down by at least 40%, and against unseen, Red Coat-level enemies, even her newfound strength offered limited options.

"Elina, attach yourself to my plane."

"Got it!" she replied enthusiastically. The Raider MA latched onto He Kui's craft with its grappling hook, securing itself in place where his gun mount had been. With both thrust systems combined, the trinity-winged aircraft roared forward, breaking the sound barrier with a pale shockwave left in its wake.

However, the speed exceeded the system's limits, straining control to the point where even steering was becoming challenging.

"So fast!" Elina exclaimed, her eyes bright with excitement. Despite the lack of advanced shock protection in her machine, she showed no sign of discomfort.

He Kui, surprised by her resilience, couldn't help but think, Is she in SEED mode? Most SEED users weren't this lively. He pushed the thought aside, prioritizing stabilization. The auxiliary flight systems were nearly in failure mode, with tremors building throughout the machine.

Without intervention, or if they didn't separate soon, the two machines would likely break apart.

With his advanced engineering skills, He Kui's fingers flew across the controls. He made rapid recalculations: adjusting aerodynamic configurations, recalibrating the airspeed threshold, and establishing new parameters for inertia monitoring. Slowly, their speed leveled off, and the vibrations ceased.

"Thank you, Elina," he said as he stabilized the trinity-winged aircraft, though he knew the temporary attachment wouldn't last.

"No problem!" she replied excitedly. She was thrilled to realize she wasn't just a bystander in the battle anymore but had her own role.

"Let's get to it, then!" He Kui said, making a sweeping turn toward the Amazon rainforest on the city's edge, where their enemies were hiding.

Down below, a fierce battle was already unfolding. One of the enemy Blitz pilots, intent on striking a civilian shelter, aimed a clawed weapon at Hegress's Long Dagger. "Why don't you follow orders?" he sneered.

"My mission is to protect civilians," Hegress replied, unwavering as the enemy aimed a piercing rocket claw at his cockpit.

"Civilian or not, you're nothing but an accomplice to Coordinators!" the enemy pilot spat. "Return to formation, or we'll take you out."

"They are civilians," Hegress's eyes flashed.

"Then die!" The enemy raised his weapon just as the sky darkened with an oncoming shadow.

A triple-winged aircraft descended like a comet, a beam cutting through the enemy cockpit before he could react.

Having struck, He Kui's Strike and Elina's Raider split apart midair. Elina's Raider transformed back into MS mode, landing beside Hegress's Long Dagger.

"Thanks, Hegress."

"No problem."

Watching them, Hegress's typically stoic expression softened for a moment, then he shook his head.

With their return, the battlefield steadied, the government complex and Manaus's borders secured.

"Thank you, Miss A," Edward said warmly as he approached them, seeing Elina and He Kui exit their mobile suits.

"It was just part of the job," He Kui replied. "But these machines need repairs."

"We'll handle it. You'll be compensated, Miss A."

"Much appreciated," He Kui nodded. He regretted the state of his machines. The speed of the combined unit had exceeded Freedom's capabilities, but the durability wasn't there. Both machines needed serious repairs, and Elina's had lost her auxiliary craft entirely. He thought about piecing together a shield from salvage but hadn't decided.

"A~!" Before he could dwell on it, Elina threw her arms around him from behind.

"Elina," he said, a bit surprised. "I thought you were—"

"I'm fine! I thought I lost you," she murmured.

"I won't die that easily. Just don't be so reckless next time," he replied softly.

"What do you mean, you won't die?" she asked, her expression earnest.

"Exactly that," he replied with a gentle smile.

"A, are you a god?" she asked in awe.

He Kui chuckled, expecting her to ask if he was a clone or something else entirely. But before he could respond, Elina suddenly collapsed in his arms. Between the SEED mode and intense combat stress, her body had endured far more than usual.

He Kui quickly scanned her vital signs. She was exhausted but unharmed, allowing him to sigh in relief. He'd entered the South American situation only to keep Earth stable, but he hadn't expected to be entangled in deeper connections and complicated debts.

Sending Elina to PLANT likely w

ouldn't be an option unless he could first help South America find peace.